Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Vital statistics
Names	Rudolph, Red, Rudy, Rudy The Red-Nosed Reject, Neon-Nose
Gender	Male
Race	Reindeer
Occupation	Guide for Santa's Sleigh
Origin	Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Book (1939)
Alignment	Good
Age	Varies
Created By	Robert L. May
Height	Varies
Weight	Varies

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, created by Robert L. May, is a beloved fictional character first introduced in 1939. Known as the ninth and youngest of Santa Claus's reindeer, Rudolph is distinguished by his glowing red nose, which he uses to guide Santa's sleigh through harsh winter weather. Initially mocked for his unique nose as a fawn, Rudolph ultimately proves its value, earning admiration and respect after leading the reindeer team on a foggy Christmas Eve. Ronald D. Lankford, Jr., described Rudolph’s tale as a quintessential American fantasy story, emphasizing individuality and the desire for recognition—concepts deeply tied to the cultural significance of Christmas.

Rudolph made his debut in a booklet written by May for Montgomery Ward, a department store seeking to create its own holiday story. The story, written in anapestic tetrameter, the same poetic meter as “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” was an instant success, with 2.4 million copies distributed in its first year. May originally considered naming the character Rollo or Reginald but settled on Rudolph, inspired in part by his daughter's love of deer at the Lincoln Park Zoo and his own childhood experiences of feeling like an outsider. A foggy day by Lake Michigan sparked the idea of a glowing red nose, a concept initially resisted due to its association at the time with alcoholism. However, sketches by illustrator Denver Gillen, depicting Rudolph as an endearing, lively reindeer, helped win over skeptics.

Over the decades, Rudolph's story has been adapted into various media, including Johnny Marks's iconic song, Rankin/Bass’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special, and films like Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July. Character Arts, LLC now manages licensing for The Rudolph Company, LP, which owns the character. By 2014, Rudolph’s legacy was celebrated with the issuance of commemorative U.S. postage stamps and anniversaries marking 75 years since his creation and 50 years since the Rankin/Bass special.

Rudolph’s cultural impact continues to grow, becoming a symbol of Christmas folklore worldwide. The original story has inspired sequels and reprints, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shines Again and Rudolph’s Second Christmas. His tale remains a timeless celebration of embracing uniqueness and turning perceived flaws into strengths, resonating with audiences of all ages.

Appearance

Rudolph is characterized by his unique physical trait—a glowing red nose that distinguishes him from other reindeer. This luminous feature, often depicted as shining brightly enough to light up dark or foggy conditions, is central to his role in guiding Santa Claus's sleigh. In various adaptations, Rudolph is portrayed as a small and youthful reindeer with a kind and gentle demeanor. His red nose often serves as both a source of ridicule and a symbol of heroism, emphasizing the themes of acceptance and individuality.

In the Doctor Who Christmas special "Last Christmas" (2014), a live-action version of Rudolph retains his glowing nose, which Santa humorously switches off and on, treating him with a whimsical, car-like functionality.

Personality

Rudolph is depicted as kind-hearted, humble, and resilient, embodying an enduring sense of optimism even in the face of adversity. Despite being ostracized by his peers for his luminous red nose, he does not harbor bitterness and remains willing to help those around him. His courage and selflessness shine when he steps up to guide Santa’s sleigh through challenging weather conditions, showcasing his leadership and reliability.

Throughout his various portrayals, Rudolph’s personality emphasizes themes of individuality, perseverance, and the value of embracing one's unique qualities. He often inspires those around him to look beyond differences and recognize the strengths that make each individual special.

History

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, 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, 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.

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; a rival, Arrow; a comedic sidekick, Slyly; and a strong protector, 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.

Trivia

In 2015, Nathaniel Dominy, an anthropology professor at Dartmouth College, Robert L. May's alma mater, published a scholarly paper on Rudolph's red nose in the open-access journal Frontiers for Young Minds. Dominy highlighted the unique biological plausibility of Rudolph’s adaptation, noting that reindeer eyes can detect shorter wavelengths of light, such as ultraviolet, which humans cannot see. However, ultraviolet light scatters more easily in fog, potentially blinding reindeer in low-visibility conditions. By contrast, Rudolph's red nose, emitting longer-wavelength light, would cut through the fog more effectively. A summary of Dominy's findings was shared in an Associated Press article on December 22, 2015.