The Leprechauns Christmas Gold (1981) (TV Special Review)

   When it comes to animated TV programs produced by Rankin/ Bass, some of the most classic to instantly come to mind are their Christmas specials in the vein of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, “Frosty the Snowman”, and so forth. However, they’ve also produced a number of specials that revolve around other holidays as well, and being the month of March, I felt like highlighting one from my childhood, that I watched around St. Patrick’s Day … their 1981 TV special titled “The Leprechauns Christmas Gold”. While obviously Christmas is in the title, this holiday special falls into the same camp as “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, in that it can be viewed on more than one specific holiday. Case in point of this special, the story is set on Christmas Eve, but everything else from the visuals, to the music, to the tone, and personality are all unmistakably meant to get you in the mood for St. Patrick’s Day.

    Our story revolves around a young cabin boy named Dinty Doyle, who stumbles upon a mysterious island, not to far away from his home country of Ireland. Turns out the island is inhabited by Leprechauns, who’ve been cut-off from their homeland of Ireland. While there, the boy seeks a beautiful green pine tree to use for the holiday season. Unfortunately, the one tree that catches his eye was also the resting place of an evil Banshee, who aims to steel the magic holiday Gold from the King of the Leprechauns. His highness, one Blarney Kilakilarney by name, has spent his whole life protecting the enchanted Leprechaun Gold, and has lost sight of the things that are truly most valuable to him … namely the love he has for his wife and family. Thus, our young cabin boy aims to help the Leprechaun king find his way back to the love of his people, return the Leprechauns back to their homeland of Ireland, and outwit the nasty Banshee from all her crafty schemes.

    For a twenty-five minuet special, there's a lot of time dedicated to characters sitting around, and dropping exposition, which is definitely the weakest aspect of this special. The details of the story also get very strange, and even random, but for me, random oddities are par for the course for Rankin Bass animation. 

Storytelling in general isn't always the selling point of these specials, it's always about experiencing the fantastical, and how it gets you in the mood for the holiday. The signature Rankin/ Bass, stop-motion animation on display will obviously be a required taste for some … and while I was indifferent to the style as a kid, I've grown to find these effects very appealing all these years later. There’s just a humble charm that comes from seeing practical puppet effects, and set designs. Objectively speaking, I honestly think this is one of Rankin/ Bass best looking animated offerings, as this special had a little more of a budget then their early programs of the 60’s. While there are select moments in which you can clearly see the strings attached, there’s still impressive movement and expressions in the characters, and there’s even a number of shots that look and feel a little more cinematic than some of their other offerings. One of the more unique visual effects on display comes near the end, in which we see the stop-motion mixed with traditional hand-drawn animation. The songs are also very delightful … at least when self-contained to this special. You won’t be thinking about any of these songs afterwards, but while watching the special, these songs do add to the films charm and appeal. I especially enjoy the opening credits, which are paired with a song called “The Rainbows End”.

    There’s another big song number called “Christmas in Killarney”, which is probably the closest the film ever gets to feeling like a special to watch in December. Still, I can’t help but feel that the story could have just as easily been set on St. Patrick’s Day, and it wouldn’t change a thing. Honestly, I wish the Christmas elements were removed entirely, as there’s barely a visual, character, decoration, or fantastical element that puts me in the mood for Christmas. All through the special, we’re looking at Leprechauns, four leaf clovers, green Ireland landscapes, and highlighting all kinds of Irish lore in the vein of Banshee’s, magic gold, and rainbows. Heck, even St. Patrick is present in this special, although he’s definitely more of a fantastical entity, then a representation of the Christian St. Patrick in which the holiday is named after. Regardless, this special is bursting with imagery, and atmosphere that gets me all exited for St. Patrick’s Day.     

    The characters in this special are all basic, kid friendly architypes, and yet are just charming enough to carry the film. Art Carney voices the leader of the Leprechauns, and his character is at the heart of the story, with the cabin boy serving as the innocent who aims to do good, but can just as easily be led astray. The Banshee likewise makes for a decent holiday themed villain, although, not quiet on par with some of the Banshee depictions I’ve seen in other specials and movies. Still, this Banshee has her moments, and even lends herself to some enjoyably spooky imagery. I especially like this one scene in which she poses as a shipwrecked girl, which leads to an image that I remember shocking me when I was a little kid.   

   In the end, this is unmistakably one of the odder entries in the Ranken Bass holiday collection, but as said before, it’s less about telling a memorable story, and just experiencing something that will put you in the mood for the holiday. I for one have always loved St. Patrick’s Day, and I've always felt like there’s so much potential for it to have a variety of specials in the same vein as either Halloween or Christmas. While I can’t make any arguments for this special as one of the great TV holiday offerings, there’s just something simple and charming about the whole experience that puts me in a good St. Patrick's Day mood. I’d say it’s still a decent special to share with kids, and if your just in the mood to watch something to go along with St. Patrick’s Day, I find this a decent one to add to the appeal of the green holiday.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1981 special “The Leprechauns Christmas Gold” … and continue to enjoy the holiday specials you love!