Rudolph was a beloved member of Santa's reindeer team and played an important role in Christmas lore, but his character was not always depicted as positively as he is today. In the original 1939 story, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the other reindeer bullied and excluded Rudolph because of his bright red nose, which they saw as a flaw. It wasn't until later in the 20th century, when Rankin/Bass Productions adapted the story into a popular stop-motion television special, that Rudolph's character was depicted as a heroic outsider who saved Christmas and gained acceptance