AllMovie

Paul Bunyan, the legendary giant lumberjack, is back on the job in this 30-minute animated TV special. The story follows Bunyan from his childhood, when he was raised by loggers Crosscut Kelly and Stump Watson. Armed with his magic axe, Bunyan performs incredible feats, not least of which is the creation of Niagara Falls. For plot purposes, a villain, Panhandle Pete, is tossed into the stew. Produced by Rankin-Bass, the company responsible for such holiday perennials as The Little Drummer Boy and Frosty the Snowman, The Ballad of Paul Bunyan first aired January 7, 1973, as part of the syndicated "Festival of Family Classics" series.