I expected to enjoy this more than I did. This is the second Santa Claus origin story special put out by Rankin-Bass, the first being 1970's SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN. THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS is based on a work written by the author of The Wizard of Oz, which sounds promising at first. I also liked the very pagan aesthetic of the settings and characters.... unfortunately, the actual plot isn't much. The structure is extremely episodic, the songs aren't memorable, and most of Santa's issues are solved by him summoning his immortal friends to iron everything out. It becomes a drag and not the cathartic experience it yearns to be.
I can see why this film isn't better known. It certainly has a cult following and it's not without interest. If anything, the more somber tone and more detailed puppets set it apart from the more famous RB specials, but it didn't do much for me. I just wasn't invested.
I can see why this film isn't better known. It certainly has a cult following and it's not without interest. If anything, the more somber tone and more detailed puppets set it apart from the more famous RB specials, but it didn't do much for me. I just wasn't invested.