Just finished this, the sequel to Rankin/Bass' "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". With Red Skelton as narrator Father Time as well as the Baby Bear, Frank Gorshin as the knight Sir Ten-To-Three, Morey Amsterdam as the caveman-O.M. (One Million), Hal "Great Gildersleeve" Peary as the whale Big Ben, Paul Frees as various voices, Don Messick as Papa Bear, Iris Rainer as Mama Bear, and, returning as Rudolph, Billie Mae Richards. Written once again by Romeo Muller, "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" is a wonderful Tall Tale about how the reindeer with the shiny nose managed to make sure that it didn't become December 31st forever. Even as an adult, I was enthralled by the way Muller kept making things up as the story went along and didn't care a lick about logic or stuff like that as long as it was still believable. Although when Red said this story took place just after the events in the previous special, I did question why Rudolph's antlers had shrunk to when he was a kid. Other than that, I still highly enjoyed "Rudolph's Shiny New Year". P.S. I just found out Frees and Amsterdam were born in the same city as I, Chicago, Ill.
25 Reviews
Missing song by Father Time?
bison2572 December 2005
While not as good as either "Year Without a Santa Claus" or the original "Rudolph", this was still must-see TV when I was growing up. Since it's one-hour long (when broadcast), you get more bang for your buck than the many half-hour Christmas shows.
When watching this recently, it seems to me they cut one of Red Skelton's songs. Wasn't there a song titled "The moving finger writes...", where Father Time explains to Rudolph how Baby New Year grows into an old man by the end of the year? I have a distinct memory of that. Perhaps it shows up on the DVD? In a similar vein, there's a song I know they routinely cut from "Year Without a Santa Claus"--Mrs. Claus singing "Anyone Can Be Santa Claus". I realize that they're probably squeezing in more commercials than when I was a kid, & something is bound to get cut. Still.
When watching this recently, it seems to me they cut one of Red Skelton's songs. Wasn't there a song titled "The moving finger writes...", where Father Time explains to Rudolph how Baby New Year grows into an old man by the end of the year? I have a distinct memory of that. Perhaps it shows up on the DVD? In a similar vein, there's a song I know they routinely cut from "Year Without a Santa Claus"--Mrs. Claus singing "Anyone Can Be Santa Claus". I realize that they're probably squeezing in more commercials than when I was a kid, & something is bound to get cut. Still.
A typically charming holiday TV special by Rankin/Bass
Woodyanders2 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Rudolph has to find the missing Happy, the big-eared Baby New Year, prior to the end of New Year's Eve or else the old year will go on indefinitely. Rudolph is assisted in his desperate mission by friendly whale Big Ben, cheery caveman One Million (O.M. for short), noble knight Sir Ten-To-Three, and the amiable Ben Franklynesque Seventeen Seventy Six. Meanwhile, evil monster bird Eon the Terrible wants to get his nasty claws on Happy so he can live forever. This really sweet and delightful holiday television special boasts the usual appealing attributes which make these shows by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin, Jr. so utterly charming and irresistible: a catchy and jaunty soundtrack of infectiously bouncy songs, a giddy, upbeat tone, cool stop-motion animation, likable and colorful characters, an amusing sense of gentle good-natured humor, and an engrossingly simple and straightforward story. Red Skelton makes for a warm and folksy narrator as Father Time. In addition, marvelous voice actor supreme Paul Frees lends his glorious golden throat to Eon, Seventeen Seventy Six, Santa Claus, and clockwork soldier General Ticker. The other cast members voice their roles with tremendous hearty aplomb: Billie Mae Richards as eternal optimist Rudolph, Frank Gorshin as Sir Ten-To-Three, Morey Amsterdam as One Million, Harold Peary as Big Ben, and Don Messick as the grumpy Papa Bear. A total treat.
"1965 was too noisy"
utgard1428 December 2013
Rankin/Bass sequel to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer doesn't come close to that classic but has charms of its own. The story is that Happy, the Baby New Year, has run away and unless he is returned by Dec 31st the current year will not end. Rudolph is asked to find Happy, which is appropriate since they both have in common that they were laughed at for physical oddities. Rudolph with his glowing red nose and Happy with his huge ears. It's a running gag throughout the special that every time someone sees Happy's ears they burst out laughing. It seems a little mean after awhile, to be honest.
The most interesting part of the story to me was the Archipelago of Last Years. Basically after every year ends, that year retires to an island all of its own. It's a neat idea that allowed Rankin/Bass to toy with various characters from different times. My favorite of these was the island of the year that all fairy tales and nursery rhymes were created. So we get to see Rankin/Bass animate characters like the Three Bears and Cinderella. Throughout the story, Rudolph picks up various allies and must contend with an evil vulture named Aeon.
