Complete Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection, The (DVD)

Nine-disc set includes: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)It's sure to be a holly, jolly Christmas for fans of Rankin/Bass' stop-motion animated classic, narrated by Burl Ives. Watch as young Rudolph, teased by the other reindeer, sets off with his pal Hermey the would-be dentist elf and encounters the Abominable Snowman before saving the day for Santa on Christmas Eve! The memorable soundtrack includes "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "There's Always Tomorrow," "Silver and Gold," and more. 50 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

Cricket On The Hearth (1967) Charming animated rendition of the Charles Dickens holiday tale about a courageous cricket named Crocket (voiced by Roddy McDowall) who's looking to change the misfortunes of a put-upon toymaker (Danny Thomas) and his blind daughter (Marlo Thomas) as he comes to spend the season with them. Rankin/Bass favorite also features the voices of Hans Conried, Ed Ames, Abbe Lane. 50 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

The Little Drummer Boy (1968) A lonely orphan, shunned by all and filled with sorrow, finds the true secret of happiness when he serenades a Bethlehem newborn on his tin drum. Greer Garson narrates this stop-action animation classic from Rankin/Bass based on the classic Christmas song. Voices by Ted Eccles, José Ferrer, June Foray, and Paul Frees. 25 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

Frosty The Snowman (1969) A snowman named Frosty comes to life one Christmas Eve thanks to an extraordinary top hat that was tossed aside by the inept magician Professor Hinkle. But Frosty needs the help of some school kids to get to the frigid North Pole, all the while trying to avoid the clutches of the chapeau's original, nasty owner. Beloved animated Rankin/Bass holiday classic, based on the 1950 hit song, features the voices of Jackie Vernon, Billy DeWolfe, June Foray, and Jimmy Durante. 26 min. C/Rtg: TV-G S

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970) Fred Astaire narrates this Rankin/Bass stop-action animation version of the Kris Kringle legend. Find out how the jolly fellow overcame the sinister Burgermeister Meisterburger's ban on toys, melted the heart of the icy Winter Warlock, started a workshop managed by elves, and came to be known as "Santa Claus" to the world's grateful children. Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Paul Frees supply voices; songs include the title tune, "The First Toymaker to the King," "Put One Foot in Front of the Other," and more. 51 min. C/Rtg: TV-G '

Twas The Night Before Christmas (1974) When the letters sent to Santa from the children of the town of Junctionville are all returned, everyone begins to worry that they'll be overlooked on Christmas Eve. Now, it's up to a clockmaker-and the mice who live in his house-to save the day in this animated holiday special from Rankin/Bass. With the voices of Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, and "Lonesome" George Gobel. 24 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974) When Kris Kringle feels unwanted and decides to sit the holidays out, it's up to Mrs. Claus and two elves to convince him that the world's children still care. Fun-filled special with the voices of Mickey Rooney, Shirley Booth, and Dick Shawn includes the hit songs "Heatmiser" and "Snowmiser." 51 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

The First Christmas (1975) Angela Lansbury narrates this beloved Rankin/Bass holiday fable about young orphan shepherd boy Lucas (voiced by David Kelley) who is blinded by a lightning strike. His life spent without ever seeing the beauty of a snowfall, Lucas, during a production of a Christmas pageant, experiences a miracle when snow falls him. Also features the voices of Cyril Ritchard, Dina Lynn. 22 min. C/Rtg: NR

Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) The lovable snowman is back! Frosty is lonely, so his young friends decide to make him a female companion. Frosty's plans to marry the (snow)woman of his dreams are then threatened by the wicked Jack Frost, who doesn't want to see anyone live happily ever after. With the voices of Jackie Vernon, Andy Griffith, and Shelley Winters. 24 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) Having saved Christmas for all the kiddies just days earlier, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is called on once again by the jolly red one and his friend Father Time to locate Baby New Year or else the world will be subjected to an eternity stuck on December 31st. Time-travelling cartoon adventure from Rankin/Bass features the voices of Red Skelton, Billie Richards, Morey Amsterdam, Frank Gorshin, Paul Frees, Don Messick, and Irish Rainer. 50 min. C

The Little Drummer Boy: Book II (1976) Aaron, the young boy who played his drum for the Christ child, is called on to help Simeon the bellmaker to save the silver bells that were cast to ring in Jesus' arrival from a greedy group of Roman soldiers. Wonderful animated sequel from Rankin/Bass features the voices of Greer Garson, Zero Mostel, David Jay, Bob McFadden, Ray Owens, Allen Swift. 30 min. C

Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977) Rankin and Bass focus on another animal with an anomalous organ when they follow the story of sweet little burro Nestor, who ostracized by the other donkeys because of his extended ears. Fortunes change when a little cherub named Tilly comes to Nestor and tells him his ears will soon come in handy, and before long the little donkey is guiding Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, through a treacherous sandstorm on their way to Bethlehem. Voiced by Roger Miller, Shelly Hines, Brenda Vaccaro, Paul Frees. 30 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) And who else could that stingy man by but Charles Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge, star of "A Christmas Carol," who learns the importance of love and family from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Rankin/Bass' animated remake of a beloved '50s TV production features the voices of Walter Matthau, Robert Morse, Tom Bosley, Theodore Bikel, Paul Frees. 60 min. C/Rtg: TV-PG

Rudolph And Frosty: Christmas In July (1979) Now Christmas comes twice a year, as two of your favorite holiday characters team up to solve the mystery of Rudolph's unshiny nose in a delightful animated festival. Red Buttons, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Shelley Winters, and Jackie Vernon supply the voices. 97 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

Jack Frost (1979) A true Yuletide classic, this Rankin/Bass production follows immortal sprite Jack Frost as he falls for the beautiful Elisa. After asking Father Winter to make him human so that he can pursue his would-be love, he is given until the arrival of Spring to prove that he can successfully live life as a mortal. But when Elisa is kidnapped by the evil Kubla Kraus, Jack must do whatever it takes to save her. With the voices of Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse, Dave Garroway. 49 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

Pinocchio's Christmas (1980) Everyone's favorite little puppet boy, Pinocchio, awaiting his first Christmas, gets into holiday trouble when he's tricked out of his money for papa Geppetto's gift by a sneaky fox and cat. Stop-motion Yuletide TV tale from Rankin/Bass features the voice talents of Alan King, George S. Irving, Bob McFadden, Patricia Bright, Allen Swift. 60 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (1981) Animators Rankin and Bass head overseas to the Emerald Isle to follow the magical tale of Dinty Doyle the leprechaun. In search of a perfect pine for his family's Christmas tree, Dinty heads to the Irish coast and accidentally unleashes a wicked banshee hag who steals Dinty's village's Christmas funds. Can Lord Patrick and the other Irish little people retrieve the village gold and save the holidays. Voiced by Peggy Cass, Ken Jennings, Bob McFadden; narrated by Art Carney. 25 min. C/Rtg: TV-G

The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus (1985)The forest being known as the Great Ak (voiced by Alfred Drake) holds a council meeting of immortals to relate the story of Santa Claus in a mission to anoint the right jolly old elf never-ending life. Stop motion animated TV tale from Rankin/Bass also features the voices of Earl Hammond, Lynne Lipton, Robert McFadden, Earle Hyman. 50 min. C/Rtg: TV-G Stan