Product Details

• Actors: Earl Hammond, Earle Hyman, Larry Kenney, Lynne Lipton, Bob McFadden
• Directors: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
• Writers: Jules Bass, L. Frank Baum
• Producers: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass, Lee Dannacher
• Format: Animated, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301760344
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,627 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This bizarre, pagan take on the Santa Claus legend, which is based on a story by L. Frank Baum (The Wizard of Oz), was produced and directed by Rankin and Bass, the reigning kings of the Christmas special (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), using their brand of puppet animation. In the forest of Burzee, the immortals gather to discuss the fate of Santa Claus. Found when he was an abandoned baby by the Great Ak (a wizard with big wooden horns on his head), the boy was named Claus because that means "little one" in the language of the forest. Raised by immortals and knowing nothing but peace and harmony, the adolescent Claus is taken on a tour of the mortal world by the Great Ak, and he discovers the world is rife with misery and injustice. This is when he decides he will dedicate his life to making kids happy, and he learns the best way to do this is to give them toys. After years of service, the immortals must decide whether or not to give him eternal life. Indeed, this is a very strange Christmas tale. --Andy Spletzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why no DVD?, November 20, 2002

By 

Blake Petit "Novelist, columnist & reviewer" (Ama, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

With all of the other DVDs of the old Rankin & Bass shows that are out, you'd think they would have found room for this one by now, but noooo...

Based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, creator of "The Wizard of Oz," this unique interpretation of the Santa Claus legend is a stop-motion animation film by the same people who created the classic versions of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman." Young Claus is a human child found and raised by fairies, battling monsters and finding joy in bringing gifts to children. There was a traditional animated version in 2000 which was okay, but this stop motion version is a real masterpiece if you can find it.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HEY RANKIN BASS!, January 1, 2005

By 

S.K. Dougan "TolkienMaiden" (Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

All I want to say is WHERE IS THE DVD!!! They put out all the other GREAT and FABULOUS stop motion DVDs and the animated Frosty but where is the Life & Adventures of Santa Claus?? That is by far my most favourite of any of the Rankin Bass collection!

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fear not, DVD is on it's way!, December 8, 2005

By 

Josh Phillips (Harrison, ARK, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have loved this film since I was a little tyke and faithfully watched it every Christmas. While a little darker than the other R&B specials, it still has that almost tangible sense of wonder. My wife had never seen it growing up and when we watched it together she was amazed.

I have searched dilligently for the last 4 years for news of a DVD release. I finally have that news. According to Rick Goldschmidt of [...], The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus will be released as part of a Rankin & Bass box set in 2006. Of course, this could change but it is a positive step.

So be patient and hold out hope that this great special will be under your tree on DVD by the next holiday season.