Life and Adventures of Santa C: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass, Earl Hammond, Earle Hyman, Larry Kenney, Lynne Lipton, Bob McFadden, Lesley Miller, Peter Newman, Joey Grasso, J.D. Roth, Alfred Drake, Amy Anzelowitz, Josh Blake, Ari Gold, Jamie Lisa Murphy, Al Dana, Margaret Dorn, Arlene Martel, Marty Nelson, David Ragaini, Robert Ragaini: Amazon.ca: Video

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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

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Customer Reviews

35 Reviews

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Christmas Film!, Dec 23 2007

By	Sisternight (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

I remember watching this every year as a little girl along with Rudolph and Frosty. This film is different then the traditional story of Santa Claus, with the use of the "Immortals".It offers a explaination for why Santa is still living after hundreds of years. Based on the book by the same name it remains true to the spirit of "Santa Claus". Some of the imagery may seem pagan, however Christmas it's self is actually a pagan holiday. Thus I don't see the problem. I woueld suggest that parents not allow very young children (6 or less) to view, as there are some scarry moments. Overall a wonderful film, albit hard to get a hold of.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Truely enchanting program, Jul 8 2004

By	T. Frederick "tiffmfred21" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I remember as a child, every Christmas, watching this portrail of Santa Claus. It is a truely enchanting version that really portrays the magic of Santa Claus and how children love the legend. It is different, but all the more wonderful. It is one of my favorite Christmas programs to watch even as an adult.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Not your typical Christmas special, Dec 7 2003

By	J. Dillingham (Tucson, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This genuinely strange 1985 Rankin-Bass production (based on a little-known L. Frank Baum novel) certainly avoids most of the cliches associated with Christmas specials. Who'd have thought Santa Claus was raised in a Norse wood by pagan gods and faerie folk and had to battle hordes of crazy-looking demons before he could deliver any toys? I thought I knew every Christmas special by heart, but I seem to have repressed all memory of this one, aside from being traumatized by its horrifically scary monsters. Fans of stop-motion animation and Ray Harryhausen should definitely check this one out.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
When my father told me that I could get this movie, I jumped for joy! I had worn out my copy that he taped for me when I was a child. Read more

Published on Dec 6 2003 by Norella Bouchard

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT SHOW - forget people who say it's weird
I saw this video as a child and loved it. Before those people who complain about it being too 'Pagan' or too 'weird' or whatever, I was raised a Baptist, and Christmas to me was... Read more

Published on Nov 26 2003 by Orson Poon

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Christmas Movie
This was and always will be my favorite Christmas movie. I love most all of the Rankin/Bass stuff. I was greatly saddened when I lost my copy of this tape, along with The Hobbit... Read more

Published on Aug 17 2003 by Carrie

5.0 out of 5 stars a childhood classic
i remembered this from my 80s childhood. i love this stop-motion stuff. this movie is a little darker than normal kid movies, which is why i liked it so much. Read more

Published on Jun 24 2003 by D. Deist