Editing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (section)

=== In Media ===

==== Theatrical Cartoon Short (1948) ====
Rudolph first appeared on screen in a 1948 cartoon short produced by Max Fleischer for the Jam Handy Corporation. This adaptation closely followed Robert L. May's original story, as Johnny Marks’s iconic song had not yet been written. In 1951, the short was reissued with the addition of the song.

==== Song (1949) ====
Johnny Marks, May's brother-in-law, adapted Rudolph’s story into a song that became a timeless holiday classic. Gene Autry’s recording of the song topped the Billboard pop singles chart during Christmas week in 1949. It sold 2.5 million copies in its first year and eventually reached a total of 25 million, holding the position as the second best-selling record of all time until the 1980s.

==== View-Master Reels (1950, 1955) ====
In 1950, the story was adapted into a stereoscope View-Master reel by Sawyer's, featuring text by Thomas L. Dixon and diorama work by Florence Thomas. A follow-up three-reel packet was released in 1955, showcasing new Rudolph stories by Robert L. May, including ''Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and J. Baddy, the Brilliant Bear'', ''Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Uncle Bigby, the Blue-Nosed Reindeer'', and ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shines Again''. Later reissues replaced the third story with the original 1950 version. The 1955 set was promoted on television by Arlene Francis.

==== Comic Books (1950–1980) ====
Starting in 1950, DC Comics, then National Periodical Publications, published 13 annual issues of ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'' through 1962, primarily illustrated by Rube Grossman. In 1972, DC released a 14th edition in an oversized format, followed by six more oversized editions under their Limited Collectors' Edition and All-New Collectors' Edition series. Additionally, a digest version titled ''The Best of DC #4'' (March–April 1980) featured Rudolph stories written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.

==== Children's Book (1958) ====
Little Golden Books published an illustrated adaptation of Rudolph’s story in 1958, written by Barbara Shook Hazen and illustrated by Richard Scarry. Though similar in storyline to the 1948 Max Fleischer cartoon, this version is no longer in print. A revised edition of the Little Golden Books adaptation was reissued in 1972.

==== Stop-Motion Animation Television Special (1964) and Sequels (1976–1979) ====
Main article: [[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV Special)]]

The most iconic adaptation of Rudolph’s story is the 1964 stop-motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. Created using "Animagic" stop-motion animation at Tadahito Mochinaga’s MOM Productions in Tokyo, the screenplay was written by Romeo Muller, with sound recordings supervised by Bernard Cowan at the RCA studios in Toronto, Canada. Premiering on NBC, the special reimagined Rudolph’s story, using only Johnny Marks’s song as its source material.

This retelling explores Rudolph’s ostracization due to his glowing red nose, his decision to run away, and his eventual redemption. Rudolph is joined by [[Hermey the Elf|Hermey]], an elf who dreams of becoming a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, a prospector seeking treasure. Along their journey, they encounter the Bumble (an abominable snow monster), Rudolph’s love interest [[Clarice (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)|Clarice]], and the Island of Misfit Toys—a refuge for defective and abandoned toys. Ultimately, Rudolph returns home to save his family from the Bumble, helps Santa navigate a stormy Christmas Eve with his luminous nose, and earns universal admiration.
[[File:Hermey the elf and Rudolph-min (1).jpg|alt=1964RedRudo|center|thumb|300x300px|Young Rudolph and Hermey the Elf as seen in the 1964 TV special]]


Originally, the special ended with gifts being dropped from Santa’s sleigh, but viewer feedback led to a revised ending where Santa delivers the Misfit Toys to children’s homes. Since its debut, the special has aired annually, moving to CBS for decades before returning to NBC for its 60th anniversary in 2024. It also airs on Freeform as part of their ''25 Days of Christmas'' lineup. The special’s unique characters and heartwarming story have become cultural touchstones, inspiring countless parodies and tributes.

The success of the 1964 special resulted in sequels, including ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year'' (1976), which expanded on his adventures, and ''Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July'' (1979), which connected Rudolph’s story with Rankin/Bass’s ''Frosty the Snowman'' (1969). Rudolph also made cameo appearances in other Rankin/Bass "Animagic" specials, such as ''Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town'' (1970), ''Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey'' (1977), and the cel-animated ''The First Easter Rabbit'' (1976). These projects cemented Rudolph’s place as one of Rankin/Bass’s most beloved characters.

==== Animated Feature-Length Films ====

===== Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998) =====
This 2D-animated feature film, presented by GoodTimes Entertainment and Golden Books Family Entertainment (now Western Publishing), was produced by Tundra Productions in Hollywood, California. The movie saw a limited theatrical release before its debut on home video. Its narrative borrowed heavily from the Rankin/Bass adaptation, introducing characters and story elements such as a villain, [[Stormella]]; a love interest, [[Zoey (Rudolph 1998)|Zoey]]; a rival, [[Arrow (Rudolph 1998)|Arrow]]; a comedic sidekick, [[Slyly (Rudolph 1998)|Slyly]]; and a strong protector, [[Leonard (Rudolph 1998)|Leonard]]. These characters parallel Rankin/Bass figures like the Bumble, Clarice, Fireball, Hermey, and Yukon Cornelius.

The film emphasized Rudolph's early struggles with bullying, primarily by his cousin Arrow, during his childhood. Directed by William R. Kowalchuk and written by Michael Aschner, the movie featured music and songs by Al Kasha and Michael Lloyd. Voice recording took place at facilities in Vancouver (Pinewood Sound), New York (Schwartz Sound), and Hollywood (Wally Burr Recording). The star-studded cast included John Goodman, Whoopi Goldberg, Debbie Reynolds, Richard Simmons, Bob Newhart, Eric Idle, and Kathleen Barr as Rudolph. Animation production was outsourced to Colorland Animation Productions in Hong Kong.

===== Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001) =====
In 2001, GoodTimes Entertainment produced a CGI-animated sequel, ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys''. Most of the production team from the 1998 film returned for this project. Unlike the earlier film, the sequel prominently featured the original characters from the 1964 Rankin/Bass television special. This was made possible after GoodTimes discovered a copyright oversight by Rankin/Bass that left the special's unique characters free for use.

The sequel expanded on the Rankin/Bass universe with modern CGI animation while maintaining ties to the classic characters and their enduring charm.

==== Live-Action Appearance ====
A live-action version of Rudolph, complete with his glowing red nose, appears alongside Donner and Blitzen in the ''Doctor Who'' Christmas special "Last Christmas," broadcast on BBC One on December 25, 2014. In this special, Santa demonstrates an unusual level of control over Rudolph, parking him like a car and even switching off his luminous nose.