Bass produced and co-directed such holiday classics as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Santa Claus Comes to Town.”
NEW YORK โ Jules Bass, a producer, director and animator behind beloved animated holiday television specials of the 1960s and ’70s such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” has died at age 87. According to multiple reports.
Bass died of age-related illness at an assisted living facility, his The publicist confirmed to Variety.
Bass was best known for the work that came from his creative partnership with Arthur Rankin Jr. He and Rankin formed their own production company together, which first produced the 1960 syndicated television series “The New Adventures of Pinocchio.”
“Rudolph” was released in 1964 and was an instant hit, featuring the voice of Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman and “Holy Jolly Christmas” in the American holiday repertoire. And new songs like “Silver and Gold” were introduced.
The pair produced several holiday specials, including “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Santa Claus Comes to Town.”
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Bass and Rankin were nominated for an Emmy in 1977 for Outstanding Children’s Special for “The Little Drummer Boy Book II,” and won a Peabody Award in 1978 for their animated version of JRR Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” was
Together, they co-directed “The Last Unicorn” in 1982, featuring the voices of major stars such as Jeff Bridges and Angela Lansbury.
Bass and Rankin also made a lasting impact with popular shows like Saturday Morning Cartoon Lineup. “Jackson 5ive” and “Thundercats.”
Rankin died in 2014 at the age of 89.
Bass’s daughter, Jane Nicole Bass, died in January at age 61. According to The Hollywood Reporter.
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