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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this classic holiday cartoon has a few mildly perilous and sad scenes and one villain in the form of a bumbling magician. Frosty occasionally loses the magic hat that brings him to life, and of course the small-town kids are sad when Frosty is just an ordinary snowman instead of their friendly, walking, talking pal. Frosty's young friend Karen runs away from home in order to help Frosty, but she truly believes she'll only be gone for a little while and no one will notice. In a few short scenes, Karen is in danger of freezing, and in the saddest scene, Frosty completely melts, and Karen believes he's gone forever -- but it's a family holiday movie, so of course he's not. Parents should also know that this DVD is often paired with Frosty Returns, a loose sequel from 1992 that isn't nearly as fun.

Families can discuss Karen's bravery and loyalty in helping her new friend, Frosty, as well as Frosty's unselfish gesture when he takes Karen to the greenhouse to warm up. Families can also discuss the dangers of leaving home without getting permission from a parent. Could Karen have called someone or asked a parent to come along? Families can also unite in a fun sing-along of the familiar "Frosty the Snowman" tune, which is interspersed throughout the story.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Ellen Dendy

Gather the entire family together for this 1969 animated Christmas classic about an ordinary snowman who comes to life with the help of a magic hat. Narrated by Jimmy Durante, this colorful cartoon forms a heart-warming story around the catchy 1950s song "Frosty the Snowman."

A simple storyline and mildly scary/sad scenes which quickly melt into happy situations make this half-hour tale appropriate for very young viewers. Lessons on the importance of helping those in need and being a loyal friend are the main focus. Christmas is a side note, and Santa does make a couple of appearances.

Set in a small town, the story begins when a magic hat lands on the head of a run-of-the-mill snowman and brings him to life. Just as in the song, Frosty (voiced by Jackie Vernon) is a jolly, happy soul. He enchants the local kids, who follow him around like the Pied Piper. But the magic hat belongs to wicked magician Professor Hinkle (Billy De Wolfe), who vows to get it back even if it means the end of Frosty.

Hinkle (who looks and acts a bit like Snidely Whiplash from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show) isn't the only danger -- temperatures begin to rise and Frosty starts to melt. Young Karen (June Foray) decides to help Frosty get to the North Pole where he'll be safe, and they set off on a northbound train, with Hinkle hot on their heels.

Karen and Frosty encounter some mildly scary situations on their adventure, but friendly woodland animals and Santa come to their aid. In the final scene, it appears that Frosty is gone forever, but never fear -- this winter tale has a happy ending.

After a rough-and-tumble day of sledding, warm up your chilly little ones with this lively holiday story. Parents will enjoy reliving their childhood and sharing this classic with their kids, and the beloved holiday song figures prominently throughout this short feature -- kids of all ages will have fun singing along (turn on the DVD's subtitle feature if you don't know all of the words).

Frosty fans might also enjoy Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

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