Easter: Peter and the Magic Egg

Easter 

           Peter and the Magic Egg has a connection to some of the big Christmas specials like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" , "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" , and "Frosty the Snow Man"  for the 3 examples. As those were written by Romeo Muller.  He even worked some Easter specials for Rankin-Bass.   This special wasn't from Rankin-Bass but Muller, our connection here, did write this. 

            It's a simple syndicated special that first aired on March 23, 1983. 

  it's also a story in a story going on.  Like talking animals are like "Woah uncle Amos is tell 'Th Story" which story?  Also Uncle Amos is s talking egg, because um ok.  The egg man was voiced by Ray Bolger,  whom you may know from the 1953 TV series "The Ray Bolger Show"  or as the Scarecrow in the 1939 film "Wizard of OZ".  This would be his last animated voice work. 

        He says on that very farm years ago, and back when the animals were just animals. There's questions that I have and an now concerned. I see the same animals that were running to see talking egg man, but they are just normal. I have questions.  (Was the talking egg, once just a normal egg?)  

I'm not even sure how the egg got a beard 

        There are some humans called the Doppler Family (not the Super Max Doppler family) there's Papa who is a farmer, and Mama is his wife.  They were going to lose to their farm to a oh great the Tin Man has become a landlord, sad.   His real name is Tobias Tinwhiskers and apparently they owe money to him. I'm concerned on why they borrowed money from a tin man. This special has questions that it will not answer. 

            Under the eggs the farmer couple finds a baby, there's a note that says call him Peter Paas, who must be the Peter in the title. (Good work)  Mama is like don't question where the baby comes from and Papa is like a normal person wondering what's going on here? (I wish I knew) 

Easter: The Berenstain Bears' Easter Surprise

Easter 🥚 The Flashback

      Once again, it's time for Easter!  This is a holiday that doesn't get a bunch of holiday specials. So, I'm going to something that we don't cover cover really much this is from "The Berenstain Bears" based off the books  by Stan and Jan Berenstain, "The Berenstain Bears" started getting the next step of having TV specials. In 1979, like Peanuts, gets a start on the television medium with "The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree" then eventually , it had a few more specials. The third special is this one.  It aired on NBC on April 14, 1981.  

         This special was written and created by the Berenstains with music conducted by Elliot Lawrence with three original songs. 

   

         It starts in the past. (Woah)  There's a time when winter gets stuck and it seems spring isn't showing up. But first, it goes back to fall ( they re-round too far). The narrator (get used to him) mentions that Brother Bear is an only child. (uhh why did his parents name him Brother?) Even though he has friends like  Bill Bunny  and Finicky Frog. (Maybe being named Brother isn't that bad) Also Fred Firefly. 

 

F is for  doing doing stuff together

   

       Brother goes to Papa Bear (his parents were more presumptive too) and there's sequence about the boy asking questions. Also the first song,  which is about Papa trying to convince Brother that he knows answers to all questions, while Brother is asking a bunch of questions. This is is pretty fun sequence and song.  

Papa, was your name always Papa?

    

    Anyway, it's winter now, the special likes to mention that Brother is lonely because they are really making sure you remember.  (I remember!)  Winter has seemed to hang around for a very long time and the Bears are concerned and Papa says the seasons are stuck. Papa explains Easter, mostly focused on Easter Eggs, candy, and other other  treats associated with the holiday. The more sensible Mama explains more about spring in song form. (yay!)  She's focused on how Easter means new life  and miracles. (on the nose) 

"I'm sorry, I entered the wrong nest" 

      The special doesn't say the P word (poodle?) but it's saying Mama is pregnant. Brother notices that he can't sit on his mother's lap and he's wondering why. The parents don't tell their child this (that's a plan). She does mention an Easter surprise though.  Papa and Mama deflect and decide to visit Boss Bunny. 

They are proud of what they've done 

  

       Boss Bunny has apparently quit. Boss Bunny is apparently the area's official Easter Bunny. (How does one get that job, you have to a Bunny)  They also make a mention of alcohol as a rumor of why he quit. That's something, we aren't saying pregnant, but can mention an allusion to alcohol. Papa Bear is broken up, so is Brother who misses his Easter surprise. (That might be coming anyway) 

  

    Papa gets the idea to try and become the Easter Bunny himself. (Uhhh) He gets a song too. This plan fails.  Brother wanders the forest and Billy Bear shows up to play, and what a twist, but Billy's father is Boss Bunny. (So they do share a last name.)  They go to see the Boss. (They go to see Bruce Springsteen?) He's awoken by the bear's appearance. 

