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The Year Without a Santa Claus

Play trailer Poster for The Year Without a Santa Claus 1974,  51m,  Animation/ Fantasy/ Holiday/ Kids & Family Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 90% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 83% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Sidelined by a nasty cold and feeling unneeded, Santa decides not to make his annual Christmas journey. Elves Jingle and Jangle scour the world to find people who still believe, hoping to convince the jolly old elf to make his trip anyway. They run into trouble in Southtown, however, and the only way they can get out of their predicament is to make it snow in the warm climate. Meanwhile, Santa sees evidence that people do still believe, and a little girl's touching letter prompts him to pack up the sleigh and head out on his annual trek, making a special stop in the now-snowy Southtown.
The Year Without a Santa Claus

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Have no fear! Mrs Claus spreads holiday cheer in The Year Without Santa, a holiday classic full of unforgettable songs and characters that stays true to the Christmas spirit.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Nashawaty Entertainment Weekly Nov 29, 2018
It's up to a pair of elves (Jingle Bells and Jangle Bells) to save the day. But first they have to get past Heat Miser and Snow Miser - the best Christmas baddies since the Grinch. Go to Full Review
Andrew Ryan Globe and Mail Nov 28, 2018
Truly terrible. Go to Full Review
Charles Bramesco New York Times Nov 26, 2018
The breakout stars were Heat Miser and Snow Miser, bitter rivals and brothers with control over the elements. Their jaunty tune ranks among the catchiest original songs that a Rankin-Bass production ever yielded. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Apr 17, 2019
9/10
It's certainly one of my favorite of the Rankin/Bass specials. Go to Full Review
Refinery29 Editors Refinery29 Nov 28, 2018
What's more fun than stop-motion animated holiday movies? Absolutely nothing... It also features a badass Mrs. Claus basically trying to save Christmas. Go to Full Review
Molly Freeman Hollywood.com Nov 26, 2018
The best one of all - and surely we can all agree on this one - is The Year Without A Santa Claus. On top of being an animated Christmas special, it's also a musical with songs like I Could Be Santa Claus and Blue Christmas. Go to Full Review
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The Year Without a Santa Claus

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Cast & Crew

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Jules Bass

Director

Arthur Rankin Jr.

Director

Mickey Rooney

Santa Claus

Shirley Booth

Mrs. Santa

Dick Shawn

Snow Miser

George S. Irving

Heat Miser

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The Year Without a Santa Claus

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sidelined by a nasty cold and feeling unneeded, Santa decides not to make his annual Christmas journey. Elves Jingle and Jangle scour the world to find people who still believe, hoping to convince the jolly old elf to make his trip anyway. They run into trouble in Southtown, however, and the only way they can get out of their predicament is to make it snow in the warm climate. Meanwhile, Santa sees evidence that people do still believe, and a little girl's touching letter prompts him to pack up the sleigh and head out on his annual trek, making a special stop in the now-snowy Southtown.
Director
Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Holiday, Kids & Family
Original Language
English
Release Date (TV)
Dec 10, 1974
Runtime
51m
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