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times, I will ...but I won't live that long, so don't worry about that happening. ^^\n\nAnyway, I want this wall of text over-with as much as you do, so let's get right to the point.\n\nI drew this card via my 'Zephyr' pencil ...and didn't delineate it, because lazy.\nWell, actually, save for the head spheres, I freehanded this ...it looks good, for unfinished art. :3\n\nThe featured pencil is the 'Smoky Mountain' from Talman Office Supplies. Despite the maker being a NC company, I don't think this pencil is referring to The Smoky Mountains (though it's possible, I suppose).\n\nEither way, our bears are to be found in Yellowstone (a different place altogether), so let's visit them now! :D\n\nSPECIAL (link tested 11/30/2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLXyceT_j7M\n\nFUN FACT: Years and years ago, there was only one (non-segmented) upload of SatTB on YouTube, and it was of poor quality. I contacted the uploader (whose name I can't remember) to say I had a good VHS copy of the film that I would send to them if they would upload it.\nThey agreed, and I sent it out.\nI never checked back to see if my copy was uploaded, but the possibility (as remote as it is) is there, that some upload of SatTB may've come from me! ^^\n\nNeedless to say, i really like this special, especially for its (somewhat) rough, traditional animation (traces of guidelines and so forth can be seen here and there---I love it!). :D\nOf course, rough line art should be expected here: Bill Hutten and Tony Love helped animate this (those two brought us the original 'Buttons and Rusty' specials). ^^\n\nAnyway,\n\nOur story begins on Christmas Eve, in the real world, with Hal Smith about to tell his little niece and nephew a Christmas bedtime story.\nAs Smith (who will play the part of Mr. Ranger) begins to tell his tale, the scene shifts from the real world to one of animation.\nThis transition is assisted by way of a song ('Wintertime') performed by Joyce Taylor.\n\nI truly like the 'Wintertime' song, as well the animations that accompany it (the scene includes a great variety of cartoony forest creatures). :3\n\nMr. Ranger pays a social call to the bear family, before they go into hibernation.\n\nThis is normal; rangers in cartoons are always friends with their respective bears.\n\nRanger Jones has Buttons\nRanger Smith has Yogi\nAutobon Woodlore has Humphrey\nAnd our Mr. Ranger has Nana and her cubs\n\nThe cubs are Chinook and Nikomi. When I was a kid, I interpreted the cubs as brothers, but they are in fact a brother-sister pair: Chinnok is male and Nikomi is female.\nPronouns weren't used to officially identify the cubs, though 'Nikomi' is traditionally a girl's name; the character's voice is provided by an actress, and a Facebook search of the name revealed persons who appear female (TL;DR: I'm not going to debate this). :3\n\nAnyway,\n\nFrom Mr. Ranger's exchange with the bears, we learn that Nana (the bear mother) is ready to shut down into hibernation, but her vigorous cubs are much less willing to settle. Even so, the cubs return inside their cave after Mr. Ranger's departure.\n\nLater that evening, just as the snow begins to fall, Mr. Ranger waddles into the forest to find a suitable Christmas tree for his cabin.\n\nOk, if I have any meaningful complaints about this special, almost all of them would refer to the snow effects.\nThough the flakes mostly fall downward (as they should), some fall sideways. Additionally, the snow is often too thick, and the effects are inconsistent (different filters were used throughout).\nLast (and worst!), because the forest (in later scenes) is covered in snow, the white-on-white was mitigated by raising the contrast on the backgrounds and character animations, making the latter appear darker than they should be (which compels me to turn up the brightness so I can better see the line art---I shouldn't need to do that!). >:(\n\nMr. Ranger isn't alone in the forest. Mr. Ranger has been spied by Chinook and Nikomi, who have left their cave to play in the snow.\n\nOf course, Nana has noticed her cubs' absence, and calls for the their return. The cubs pretend not to hear Nana's call, deciding instead to see what Mr. Ranger is up to.\n\nMR.RANGER: \"...Hey, you kids better get home and start hibernating. You know how your mom is---she can be a real bear when she's angry!\"\n\nOf course, the cubs are more interested in watching Mr. Ranger cut down a tree for Christmas,\n\nNIKOMI: \"What's a Christmas tree?\"\n\nCHINOOK: \"And what's a Christmas?\"\n\nMR.RANGER: \"Oh? Christmas is, well, uh---Christmas is a time of good cheer: singing carols and exchanging gifts. Everyone is bubbly and happy! People are at their best around Christmastime\"\n\nNIKOMI: \"Sounds like fun. How come we've never had a Christmas?\"\n\nMr. Ranger explains that bears hibernate through Christmas ...and makes the mistake of continuing on about the fun and joys of the holiday.