Frosty the Snowman Christmas Cartoon: A Chilling Revisit
The landscape of holiday specials is vast, often filled with heartwarming tales and cherished memories. Yet, revisiting some classics can yield surprising results. The Rankin-Bass Frosty The Snowman Christmas Cartoon, often paired with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, holds a significant place in seasonal programming. But does its charm hold up under scrutiny, or does it melt away like its titular character? This review takes a closer look at the 1969 animated special, examining its story, animation, and enduring, albeit perhaps undeserved, legacy. While less maligned by some than its stop-motion counterpart Rudolph, Frosty presents its own set of shortcomings.
A Rankin-Bass Staple: Animation and Design
Compared to the nearly hour-long Rudolph, Frosty‘s brisk twenty-five-minute runtime is arguably a point in its favor. It swaps stop-motion for traditional 2D animation, a welcome change for enthusiasts of hand-drawn artistry, even if the execution feels somewhat economical. The character designs, courtesy of Paul Coker Jr. (known for his work with MAD Magazine), possess a distinct, slightly geometric, and arguably peculiar aesthetic. The characters almost look like they could share a universe with Alfred E. Neuman.
Narrator Jimmy Durante introducing the Frosty the Snowman cartoon
The special opens with narration by the legendary comedian Jimmy Durante, instantly recognizable by his distinct voice and “ha-cha-cha-cha-cha”. Durante sets the scene: the first magical Christmas snow is falling on Christmas Eve, the last day of school before the holiday break. This timing itself feels questionable – most schools allow a bit more buffer before Christmas Day.
The Story Unfolds: Magic, Melting, and Mayhem
Inside the classroom, the teacher, voiced by the iconic June Foray, introduces a magician, Professor Hinkel, for some holiday entertainment. Hinkel proves to be remarkably inept, his only successful trick involving his rabbit, Hocus Pocus, escaping his control.
Teacher character voiced by June Foray in the Frosty animation
As the school bell rings, the children rush out, trampling the hapless magician. Outside, they decide to build a snowman. The group of children, led by the only named child, Karen (originally voiced by June Foray but later dubbed over for unknown reasons), are rather generic representations of childhood innocence. Their dialogue feels stilted, voiced by adults attempting childlike tones, complete with one odd instance of a sudden deep pitch change. After some debate, including the bizarre suggestion “Oatmeal,” Karen names him Frosty.
Professor Hinkel performing magic tricks poorly in the Frosty special
Intriguingly, the children sing the actual “Frosty the Snowman” song before the snowman comes to life. This meta-awareness – that the song exists within the special’s universe and predicts the events to come – is a strange narrative wrinkle that goes unaddressed.
Professor Hinkel, chasing Hocus Pocus outside, loses his hat. Karen places it on the snowman’s head, and as the song dictates, magic ensues.
Frosty the Snowman coming to life after the magic hat is placed
Frosty exclaims, “Happy Birthday!” This becomes his repetitive catchphrase each time the hat is removed and replaced, suggesting a complete memory wipe and reboot sequence rather than continuous consciousness. Voiced by comedian Jackie Vernon, known for his surprisingly risqué stand-up routines for the era, Frosty’s character feels disappointingly neutered. Vernon’s comedic talent isn’t utilized; Frosty’s lines aim for cuteness rather than humor, delivered in a blasé manner. Unlike Billy DeWolf’s performance as Hinkel, which incorporates his signature fussy diction, Vernon is given little to work with, rendering Frosty more infantile than amusing.
Close-up of Frosty the Snowman smoking his corn cob pipe
Hinkel witnesses the animation and reclaims his hat, hoping to exploit its power. The children argue he discarded it, but the wind blew it off, and Karen technically took it. Hinkel’s claim seems legally sounder, despite his villainous portrayal. At this point, roughly five minutes in, the opening titles finally roll, accompanied by Jimmy Durante’s rendition of the theme song.
The Journey North: A Race Against Temperature
Hocus Pocus, siding with the children, returns the hat to Frosty. The snowman, revived again, briefly ponders his existence before descending into simplistic antics like dancing and failing to count. Much of the special involves Frosty acting like a toddler, surrounded by adoring children, feeling akin to an episode of a show aimed at very young viewers.