The stop-motion animation is, as usual, excellent. I love the vulture in particular. The voicework is great. Billie Mae Richards returns as Rudolph. Red Skelton voices the narrator Father Time, as well as a short bit as Baby Bear (using one of his old standard voices from his radio & TV shows). Morey Amsterdam voices O.M. the caveman. The songs are a mixed bag and probably the special's weakest element. Also, as mentioned, the constant laughing at the baby for his ears is a little rough and the "moral" at the end, as stated by Rudolph, doesn't seem to fit. Still, it's an enjoyable special. It's not one of the best but it's Rankin/Bass so it's solid entertainment despite its flaws.
The most interesting part of the story to me was the Archipelago of Last Years. Basically after every year ends, that year retires to an island all of its own. It's a neat idea that allowed Rankin/Bass to toy with various characters from different times. My favorite of these was the island of the year that all fairy tales and nursery rhymes were created. So we get to see Rankin/Bass animate characters like the Three Bears and Cinderella. Throughout the story, Rudolph picks up various allies and must contend with an evil vulture named Aeon.
The stop-motion animation is, as usual, excellent. I love the vulture in particular. The voicework is great. Billie Mae Richards returns as Rudolph. Red Skelton voices the narrator Father Time, as well as a short bit as Baby Bear (using one of his old standard voices from his radio & TV shows). Morey Amsterdam voices O.M. the caveman. The songs are a mixed bag and probably the special's weakest element. Also, as mentioned, the constant laughing at the baby for his ears is a little rough and the "moral" at the end, as stated by Rudolph, doesn't seem to fit. Still, it's an enjoyable special. It's not one of the best but it's Rankin/Bass so it's solid entertainment despite its flaws.
Rudolph Saves the New Year, Too
evanston_dad12 December 2006
This was included on the same DVD as "The Year Without a Santa Claus," and I must say that I don't remember this one at all from my childhood. It picks up where the original "Rudolph" left off. Rudolph has successfully saved Christmas, so he's charged with saving the New Year as well, sent off into the night by Santa Claus (who's really good at delegating, by the way), to find the New Year's baby, a bizarre little tyke with enormous ears who looks like Harpo Marx and wears a giant top hat. He's run away because everyone laughs at his ears; who better to find him and teach him the value of not taking life so seriously than Rudolph, he of the drunkard's nose?
I liked this one, though it features the least memorable music yet of this kind of animated film. Rudolph is joined by a soldier who's part clock and speaks in rhymed couplets, and a knight whose face we never see and who could be a character out of Monty Python. There's also a gloomy camel and my favorite character, a great whale who gives the group rides around the ocean and helps them chase down the scary monster bird (that's really its name) who wants to kidnap baby New Year so he can stop time and prevent himself from turning into ice (don't ask). Last but not least, Red Skelton fills narration duties as Father Time.
Like all of these films, even if they're not that great, they provide a certain nostalgic satisfaction to those of us who remember a time before computer animation.
Grade: B+
I liked this one, though it features the least memorable music yet of this kind of animated film. Rudolph is joined by a soldier who's part clock and speaks in rhymed couplets, and a knight whose face we never see and who could be a character out of Monty Python. There's also a gloomy camel and my favorite character, a great whale who gives the group rides around the ocean and helps them chase down the scary monster bird (that's really its name) who wants to kidnap baby New Year so he can stop time and prevent himself from turning into ice (don't ask). Last but not least, Red Skelton fills narration duties as Father Time.
Like all of these films, even if they're not that great, they provide a certain nostalgic satisfaction to those of us who remember a time before computer animation.
Grade: B+
One of the first things I saw as a little kid- and it can stick with you
Quinoa19842 December 2004
Rudolph's Shiny New Year can be striking, and entertaining, if you're watching it when you're little - little enough that by the time you're my age you have no clear memory of the first time you watched it, just that you did over and over. As a kid you get introduced to claymation someway or another (even those of today who don't have Gumby get Wallace and Gromit), and this plays for a fine hour for the little ones, but can perhaps be of worth for the parents here and there. The story of Rudolph saving the "baby new-year" from the clutches of Eon, a vulture looking to keep December 31st on a loop, is pretty simple, with conflicts and characters that are typical and funny enough to take. But what can be memorable for a child is how some of this special is dark (with Eon) when it's not cute (most scenes with the baby). It's also interesting as a kind of sequel-cum-remake of the original Rudolph story, as the baby has to contend with having big ears- something that a child might find more relatable than a shiny nose. The songs are also a bit of a treat, if dated, and Red Skeleton does a fine double-job with the voicing of Father time and the little Bear on the island. Basically, it's the kind of special that is worth checking out with the kids for a few minutes, and if they get into it, it may prove a treat, and if not, there's still Nickelodeon.
