History YMMV / SantaClausIsCominToTown

* HilariousInHindsight: The scene where Kris gives a toy train to Winter can be this if one remembers this in conjunction with ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'''s saying about melting a frozen heart...

* SpiritualSuccessor: To Creator/LFrankBaum's ''Literature/TheLifeAndAdventuresOfSantaClaus.". Not only do both tell the story of Santa Claus's origins and how he came to do all the things he does, they share a few other elements too, like baby Claus being a foundling raised by the non-human beings who later become his helpers, and the sight of children's stockings hanging by the fireplace to dry inspiring him to leave presents inside them. Creator/RankinBassProductions would later do a straightforward adaptation of ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus'' as their final stop-motion Christmas special in 1985

* NightmareFuel:
** That same toy-burning scene could be this for kids. For adults, it could even evoke thoughts of Hitler's Germany, considering Burgermeister Meisterburger burns toys the way the Nazis burned books. Also counts as a TearJerker. Though for some it could also be NightmareRetardant and {{Narm}} due to the kids' reactions -- the voice acting and facial expressions are ''very'' unconvincing for children who are supposed to be sad and crying.
** The Winter Warlock before his reformation is pretty creepy. He appears much larger than he really is due to the angle of the camera, and he has razor sharp teeth, long claw-like fingers and sheet-white skin that gives him a very ghost-like appearance. The fact that he is most often seen shrouded in darkness surrounded by a heavy snowstorm does not help.
** While the stop-motion already crosses over into UnintentionalUncannyValley territory, a lot of the expressions that Kris makes can be especially creepy, particularly when he incredulously repeats "In ''danger'' from TOYS?!" and [[CartoonyEyes his irises grow bigger than his corneas]].
** Grimsley losing the baby Kris during a harsh winter storm. As he marches through the cold with the sleigh to the orphanage/asylum, the rope securing the sleigh breaks and the sleigh carrying the baby Kris is whisked away in the strong winds up to the mountains. Grimsley understandably panics and tries to rescue the baby Kris only to get stuck in the snow.
** As baby Kris' sleigh gets whisked up to the mountains and the forest creatures rush after him, the narrator tells the audience of the danger that lurks in the mountains. As he describes the Winter Warlock, thunder crashes and snow and ice circles around the ice castle and lightning illuminates the warlock's NightmareFace for a brief second.
--->'''S.D. Kluger:''' Well, you see, that mountain was the home of the awful, the terrible -- oh, I hate to even say his name! That mountain was the home of the Winter Warlock. The strange hermit of the north who lived alone in a ghostly palace of ice, practicing his strange spells and snowy incantations. The animals knew they had to hide that baby -- and fast!
** After Kris and the penguin Topper become friends and march through the mountains to Sombertown, the Winter Warlock's voice bellows through the mountains upon them and it instantly begins snowing due to his presence. It's frightening enough to make Topper leap into Kris' arms for safety. As Kris and Topper escape to Sombertown, the camera centers on the Winter Warlock's face as he cackles evilly before the screen fades to black. When the screen cuts back after commercial break, it once again centers on the Winter Warlock's face as he vows to get Kris and Topper into a trap just for trespassing through the only mountain available.
--->'''Winter Warlock:''' Who nears my mountain?! Go back! Or you are DOOMED! ''(laughs evilly)'' I shall get him when he returns. He's got to cross MY mountain on the way home. And then... ''(chuckles)'' ...no more being the nice guy! ''(laughs evilly)''
** The Burgermeister's guards carriage horse laughing evilly while sporting a SlasherSmile as the guards take away the children's toys is a little unnerving.
** When Kris and Topper get captured by the Winter Warlock. As they read a sign that says "You are trespassing on the land of the Winter Warlock!", two magical trees grab them. The trees making growling and snarling noises. Then the Winter Warlock appears, boasting that he now has Kris in his grasp and will never let him get away. Kris looks frightened, with his eyes widened and scary music playing just before commercial break.
--->'''Kris:''' ''(reads sign)'' "You are trespassing...on the land...of the Winter Warlock"? ''(the trees come to life and capture Kris and Topper)'' Hey! Let go! Let go!\\
'''Winter Warlock:''' Kris Kringle... you disturb me for the very last time! Now I have you! And you'll never get away! ''(Laughs evilly)''
** When the Burgermeister and his guards storm through a house, looking for toys inside. The family that live in that house huddle together frightened. Knowing that if they were found with any toys in their possession, they would face severe punishment from the Burgermeister. Luckily, the Burgermeister and his guards couldn't find anything, overlooked the stockings and leave.
** The Burgermeister's vow to stop Kris by setting a trap for him when returns. His angry face doesn't help.
--->'''Burgermeister Meisterburger:''' [[IShouldHaveDoneThisYearsAgo I will do what I should've done a long time ago.]] I will set a trap for that bothersome Kringle! His next visit to Sombertown will be his last.
** Grimsley arriving with the guards and arresting the Kringles and Winter Warlock. NotSoHarmlessVillain indeed.
--->'''Grimsley:''' Nobody is going to do anything! You are all under arrest for defying the law and making toys! And for being an accomplice to public enemy number one, Kris Kringle!
** When Kris tries to escape, the Burgermeister stops him by pointing at the window and showing him that he and his guards captured his penguin friend Topper, too.
** After Kris, the Kringles and the Winter Warlock escape, the Burgermeister decides to hunt them down wherever they go. As he laughs evilly, the scene cuts back to the Kringles having made it home safely only to find their houses were burnt down.
--->'''Burgermeister Meisterburger:''' We Meisterburgers shall hunt them down throughout the land! Those rebels will have not one moment's peace until they are captured again!