Easter? Bah Humbug

          Boss Bunny says that he's tired and doesn't care about Easter and Spring anymore. (I see)  Brother tries to convivence him , through song, to care about Easter again, and he makes his pitch why he doesn't want to.  The special has like 3 minutes left and decides to send in help: his mind is easily changed by a rainbow and now he's happy and also healed of pain (what?) and he's like yeah let's go make spring and Easter. (So, that's how that works) 

It's still weird the rabbits want to eat the chocolate rabbits

         It's Easter morning, Brother wakes up and remembers his Easter surprise, and he sees all the treats, but the real surprise is that he has a new baby sister. (What's her name?) (Oh, I'm surprised) Thus, this special was actually about the origin of Sister Bear.   

Can I eat this?  

   

              This is a simple special, fitting the simple style of the books, and goes with a celebration of spring and new life as a theme for Easter instead of the more religious themes, which isn't a surprise, but it is to be noted.  It's a fun simple special , you can tell where they they stretch and it keeps its main conflict simple and short, since Boss Bunny changes his mind so easily thanks to the power of a rainbow. (not the oddest thing I've written on this blog)  It does a good job focusing on the fun aspects of spring and how Easter's associated with it and the arrival of new life and rebirth.  

  

   That's it for now, tune in next time when we ask a kid named Killer, has killed.  

            

        

The Lookback: Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Easter  The Flashback 

      Yes, I have done the Rankin Bass Easter themed specials out of order, meaning the third and final post related to their Easter specials is about their first one.  So we look at "Here Comes Peter Cottontail".  This special first aired on ABC on April 4th 1971, (funny enough ABC ends up with two Rankin Bass Easter specials).

     This special has Danny Kaye who you might know from "White Christmas", the movie with Bing Crosby,  he voices a few characters including the narrator named Seymour S. Sassafras, he's  salesman who is in April valley (what happens if Easter is in March?) and is going to see Peter Cottontail to give him colors to paint Easter eggs.  That's right we don't know who that is, good thing  Seymour is going to tell us , right? (I'm going home)

He's a very dapper dresser/ Copyright Rankin Bass and Universal 

          April Valley is where Easter Bunnies live and work, so apparently in this world there's more than one, Easter Bunny, alright.  Peter Cottontail is the chief Bunny, also apparently we are going to be finding out how he almost lost the job. (Budget cuts?) There's an evil rabbit named Irontail  who almost became the Easter Bunny. (You gave him the name Irontail, what do you expect?)

   
          So apparently, the job of Easter Bunny is passed down (like a monarchy!)  like there was Wellington B. Bunny and he has to find a new successor and thinks Peter Cottontail might be a good one for the job. His assistant doesn't like this idea because Peter is boastful and sometimes lies. (like a monarchy!) Every time Peter lies his left ear droops, because sure.  Because this is a Rankin-Bass special, that means we get songs!  The first song is Wellington singing about every Easter Bunny needing to be ready for Easter. (Sung by Danny Kaye, because they got Danny Kaye and they are going to use him!)

I'm not your father/ Copyright Universal 

          We need our villain, and that's Irontail, he's called that because a child ran over his tail (how that work, don't bunnies have short tails?)  and he wears iron one. (Why?)  Anyway they got Vincent Price to voice him, because the casting people were awesome, good work guys!  Irontail is mad at all children because of this. (perfectly reasonable response)

My insurance said either iron or rubber and well... /Copyright Universal 

          Peter is made Chief Easter Bunny, until Irontail comes in with the Constitution of April Valley. (Like a Monarchy!)   We need plot for this special so, he we go; January (that's Irontial) wants to challenge for the Easter Bunny job for who gets the most eggs delivered to be the next E.B.  Peter accepts.  Anyway because Peter is cocky, he has a big party instead of sleeping and getting ready for the next day. Irontail also does some cheating. Thanks to I.T rigging the chicken alarm clock (what?) Peter sleeps in.  Irontail tries to deliver eggs but children apparently don't like iron-tailed bunnies (because children are rude) but, he does give one egg and that's  one more than Peter did so, Irontail is new Easter Bunny, special over!

Oh no! He's killing a flower, he's evil!/ Copyright Universal 

    More after the jump

The Lookback: The First Easter Rabbit

The Flashback Easter 

    Ah yes, it's Easter time again , and that means we find another Easter special to look at and thanks to our friends at Rankin-Bass we have another one to talk about !  (How do you know they're our friends, did you ask them?)  Last year, we looked at their special "Here Comes the Easter Bunny" , this year we go back a year to a special they made in 1976 because that's how we roll at this blog.