Rudolph's Shiny New Year is a classic!
haxleyandrew4 February 2012
I grew up watching Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer for a very long time. Rankin Bass and of course Romeo Muller have made such a great icon that was a classic for a very Long time. And Rankin Bass Jr. also helped out on the production and as it seemed i enjoyed this forever.
At Christmas time i watch many classics such as Frosty the Snowman. But Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer has been my most favorite that i have watched. I enjoyed it a lot and sometimes read the books about it. But Rudolph has been the best hero and leading Santa's sleigh was also a nice deed.
Despite what i have to say. I love Rudolph and i like his story. And since childhood i used to watch many cartoons starring him in it and I'm glad to say that it definitely pleased me. Rudolph was popular and was the best reindeer of all. And since seeing the original movie. I went on to seeing Rudolph's Shiny New Year because i thought it was a great masterpiece.
Of course being that. Rudolph has to save Baby New Year's Eve who is also teased because of how large his ears appear to be by the other kids. But also that they have to avoid the vulture who is mean and really is not nice at all.
Even though Rudolph is my favorite character since childhood and when i was a child watching the stuff before. He will continue to please me at Christmas time. Rudolph is a beloved and a great hero that has one simple message. Never be teased or alone when trying to join a group. Always be who you are and everything will be alright. This is what Rudolph will say if you are really sad.
The greatest holiday hit for Christmas ever. - Rudolph's Shiny New Year deserves to be on the most great holiday Christmas masterpieces of all time. Though if you are still a child this should entertain you. And may i say the characters such as Father Time and Rudolph himself will. The story was great, The animation was dazzling, And the concept and the look of the characters was awesome. This is not a movie to pass up on when Christmas is around the corner. You need to see this for yourself. You will be pleased, Definitely something i would recommend for both kids and grownups who are fans of the show.
At Christmas time i watch many classics such as Frosty the Snowman. But Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer has been my most favorite that i have watched. I enjoyed it a lot and sometimes read the books about it. But Rudolph has been the best hero and leading Santa's sleigh was also a nice deed.
Despite what i have to say. I love Rudolph and i like his story. And since childhood i used to watch many cartoons starring him in it and I'm glad to say that it definitely pleased me. Rudolph was popular and was the best reindeer of all. And since seeing the original movie. I went on to seeing Rudolph's Shiny New Year because i thought it was a great masterpiece.
Of course being that. Rudolph has to save Baby New Year's Eve who is also teased because of how large his ears appear to be by the other kids. But also that they have to avoid the vulture who is mean and really is not nice at all.
Even though Rudolph is my favorite character since childhood and when i was a child watching the stuff before. He will continue to please me at Christmas time. Rudolph is a beloved and a great hero that has one simple message. Never be teased or alone when trying to join a group. Always be who you are and everything will be alright. This is what Rudolph will say if you are really sad.
The greatest holiday hit for Christmas ever. - Rudolph's Shiny New Year deserves to be on the most great holiday Christmas masterpieces of all time. Though if you are still a child this should entertain you. And may i say the characters such as Father Time and Rudolph himself will. The story was great, The animation was dazzling, And the concept and the look of the characters was awesome. This is not a movie to pass up on when Christmas is around the corner. You need to see this for yourself. You will be pleased, Definitely something i would recommend for both kids and grownups who are fans of the show.
Rudolph again...
gazzo-22 December 2000
This is the one with the villainous Vulture, and where Rudolph gets trapped inside a big snowball. And the kid with the huge ears too...Well, it's not bad-Santa mixed with New Years and whatever-it doesn't quite hold up as well's 'Heat Mizer' or the first Frosty, but it's a fun watch for the family.
*** outta ****
*** outta ****
some nostalgic charm
SnoopyStyle27 December 2017
Happy the Baby New Year had runaway due to teasing about his big ears. The weather is frightful. After saving Christmas, Rudolph is the only one who can save New Year. He is joined by General Ticker. They cross the Sands of Time to find Father Time guided by The Great Quarter Past Five. Aeon The Terrible is after Baby New Year to stop time. Rudolph searches for Happy in the Archipelago of Last Years.
It was over a decade since the first Rudolph first aired. There is a nostalgic charm to the stop-motion animation. While it's great to have new characters, I don't understand why so many of them seem to drop off. Where did General Ticker go? Why introduce great side characters, only to drop them immediately? I also don't understand how the 3 bears fit into the Archipelago. They're not historical figures. There are some new songs but it's always the classic that is truly great. Despite a few questionable turns, it's still a fun journey.
