Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer cartoon is a classic. Almost every American child since 1948 has seen the cartoon at least once or many times.

This cartoon is now in the public domain and available to download or watch online for free.

From CBS TV:

The CBS TV holiday special: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER ® recounts the tale of a shy, young reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny red nose has made him the laughing stock of all Christmastown.

Frustrated by their inability to fit in, Rudolph and his friend Hermey, the Elf who wants to be a dentist, set out on their own. However, they soon find themselves pursued by the Abominable Snowmonster.

They flee to the island of Misfit Toys in the Arctic wilderness where Yukon Cornelius, a prospector they meet along the way, comes to their rescue.

Returning to Christmastown, they learn that bad weather may cause Christmas to be canceled. But Rudolph's headlight--his illuminated nose--saves Christmas by serving as a beacon to guide Santa's sleigh.

from Wikipedia:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a popular Christmas story about Santa Claus' ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red colored nose that gives off its own light that is powerful enough to illuminate the team's path through inclement weather.

The story is owned by The Rudolph Company, L.P. and has been sold in numerous forms including a popular song, a television special (done in stop motion animation), and a feature film. Rudolph was created by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of his employment with Montgomery Ward. Character Arts, LLC manages the licensing for the Rudolph Company, L.P.

While the story and song have not passed into public domain (the cartton video is in the public domain), they have established themselves as folklore (as evidenced by the development of local variations and parodies such as "Deadeye the Lonesome Cowboy," collected in the field by Simon J. Bronner and included in "American Children's Folklore").

Earlier generations of folklorists would have rejected the possibility, and some contemporary scholars (e.g., Lucy Rollins[1]) continue to classify the case as fakelore, much as Paul Bunyan has been criticized as an authentic folk hero. At all events, the story demonstrates the complex relationship between mass-culture and folklore. Read more...

from IMDB:

Max Fleischer's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is enjoyable animated Christmas short

20 December 2006
Author: tavm from Baton Rouge, La.

Long surpassed by the 1964 Rankin/Bass version, this 1948 animated version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer directed by Max Fleischer is enjoyable in its own right. Narrated by Paul Wing, the story begins with the lead character already not allowed to skate on ice with the others (all of whom wear pillows on their backs to break their falls). His mother then calls him (there's no father here) and as Rudolph sleeps in his bed, Santa has trouble with his eight reindeer (who he calls by name as they pass him) with the fog and blizzard in his way. If you know the song by heart (and who doesn't?), you can figure out what happens next and I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't heard of this story yet. Nice animation throughout and good pacing for a 7-minute short. Worth seeing for Fleischer, Rudolph, and animation fans.

Max Fleischer
Writers:
Robert May (story)
Joe Stultz (adaptation)
Release Date:
1948 (USA)
runtime: 8 mintues