Nikolaus und die drei Bären

No it's not modern animation and the music is not hip-hop, but this is a very effective leisurely-paced Christmas tale, that I only ran across for the first time on tv a few years ago, then I found the video. What's cool: Nakomi and Chinook are bears who know nothing of Christmas and are just dying to meet Santa. Their eagerness and impatience is quite realistic (even though they are bears). Very well-voiced.

The visuals during the songs have that late '60s psychedelia to them with weird colorful screen wipes, and during the one number where the Park Ranger has fallen asleep and we see the flames of the fireplace begin to sing to him, it is positively inspired. The scenes of the Ranger caught in the snowstorm are very effective. One gets chilled to the bone just watching them. It crosses the mind that the Ranger, despite his good nature, is a pretty lonely dude.

The mother bear (as noted, the voice of Wilma Flintstone), is pretty frank with the kids that there is no Santa. She's portrayed as slightly bitter, although it is because she just wants some sleep. Despite what others have said, the songs are really cool. They are old-timey, of a choral nature, but super-catchy and dare I say, haunting. All told, it may not be something today's kids would sit still for, but saps like me enjoy the heck out of it.

Sure, its syrupy in the extreme, but this holiday cartoon tale about two bear cubs awaiting Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is rather charming in its naiveté. Following a live-action prologue (which features two kids, a grandpa, and a really sleepy cat), this becomes a semi-musical animated treat with Jean Vander Pyl (Wilma Flintstone herself!) voicing Nana, the mother bear. She tries to get her cubs to hibernate, but they're too excited about seeing Saint Nick. This matinée item is geared strictly towards the under-10 crowd, though I found it simple and reassuring, if treacly. Tony Benedict co-directed from his own script (and also co-produced). Although it resembles a Hanna-Barbera offering, the movie is actually the product of Ellman Film Enterprises and Key Industries Ltd.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST.

I grew up in Oxnard Ca. Every year KTLA Channel 5 would air this cartoon before the live television event "The Hollywood Christmas Parade".

In this animated movie, two bear cubs that are being raised by their mother discover the story of Santa Claus when they hear it from a park ranger. The curious little bears become determined to meet Santa, a goal that doesn't fit in very well with their mom's winter hibernation plans. As the three bears try to settle down for their cold-weather slumber, the restlessness of the cubs makes sleep impossible, and they remain determined to see jolly old Saint Nicholas.

The cartoon is sweet and fun. We see Christmas through the eyes of innocence. It is well made and has a huge heart. You should watch this.

This cartoon however is now available everywhere because it has fallen into public domain. This is good news however because there is no copyright holder anymore there is no incentive for anyone to "Restore It". I have not seen a decent transfer of this cartoon anywhere. That's too bad that nobody can pull it out of public domain and then restore the film. It should be protected

I remember watching this film as a child and thinking that it moved a bit slow, especially when compared to the Rankin & Bass Christmas specials. Unlike R & B specials it has no evil villain to fear or hero to cheer for. The songs were not as catchy either.

However, now as an adult I seem to enjoy the laid back simple story. The songs are good and I like the introduction and ending with live actors. I think what makes me appreciate this special even more are the so called Christmas specials that are produced today. I have children of my own now and neither they or I like what we see today. Thankfully they too like the Christmas specials I remember from my childhood.

This Christmas special is not aired that often anymore and it seems to drift in and out of availability for DVD and VHS purchase. If you see that it is airing on television you may want to record it as it hard to come by these days.

Every Christmas for I don't know how long, the local TV station in our area would run this cartoon, and it became a family favorite amongst my counsins and I. I don't know maybe I still love it, because it reminds me of better times, or maybe because it makes me remember what Christmas meant to me when I was a kid. Whatever it might be, it still makes me feel nostalgic when I watch it on video and I hope one day to share it with my children.