It was over a decade since the first Rudolph first aired. There is a nostalgic charm to the stop-motion animation. While it's great to have new characters, I don't understand why so many of them seem to drop off. Where did General Ticker go? Why introduce great side characters, only to drop them immediately? I also don't understand how the 3 bears fit into the Archipelago. They're not historical figures. There are some new songs but it's always the classic that is truly great. Despite a few questionable turns, it's still a fun journey.
Producers went the well once too often
ktronis5 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
It's pretty obvious that the producers of the original Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer TV special were trying to milk the concept once more. They should have quit while they were ahead.
As another person pointed out in their comment, at the end of the original Rudolph show, he had become a young adult. But, in this show, he is back to being a "kid" again. That's just the beginning of the weirdness.
The plot is quite confusing and muddled, including numerous character names that relate to dates and times. If a small child is watching, they might enjoy it simply for the animation. But, I cannot imagine trying to explain the plot and the characters to them.
You know a show is odd when you see a scene with Rudolph standing there with a Ben Franklin-lookalike, a caveman, and a knight in armor.
This story concept might have worked well on its own without Rudolph, playing on the "travelling through time" angle. But, what it has to do with Rudolph and the Christmas holiday, I'm still trying to figure out.
As another person pointed out in their comment, at the end of the original Rudolph show, he had become a young adult. But, in this show, he is back to being a "kid" again. That's just the beginning of the weirdness.
The plot is quite confusing and muddled, including numerous character names that relate to dates and times. If a small child is watching, they might enjoy it simply for the animation. But, I cannot imagine trying to explain the plot and the characters to them.
You know a show is odd when you see a scene with Rudolph standing there with a Ben Franklin-lookalike, a caveman, and a knight in armor.
This story concept might have worked well on its own without Rudolph, playing on the "travelling through time" angle. But, what it has to do with Rudolph and the Christmas holiday, I'm still trying to figure out.
A Christmas Classic and yearly tradition
pjkix13 December 2002
This movie is awesome ... i haven't seen it in a few years but i always look forward to seeing it when it comes on. The characters are great and the story is very entertaining.
Baby new year is lost and time is running out to find him, the only one that can save the day is Rudolph. Baby new year runs away because he has giant ears and everyone makes fun of him except Rudolph cause he know's what it's like to made fun of for his red nose ... A classic moment is when Aeon the Terrible, big-beaked monster bird, captures baby new year and he almost dies laughing when the baby new year takes off his hat and reveals his giant ears.
There's some other great characters too, i remember an knight that helps Rudolph and an eskimo, a giant whale, the abominal snow man, and of course old man last year who is about to croak which is why they have to get baby new year back. It's some good stuff for the whole family.
Baby new year is lost and time is running out to find him, the only one that can save the day is Rudolph. Baby new year runs away because he has giant ears and everyone makes fun of him except Rudolph cause he know's what it's like to made fun of for his red nose ... A classic moment is when Aeon the Terrible, big-beaked monster bird, captures baby new year and he almost dies laughing when the baby new year takes off his hat and reveals his giant ears.
There's some other great characters too, i remember an knight that helps Rudolph and an eskimo, a giant whale, the abominal snow man, and of course old man last year who is about to croak which is why they have to get baby new year back. It's some good stuff for the whole family.
Too frightening for the little kids
drmike997 December 2020
Outstanding Holiday Animation
Rainey-Dawn10 November 2022
Another Rankin-Bass holiday classic I grew up with - I was 4 years old in 1976 and watched it every year after it first aired for years.
What is cuter than this New Years Baby and his ears? I always thought he was adorable.
I always loved the Rankin-Bass specials - well made, nice stories, sometimes funny, and lovable characters - even the bad guys are great villains.
In this tale, Santa sends Rudolph out to find Happy, the New Years Baby, who had wondered far away from his home because others laughed at those cute ears of his. Happy just wants a friend but time is running out - you see, New Years is coming soon.
Highly recommended viewing.
10/10.
What is cuter than this New Years Baby and his ears? I always thought he was adorable.
I always loved the Rankin-Bass specials - well made, nice stories, sometimes funny, and lovable characters - even the bad guys are great villains.
In this tale, Santa sends Rudolph out to find Happy, the New Years Baby, who had wondered far away from his home because others laughed at those cute ears of his. Happy just wants a friend but time is running out - you see, New Years is coming soon.
Highly recommended viewing.
10/10.