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: For a special that otherwise goes to so much effort to maintain a timeless sensibility, just about every aspect of "My World is Beginning Today" -- the imagery, vocal stylings, character theme, and even the orchestrations -- firmly insists that we not forget this was made in the early 70s.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: After realizing where she belongs best, Jessica suddenly breaks into song "My World is Beginning Today", complete with songbirds, a fountain reflection and VERY TRIPPY acid-like visual effects that, other than Jessica's character development, adds nothing to the plot. See WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs below.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: The "My World is Beginning Today" sequence, possibly one of the trippiest scenes in all of animation. Yes, it was made in 1970, but seriously, what the hell was this? May also be a contender for BigLippedAlligatorMoment, since the song has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story, though it does mark Jessica's CharacterDevelopment. One Website/YouTube comment theorized exactly how the brainstorming session for the song went:
-->'''Arthur Rankin:''' How much LSD should we use while making this song?\\
'''Jules Bass:''' [[MathematiciansAnswer Yes.]]

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Despite, or perhaps because of, being second banana to Burgermeister Meisterburger, Grimsley is ''very'' popular with the fans.

--->'''Burgermeister Meisterburger:''' I will do what I should've done a long time ago. I will set a trap for that bothersome Kringle! His next visit to Sombertown will be his last.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: For a special that otherwise goes to so much effort to maintain a timeless sensibility, just about every aspect of "My World is Beginning Today" -- the imagery, vocal stylings, character theme, and even the orchestrations - firmly insists that we not forget this was made in the early 70s.

** Another Winter Warlock case--albeit leaning more toward happier tears--occurs at Kris and Jessica's wedding in the woods. By now he's lost all of his power, but he still quietly prays "Oh please...let me have just a ''little'' magic..." That last spell illuminates all of the branches in the forest with twinkling lights: Winter gave the world the first Christmas trees.

** That same toy-burning scene could be this for kids. For adults, it could even evoke thoughts of Hitler's Germany, considering Burgermeister Meisterburger burns toys the way the Nazis burned books. Also counts as a TearJerker. Though for some it could also be NightmareRetardant and {{Narm}} due to the kids' reactions - the voice acting and facial expressions are ''very'' unconvincing for children who are supposed to be sad and crying.

* AntiClimax: The way Burgermeister Meisterburger is taken out of the picture--he just dies offscreen, with no explanation or anything, and all his laws are somehow abolished because of this (lifting the ban on toys).
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:

* MoralEventHorizon: Crossed by Burgermeister Meisterburger when he burns a pile of toys--''in front of a crowd of crying kids no less''--just after he arrests Kris with a cheap trick.
-->"CHILDREN OF SOMBERTOWN, YOU WILL NEVER... ''NEVER'' PLAY... AGAIN!!"
* {{Narm}}:

--> '''S. D.:''' Well, you see, that mountain was the home of the awful, the terrible -- oh, I hate to even say his name! That mountain was the home of the Winter Warlock. The strange hermit of the north who lived alone in a ghostly palace of ice, practicing his strange spells and snowy incantations. The animals knew they had to hide that baby -- and fast!

--> '''Winter Warlock:''' Who nears my mountain?! Go back! Or you are DOOMED! ''(Laughs evilly)'' I shall get him when he returns. He's got to cross MY mountain on the way home. And then... ''(chuckles)'' ...no more being the nice guy! ''(laughs evilly)''

--> '''Kris Kringle:''' ''(reads sign)'' "You are trespassing...on the land...of the Winter Warlock"? ''(The trees come to life and capture Kris and Topper)'' Hey! Let go! Let go!
--> '''Winter Warlock:''' Kris Kringle...you disturb me for the very last time! Now I have you! And you'll never get away! ''(Laughs evilly)''

--> '''The Burgermeister:''' I will do what I should've done a long time ago. I will set a trap for that bothersome Kringle! His next visit to Sombertown will be his last.

--> '''Grimsley:''' Nobody is going to do anything! You are all under arrest for defying the law and making toys! And for being an accomplice to public enemy number one, Kris Kringle!

--> '''The Burgermeister:''' We Meisterburgers shall hunt them down throughout the land! Those rebels will have not one moment's peace until they are captured again!

** The kids are supposed to be crying at the toy bonfire, but they clearly have what appears to be ''smiles on their faces.''

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: For a special that otherwise goes to so much effort to maintain a timeless sensibility, just about every aspect of "My World is Beginning Today" - the imagery, vocal stylings, character theme, and even the orchestrations - firmly insists that we not forget this was made in the early 70s.
* TearJerker:

--> '''Arthur Rankin:''' How much LSD should we use while making this song?\\