Animagic Holiday fun from Rankin/Bass

Another stop-motion Animagic hit from the holiday entertainers, of Rankin/Bass. Yes, these are the folks that brought us such beautiful holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Year without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long Eared Donkey, Mad Monster Party, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is coming to Town, Mouse on the Mayflower, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Cricket on the Hearth, the Stingiest Man in Town, Jack Frost, Pinnochio's Christmas, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the First Easter Bunny. THey also made non-holiday films such as the Hobbit, Flight of Dragons, the Last Unicorn. It is incredible that one company is responsible for all those TV specials, 95% of the ones we see every year. Their work includes standard animation, stop-motion animagic, and live action.

Now this 1 hour film released in 1977 is the 3rd of their Easter films. It is made in a very similar format to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and by that I mean it breaks down all the traditions of Easter and explains how each of them started. Fred Astaire is with us as the mailman S.D. Kluger again and gives a great voice performance. The bunny Sunny grows up to be the Easter Bunny and bring joy to children, making great friends and allies along the way.

I prefer this Easter show over "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" since that film is about all the Holidays, and this one concentrates on the magic of Easter. Also I prefer their unique stop-motion animagic in to their traditionally animated half hour special "the First Easter Rabbit". Good music - as always - such as, "Someones Got to be First", and "the Easter Bunny is Coming to Town Today". There is a scary bear named Gadzooks who hates holidays. Great designs and color.

I hope this comes out on a restored DVD soon, I have bought all the other Rankin/Bass that has been released on DVD.

The Easter Bunny and Travelin Tyke

i think this video is classic and timeless. Remember all the stories about the Easter Bunny when you were little?? This is like all those stories wrapped into one. It's absolutley wonderful! ...

Another RANKIN/BASS Classic!

It's hard to believe that ARTHUR RANKIN and JULES BASS were able to Produce another GREAT 'ANIMAGIC' Easter Special after HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL....BUT they did! They were able to do it with the help of FRED ASTAIRE as the narrator and once again ROMEO MULLER as the writer. As far as the music goes, one reviewer is way off base here. One of the most memorable RANKIN/BASS Songs is the theme to this one "THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMIN' TO TOWN TODAY" sung by FRED ASTAIRE and of course "Someone's Gotta Be First." This has also become a family tradition at my home and it's hard to believe the Networks (ABC) stopped airing it. Who forget GADZOOKS the bear? WARNER BROTHERS is to be applauded for this GREAT clam shell cover featuring the ANIMAGIC characters.....now if it could just be released on DVD with THE FIRST EASTER RABBIT starring BURL IVES! Rick Goldschmidt RANKIN/BASS Biographer/Historian