Raggedy Ann and Andy in the Great Santa Claus Caper (1978 TV Movie) User Reviews

Classic 1970s Christmas Special

[EvanMOver · 6/10 · 23 December 2020]

This Xmas TV special from 1978 starring Raggedy Ann, Andy, their dog Raggedy Arthur, Comet the Reindeer, and Alexander Graham Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf who looks a lot like Wile E. Coyote). Chuck Jones is a legend of this genre for good reason, and the special is well animated, and generally well done. The plot is pretty funny, as the Big Bad Wolf has basically taken Santa Claus hostage and set up shop as a businessman / corporate executive concerned with efficiency, and in his estimation Santa's is the least efficient operation around. So he will start new policies, including charging children for Christmas presents, and spreading Gloopstick (a plasticizing substance) over all the gifts so they'll never break (but also never be able to be played with). Some environmental criticism of materialistic culture for sure, but overall, a family and child friendly film about the magic of Christmas being love. The scene towards the end wherein the climax is reached and the conflict is resolved has a unique song that breaks the fourth wall with Raggedy Ann doing a bit of call and response song with the viewer.

Another Chuck Jones/Raggedy Ann collaboration I like

[ja_kitty_71 · 10/10 · 24 November 2009]

Here is another Chuck Jones Christmas TV special I liked after watching it. And it is another Chuck Jones/Raggedy Ann collaboration I hardly remember-until I watched it on YouTube, that is.

Anyway, the story starts when inventor and efficiency expert Alexander Graham Wolf, who looks and sounds like Wile E. Coyote, plans to take over Santa's workshop. I like Wolf's outfit, by the way. Overhearing this, Comet, Santa's #5 reindeer, asks Raggedy Ann, Andy, and their dog Raggedy Arthur to help her because they're easy to carry and aren't bothered by cold weather. At the factory, Alexander is using a machine to encase all the toys in blocks of a transparent, unbreakable substance called "gloopstick" to ensure that they'll last forever (even though the children won't be able to play with them). He then intends to charge the children for the gloopstick-encased toys and become rich. Will the rag dolls be able to save Christmas? You will have to watch for yourself.

So my last word is that I love this special from beginning to end. And I don't have any particular scene I like because I love the whole cartoon. One last thing I would like to say: I am starting to like the vocal talents of Les Tremayne (Mr. Wolf)... R. I. P., Les (1913-2003).

Underrated and Timeless.

[ultramatt2000-1 · 10/10 · 28 December 2017]

I remember seeing this cartoon when I was as young as three or four. This Christmas special was magical and underrated. The animation is good and the voices are good too. I noticed that the baddie in the special Alexander Graham Wolf (a.k.a. The Big Bad Wolf who is voiced by Les Tremayne), is the baddie in the picture. This guy is a Wile E. Coyote clone. He wants to put Gloopstick on all the toys so that they way they won't be broken. Which blatantly defeats the purpose of having them to be played with. June Foray does a great job voicing Comet and Raggedy Ann while Daws Butler does a great performance as Andy with his cute Elroy Jetson-type voice. There is something about the ending. The villain gets his comeuppance by getting trapped in his own creation. Commonly, the villain would get angry and rant about then succumb to the folly of his way and give up only to be taken away by authority. Nope, we don't get that. Like a Woody Woodpecker "villain", he just breaks into tears and starts crying like baby. What in Dapper Denver Dooley is that?! (The reason why I wrote villain in quotation marks was because that in those cartoons, they are no threat to begin with and Walter "The Sicko" Lantz wants to give maturity and growing up a bad name.) Also, there is a scene that involves audience interaction. (I see you are bothered by "Sesame Street" and can't let it go. Huh, Chuck Jones.) This leads to a scene where it wants to make us feel sorry for the villain and that way he can change his ways from a Big Bad Wolf to a Big Good Wolf. The thing is, that this cartoon is sweet and is worth putting it in front of the kiddies to keep them happy. Bottom line: Give it a watch despite all the wacky (and shocking) stuff going around children's television these days. Not rated, but a TV-G would work. This review goes in loving memory of June Foray (1917 - 2017). Rest In Peace.