\nMr. Ranger sends the cubs back to Nana, but the seeds of determination have been planted: the cubs want to stay awake and experience Christmas!\n\nThe cubs mention Christmas to Nana, but she's very disinterested and quickly succumbs to sleep.\n\nNIKOMI (to Chinook): \"Maybe Mr. Ranger has a Christmas at his house that we can see?\"\n\nThe cubs depart for Mr. Ranger's cabin.\n\nAs the cubs trek through the forest (what I guess is) the second part of the 'Wintertime' song plays.\nThe song is complimented with some recycled animations of the cubs without the annoying snow filter (the snow devil cannot stand cheerful singing). :3\n\nOnce at the ranger's cabin, the cubs peek inside a window ...and such a joyous sight it is!\n\nThe cabin seems so warm, cozy and ever so inviting. It reminds me somewhat of the 'Dulce Domum' chapter from 'The Wind in the Willows' (my favorite chapter from fiction).\nThe cabin gets me thinking of what must be the finest of comfort: dressed in loose flannel, laying back in my Lay-Z-Boy chair; a sterling plate of charcoal crackers and creamy brie, with a bottle of Aventus beside.\n\nAh, yes ...with praises to the Lord, yes! *sighs dreamily*\n\n...Oh!? Sorry; I digress. ^^\n\nAnyway, the ranger sees the cubs outside and lets them in. The cubs are enamored by the tree, the decorations, and (of course) the sweets on the table (was Mr. Ranger expecting guests?).\n\nTeehee! They misspelled 'marshmallows': https://sta.sh/0jzgu8pg8d4\n\nThe ranger is hospitable, but again encourages the cubs to return to their home.\nThe cubs promise to stay home with Nana if Mr. Ranger will tell them more about Christmas.\n\nMR.RANGER: \"Well, let's see. It all began a very long time ago. Something very wonderful happened; a little child was born to the family of Mary and Joseph in a place called Bethlehem.\n...this little child brought a gift to the world of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. And even to this day, people still give presents on this child's birthday, which we call Christmas. And over the years, many legends built up around Christmas\"\n\nAs a Christian, I'm glad this message is here, even though Smith didn't outright say the child was Jesus (I understand why---I'm ok with it; it can open conversation).\nMr. Ranger proceeds to tell the cubs about Santa Claus---this gets the cubs excited.\nTsk-tsk! If Smith had kept it about Jesus, the cubs might have gone home to sleep ...but no such possibility exists now!\n\nThe song 'World of Toy People' plays over Mr. Ranger's Santa story ...some of the lyrics seem very first-draft or improvised,\n\nThey all live together,\nAt the northernmost pole\nHappy and cheery,\nAs old merry King Cole\n\nCandy-striped monkeys,\nAnd purring toy tigers\nCream-colored camels,\nAnd toy camel riders\n\nFluffy toy kittens,\nAnd woolly toy lambs\nToy elephants live,\nBy a marching toy band\n\nThe song is enjoyable enough to listen to, it's just kinda weird! XD\n\nMR.RANGER (finishing his story): \"And so, with Santa on his way, kids everywhere wait happily for Christmas stockings filled with goodies!\"\n\nThe cubs keep their word and return home, but they've no intention of going to sleep right away!\n\nCHINOOK (to Nikomi): \"Maybe Mom will let us have a Christmas tree?\"\n\nNIKOMI: \"She might even let us stay up until Santa Claus comes!\"\n\nOn the way home, the cubs find a tree they like for Christmas, but lack the strength to pull it down. The cubs decide they'll wake Nana to get her to do it (uh-oh!).\n\nThe cubs wake their mother and convince her to get the tree for them, on the condition that the cubs agree to remain in the cave for the rest of the winter. The cubs agree.\n\nOf course, the proviso didn't stipulate the cubs would settle once the tree was in their cave.\nWith new excitement, the cubs begin to sing and run around the tree. Exhausted, and nearing the limit of her patience (which rivals that of the biblical Job), Nana puts her paw down,\n\nNANA: \"Now, now listen kids! I don't want to spoil the fun, but this noise simply cannot continue. Just what is all this Christmas stuff about, anyway?\"\n\nThe cubs explain Santa to their mother, who responds dubiously, esp. after the cubs tell her they received the story from Mr. Ranger.\n\nAfter ordering her cubs to stay in the cave, Nana departs to the ranger's cabin to confront Mr. Ranger about the stories he's been telling her cubs.\n\nNANA (to Mr. Ranger): \"...Say, who is Santa Claus, with a bowl full of jelly, and reindeer and all?\"\n\nMR.RANGER: \"Well, it's all sort of an old legend\"\n\nNANA: \"You mean it's not true!? Have you been fibbing to my kids?\"\n\nNana momentarily fancied to eat Mr. Ranger, but she holds back. At this point, she's less angry about the lack of sleep than she's disappointed for her cubs, who've nothing to look forward to.\n\nNANA: \"I don't mind losing a little bit of sleep, but the kids will be so disappointed\"\n\nMR.RANGER: \"Well, maybe they won't have to be. You know, I used to be an old department-store Santa, and I still have my old outfit packed away!