The plot gains urgency as Frosty begins to melt due to rising temperatures – an early, unintentional nod to global warming perhaps? The inconsistency is notable: Frosty melts rapidly, yet the surrounding snow remains pristine.
Thermometer showing rising temperatures, causing Frosty to melt
The solution is the North Pole. The children parade Frosty through town towards the train station, causing minor chaos, including bewildering a traffic cop. Frosty’s knowledge base is inconsistent; he recognizes thermometers and understands train travel but seems ignorant of basic street objects like lampposts. At the station, the ticket master denies them passage due to lack of funds. Karen’s distress over Frosty melting feels forced, given their brief acquaintance.
Hocus Pocus finds a refrigerated boxcar heading north, and Karen decides to accompany Frosty, assuming her parents won’t mind her weeks-long, unannounced trip to the Arctic with a newly animated snowman. Unbeknownst to them, Professor Hinkel stows away, still determined to retrieve his hat.
The refrigerated car proves too cold for Karen. Frosty and Hocus disembark to find warmth for her, while Hinkel follows, tumbling comically down a hill. They encounter forest animals decorating trees, who help build a fire for Karen. Frosty keeps his distance. Hocus suggests seeking Santa Claus for help – a convenient Rankin-Bass trope. As Hocus leaves, Hinkel extinguishes the fire, forcing Frosty and Karen to flee.
They find refuge in a greenhouse filled with poinsettias. Frosty carries Karen inside, knowingly risking his own existence for her warmth. Hinkel traps them inside, anticipating Frosty’s demise.
Death, Resurrection, and Redemption?
Santa arrives just as Frosty melts into a puddle, leaving Karen distraught. The scene attempts pathos, showing Karen mourning her friend, underscored by a somber reprise of the theme song.
Karen crying over the melted puddle of Frosty the Snowman
However, Santa reveals Frosty isn’t truly gone. Made of “Christmas snow,” he possesses a magical inability to permanently melt. Santa reconstitutes Frosty, essentially performing a resurrection. This narrative beat invites comparisons to religious allegories: a figure born of purity (snow), beloved by innocents (children), opposed by dark arts (Hinkel), sacrificing himself, and being resurrected. However, the execution feels shallow. Frosty’s character lacks the depth or dignity to carry such symbolic weight effectively.
Professor Hinkel's shocked reaction in the Frosty the Snowman cartoon
Before Frosty is fully restored, Hinkel appears to claim the hat. Santa intervenes, threatening Hinkel with a lifetime ban from receiving presents. This threat proves surprisingly effective. Santa offers Hinkel a path to redemption: writing apologies, with the promise of a new hat if he truly reforms. This leniency towards someone who effectively caused Frosty’s (temporary) demise feels tonally jarring but typical of holiday special resolutions.
Santa returns the hat, Frosty utters his catchphrase, and after dropping Karen off precariously on her rooftop, Santa takes Frosty to the North Pole.
Karen stranded on the roof after Santa drops her off
Frosty promises to return next Christmas Day as the credits roll with yet another reprise of the song.
Final Thoughts on a Holiday Relic
Ultimately, the Frosty The Snowman Christmas Cartoon is a fairly unremarkable entry in the holiday special canon. Even among Rankin-Bass productions, it feels slight. Its story is thin, characters lack depth (barring the comically inept villain), and the humor often falls flat, aiming for saccharine sweetness over genuine wit. The animation, while traditionally drawn, isn’t particularly impressive.
VHS cover art for the Frosty the Snowman Christmas cartoon
While some Rankin-Bass fans hold Frosty in higher regard than Rudolph, many find it lacking. Compared to Rudolph, Frosty‘s shorter runtime and avoidance of questionable moral lessons might be seen as advantages. Its simplicity also makes it easy fodder for critique or humorous commentary. It functions best as background noise for young children or as a target for nostalgic, perhaps slightly tipsy, group viewings seeking easy laughs. It remains a part of the holiday tradition, but perhaps more out of habit than merit.
