'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977 TV special)

1974 American-Japanese animated Christmas television special 'Twas the Night Before ChristmasTitle pageGenreAnimationWritten byJerome CoopersmithDirected byArthur Rankin Jr.Jules BassStarringJoel GreyGeorge GobelTammy GrimesJohn McGiverNarrated byGeorge Gobel (main story)Joel Grey (poem sequence)Theme music composerMaury LawsCountries of originUnited StatesJapanOriginal languageEnglishProductionProducersArthur Rankin Jr.Jules BassCinematographyToru HaraTsuguyuki KuboRunning time25 minutesProduction companiesRankin/Bass ProductionsTopcraft Limited CompanyOriginal releaseNetworkCBSReleaseDecember 8, 1974 (1974-12-08)Related Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) Frosty the Snowman (1969) Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) The First Easter Rabbit (1976) Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town (1977) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977) The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) Jack Frost (1979) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) Pinocchio's Christmas (1980) Frosty Returns (1992) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001) The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2005) A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas is a 1974 American animated Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions that features Clement Clarke Moore's famous 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, the opening line of which is the source of the title of this animated special. The special first originally aired on CBS on December 8, 1974, and the network aired it annually until 1994, when The Family Channel (now Freeform) took over its syndication rights. AMC took over syndication rights for the special in 2018. Although the opening credits mention "told and sung by Joel Grey", it is really narrated by George Gobel, as there is more emphasis on the point of view of Father Mouse, with Moore's poem read by Grey as a secondary plot.

[edit] This article's plot summary needs to be improved. Please help do so. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. (December 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Santa Claus is offended by an anonymous letter printed in a Junctionville, USA newspaper claiming that he does not exist. In response, Santa returns all of the townspeople's letters unopened. Upon reading the letter, Father Mouse, an assistant to the clockmaker Joshua Trundle, suspects that his son Albert is the author, and Albert confirms this. To make amends with Santa, Father Mouse and the Trundle Family build a clock tower that will play a special song to convince Santa not to bypass Junctionville on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, Albert sneaks into the clock and inadvertently causes it to malfunction in front of the whole town. The Mayor, embarrassed by the clock's failure, denies Joshua access for repairs. After confessing his mistake, Albert decides to fix the clock himself and manages to get it to play its song within earshot of Santa, prompting Santa to visit the town after all.

[edit] George Gobel as Father Mouse Joel Grey as Joshua Trundle Tammy Grimes as Albert John McGiver as The Mayor of Junctionville Additional voices[edit] Robert McFadden as The Substation Operator, The Councilmen, and The Handyman Allen Swift as Santa Claus Pat Bright as Sarah Trundle, and Mother Mouse Christine Winter as The Girl, and The Girl Mouse Scott Firestone as The Boy, and The Boy Mouse The Wee Winter Singers as The Chorus

[edit] There are three musical numbers in the program:

"Give Your Heart a Try" - Father Mouse (George Gobel) "Even a Miracle Needs a Hand" - Joshua Trundle (Joel Grey), Albert (Tammy Grimes) "Christmas Chimes are Calling (Santa, Santa)" - Chorus

[edit] "Even a Miracle Needs a Hand" later appeared on South Park in the Season 4 episode "A Very Crappy Christmas". Similar to its use in the original special, the song is sung by Kyle to Stan and Kenny during a seemingly hopeless situation. At one point, Joshua Trundle's face is even superimposed over Kyle's face.

[edit] An original advertisement for the special. Like many of Rankin/Bass' other animated TV specials, this special was animated in Japan by the animation studio Topcraft, which was rolled into Studio Ghibli in 1985.

[edit] The special was originally first issued on VHS by ABC Video Enterprises and Golden Book Video in 1987. After Lorimar was purchased by Time Warner, Warner Home Video/Warner Bros. Family Entertainment (owners of the post-1974 Rankin/Bass library), re-released the special on VHS in 1990, and on DVD in 2004, paired with the 1976 special Frosty's Winter Wonderland. A Blu-ray was released on October 5, 2011. It is also available on iTunes for purchase. On October 31, 2023, it was released as part of The Complete Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection on blu-ray and DVD.

Even after half a century, this animated retelling of Moore’s poem holds a cosy appeal for families who want something shorter than the full‑length specials but richer than a simple reading. The 25‑minute runtime fits neatly into a pre‑Christmas dinner slot, letting kids enjoy the lyrical narration without losing attention. Its hand‑drawn style, courtesy of Japan’s Topcraft studio, offers a texture that modern CGI can’t replicate – a warm, slightly uneven line that feels like a Christmas card brought to life. Pair it with a mug of tea and a plate of mince pies, and you’ve got a miniature tradition that slides easily into any holiday schedule.

When hunting for a copy, look for the original CBS broadcast date (8 December 1974) printed on the packaging – this usually signals the uncut 25‑minute version with the authentic Maury Laws score. Some DVD and streaming releases have been trimmed or paired with other Rankin/Bass shorts, which can dilute the pacing. If you prefer the full musical cues, choose editions that list ‘original unedited’ in the description. For collectors, the US‑Japan co‑production badge is a nice touch, confirming the authentic Topcraft animation work rather than later re‑animations.

Most people tune in for the familiar verses, but the special’s animation deliberately mirrors the poem’s anapestic meter. Notice how the camera glides in three‑beat sweeps during “‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house…” – the visual rhythm reinforces the cadence, making the story feel almost musical. This subtle syncing helps younger viewers intuit the poem’s beat, turning a passive listening experience into a gentle lesson in poetic timing. A quick pause after each stanza can highlight this craft, turning a simple viewing into an educational moment.