\nWhy don't I just show up at your place on Christmas Eve, give a couple of 'Ho-ho-hos', drop off a few goodies and---\"\n\nNANA (interjecting): \"And the cubs will have seen 'Santa', and we can all bed down for the winter!\"\n\nThe matter is settled; Nana returns home and Mr. Ranger is allowed to see another Christmas. :3\n\nTime passes to the song 'The Wonder of Christmastime': a slow, tender song befitting the transition. :3\n\nThe duskfall of Christmas Eve arrives.\n\nMr. Ranger dons his Santa suit, complete with a bag of goodies for Nikomi and Chinook ...but, alas, the weather outside is frightful---an impenetrable blizzard is blowing through the forest! D:\nEven so, Mr. Ranger braves the storm, but is soon overwhelmed. He takes shelter at one of the park's covered bus stops, to wait out the storm.\n\nMeanwhile, Nana and the cubs, nature is beginning to take hold as the cubs are having difficulty keeping awake for Santa.\nNana is unsure 'Santa' will be able to come in the storm. As the hours tick by, her hope fades away. Nana makes the difficult decision to tell Nikomi and Chinook the hard truth,\n\nNIKOMI: \"Do you think Santa is coming, Mom?\"\n\nCHINOOK: \"Shouldn't he have been here?\"\n\nNANA: \"Well, dears, I'm afraid not. Perhaps it's best you know the truth. Santa is only Mr. Ranger dressed up in a red suit, and wearing a false beard\"\n\nCHINOOK: \"You mean there's no real Santa Claus!?\"\n\nNANA: \"No. No, not exactly. It's sort of just a nice old story that the ranger told. Rather than disappoint you, he decided to dress up like this Santa Claus, and visit you tonight. But I guess he can't get through because of the bad storm outside.\nI guess Christmas is for people, not bears\"\n\nThe cubs begin to weep, but Nana assures them that the world won't end and they should all get some sleep. :3\n\nFrankly, I'm impressed the writers implied so heavily that Santa doesn't exist (without actually saying it), esp. by way of a loving authority figure (Nana).\nLike, I'm not taken aback that the Bible story was mentioned here (many older specials didn't shy away from that---even the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special included it), but for a non-villain to imply Santa doesn't exist? Well, I'd not have believed it!\n\n...Ok, I'm exaggerating. ^^\n\nAnyway, with eyes bleary with mournful salt, the cubs cuddle up with their mother, for hibernation.\n'Sleepytime Song' plays over this moment: a pleasant song with comforting lyrics.\n\nNana (to self): \"Oh, I just wish there was a Santa Clause\"\n\nJust then, Santa appears at the mouth of the cave, (uncharacteristically) announcing his presence with a boisterous 'Ho-ho-ho!'.\nBoth Nana and the cubs presume this appearance to be of Mr. Ranger, so they aren't impressed.\n\nSanta hangs some stockings, replete with Christmas goodness, to the cave wall before, before he wisps away, leaving behind a trail of pixie dust.\n\n...Somehow, after seeing that, the bears still believe that was Mr. Ranger (spoiler: it wasn't). ^^\n\nWith the blizzard having subsided, Mr. Ranger makes his way to the bear cave in spite of the late hour (it's effectively morning).\n\nMr. Ranger (still in his Santa suit) arrives, much to the surprise of the bears,\n\nNANA: \"Santa!? But you were already here!\"\n\nMR.RANGERSANTAEDITION: \"I was? I mean, I wasn't. I just got here! And I brought these stockings---\"\n\nMr. Ranger sees that someone has already left stockings for the bears.\n\nMR.RANGERSANTAEDITION: \"Where did those other stockings come from?\"\n\nNIKOMI: \"Didn't you bring them, Mr. Ranger?\"\n\nMR.RANGER: \"Well, no, I mean---I'm not a ranger. Oh, you know! ...but how?\"\n\nCHINOOK: \"Because a real Santa Claus was already here!\"\n\nThe cubs are overjoyed by this revelation. Even Nana is a little dazzled, in her retrospect.\nBut the magic isn't over, as the four get to see Santa flying across the sky in his sleigh.\n\nI used to think this ending to be depressing ...but it ain't. :3\n\nMr. Ranger and the bears say their goodbyes and goodnights to one another, thus ending our story.\nThe special doesn't return to the live-action until after the credits (nothing of consequence happens, though it's implied the kids fell asleep and woke up on the chair with their uncle, with some evidence of Santa's arrival under their tree). :3\n\n...Bravo!\n\nThough not considered a Christmas classic, SatTB is among my favorite Christmas specials. :3\nIt's a simple, cute holidays story carried by the warmth and charm of the characters. It has a tranquil aura to it that I perceive and appreciate more as an adult than I did when I was young. :3\n\nIn that sense, this 50-year-old special holds up, though I can't imagine kids raised on Pixar would care much for it (a graymuzzle like me can appreciate both ...I feel oddly fortunate). :3", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Yes, this is the second time I've drawn the bears ...and if I want to draw them 65,855 times, I will ...but I won't live that long, so don't worry about that happening. ^^

