Jules Bass facts for kids

Julius "Jules" Bass (born September 16, 1935 – died October 25, 2022) was an American director, producer, songwriter, and author. He was best known for creating many popular animated TV specials and movies.

In 1960, he started a film company called Videocraft International with his friend, Arthur Rankin Jr.. This company later became famous as Rankin/Bass Productions. They made many beloved holiday specials using stop-motion animation.

Early Life and Start in Entertainment

Jules Bass was born in Philadelphia on September 16, 1935. When he was a teenager, he got very sick with scarlet fever. Luckily, he recovered.

He went to New York University. After college, he worked at an advertising agency. This is where he met Arthur Rankin Jr.

Creating Animated Worlds

Jules Bass began working with Arthur Rankin Jr. in 1955. Rankin was an art director, and Bass was a copywriter. They first made TV commercials together.

In 1960, they started their own company, Videocraft International. They soon began making TV shows and movies. Their first TV series was The New Adventures of Pinocchio.

Later, they changed their company name to Rankin/Bass Productions. They became famous for their animated films, especially those made with stop-motion animation. This is a special technique where objects are moved tiny amounts between photos to make them look like they are moving.

Famous Holiday Specials

Rankin/Bass Productions created many classic holiday specials that are still loved today. Some of their most famous works include:

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)
• Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969)

They also made other animated features like The Wacky World of Mother Goose (1967) and TV series such as The King Kong Show (1966). Jules Bass often shared the directing role with Arthur Rankin Jr.

Beyond Holiday Classics

Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. also worked on popular cartoons like ThunderCats (1985–1989). They also made The Wind in the Willows (1987).

Writing Songs and Stories

Jules Bass wrote the lyrics for many of the films he directed. He often worked with composer Maury Laws. Their first project together was the movie The Daydreamer (1966).

Bass also wrote for some of the company's specials using the name "Julian P. Gardner." These included The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow and The Little Drummer Boy, Book II.

He and Maury Laws wrote songs for many famous singers and actors. These included Fred Astaire, Danny Kaye, Mickey Rooney, and Vincent Price.

In 1977, Bass helped adapt J. R. R. Tolkien's book The Hobbit into a musical animated film. This film won a special award called the Peabody Award.

Jules Bass stopped directing and producing films in 1987. After that, he wrote children's books about a character called Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon. He also wrote books for adults.

Personal Life

Jules Bass was married twice. He had one daughter, Jean Nicole, who passed away in 2022.

Jules Bass died on October 25, 2022, at a retirement home in Rye, New York. He was 87 years old.

Filmography

Films Jules Bass Directed

• The Daydreamer (1966) (solo project)
• The Wacky World of Mother Goose (1967)
• The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
• Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
• The Hobbit (1977) (TV movie)
• The Return of the King (1980) (TV movie)
• Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1980) (TV movie)
• Pinocchio's Christmas (1980)
• The Last Unicorn (1982)
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1985) (TV movie)

Other Film Work

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) (co-producer)
• Marco (1973) (co-producer)
• Bushido Blade (1981) (executive producer)

Television Series

Main Creator

• Silverhawks (1986)

Other Work

• ThunderCats (1985–1989) (executive producer)

Books Written by Jules Bass

• Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon, 1999
• Cooking with Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon: A Cook Book for Kids, 1999
• Headhunters, 2001
• The Mythomaniacs, 2013

See also

In Spanish: Jules Bass para niños