      Our look this time is called "The First Easter Rabbit" that first aired on April 9th 1976 on NBC (finally a special for NBC on the blog).  It seems to be another Easter Bunny origin story as well.  This special is drawn  animation versus stop motion which means we get more of that nice Rankin Bass hand-drawn animation this time.

        Burl Ives is back to narrate this special after doing "Rudolph" in 1964.  Let's take a look now join us. (please, or he wont' stop talking)

       It starts with a Christmas tree and some Christmas like bells, so apparently I put in the wrong thing, sorry about that oh wait there's somebody here.  There's a bunny voiced by Burl Ives  who calls himself G.B and he says we must be wondering where  is Santa? (Yes, I was wondering where Santa was in this Easter special)   Apparently, G.B has time traveled  because time travel exits. He points to a house to tell us how important for there to be an Easter Rabbit.
   

In my past life I was as snowman, what kind of reincarnation is this? I wanted to be a slime! (Copyright Rankin Bass) 

     The theme song is fun, very peppy and joyful i like it, again it's more of  Maury Laws and Jules Bass made music for the R&B specials and they are always enjoyable.  There's a stuffed rabbit that was a Christmas present for a girl named Glinda (Time for people to bring this name back!) she names him Stuffy.  Meanwhile, real life rabbits are committing carrot crimes.(Did you know you aren't supposed to give rabbits carrots, or something go ahead Duck Duck go it!) They see Stuffy and notice that he's not a real rabbit but apparently Stuffy thinks he his because yes, Stuffy can think.
         

 I think while you sleep/ Copyright Rankin Bass 

     Stuffy is voiced by Robert Morse who you may know from "Mad men" if you know from something from before Mad Men then even better because I only gave a short example.  Glinda and Stuffy have a good time and that means something bad happens, poor Glinda has gotten Scarlet Fever.  The doctor says that they should burn all her bedding and the rabbit. (I'd like to have  second opinion, maybe doctor burns needs to calm the heck down)  So, the mother decides to set everything outside to burn it.  Stuffy cries  and a fairy appears and tells him that her job is turn toys that kids used to have but get thrown into real things. (Uhhh wait a minute, I have several questions)  She turns him real and she then tells him that his job will be the First Easter Rabbit (roll credits).

 Now to turn some dolls into real children / Copyright Rankin Bass

    I know this special is 24 minutes long, but we are moving fast here.   The song from earlier gets used again with more verses.  Calliope, the fairy, then tells Stuffy to go to Easter Valley, where it's always spring. (what?)  Also, he has two weeks to get ready for Easter. (ooh well then that's weird) Oh, and watch out for Zero! (Who' or What is Zero? nobody knows)
         

     Stuffy meets the carrot rabbits from earlier  and they think that he's a little strange and they decide to follow him.   Meanwhile, Zero is going to be our Villain  his job is to keep the North Pole all what keeps the North Pole what it is , but the problem is Easter Valley  somehow exists and he's trying to figure out what keeps that place not following the laws of physics. (He is really a villain though?)

I'm Zero, I spell my name like this : 0 / Copyright Rankin Bass

     Anyway our rabbit gang continues their search for Easter Valley.  Oh, they found it (that 24 minute run time really speeds things up) and guess what Santa Claus is there in Easter Valley. (Crossover)  Santa is there to help Stuffy set up for Easter and, they decide that it would be best to test pilot this Easter Rabbit thing in one town first.   Then Santa leaves.  Oh, the thing that keeps Easter Valley all spring like is a flower called the Golden Lilly and if it were to disappear all of spring would be gone. (Wait hold on!)

I have all those outfits/ Copyright Rankin Bass

   How is Glinda doing? She's getting better from her scarlet fever and still mumbling about her rabbit. Stuffy decides to visit her but, we didn't have time for them to hear what they talked about. Glinda found that her mother had burn all her clothes and stuff because doctor quick to burn's idea.
 

Now, I'm off to tell some children they have to burn their favorite pet/ Copyrights Rankin Bass 

   Meanwhile, Zero finally figures out how to get into Easter Valley because we need to have tension in this special. Now, it starts to snow in Easter Valley (now I've seen snow on Easter so I wouldn't be shocked) because Zero got the flower while, his snowball Bruce thought he went too far and decides to help the rabbits.   Bruce tells Santa who rescues the rabbits.  Santa helps the rabbits and they delver Easter gifts. Doctor Burns stuff (yeah I am going to keep calling him that) gave Glinda an Easter Dress and she meets him at Noon.

