Snow Miser
Encyclopedia
Snow Miser is a character
from the Rankin/Bass
-produced 1974 stop-motion animated Christmas
special The Year Without a Santa Claus
. Snow Miser was voiced by actor/comedian Dick Shawn
.
In the special, Snow Miser controlled cold weather all over the Earth; his archnemesis is his stepbrother, Heat Miser
. Mother Nature
herself is their stepmother.
Snow Miser was a Jack Frost
-alike creature, with the supernatural power to freeze objects at will. As he sang in his memorable ragtime song ("whatever I touch turns to snow in my clutch"), Snow Miser could cause objects to burst into snow
flakes with a touch. He could also restore the objects at will. He could also project intense cold at will from his hands or mouth, even forming simple objects of ice. Snow Miser lived in a large ice castle
, and was attended to by a host of miniature versions of himself. He defended his domain fiercely, yet unlike his stepbrother Heat Miser, was a gregarious, friendly, jocular sort, given to gales of laughter and bad puns about snow
and cold weather; in other words, the Snow Miser had the "cool" personality (as opposed to a "bitter" or "cold" personality), in contrast to the Heat Miser's hot-headedness.
Both Snow and Heat Miser sing a memorable ragtime
style song introducing themselves.
In the 2006 NBC live-action remake, he is played by actor Michael McKean
. Also, rather than miniature versions of himself, his underlings are replaced by women in white swimsuits and scarves, warring with Heat Miser by firing giant icicles from a ballista
.
A 2008 sequel premiered on ABC Family
, A Miser Brothers' Christmas
had Snow Miser and Heat Miser set aside their differences to save Christmas when Santa once again is unable to make his run, and fight off their brother, North Wind. In this special, Canadian voice actor Juan Chorido provided Snow Miser's voice as Shawn died in 1987. The special, considered as the sequel, was produced by Warner Brothers Animation, owners of the post-1974 Rankin-Bass library and Cuppa Coffee Animation for ABC Family
.
in late 2006.
sing a song known commonly as the Snow Miser song or Heat Miser song, which goes as follows:
I'm Mister White Christmas
I'm Mister Snow
I'm Mister Icicle
I'm Mister Ten Below
Friends call me Snow Miser
What ever I touch
Turns to snow in my clutch
I'm too much!
(played by Arnold Schwarzenegger
) tries to get his henchmen to learn the Snow Miser's song. A clip from The Year Without a Santa Claus
is shown on a television with sing-along
lyrics, during the point in which Snow Miser sings his memorable ragtime song to introduce himself.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
has done a cover of the song from the TV special, which can be found on their CD Everything You Want For Christmas.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Rankin/Bass
Rankin/Bass
Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. , also known as Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment, was an American production company, known for its seasonal television specials, particularly its work in stop-motion animation. The pre-1974 library is currently owned by Classic Media,while the post-1974 library is...
-produced 1974 stop-motion animated Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
special The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus is a 1974 Rankin/Bass stop motion animated television special. It usually airs during the Christmas season on United States television. The story is based on Phyllis McGinley's 1956 book of the same name, illustrated by Kurt Werth.-Summary:The show is set in the...
. Snow Miser was voiced by actor/comedian Dick Shawn
Dick Shawn
Dick Shawn was an American actor and comedian.-Early life and career:Shawn was born as Richard Schulefand in Buffalo, New York. He played Sylvester Marcus, son of Mrs. Marcus , in Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Lorenzo St...
.
In the special, Snow Miser controlled cold weather all over the Earth; his archnemesis is his stepbrother, Heat Miser
Heat Miser
Heat Miser is a character from the Rankin/Bass 1974 children's television special The Year Without a Santa Claus. A vaguely demonic ogre-like being, Heat Miser is a blustery, quick-tempered hothead who is ultimately harmless...
. Mother Nature
Mother Nature
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless...
herself is their stepmother.
Snow Miser was a Jack Frost
Jack Frost
Jack Frost is a sprite-like character with roots in Viking lore. There, he is known as Jokul Frosti . In Britain and United States, Jack is a variant of Old Man Winter and is held responsible for frosty weather, for nipping the nose and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, and...
