Arthur Rankin Jr., an animation director/producer/writer most famous for his work done with partner Jules Bass, has passed away at the age of 89! Arthur Rankin, Jr. (1924-2014) founded the company now known as Rankin/Bass Productions with his partner, Jules Bass. They were most famous for their stop-motion holiday specials including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”, and “The Year Without a Santa Claus”. They also worked on animated feature films including “Mad Monster Party”, “The Hobbit”, and “The Last Unicorn”.
Arthur Rankin, Jr.’s death is a great loss indeed!
The Animation Commendation 