The 1960s and 70s brought the world several wonderful Christmas specials from Rankin-Bass. A few, such as RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN are true classics and a few are really milking the franchise a bit too much (such as RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR and THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMING TO TOWN). THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS isn't quite as magical as the earlier specials and it is quite bizarre in some ways, but it is still among the studio's better films.
The plot involves Santa having Seasonal Affective Disorder--in other words, he's depressed. Instead of seeking therapy or anti-depressants, he decides to just skip Christmas this time--after all, he thinks no one really cares about the holiday any more.
Mrs. Claus is worried but instead of trying to persuade him to deliver toys, she concocts a stupid plan. She picks two very nice but seriously dumb elves to go on a mission to find out what kids REALLY think about Christmas. To make this choice even worse, she sends them with a young and fragile reindeer and soon they get into trouble--so much that Santa must come to the rescue. At the same time, Mrs. Claus also comes to help and ends up making visits to the Snow Miser and his step-brother the Heat Miser--two totally bizarre creations of R-B Studios who have nothing to do with the holiday but they do dance to a really rocking song.
The film is lovely to look at--with excellent stop-motion animation. The only shortcoming is that occasionally the story does get a bit bizarre (even for Rankin-Bass) and the elves are a bit annoying to adults--though kids probably won't notice or want to kill them. Still, it's a great treat for the family and worth seeing this holiday season.
The plot involves Santa having Seasonal Affective Disorder--in other words, he's depressed. Instead of seeking therapy or anti-depressants, he decides to just skip Christmas this time--after all, he thinks no one really cares about the holiday any more.
Mrs. Claus is worried but instead of trying to persuade him to deliver toys, she concocts a stupid plan. She picks two very nice but seriously dumb elves to go on a mission to find out what kids REALLY think about Christmas. To make this choice even worse, she sends them with a young and fragile reindeer and soon they get into trouble--so much that Santa must come to the rescue. At the same time, Mrs. Claus also comes to help and ends up making visits to the Snow Miser and his step-brother the Heat Miser--two totally bizarre creations of R-B Studios who have nothing to do with the holiday but they do dance to a really rocking song.
The film is lovely to look at--with excellent stop-motion animation. The only shortcoming is that occasionally the story does get a bit bizarre (even for Rankin-Bass) and the elves are a bit annoying to adults--though kids probably won't notice or want to kill them. Still, it's a great treat for the family and worth seeing this holiday season.