The animated TV special Frosty the Snowman first came out on December 7, 1969, in the United States.
TV special release
The Rankin/Bass animated Christmas special Frosty the Snowman debuted on the CBS television network on December 7, 1969. It has since become a perennial holiday program and continues to air on major networks each Christmas season.
Earlier short film
There was also an earlier animated short titled Frosty the Snowman released on December 21, 1951, in the United States. This short is separate from the better‑known 1969 TV special but is another early screen adaptation of the Frosty character.
Song origin
The character comes from the song “Frosty the Snowman,” which was written in 1949 and first released in 1950. That song’s popularity led to the later animated adaptations, including the 1951 short and the 1969 TV special.