Happy New Year with Rankin/Bass
TheLittleSongbird2 February 2013
Rankin/Bass have been responsible for some of my favourites. Of their specials my favourites are Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Comin' To Town. On the most part I did like Rudolph's Shiny New Year. Of course it is not as good as Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, but considering how timeless that is I wasn't expecting the same kind of quality. I do think that some parts did feel stretched out and Rudolph's Shiny New Year could have been told quite easily in half the running time. It does look great though, a lot of detail went into the visuals and stop-motion animation and it really shows, managing to be both enchanting and wonderfully twisted. The score is fitting and whimsical, and while the songs are not among the most inspired or memorable from the Rankin/Bass specials- I personally did find Raining Sun Shine instantly forgettable- there are some pleasantly upbeat ones, the best being Hap-Hap-Happy New Year. The writing has its charm and fun, if not as fresh, witty or touching as some of the best Rankin/Bass specials. The story is interesting, the scenes with Happy are very sweet and what initially seems mean-spirited(I'm talking about Happy having big ears) comes across as touching in the end(I can also see a lot of people relating to Happy for this). There are some strange moments that can lose you first time, but the more times you see it the quicker you feel that it's part of the charm. Of the characters, all of which are engaging with some endearingly quirky names, my favourites are Rudolph, Father Time and Big Ben, though it is difficult not to love adorable little Happy and Aeon is a decent enough villain(even if there are better Rankin/Bass villains around, namely Burgermeister). The voice acting is terrific, Red Skelton being the standout. Overall, not one of the best Rankin/Bass specials but has a lot of good things. 8/10 Bethany Cox
misses the point of original Rudolph Christmas special
CineMage6 November 2003
Warning: Spoilers
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS ABOUT THIS AND OTHER CHRISTMAS SPECIALS AHEAD**
While I can enjoy the cheeriness of the tale, and Red Skelton is always a joy to behold, this special fails for me on two levels.
A minor quibble is the nakedly derivative storyline.
A serious quibble is that Rudolph is de-evolved from a young adult deer back to a child.
One of the wonderful aspects of the original "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" special is that it functioned as a fairly honest coming-of-age story, a simplified but genuine bildungsroman for modern American children. A key moment is when Rudolph accepts the responsibilities and costs of becoming an adult. And it is the mature Rudolph, not the chibi cute li'l Rudolph, who is honored to lead Santa's sleigh. All this is negated when he suddenly reverts to childhood in this special in order to save the New Year.
I am disappointed when an emptily cute story constitutes the sequel to an intelligent coming-of-age fable, and that is what has happened here.
While I can enjoy the cheeriness of the tale, and Red Skelton is always a joy to behold, this special fails for me on two levels.
A minor quibble is the nakedly derivative storyline.
A serious quibble is that Rudolph is de-evolved from a young adult deer back to a child.
One of the wonderful aspects of the original "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" special is that it functioned as a fairly honest coming-of-age story, a simplified but genuine bildungsroman for modern American children. A key moment is when Rudolph accepts the responsibilities and costs of becoming an adult. And it is the mature Rudolph, not the chibi cute li'l Rudolph, who is honored to lead Santa's sleigh. All this is negated when he suddenly reverts to childhood in this special in order to save the New Year.
I am disappointed when an emptily cute story constitutes the sequel to an intelligent coming-of-age fable, and that is what has happened here.
There's A Reason Why It's DVD Bonus Material
Steve_Nyland26 December 2011
This review may displease fans of these specials, and to them I apologize in advance. I've been trying to get myself to like this Rankin/Bass production now for about four years since obtaining it on DVD and may officially be throwing in the towel here. To each his own, my sense of nostalgia forces me to sit through it even if the enjoyment factor is somewhat low. I adore R/B's classic animation approach -- which is certainly not "claymation", by the way. The models are all composed of cloth, wood and other solid non-clay like materials formed on wire armatures. "Stop motion animation" would be the proper term, not that it really matters. Just being a nerd by pointing it out.
What does matter is that this time out the story is too oblique for its own good, a complex matter involving Rudolph brought in to find the infant New Year baby who decided it didn't like having its big ears made fun of and sports off in search of his own destiny. Rudolph, called in like an adjunct member of the Justice League, is quickly on the case. Along the way they encounter several barely memorable characters and a confusing string of events set to easily forgettable songs. Red Skelton's crooning of "Turn Back the Years" doesn't rate on the same scale as the accursed "Holly Jolly Christmas" or even "There's Always Tomorrow", my most hated of all the Rankin/Bass songs. Give me "Blue Christmas" any day over that please. At least those songs were worthy enough to inspire genuine disgust, the ones presented here are merely tedious or perfunctory.
