what year is rudolph the red nosed reindeer

The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was published in 1939 by Robert L. May. The story was inspired by Robert's younger brother, who was born with a facial birthmark that made him a target for bullying. Robert wrote the story to teach children to embrace their differences and celebrate their uniqueness. It quickly became a Christmas classic and has been adapted into a popular animated television special, which has aired annually since 1964.