Connection
Rankin/Bass Productions
- Infos
- Best films
If you like this company, let us know!
Foundation date 1 january 1960
Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. (founded as Videocraft International, Ltd.) was an American production company, known for its seasonal television specials, particularly its work in stop-motion animation. The pre-1974 library is owned by DreamWorks Classics, while the post-1974 library is owned by Warner Bros.. Rankin/Bass stop-motion features are recognizable by their visual style of doll-like characters with spheroid body parts, and ubiquitous powdery snow using an animation technique called "Animagic." Often, traditional cel animation scenes of falling snow would be projected over the action to create the effect of a snowfall. On September 14, 2015, Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. celebrated its 55th anniversary.
Filmography of Rankin/Bass Productions (23 films)
Production
Add to a movie list
The King and I (1999)
, 1h28Directed by Richard Rich
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical theatre, Fantasy, Musical, Animation, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Politique, Théâtre, Musical films, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Films about royalty
Actors Miranda Richardson, Ian William Richardson, Darrell Hammond, Christiane Noll, Kenny Baker, Brian Tochi
In 1862 Siam, the King of Siam rules with traditional beliefs and refusal to change. With the arrival of Englishwoman Anna Leonowens and her son Louis, his evil, but villainous Prime Minister, Kralahome, plots to have the King overthrown with deceit. At the same time, the Crown Prince Chulalongkorn falls in love with Tuptim, a servant given to the King as a gift from Burma, but their love and friendship must remain a secret as such is strictly forbidden.
The Wind in the Willows (1987)
, 1h36Directed by Terry Jones, Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass, Rachel Talalay
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Animation
Themes Musical films, Children's films
Actors Charles Nelson Reilly, Bob Hoskins, Roddy McDowall, Mark Gatiss, José Ferrer, Matt Lucas
The "well-known and popular" Mr. Toad of Toad Hall (voice of Charles Nelson Reilly), a conceited and impulsive animal, embarks on a madcap river voyage in a paddleboat, nearly shipwrecking his friend Ratty (voice of Roddy McDowall) who is out for a leisurely row. At the same time, Toad whelms the entrance to the subterranean home of Moley (voice of Eddie Bracken). So disturbed, Moley comes above ground for the first time in his life, and is positively amazed by the surface world. At once he meets Ratty, who invites him to come along on his river cruise ("Wind in the Willows"). All too soon, Toad returns and recklessly overturns Ratty's boat, nearly drowning Moley, but Ratty saves him and pushes him along to shore.
The Flight of Dragons (1984)
, 1h32Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass, Fumihiko Takayama
Origin USA
Genres Comedy-drama, Fantasy, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Feminist films, Films about magic and magicians, Films about dragons, Political films, Children's films
Actors John Ritter, Nellie Bellflower, Bob McFadden, Victor Buono, Don Messick, James Earl Jones
The 'Green Wizard' Carolinus (Harry Morgan) discovers magic failing as humanity embraces science, and summons his brothers Lo Tae Zhao the Yellow Wizard (Don Messick); Solarius the Blue Wizard (Paul Frees); and Ommadon the Red Wizard (James Earl Jones), accompanied by their dragons Shen Tsu, Lunarian, and Bryagh (James Gregory), before whom he resolves to create a 'Last Realm of Magic' hidden from the rest of the world. Lo Tae Zhao and Solarius consent, but Ommadon instead proposes to take control of the world himself; whereupon the other wizards decide to seize Ommadon's crown, the source of his powers. Because the wizards are forbidden to fight among themselves, they volunteer Carolinus's dragon Gorbash (Bob McFadden when not Ritter-as-Peter) and the knight Sir Orrin Neville-Smythe (Bob McFadden), to do so, with Solarius giving a shield to deflect dark magic and Lo Tae Zhao giving a flute to lull dragons to sleep. Requiring a third protagonist, Carolinus summons Peter Dickinson (John Ritter), a board-game creator and polymath scientist. Having arrived in the past, Peter becomes enamoured of Princess Milisande (Alexandra Stoddart), Carolinus's ward.
The Last Unicorn (1982)
, 1h32Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Feminist films, Films about magic and magicians, Political films, Children's films
Actors Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Tammy Grimes, Robert Klein, Angela Lansbury
In an enchanted forest, a unicorn learns she is the last of her kind. A butterfly reveals that a demonic animal called the Red Bull herded her kind to the ends of the earth. Venturing into unfamiliar territory beyond the safety of her home, the Unicorn journeys to find them and bring them back.
The Bushido Blade (1981)
, 1h44Genres Drama, Action, Historical
Themes Seafaring films, Sports films, Transport films, Martial arts films, Samurai films
Actors Sonny Chiba, Richard Boone, Frank Converse, Laura Gemser, James Earl Jones, Mako Iwamatsu
The basic plot concept bears a strong similarity to the earlier movie Red Sun (1971), also featuring Toshiro Mifune.
The Ivory Ape (1980)
, 1h44Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Romance
Actors Jack Palance, Steven Keats, Cindy Pickett, Earle Hyman, Derek Partridge, John Edward Truscott
The Return of the King (1980)
, 1h38Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Feminist films, Films about magic and magicians, Monde imaginaire, Middle-earth films, Political films, Children's films
Actors Orson Bean, John Huston, William Conrad, Roddy McDowall, Theodore Bikel, Brother Theodore
During the 129th birthday celebration for Bilbo Baggins in Rivendell, Frodo begins his story with Samwise Gamgee, his friend and companion, treading through Mordor as Ring-bearer in Frodo's absence, when Frodo is captive in the orc' fortress of Cirith Ungol. During his journey, Sam ponders claiming the Ring himself; but rejects the idea and rescues Frodo.
