JACK FROST

...the characters are so darn cute that it doesn't really matter what they're doing.

One of my favorite things about classic Rankin Bass specials is that they're as quirky as they are endearing. They don't just give you traditional holiday tales, they throw in random details like the Island of Misfit Toys in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and they send familiar characters on bizarre adventures. They seem to have been made at a time when networks were eager to break for programming that could be enjoyed by the whole family, and when any old holiday seemed like a great excuse to do so. The results weren't always rock solid (think Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July), but they were always memorable and always entertaining. Jack Frost is no exception.

In keeping with their effort to leave no holiday behind, Jack Frost centers around the perennially undercelebrated Groundhog Day. It's narrated by a little groundhog named Pardon-Me-Pete (voiced by Buddy Hackett) who spends most of the special in his jammies. Odd indeed, but enchanting nonetheless. Pardon-Me-Pete goes on to explain that he and Jack Frost have been rigging Groundhog Day with the use of a magic shadow—more winter for Jack and six weeks of extra sleep for Pete. It's perfect!

We are then transported to January Junction where Pete tells us all about the time Jack Frost tried to be human. When we meet up with Jack, he's tired of dwelling invisibly amongst the people, and wants to partake in their joy. A particularly cute girl named Elisa has an incurable crush on him, but he has no way to make himself seen. He makes a deal with Father Winter, who gives him one season of humanity to assimilate. If he's successful, he can stay. If not, he will have to return to his own land, where Snip produces intricate flakes of snow with his special scissors, and a troop of "flake flippin' snow gypsies" carefully drop them from the clouds.

Forgoing his powers, Jack Frost drops into January Junction (accompanied by an incognito Snip and this exceedingly adorable snow sprite named Holly). Though somewhat clumsy and unaccustomed to the ways of the humans, Jack quickly befriends Elisa and finds lodging in her home. He soon learns of the evil Kubla Kraus of Miserable Mountain, his scary iron horse, his nefarious iron minions, and their hold on the town's gold. The only time the citizens of January Junction don't live in abject poverty is winter, when they can make their own money out of ice. It's clear to Jack that he will have to end Kubla Kraus' reign of power and make Elisa his beautiful bride. Though he is successful in taking down Kubla Kraus, he loses Elisa to another worthy (and human) prince. And so Jack Frost and friends return to the land from whence they came and winter continues as we know it.

It's a weird story to be sure, and there are plenty of peculiar song and dance numbers peppered throughout, but I can't say I didn't enjoy every last minute. Jack Frost is so dainty and nimble that you can't blame Elisa for having a crush on him, and the characters are so darn cute that it doesn't really matter what they're doing. The sometimes jerky clay animation feels refreshingly organic, and is a nice change of pace from today's computer animated features. Though Jack Frost will surely send children of the 70s and 80s into a nostalgic reverie, there's no reason the next generation won't love it too.

DVD NOTES

I had high hopes for a making-of segment explaining the painstaking effort that goes into clay animation, but alas, we have to settle for "Snip's Snowy Sing-Along" (the option to replay the musical bits with the lyrics on display) and "Totally Cool Crafty Creations" hosted by a friendly young woman named Flakey. She guides us through a smattering of cool craft projects like making paper snowflakes, whipping up nontoxic snow out of these super-absorbent flakes you can buy at the science store, and, most impressively, making your own snow globe. The girl is very sweet, but her globe features a skunk sitting under a palm tree, and she still wonders why they call her flaky! The extras may not be what you expect, but they're well-meaning and plenty of fun in their own right.