35 Best Animated Christmas Movies to Watch This Holiday Season

The holiday season is the perfect time to dive into the magical world of animated Christmas movies. From heartwarming tales of friendship and family to whimsical adventures filled with holiday cheer, animated films bring the spirit of the season to life in a way that captivates viewers of all ages.

Whether you’re revisiting timeless classics, discovering modern masterpieces, or introducing your little ones to your childhood favorites, there’s no shortage of animated gems to light up your holiday movie nights. These films transport us to snowy wonderlands, bustling toy shops, and cozy hearths, all while reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Here’s a roundup of the best animated Christmas movies to watch this holiday season, perfect for creating lasting memories with family and friends.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Ed Ivory
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+

The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the “real world.” When Jack accidentally stumbles on Christmastown, all bright colors and warm spirits, he gets a new lease on life — he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over the role. But Jack soon discovers even the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go seriously awry.

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Director: Sarah Smith
Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen
Watch On: fuboTV, Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Tubi TV

The film centres on Arthur, the youngest son of Santa Claus, who discovers that his father’s high-tech ship has failed to deliver one girl’s present. Accompanied only by his grandfather, a Christmas elf and a team of reindeer, he embarks on a mission to deliver the girl’s present personally in the early morning hours of Christmas Day before sunrise.

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Director: Chuck Jones, Ben Washam
Starring: Boris Karloff, June Foray, Thurl Ravenscroft, Dallas McKennon
Watch On: Peacock Premium, NBC, USA Network

How The Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the best classic animated Christmas movies ever. A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Director: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman
Starring: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Tracy Stratford, Sally Dryer
Watch On: Apple TV Plus, fuboTV, Amazon

Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy’s advice and directs the Christmas play. And what’s a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back – until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again.

[Also Read: 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time]

Klaus (2019)

Director: Sergio Pablos
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack
Watch On: Netflix

A selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker form an unlikely friendship, delivering joy to a cold, dark town that desperately needs it.

It is one of the best animated Christmas movies on Netflix to watch this holiday with your friends nad family.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Director: Maury Laws, Larry Roemer
Starring: Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann, Billie Mae Richards, Paul Soles
Watch On: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

A young reindeer Rudolph lives at the North Pole. His father is one of Santa’s reindeer and it is expected that Rudolph will eventually be one too. However, he has a feature which is a setback and causes him to be ostracized: his red nose.

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

Director: Satoshi Kon
Starring: Tōru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki, Aya Okamoto
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Freevee

Christmas in Tokyo, Japan. Three homeless friends: a young girl, a trans woman, and a middle-aged bum. While foraging through some trash, they find an abandoned newborn. Hana, the trans woman with frustrated dreams of being a mother, convinces the others to keep it overnight. The next day, using a key found with the baby, they start tracking down the parents, with many adventures along the way.

It is one of the best animated classic Christmas movies which was inspired by the 1948 American film 3 Godfathers to make the film. Unlike Kon’s other films, Tokyo Godfathers is grounded more in realism. However, as is typical of Kon’s work, the film includes devices that are not straightforward, and Kon himself called it a twisted sentimental story.

A Christmas Carol (1971)

Director: Richard Williams
Starring: Alastair Sim, Michael Hordern, Diana Quick, Joan Sims
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi TV, Hoopla

In London, 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come to teach him the true spirit of the season. This adaptation includes scenes of miners and sailors singing carols that were left out in previous adaptations.

Rise Of The Guardians (2012)

Director: Peter Ramsey
Starring: Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, JioCinema

When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imaginations of children all over the world.

It is based on William Joyce’s book series The Guardians of Childhood and the short film The Man in the Moon. 

The Polar Express (2004)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari
Watch On: Hulu, Max, Max Amazon Channel

 Set on Christmas Eve, it tells the story of a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas.

The Snowman (1982)

Director: Dianne Jackson
Starring: Raymond Briggs, David Bowie
Watch On: VUDU Free, Pluto TV

A young boy makes a snowman one Christmas Eve, which comes to life at midnight and takes him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.

That Christmas (2024)

Age rating: PG
Director: Simon Otto
Starring: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Bill Nighy
Watch On: Netflix

The film follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys!

An Almost Christmas Story (2024)

Director: David Lowery
Starring: Cary Christopher, Estella Madrigal, Jim Gaffigan, Mamoudou Athie, Alex Ross Perry, Gianna Joseph, Phil Rosenthal, Natasha Lyonne, John C. Reilly
Available on: Disney+

Moon, a curious young owl, unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna, and together, they must find a way to reunite with their parents.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)

Director: Scott Mosier, Yarrow Cheney
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Angela Lansbury, Pharrell Williams
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

The plot follows the Grinch and his pet dog Max who plan to stop Whoville’s Christmas celebration by stealing all the town’s decorations and gifts.

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)

Director: Ken Cunningham
Starring: Helen Sadler, Omar Miller, Jake Green, Kelly Marie Tran, Matt Sloan, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Trevor Devall, Matthew Wood, Eric Bauza, Tom Kane
Watch On: Disney Plus

Rey leaves her friends to prepare for Life Day as she sets off on an adventure to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force. At a mysterious temple, she is hurled into a cross-timeline adventure. Will she make it back in time for Life Day?

Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2021)

Director: Steve Cox
Starring: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Kate Harbour, Laura Aikman, Marcus Brigstocke, Anna Leong Brophy
Watch On: Netflix

With Christmas just around the corner at Mossy Bottom Farm, young Timmy goes missing after a botched attempt to get roomier stockings for the flock. Shaun embarks on a dangerous rescue mission to get his little cousin back and save Christmas.

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Director: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Starring: Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon, Paul Frees, June Foray
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, fuboTV

A discarded silk top-hat becomes the focus of a struggle between a washed-up stage magician and a group of schoolchildren, after it magically brings a snowman to life. Realizing that newly-living Frosty will melt in spring unless he takes refuge in a colder climate, Frosty and Karen, a young girl who he befriends, stow away on a freight train headed for the north pole. Little do they know that the magician is following them, and he wants his hat back!

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes
Watch On: Disney Plus, TNT, TBS

Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.

It is based on Charles Dickens’s 1843 novel of the same name. The film was animated through the process of motion capture, a technique used in ImageMovers’s previous animated films including The Polar Express (2004), Monster House (2006), and Beowulf (2007).

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

Director: Burny Mattinson
Starring: Alan Young, Wayne Allwine, Hal Smith, Will Ryan, Clarence Nash, Eddie Carroll, Patricia Parris, Dick Billingsley
Watch On: Disney Plus

Ebenezer Scrooge is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some new found friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. A retelling of the classic Dickens tale with Disney’s classic characters.

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)

Director: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Starring: Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Robie Lester, Joan Gardner, and Paul Frees,
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, fuboTV, Freeform

The film tells the story of how Santa Claus and several Claus-related Christmas traditions came to be. It is based on the hit Christmas song, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”, which was written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie for Leo Feist, Inc. and introduced on radio by Eddie Cantor in 1934; and the story of Saint Nicholas.

Angela’s Christmas (2017)

Director: Damien O’Connor
Starring: Malachy McCourt, Ruth Negga, Lucy O’Connell
Watch On: Netflix

The plot is based on the children’s story from Pulitzer Prize winning Irish author Frank McCourt, and is set in Limerick, Ireland in the 1910s. The story revolves around Angela’s (Lucy O’Connell) desire to make sure everyone is having a great Christmas.

[Related Content: 49 Best Christmas Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now]

Frozen (2013)

Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana
Watch On: Disney+, Apple TV

Fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.

Robin Robin (2021)

Director: Dan Ojari, Mikey Please
Starring: Bronte Carmichael, Richard E. Grant, Gillian Anderson, Adeel Akhtar
Watch On: Netflix 

When a robin grows up raised by a family of mice, her differences become more apparent every time they try to sneak into a Who-Man’s house. Now, she sets off on a daring heist to steal a shiny star and to prove to her family, and a malicious cat, that she can be a really good mouse.

The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974)

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn and George S. Irving
Watch On:  AMC+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Mrs. Claus tells us about the time Santa had a bad cold and decided to take a vacation from Christmas. Two of his elves, Jingle and Jangle Bells, decided to go out with Vixen to find children to convince Santa that the Christmas spirit is still important to everybody else. But they must get past Heat Miser and Snow Miser before they land in Southtown, USA, where it never snows for Christmas. Heat and Snow can’t agree to let this change, but Mrs. Claus knows their mother, Mother Nature.

All I Want for Christmas Is You (2017)

Director: Guy Vasilovich
Starring: Mariah Carey, Breanna Yde, Henry Winkler, Lacey Chabert
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Freeform

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is based on her iconic Christmas song, this film features Mariah Carey’s music and narration in a loving story about little Mariah’s Christmas wish for a puppy.

Prep & Landing (2009)

Director: Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers-Skelton
Starring: Dave Foley, Derek Richardson, Sarah Chalke
Watch On: Disney+

Wayne gets a new rookie partner, Lanny, after his previous partner got the promotion he wanted. Lanny has to remind Wayne of the Spirit of Christmas and the importance of being an elf in Santa’s Prep and Landing elite unit.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)

Director: Alex Mann, Bradley Raymond, Jun Falkenstein, Bill Speers, Toby Shelton
Starring: Wayne Allwine, Russi Taylor, Tony Anselmo, Diane Michelle, Tress MacNeille, Alan Young, Bill Farmer, Corey Burton, Shaun Fleming, Jim Cummings, Jeff Bennett, Gregg Berger, Kylie Dempsey, Taylor Dempsey, Andrew McDonaugh, Pat Musick, Frank Welker, Mae Whitman, April Winchell
Watch On: Disney Plus

Mickey and his friends tell three stories including A Very Goofy Christmas and Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi. It also has a sequel, titled Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas released on 2004

The Small One (1978)

Director: Don Bluth
Starring: Sean Marshall, William Woodson, Olan Soule, Hal Smith, Joe Higgins, Gordon Jump
Watch On: Disney Plus

Ordered by his father to sell his old, small donkey, Small One, a Hebrew boy in ancient Israel takes the donkey to the Jerusalem market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give up when he meets a kind man named Joseph. Joseph buys Small One and uses him to take his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem.

