You can't spell 'Christmas' without Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. Having grown up with this as a child, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is a fundamental part of my conception of the holiday.

One of the more innovative of the Rankin/Bass productions in the 70's. It starts with a stellar voice cast like Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney along with frequent voices Keenan Wynn (who I best remember in his Disney and Beach movie villain roles) and Paul Frees (the voice of half of Disneyland). Add to that a detailed script bringing together the Santa Claus story together better than anyone else (sorry Frank L. Baum). This hour has a lot of story but flies by in mere moments.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town stands as the best of the stop-motion animated Christmas classics. Featuring the talents of Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, and the Westminster Children’s Choir, the casting is quite extraordinary. While delivering bags of letters to Santa to the North Pole a postman recount the story of how Santa Claus became the renowned figure he is. The storytelling is especially clever and does a good job at interweaving various pieces of Santa Claus lore (the red suit, flying reindeer, Christmas stockings, etc.) into the plot. Also, the animation is remarkably well-done and is charming in an old-fashioned way. Additionally, the music is used to great effect and includes such catchy songs as “First Toy Maker to the King” and “Put One Foot In Front of the Other.” Whimsical and fun, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town is an enjoyable tale that taps into the magic of childhood.

One of the most classic carols. How Santa came to be is a holiday staple.