With Christmas fast approaching, the holiday spirit is everywhere one would look. A most notable place is on the television, as we enjoy Christmas movies both alone and with loved ones. With the plethora of Christmas films at one’s disposal, a subgenre emerges that promises peak holiday spirit: animated Christmas films.
Animation is a genre that transcends to every kind of audience, especially during holidays, where the main goal is to be together. As the beloved holiday arrives soon, people immediately turn on films that always put them in the perfect Christmas mood. These films often include animated ones that most have adored since childhood. From classics across the decades, here are our hand-picked animated films sure to bring out the utmost Christmas spirit.
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas
Beginning the list is the Christmas film starring the beloved Peanuts gang, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The main character, Charlie Brown, is not feeling the holiday spirit and doesn’t know how to remedy it. After enlisting help from his friends, he decides to direct the annual Christmas play. However, things are still not perking up, so Charlie Brown goes to get a Christmas tree as the centerpiece of the play. The experience worsens once Charlie Brown picks a puny sapling for the tree, and it’s met with laughter from his peers.
Charlie Brown believes the tree will still work once it’s all decorated, much to the chagrin of his friends. Through decorating the tree and hearing a different perspective, the Peanuts group learn the true meaning of Christmas. As an adored classic for sixty years, A Charlie Brown Christmas will grant viewers a good helping of holiday spirit. This film is available on AppleTV.
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Before the live-action, there was the 1966 original animated film of the acclaimed Dr. Seuss book. Set in the town of Whoville, the Whos are excitedly prepping for their favorite holiday: Christmas. All except for one, the Grinch. Living high up on Mt. Crumpit, the Grinch grumpily looks down on the Whos and hates everything about Christmas. Fed up with their Christmas cheer, the Grinch decides on Christmas Eve to steal Christmas and put an end to the holiday once and for all.
Disguising himself as Santa Claus and his dog, Max, as a reindeer, the Grinch travels down to Whoville. He begins sneakily stealing all the presents from every household. Once the Grinch succeeds, he officially believes he’s stopped Christmas. However, he then hears singing coming from the town square. It’s revealed that the Whos have all gathered to sing together despite not having any gifts. This causes the Grinch’s heart to grow three sizes that day as he learns that Christmas isn’t about gifts, but rather sharing it with those around you. This beloved story is available to watch on Peacock.
3. Frosty the Snowman
Another iconic animated Christmas character is the jolly Frosty the Snowman. After a magical top hat lands on top of a snowman named Frosty that a group of children built, the snowman is suddenly brought to life. Frosty and the children have a grand time together, until the magician who threw away the hat realizes it’s magic and aims to take it back. It’s then that the children make a plan to get Frosty to the North Pole to escape the magician and not melt away.
As one of the children, Karen, boards a train with Frosty to get to the North Pole, she begins to develop hypothermia from being in the refrigerated car. This causes Frosty and Karen to leave the train car to find warmth in a greenhouse nearby, but the magician catches them. He locks Frosty and Karen in the greenhouse, and Frosty tragically melts. Santa Claus appears afterwards and tells Karen that Frosty is made of magical snow, meaning he’ll come back to life and return every year on Christmas Day. This childhood treasure is available to watch on Hulu.
4. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
Gather around for more Christmas cheer in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas. This animated film plays out three separate tales, all relating to the holiday. The first one stars Donald Duck’s three nephews–Huey, Dewey, and Louie–as they relive Christmas Day over and over again. At first, they are overjoyed, but realize the same day will play out repeatedly. They then attempt to stop the time loop. The second tale centers on Goofy as he tries to get his son, Max, to keep believing in Santa Claus. To prove Santa is real, they stay up late to catch Santa. However, hilarity occurs as it often does with Goofy around.
The third tale features Micky and Minnie as they try to get each other a gift for Christmas. As they each try to gain enough money for a great gift, they are met with various setbacks. Despite their misfortunes, they both end up appreciating the effort they put into finding a gift for one another. This film is available to watch on Disney+.
5. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Rounding out the list is another Disney film, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. Set before the curse was broken, Belle is trying to celebrate Christmas at the castle with Beast and his anthropomorphic staff. Beast doesn’t like Christmas, so Belle attempts to get him in the holiday spirit. As this unfolds, it’s revealed that the castle’s music conductor (a man named Forte who was turned into a pipe organ) doesn’t want Beast to fall in love with Belle because then he wouldn’t want to hear Forte’s ominous music anymore. Forte begins sabotaging Beast’s budding friendship with Belle, unbeknownst to them.
Soon, Belle and Beast find out about Forte and attempt to stop him. Forte then tries to destroy the castle so that none of them will ever be human again. With the help of their friends, they defeat Forte, and Christmas is saved. This direct-to-video sequel is available to watch on Disney+.
The joy animated Christmas films bring
Animation is enjoyed across the board by all kinds of audiences, and even more so during holidays. These types of Christmas films can deliver wonderful messages through iconic characters, images, quotes, and good-spirited holiday cheer. They also allow us a walk down memory lane from our childhood. Adding these films to a holiday watch grants viewers the chance to get in a good Christmas mood and spread that cheer to everyone around them.
