# Rankin + Bass...inspired goofiness or just stoopid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557 "2007-05-10T15:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/21 "2007-05-11T12:46:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Don Bluth has story telling skills? Do you mean the man who did All Dogs Go to Heaven, An American Tale, Rock-a-Doodle, and The Land Before Time or a different Don Bluth? > > Bluth was very impressive with The Secret of NIMH, but has turned out pure crap with a few leaps into mediocrity every since. Yeah – I still think those are better than Rank’n’Base’s work. And what’s wrong with **An American Tale**? .. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/22 "2007-05-11T13:31:29Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Don Bluth has story telling skills? Do you mean the man who did **All Dogs Go to Heaven, An American Tale, Rock-a-Doodle,** and **The Land Before Time** or a different Don Bluth? Bluth was very impressive with **The Secret of NIMH** , but has turned out pure crap with a few leaps into mediocrity every since. [/QUOTE] And with **Cool World** , he hit rock bottom… and started to dig. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/23 "2007-05-11T13:38:15Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] And with **Cool World** , he hit rock bottom… and started to dig. [/QUOTE] No, that was Ralph Bakshi. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/24 "2007-05-11T13:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > And with Cool World, he hit rock bottom… and started to dig. **Cool World** had nothing to do with Bluth – it was by the on-again off-again master, Ralph Bakshi. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/25 "2007-05-11T13:45:12Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Don Bluth has story telling skills? Do you mean the man who did **All Dogs Go to Heaven, An American Tale, Rock-a-Doodle,** and **The Land Before Time** or a different Don Bluth? Bluth was very impressive with **The Secret of NIMH** , but has turned out pure crap with a few leaps into mediocrity every since. [/QUOTE] That seems to be the popular consensus with Bluth but I never got it. As a kid I’ve watched American Tale, Rock-a-Doodle, and Land Before Time a thousand times over - they’re classics (All Dogs was kind of corny, though). NIMH would be otherwise meaningless to me if I didn’t know it for eliminating everything that was exciting about its source material(and launching Bluth’s solo career, for some reason). ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/26 "2007-05-11T13:48:47Z")
And Rankin Bass is great - they’re not untouchable masters, but their classics are classics. They’re great satisfactorily padding the back stories of our holiday myths (ex. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town). ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/27 "2007-05-11T15:06:23Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] **Cool World** had nothing to do with Bluth – it was by the on-again off-again master, Ralph Bakshi. [/QUOTE] Bakshi was on at some point? When was that, exactly? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/28 "2007-05-11T15:14:21Z")
[QUOTE=NoCoolUserName] Bakshi was on at some point? When was that, exactly? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Love him, hate him, or dismiss him, but he has many fans from his [Fritz the Cat (1972)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068612/), his classic “[Spider-Man](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061301/)” (45 episodes, 1968-1970) cartoons and even [Wizards](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/). He also got a nice bit of press for one of his [“Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures” (1987)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0161170/) > [@](#): > > A viewer notified media watchdog Reverend Donald Wildmon that, in one episode of this series, it looks like Mighty Mouse reaches into a pocket and snorts cocaine from his hand to regain his strength. Wildmon was disbelieving at first, but after investigating the episode and learning of producer Ralph Bakshi’s background (e.g., directing the adult cartoon Fritz The Cat), alerted the media that this may have been intentional. Given the numerous other instances of risque humor and adult jokes in this series, a drug reference wouldn’t be out of the question. Bakshi denies it to this day, maintaining that Mighty Mouse was merely smelling some crushed flowers and that the white jet leading from his hand to his nose was merely a cartoon “smell line” moving super-fast from the mighty inhale. The episode was immediately pulled from the rotation so that no one would see it. I remember the Spider Man show as being pretty Hokey but Fritz & Wizards were fun midnight movies when you were 16-22, with friends and somewhat high or slightly drunk. Neither has held up very well IMO. I never saw the Mighty Mouse Cartoons, but they had a lot of positive ‘buzz’. 😉 Jim ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/29 "2007-05-11T15:29:21Z")
