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Best Animated Christmas Movies of All Time

Everybody loves a good animated movie. With Christmas around the corner, pay a tribute to some masterpiece story-telling. Following are the top picks for our Christmas holiday special feel good, family films.

Table of Contents

1. The Night Before Christmas

To start with the list, it’s only fair we start with the classic that is Tom and Jerry. This 1941 short film, is one of Tom and Jerry’s many great chases. A complete package with mousetraps, toys and candy, the movie will definitely take you back to your childhood. All about jumping and chasing around the Christmas tree and the gifts with a tinge of emotions of the Christmas feel. Earning the Academy Award nomination, it’s a fun watch of the ultimate pair.

2. Christmas Comes But Once A Year

This 1936 short film teaches everyone to be selfless. The film takes place in an orphanage with Professor Grampy playing the good Samaritan, making sure the children get their “once in a year” Christmas presents. A short animation of 8 mins, covering successfully the Christmas essence.

3. Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

This 1977 stop motion animation, revolves around Nestor, the outcast donkey with abnormally long ears. The film traces Nestor’s journey from pariah to hero through life’s ups and downs. Set in the Roman age and witnessing the birth of Jesus, the film showcases Nestor’s uniqueness as narrates Santa Claus’s donkey, Spieltoe.

4. The Little Match Girl

A short film with gorgeous animation and a beautiful angelic ending. This 1937 heart-breaking film is about a little girl who makes her living selling matchsticks. It is a reminder for everyone to be just a little bit kinder every day. Yes, it will leave with teary eyes in the end. All about dreams and hopes which everyone carries every Christmas, whether big or small, rich or poor.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton’s 1993 Classic celebrates Christmas in Halloween Town. This musical stop motion fantasy film proves to be quite the monstrous comedy. Coupling together Halloween and Christmas, as the two get along celebrating Christmas together. It has since then been re-released due to its fame and will always be a classic.

6. Santa and the Three Bears

This 1970 feature film is about two bear cubs who hear about Santa Claus from a park ranger and want to meet him, even if it means skipping hibernation, much to their mother’s dismay. Initially rejected by TV networks as the lack of a villain but later showed in theatre gathering the fame eventually and re-showcased on TV as a special.

7. Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a collection of Winnie The Pooh Stories? This 2002 Animation is set on Pooh and his friends reminiscing about their past adventures right down to their New Year goals. It features the Christmas television special, Winnie the Pooh and Christmas too as well as the new film released in 2002 Happy Pooh year.

8. The Polar Express (2004)

This 2004 movie is a beautiful rendition of Chris Van Allsburg’s book. The film revolves around Billy and his journey to the North Pole aboard the mysterious Polar Express. The film focuses on the values of selflessness, friendship, bravery and strengthens faith in the spirit of Christmas. One of Tom Hanks best animation.

9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

A true Christmas classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer needs no descriptions. The 1948 film about the bullied Reindeer who rises to the occasion and saves Christmas is, without a doubt, a must watch. A classic Christmas treat in the backdrop of Rudolf, adventuring through becoming one of Santa’s reindeer.

10. Jack Frost

Another Christmas classic, this 1979 love story revolves around the immortal winter sprite, Jack Frost who falls in love with a human girl and gives up everything to save her.

11. The Little Drummer Boy

Another Christmas special, this 1968 Stop motion animation delivers the message of faith, hope, and love through the touching story of a sad little boy and his significance in the birth of baby Jesus. A much-loved film which later came up with a sequel, in the year 1976.

12. A Charlie Brown Christmas

This 1965 Television ‘Peanuts Gang’ Classic looks at the true meaning of Christmas through the organization of a play directed by Charlie Brown himself. The short comic score received worldwide acclaim and has been broadcast every year during the Christmas week.

13. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1967)

A famous Dr. Suess Classic, This 1966 film evokes the true meaning of Christmas by thawing the heart of even the cynical Grinch who wanted to steal Christmas from the who’s of whosville. It earned its stand at No. 1, among the 10 best Holiday special family movies.

14. A Christmas Carol

Another Christmas classic is this 1971 adaptation of Charles Dickens novel. Based in London, the film revolves around old man Alistair, who is visited by ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, to remind him of faith and love.

15. Frosty’s Winter Wonderland

Everybody loves Frosty the Snowman. This 1976 TV special, features Frosty, his new wife Crystal and Jack Frost, dealing with issues of loneliness and jealousy to bring about a happy ending.