Anyway, I want this wall of text over-with as much as you do, so let's get right to the point.

I drew this card via my 'Zephyr' pencil ...and didn't delineate it, because lazy.
Well, actually, save for the head spheres, I freehanded this ...it looks good, for unfinished art. :3

The featured pencil is the 'Smoky Mountain' from Talman Office Supplies. Despite the maker being a NC company, I don't think this pencil is referring to The Smoky Mountains (though it's possible, I suppose).

Either way, our bears are to be found in Yellowstone (a different place altogether), so let's visit them now! :D

SPECIAL (link tested 11/30/2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLXyceT_j7M

FUN FACT: Years and years ago, there was only one (non-segmented) upload of SatTB on YouTube, and it was of poor quality. I contacted the uploader (whose name I can't remember) to say I had a good VHS copy of the film that I would send to them if they would upload it.
They agreed, and I sent it out.
I never checked back to see if my copy was uploaded, but the possibility (as remote as it is) is there,  that some upload of SatTB may've come from me! ^^

Needless to say, i really like this special, especially for its (somewhat) rough, traditional animation (traces of guidelines and so forth can be seen here and there---I love it!). :D
Of course, rough line art should be expected here: Bill Hutten and Tony Love helped animate this (those two brought us the original 'Buttons and Rusty' specials). ^^

Anyway,

Our story begins on Christmas Eve, in the real world, with Hal Smith about to tell his little niece and nephew a Christmas bedtime story.
As Smith (who will play the part of Mr. Ranger) begins to tell his tale, the scene shifts from the real world to one of animation.
This transition is assisted by way of a song ('Wintertime') performed by Joyce Taylor.