In the end what may be condemning the effort in my eyes may be a lack of recollection of seeing the special as a kid. There is a direct relation to one's repeated exposure to this kind of entertainment as a tot and appreciation for it as an adult. The other Rankin/Bass heavyweights were routinely screened on the big three networks during my coming of age years but this one seems to have slipped through the cracks. Or, more likely, was aired on non-television nights in our family household. Imagine that, nights when the kids aren't allowed to watch TV. Parents would find themselves in court these days.
Then again my folks probably conceded that Rudolph, Burgermeister-Meisterburger and Heatmiser were too cool for them to deny us a look every year. Those specials resonated on a level that goes beyond nostalgia, where with this one the hook seems to be all about nostalgia for those prior efforts: Look! it's Rudolph! and we're in for another hour with his annoyingly whiny voice. Our devotion to that special was supposed to fuel by rote an equal devotion here but the effort falls flat with a complicated story (how again does the caveman end up in a snowball fight with Ben Franklin while the giant buzzard fights with the whale?), tepid songs and a general lack of inspiration. They gave it the college try with the usual stellar production design & threw in the kitchen sink with high profile guest roles, but to what avail? There isn't even a decent parody website sending the premise up, a key indication that it sort of flunked where general audiences were concerned.
Hence the special doesn't get its own DVD but ends up as a bonus feature on the "Year Without a Santa Claus" disc where it probably belongs, with the dreadful "Nestor the Christmas Donkey" which is a downright depressing bit of holiday drivel. Devotees of the Rankin/Bass formula will certainly want to seek it out but the prospect of it becoming a tradition in its own right is fairly low even with a lack of holiday specials specific to the new year. Maybe some holidays just don't inspire the same kind of outrageous imagination which resulted in the Heatmiser or the Grinch.
Though I will concede that lack of contact with the special as a kid likely played the determining factor here. Indeed if there is a new year holiday viewing tradition I do recall fondly it was the yearly screenings of "Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World". Looked forward to it even if I didn't understand a damn thing, which oddly is how I regard this special now: I don't get it, mysteries give me a bellyache and life is short. The forty five minutes up for grabs here can be more happily assigned to a 2nd viewing of one of the masterpieces. Why waste time on a second stringer? But to each his own and I admit to watching it every year as well. Part of the yearly program even if I just don't get it.
4/10
What does matter is that this time out the story is too oblique for its own good, a complex matter involving Rudolph brought in to find the infant New Year baby who decided it didn't like having its big ears made fun of and sports off in search of his own destiny. Rudolph, called in like an adjunct member of the Justice League, is quickly on the case. Along the way they encounter several barely memorable characters and a confusing string of events set to easily forgettable songs. Red Skelton's crooning of "Turn Back the Years" doesn't rate on the same scale as the accursed "Holly Jolly Christmas" or even "There's Always Tomorrow", my most hated of all the Rankin/Bass songs. Give me "Blue Christmas" any day over that please. At least those songs were worthy enough to inspire genuine disgust, the ones presented here are merely tedious or perfunctory.
In the end what may be condemning the effort in my eyes may be a lack of recollection of seeing the special as a kid. There is a direct relation to one's repeated exposure to this kind of entertainment as a tot and appreciation for it as an adult. The other Rankin/Bass heavyweights were routinely screened on the big three networks during my coming of age years but this one seems to have slipped through the cracks. Or, more likely, was aired on non-television nights in our family household. Imagine that, nights when the kids aren't allowed to watch TV. Parents would find themselves in court these days.
Then again my folks probably conceded that Rudolph, Burgermeister-Meisterburger and Heatmiser were too cool for them to deny us a look every year. Those specials resonated on a level that goes beyond nostalgia, where with this one the hook seems to be all about nostalgia for those prior efforts: Look! it's Rudolph! and we're in for another hour with his annoyingly whiny voice. Our devotion to that special was supposed to fuel by rote an equal devotion here but the effort falls flat with a complicated story (how again does the caveman end up in a snowball fight with Ben Franklin while the giant buzzard fights with the whale?), tepid songs and a general lack of inspiration. They gave it the college try with the usual stellar production design & threw in the kitchen sink with high profile guest roles, but to what avail? There isn't even a decent parody website sending the premise up, a key indication that it sort of flunked where general audiences were concerned.
Hence the special doesn't get its own DVD but ends up as a bonus feature on the "Year Without a Santa Claus" disc where it probably belongs, with the dreadful "Nestor the Christmas Donkey" which is a downright depressing bit of holiday drivel. Devotees of the Rankin/Bass formula will certainly want to seek it out but the prospect of it becoming a tradition in its own right is fairly low even with a lack of holiday specials specific to the new year. Maybe some holidays just don't inspire the same kind of outrageous imagination which resulted in the Heatmiser or the Grinch.