The Little Drummer Boy (1968)

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Teddy Eccles, Jose Ferrer, Paul Frees, June Foray
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Freeform

After being kidnapped and escaping, young drummer boy Aaron searches for his camel and finds him in the Nativity of the Baby Jesus. Aaron gives Baby Jesus the only gift he has, a song on his drum.

Santa’s Apprentice (2010)

Director: Luc Vinciguerra
Starring: Nathan Simony, Benoît Allemane
Watch On: Starz Apple TV

Santa doesn’t want to retire, but rules are rules and he must train someone to replace him. The lucky winner, to be chosen from among millions of children, must be named Nicholas, be an orphan and have a pure heart. On the other side of the planet, there is a little boy who is a perfect match, but his lack of self-confidence and fear of heights make him a poor contestant. Will Santa agree to step down, and help his apprentice take his place?

The Snowy Day (2016)

Director: Jamie Badminton, Rufus Blacklock
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Donielle T. Hansley Jr., Regina King
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

Based on the award-winning book by Ezra Jack Keats. Peter goes on a magical, snowy walk to his Nana’s house to bring home their Christmas Eve dinner.

Annabelle’s Wish (1997)

Director: Roy Wilson
Starring: Kath Soucie, Randy Travis, Cloris Leachman, Jerry Van Dyke, Jim Varney, Rue McClanahan
Watch On: Amazon Prime Video

Annabelle – a calf who has a special wish for Christmas – wants to be a reindeer and help Santa Claus drive his sleigh as he delivers his presents! Annabelle’s friends tell her not to get her hopes up, but to everyone’s surprise, Santa does indeed meet up with Annabelle, and the calf gets to help Santa make the holiday special for one young boy.

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)

Director: Stephen Donnelly
Starring: Luke Evans, Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Jonathan Pryce, Johnny Flynn, James Cosmo, Trevor Dion Nicholas
Watch on: Netflix

On a cold Christmas Eve, selfish miser Ebenezer Scrooge has one night left to face his past — and change the future — before time runs out.

Trolls Holiday Special (2017)

Director: Joel Crawford
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, James Corden, Ron Funches, Kunal Nayyar, Icona Pop, Kevin Michael Richardson, Walt Dohrn
Watch On: Netflix

When the Queen of the Trolls, Poppy, finds out that the Bergens do not have holidays, she enlists help from her friends, Branch and the Snack Pack, to help her bring holidays to the Bergens.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (2000)

Director: Phil Roman
Starring: Elmo Shropshire, Michele Lee, Alex Doduk, Susan Blu, Cam Clarke, Christopher Gaze, Phil Hayes, Scott McNeil, Pauline Newstone, Maggie Blue O’Hara, Venus Terzo, Jim Fisher, Jim Staahl, Kathleen Barr
Watch On: fuboTV, Amazon

As if young Jake Spankenheimer doesn’t have enough problems on Christmas Eve, he must help his mom and dad prevent mean-spirited Cousin Mel from taking ownership of the family store. When his grandmother gets lost in the cold in the midst of the confusion, Jake is sent out to find her, only to discover that she’s become the victim of a rather unusual hit-and-run accident, and that Santa is real but not quite the sort of guy he was expecting.

List of Best Animated Christmas Movies to Watch This Holiday Season

Here are the best animated Christmas movies to watch this season (best animated holiday movies to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Tubi TV, etc.

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Arthur Christmas (2011)
• Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Klaus (2019)
• Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
• Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
• A Christmas Carol (1971)
• Rise Of The Guardians (2012)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• The Snowman (1982)
• That Christmas (2024)
• An Almost Christmas Story (2024)
• The Grinch (2018)
• LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)
• Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2021)
• Frosty The Snowman (1969)
• A Christmas Carol (2009)
• Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)
• Angela’s Christmas (2017)
• Frozen (2013)
• Robin Robin (2021)
• The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974)
• All I Want for Christmas Is You (2017)
• Prep & Landing (2009)
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
• The Small One (1978)
• A Garfield Christmas (1987)
• The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
• Santa’s Apprentice (2010)
• The Snowy Day (2016)
• Duck the Halls (2016)
• Annabelle’s Wish (1997)
• Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)
• Trolls Holiday Special (2017)
• Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (2000)
• The Elf On The Shelf Presents: An Elf’s Story (2011)
• Thomas and Friends: The Christmas Engines (2014)
• Olivia: Merry Christmas, Olivia (2010)
• Smallfoot (2018)
• The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023)
• Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)
• Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer (2018)
• Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
• A Trash Truck Christmas (2020)
• The Star (2017)
• Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (2009)
• Spirit Riding Free: Spirit of Christmas (2019)
• How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)
• Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011)
• DreamWorks’ Home for the Holidays (2017)
• Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
• If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie (2016)
• Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
• Alien Xmas (2020)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023)
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
• Mickey Saves Christmas (2022)