Clarice

Clarice (pronounced kla-REES) was a young doe featured in the 1964 Rankin-Bass television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Like all the does in the special, Clarice is lighter in color than the bucks and is distinguished and recognized by the polka-dotted bow atop her head. Clarice was added to the storyline by producer Arthur Rankin, Jr. as a means of expanding the special beyond the confines of the original song.

Clarice is introduced at the start of the "reindeer games" scene as one of several does who are watching the proceedings. Clarice takes an interest in Rudolph who, on the advice of his new friend, Fireball, shyly walks over to Clarice to meet her. Rudolph, who is wearing a false nose to hide his own red nose, is having difficulty speaking. Clarice gently asks if Rudolph is having trouble with his nose. Before Rudolph leaves her side to participate in what was called "take-off practice," meant to determine the flying ability of the yearling bucks and right after Rudolph musters the courage to ask to walk her home, she tells him that she thinks he's cute. Rudolph is so smitten that he flies faster and farther than any of the other bucks. A playful tussle with Fireball ensues and the false nose comes loose. Rudolph is laughed out of the reindeer games by everyone except Clarice. She tries to cheer up the dejected Rudolph with one of the special's songs, "There's Always Tomorrow". As the two begin their walk home, they're intercepted by Clarice's father who forbids her from "being seen with a red-nosed reindeer." Heartbroken, Rudolph runs away from home.

Against her father's warning, Clarice and Rudolph's mother go off into the wilderness searching for Rudolph only to be captured by the Abominable Snowmonster, also known as "The Bumble." Clarice appears later in the special as the Snowmonster's prisoner, along with Rudolph's parents, but Rudolph arrives to rescue them.

Clarice makes a brief cameo during the flashback at the beginning of Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July.

A character similar to Clarice, named Zoey, appears in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. She was even originally intended to have the same name, but had to be changed for reason of rights issues.