Though I will concede that lack of contact with the special as a kid likely played the determining factor here. Indeed if there is a new year holiday viewing tradition I do recall fondly it was the yearly screenings of "Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World". Looked forward to it even if I didn't understand a damn thing, which oddly is how I regard this special now: I don't get it, mysteries give me a bellyache and life is short. The forty five minutes up for grabs here can be more happily assigned to a 2nd viewing of one of the masterpieces. Why waste time on a second stringer? But to each his own and I admit to watching it every year as well. Part of the yearly program even if I just don't get it.
4/10
Enchanting and Introspective - Rankin/Bass Hit the Right Note For New Years Eve
josephbrando1 January 2022
The immersive, mesmerizing and intricately detailed stop-motion world is enough of a reason alone to watch Rudolph's Shiny New Year. But that's certainly not where the qualities end. There are some great tunes in this one - both fun and upbeat and also some introspective ones with reflective lyrics that fit a perfectly appropriate theme for a New Years Eve special. The passing of time is an ever-present undercurrent throughout the otherwise fun and colorful special.
Baby New Year, with the big ears that everyone laughs at, has run away and taken off traveling through an archipelago of little Islands where each passed year rests and stays forever the same. Father Time sends Rudolph after him and we meet a wonderful array of unique and very different characters along the way! One of the coolest additions being an island where all the fairy tales live, affording us the wonderful opportunity to see many of the classic storybook characters through R/B's puppet-animated lens!
This, like most of the R/B holidays specials, is a yearly viewing in my house and I never grow tired of taking the trip through the Archipelago of Last Years with Rudolph.
Baby New Year, with the big ears that everyone laughs at, has run away and taken off traveling through an archipelago of little Islands where each passed year rests and stays forever the same. Father Time sends Rudolph after him and we meet a wonderful array of unique and very different characters along the way! One of the coolest additions being an island where all the fairy tales live, affording us the wonderful opportunity to see many of the classic storybook characters through R/B's puppet-animated lens!
This, like most of the R/B holidays specials, is a yearly viewing in my house and I never grow tired of taking the trip through the Archipelago of Last Years with Rudolph.
This just underscored that Christmas was over and school soon to return
bgaiv21 December 2020
Well, that's what it do for me. I was like 6 or 7 when this came out.
What's with Father Time's freaky expression? Early botched face lift victim? And his scythe? Uh, ok.
I'm happy some people liked it, but I most certainly hated it. In 1976, animation like this was still a treat, so we were all excited. I guess it succeeded in one thing: preparing kids for disappointment.
Even at six years old, I was perfectly aware of educational content masquerading as entertainment. Archipelago of, oh stop.
And most of the songs were terrible, often with video that had no connection to the plot.
It really just seems Rankin/Bass made this with unused songs they had lying around, threw in a bunch of historical dates to make it educationalish, and tied it together with the barest pretense of a plot... while misusing the much beloved Rudolph.
I just realized, the Fonze wasn't the first to jump the shark! The Fonze did it the year after Rudolph did it!
What's with Father Time's freaky expression? Early botched face lift victim? And his scythe? Uh, ok.
I'm happy some people liked it, but I most certainly hated it. In 1976, animation like this was still a treat, so we were all excited. I guess it succeeded in one thing: preparing kids for disappointment.
Even at six years old, I was perfectly aware of educational content masquerading as entertainment. Archipelago of, oh stop.
And most of the songs were terrible, often with video that had no connection to the plot.
It really just seems Rankin/Bass made this with unused songs they had lying around, threw in a bunch of historical dates to make it educationalish, and tied it together with the barest pretense of a plot... while misusing the much beloved Rudolph.
I just realized, the Fonze wasn't the first to jump the shark! The Fonze did it the year after Rudolph did it!
Rudolph searches for the New Year Baby.
Baldach6 October 1999
This is one of the series of clay-animation movies starting with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. In this one, Rudolph agrees to help Santa Claus find the New Year Baby that ran away. Of course there is a villian, that tries to stop them. Clean, wholesome, family movie, all right for small children to watch.
