The Tiny Tree

1975 Christmas television special

The Tiny TreeGenreChristmas specialCreated byChuck CouchWritten byChuck CouchBob OgleLewis MarshallDirected byChuck CouchVoices ofBuddy EbsenPaul WinchellFrank WelkerAllan MelvinCherilyn ParsonsHettie Lynne HurtesStephen ManleyLucille BlissJanet WaldoNarrated byBuddy EbsenComposersDean ElliottJohnny MarksCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producersDavid H. DePatieFriz FrelengProducerChuck CouchEditorsRoger DonleyRon FedeleRobert T. GillisJoe SiracusaRick StewardRunning time30 minutesProduction companyDePatie–Freleng EnterprisesOriginal releaseNetworkNBCReleaseDecember 14, 1975 (1975-12-14) The Tiny Tree is a 1975 American animated Christmas television special produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises. Created, produced and directed by Chuck Couch, the special was first broadcast at 7:30 PM on NBC on December 14, 1975, airing as part of the Bell System Family Theater, sponsored by Bell Telephone. It received a Daytime Emmy Awards nomination for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts" in 1976, and was rerun into the 1980s.

[edit] Squire Badger narrates the story to two young rabbits. When a family with a little disabled girl in a wheelchair moves into a long-empty farmhouse, the local animals introduce the girl to a tiny whispering pine tree in the meadow, and the two bond together, enjoying each other's company through the year. That winter, a blizzard buries the land and endangers the animals with starvation. When Horace Hawk the vegetarian visualizes Mole as a berry and tries to eat him, the girl hurries outside to stop him but falls from her chair and remains in bed on Christmas Eve. Learning that the girl's father couldn't obtain her presents and a Christmas tree from town, the whispering pine volunteers to be her Christmas tree, so the animals transplant him outside her window and decorate him with natural items, except for a star tree topper. The Morning Star, the first light of Christmas Day, provides this final touch that also heals the little girl as she and all the animals rejoice.

[edit] Buddy Ebsen as Squire Badger Paul Winchell as Turtle Frank Welker as Groundhog, Father Bird, Beaver and Mole Allan Melvin as Horace Hawk Cherilyn Parsons as Girl Bunny Hettie Lynne Hurtes as Girl Porcupine, Bird and Firefly Stephen Manley as Boy Bunny and Girl Raccoon Lucille Bliss as Field Mouse Janet Waldo as Lady Bird and Little Girl

[edit] In 1958-1962, Warner Bros. Pictures produced four specials for The Bell Laboratory Science Series; Gateways to the Mind, The Alphabet Conspiracy, Thread of Life, and About Time. The specials each had animated segments, directed by Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, Robert McKimson and Phil Monroe. Animator and writer Chuck Couch produced and directed three films for Bell around this time; Talking of Tomorrow, Mr. Digit and the Battle of Bubbling Brook, and TASI, The Time Machine. In the 1970s, while working at Hanna-Barbera, Couch wrote a story for a special called The Tiny Tree, and pitched it to the Bell Family Theater. DePatie–Freleng Enterprises was hired to produce the special. The characters were designed by Disney and MGM animator Louis Schmitt, and voiced by Buddy Ebsen, Paul Winchell, Frank Welker, Allan Melvin, Cherilyn Parsons, Hettie Lynne Hurtes, Stephen Manley, Lucille Bliss and Janet Waldo. The music was composed by Dean Elliott and Johnny Marks; Marks wrote and composed seven songs for the special, and also included "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", performed by Ebsen. Two of the songs, "To Love and Be Loved" and "When Autumn Comes", were produced and arranged by Leon Pendarvis and sung by Roberta Flack. Marks stated that the former song "captures the whole meaning of Christmas", with the special itself "built on" it.

Even after more than four decades, the special’s gentle narrative of a sapling finding its place under a snow‑laden sky strikes a chord with families seeking a calm, non‑commercial touchstone. Its simple animation style, a product of De Patie‑Freleng’s classic cartoon craftsmanship, offers a nostalgic visual language that parents who grew up with the original can share with their children. The story’s focus on growth, patience and community mirrors the seasonal impulse to nurture new traditions, making it a perfect, low‑key alternative to the high‑octane slapstick of many modern holiday specials.

For collectors, original VHS releases are rare and tend to fetch premium prices on auction sites, but the picture quality is often compromised by tape degradation. A safer bet is the remastered DVD released in the early 2000s, which restores colour fidelity and sharpens the line work without altering the original soundtrack. Look for editions that include the original NBC broadcast intro and any bonus commentary from animation historians—that adds context without intruding on the viewing experience. If you stream, verify that the platform offers the full 30‑minute cut rather than a clipped excerpt, as the narrative’s pacing relies on those quiet, snow‑globe moments.

The 1976 Daytime Emmy nomination often gets cited as a badge of technical excellence, yet it was specifically for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts.” In practice, this recognised the behind‑the‑scenes artistry—chiefly Dean Elliott’s orchestral scoring and the meticulous ink‑and‑paint work that kept the trees swaying realistically. The award didn’t celebrate the programme’s overall storytelling, which is why some viewers assume the nomination implies a broader critical acclaim. Understanding the precise category helps appreciate the special’s real strength: its subtle craft, not just its holiday cheer.