High Noon / Copyright Rankin Bass 

      I also think the doctor and mother fell in love, and we didn't see a Mr.Glinda's father in this special so, woah.  They use the Easter Parade song to finish up the fun. Santa tells Zero to make spring come back or he's moving to the South Pole. (Santa is tough but fair)  Zero doesn't want to be alone without Santa and his folks so he decides to put the flower back.  Also, our narrator ,GB was Stuffy all along. 

       
     This special didn't capture me as much as the other Rankin Bass Easter special I talked about.  That doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable because it was it seems like due to the length of time and they had to do  a forced bad guy then rush his redemption in an also forced way.    I mention the Christmas in special as interesting  so, it's time for me to play the over-thinking game.  Christmas and Easter aren't usually thought of together even though, the holidays do have a connection to each other without Christmas no Easter to say.   I think it's alright a good special with some minor writing problems and maybe the length of time was too short for the story they wanted to tell but, at the same time if it was longer it would have felt dragged out. I kind of do wonder why Stuffy was picked to be the Easter Rabbit. We also really don't know why he wanted to be 'real' but, at the same I feel it was just a way to connect the two things for the story which attributes to the off writing in this special. We also didn't get enough on why Glinda loves that rabbit mostly because doctor I want to burn things really was of no help and again they must have needed her as a reason to have a stuffed rabbit to make it work.
 
   Again, It's alright and give it watch if you haven't seen  it I'm just saying I enjoyed the other one more.   On the  positive it's well animated, still fun to watch, and even they use the same song multiple times, it's not a bad song. Also Burl Ives makes this special great as well.

   Well, does it for us now, tune in next time when we tell a child with chicken pox we have to  burn their favorite toys  and they have to watch!
     
     

A Visit from the Easter Beagle

Peanuts

      Unless I am somehow wrong for this year, or this post is seen in the future and things have changed : The Easter Beagle Peanuts special hasn't aired on TV since 2014 and it won't air this year ( I won't even insert the current year in this post because I don't think that will change, and if it does then the date stamp above tells you the year anyway).  That's sad really and also I don't know why don't air special anymore maybe ABC felt they couldn't air it anymore. We have , so far, no official reason.   Anyway this post isn't here to wonder or bemoan that ABC isn't airing this special for some reason anymore it's to talk about the special itself. Let's get to that!

        The first thing I want to talk about before the content of the special or even give facts about the airing and that normal thing I do , I want to talk about the music in this special. I love it. Vince Guaraldi's music has a little more acid flavoring to it with guitar riffs. Personally, my favorite part is the music used during them showing off Woodstock's very 70's house interior that music fits that scene so well has perfect 70's vibe to it.


            This special first aired on CBS (Yes, I really love hammering in that part)  on April 9th 1974 and became CBS' yearly Easter tradition up to the last year the lost the rights in 2000, then ABC took the reigns along with the other specials but as mentioned before, haven't aired it since 2014. That means the special is 45 years old in 2019.    Linus for some reason thinks that there's an Easter beagle and not bunny it's quite interesting how he even surmised that thought , the reason for the Great Pumpkin is that he apparently confused Santa for the mythical creation for Halloween  but for this he just thinks there's  an Easter Beagle.  Then again, why not have Peanuts have its own thing and not follow the crowd?


          It starts with our first plot line that will run through the special with Peppermint Patty and Marcie working on Easter Eggs. Apparently, Marcie doesn't understand this concept and starts by frying the eggs which causes Peppermint Patty much annoyance.  Time for Lucy and Schroeder  and she's talking about how Easter is the season to get stuff and he scolds her  but again, she doesn't care because Lucy. The next plot line gets its start  where Woodstock's nest is not good at holding out the weather and he's not very happy about this. He goes to Snoopy and tells him. Sally has an important problem she has no shoes to wear for Easter then because this is Peanuts Linus and Lucy just break into Charlie Brown's house to tell them they are going to the store to get Easter stuff. and invite them to join.  Linus then tell them about the title character of the special, the Easter Beagle (roll credits). Linus tells them that Easter Beagle is about pretty much the Easter Bunny's job but beagle.   The gang meets up with Peppermint Patty and Marcie who are getting more eggs. Nice department store, if not a little strange for having their Christmas stuff out before Christmas like 246 days before. (Either that or they were lazy and decided to just roll with keeping the stuff up.)