Decent Sequel but Questionable Story
Michael_Elliott22 December 2011
Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Mildly entertaining animated film from Bass and Rankin starts off where the previous film ended. This time out Santa gets a call saying that baby New Year has gone missing and without him there will be no new year. With bad weather out Santa decides to send Rudolph who goes out to search for the kid. This film falls well short of the original movie but I think there's enough here for adults to enjoy. I say adults because I think there are quite a few dark moments here that might scare young kids and I'd also say that the movie contains some rather mean-spirited moments that really aren't good for them either. I say this because the entire thing is about baby New Year having large ears. The kid goes from one island to the next but he's constantly being laughed at for having big years. The "moral" of the story is obvious but with Rudolph you had other kids making fun and laughing at him while the majority of the people laughing at New Year are adults. With that out of the way, the rest of the film is fairly entertaining, although it really should have just been thirty-minutes instead of an hour. As you'd expect the animation is very good and there's no question that Rudolph is a very good and entertaining character. The supporting players (bears, Ben Franklin, a caveman) are interesting as well.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Mildly entertaining animated film from Bass and Rankin starts off where the previous film ended. This time out Santa gets a call saying that baby New Year has gone missing and without him there will be no new year. With bad weather out Santa decides to send Rudolph who goes out to search for the kid. This film falls well short of the original movie but I think there's enough here for adults to enjoy. I say adults because I think there are quite a few dark moments here that might scare young kids and I'd also say that the movie contains some rather mean-spirited moments that really aren't good for them either. I say this because the entire thing is about baby New Year having large ears. The kid goes from one island to the next but he's constantly being laughed at for having big years. The "moral" of the story is obvious but with Rudolph you had other kids making fun and laughing at him while the majority of the people laughing at New Year are adults. With that out of the way, the rest of the film is fairly entertaining, although it really should have just been thirty-minutes instead of an hour. As you'd expect the animation is very good and there's no question that Rudolph is a very good and entertaining character. The supporting players (bears, Ben Franklin, a caveman) are interesting as well.
Overlooked and underrated
ebeckstr-127 December 2022
I don't really have 600 words to say about this show but it is sadly overlooked and underrated. It has some genuinely funny moments, even more so than the original Rudolph, with the same wonderful stop motion animation. The voice characterizations are excellent, and the medieval night character is particularly amusing. Now I'm just going to copy paste all of the above because I have nothing more to add. I don't really have 600 words to say about this show but it is sadly overlooked and underrated. It has some genuinely funny moments, even more so than the original Rudolph, with the same wonderful stop motion animation. The voice characterizations are excellent, and the medieval night character is particularly amusing.
a sequel is rarely equal...
coraggio9331 December 2008
The original "Rudolph" was a lot of fun, stressed "Rudolph's growing up and taking on responsibility, and had superior songs. Some of those songs, like "Holly Jolly Christmas" "Silver and Gold" and have made their way into the secular Christmas soundtrack. Not so with "Rudolph's (Less Than) Shiny New Year".
This attempt to milk the story should have been abandoned. The story badly mixes characters from other stories, has songs that just are not memorable, animation that differers dramatically from the original, and, frankly, its villain is not villainous enough!
This show reminds me of how I enjoyed the charming animated "The little Drummer Boy" but not its horrid sequel "LDB, Book Two". Sometimes, one has to make a good movie and remain happy itch one has made,rather than trying for a sequel.
This attempt to milk the story should have been abandoned. The story badly mixes characters from other stories, has songs that just are not memorable, animation that differers dramatically from the original, and, frankly, its villain is not villainous enough!
This show reminds me of how I enjoyed the charming animated "The little Drummer Boy" but not its horrid sequel "LDB, Book Two". Sometimes, one has to make a good movie and remain happy itch one has made,rather than trying for a sequel.
It's fine
rdoyle2927 August 2017
I think "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is classic television. This sequel made over a decade later is ... not classic. It's fine. I think my main issue with it is that while the original was grounded in shared Christmas mythology, this one is pretty much just a mish-mash of made up stuff. An evil buzzard steals Baby New Year, so Father Time sends Rudolph to the Archipelago of Last Year, which are ... time travel islands. Rudolph teams up with Benjamin Franklin, a caveman and a robot clock to ... really, who cares? Father Time is voiced by Red Skelton, and they made him look too much like him. I found it weird and disconcerting.
Useless trivia moment:
I saw this in 1976 when it first aired, and it was the first time I had ever heard the word "archipelago".
Useless trivia moment:
I saw this in 1976 when it first aired, and it was the first time I had ever heard the word "archipelago".
Truly Awful
coreygagnon31 December 2022
I keep trying to imagine this movie being made today. It's just an objectively bad movie. Absolutely no redeeming qualities. The problem isn't just limitations of the time it was made. It goes much further than that. The story itself made little sense, with nonsensical subplots and characters that served no real purpose. It blows my mind how many grown adults must have been involved in making this film and seemingly none of them objected to making it, let alone releasing it.
Overall, I would not recommend Rudolph's Shiny New Year to anyone. There are far better holiday films out there that are worth your time and attention. This one is a definite skip.
Overall, I would not recommend Rudolph's Shiny New Year to anyone. There are far better holiday films out there that are worth your time and attention. This one is a definite skip.
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