I’m gonna deviate from Capoeira Angola, and post about one of my favorite Christmas cartoons, one I watched every Christmas for at least 21 years, “How the Grinch stole Christmas.”
The Enduring Magic of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
This animated television special isn’t just a program; it’s a genuine holiday institution, a staple that has graced television screens every December since its initial broadcast in 1966. Year after year, it continues to capture the imaginations and hearts of new generations. Prepare to have your mind utterly blown with 20 spectacular facts about the enduring classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The depth of the production holds a treasure trove of surprising details. For instance, the iconic voice behind the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” Thurl Ravenscroft—also famous as the voice of Tony the Tiger—was inexplicably and accidentally left out of the final credits, a startling oversight for such a key performance. Adding to the list of shocking revelations is the truth about the Grinch’s color: he was never intended to be green; the decision to use the now-signature color was a last-minute artistic choice by director Chuck Jones.
Perhaps the most astounding performance fact is that the legendary Boris Karloff, who served as both the narrator and the voice of the Grinch, managed to record the entire special in a single, flawless take. Viewers initially puzzled over the Whos’ exuberant carolling, with many genuinely believing the joyful townspeople were singing in Latin, adding an extra layer of mystery to the small-screen masterpiece.
The special’s production was anything but cheap. It’s a remarkable fact that this 26-minute cartoon cost more per minute to produce than many of the era’s big-budget, Oscar-winning live-action films. Adding to the special’s surprising post-production history, the year 2000 DVD release suffered a curious printing error that accidentally tinted the Grinch yellow, leading to a brief but memorable moment of visual confusion for fans.
Behind the scenes, the creative dynamic was
full of tension. The special’s director, Chuck Jones, and the book’s author, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), were two titanic forces of animation and literature who nearly came to blows over almost every single design choice, from the Grinch’s appearance to the look of Whoville.
Ultimately, the special’s cinematic quality is a testament to painstaking, artisanal detail. A stunning 15,000 individual drawings were required to bring the story to life. This astonishing level of detail and hand-drawn labor is precisely what gave the 26-minute animated short such a rich, cinematic feel, elevating it far beyond a simple Saturday morning cartoon. Get ready to laugh, gasp, and fully rediscover the unbelievable, crazy details that transformed a beloved children’s book into an undisputed animated masterpiece.
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