The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus

TV-G

1985

49m

Fantasy

Holiday

Kids & Family

List

63%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

63%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

Immortals adopt a mortal baby, who later returns to Earth to make children happy.

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AV Club Staff

AV Club

It badly botches what a Christmas special should be, and is worth watching mainly for unintentional laughs.

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

Emily St. James

Vox

This is something like Rankin/Bass's fifth attempt to tell the back-story of the jolly old elf. But there's something so pleasingly goofy about Santa wandering into scenes that might as well be ripped from the pages of Marvel Comics.

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

John J. O'Connor

New York Times

Mr. Baum's peculiar vision can be filled with all sorts of deliciously scarifying elements, but the underlying theme is unfailingly comforting.

Dec 5, 2018

Full Review

Ryan Voyles

Paste Magazine

Lacks the lighthearted charm of the earlier specials, but makes up for it in its tight plot and the best Animagic the studio ever did.

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

Matthew Jackson

Syfy Wire

It's Rankin/Bass doing high fantasy in ways they never did before, the stop-motion is smooth and gorgeous, and it's worth seeking out just for how strange it is.

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

R.L. Shaffer

IGN Movies

The special is peppered with dazzling characters courtesy of Baum's highly inventive imagination, coupled with terrific stop-motion animation that brings the marvelous characters to life in extraordinary ways.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

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John C

Truly stands out as a less traditional Christmas story. Phenomenal voice work and a really engaging story

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/23

Full Review

Jack's A

It has interesting characters and story, and if you like horror movies like me, you'll definitely love some parts of this special

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Uhm. Wtf did I just watch?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What a fantastic interpretation of Santa's origin!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

My favorite Christmas special

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

alec b

never seen the story of santa clause presented this way. very different and strange but i like it because l frank originally created this story

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Jules Bass

Director

Arthur Rankin Jr.

Director

Earl Hammond

Santa Claus

Earle Hyman

King Awgwa

Larry Kenney

Commander of the Wind Demons

Lynne Lipton

Queen Zurline

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Synopsis

Immortals adopt a mortal baby, who later returns to Earth to make children happy.

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Producer: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Screenwriter: Jules Bass, L. Frank Baum
Rating: TV-G
Genre: Fantasy, Holiday, Kids & Family
Original Language: English
Runtime: 49m