16. Mickey’s Christmas Carol

A Mickey Mouse retelling of Charles Dickens Novella, the Disney animation reminds us of the joys of Christmas when the spirits of Christmas visit Scrooge McDuck.

17. Frosty the Snowman

Based on the song, this 1969 TV special revolves around beloved and jolly Frosty the Snowman who travels to the North Pole to escape melting as the temperature starts to rise.

18. Arthur Christmas

This 2011 animation is a light-hearted family comedy that revolves around Santa’s misfit son who must save a little girl’s Christmas from a technical glitch, before its time! Highlighting, how important Christmas is for everybody!

19. Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July

This 1979 animation is a TV special wherein which our two favorite characters, Rudolph and Frosty are set against each other by the evil Winterbolt and must rise to the occasion to save Christmas.

20. The Grinch

A modern rendition of the 1967 film and 2000 film(the one where Jim Carrey starred in), this 2018 version has 3D computer animation features. The Grinch voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch is definitely a movie to go for. The Grinch is once again behind stealing Christmas from his neighbors of Whoville, this one is a Bang on!

Grossing the highest among all the ‘Grinch movies’, the film also earned many nominations in Guild awards, Critics Choice Awards, and Kid’s Choice Awards.

21. An all dogs Christmas carol

More famously, considered as the canine version of ‘A Christmas Carol’. The film focuses around the dogs, Itchy and Charlie who go on an adventure to save the Christmas from Scarface and a demon named Belladona, who are set to ruin it for all. A direct-to-video animation made for TV release.

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22. Annabelle’s wish

A young calf wishes to learn to fly and become one of Santa’s reindeer in this movie. A lovable film which was released to video and later broadcasted on TV and was pretty much loved by the kids making it one of the most popular films in the year 1997.

23. Bugs Bunny’s Christmas carol

Remember the Looney tunes show and the funniest Bugs Bunny? Who wouldn’t! This 8-minute animation, based on the Charles Dickens novella ‘A Christmas carol’, portrayed by the Looney tunes characters with Yosemite Sam playing Scrooge and Bugs bunny playing Jacob, Marley, and Fred. The short film was a part of the Bugs Bunny Looney Christmas tales.

24. A Christmas carol

The 2009, Disney film multi-starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge and the three ghosts. The film was praised for its visual effects but criticized for its dark tone. Receiving Kid’s Choice Awards for favorite voice (Carrey) and nominations for Best Animated film, A Christmas Carol is a well-crafted and touching movie.

25. A Christmas dream

Winning the Grand Prix International for Best Short film, A Christmas dream is a 1945 Czech film, about a rug doll who gets abandoned by her little girl owner for new toys that she got on Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the girl dreams about her old rug doll, dancing around to entertain her, eventually making her wake up and pick the doll from the ground where it was left. The film was considered extraordinarily magical and a classic of its genre.

26.Elf Bowling the movie: The great North pole elf strike

Based on the game of Elf Bowling, the film is about Santa and his brother Dingle engaged in a game of Elf bowling in order to save the Christmas and resume the distributing of gifts to children by Santa Claus. The film didn’t go all roses with the critics and audiences, who criticized it quite badly.

27. A Garfield Christmas

Well, its Garfield, the plump, cute and witty cat, who is out again to celebrate Christmas with Jon’s family at the farm. Not so excited about it, Garfield goes with a grin, later realizes the true meaning of Christmas, which is love and to be together.

28. Gift wrapped

Another of a Warner Bros Looney tunes cartoon. Sylvester is disappointed when he opens his Christmas gift, a rubber mouse. Looking out for a real treat, Sylvester eyes on Tweety and there goes another round of chase between them, with Tweety failing all of Sylvester’s tricks.

29. Mickey’s Once upon a Christmas

Three anthology styled videos, telling heartwarming stories of Christmas and it’s importance. A 1999, Walt Disney film multi-starring the epic characters of Disney, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Huey, Duey, Louie, Pete, Goofy, Uncle Scrooge and many more, all getting together to spread the beautiful message of Christmas.

30. Mickey’s twice upon a Christmas

This is the sequel to Mickey’s Once upon a Christmas released in the year 2004. The film tells five stories covering the theme of Christmas. Most of Disney’s characters presented the five segments of the film telling fun-filled stories. The production was a first in depiction with 3D computer animation.

