Not one of my favourite Christmas specials, but while it is easy to see why it may not work for some it is also just as easy to see why others will love it.'Santa and the Three Bears' did feel a bit padded and over-stretched. Less of the "bears-questioning" scenes, which did get a little repetitive (if admittedly sweet) and a shorter length (do agree that half an hour or a little less would have been more suitable) would have helped.However, the animation is colourful and beautifully drawn and the bookending beginning and ending juxtaposing very nicely. The music is pleasant and tuneful, if perhaps not exceptional.The treacle and syrup in the writing is very high, but it also has a lot of charm and heart and made it easy to relate to the characters. The story is simple, but very sweet and touching, it was difficult to not be moved by it.The bears are incredibly cute, and on the right side of it hopefully, while the voice acting from talented and prolific actors is very good.Overall, not one of the best Christmas specials but not close to being one of the worst. One of the imperfect but underrated ones more like. 8/10 Bethany Cox

"Santa and the Three Bears" certainly lacks the flashier artwork, pace, and musical scores of other Christmas specials, before, during, and after its production. But, the tale told in "Santa and the Three Bears" is simply told, an almost-buried virtue in television programming which, wrongfully, believes it has to be flashy and quick in order to maintain a child's attention. In that, it remains a much more timeless and welcome work that only reveals its specialness as the years go by.I saw "Santa and the Three Bears" when I was 10 years old. I loved it then and I love it now. The musical score is humble yet haunting, particularly the scenes in which the cubs prepare for Christmas and the hibernation of the bears just before Santa arrives. Again, a simple, simply-told, "bare bones" approach to storytelling that has the vastly-underrated Hal Smith playing a live-action and the animated Santa Claus (along with Mr. Ranger). I never tire of watching this because, unlike so many of its kind that hammer home the accepted notion of Christmas as a time of love, togetherness, and wishes fulfilled, "Santa and the Three Bears" stresses the importance of magic and wonder that come from belief in something unseen. Could it be God :-)? What a wonderful message to impart on people who cultivate cynicism as a badge of honor and do not see the impact that belief, magic, and wonder can play and produce in our lives. No other animated cartoon, in my memory, ever presented that message so gracefully, artfully, charmingly,and, for the third time (like the special itself), simply told.I'm glad "Santa and the Three Bears" is out on DVD. Also, Nana is another example of the completely overlooked vocal proficiency of the fine character actress, Jean Van Der Pyl (also the voice of Wilma Flintstone).

An absolutely "fabulous" movie (my opinion and mine only). This movie always brings back some wonderful memories, and takes me back to my childhood. My nephew also loves this film and we have decided to make it a part of our "special" library. Although considered 'sappy' by some, there is an even deeper meaning to this film, and was wondering if anyone happened to catch on it what it was? Sorry that it is no longer being shown on television any more (regular or cable). Think the children of today, or at least some of them, would get a real kick out of it. My nephew is eleven years old and he watched the film every chance that he got, even when it wasn't Christmas. My original copy was destroyed by an old VCR, but now that I know it's available on DVD, will be purchasing it right away. A true "classic".

Every Christmas for I don't know how long, the local TV station in our area would run this cartoon, and it became a family favorite amongst my counsins and I. I don't know maybe I still love it, because it reminds me of better times, or maybe because it makes me remember what Christmas meant to me when I was a kid. Whatever it might be, it still makes me feel nostalgic when I watch it on video and I hope one day to share it with my children.