It’s beginning to look like Christmas and the TV specials are going to start rolling in with Frosty the Snowman sure to be on the list. Frosty is a character that everyone loves, from his top hat to his button nose.  Frosty the Snowman is one of those classic Rankin/Bass holiday specials from the 1960s that we all grew up on and loved.

The animated special inspired by the beloved Christmas song by the same name. The special first aired on December 14, 1969, five years after Rankin/Bass aired Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Both these specials have turned into a holiday tradition in most American households.

The story follows a young girl named Karen and her friends. One snowy day in December, the kids make a snowman named Frosty.

They get a hat from a bumbling magician that brings Frosty to life. When Frosty comes to life he shouts, “Happy Birthday!” The magician steals the hat from Frosty, but the magician’s rabbit brings it back.

Frosty knows the temperature is changing so the kids and Frosty parade through town on their way to the North Pole. The train to the North Pole is too expensive so, Frosty, Karen and the rabbit stow away on the train. Frosty notices that Karen can’t handle the coldness of the box car so they jump off the train, just missing the magician, who had also jumped on the train.

Frosty tries to find a way to help Karen in the cold weather. Fearing that Karen cannot survive the cold weather, Frosty asks Hocus who might be able to help them.The rabbit, Hocus Pocus, suggests Santa. The forest animals all build a campfire to help keep Karen warm. The magician shows back up and they run. They hide in a greenhouse. Hocus brings Santa Claus to Karen and Frosty. But by the time they get there, Frosty has melted. Santa then brings Frosty back to life with some magic of his own. The magician finds them again and Santa strikes a deal with him. As long as he is sorry for what he did and never harms Frosty again, Santa will bring him a present on Christmas. Karen is returned home, Frosty is sent to the North Pole and will come back every year to see Karen and her friends. The end shows everybody a year later, marching down the street with Frosty.

Frosty the Snowman inspired even more holiday specials including; Frosty Returns and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland. If you haven’t seen Frosty the Snowman, try to catch it this year. Then you will know why everybody loves him so much.