The first Burger King mascot was a puppet before a cartoon (1966)

 Before a series of animated commercials began in the late 60's, Burger King tried out a puppet version of their royal mascot. Actor Allen Swift (Underdog, King Leonardo) still voiced the character.

I think you can see why they discarded the puppet as fast as they did.

Countdown to Christmas: Mele Kalikimaka (1950-2020)

 "Mele Kalikimaka" is a Hawaiian Christmas song, recorded by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters in 1950, then reissued by Crosby on a Christmas album 5 years later. The song was written by Robert Alexander Anderson, a friend of Crosby's, in 1949.

70 years after its initial release, the song merited a flash animated music video.

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas with George of The Jungle (2007)

 The Canadian producers of the 2007 remake of George of The Jungle served up something Jay Ward & Bill Scott had failed to do 40 years earlier. That being, a Christmas episode.

Two Christmas shorts here. "Jungle Bells" "The Goat of Christmas Presents", and it all starts with "Jungle Bells", in which Ursula teaches George and the gang about the holiday.

This episode was the first that aired on Cartoon Network, understandably, as the rest of the series would follow several weeks later.

However, after initial cancellation, Classic Media brought the series back in Canada in 2016, with more changes. George looked more like his original design. Ursula and Magnolia, the latter a witch doctor's daughter in season 1, were merged together (in 1967, Magnolia was Tom Slick's girl), and there were other alterations that didn't make it to the US. Like, unnecessary, eh?

Rating: C-.

Countdown to Christmas: The Great Santa Claus Caper (1978)

 The Bobbs-Merrill Company, makers at the time of Raggedy Ann & Andy, entered into a licensing deal with CBS and with legendary animator Chuck Jones to produce a Christmas special in 1978.

"The Great Santa Claus Caper" introduces Raggedy Arthur, created by Jones, as Ann & Andy's pet/sidekick. Alexander Graham Wolf (Les Tremayne, ex-Shazam!) schemes to take over the North Pole. Comet, one of Santa's trusty reindeer, asks Ann & Andy for help.

June Foray voices Ann & Comet. Tremayne is also heard at Santa. Daws Butler is Andy. For the most part, the majority of the Jones repertory company.

I wonder, though. Alexander was modeled after Wile E. Coyote. Did Jones intend to have Mel Blanc work on this?

Rating: B.

Retro Toy Chest: Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots (1964)

 Marx's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots turn 60 next year, and, yes, they're still being made. Mattel produced a version a few years back with an eye toward a movie and a Playstation game. Reportedly, the movie was being developed with actor Vin Diesel ("Guardians of The Galaxy", "The Fast & The Furious") attached.

Let's take you back to 1964, and the initial commercial, starring Bobby Buntrock (Hazel):

Countdown to Christmas: Ranger Danger reunites with Santa (1992)

 Those Ranger Danger skits from the 90's were remastered and posted to YouTube a year ago, to mark the WXXA kids show host's 30th anniversary. Blink, and you'd miss out, like this holiday entry, in which the Ranger wants to sit on Santa's lap one more time.

Ah yeah (and I've always heard it pronounced as Ai-Yaa).

Looney TV: Rebel Without Claws (1961)

 As seen on Me-TV:

Tweety and Sylvester are in the Civil War. Tweety is a Confederate courier, while Sylvester, who has already taken out every other courier the Confederates had, represents the Union. Here's "Rebel Without Claws":

Rating: A-.