The First Easter Rabbit is a 1976 animated Easter television special. Created by Rankin/Bass Productions, the special is loosely based on the 1922 children’s book The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Burl Ives narrated the special which also featured the Irving Berlin song “Easter Parade;” it marked Ives' return to a Rankin/Bass special for first time since the company’s 1964 Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer twelve years prior.
Plot[]
A rabbit named G. B. (short for the Great Easter Bunny) tells the story of Stuffy, who began as a stuffed rabbit given as a Christmas present as to a little girl named Glinda. Also introduced into the story are a trio of scheming live rabbits named Spats, Whiskers, and Flops, who plan to dig a tunnel under all the carrot patches in town during the dead of winter. The three happen upon Stuffy at one point and mock him for not being real. One day, Glinda becomes dangerously ill with scarlet fever. The local doctor tells Glinda’s mother to throw away and burn all the infected bedclothes and toys to disinfect the playroom, including Glinda’s beloved doll Stuffy.
Stuffy is rescued by a sprite named Calliope, who brings him to life, telling him he’s been chosen to be (as the title suggests) the first Easter rabbit (because holidays need symbols). After the song “There’s That Rabbit,” Calliope sends him to Easter Valley at the North Pole. Along the way, he again encounters Spats, Whiskers, and Flops, who join him, expecting profit. Once inside Easter Valley, the four meet Santa Claus, who convinces Stuffy’s companions to give up their selfish ways and help him with the Easter traditions.
Meanwhile, two villains, an evil ice monster named Zero, aided by his sidekick, a sentient snowball named Bruce, whose job is to keep the North Pole cold and white, want to freeze the valley and make it like the rest of the Pole by stealing the Golden Easter Lily from the valley. They discover the secret passage to Easter Valley and manage to do just that by stealing the Lily, (which is the very thing that keeps the valley in eternal springtime). Due to the theft, Stuffy and the other rabbits, who have been Easter eggs and other presents for Glinda’s hometown, are snowed in and consequently unable to make their Easter delivery.
However, Bruce, remorseful about his role in the theft, has second thoughts and goes straight to Santa for help. To put an end to this evil, Santa arrives in the snow-covered valley in his sleigh and rescues the rabbits, allowing them to make the Easter delivery. Glinda, who has by now recovered from her illness, and her mother are visited by her doctor, Jonathan, (who is implied to be pursuing Glinda’s mother romantically), who brings a timely gift of new Easter outfits for the two of them, thus allowing them to attend the parade. There, Glinda and Stuffy meet again, and the two sing Easter Parade.
After the parade, Zero threatens Bruce because of his betrayal, but Santa forces him to return the Golden Easter Lily to the valley, by saying he will move to the South Pole. This causes Zero to quickly change his tune. As Zero returns the Lily to its rightful place, he meets Stuffy for the first and only time, and he wishes him a happy Easter. At the very end, Stuffy’s companions then give Stuffy a new name, G. B., revealing that it was his older self who was narrated the story all along.
Songs[]
Voice cast[]
- Burl Ives as G. B./Older Stuffy
- Robert Morse as Stuffy
- Stan Freberg as Flops
- Paul Frees as Zero, Spats, Santa Claus
- Joan Gardner as Elizabeth, Calliope
- Dina Lynn as Glinda
- Don Messick as Dr. Jonathan, Whiskers, Bruce the Snowball
- Christine Winter as Glinda (singing voice)
External links[]
The First Easter Rabbit on YouTube