I truly like the 'Wintertime' song, as well the animations that accompany it (the scene includes a great variety of cartoony forest creatures). :3

Mr. Ranger pays a social call to the bear family, before they go into hibernation.

This is normal; rangers in cartoons are always friends with their respective bears.

Ranger Jones has Buttons
Ranger Smith has Yogi
Autobon Woodlore has Humphrey
And our Mr. Ranger has Nana and her cubs

The cubs are Chinook and Nikomi. When I was a kid, I interpreted the cubs as brothers, but they are in fact a brother-sister pair: Chinnok is male and Nikomi is female.
Pronouns weren't used to officially identify the cubs, though 'Nikomi' is traditionally a girl's name; the character's voice is provided by an actress, and a Facebook search of the name revealed persons who appear female (TL;DR: I'm not going to debate this). :3

Anyway,

From Mr. Ranger's exchange with the bears, we learn that Nana (the bear mother) is ready to shut down into hibernation, but her vigorous cubs are much less willing to settle. Even so, the cubs return inside their cave after Mr. Ranger's departure.

Later that evening, just as the snow begins to fall, Mr. Ranger waddles into the forest to find a suitable Christmas tree for his cabin.

Ok, if I have any meaningful complaints about this special, almost all of them would refer to the snow effects.
Though the flakes mostly fall downward (as they should), some fall sideways. Additionally, the snow is often too thick, and the effects are inconsistent (different filters were used throughout).
Last (and worst!), because the forest (in later scenes) is covered in snow, the white-on-white was mitigated by raising the contrast on the backgrounds and character animations, making the latter appear darker than they should be (which compels me to turn up the brightness so I can better see the line art---I shouldn't need to do that!). >:(

Mr. Ranger isn't alone in the forest. Mr. Ranger has been spied by Chinook and Nikomi, who have left their cave to play in the snow.

Of course, Nana has noticed her cubs' absence, and calls for the their return. The cubs pretend not to hear Nana's call, deciding instead to see what Mr. Ranger is up to.

MR.RANGER: "...Hey, you kids better get home and start hibernating. You know how your mom is---she can be a real bear when she's angry!"

Of course, the cubs are more interested in watching Mr. Ranger cut down a tree for Christmas,

NIKOMI: "What's a Christmas tree?"

CHINOOK: "And what's a Christmas?"

MR.RANGER: "Oh? Christmas is, well, uh---Christmas is a time of good cheer: singing carols and exchanging gifts. Everyone is bubbly and happy! People are at their best around Christmastime"

NIKOMI: "Sounds like fun. How come we've never had a Christmas?"

Mr. Ranger explains that bears hibernate through Christmas ...and makes the mistake of continuing on about the fun and joys of the holiday.
Mr. Ranger sends the cubs back to Nana, but the seeds of determination have been planted: the cubs  want to stay awake and experience Christmas!

The cubs mention Christmas to Nana, but she's very disinterested and quickly succumbs to sleep.

NIKOMI (to Chinook): "Maybe Mr. Ranger has a Christmas at his house that we can see?"

The cubs depart for Mr. Ranger's cabin.

As the cubs trek through the forest (what I guess is) the second part of the 'Wintertime' song plays.
The song is complimented with some recycled animations of the cubs without the annoying snow filter (the snow devil cannot stand cheerful singing). :3

Once at the ranger's cabin, the cubs peek inside a window ...and such a joyous sight it is!

The cabin seems so warm, cozy and ever so inviting. It reminds me somewhat of the 'Dulce Domum' chapter from 'The Wind in the Willows' (my favorite chapter from fiction).
The cabin gets me thinking of what must be the finest of comfort: dressed in loose flannel, laying back in my Lay-Z-Boy chair; a sterling plate of charcoal crackers and creamy brie, with a bottle of Aventus beside.

Ah, yes ...with praises to the Lord, yes! *sighs dreamily*

...Oh!? Sorry; I digress. ^^

Anyway, the ranger sees the cubs outside and lets them in. The cubs are enamored by the tree, the decorations, and (of course) the sweets on the table (was Mr. Ranger expecting guests?).

