when did rudolph the red-nosed reindeer come out

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first appeared in a short story written by Robert L. May in 1939. The story was inspired by a poem written by May's brother, Johnny. In 1949, Rudolph was adapted into an animated television special, which became a holiday classic and launched Rudolph's popularity. Since then, Rudolph has been featured in numerous other adaptations, including an animated film in 2009 and a live-action movie in 2021.