Re-Run Theater present another edition of ANIMATED CHRISTMAS films.
The
first half will be comprised of rare, short 16mm films, including the
somber Will Vinton claymation tale “A Christmas Gift”, the beautiful and
colorful “Snowy Day” and a quite vintage 1951 adaptation of the
commonly told parable “The Littlest Angel.”
After that we will
feature the 50 minute Rankin & Bass Santa Claus origin story that
only aired once. Everyone knows about ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’
but this was an alternate legend penned by none other than L. Frank Baum
titled “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” ! From the mind that
brought us the wonderful world of Oz, a dark, almost pagan Christmas
special of where Kris Kringle came from and how he became an immortal
that lives at the North Pole making holiday presents with the help of
Elves. Using the same stop motion “puppet” animation that made their
other specials so enduring, this must be experienced to be believed.
This
show is suitable for all ages, HOWEVER, some of these films are a
little darker than normal holiday fare. Appropriate for the same
audience that can handle “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Last Unicorn”.