The Last Dinosaur (1977)
, 1h32Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Dinosaur films, La préhistoire, Children's films
Actors Richard Boone, Joan Van Ark, Steven Keats
Wealthy big-game hunter Maston Thrust (Richard Boone) has a multi-million dollar company, "Thrust INC.", which successfully drills for oil under the polar caps with a manned laser drill, called the "Polar Borer". When only one man returns from a Bore Expedition, Thurst calls a press conference. It appears that the borer was going through a routine check in the icecaps when it suddenly surfaced in a valley which was super-heated by a volcano. The crew, all except for geologist Chuck Wade (Steven Keats), get out of the Polar Borer and explore the strange area. Once ashore, they end up being eaten by a giant prehistoric Tyrannosaurus Rex. Chuck is able to make it back to tell their tale and Thrust decides to go there himself to study the creature. Along with Thrust and Chuck, there will be three others: Bunta (Luther Rackley), a Maasai tracker; Dr. Kawamoto (Tetsu Nakamura); and Frankie Banks (Joan Van Ark) a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer selected by the Press Pool. Maston, being his sexist self, goes on about how he's never taken a woman on his journeys and that he's not going to change now. But with some clever persuasion at a dinner for the crew, Frankie manages to convince Thrust to allow her on the expedition.
, 50minutesDirected by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Animation
Actors Fred Astaire, Skip Hinnant, Billie Mae Richards, Laura Dean, Harvey Korman, Paul Frees
S.D. Kluger (From Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and once again, voiced by Fred Astaire) returns as a train engineer, but still a mailman, to answer questions concerning the origins of the Easter Bunny while reading the children's letters, such as why eggs are painted for Easter and who made the first jelly beans and chocolate bunny.
The Hobbit (1977)
, 1h18Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Feminist films, Films about magic and magicians, Monde imaginaire, Middle-earth films, Films about dragons, Political films, Children's films
Actors Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conried, John Huston, Otto Preminger, Cyril Ritchard
The plot of the animated production is in most respects similar to that of the book, which was already styled as a classic children's novel, and so is adapted in that vein for a younger audience; but certain plot points are significantly compressed due to the time limitations of the format. In addition, certain scenes are obviously edited for commercial breaks. In general, alterations include simple omission of additional detail, as the producers expressed their desire to adhere to the written text, including lyrics adapted from the songs in the book but in much longer and greater format.
Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976)
, 25minutesDirected by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Animation
Themes Feminist films, Christmas films, Political films, Children's films
Actors Dennis Day, Paul Frees, Jackie Vernon, Shelley Winters, Andy Griffith
Years have passed since Frosty left for the North Pole, but kept his promise to the children that he would be back again someday. When he hears the news about the first snowfall of the season, he comes back to the children. The children are excited to hear about Frosty's return and are overjoyed when he comes back to play with them, but then Jack Frost (voiced by Paul Frees) sees the fun that the children are having with Frosty and becomes jealous of him and attempts to steal his hat so the children will love him more.
, 22minutesDirected by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Musical theatre, Animation
Themes Christmas films
Actors Angela Lansbury, Cyril Ritchard, Joan Gardner, Don Messick
An old shepherd, Lucas, is blinded by lightning, and some nuns at a nearby abbey take him to a stable. Sister Theresa describes snow to Lucas, who has never seen it. Lucas gets chosen to play an angel in the stable's Christmas pageant, and a Christmas woman that flashes during the pageant works a small miracle. The film contains a performance of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas".
Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Animation
Themes Feminist films, Christmas films, Political films, Children's films
Actors Joel Grey, George Gobel, Tammy Grimes, John McGiver, Allen Swift
Set in the fictional town of Junctionville, NY around the turn of the 20th century, Santa Claus is offended by an anonymous letter printed in the town's newspaper (and signed "all of us") claiming that he doesn't exist. In response, Santa returns the entire town's letters to them unopened. Upon reading the anonymous letter printed in the newspaper, Father Mouse (voiced by George Gobel) — a mouse assistant to the human clockmaker Joshua Trundle (voiced by Joel Grey, the credited narrator) — immediately suspects that his brainy son Albert is its author. Albert (voiced by Tammy Grimes) confirms his suspicions, repeating the letter verbatim to him.
Mad Mad Mad Monsters (1972)
, 1h6Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Animation, Comic science fiction
Themes Films about animals, Films about computing, Films about magic and magicians, Films based on science fiction novels, Comedy science fiction films, Wolves in film, Dracula films, Frankenstein films, Werewolves in film, Vampires in film, Comedy horror films, Cyberpunk films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Allen Swift, Bob McFadden, Bradley Bolke
After Baron Henry von Frankenstein creates a bride his monster, he decides to make arrangements for a lavish wedding at the Transylvania Astoria Hotel. Many monsters are invited to the wedding including Count Dracula and his son, Ron Chanley the Werewolf, the Mummy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man and his family, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Once the wedding guests arrive, they terrify guests and staff. Frankenstein's assistant Igor is jealous of the monster and wants the bride for his own. So Igor plots to steal her which doesn't go according to plan when the bride ends up snatched up by a Pterodactyl and lands in the clutches of a giant gorilla named Modzoola.
, 1hDirected by Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Origin USA
Genres Animation
Actors Tina Andrews, Paul Frees, Ernestine Wade
A guardian angel agrees to help Willie Mays win the National League Pennant if he agrees to take care of an orphan girl.