Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red–Nosed Reindeer is a long-running Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass. It first aired December 6, 1964 on the NBC television network in the USA. It is based on the song by Johnny Marks, and in turn taken from the 1939 poem of the same title written by Marks' brother-in-law, Robert L. May. Since 1972, the special has aired over CBS, who unveiled a high-definition, digitally remastered version in 2005.

Since I was a little girl, this has been my favorite Christmas program. I used to wait every year for it to fun on television and it was always a big event in our home. Because of the wide-spread use of videorecording and DVDs, my children have not had to wait until a specific day to watch this wonderful show; they have it at their fingertips to watch whenever they want.

Besides Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, there are many other endearing characters. Sam the Snowman is voiced by and styled to resemble folk singer Burl Ives, who also contributes several songs throughout the show, including the most famous one, "A Holly Jolly Christmas". Hermey the Misfit Elf preferred studying dentistry to making toys. Clarice the Reindeer was the only reindeer at the beginning of the movie who accepts Rudolph's red nose and helps him to fly at the reindeer games by telling him he is cute. Yukon Cornelius is a prospector who is searching for silver and gold.

Although Rudolph may be outdated compared to the new CGI movies, this darling film will always hold a special place in my heart.