Highest-ranked title
Highest-ranked title
Arthur Rankin, Jr. has 10 titles in the CriticCrunch catalog across a career spanning the 1960s through the 1980s.
Kiki's Delivery Service
1989
Animation · Family
A unicorn learns from a riddle-speaking butterfly that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the monstrous Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard.
Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr. · With Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Tammy Grimes
A discarded silk top-hat becomes the focus of a struggle between a washed-up stage magician and a group of schoolchildren, after it magically brings a snowman to life. Realizing that newly-living Frosty will melt in spring unless he takes refuge in a colder climate, the magic snowman and Karen, a young girl whom he befriends, stow away on a freight train headed for the North Pole. Little do they know that the magician is following them, and he wants his hat back!
Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr. · With Jimmy Durante, Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon
The story follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a diminutive creative who resides in a place called Middle-Earth before he is compelled to go on a quest to find a treasure buried deep in the heart of the Lonely Mountain.
Dir. Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass · With Orson Bean, John Huston, Hans Conried
A postman, S.D. Kluger, decides to answer some of the most common questions about Santa Claus, and tells us about a baby named Kris who is raised by a family of elf toymakers named Kringle. When Kris grows up, he wants to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown. But its Mayor is too mean to let that happen. And to make things worse, the Winter Warlock lives between the Kringles and Sombertown.
Dir. Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass · With Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn
Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving journey and take a vacation. Mrs. Claus and two spunky little elves, Jingle and Jangle, set out to see to where all the season's cheer has disappeared. Aided by a magical snowfall, they reawaken the spirit of Christmas in children's hearts and put Santa back in action.
Dir. Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass · With Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn
Pardon-me Pete, the official groundhog of Groundhog Day, tells the story of Jack Frost, who falls in love with a beautiful young woman and begs Father Winter to make him human so that she can see him. His request is granted, but only on the condition that by the Spring he has a house, a bag of gold, a horse and a wife. But Jack finds that life as a human is more complicated than he thought.
Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr. · With Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse, Paul Frees
The realm of magic is being threatened by the realm of logic, so the green wizard, Carolinus, decides to shield it for all time. Ommadon, the evil red wizard, stands in his way. Carolinus then calls for a quest that is to be led by a man named Peter Dickinson, who is the first man of both the realms of science and magic. It is Peter's job to defeat Ommadon.
Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr. · With Harry Morgan, James Gregory, John Ritter
After being kidnapped and escaping, young drummer boy Aaron searches for his camel and finds him in the Nativity of the Baby Jesus. Aaron gives Baby Jesus the only gift he has, a song on his drum.
Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr., Takeo Nakamura · With Greer Garson, Ted Eccles, José Ferrer
Rudolph must find Happy, the baby new year, before the midnight of New Year's Eve.
Dir. Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass · With Red Skelton, Frank Gorshin, Morey Amsterdam
Two Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.
Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr. · With Orson Bean, Roddy McDowall, John Huston
Top Collaborators
Directors with 2+ shared titles, ranked by frequency
