The top 5 animated/clay-mation shows...

5. Frosty The Snowman

When Jimmy Durante is the guy doing the narration, you know this special has been around a while. Based on the popular children's song of the same name, we are treated to a half hour of Frosty coming to life, romping through the town with the kiddos, realizing global warming is taking its toll, taking the train to the North Pole, warming up Karen, running from Professor Hinkle, taking shelter in a greenhouse, being melted by said greenhouse, coming back to life with the help of Santa and the wind, scolding Professor Hinkle for melting Frosty and flying back to the North Pole aboard Santa's sleigh.

Now that's one heck of a day.

I have a strange recollection of many parts of this show. The way the little kid says "Oatmeal!" when they ask what they want to name Frosty. The way one of the kids says "Uh huh!" when asked if they saw Frosty come to life. The over-produced sound effects of the train depot ticket guy when he wakes up and messes up the tickets and when he finds out they don't have any money for a ticket to the North Pole. (The same over-production is used when Hinkle jumps from the train down the mountain. The effects continue after he is done falling.) The way Hinkle says "Messy, messy, messy." And the best line of all...

"He was the fastest belly-whopper in the world."

I almost didn't put this in the top 5 because of the 2 horrendous sequels; "Frosty Returns" with Jonathon Winters narrating and John Goodman as Frosty. Goodman sings through his nose the whole show as Bill Murray's brother, the one with the very scratchy voice tries to peddle his snow-be-gone product to the town because they hate the snow. It turns into a big quagmire which eventually leads to everyone hating the multi-conglomerate which is as it should be. (rolling eyes) Also, "The Legend of Frosty The Snowman" with, brace yourselves, Burt Reynolds narrating. It is as terribe as you are imagining. Words cannot describe the agony of this "special". I won't try.

I do love the original Frosty though. And it is always a perrenial favorite in this most wonderful time of the year.