31. A monster Christmas

A charming story about a family but failed little on the animation. The film tells about two detestable children who escape an evil scientist’s snare and lands up with a family of struggling father trying to mend his hassled family. Ray Liotta voices as the abominable father in the film.

32. The night before Christmas (1933)

A short animation by Walt Disney, originally a part of the Silly Symphony series and an adaptation of Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, A visit from St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is delivering toys made in Santa’s workshop, in a house full of sleeping kids. The toys come alive and dance around having all fun. The kids awake and merrily find a Christmas tree and gifts under it.

33. The night before Christmas (1951)

A love story of Vakula, a local witch’s son and Oksana. Vakula, on expressing his love for Oksana, is laughed upon and Oksana asks him to get her the Tzarina’s shoes. A Russian animated film, a remake to the 1913 movie.

34. Peace on Earth

Theming on a thought-provoking subject, the film is about a post-apocalyptic situation where no man is alive and the Earth inhabits only animals. Two squirrels ask their grandfather about the ‘men’ to which the grandfather squirrel then tells about the history of the Human race and how War wiped them all. The film was nominated for Nobel peace prize, which later got unlisted from the database somehow. It also earned a nomination in the Academy Award for Best Cartoon short.

35. Pluto’s Christmas tree

This jolly Disney short cartoon is about Mickey and Pluto’s Christmas arrangement. Mickey is out in search for a Christmas tree while Pluto is busy chasing around the chipmunk duo, Chip and Dale. Not realising Chip and Dale are hiding in that very Christmas tree, Mickey has chopped down, the film follows with Pluto chasing around the chipmunks finally ruining the tree. This Disney Cartoon features Donald, Goofy, and Minnie appearing a cameo in the end.

36. Rise of the Guardian

Santa Claus, Tooth fairy, Easter Bunny and Sandman, get together to stop Pitch black, who is out to engulf the world in darkness.

37 Rudolph: The red-nosed Reindeer, the movie

Rudolf, the red-nosed Reindeer is recreated from the 1939 film of the same name. About this ridiculed reindeer for his red shiny nose who journeys to the North pole in the quest to become one of Santa’s reindeer. The film was a disappointment though.

38. Sagan On Karl: Verrill Jonsons julafton

A touching story of a boy working in the Post office who steals Christmas gifts from the wealthy to give it to the poor. This 1975, Swedish film is still a highly acclaimed one, in Sweden, that it is broadcasted during Christmas Eve every year.

39. Saving Santa

An upbeat tale of the ultimate holiday rush, where Bernard, a low-ranking Elf, dreams of joining Santa’s team of great inventors. But when one of Bernard’s inventions accidentally reveals the secret location of Santa’s workshop to a billionaire scoundrel, Santa and Christmas itself are in jeopardy. Now all is in the hands of Bernard to save Santa and Christmas, just on time. A 2013, computer-animated tale full of action, fantasy and time-travel.

40. The Shanty where Santa Claus lives

A classic short film set in the period of the Great Depression, where Santa is homeless and looks for shelter in a shanty in Shantytown. On Christmas Eve, Santa is joined by a lonely boy who had been eagerly waiting for his Christmas gift which does not get delivered due to Santa’s condition. The film goes through the adventures of the boy and Santa, in his shanty.

41. The Star(2017)

A sweet tale of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of farm animals, Bo, a donkey, a dove named Dave and Ruth, the sheep who accompanies Mary and Joseph ultimately, till the birth of Jesus. The animated film was nominated for Best original song in the 75th Academy Awards.

42. Tokyo Godfathers

A Japanese animé film based on Peter B Kyne’s novel, Three Godfathers. On Christmas Eve, three homeless women are out to find an abandoned baby’s parents. As they journey towards their purpose, they have to fight off many hurdles. The film was acclaimed in Japan and received excellence award at the Japanese Media Arts Festival and won Best animation film at the Mainichi Film Awards.

43. Toy Tinkers

This is a fun-filled short animated film by Warner Bros centre staging the adorable duo, Chip and Dale. It’s Christmas time and playful Chip-Dale are stealing nuts from Donald duck’s home using toy weapons. The cute combat between Donald and chipmunk duo is a fun watch. The short was nominated at the Academy’s for Best animated short film in 1950.