_ **The Life and Times of Santa Claus** _ is, IMO, primarily LCD-induced weirdness. It’s about Santa Claus as an orphan, being raised in the forest by a combination of woodland creatures and eternal beings like Spring, Fall and Death. The most surreal moment is when the eternal beings are sitting around their council table debating whether they should kill off Santa Claus or make him immortal. It’s very weird and I recommend you watch it. Also there are evil monkeys that live in the Smokey (Rocky?) Mountains and Santa kills them with an axe. No, really. Or maybe The Great Ahk (the most impt of the immortal beings) kills the monkeys, I can’t remember. My husband and I still invoke The Great Ahk from time to time. We first saw it several years ago when a cable channel was having a Christmas special marathon. We watched Frosty, Rudolph, etc, then _ **The Life and Times of Santa Claus** _ came on. About 15 minutes into it my husband turned to me and asked “I don’t remember smoking any pot - do you?” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/30 "2007-05-11T15:53:34Z")
> [@](#): > > The Life and Times of Santa Claus is, IMO, primarily LCD-induced weirdness. This one, IIRC, is based on L. Frank baum’s book of the same name. Yes, THAT L. Frank Baum – Wizard of Oz and all that. I’ve got the book, but haven’t read it, and I haven’t seen the Rank and Base version, so I can’t comment further. But L. Frank might be responsible for some of the weirdness you see. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/31 "2007-05-11T16:21:25Z")
[QUOTE=SkipMagic] I enjoyed their [Mad Monster Party](http://www.rankinbass.com/mmphome.html). A nice switch from the more famous Christmas classics. [/QUOTE] **Ursula:** Yetch, you _creep!_ **Yetch:** (creeping) She told me to creep, so I’m creeping! I love that film. I have it on VHS somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/32 "2007-05-11T16:39:30Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] This one, IIRC, is based on L. Frank baum’s book of the same name. Yes, THAT L. Frank Baum – Wizard of Oz and all that. I’ve got the book, but haven’t read it, and I haven’t seen the Rank and Base version, so I can’t comment further. But L. Frank might be responsible for some of the weirdness you see. [/QUOTE] Thanks, for the tip. I’m totally going to get this out of the library and read it. Just came back to say - the actual title is **The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus** - I always get that wrong! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/33 "2007-05-11T16:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=Motorgirl] _ **The Life and Times of Santa Claus** _ is, IMO, primarily LCD-induced weirdness. [/QUOTE] LCD?? Sheesh. LSD! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/34 "2007-05-11T17:16:10Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Don Bluth has story telling skills? Do you mean the man who did **All Dogs Go to Heaven** , **An American Tale** , **Rock-a-Doodle** , and **The Land Before Time** or a different Don Bluth? > > Bluth was very impressive with The Secret of NIMH, but has turned out pure crap with a few leaps into mediocrity every since. He also did the animation for **Titan A.E.** , which I personally feel is a very enjoyable movie. I know others don’t feel the same way. [QUOTE=What Exit?] Love him, hate him, or dismiss him, but he has many fans from his [Fritz the Cat (1972)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068612/), his classic “[Spider-Man](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061301/)” (45 episodes, 1968-1970) cartoons and even [Wizards](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/). [/QUOTE] The _only_ thing I remember from seeing Wizards over a decade ago is nipples. Seriously. That’s it. Something about nipples. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/35 "2007-05-11T17:17:06Z")
The IMDB site confirms that the Rank’n’Base production is indeed based on Baum’s bppk: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089488/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089488/) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/36 "2007-05-11T17:43:19Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] **Cool World** had nothing to do with Bluth – it was by the on-again off-again master, Ralph Bakshi. [/QUOTE] Ah, right. My error. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/37 "2007-05-11T18:19:45Z")
I love the stop motion version of Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus. Santa is an orphan raised by elves and granted immortality by the preChristian lord of the forest. It’s extremely pagan for a Christmas special. I’ll have to rewatch RB’s ROTK, but I loved the songs the last time I saw it. “You are standing underneath the Tower Of The Teeth and the Eye blazes red!” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/38 "2007-05-11T18:36:03Z")
[QUOTE=BayleDomon] The _only_ thing I remember from seeing Wizards over a decade ago is nipples. Seriously. That’s it. Something about nipples. [/QUOTE] I remember Wizards with Tommy Guns, mutants, naked fairies, nazis and some strange psychedelic animation. I haven’t seen it since I was 21 or 22 and I was tripping at the time. Jim ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/39 "2007-05-11T18:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The only thing I remember from seeing Wizards over a decade ago is nipples. > > Seriously. That’s it. Something about nipples. One of the lead characters, Elinore, was a fairy dressed in a white bikini-like thing with VERY prominent nipples. Although they were clother throughout the film. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557/40 "2007-05-11T18:55:25Z")
I watched \*The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town \* for the first time in years a couple of months ago. This has not held up very well. I guess it is an ok way for a kid to kill a half hour. But, not the stuff memories are made of. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rankin-bass-inspired-goofiness-or-just-stoopid/403557.md?page=1)