The Year Without a Santa Claus Blu-ray Review
Score: 49
from 1 reviewers
Review Date:
Not a classic, but charming for some; decent Blu-ray but lacking HD extras.
Disc Release Date
Video: 61
The Year Without a Santa Claus Blu-ray shines with vibrant colors, impressive detail, and a faithful restoration, elevating its classic stop-motion charm to stunning 1080p glory, despite minor source-related flaws.
Audio: 41
Warner's 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 track is decent yet lacks the depth of a lossless mix, with clear but front-heavy sound and limited dynamics, struggling with its age yet slightly better than DVD versions.
Extra: 36
The Blu-ray of The Year Without a Santa Claus includes minimal extras and bonus childhood classics in standard definition, disappointing fans with its lack of high-quality presentation and supplemental content.
Movie: 56
While 'The Year Without a Santa Claus' captivates with nostalgic charm, its slow pace contrasts sharply with the lively spirit of other holiday classics, despite its memorable characters and heartwarming message.
Video: 61
The Blu-ray edition of "The Year Without a Santa Claus" brings this beloved classic into the high-definition era with commendable finesse, akin to its counterparts like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Sporting a 1080p/VC-1 transfer that is bound to delight fans with its fidelity to the original source, this release showcases the Rankin/Bass stop-motion masterpiece in a light far superior to previous incarnations. The color palette bursts with richness and vibrance, presenting black levels of profound depth—despite a few instances of underlit scenes—and maintaining commendable contrast and brightness. The attention to detail is striking; from the intricate textures of costumes and sets to the individual hairs on puppet heads, and the sparkling snow of the film's enchanting landscapes. This visual enhancement becomes palpably evident when contrasted against the standard DVD version, highlighting a significant leap in quality afforded by high definition.
Grain is omnipresent, imbuing each scene with an authentic filmic texture, while minor print flaws sporadically emerge. Yet, these elements contribute rather than detract from the overall viewing experience, serving as testaments to the film's age and the meticulous care invested in its remastering. The Blu-ray's technical execution avoids major pitfalls such as compression artifacts, edge ringing, aliasing, or banding, with softer sequences now conveyed with greater satisfaction. Despite minor distractions—occasional dark lines or stray hairs—the transfer remains impressively clean, avoiding unnecessary digital tampering that could mar the original character of the footage.
Although a full frame-by-frame restoration might have rectified these small imperfections, such an extensive overhaul was neither feasible nor critical for preserving the essence of "The Year Without a Santa Claus." The resultant presentation strikes a delicate balance between honoring the source material and leveraging contemporary visual standards to enhance enjoyment. In this light, it's plausible to argue that this release represents the pinnacle of visual quality for the special, combining faithful restoration with technical excellence to ensure the enduring charm and magic of this holiday classic are preserved for future generations.
Audio: 41
Warner's 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track for "The Year Without a Santa Claus" Blu-ray presents a decent auditory experience that notably falls short of the immersive potential offered by a lossless audio mix. Despite its adequacy, it's hard not to feel a twinge of disappointment given the limitations inherent in its presentation. The track battles with dated sound design, resulting in dialogue, effects, and music that often come across as flat and front-loaded. This is somewhat expected given the special's original production values and era. Nonetheless, the audio does offer some redeeming qualities such as relatively clean vocal clarity and occasional, albeit predictable, low-frequency effects that add a modest depth to the experience. The rear speakers sporadically contribute, albeit their efforts may seem minimal, occasionally punctuating scenes with hints of an enveloping soundfield.
However, the track's dynamics appear restrained, and the overall soundfield lacks the directness and immersiveness that modern audiences might hope for from a Blu-ray release. The transitions between channels can feel awkward, and fidelity sometimes waivers, reflecting the age and original sound design limitations of the film. Despite these issues, it's noteworthy that the audio quality does surpass that of previous DVD releases, suggesting an effort to enhance the auditory experience within the constraints faced.
In summary, while Warner's effort to update "The Year Without a Santa Claus" for Blu-ray audiences is evident, the 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 track ultimately delivers an experience that, though an upgrade from DVD quality, remains limited by its lossy compression and the original production's sound design. This results in an audio experience that is competent yet leaves room for improvement towards achieving a truly immersive and rich auditory landscape befitting a beloved classic.
Extra: 36
The Blu-ray release of "The Year Without a Santa Claus" might leave enthusiasts feeling slightly underwhelmed due to its scant selection of extras, glaringly spotlighted by the inclusion of both "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" and "Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" in mere standard definition (SD). Though these additions provide a nostalgic nod to other holiday classics, their presentation fails to match the high-definition expectations of contemporary audiences. The extras endeavor to compensate with behind-the-scenes featurettes like "We Are Santa's Elves" and "School of Stop Motion," which offer insights into the painstaking craftsmanship of the Rankin/Bass productions and the evolution of stop-motion animation. However, the overall package may leave viewers pining for more substantial content that fully utilizes the Blu-ray format's capabilities.
Extras included in this disc:
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Rudolph's Shiny New Year: A follow-up to the main feature where Rudolph searches for Baby New Year.
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Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey: A heartwarming tale focusing on Nestor's journey to Bethlehem.
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We Are Santa's Elves: A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Rankin/Bass animated specials.
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School of Stop Motion: An exploration into the history and technological advancements in stop-motion animation by industry pioneers.
