Appreciating Rankin/Bass at the Holiday Season

I picked up a copy of the Deluxe Edition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer today to introduce to my youngest granddaughter, and was was surprisingly pleased to find several “Enchanting Bonus Features,” include a short on Restoring the Puppets of Rudolph, and a longer documentary titled The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass, a new documentary film. Those who grew up in the 60s and 70s will appreciate the look back at this animated holiday classic, but also the extended discussion of the groundbreaking work of Rankin/Bass and their continuing legacy. In the estimation of several in the documentary, Rankin/Bass should be acknowledged for their great contribution to animation, right alongside Disney, Hanna-Barbera, and Looney Tunes. This Deluxe Edition of the classic is worth picking up for the new material for fans of the film that virtually created animated holiday television specials, fans of Rankin/Bass, as well as animation and stop-motion animation fans.