The first adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s novel, this ran a half hour shorter to fit a TV time slot (even though I also recall seeing the 2000 version on TV). But it has Rankin Bass’ well-known animation style, like the nostalgic Christmas specials. Will that cover for potential flubs in the narrative, though?
We start with Santa Claus flying through the air, a narrator noting that happy children enrich the world, shifting to Burzee in the past.
Tingler, a Sound Imp (supposedly original), announces the Immortals’ arrival to Ak
Queen Zurline and Ak discuss how they must convince the council before Santa expires (basically spoiling the end?). We see the various Immortals (including the Master of the Sound Imps) arrive, Tingler announcing their entrance, a chorus singing about immortality in the background
Ak explains that the Spirit of Death will soon visit Santa Claus, wanting his good deeds to continue by granting him the Mantle of Immortality.
We then hear Ak tell of Santa Claus’ life, first discovering the human baby (not shown in the 2000 version), tasking lioness Sheigra to nurse and nurture it
Necile is fascinated by the child, Immortals unfamiliar with such things, watching it from a distance. She sings about wanting to raise the baby, basically stealing it when Sheigra’s distracted
Understandably, the lioness is angry and Peter Knook (a Knook leader?) can’t pacify her. Necile begs mercy from Ak, the highest authority in the forest who saved the infant first
The Woodsman agrees, allowing Necile to raise the child, Sheigra to protect them
We see the child grow up, interacting with dangerous animals casually, like a cheetah and elephant (along with another song!). Claus (not called Nicholas yet?) learns various languages from Tingler (that joke of changing languages mid-speech quickly growing old)
Claus briefly discusses his growing up to Necile, who says she is his “mother”, having raised him, which he accepts (calling her mother).
Claus leaves with Ak to view the human world (no sash, just hanging onto him), invisible by magic. We see a squire being cruel to the serfs not meeting a turnip quota, even the lord of the land exceedingly callous, claiming the servants should be grateful for what they have (literacy “overrated”?).
As Claus hears about humanity’s inevitable mortality, Ak takes him to Japan, where children are training to be samurai, Claus thinking the education is too harsh for the innocents
The next location is in the Middle East, Claus seeing orphans begging, no one providing for them like Ak does for Claus
And finally, Claus sees two knights fighting, to prepare for war, where people are likely to die for some cause, good or bad.
Ak advises Claus that, since he is mortal, he should strive to make the world a better place than he found it, following his “star” (his destiny?)
Claus leaves, bidding the forest farewell, but promising to return, Tingler and Sheigra accompanying him.
The group arrives at the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, perpetually winter. They set up camp and then, abruptly, Santa gets the house (no fanfare) and grows up, interacting with kids in a montage.
Blinkie is also introduced bluntly, the cat butting heads with Sheigra a bit (jealous?). An orphan child, Weekum, stumbles into their area, recovering from the bitter cold. He inspires Claus to make a carving of Blinkie as a toy, since he wanted a cat like him
The kids all want one as well (singing about it), Santa inspired to keep going and assisted by the Ryls, Knooks and Wood Nymphs.
But the Awgwa king throws a rock through the window, threatening Claus’s life if he makes more toys. Tingler explains that Awgwas influence children to be bad (because they’re too innocent otherwise?) and can make themselves invisible (and intangible!)
That night, the Awgwas invade Claus’ house and take him to a cave, where a snake and spider threaten him. But he gets Knook assistance, the Awgwas stealing the toys instead (unable to be stopped 12 times!)
Claus tries again, Sheigra saving him from the Awgwas’ attack.
Ak, tired of the conflict, challenges the king, his protection only extending to the forest, not the Laughing Valley, the Awgwas not intimidated by Ak’s immortal status.
War begins, Claus held back by Peter Knook. Ak wields a silver axe, which destroys one of the monsters (with a kid-friendly laser), while a dragon’s fire is turned on him, a giant is shrunk and an ogre is turned into a flower, ending the conflict.
Peter Knook gives Claus reindeer to deliver the toys, since the Awgwas are eliminated, only asking they return by daybreak
Claus has to enter by chimney, giving the children extra gifts in socks left drying by the chimney, the parents thinking him a saint (no need to be invited), which leads to the kids deciding on the Santa prefix
Peter Knook is angry about Claus being late, but agrees to permit the reindeer once a year to help the children
With time fading fast, Santa decides to retrieve the toys the Awgwas stole, Peter Knook arriving somehow with the goods (no explanation!)
In the present, Ak explains how Santa has been delivering the toys for 50 years, bringing joy to many children
The mantle, only a single one in existence (how did the other immortals gain immortality?) is given to Claus by unanimous vote. Necile briefly greets Claus as he sleeps, welcoming him into the immortals as the film concludes with Santa promising to continue his great work
Claus is our lead, his development abrupt and dependent on others pushing him forward, unfortunately. Also, his being called special, yet praised for hard work feels contradictory even with the generosity shown and courage underpinning it. If he was normal and put in effort with major risk, it wouldn’t feel like he was handed success on a silver platter
Sheigra remains a presence throughout, contrasting strongly with the 2000 film where she has 2 major moments and then expires, seemingly immortal here
Our antagonists remain shallow, only unique in the designs contrasting to the modern adaptation’s stone monsters. And there’s seemingly just one named, like a collective, so somewhat less depth even
Necile is fleshed out more, understanding the transient nature of her being a mother to Claus, but nonetheless cares for him deeply, remaining passive mostly.
Tingler serves the function Wisk did in the 2000 film, the quirk of shifting languages just that and barely serving an educational purpose (how one says toy 3 ways, for instance)
There are some new characters, like the Commander of the Winds and Queen Zurline, playing off Ak; skeptical about his ideas or offering a different perspective (like Zurline mentoring Necile). Ak himself is a wise sage, but only acts when necessary and makes decisions as a leader must
Musical numbers seem to come out of nowhere, almost more to pad out the runtime versus adding substance for the narrative
All in all, with the limitations given, it’s serviceable, though the conflict is resolved rapidly and the framing device is a bit disorienting. We still have the moral, just muddled in places. Fun trivia, it was produced in part by Pacific Animation Studios, that also worked on Thundercats and was later bought by Disney
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