Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
DVD cover depicting Rudolph, Winterbolt, Frosty and Crystal
Developed by	Rankin/Bass
Directed by	Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Composer(s)	Johnny Marks
Country of origin	United States Canada Japan
Production
Producer(s)	Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass
Running time	97 minutes
Production company(s)	Rankin/Bass Productions
Distributor	Warner Bros. (North America) AVCO Embassy Pictures (International)
Release
Original network	ABC (1979) Freeform (present)
Original release	November 25, 1979
Chronology
Preceded by	Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976)
Followed by	The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2005) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001)

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July is a 97-minute fictional crossover television special by Rankin Bass filmed in stop-motion animation in the style of its 1964 Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It premiered in the US on November 25, 1979 on the ABC network.

Jackie Vernon and Shelley Winters reprised their roles as Frosty the Snowman and his wife Crystal, Billie Mae Richards once again provided the voice of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Mickey Rooney provided the voice of Santa Claus once more (Rooney previously voiced Santa in Santa Claus is Comin' To Town and The Year Without A Santa Claus). Paul Frees, Thurl Ravenscroft, Red Buttons and Ethel Merman also provide voices. This would be the last Christmas special to star Billie Mae Richards and Jackie Vernon as the voices of Rudolph and Frosty, respectively, as well as Mickey Rooney as the voice of Santa until 2005's The Happy Elf and 2008's A Miser Brothers' Christmas.

Winterbolt, a powerful, wicked snow wizard (voiced by Paul Frees) has caused havoc upon the people who have entered his domain. He is then punished by the Queen of the Northern Lights, Lady Boreal (Nellie Bellflower), when she places a spell on him that puts him in a deep sleep. Years later, Winterbolt awakens and in her final act of magic, Boreal transfers the last of her power into Rudolph's red nose when he is born, which will stop glowing if it is ever used for evil. Winterbolt learns of this through his Genie of the Ice Scepter (voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft) and plans not only to dispose of Rudolph, the only power capable of stopping him, but also to reclaim his territory from Santa Claus. Meanwhile, an ice cream man named Milton (Red Buttons) from Lily Loraine's Circus by the Sea arrives and tells Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman that he plans to attract the heart of his girlfriend and Lily's daughter, Lainie, (Shelby Flint) if they star in the circus.