The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass [Hardcover]

Rick Goldschmidt (Author), Burl Ives (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1997

Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass are best-known for producing some of the most popular animated holiday TV specials ever aired, including the long-running "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty The Snowman," "The Year Without A Santa Claus" and "The Hobbit." They have also brought us animated feature films including "Mad Monster Party" and "The Last Unicorn," and cartoon series such as "ThunderCats," "The Jackson Five" and "SilverHawks." This definitive, authorized history and celebration of Rankin/Bass animation documents every one of their productions with rare photographs, production stills, concept drawings and memorabilia, along with extensive commentary by Arthur Rankin and dozens of the artists, actors and animators he worked with.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In his very thorough book about RANKIN/BASS Productions, Goldschmidt lists more than 50 television specials, series and films." -- THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, December 10, 1999

"Thorough enough to give us three appendices, two indexes, and a section on collectibles and memorabillia at no extra charge" -- TOON MAGAZINE Summer, 1998 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Rick Goldschmidt has been the editorial cartoonist for The Reporter newspapers since 1990, and he also performs with his band, Starving Artists. Rick began working on "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass" in 1991. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Tiger Mountain Pr; 1st edition (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964954273
• ISBN-13: 978-0964954274
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #746,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the official RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS historian/biographer and have authored two books on RANKIN/BASS. The first is THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO and the second THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. I also was the project consultant and am featured in the documentaries on the DVDs MAD MONSTER PARTY (Sept. 8, 2009 DELUXE EDITION) and THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS (Christmas edition 2007)BOTH available on AMAZON. I have recorded three CDs with the GIN BLOSSOMS and my first is available at AMAZON "Rick Goldschmidt Sings."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An old Holiday friend returns, June 4, 2002

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass (Paperback)

The Rankin/Bass animagic Holiday specials are as much a part of my childhood memories as putting up the tree, hanging the stockings and painting the eggs.

It is nice to see Rick Goldschmidt drag them from the foggy haze of my nostalgia and bring them back into the light. I never new that there was so much information on Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass" has it all, from the most obscure cel animated cartoon to the classic animagic of Rudolph and Santa.

Everything you could want is here: Behind the scenes photographs, a complete list of Rankin/Bass works, well-written articles and a jumble of Rankin/Bass memorabilia. This book is even more relevant, now that the Rankin/Bass filmography is being released on DVD. It will make you chomp at the bit for each new release.

If Peter Cottontail, The Snow Miser and Heat Miser, Frosty the Snowman and Happy the Christmas Baby ("those ears!") ring any bells for you, then you will enjoy "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass."

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, October 18, 2000

By 

Kenneth B. Sharp (Willow Grove, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass: A Portfolio (Paperback)

Impeccably researched and comprehensively detailed, "The Enchanted World Of Rankin/Bass" is a treasure trove of info for fans of the wonderful animated programs created by the duo. Lovingly written by Rick Goldschmidt, the book is a wonderful keepsake chronicling the creation and enduring impact of the classic rankin/Bass animated shows. Tons of rare photos--many in breathtaking color--rare memorabilia plus lots more await the reader on this terrific journey back in time. Compelling interviews with many of the personnel involved with the shows --voiceover artists, script writers, set designers, inudstry big wigs---draw the reader into the story. From "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" to "Frosty The Snowman," all your faviorites are here in this terrific tome. This is the bible for fans of Rankin/Bass and author Goldschmidt should be commended for his exemplary efforts. Refreshing, informative and full of fascinating minutaie, the book is a true labor of love. What are you waiting for? Stop reading this review and buy the book...NOW!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Bouncing Icebergs!, October 23, 2000

By 

George Zadorozny (Oldsmar, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass: A Portfolio (Paperback)

Rick Goldschmidt has done an UTTERLY SUPERB job in creating his incandescently splendid book, "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass!" Not only is it a unique goldmine of information about the studio and its magnificent writers and artists and musicians, it is also the single most gloriously illustrated book I have EVER seen! I've had the book for two years, and every time I look at it, I'm STILL bowled over by the incomparable beauty of the photographs depicting the various films made by Rankin/Bass. The gorgeous quality of the photographic reproductions is UNMATCHED by any other book I've EVER seen! (How'd you do it, Rick?!?) In sum, this book is bright, brilliant, effulgent, lambent, luminous, lustrous, refulgent, shiny, bewitching, charming, enthrallong, entrancing, spellbinding, fascinating, lovely, delightful, coruscating, gleaming, glimmering, glinting, glistening, glittering, scintillating, shimmering, twinkling, winkling, peppy, pert, spirited, sparkling, resplendent, sumptuous, ebullient, exuberant, joyous, and marvelous! BRAVO!!!