Teehee! They misspelled 'marshmallows': https://sta.sh/0jzgu8pg8d4

The ranger is hospitable, but again encourages the cubs to return to their home.
The cubs promise to stay home with Nana if Mr. Ranger will tell them more about Christmas.

MR.RANGER: "Well, let's see. It all began a very long time ago. Something very wonderful happened; a little child was born to the family of Mary and Joseph in a place called Bethlehem.
...this little child brought a gift to the world of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. And even to this day, people still give presents on this child's birthday, which we call Christmas. And over the years, many legends built up around Christmas"

As a Christian, I'm glad this message is here, even though Smith didn't outright say the child was Jesus (I understand why---I'm ok with it; it can open conversation).
Mr. Ranger proceeds to tell the cubs about Santa Claus---this gets the cubs excited.
Tsk-tsk! If Smith had kept it about Jesus, the cubs might have gone home to sleep ...but no such possibility exists now!

The song 'World of Toy People' plays over Mr. Ranger's Santa story ...some of the lyrics seem very first-draft or improvised,

They all live together,
At the northernmost pole
Happy and cheery,
As old merry King Cole

Candy-striped monkeys,
And purring toy tigers
Cream-colored camels,
And toy camel riders

Fluffy toy kittens,
And woolly toy lambs
Toy elephants live,
By a marching toy band

The song is enjoyable enough to listen to, it's just kinda weird! XD

MR.RANGER (finishing his story): "And so, with Santa on his way, kids everywhere wait happily for Christmas stockings filled with goodies!"

The cubs keep their word and return home, but they've no intention of going to sleep right away!

CHINOOK (to Nikomi): "Maybe Mom will let us have a Christmas tree?"

NIKOMI: "She might even let us stay up until Santa Claus comes!"

On the way home, the cubs find a tree they like for Christmas, but lack the strength to pull it down. The cubs decide they'll wake Nana to get her to do it (uh-oh!).

The cubs wake their mother and convince her to get the tree for them, on the condition that the cubs agree to remain in the cave for the rest of the winter. The cubs agree.

Of course, the proviso didn't stipulate the cubs would settle once the tree was in their cave.
With new excitement, the cubs begin to sing and run around the tree. Exhausted, and nearing the limit of her patience (which rivals that of the biblical Job), Nana puts her paw down,

NANA: "Now, now listen kids! I don't want to spoil the fun, but this noise simply cannot continue. Just what is all this Christmas stuff about, anyway?"

The cubs explain Santa to their mother, who responds dubiously, esp. after the cubs tell her they received the story from Mr. Ranger.

After ordering her cubs to stay in the cave, Nana departs to the ranger's cabin to confront Mr. Ranger about the stories he's been telling her cubs.

NANA (to Mr. Ranger): "...Say, who is Santa Claus, with a bowl full of jelly, and reindeer and all?"

MR.RANGER: "Well, it's all sort of an old legend"

NANA: "You mean it's not true!? Have you been fibbing to my kids?"

Nana momentarily fancied to eat Mr. Ranger, but she holds back. At this point, she's less angry about the lack of sleep than she's disappointed for her cubs, who've nothing to look forward to.

NANA: "I don't mind losing a little bit of sleep, but the kids will be so disappointed"

MR.RANGER: "Well, maybe they won't have to be. You know, I used to be an old department-store Santa, and I still have my old outfit packed away!
Why don't I just show up at your place on Christmas Eve, give a couple of 'Ho-ho-hos', drop off a few goodies and---"

NANA (interjecting): "And the cubs will have seen 'Santa', and we can all bed down for the winter!"

The matter is settled; Nana returns home and Mr. Ranger is allowed to see another Christmas. :3

Time passes to the song 'The Wonder of Christmastime': a slow, tender song befitting the transition. :3

The duskfall of Christmas Eve arrives.

Mr. Ranger dons his Santa suit, complete with a bag of goodies for Nikomi and Chinook ...but, alas, the weather outside is frightful---an impenetrable blizzard is blowing through the forest! D:
Even so, Mr. Ranger braves the storm, but is soon overwhelmed. He takes shelter at one of the park's covered bus stops, to wait out the storm.

