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Frosty the Snowman

Play trailer Poster for Frosty the Snowman 1969 22m Fantasy Animation Holiday Kids & Family Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A discarded magic top hat brings to life the snowman that a group of children made, until a magician, professor Hinkle, wants it back, and the temperature starts to rise. Frosty will melt or no longer be a jolly soul, if the kids cannot get him away from Hinkle and warm weather, so he hops a train to the North Pole with young Karen.
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Frosty the Snowman

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Critics Consensus

Frosty the Snowman is a jolly, happy sing-along that will delight children with its crisp animation and affable title character, who makes an indelible impression with his corncob pipe, button nose, and eyes made out of coal.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Dziemianowicz New York Daily News The animation is folksy and cute, like an old-timey holiday card, and the raspy voice of Jimmy Durante...as the narrator is like home sweet home. Nov 30, 2018 Full Review Lynne Heffley Los Angeles Times The 1969 original, which, though hardly an animation classic, had a genuine, simple sweetness stemming from its inspiration. Nov 30, 2018 Full Review Chris O'Falt indieWire From the raspy sound of Jimmy Durante's narration to the pastel animation of the town, watching this movie...is like the warmth of listening to an old record. Nov 30, 2018 Full Review Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net It's just so odd and I kind of wish it wasn't so gloomy and morose. Rated: 4/10 Apr 18, 2019 Full Review Matthew Jackson Syfy Wire 'Frosty' is surprisingly emotional because of the level of love Frosty himself shows for the kids who made him. Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Ryan Voyles Paste Magazine It's a tight narrative that avoids unnecessary detours or mediocre songs, and Professor Hinkle is the perfect foil for the children and the kind, absent-minded Frosty. Nov 30, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack N It is another Christmas/winter classic that I hope continues to be watched for many more years. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/23/24 Full Review Nicholas Just an amazing movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Craig B One of the classics from Bass and Rankin. Frosty's apparent death near the end tore me up as a kid. And his rebirth was equally joyful. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/25/23 Full Review Joel H Frosty the Snowman is one of those cartoons I watched a lot as a kid, but didn't realize how short and simple it is until I was an adult. At only 25 minutes long, it flies along like a snowman down a hill, yet the plot is snowflake-thin and they really have to stretch things out to fill that runtime. And while Jackie Vernon's voice sounds so familiar to me, the real nostalgia comes from Jimmy Durante's rendition of the theme song. There must have been some magic in the creation of this animated holiday special, because even though it's not amazingly done, I want to watch it each Christmas season. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/23/23 Full Review jackson p "Today is a great tragedy today folks. 54 years ago, little girl Karen went missing while with her school friends. her and her friends met this living snowman by the name frosty. reports said he wanted to get to the north pole before he melts. the snowman and the children went to the train station to get tickets to the north pole from Mr. Harold, the ticket holder. he denied them access because they had no money. in statements he said "they had no money, so I denied them. if only I gave them the tickets." then it was discovered that Karen was more attached to frosty than the other children, so when a train was taking off, they secretly boarded it. the train was actually supposed to go to Minnestoa, so they would not end up in the north pole. but the train disappeared, "it simply didn't show up" said the late train coordinator Fred Hartfield. "Simply gone." Karens mom was so worried that she called the police 67 times for them to go on a search party, and they did, but came out empty handed. the spot that they were heading is always in snow, sometimes blizzards. the town said there sorry to Karen's mom, but it was too late. the mom died of depression overnight 54 years ago. the school children, all grown up, said in a later statement that they don't know why she was so attached to frosty. "It was her thing, I guess" said stan Johanson, one of her friends. everybody thought that was the end for poor Karen. but, 54 years later, stan decided that he wanted to go see if the train that disappeared was still there somewhere. so, he took a metal detector and searched through the snow. then, he got something. he found a wheel. then he dug some more, than he found the train, submerged in a giant pile of snow. he opened the very rusted door, and he found Karen's body. her clothes still on. he said that she was abandoned and was blocked in. and that she probably tried to survive off the sweets. little Karen never made it out, but what did frosty do? did he leave her to die, or he just melted trying to warm her? we may never know..." Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/20/24 Full Review Doug N Frosty The Snowman is another beloved Christmas special from Rankin & Bass told through traditional hand-drawn animation. Based on the classic holiday song of the same name by Walter E. Rollins and Steve Nelson. This is a highly amusing special with some moments that will tug the heartstrings. It features pleasant animation with an appealing comic strip style, and charming singing of the delightful holiday classic song that reprises multiple times throughout the narrative. Frosty remains one of Rankin and Bass' most memorable and jolly Christmas specials for generations of kids and families. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A discarded magic top hat brings to life the snowman that a group of children made, until a magician, professor Hinkle, wants it back, and the temperature starts to rise. Frosty will melt or no longer be a jolly soul, if the kids cannot get him away from Hinkle and warm weather, so he hops a train to the North Pole with young Karen.
Director
Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Screenwriter
Romeo Muller
Production Co
Rankin/Bass Productions
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Holiday, Kids & Family
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2016
Runtime
22m
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