With the holidays rolling around once again, the Rankin and Bass specials continue to be go-to favorites for families to enjoy during the season. Known for their heartwarming stories and charming stop-motion animation, the duo of Rankin and Bass also created some of the cutest characters in TV history.
From undeniably precious animal pals like Rudolph to lovable brutes like Bumble, Rankin and Bass had a knack for delivering truly memorable personalities from their tiny figures. Though every character is cute in their way, some are so charming that they have become a permanent part of Christmas lore.
Winter Warlock - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970)
The Winter Warlock started as a villain, and he was one of the first conflicts that Santa faced in Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Though he debuted in his menacing original form, a simple kindness from old Saint Nick reverted the Warlock to a much friendlier, and cuter appearance.
With his doddering old man persona and his kind eyes, the pleasant Winter Warlock becomes fast friends with Santa and allows him to through the mountains. Like a perfect lesson for Christmastime, the Winter Warlock's true form was brought out through the wonder of the holiday.
Blarney Kilakilarney - The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (1981)
Sporting a signature Christmas tune that deserves more love from fans, The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold was another chance for Rankin/Bass to woo viewers with a cute character. Blarney Kilakilarney is a leprechaun, and his rosy cheeks and friendly demeanor is nothing like the mischievous elves they are usually known to be.
Blarney's bright blue eyes are large and kind, and the hat he sports conceals a humorously shiny bald head. Despite not being one of Rankin/Bass' most famous specials, The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold is certainly one of the cutest thanks to characters like Blarney.
Hermey The Misfit Elf - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Though time has made some of the lines in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer unintentionally funny, characters like Hermey the Misfit Elf help the special to stay relevant all these years later. Rudolph's closest companion and strongest ally, Hermey is by far the cutest elf in Santa's workshop, despite being an outsider.
Hermey's personality is bubbly and unsinkable, and his signature quaff of blond hair helps separate him from the other elves who mostly look the same. While he isn't quite as famous as the beloved reindeer, Hermey's look has gone on to be synonymous with Santa's little helpers.
Santa Claus - A Year Without Santa Claus (1974)
The big man in red is a central figure in many of the Rankin/Bass specials, but his most memorable appearance was certainly in A Year Without Santa Claus. Every bit of the image of what Santa should be, the ripe jolly old elf was inspired by lore while also helping to inspire future incarnations of the character as well.
The Santa of A Year Without is friendly and openhearted, and his bright red cheeks and bald head offers a vision of the cute Claus that viewers expect to see. Unlike the more mean-spirited Santa of other interpretations, Rankin/Bass' signature Kringle helps keep the holiday spirit alive.
Bumble - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
While the abominable snowman Bumble may be terrifying to younger viewers, he is a sweetheart when examined closer. The shaggy beast starts as an antagonist who hates Christmas, but he is easily won over to the good side by the end of the special.
Leering over the mountains with his unkempt hair and wild eyes, Bumble is more silly than scary when he is given a chance. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of the best-animated TV Christmas specials due in large part to the wonderful character design and the inclusion of iconic figures like Bumble.
Rudolph - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Earlier incarnations of the classic Christmas stories had been told already, but Rankin/Bass' take on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer closed the book on the character forever. The outcast reindeer immediately garners sympathy from the audience because of his exclusion, and his drive to save the day makes him a full-fledged hero.
Aesthetically, Rudolph is a brilliant example of character design and the textured look of his fur is warm and inviting to viewers. Taking liberties with what a reindeer looks like, Rudolph's large and friendly eyes further endear him to audience who can relate to the character and his plight.
The Happy New Year Baby - Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
Incorporating the lore of other holidays, Rudolph's Shiny New Year blends the worlds of Christmas and New Year's into a one-of-a-kind holiday special. The Happy New Year Baby is one of the central figures of the special, and the designers pulled out all the stops when making the New Year Baby as lovable as possible.
The overly large top hat sits perched atop the baby's mop of curly blond hair, and when removed the hat reveals a pair of comically large ears. In a world where the human figures aren't usually as appealing as the animals, Rankin/Bass outdid themselves by turning the vague New Year mascot into a classic TV icon.
Clarice - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Clarice was one of the few reindeer who ed Rudolph before he discovered the importance of his powers, and she stuck by his side as an ardent er. Though not much different in look from the other reindeer, Clarice sports a few unique additions that help her stand out.
Like Rudolph, Clarice has large and friendly eyes, but the addition of long lashes and a bow was the studio's way of hammering home her gender for a 1960s audience. Though she suffers from being an underwritten character in general, Clarice is nevertheless one of Rankin/Bass' cutest animal characters.
Baby Bear - Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
Giving the Happy New Year Baby a run for his money in of cuteness, Baby Bear of the Three Bears segment is practically an overload of charm. Greeting the New Year Baby when he is discovered in their beds, Baby Bear's curiosity shows he is a friendly figure, unlike his more skeptical parents.
Representing all the cuteness of a teddy bear, Baby Bear's textured fur and bright eyes immediately make him an appealing figure. Only appearing briefly in the special, Baby Bear proved that Rankin/Bass put maximum effort into every character that they put on screen.
Spotted Elephant - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
The Island of Misfit Toys sequence in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of the special's most iconic moments, and it also delivered an unbelievably cute character in the form of Spotted Elephant. An inconsequential character, in the long run, the dejected plaything was an outcast on the island because of his spots despite being cute as a button.
Shy and innocent, Spotted Elephant is by far the cutest misfit toy and would be an excellent addition to any child's toy chest. The strength of the character design is evident as, though the character only appears briefly, he has become a permanent fixture in Rankin/Bass history.