Santa and the Three Bears facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa and the Three Bears |
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| Directed by | Tony Benedict Barry Mahon (live-action portions) |
| Produced by | Tony Benedict James Kernodle Barry Mahon |
| Written by | Tony Benedict |
| Starring | Hal Smith Jean Vander Pyl Christina Ferra-Gilmore Bobby Riha Beth Goldfarb Brian Hobbs |
| Music by | Joe Leahy |
| Editing by | Milton Krear |
| Studio | Tony Benedict Productions Key Industries, Ltd. |
| Distributed by | R & S Film Enterprises Inc. |
| Release date(s) | November 7, 1970 |
| Running time | 46 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Santa and the Three Bears is a 1970 animated feature film, which aired in syndication on television regularly during the holiday season.
The film was originally pitched to TV networks, which rejected it as it lacked a villain, but was then shown in theaters instead. This special has been rerun on TBN, USA Network, FOX Family (Now Freeform), and on KTLA channel 5 in Los Angeles. It also received a "blue ribbon" award for Best Family Film at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
The live-action sequences at the beginning and end of the film are often edited out in television reruns. The edited version was later released on VHS in 1992 by Kids Klassics, and distributed by GoodTimes Home Video.
Plot summary
Two young bears, Nikomi and Chinook, know nothing of Christmas until the local park ranger tells them about the legend, and they become curious to meet Santa Claus. Their mother, Nana, is preparing for Winter hibernation and cynically tells her children there is no Santa, but they are determined to believe. Mother finds it impossible to begin their sleep, since the young cubs wish to stay awake until Santa arrives.
Voice cast
- Hal Smith as Grandfather, Santa and Mr. Ranger
- Jean Vander Pyl (credited as Jean van der Pyl) as Nana
- Christina Ferra-Gilmore (credited as Annette Ferra) as Nikomi
- Bobby Riha as Chinook
- Joyce Taylor
- Ken Engels
- Beth Goldfarb as Beth
- Brian Hobbs as Brian
- Lenard Keith
- Kathy Lemmon
- Roxanne Poole
- Michael Rodriguez
