Animator, director and producer Arthur Rankin, Jr. has died. Rankin is probably best known for his Rankin/Bass studio’s holiday television specials such as Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town and Mad Monster Party. He also produced and directed The Last Unicorn, The Hobbit (1977), The Return Of The King (1980), The Jackson 5ive, The Osmonds and produced both runs of Thundercats. The Royal Gazette, Indiewire Animation Scoop and The Hollywood Reporter have obituaries. Rankin talks to the Archive of American Television, here.