-alike creature, with the supernatural power to freeze objects at will. As he sang in his memorable ragtime song ("whatever I touch turns to snow in my clutch"), Snow Miser could cause objects to burst into snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
flakes with a touch. He could also restore the objects at will. He could also project intense cold at will from his hands or mouth, even forming simple objects of ice. Snow Miser lived in a large ice castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, and was attended to by a host of miniature versions of himself. He defended his domain fiercely, yet unlike his stepbrother Heat Miser, was a gregarious, friendly, jocular sort, given to gales of laughter and bad puns about snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
and cold weather; in other words, the Snow Miser had the "cool" personality (as opposed to a "bitter" or "cold" personality), in contrast to the Heat Miser's hot-headedness.
Both Snow and Heat Miser sing a memorable ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
style song introducing themselves.
In the 2006 NBC live-action remake, he is played by actor Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael John McKean is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski, on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; and for his work in the Christopher Guest ensemble films, particularly as David St...
. Also, rather than miniature versions of himself, his underlings are replaced by women in white swimsuits and scarves, warring with Heat Miser by firing giant icicles from a ballista
Ballista
The ballista , plural ballistae, was an ancient missile weapon which launched a large projectile at a distant target....
.
A 2008 sequel premiered on ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
, A Miser Brothers' Christmas
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
A Miser Brothers' Christmas is a stop motion spin-off special based on the characters from 1974 Rankin-Bass special The Year Without a Santa Claus. Produced by Warner Bros...
had Snow Miser and Heat Miser set aside their differences to save Christmas when Santa once again is unable to make his run, and fight off their brother, North Wind. In this special, Canadian voice actor Juan Chorido provided Snow Miser's voice as Shawn died in 1987. The special, considered as the sequel, was produced by Warner Brothers Animation, owners of the post-1974 Rankin-Bass library and Cuppa Coffee Animation for ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
.
Collectibles
Action figures based on The Year Without a Santa Claus were produced by Palisades Toys in 2002 and included the Snow Miser, the Heat Miser and their tiny clone-like assistants. The figures were re-released by NECANational Entertainment Collectibles Association
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association or NECA is an American manufacturer of collectibles typically licensed from films, video-games, sports, music, and television based in New Jersey...
in late 2006.
Song
Both the Snow Miser and Heat MiserHeat Miser
Heat Miser is a character from the Rankin/Bass 1974 children's television special The Year Without a Santa Claus. A vaguely demonic ogre-like being, Heat Miser is a blustery, quick-tempered hothead who is ultimately harmless...
sing a song known commonly as the Snow Miser song or Heat Miser song, which goes as follows:
I'm Mister White Christmas
I'm Mister Snow
I'm Mister Icicle
I'm Mister Ten Below
Friends call me Snow Miser
What ever I touch
Turns to snow in my clutch
I'm too much!
Other media
In the movie Batman & Robin, Mr. FreezeMr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze, real name Dr. Victor Fries , is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Batman. Created by Bob Kane, he first appeared in Batman #121 ....
(played by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
) tries to get his henchmen to learn the Snow Miser's song. A clip from The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus is a 1974 Rankin/Bass stop motion animated television special. It usually airs during the Christmas season on United States television. The story is based on Phyllis McGinley's 1956 book of the same name, illustrated by Kurt Werth.-Summary:The show is set in the...
is shown on a television with sing-along
Sing-along
Sing-along, community singing, group singing, is an event of singing together at gatherings or parties, less formally than choir singing. One can use a songbook. Common genres are folk songs, patriotic songs, hymns and drinking songs...
lyrics, during the point in which Snow Miser sings his memorable ragtime song to introduce himself.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing revival band from southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O", "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight ", and "Mr. Pinstripe Suit". The band played the Super Bowl XXXIII half-time show in 1999.The band was originally formed in Ventura,...
has done a cover of the song from the TV special, which can be found on their CD Everything You Want For Christmas.
- The Christian Pop/Rock band FM Static did a cover for the Snow Miser's song for Tooth & Nail's Happy Christmas Vol. 5 Album (Brother band Thousand Foot Krutch covered Heat Miser's song).
External links
- The Snow Miser's Cooler - Long-running fan site for Snow Miser.