Frosty the Snowman (TV program)
| Frosty the Snowman | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Based on | Frosty the Snowman |
| Written by | Romeo Muller |
| Directed by |
Jules Bass Arthur Rankin, Jr. |
| Starring |
Billy De Wolfe Jackie Vernon Paul Frees June Foray |
| Narrated by | Jimmy Durante |
| Theme music composer | Maury Laws |
| Country of origin |
United States Japan |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Jules Bass Arthur Rankin, Jr. |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Rankin/Bass Productions Mushi Production (animation) |
| Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | December 7, 1969 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Frosty's Winter Wonderland |
Frosty the Snowman is a 1969 animated Christmas television special based on the song "Frosty the Snowman". The program, which first aired on December 7, 1969 on CBS (where it still airs to this day), was produced for television by Rankin/Bass Productions and featured the voices of comedians Jimmy Durante as the film's narrator (Durante's final performance in a film) and Jackie Vernon as the title character.
Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass wanted to give the show and its characters the look of a Christmas card, so Paul Coker, Jr., a greeting card and Mad magazine artist, was hired to do the character and background drawings. The animation was produced by Mushi Production in Japan, with then-Mushi staffer Osamu Dezaki among the animation staff.
Rankin/Bass veteran writer Romeo Muller adapted and expanded the story for television as he had done with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
TV Guide ranked the special number 4 on its 10 Best Family Holiday Specials list.
On the first snowfall before Christmas; proclaimed by the narrator to be magic snow, a group of school children are to be entertained by a magician hired by their teacher named Professor Hinkle. However, he proves to be inept and is upstaged by his rabbit Hocus Pocus, who pops out of his hat. Angry when the children prefer to go outside to play rather than watch his act, he decides to throw the hat away. Outside, the children build a snowman complete with a corncob pipe and two eyes made from coal, dubbing him Frosty, but when Hinkle's wayward hat is placed on top of his head by Karen, he surprisingly comes to life in front of them and Hinkle. Hinkle; seeing that his hat contains real magic, takes it back and leaves. As he makes his way through town however, Hocus escapes with the hat and returns it to the children who return Frosty to life. Their play is short lived, however as the temperature is beginning to rise, causing Frosty to worry that he will melt. Karen comes up with the solution by taking him to the North Pole, and Frosty leads the children on a parade through town, but once they get to the station, realize they don't have enough money to buy a train ticket. They spot a refrigerated box car which is on a train headed north, Frosty boards and Karen decides to go with him. Unbeknownst to them however, Hinkle stows away, swearing to get his hat back.
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