11 Forgotten Christmas Specials You Probably Haven't Seen

4. The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus The last Christmas special from Rankin/Bass before Santa Baby! was this one from 1985, and WOW, did they want to go out with a bang. It's based on a novel by L. Frank Baum, which, like most of his non-Oz books, is all but forgotten by the modern era. It was his attempt to give a biography to the beloved Christmas hero, one that would be provided so much more successfully by R/B in their classic, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. In the forest of Burzee, a council of the forces of nature convene to review the life of a man named Claus, who has dedicated his life to making children happy. He is granted the gift of immortality, so that he may continue his quest forever. The character designs of the council are truly epic, some of the most imaginative they'd ever done. Baum's story is equally fantastic and outlandish - Santa is raised by a tigress, and is protected over by fairies and other mystical woodland beings. JD Roth, best know for hosting kids game show Fun House, plays the young Claus, and WOW can he not act. Long time H/B voice actors Alfred Drake and Bob McFadden also appear in this last great work by the company.