This store outsmarted other retailers/ Copyright Peanuts 

        Part of this special is some of the characters faffing around the department store, but it's not boring or taking away anything from the special. Charlie Brown helps his sister look for some shoes (I didn't know Charlie Brown had Shoe buying money. Snoopy buys a gum ball from a machine and they all come out then we get a scene I love with Snoopy dancing with bunnies. The music is also very nice too.  Snoopy finds a bird house for Woodstock and buys it. (Snoopy somehow has money, don't question it.)   Linus continues his quest to convince Sally about the Easter beagle  and this special happened after that Halloween incident because Sally remembers that.

Ah the 70's shoes are painful//Copyright Peanuts 

        Marcie decides that she's going to waffle iron the eggs then put some others in the oven. Peppermint Patty could have just taken those eggs out of the stove but apparently, I don't know what  happened there and has to get more eggs. Linus tries to proselytize to Peppermint Patty and Marcie about the beagle and she's like nope.   Another part I really love is where Woodstock apparently made this 1970's  interior in his bird house, I would want to live in that house now.

Swanky/ Copyright Peanuts 

     Snoopy destroys the house and now has to buy a new one and meets with Peppermint Patty at the department store.   He decides to dance with the ladies with some Christmas music boxes. Back the grind though, and Snoopy buys a new bird house for his friend. Does Marcie boil the eggs?  Well yes but she cracks them open instead.  This running gag didn't get boring or annoying to me, but Peppermint Patty should have shown her how to do it herself  like a couple egg batches ago.  Poor Peppermint Patty and Marcie don't have anymore money and can't egg color anymore. Linus tries to once again do his thing.
         

Moments before tragedy / Copyright Peanuts 

      Lucy paints her eggs and marks where she hid them meanwhile, Snoopy is sneaking behind her and picking up the eggs. ( I wonder where this is going)   Peppermint Patty and Marcie aren't happy on Easter morning , Sally seems a little upset too, Charlie Brown is upset because he's Charlie Brown.  Lucy is happy because Lucy. (Wait what?)  The music swells and yes the Easter Beagle shows up and gives the kids their eggs except Charlie Brown because he ran out some how  ( he did throw some eggs out of the basket giving them to no one and could have given one of those but logic) , and Charlie Brown has to be sad or something.   Also Marcie. eats the egg with the shell still on because Marcie.
                                   

      It's 10 weeks later and Lucy is un happy that  Snoopy used her eggs  she holds a long grudge.  She offers to fight him ( I think that's illegal) but he just kisses her ( I think that's illegal) and she's fine. (Well, I don't know now)

        Much like the other Peanuts specials for holidays it shows us characters doing things typical of the holiday set up. I think it really does that well. This special has 3 main plots to it the first being Marcie and Peppermint Patty's Easter eggs. Marcie's different attempts at doing everything but the proper egg being boiled are funny and don't get stale or annoying to out last its welcome.  Snoopy and Woodstock's plot is funny and really it's nice to see the dedication Snoopy has to help Woodstock. also Woodstock has the same Tardis house abilities that  Snoopy has.  Linus' plot is sprinkled in it keeps him in his character and I'm glad he gets a happier ending than from Halloween.

       Charlie Brown is kind of in the background  this special, poor guy doesn't get Easter treats either. Lucy was slightly background too, but it is in her character to just set up her own eggs. It is a great Easter special so take a look. See ya next time for  It's Tax Day, Charlie Brown!

The Look back: The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town.

Easter The Flashback

          It is that time of year again and we have found another Easter special to cover here, which is good because these are far and few between.   This is one is special it has everything it's also a sequel in  away  to a Christmas special, so that even gives us more a reason to cover this.

     "The Easter Bunny is Coming' to Town" is  a stop motion special from Rankin Bass , yes that Rankin Bass ,  that came out in 1977 on the ABC network. Now how  is this special kind of a sequel?  Well S.D Kluger voiced by Fred Astraire is back he was the mailman on "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town".  This is the 3rd special for Easter by Rankin Bass as well.  Now let's start.

        So it starts like "Santa Claus' is Comin' to Town" with a news report  and  stock pictures leading to our stop motion world. (Darn it , there's a talking train, I quit)   S.D Kluger talks to the kids there waiting at the train station he's moved up he now delivers mail by train. (I want the special where he travels by plane.)   Apparently. the Easter Bunny gets mail, and some of the letters are questions about Easter Bunny and Easter questions because why not?  S.D is going to tell us about the Easter Bunny.    We also get a song!  Finally, an Easter song.

