The Great Ak calls a council of the Immortals to ask that Santa Claus be given immortality. And to justify it, he tells the history of Santa Claus. The Ak found an abandoned baby and gave it to a lioness and a fairy to raise, who named him Claus. When Claus grew up, the Great Ak showed him the evil and hardship in the world and Claus decides to live there and relieve some of the suffering. He decides to make toys for orphans, but King Awgwa, the ruler of the valley where Claus lives doesn't want the children to be happy, and there is a great battle among Immortals.
Practical Effects
Peak Rankin/Bass stop-motion with genuinely unsettling creature designs.
Score
Earworm songs that will haunt you until February.
Director
Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Earl Hammond
Santa Claus (voice)
Earle Hyman
King Awgwa (voice)
Larry Kenney
Commander of the Wind Demons (voice)
Lynne Lipton
Queen Zurline / Wife / Additional Voices (voice)
Bob McFadden
Tingler (voice)
Peter Newman
Peter Knook / Awgwas / The Gnome King / Husband / Additional Voices (voice)
J.D. Roth
Young Claus (voice)
Alfred Drake
The Great Ak (voice)
Amy Anzel
Child (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on L. Frank Baum's 1902 book—the same mind that built Oz went full mythos on Santa.
This is the only Rankin/Bass special where Santa literally fights demons in combat. The 80s were wild.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
