Frosty the Snowman (Jackie Vernon). He’s a jolly happy soul, with a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal…but you probably knew that already. Since first debuting in 1969,Frosty the Snowmanhas stood the test of timeas an all-timeholidayclassic. The timeless story of a lovable snowman being brought to life by a magical top hat has become one of the most recognizable fables during the Christmas season, with the original classic, inspiring countless kinds of merchandise, some pretty absurd parodies likeHot Frosty, and even a few sequels.
Frosty the Snowmanis one ofthe many holiday classics by Rankin/Bass—the same animation icon behindRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,TheYear Without a Santa Claus, and more. Still,Frosty the Snowmanis an outlier in their filmography, as the special is brought to life entirely through hand-drawn animation rather than stop-motion and puppetry. This year marksFrosty the Snowman’s 55th birthday, so some may be wondering if the special is streaming online with the holidays just around the corner. Read below to find out when, where, and how to watchFrosty the Snowman.
Is ‘Frosty the Snowman’ Playing on TV?
Like all the other numerous Rankin/Bass holiday specials,Frosty the Snowmanwill undoubtedly be shown on various live television and cable channels this Christmas.Freeformis one of the most prominent destinations for classic holiday films and specials in the U.S., during the channel’s “25 Days of Christmas” line-up starting December 1st.
When Is ‘Frosty the Snowman’ Playing on Freeform?
The dates and times thatFrosty the Snowmanwill be playing on Freeformare as follows:
Is ‘Frosty the Snowman’ Streaming?
Streaming fans are in luck, asFrosty the Snowmanis available to stream on Hulu. Hulu has plenty of classic holiday favorites, likeNational Lampoon’s Christmas VacationandElf, as well asa brand-new comedy withBen StillertitledNutcrackers.
Watch on Hulu
Hulu has two basic subscription plans:Huluand Hulu (No Ads). For a breakdown of both plans in terms of their features and cost, refer to the following table below:
Subscription Costs
$7.99 per month or $79.99 per year
Hulu (No Ads)
$17.99 per month
Those interested inbundling their selected Hulu subscription with Disney+, ESPN+, or even Maxcan look into Disney’s many bundle plans. Hulu can also be watched through Disney+, which still requires a subscription to Hulu.
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Can You Stream ‘Frosty the Snowman’ Without Hulu?
If you don’t have Hulu, there is another alternative.Frosty the Snowmanis also available to stream on Prime Video. Like Hulu, Prime Video has a rock-solid lineup of holiday films, such asIt’s a Wonderful Life,Love Actually, andScrooged. Prime Video currently costs $8.99 per month.
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Watch the Trailer for ‘Frosty the Snowman’
The preview above briefly offers a holiday special for those who haven’t seenFrosty the Snowmana hundred times. The clip shows how Frosty came to be, with the appearance of a magical top hat turning a seemingly ordinary snowman into a living being. One exclamation of “Happy Birthday” later, Frosty soon befriends a group of schoolchildren as they teach him all about what it means to be alive.
What is ‘Frosty the Snowman’ About?
The official plot synopsis ofFrosty the Snowmanreads as follows:
“Discover how everyone’s favorite happy, jolly soul came to life one day in the original holiday special, Frosty the Snowman! After Karen and her friends build a snowman on Christmas Eve, Frosty comes alive with a little help from a discarded magic hat. As temperatures rise, Karen must help Frosty get to the North Pole before he melts. At the same time, they are also being chased by Professor Hinkle who wants his magic hat back.”
Other Rankin/Bass Holiday Specials You Can Watch Right Now
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ (1964)
Of Rankin/Bass' many famous characters, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Billie Mae Richards) is arguably the face of the animation studio. Young Rudolph is unfairly mocked and ostracized by the other reindeer for having a bright red nose that lights up the sky. After teaming up withan elf who wants to be a dentist (Paul Soles) and a charismatic prospector (Larry D. Mann), Rudolph might be an unlikely hero who saves Christmas when a dangerous Abominable Snowman threatens the North Pole.Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeeris available to buy on VOD.
Buy on Amazon
‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)
There are plenty of origin stories involving our favorite jolly gift-giver, butSanta Claus is Comin' to Townis among the most famous. As told by a friendly mail carrier (Fred Astaire), the beloved story shows precisely howKris Kringle (Mickey Rooney) became Santa Claus. The optimistic hero faces a Winter Warlock (Keenan Wynn) and a grumpy mayor (Paul Frees) as he tries to deliver his presents to the children of his community.Santa Claus is Comin' to Townis available to stream on Hulu.
‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’ (1974)
The Year Without a Santa Clausshows that even Santa gets sick, even at the most unfortunate moments. Jolly Kris Kringle gets a bad cold right when Christmas is about to get underway, but that’s the least of his problems. When Santa announces he’s going to be taking a year off due to his sickness, the children around the world don’t seem to care. With Christmas spirit at an all-time low, Mrs. Claus (Shirley Booth) embarks on an epic journey to help her beloved Santa get better, even if it means dealing with shady characters like Snow Miser (Dick Shawn) and Heat Miser (George S. Irving).The Year Without a Santa Clausis available to stream on TNT.
Watch on TNT
Frosty the Snowmanis available to stream on Hulu. Stay tuned to Collider for more help on your holiday movie itinerary.
Frosty the Snowman