He's the magic mail man/ Copyright Rankin Bass

       This special has  the Rankin Bass standbys with the music being done by Maury Laws ,while Bass provides the lyrics to the songs. Romeo Muller is the writer.    There was a village called Kidville , because no one but children lived there. (I have like  9 questions)   S.D also lived in Kidville the town mail carrier. (I have 11 questions)  All the children are orphans who decided to just live there. (I have 12 questions) There was  a giant bear named Gadzooks (That's how I am going to spell it) who was a jerk and steal toys on Christmas, Halloween pumpkins , and Birthday cakes.

On wedding days, he steals the brides! /Copyright Rankin-Bass 

      They find a baby bunny ( redundant?) and the kids give him the name Sunny because he apparently likes the sun.  And this was Easter Morning.  Sunny grew up in the town and it's a year later. He wants the town to expand and thinks they should  distribute their wares around the  world.  (Darn Rabbits coming into villages and telling them to join the global economy... what?) One idea is to deliver eggs because they had the best eggs.  What comes first the chicken or the egg? That requires a song. This special answers that question,  the chicken came first and don't you defy the singing chickens!   (We write odd sentences on this blog.)
                               

Can't argue with them/ Copyright Rankin Bass 

      Sunny decides to boil their eggs to send the eggs so they don't break.  So he sets out and runs into Hallelujah H. Jones, a man who tells him a place called Town. (That's his name?  And Town called town)   He runs into Gadzooks because of course.   Sunny runs without the eggs to Town.  Which is an awful place everyone wears the same clothes and pretty flowers are outlawed.
              Prisoner 1: What are you in for?
              Prisoner 2: I had some carnations.
              Prisoner 1: Woah you're evil, stay away from me!
      Also in Town , children are against the law. ( I have 15 questions)  When a child is born there the whole family has to move away. (Glad they aren't taken out , umm then back to 12 questions)   The king named Bruce  the frail, is only 7 and his aunt , Lilly,  is the real power. (Even her face is painted evil)  Bruce doesn't want to be king and be a normal kid. (I have 15 questions again)

They also banned rabbits. so you better run/ copyright Rankin Bass

He's also un happy with how heavy this crown is/Copyright Rankin Bass 

          Hallelujah decides to tell the people in Kidville to dye the eggs so the bear wouldn't want them. Gadzooks grabs Sunny by the ears (which isn't very nice)  and Sunny hopes that the bear is stupid not to know they are eggs.  It works and he runs.   Sunny gives the guards of Town an Easter Egg. Song time! This song is called Someone's Gotta be First.  Sunny gives  Town's townspeople (sigh)  eggs.   Even king Bruce got an egg. ( I have a 16th question)  Bruce decides to call Sunny the Easter Bunny and what he says goes. (Well except the whole Aunt thing) Sunny teaches the king how to eat an Easter egg. (gotta keep that run time up)   That song from before continues for a second.  Aunt Lilly is mad that they aren't beans. (What she works for the Big Bean)  She kicks out Sunny, and she forces Bruce to to ban Easter eggs. (Lady is no fun)   Sunny decides that maybe he should bring an Easter bean. And thus Jelly Beans were created! (Sorry William Schrafft)
                                 

   And thus the assembly line was created/ Rankin Bass

    Gadzooks  decides to throw the basket full of colored eggs because he still thinks they are rocks,  but this did create a new tradition : hiding Easter Eggs. (Somehow they didn't crack)   So the kids think of a  plan, they made him a new suit. (He mean because he was naked?) That works!  This is why you get Easter Outfits, because bears.  (I have 17 questions)  Song time! They also find him a lady bear ,during the song. (The first dating service)
                     

Fashionable / Copyright Rankin Bass

     The  people of Town love the eggs and jelly beans.  Aunt Lilly once again isn't happy because is she ever? ( I like the music as her background music in this scene though)  This special progresses through a lot of Easters and nobody ages, woah.  Since Lily sent her guards out to stop them from sending eggs and Easter cheer so Sunny's plan was to roll the eggs to trip them, thus creating Easter Egg rolling. (yay?)   He also apparently created first chocolate Easter Bunny.  People in Town got new Easter outfits and held yes, the first Easter parade.  The Easter Bunny got Bruce some stuffed toys, and yes, the first Easter toys.  He convinces Bruce to allow him to him and his friends pass through as much as possible.  Bruce tries but couldn't must the power to stop Aunt Lily. She gives them the power do anything to stop Sunny.
                           

