when was rudolph the red nosed reindeer made

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fictional character who first appeared in the 1939 children's book of the same name by Robert L. May. The story tells of a reindeer who is teased by the other reindeer because of his glowing red nose, but he ultimately saves the day by guiding Santa Claus's sleigh through a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. The book was adapted into an animated television special in 1964, which has since become a beloved holiday classic.