This year, the beloved holiday classic "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" turns 50! Can you believe it? A "Year Without a Santa Clause" is also celebrating a big anniversary, which put me in the throwback mood.

Rankin/Bass hooked us with stop motion animation. It looked so real as a kid! Their traditional, holiday specials had the same warmth about them too.

What would Christmas be without animated specials? Boring! Let's honor the great, genius duo who brought so many of us some wonderful holiday memories!

Here are clips from 6 of their specials.

 

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