Frosty the Snowman

Who doesn’t like Frosty the Snowman? Aside from Heat Miser, Moltar, a cranky Human Torch, etc. with the fire based characters along with those who have a prejudice on 2D animation. I haven’t heard anyone nearby who hated Frosty the Snowman. He just became an animated icon for Rankin Bass.

Just like Rudolph, the story is simple that expands a little from the song, and narrated by Jimmy Durante. Karen and her friends found a magic hat to bring Frosty the Snowman to life. The magic hat belongs to Professor Hingle, who wants it back to make him a millionaire. Suddenly it became hot one day (and I mean suddenly after Frosty relived.), so Karen took Frosty on a train to the North Pole by stowaway.   

There have been Snowmen in the past, first brought to you creepily by Van Buren in 1933, and others afterwards were mostly simply nice and always melt at the end. Despite this film has a narrator, Jackie Vernon as Frosty is probably the first snowman to have a personality that he’s simple and caring. OK, so was the other, but he at least has more than two facial expressions and face magically better drawn.

Now it’s the best time to talk yet the worst time for me and this year. Karen was voiced by the late June Foray. What an incredible voice actress she is. Recently it was discovered that June Foray did voice all the kids than just the teacher, but they didn’t sound right. The worst of the characters June Foray voiced is Karen, who sounds as bad as a Little Girl in Manos, the Hand of Fate.

It’s strange in How the Grinch Stole Christmas; she voiced Cindy Lou Who, who was no more than two. She did sound young in that film, unless Warner Bros and MGM has the audio sped up, and Rankin Bass didn’t. Maybe they lost it after they recorded dialogue for the Muchkins in Tales of the Wizard of Oz. She briefly voiced Aaron’s mom in the Little Drummer Boy, who could be around 20-35, and she voiced the old lady in Mouse of Mayflower, who she mostly uses with Granny of the Looney Tunes.

The recasting for the kids is voiced by mostly unknown children actors after the first airing. I did look up who voiced Karen and earlier it was Suzanne Davidson (at least that’s what Google said earlier) and she sounds perfect as an 8-10 years girl. It helps to go with a cute little design of a girl.

I love June Foray, but not every actor’s role is gold. She’ll be missed, and watching movies with her in it will be heart wrenching.

Unlike the music in past Rankin Bass, they stick to one and played part of the Frosty the Snowman song to be sung by the kids or Jimmy Durante one last time to flow well than have more than one just for padding. Granted, the sequels will play more than one, as long they have purpose.  

This is the first time the animation for Rankin Bass by the Mushi Studio. It may look awkward at times, but it can work with the design to a likable life.

Frosty the Snowman is a nice animated Christmas special. If you’re not interested, there’s always The Snowman, the original, not the David Bowie narration. Just like the ending, Frosty will be back again someday, about 3 and half times. Yes, I’m going through that many sequels, with Christmas in July after I review Rudolph's.