Meanwhile, Nana and the cubs, nature is beginning to take hold as the cubs are having difficulty keeping awake for Santa.
Nana is unsure 'Santa' will be able to come in the storm. As the hours tick by, her hope fades away. Nana makes the difficult decision to tell Nikomi and Chinook the hard truth,

NIKOMI: "Do you think Santa is coming, Mom?"

CHINOOK: "Shouldn't he have been here?"

NANA: "Well, dears, I'm afraid not. Perhaps it's best you know the truth. Santa is only Mr. Ranger dressed up in a red suit, and wearing a false beard"

CHINOOK: "You mean there's no real Santa Claus!?"

NANA: "No. No, not exactly. It's sort of just a nice old story that the ranger told. Rather than disappoint you, he decided to dress up like this Santa Claus, and visit you tonight. But I guess he can't get through because of the bad storm outside.
I guess Christmas is for people, not bears"

The cubs begin to weep, but Nana assures them that the world won't end and they should all get some sleep. :3

Frankly, I'm impressed the writers implied so heavily that Santa doesn't exist (without actually saying it), esp. by way of a loving authority figure (Nana).
Like, I'm not taken aback that the Bible story was mentioned here (many older specials didn't shy away from that---even the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special included it), but for a non-villain to imply Santa doesn't exist? Well, I'd not have believed it!

...Ok, I'm exaggerating. ^^

Anyway, with eyes bleary with mournful salt, the cubs cuddle up with their mother, for hibernation.
'Sleepytime Song' plays over this moment: a pleasant song with comforting lyrics.

Nana (to self): "Oh, I just wish there was a Santa Clause"

Just then, Santa appears at the mouth of the cave, (uncharacteristically) announcing his presence with a boisterous 'Ho-ho-ho!'.
Both Nana and the cubs presume this appearance to be of Mr. Ranger, so they aren't impressed.

Santa hangs some stockings, replete with Christmas goodness, to the cave wall before, before he wisps away, leaving behind a trail of pixie dust.

...Somehow, after seeing that, the bears still believe that was Mr. Ranger (spoiler: it wasn't). ^^

With the blizzard having subsided, Mr. Ranger makes his way to the bear cave in spite of the late hour (it's effectively morning).

Mr. Ranger (still in his Santa suit) arrives, much to the surprise of the bears,

NANA: "Santa!? But you were already here!"

MR.RANGERSANTAEDITION: "I was? I mean, I wasn't. I just got here! And I brought these stockings---"

Mr. Ranger sees that someone has already left stockings for the bears.

MR.RANGERSANTAEDITION: "Where did those other stockings come from?"

NIKOMI: "Didn't you bring them, Mr. Ranger?"

MR.RANGER: "Well, no, I mean---I'm not a ranger. Oh, you know! ...but how?"

CHINOOK: "Because a real Santa Claus was already here!"

The cubs are overjoyed by this revelation. Even Nana is a little dazzled, in her retrospect.
But the magic isn't over, as the four get to see Santa flying across the sky in his sleigh.

I used to think this ending to be depressing ...but it ain't. :3

Mr. Ranger and the bears say their goodbyes and goodnights to one another, thus ending our story.
The special doesn't return to the live-action until after the credits (nothing of consequence happens, though it's implied the kids fell asleep and woke up on the chair with their uncle, with some evidence of Santa's arrival under their tree). :3

...Bravo!

Though not considered a Christmas classic, SatTB is among my favorite Christmas specials. :3
It's a simple, cute holidays story carried by the warmth and charm of the characters. It has a tranquil aura to it that I perceive and appreciate more as an adult than I did when I was young. :3

In that sense, this 50-year-old special holds up, though I can't imagine kids raised on Pixar would care much for it (a graymuzzle like me can appreciate both ...I feel oddly fortunate). :3", "writing": "", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "", "pools_count": 1, "title": "RE-VIEW: Santa and the Three Bears", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "image/jpeg", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "0", "rating_name": "General", "ratings": [], "submission_type_id": "1", "type_name": "Picture/Pinup", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "11", "views": "71" }