Great story that truly brings back childhood memories. Growing up in the 70s, this show was a staple of the Christmas season and always showed up on television, along with a few others and some classic Christmas commercials (before Christmas became a dirty and discriminating word).
Yes, like other posters have commented, the animation/claymation/whatever it's called is dated. There are no fancy computer generated special effects, and some comments made would be frowned upon in "today's society." But perhaps that is one of the things about this show that makes it so appealing. I appreciate that this was top technology for the times (and I like that it doesn't have all the "scary" animations that some of today's shows have). Also, I can appreciate that any "sexist" remarks made (such as the men "protecting the women folk" - there was actual chivalry back then!) were made in a time when this was acceptable to the censors, but cursing and on-screen violence/sex/etc. wasn't. So does that make our times better or worse than those just 20ish years ago? I also want to set the record straight... Santa does apologize to Rudolph before he needs him to guide his sleigh. It is a brief apology right after Rudolph returns. Santa says something like "I was a little to rough on you. I guess we all were." Some people have commented that by today's standards, they find this "too lame" of an apology. Again, I say that times have changed, and not necessarily for the better. People today are less willing to forgive and, instead, seek revenge. Imagine if Rudolph would have said "stuff it, Santa." Kids throughout the world would have suffered because of his anger and resentment. Instead, he took a higher road and became a hero. Even the final words of the song tells of him going down in history.
Finally, my son and daughter love it. They are both very young, and the things that would be criticized by the P.C. police out there go straight over there heads (and I don't believe in the whole brainwashing conspiracy theory). It's a simple story that isn't so frightening that it makes them run from the room in tears. It also ends on a cheerful note and they love the music.
As a kid and even as a teenager, I loved to see it on T.V. after Thanksgiving. It was one of the seasonal shows that meant Christmas was coming. Now, since all T.V. seems to show are reality shows or night time soap operas that are not family appropriate, I will continue to play the DVD for my kids anytime they would like to see it between Thanksgiving and Christmas... and I will delightfully watch it with them.
Yes, like other posters have commented, the animation/claymation/whatever it's called is dated. There are no fancy computer generated special effects, and some comments made would be frowned upon in "today's society." But perhaps that is one of the things about this show that makes it so appealing. I appreciate that this was top technology for the times (and I like that it doesn't have all the "scary" animations that some of today's shows have). Also, I can appreciate that any "sexist" remarks made (such as the men "protecting the women folk" - there was actual chivalry back then!) were made in a time when this was acceptable to the censors, but cursing and on-screen violence/sex/etc. wasn't. So does that make our times better or worse than those just 20ish years ago? I also want to set the record straight... Santa does apologize to Rudolph before he needs him to guide his sleigh. It is a brief apology right after Rudolph returns. Santa says something like "I was a little to rough on you. I guess we all were." Some people have commented that by today's standards, they find this "too lame" of an apology. Again, I say that times have changed, and not necessarily for the better. People today are less willing to forgive and, instead, seek revenge. Imagine if Rudolph would have said "stuff it, Santa." Kids throughout the world would have suffered because of his anger and resentment. Instead, he took a higher road and became a hero. Even the final words of the song tells of him going down in history.
Finally, my son and daughter love it. They are both very young, and the things that would be criticized by the P.C. police out there go straight over there heads (and I don't believe in the whole brainwashing conspiracy theory). It's a simple story that isn't so frightening that it makes them run from the room in tears. It also ends on a cheerful note and they love the music.
As a kid and even as a teenager, I loved to see it on T.V. after Thanksgiving. It was one of the seasonal shows that meant Christmas was coming. Now, since all T.V. seems to show are reality shows or night time soap operas that are not family appropriate, I will continue to play the DVD for my kids anytime they would like to see it between Thanksgiving and Christmas... and I will delightfully watch it with them.