▁at ▁the ▁North ▁P ole , ▁Santa ▁Cla us ▁not ices ▁that ▁the ▁coming ▁fog ▁will ▁be ▁difficult ▁to ▁get ▁through . ▁Nevertheless , ▁he ▁and ▁his ▁rein de er ▁brave ▁out ▁the ▁storm ▁and ▁go ▁anyway . ▁While ▁on ▁the ▁way , ▁an ▁air plane ▁throws ▁them ▁off ▁course ; ▁they ▁land ▁at ▁Rud olph ' s ▁house , ▁where ▁Santa ▁gre ets ▁him . ▁T elling ▁Rud olph , ▁" I ▁need ▁you ▁ton ight ▁to ▁lead ▁all ▁my ▁de er ▁on ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁our ▁flight ", ▁Rud olph ▁helps ▁them . ▁Due ▁to ▁his ▁bra very ▁and ▁his ▁g low ing ▁nose , ▁he ▁is ▁accepted ▁and ▁respect ed ▁by ▁his ▁fellow ▁rein de er ▁and ▁made ▁their ▁commander - in - ch ief ▁by ▁Santa ; ▁the ▁rein de er ▁enjoy ▁a ▁mer ry ▁Christmas ▁together . ▁ ▁Vo ices ▁ ▁Paul ▁Wing ▁ ▁History ▁▁ ▁This ▁ 8 ▁minute ▁animated ▁interpretation ▁of ▁the ▁Christmas ▁poem ▁preced ed ▁Gene ▁Aut ry ' s ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁song ▁" R ud olph , ▁the ▁Red - N osed ▁Rein de er " ▁and ▁the ▁animated ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁version . ▁It ▁was ▁based ▁on ▁Robert ▁L . ▁May ' s ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁story , ▁rather ▁than ▁the ▁song . ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁film ▁more ▁closely ▁res emb les ▁the ▁song ▁rather ▁than ▁the ▁original ▁story . ▁▁▁ ▁This ▁short ▁film ▁was ▁created ▁to ▁advert ise ▁Mont gom ery