Review of Frosty The Snowman / Frosty Returns

Introduction

Frosty The Snowman is based on *that* Christmas tune. Made in 1969 for television by the animation producers Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. (who also gave us the Jackson 5 cartoon series), this 22 minute short was scripted by frequent R-B collaborator Romeo Muller.

The cartoon expands on the song, and is narrated by Jimmy Durante, the great "Shnoz" giving sadly his last full film performance. Backed by old-time voice artistes Paul Frees and June Foray, this fully restored edition is not the greatest piece of television animation, but it is certain for someone to have a soft spot for it.

It is partnered on the disc with the 1992 sequel "Frosty Returns", which brings a more modern animation style along with a more complicated modern storyline. This is narrated by Jonathan Winters and features John Goodman as the voice of Frosty.

Video

While "Frosty Returns" should not have needed restoration, the original has probably benefitted greatly from remastering. Both cartoons are presented in the original tv broadcast format of 4:3. Colours are not as bold as they might be, and the end titles of the original movie look as if they have been printed on tracing paper and photographed on top of the animation.

Audio

A workmanlike mono mix unforgivably transferred as Dolby Digital 1.0. This means only your centre speaker works on a surround system. Mono 2.0 (the norm) outputs through main left and right speakers and makes for a more pleasant mono sound.

Features

There is an introduction to the movie by Arthur Rankin Jr, and an animator`s pencil test of a couple of sequences in the movie. There are no subtitles.

Conclusion

A strange disc, containing little to merit the price tag. There`s not much to interest the little `uns either as the entire contents won`t keep them occupied for long. The animator`s pencil test is only of interest to would-be animators.