The 1960s and 70s brought the world several wonderful Christmas specials from Rankin-Bass. A few, such as RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN are true classics and a few are really milking the franchise a bit too much (such as RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR and THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMING TO TOWN). THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS isn't quite as magical as the earlier specials and it is quite bizarre in some ways, but it is still among the studio's better films.

The plot involves Santa having Seasonal Affective Disorder--in other words, he's depressed. Instead of seeking therapy or anti-depressants, he decides to just skip Christmas this time--after all, he thinks no one really cares about the holiday any more.

Mrs. Claus is worried but instead of trying to persuade him to deliver toys, she concocts a stupid plan. She picks two very nice but seriously dumb elves to go on a mission to find out what kids REALLY think about Christmas. To make this choice even worse, she sends them with a young and fragile reindeer and soon they get into trouble--so much that Santa must come to the rescue. At the same time, Mrs. Claus also comes to help and ends up making visits to the Snow Miser and his brother the Heat Miser--two totally bizarre creations of R-B Studios who have nothing to do with the holiday but they do dance to a really rocking song.

The film is lovely to look at--with excellent stop-motion animation. The only shortcoming is that occasionally the story does get a bit bizarre (even for Rankin-Bass) and the elves are a bit annoying to adults--though kids probably won't notice or want to kill them. Still, it's a great treat for the family and worth seeing this holiday season.

Rankin/Bass have been responsible for a fair number of Christmas classics, such as Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, Frosty the Snowman and The Little Drummer Boy. The Year Without A Santa Claus is almost as good as them and definitely one of the better Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. The stop-motion animation is wonderful, very detailed and both enchanting and atmospheric. I also loved the music, the score is whimsical with some lovely themes that never take away from the story or the festive feel of Christmas. The songs are sweet and catchy, I happen to think that they are memorable too. The Miser Brothers songs are a lot of fun as is Blue Christmas, and I also want to give a shout out to I Believe in Santa Claus, which I have always found very touching with a beautiful and truthful meaning without beating the audience around the head with it. The writing is amusing with the Miser Brothers, and there is evidence of conflict and pathos, and the story while bizarre in places has a lovely subtly handled message and gets you into the Christmas spirit. The characters I also like very much. The Miser Brothers definitely steal the show, especially Heat, but I do also enjoy Mrs Claus' wit and sarcasm, Vixen's cuteness and Santa's benevolence. The voice acting is terrific. Overall, a lovely special that brings me great joy every time, when something gives you that feeling you know it's done something right. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Santa is sick from a lack of Christmas spirit in the people and he has to cancel Christmas. Mrs Claus refuses to give up. She sends elves Jingle and Jangle with reindeer Vixen to find Christmas cheers and goodwill. Santa follows them into town. Ignatius "Iggy" Thistlewhite is a young boy. Like the rest of the kids, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore. Mrs. Claus negotiates an agreement between Snow Miser and Heat Miser to bring snow to South Town and revive the Christmas spirit.

This Christmas special follows Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It introduces great new characters Snow Miser and Heat Miser. The other characters are less compelling by comparison. This adds to the established tradition of the stop-motion animated Christmas specials.