Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper

*Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper*
Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper
Written by	Chuck Jones
Directed by	Chuck Jones
Starring	Daws Butler; June Foray; Les Tremayne
Theme music composer	Dean Elliott
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Chuck Jones; Mary Roscoe
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	Chuck Jones Enterprises ; The Bobbs-Merrill Company
Budget	$375,000
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	November 30, 1978

Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper, a.k.a. simply The Great Santa Claus Caper, is an animated American television special featuring Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. Produced by Chuck Jones Enterprises, the special was first broadcast November 30, 1978 on CBS.^[2] The special was followed in 1979 by Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile.^[3] This is the first special to feature Jones' original character, a dog named Raggedy Arthur,^[4] who would go on to become a staple of Raggedy Ann merchandise.

Synopsis

Inventor and "in"-efficiency expert Alexander Graham Wolf, who looks and sounds like Wile E. Coyote, is planning to take over Santa's workshop. Overhearing this, Comet, one of Santa's reindeer, asks Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy, and their dog Raggedy Arthur to help her because they're easy to carry and aren't bothered by cold weather.

At the factory, Alexander is using a machine to encase all the toys in blocks of a transparent and unbreakable substance called gloopstik (made by the Gloopstik Corporation), to ensure that they'll last forever, even though the children won't be able to play with them. He then intends to charge the children for the gloopstik-encased toys and become rich.

After arriving, the Raggedies soon meet Alexander, and he tries to interest them with his machine. At first, Andy is intrigued by the idea, but Ann thinks that it's awful. However, when Alexander uses his machine to encase Arthur, both Raggedies become angry. Andy demands that Alexander change their dog right back. Within minutes, Alexander tries to do so to Andy and has the claw grab him and toss him in the machine, while Ann furiously protests and orders Alexander to put Andy down. When he tries to do so to Ann, Andy (who is unharmed) climbs out of the top of the machine and when he sees Alexander chasing Ann, he gets furious and takes control of the machine. He then encases Alexander in a Christmas tree-shaped block. Ann and Andy laugh until Alexander tells them that gloopstik is unbreakable. At which point they become really worried, and run, hug and tell Arthur that they still love him even though he's stuck. Then the block disintegrates, and the Raggedys realize that love is the one thing that can destroy the gloopstik. Breaking the fourth wall, they ask all the children at home to shout "LOVE", which causes all the gloopstik blocks to fall apart, including the one in which Alexander's trapped. Having learned his lesson, Alexander destroys his machine (by pushing a button that causes it to consume itself) and leaves the workshop, just before Santa wakes up.

Voices

June Foray as Raggedy Ann, Comet (uncredited)
Daws Butler as Raggedy Andy
Les Tremayne as Alexander Graham Wolf, Santa Claus (uncredited)

Credits

Production Designed by: Ray Aragon
Written, Produced and Directed by: Chuck Jones
Master Animators: Ben Washam, Virgil Ross, Phil Monroe, Ken Champin, Lloyd Vaughan, Irv Anderson, Manny Perez, Tom Ray
Music Composed and Conducted by: Dean Elliott
Backgrounds: Walt Peregoy
Key Animator: Marlene Robinson
Assistant Animators: Joe Roman, Carol Millican, Al Pabian, Bob Tyler, Jean Washam, Retta Davidson, Sammie Lanham
Editor: Sam Horta · Horta Editorial and Sound, Inc.
Camera: Animagraphics, Bemiller Camera
Ink & Paint: Celine Miles with Paulino García DeMingo, Sue Dalton, Colene Gonzales, Anna Lois Ray, Staci Maniskas
Graphics: Don Foster
Production Checker: Margie Roach
Assistant to the Producer: Marian Dern
Associate Producer and Production Manager: Mary Roscoe

References

^ "That's Not All, Folks; Bugs Bunny Oldies Return As 95-Min. Chase". Variety. September 6, 1978. p. 36.
^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 251. ISBN 9781476672939.
^ Woolery, George W. (1989). Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962–1987. Scarecrow Press. pp. 327–328. ISBN 0-8108-2198-2. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
^ "Raggedy Arthur, the Dog Companion to Raggedy Ann". tumblr. Directed by Chuck Jones. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2022-04-09.