Kill them! Woah, I didn't sign up for this. /Copyright Rankin Bass 

         Hallelujah  calls his Hobo-gang to build a rail-road. (What?)  So Sunny and the chickens have to go find a train and trains are sentient in this world (because that' what I need) and they don't want to it because sentient trains are a bad idea people wake up! (cut after a break , he's sorry about that end)  The train that you see at the beginning  is now having his origin story explained. Chugs is lonely and rusted ,so he has the blues. This means a song.  They give him a job and not rusted anymore.

He has the yellows, now/ Copyright Rankin Bass 

            Aunt Lilly wants them to stop the train at all costs.  I think this special is also incorporating "The Little Engine that could" as well.  ( Gotta keep that run time)  Another song time but can't be mad at it, it's a Fred Astaire singing. Aunt Lily chases her guards because she has time for that.   Our Heroes make it over the mountain to umm Town. (I have 18 questions) Lilly turns she can't stop Easter.  Bruce decides not banish  (or kill her)  instead he gives her a flower (guess what kind?)  and this makes her remember something and she cries. Yes ,it's an Easter Lily. (Best redemption story ever!)   Ok Fred Astaire play us out!
\

no comment, just sweet/ Copyright Rankin Bass 

Thanks Fred ! /Copyright Rankin Bass 

     
         There is a lot of similarity in the story structure of this special and of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (hope not the same Town as Town). That goes beyond the opening news thing. Our main character was left somehow in some random place.  Both have  a contrasting town in Santa there's Sombertown which was depicted as grey and well somber compared to Kris Kringle and Kringles part of the world and here we get a dour town. Both have a leader who wants to keep things gray and un happy.  Both have a something to overcome in the middle either the Winter Warlock or  Gadzooks. They serve as our secondary villains who later turn to our hero's sides after being shown some kindness they needed.  We also get an ally in our towns either Jessica, the school teacher -turned Chris' wife,  or King Bruce, the kid who just wants to be kid but his aunt uses him to pass her agenda.    We also get  their take on the traditions of Easter much like why Santa does what he does on Christmas.   The one change from this and Santa is that Aunt Lilly, unlike Burger Meister Meisterburger, does get a redemption of her character mostly through  that our main characters don't take malice on her and take pity and give her a gift out of love and caring no matter what she tried to do before.

       
         On the music.  I don't know if it's because I've watched "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" so much that I know the songs so much to say if this special had heavily catchy songs or not.  I do love that track they played in some of the Aunt Lilly scenes it was like  evil disco somehow.   Since there's no hook song  like R and B did in the Christmas specials where they at least used one famous Christmas song in their specials, but still making original songs.  Here they had to even create an Easter song ,which isn't bad.

     The Dvd cut is very nice and crisp as it should be, but Rankin Bass over time did better better on stop motion animation and this has some very work.  The colors are greatly balanced here as Easter is a colorful spring holiday it really felt like Easter. 

    I missed an opportunity last year, by not talking about this special in it's 40th anniversary year. (Shame on  me)   It's sadly not really re aired on TV anymore , though unless ABC surprises me this year,  neither is It's the Easter Beagle , Charlie Brown. (And that's freakin' Charlie Brown)   You can get it on DVD.

   That's our lookback, Happy Easter! Tune in Next time when we wonder there's no Rankin Bass special for Valentine's Day . and we wonder this in April.

     

The Lookback : Yogi the Easter Bear

Easter  The  Flashback 


    Easter is a holiday but doesn't really get alot of specials or songs so I've mostly not tired to look for a special , though I could have written about the Easter Beagle Peanuts special. I was under the assumption that there really wouldn't be much to do , but then I found this special that is only 22 years old.   Remember Yogi Bear ?  Yeah , bears have to do with Easter ,I guess. (Easter  the season of bearing it all?)     "Yogi the Easter Bear" was a Hanna and Barbera special by Turner Entertainment  for syndication. (Probably aired on Cartoon Network at some point too) It premiered in April of 1995. This special notes the last time that  voice over artist Don Messick did the voice of Boo boo and the park ranger-he died 2 years later.
 

