2011 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - WARNER HOME VIDEO releases SEASONAL FAVORITES just in the NICK of TIME

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

Santa’s Magical Stories is the perfect collection of classic Christmas specials available together for the first time in an all-new gift set. This three-disc release is comprised of eight holiday favorites, including seven beloved Rankin/Bass stop motion animation titles. The release also includes a bonus special.

Santa’s Magical Stories Featured Specials Include:

• Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! – From animation legend Chuck Jones comes one of the best holiday cartoons of all time, adapting the Dr. Seuss story and starring Boris Karloff as the voice of you-know-Who.

• The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold – A leprechaun named Blarney Kilakilarney loses his gold to a banshee on Christmas Eve.

• Pinocchio’s Christmas – It’s Pinocchio’s first Christmas and he realizes the holiday is not about gifts but about being together with family.

• The Year Without a Santa Claus Deluxe Edition – When Santa decides to retire one Christmas, Mrs. Claus takes action.

• Rudolph’s Shiny New Year – Baby New Year is missing and a certain red-nosed reindeer leads the search.

• Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey – Back in the days of the Roman Empire, a small donkey named Nestor who is teased mercilessly about his abnormally long ears, becomes a hero when he is chosen by Mary and Joseph to take them to Bethlehem where Mary gives birth to baby Jesus.

• Jack Frost (1976) – The resourceful cold-weather elf turns human to court a pretty maiden – and then must recover his icy powers to save her from a crafty rival.

• A Miser Brothers Christmas – Santa Claus and the mischievous brothers Heat Miser and Snow Miser are the targets of yuletide treachery from that sneaky blowhard North Wind.

Santa’s Magical Stories Bonus Special:

• Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July – The feature length delight about what happens when a certain reindeer’s nose stops shining!

From popular song to animated holiday classic, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland Deluxe Edition tells the story of the beloved snowman and how he meets his companion, Crystal. Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters and Jackie Vernon lend their voices to this captivating cartoon about the Snowman’s return to the children of a small town for a winter season of fun and games. But he’s lonely at night when left by himself and so the town’s children build a beautiful snowlady companion for him. Jealous of the attention given to Frosty, Jack Frost blows up a blizzard and swipes Frosty’s magical, life-giving hat. Only true love can bring Frosty back to his old, fun-loving self. Two songs that have proven to be enduring seasonal favorites highlight the soundtrack: “Frosty the Snowman” and “Winter Wonderland.”

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland Deluxe Edition includes a bonus feaurette titled Frosty and the Story of the Snowman.

 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, tells the story about how for some unexplained reason, letters to Santa Claus are being returned to the children of Junctionville. It seems some resident has angered St. Nick, calling Christmas “a fraudulent myth!” Skeptical Albert Mouse has to be brought to his senses “and let up a little on the wonder why.” How Albert is persuaded to change his tune paves the way for Santa’s jolly return to town – and the joyous finale of the animated fable inspired by Clement Moore’s poem and produced by the merrymaking conjurers of Rankin/Bass Studios. The voice talents of Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, John McGiver and George Gobel make this festive fable even more fun.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Deluxe Edition Bonus Feature Includes:

• Christmas: A Global Holiday – An animated comic book that explores Yuletide traditions around the world.

The Year Without a Santa Claus is the beloved 1974 Rankin/Bass stop motion animation television special that tells the story of the year Santa Claus (voiced by Mickey Rooney) decides to skip gift-giving and take a holiday, because he feels the children of the world have forgotten about him.  Eager to help, Mrs. Claus (voiced by Shirley Booth) sends two spunky little elves, Jingle and Jangle, to search the world and find people who still believe in old St. Nick.  She also enlists memorable characters, Heat Miser and his half brother Snow Miser, to help her bring Santa back to his jolly mood while she convinces them that Christmas is not just about presents.  Jingle and Jangle in the meantime get themselves into quite a bit of trouble when their baby reindeer Vixen is mistaken for a dog and sent to the pound.  Santa attempts to rescue Vixen and along the way learns that some people still believe in him.  But it’s not until after he receives a letter from a little girl, who writes to him about having a blue Christmas, that Santa jumps back into action and makes his traditional delivery run on Christmas Eve.

The Year Without a Santa Claus Bonus Features Include:

• Rudolph’s Shiny New Year – When the baby New Year named Happy goes missing, Father Time (voiced by Red Skelton) asks Rudolph to find him before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

• Nestor the Long-eared Christmas Donkey – Back in the days of the Roman Empire, a small donkey named Nestor who is teased mercilessly about his abnormally long ears, becomes a hero when he is chosen by Mary and Joseph to take them to Bethlehem where Mary gives birth to baby Jesus.

• We are Santa’s Elves – A documentary focusing on the legacy of Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass of Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. the production company known for creating several, memorable seasonal television specials.

• School of Stop Motion – Presents the Chiodo Brothers, modern day masters of stop motion animation as they introduce viewers to their studio and also to their craft via a by-step demonstration aimed at young people.

“For many consumers, these television specials have become part of their yearly tradition as they celebrate that special time of the year. For some, the holidays are just not the same without them,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WHV Executive Marketing Director of Family & Animation Franchise. She added, “In the age of cutting-edge animation, these endearing Rankin/Bass stop-motion animation specials continue to captivate audiences more than 30 years after their creation. We are delighted to bring these wonderful family classics to consumers.”   

MY THOUGHTS

I love the classics like Frosty and of course the Grinch and I love to share them with my kids.  I was super excited to receive some of the best classics to add to our movie collection just in the "nick" of time.  I am already planning a movie night with the family and big bowls of popcorn and maybe even some hot cocoa depending on the weather.  These dvds are already available and should defintiely become part of your Holiday tradition this year.  So pick them up and make them an early gift for the family.

The dvds are available at most retailers that sell dvds and online at Amazon.com.  So hurry and get yourself a copy of all three today and then start planning a family movie night with some classics like Frosty and good ol Mr. Grinch.

* I received the above mentioned products solely for review pruposes.  The above mentioned opinion is completely honest and completely my own.