Rudolph’s Shiny New Year

Just after Rudolph's adventures begin, Father Time asks Santa for help to find Happy the Baby New Year before the 12th bong at midnight, or December 31 will last forever. Santa sends Rudolph on this urgent mission despite the raging snowstorm outside. The quest hinges on saving the New Year from a timeless stasis.

Rudolph is joined by General Ticker and Quart, a camel with a clock in his hump, as they travel to Father Time's castle beyond the Sands of Time. They plan the rescue and prepare to face the dangers of the archipelago. The trio aims to reach Happy before the final bong.

Father Time suggests Happy is hiding on the Archipelago of Last Years, where the Old Years retire and rule the island realm. Rudolph and crew set out to locate the Baby New Year in this time-worn archipelago. The search marks the start of a time-spanning journey.

Eon the Terrible ambushes Rudolph on the open ocean, hoping to derail the search. Big Ben, a sperm whale with a clock on his tail, intervenes and transports Rudolph across the sea. The rescue ensures the quest continues despite the peril.

On arrival in the archipelago, Rudolph meets O.M. (One Million B.C.) on a prehistoric island filled with friendly dinosaurs. They search for Happy while repeatedly crossing paths with Eon. The prehistoric setting introduces both danger and wonder to the pursuit.

The group makes off-screen visits to islands representing years like 4000 B.C., 1492, 1893, and 1965, but none of them hide Happy. Each stop reveals new corners of the archipelago and its quirky rulers. The search continues across time.

Rudolph and O.M. reach the Island of 1023, pronounced Ten to Three, ruled by Sir 1023. The island blends medieval trappings with fairy-tale and Mother Goose characters, adding whimsy to the pursuit. They hope Happy might be on this peculiar time-twisted island.

Happy befriends the Three Bears on the island, sharing a game with Baby Bear. When his hat is removed, his big ears are revealed and the bears laugh, causing Happy to leave in sadness. Rudolph's resolve deepens as the search continues.

On the Island of 1776, Sev resembles Benjamin Franklin and hosts a July 4 parade that seems to spurn Happy. After this, Eon kidnaps Happy and takes him to his lair on the Island of No-Name, due north of the Pole. The chase intensifies as the captor pulls Happy away from the search.

The group pursues Eon to No-Name, but Eon awakens and triggers an avalanche that buries them in giant snowballs. Rudolph and friends struggle to melt free and press onward. The peril underscores the urgency of rescuing Happy before midnight.

Rudolph frees the team by melting the snow with his glowing nose and climbs to Eon's nest where he finds Happy. He shares his own story of bullying for being different, and asks Happy to reveal his ears. Happy's ears are exposed, shifting his courage and foreshadowing Eon's downfall.

Eon bursts with warmth and laughter at Happy's ears, tumbling down the mountain and into the remaining snowballs. His warm laughter makes him unable to freeze, breaking the threat he posed. Rudolph and friends celebrate the turning of time toward the New Year.

Santa arrives with Happy just before the 12th bong and the group returns to Father Time's castle. They arrive as the old year ends and the New Year begins, designated 19-Wonderful. Time is restored and the archipelago's journey closes on a hopeful note.