Christmas is a special time of year, whether you celebrate it or not. A huge part of the holiday season is watching classic and festive Christmas movies, which always manage to instill feelings of joy and happiness. If you’re looking for something new and exciting this Christmas season, how about considering animated Christmas movies?
Whether you’re looking for something to watch with the family, or something fun and lighthearted, these animated movies are sure to bring fun and cheer during the holiday season. Here are 10 of the best animated Christmas movies you should watch.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a 1965 animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. The movie features beloved Peanuts characters like Charlie Brown, who becomes discouraged and depressed after trying to organize the gang’s Christmas pageant. With the help of his friends, and Linus’s famous words from the Bible, Charlie Brown is eventually able to find Christmas’s real meaning.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a 1966 animated television special based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. The movie follows the Grinch, a creature with a heart “two sizes too small”, as he hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas by stealing all the presents and decorations.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the longest-running Christmas TV special of all times, having been aired continuously in the United States since it premiered in 1964. The movie follows the story of Rudolph, an outsider among Santa’s reindeer, and his quest to find acceptance among his peers and make it back in time for Christmas.
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snowman is a 1969 animated musical television special that follows the story of a magical snowman who comes to life with the help of a magical hat. He soon embarks on an exciting adventure with some children, who help him outrun an evil magician before Christmas Day.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 film that mixes both Halloween and Christmas themes together. The movie follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he gets bored of the usual Halloween hijinks and discovers the wonders of Christmas. It takes an exciting and slightly darker twist on the classic holiday movie.
The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus is a 1974 television special based on the book of the same name by Phyllis McGinley. The movie follows Santa Claus as he has a bad cold on the verge of Christmas and decides to take a holiday. His two elves, Jingle and Jangle, set off to get people to believe in him again so his holiday spirit can be restored.
Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas is an 2011 animated movie that tells the story of Arthur, the younger son of Santa. As the older brother, Steve, takes over most of the Christmas preparations and efficiency of their operations, Arthur embarks on a mission to deliver a forgotten present to a young girl before it’s too late.
Shrek the Halls
Shrek the Halls is a 2007 television special that follows the original Shrek protagonist, as he tries to celebrate a perfect Christmas with his family. When they are distracted by their holiday plans and activities, Shrek decides to take matters into his own hands and organizes a special Christmas surprise for everyone.
The Polar Express
The Polar Express is a 2004 animated movie based on the children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. The movie follows a young boy as he takes a mysterious train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, where he embarks on a journey to discover the truth about faith, friendship and the magic of believing in the unseen.
Rise of the Guardians
Rise of the Guardians is a 2012 movie that follows the Guardians, a group of mythical heroes like the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and Jack Frost, as they work together to save the world from the evil spirit, Pitch. They’ll have to band together just in time for the Christmas season, to make sure everyone’s holiday is filled with joy and magic.
These animated Christmas movies are sure to bring some extra holiday cheer into your home. Whether it’s a beloved classic like Rudolph, or a fresh new movie like Arthur Christmas and Rise of the Guardians, these animated stories are sure to bring an extra dose of Christmas magic into your home. Enjoy these 10 animated Christmas movies with your family and spread some much needed joy during this special time of year.