Movie: 56
The Year Without a Santa Claus," a 1974 Rankin/Bass stop-motion creation, is one of the less-remembered holiday classics, sitting in the shadow of giants like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Despite its fading from public memory, the film's latest Blu-ray presentation brings the expressive, hand-crafted artistry of Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. to the forefront, showcasing their work in a manner that has never looked better. The story follows a dejected Santa Claus, voiced with venerable charm by Mickey Rooney, who believes that children no longer care about Christmas, prompting Mrs. Claus, narrated and brought to life by Shirley Booth, to prove the enduring spirit of the holiday. This quest introduces audiences to a cast of colorful characters, most notably the bickering Miser Brothers, adding a layer of vibrant personality to the narrative.
However, despite its nostalgic allure and moments of heartwarming cheer, "The Year Without a Santa Claus" struggles with pacing, spreading a thin narrative over an extended runtime that lacks the briskness or immediate conflict of its contemporaries. The stop-motion animation remains a visual treat, harkening back to a simpler time in holiday entertainment, but the film's slow progression and lack of engaging action render it somewhat stagnant compared to more dynamic Christmas specials. Audiences familiar with the Rankin/Bass repertoire will find familiar comfort in the voice performances and musical numbers, which carry the signature warmth expected of holiday classics.
Though "The Year Without a Santa Claus" conveys a sweet message about belief and holiday spirit, its appeal seems rooted more in nostalgia than in the content's ability to captivate modern viewers. While it carries the hallmark qualities of Rankin/Bass productions — captivating stop-motion, memorable characters, and a festive soundtrack — it ultimately falls short of delivering the enchanting Christmas experience found in other beloved specials. Nevertheless, for those with a fondness for this particular story or stop-motion enthusiasts looking to complete their holiday collection, this Blu-ray release offers an opportunity to revisit the warmth of Christmases past, even if it might not hold the attention of younger generations as firmly as other seasonal favorites.
Total: 49
The Year Without a Santa Claus" Blu-ray presentation brings a mixed bag to the holiday season viewing lineup. Unlike its more timeless peers like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" or "A Charlie Brown Christmas," it doesn't quite hit the mark of an essential Christmas classic, feeling somewhat lengthy and less engaging in comparison. However, this critique doesn't fully diminish its value. The charm of nostalgia cannot be understated, making it a potentially enjoyable watch for families seeking a cozy, if not thrilling, holiday experience. The Warner's Blu-ray release itself shows a dedication to quality, particularly in its video transfer which stands out as notably impressive.
Technical specifications of this Blu-ray are a combination of highs and lows. The audio track, offered in standard Dolby Digital, misses an opportunity to immerse the audience with a more dynamic auditory experience. Additionally, while the inclusion of two bonus holiday specials, "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" and "Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey," adds value, their presentation in standard definition rather than high definition is a letdown, particularly for the more discerning viewer. This aspect may not detract significantly from a child's enjoyment but could dampen adult enthusiasm.
In conclusion, "The Year Without a Santa Claus" Blu-ray is an offering that walks the line between nostalgic joy and modern viewing expectations. Its standout video quality somewhat balances the scales against its audio and bonus content shortcomings. Whether it warrants purchase depends largely on one's personal attachment to the film and tolerance for its slower pace and less eventful storyline. As a piece of holiday entertainment, it may find its place as a milder, quieter addition to a family’s festive traditions, offering a glimpse into the Christmases of yesteryear.
Blu-ray.com review by Kenneth BrownRead review here
Video: 80
Yes, grain permeates every scene and minor print blemishes aren't uncommon, but the whole of the film has been effectively remastered and faithfully presented in all its stop motion glory....
Audio: 60
Still, dynamics are pinched and underwhelming, the special's soundfield isn't direct or immersive, pans are a wee bit cumbersome, fidelity is spotty and the film struggles with every one of its thirty-six...
Extras: 40
The Blu-ray edition of The Year Without a Santa Claus doesn't offer much supplemental content -- a pair of "Behind the Story" featurettes are the extent of it -- but two other childhood classics, Rudolph's...
Movie: 60
And to its credit, Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr's stop-motion tale is a cheery seasonal waft of ginger bread goodness; one brimming with cozy fireside songs, colorful characters and a worthwhile message....
Total: 60
Its standard Dolby Digital audio track isn't going to draw anyone in and its supplemental package leaves a lot to be desired, but its video transfer is quite impressive and the disc even includes two additional...
Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Actors: Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn
PlotFeeling undervalued and suffering from a cold, Santa Claus considers skipping his yearly Christmas journey, leaving the world without his cheer. His faith in the Christmas spirit is waning due to what he perceives to be a lack of belief and appreciation from the people on Earth. Mrs. Claus is deeply concerned and devises a plan to reignite the Christmas spirit and prove to Santa that people still hold the holiday dearly in their hearts. She sends two of Santa's most trusted elves, Jingle and Jangle, along with the reindeer Vixen, on a mission to find evidence of Christmas spirit.
Jingle, Jangle, and Vixen's journey in search of Christmas cheer leads them to Southtown, a place distinctly lacking the festive spirit. Their mission takes a turn for the worse when Vixen is impounded after they fail to prove they work for Santa. Coincidentally, they meet a young boy who, despite Christmas being around the corner, admits he has never felt the holiday spirit. Together they appeal to the boy's understanding of Christmas, hoping to rekindle the joy and belief in him. The predicament in Southtown becomes an unexpected test of faith for the residents and for Santa's helpers, challenging them to restore the magic of Christmas in a world teetering on skepticism.
Writers: William J. Keenan, Phyllis McGinley
Release Date: 10 Dec 1974
Runtime: 51 min
Rating: TV-G
Country: United States, Japan
Language: English