         The special starts with narration and apparently Jellystone Camp is getting ready for the Easter Jamboree which is the start of the camping season. (What if Easter is in March?)  Ranger Smith (the Ranger) is getting ready for the event.  This year he's a little stressed out because the supreme commissioner is coming . (Apparently, he put out a forest fire with his bear hands (only you can stop forest fires don't mean that literally) )  He wants everything to fine  so they don't close the park or something.     Meanwhile, our hero (?) Yogi Bear  finds the candy in the back of the truck and tricks the ranger guarding it  to leave his post and tries to take the candy but Ranger Smith catches him.  Smith tells him that it's an important day and to leave the candy alone , stay in his cave or he's going to the Siberian circus.

     Yogi finds an Easter Bunny outfit and disguises himself  to obtain the candy.  He tells the guarding ranger (who was a bad plan) that he is the Easter Bunny and tricks him and eats the candy from the  truck.  The ranger tells Smith that he saw the Easter Bunny  and Smith figures out that it was Yogi, who ate all the candy.  Smith plans to send Yogi to the Siberian Circus. (oops )  Boo Boo suggests  that maybe he and Yogi could go find the real Easter Bunny , but Ranger Smith tells them there is no Easter Bunny. (Well that's our Easter Special it's over now)  Boo Boo asks why he doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny and the Ranger explains that he wanted Double Decker raspberry egg but never got one.

Interesting they hire rangers at a young age/copyright Turner 

         

            Yogi and Boo Boo decide to go look for the real Easter Bunny  after all , so of course their plan is to ask the Grand Grizzly. (What am I watching?)  You know what this special is missing (explosions?)  yes, villains. Apparently a bad guy and his stupid sidekick want to do something about the Easter Bunny. What? You may ask, we don't know yet... like 12 minutes in to our 46 minute special.  Back the bears. They go the  Grand Grizzly's cave to ask him if he knows the Easter Bunny. (Yahoo search would be easier ) He says the Easter Bunny is in the sky or something. (He wasn't very helpful) 

Seems sane to me /Copyright Turner 

         The Supreme ranger and his two grand kids have made it to Jellystone. Also he hates problems. Ranger Smith couldn't tell him that there was one so, back to the bears.  They find a giant rabbit shaped mountain where the Easter Bunny's house is. (At least I hope it's his house)  They make it to Easter Bunny's house  but it's all a mess and there's a message that says Help Me. (Gee , I wonder who stole  him)  Yogi and Boo Boo follow a trail of jelly beans to the factor where the bad guys have the Easter Bunny tied up.  Their plan  is to kidnap him and steal eggs to make people buy their plastic eggs.  

               

Sorry you are all tied up  / copyright Turner 

                   

               The Easter Bunny tells the short villain about the Easter Chicken who makes the eggs but won't tell him where he is so, he tries to dip the Bunny into a plastic melting vat, when Yogi and Boo Boo come in disguised as health inspectors.  Also I got both  their names now : Paulie and Ernest. They almost get out but Yogi wants some cake accidentally gets his mustache off and they figure it out.   Yogi ends up getting Boo Boo and the Easter Bunny out.  Meanwhile the Jamboree isn't going so well, I think.  Yogi and Boo Boo have to visit the Easter Chicken to get more eggs ,but the security dog won't let them in. (There's an easy solution to their problem but I won't stay it.)  Paulie and Ernest have their own plan to get in and get the Easter Chicken.  Yogi and Boo Boo finally make it into the hen house.   

The chicken has an effective system/copyright Turner 

           Yogi gets the hen out before Ernest (in an Easter bunny outfit) made it in.  He was supposed to drop a dynamite laced Easter basket to blow up the hen house. But guess what? The dog brings it back to Ernest and it blows up.(Classic) The dog figures out that Ernest wasn't the Easter Bunny.  The bunny, hen , Yogi , Boo Boo make their trek to Jellystone  but Ernest and Paulie chase after them, so Yogi shoots eggs at them causes them to destroy their truck and fall off a cliff into a bee farm. (Stingy)   Eventually , they make it to Jellystone Park. (Yay Saint Patrick's day is saved!)    Ranger Smith finally gets what he wanted for Easter (thank goodness) and he gets a promotion. (Easter miracle!)   Yogi gets to stay as well. 

     That's the special. 

   

 Our quick review:  It felt like a classic Yogi Bear cartoon just with a smoother 90's animation style. It has some of the classic H&B  humor style and the voice acting is great. Charlie Adler provides the voice to Paulie  he's the same guy that did the voice to Buster Bunny on Tiny Toon Adventures.  The Man who voiced the Easter Bunny was also the man who voiced Yakko Warner and Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, Rob Paulsen.  It's a silly but fun Easter special. 

 You can get it on DVD now as well.