Rankin Bass and Pinocchio do have a slight history together. In 1960, there was a stop motion series called "The New Adventures of Pinocchio" which was produced by the company with Dentsu Studios in Japan. It wasn't just that, this was the first thing Rankin and Bass made under their "Animagic" stop motion animation technique. The series had 130 chapters of 5 minutes each, and they made up the episodes of the series making 5 "chapters" each episode to make 25 minutes slots. Rankin-Bass coming back to this in their third to last stop-motion special makes it feel like a homecoming.
Most people associate the character with Disney, because of the highly popular animated movie from the 1940's, though most also know where Disney got the story from. The one thing he's not really associated with is Christmas though. Hey, it works to makes it where it gives you a seasonal reason to watch it and something something. Another thing is that it is interesting to see how this company's take on the character is, compared to the Disney one.
This special first aired on December 3, 1980 on ABC (America's favorite network). It was written by Romeo Muller , like the other specials, music once again by Maury Laws, Voices like Paul Frees show up. How does Pinocchio translate into Christmas? 
This snow doesn't feel very real/ Copyright Warner
The special takes the basic ideas from the story like Pinocchio wants to be a real human child instead of being made of wood. The medium this special is presented in, does give him a wooden marionette like look , which is a nice detail.
This special is kind of interesting from the sense that there's no narrator or host like most of the other specials, this one breaks away from that and just has the story presented to us the viewer. It starts with Pinocchio, voiced by Todd Porter (whom you might know from Starstuff if you're from the Philadelphia area, who is wondering why it's snowing and why a giant tree is being hoisted in the town. Geppetto, voiced by George S. Iriving in a return to Rankin Bass specials after being Heat Mister, explains to the boy (we're using this word because yeah) that it's snow and Christmas is coming. Pinocchio being new never heard of Christmas. (good thing they don't tell the trees)
Now, Pinocchio, just stand there for the season and hold up the wreath/ Copyright Warner
Yes, Pinocchio is already alive at the start of the special, yeah it's straight in there which isn't bad, just something to note. This is also good way to show Pinocchio's naïveté since he's not aware of much of the world which helps what happens to his character through out the special. There's Fox and Cat, so the strangest thing in the town isn't the living toy. Fox, is the leader of the two, Cat plays a dimwitted sidekick. Fox wants Pinocchio because he's the only living marionette and wants to sell him to some rich guy, any rich guy because money. (Look kids, I bought a living marionette from the local talking fox, as one does) Back to them later.
Which one is Fox and which one is Cat? The answer won't surprise you/ Copyright Warner
I have to mention that since this is late Rankin Bass, this means this is their top notch work on stop motion animation, the look of the village is kind of comfy and really gives it a nice feeling and maybe you want to visit, though, I'm not happy with that fox and cat. The songs aren't as memorable as say earlier specials but Laws' work is still good here. I did mention earlier, about how Pinocchio looks, it's still kind of hard to make him look too different to the other wood people, really, good if the boy wasn't wearing shorts to see how his legs looked, it'd be hard for the viewers to tell. The hair helps a little bit too, since his hair way more wood and smooth compared to other characters with more hair-like hair.
We see Geppetto worry about what do for Christmas gifts and the classic lament what to get someone. Then it ends with him then realizing he doesn't have money anyway. (I'm glad his business just going great there) He gives some boots up get some money to buy Pinocchio a gift, this being a math book. (he subtracted his money)
He should have sold that wig, he's not fooling anyone / Copyright Warner
Pinocchio's character in this special is like a young child of course. I mentioned he's kind of naïve, but kind of stubborn and does before thinking as well, or even sometimes tries to justify a wrong decision with how it's a good idea in the long run. So, Pinocchio doesn't like school and doesn't want the math book his father bought him (I guess we're calling Geppetto, father here) so he trades it for money. Oh yeah lying nose thing happens, it's not much but they remembered. Anyway, like I said Pinocchio thinks it was the right thing to do and justifies it by saying he's gonna buy a gift for Geppetto.
I'm just happy to see you/ Copyright Warner
Fox sees that Pinocchio has money, and this sets his fox senses off. Fox tells him that they came from Heaven and an angel spoke them and told them to tell him to plant the coins and a money tree will grow. The boy's innocence plays into this, even though it's a trick. Also "Knock on Wood" is one of the strongest songs in this special.
More after the jump
