The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (1985)
The Great Ak calls a council of the Immortals to ask that Santa Claus be given immortality. And to justify it, he tells the history of Santa Claus. The Ak found an abandoned baby and gave it to a lioness and a fairy to raise, who named him Claus. When Claus grew up, the Great Ak showed him the evil and hardship in the world and Claus decides to live there and relieve some of the suffering. He decides to make toys for orphans, but King Awgwa, the ruler of the valley where Claus lives doesn't want the children to be happy, and there is a great battle among Immortals.
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This is one of my favourite Rankin/Bass offerings. I think this was one of the last of the Christmas Classics they made. Basically, Santa is raised by wood elves and wild animals, fights off an ogre army, then has to go to trial for the mantle of immortality so he can continue delivering his gifts. Honestly, I think they were high on mescaline or something to come up with this wild tale.Wonderful battle scenes of the hellbent ogres attacking the peaceful elves. There are many deaths in this children's cartoon, but do not despair, Santa wins in the end.Highly recommended for: the Great Ak and his clan most deaths in a Rankin/Bass Christmas special Highly Recommended!
As a child, this was my favorite Christmas movie. It is visually stunning and exhibits great artistry in claymation and storytelling. I was enthralled by the characters and enjoyed the tale of how "Santa Claus" came to be. This story is one of compassion and empathy. It really emphasizes the message of giving to those less fortunate and understanding the plight of others. A definite must see for my kids. The movie also has fun songs and funny characters to lighten the mood. I would not say this film is too dark. It has a villain and a conflict no more fierce than any others in children's films. I believe if you give this movie a chance they won't be disappointed. Anyone who enjoyed The Wizard of Oz or fantasy stories such as The Hobbit would really enjoy this take on a classic Christmas character.
Somehow, most Christmas related movies and specials seem to be sendemental, campy or some times even sickening sweet. But "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" is a big relief from those Holiday special clichés.Think of putting together a typical Rankin Bass special, Mythology of the British Isles and Jim Henson's "The Dark Crystal" and you get this movie about a mortal named St. Nicholas and how he came to be.Some people seemed to complain about the film being too dark. But face it, some things may tend to be *gasps* ARTISTIC, and *gasps* original and *gasps* not sappy or an un-artistic film just made to tell you to shell out your bucks on the crappy merchandise.If you catch this on TV or on any VCR format, or if you love "The Dark Crystal" or Mythological based films, you will love this special. I know I do!
**DEFINITE SPOILERS AHEAD**This is the story of the youth of the lad who became Santa Claus and how he was adopted by the faerie folk of an unspecified woods and eventually earned the right to be the immortal friend of all children in a suffering world.The story has moments of elegant insight. For example, at one point the young Claus is given a tour of the human world so that he can see how much misery and needless cruelty afflicts people throughout the world, particularly children. Like the better Rankin/Bass specials and the better stories in general, this tale does not shirk from the realities of human pettiness and suffering.But the story is ruined by moments of needless ugliness. This Santa Claus and his faerie friends encounters opposition from monsters, and Santa Claus deals with this opposition . . . by killing. He goes to war, and he kills his enemies in a battle which, while mild by adult standards, is gruesome for a children's 3-D puppetry special. Because of this, despite its wonderful beginning, I consider this and "The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold" to be two of the worst Rankin/Bass specials ever made.