Animated Christmas Specials

 

 

 

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

 

.A CHRISTMAS CAROL  (Richard Williams Productions, 1971)  Animation masters Richard Williams and Chuck Jones co-produced this Oscar-winning piece of the classic holiday tale.  This compelling version of Charles Dickens' masterpiece retells the familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Alastair Sim), the misterly merchant who doesn't make merry at Christmas.  One Christmas Eve in 1843 he is visited by the ghost of Christmas past, present and future, who persuade him to change his stingy ways.  The lovable cast of kindly Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the rest all appear in this heart-warming classic.  Narrated by Michael Redgrave.

 

COSMIC CHRISTMAS  (Nelvana, 1977)  An animated film in which a town rediscovers the real spirit of Christmas, thanks to three visitors from outer space and a little boy named Peter.  Commercialism and greed seem to contradict the meaning of Christmas, and when Peter's pet goose is kidnapped, things look even worse.  An exciting rescue results in a new sense of caring and sharing.  One of Nelvana's first animated specials.

 

Dr. Suess' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!

 

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN 

 

MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL  (Walt Disney Productions, 1983

 

MISTER MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL  (UPA Pictures, 1962)

 

RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

 

THE SMALL ONE  (Walt Disney Productions, 1978)

 

THE SNOWMAN  (TVC/Channel 4/Snowman Enterprises Ltd., 1982) 

 

THE CABBAGE PATCH KIDS FIRST CHRISTMAS  (Ruby-Spears Enterprises, 1984)

 

THE CHRISTMAS RACCOONS  (Pooled Film Services, 1980)

 

IT'S CHRISTMASTIME AGAIN, CHARLIE BROWN  (Charles Schulz/Mendelson-Melendez/UFS, 1992)

 

.Will Vinton's CLAYMATION CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION  (Will Vinton Productions, 1987)

 

.A GARFIELD CHRISTMAS SPECIAL  (Jim Davis/Film Roman/UFS, 1987)

 

Raggedy Ann & Andy in THE GREAT SANTA CLAUS CAPER  (Chuck Jones Enterprises/Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1978)

 

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY  (Rankin-Bass/Videocraft International, Ltd., 1968)

 

SANTA AND THE THREE BEARS  (Tony Benedict Productions, 1969)

 

.SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN  (Rankin-Bass/Videocraft International, Ltd., 1970)

 

.'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS  (Rankin-Bass Productions, 1974)

 

A WISH FOR WINGS THAT WORK  (Berkeley Breathed/Amblin Entertainment/Universal, 1991)

 

.YOGI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS  (Hanna-Barbera Productions, 1980)

 

BABAR AND FATHER CHRISTMAS  (MTR Ottawa Productions Ltd./Atkinson Film-Arts, 1985)  King Babar's children in Celesteville hear of the wonderful Father Christmas who brings toys to all the children in Man Country on Christmas Eve.  The children write a letter to Father Christmas in the hopes of inviting him to Celesteville but when their letter goes astray, King Babar goes into Man Country to search for him personally...  Based on the book by Jean de Brunhoff.

 

Ted E. Bear in THE BEAR WHO SLEPT THROUGH CHRISTMAS  (DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Inc./Sed-Bar Productions, 1973) Ted E. Bear is eager to find out about Christmas while the other bears get ready for hibernation.

 

CHRISTMAS COMES TO PAC-LAND  (Hanna-Barbera Productions, 1982) 

 

THE FAT ALBERT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL  (Bill Cosby/Filmation Associates, 1977)  In another part of Philly, the Cosby Kids are rehearsing for a Christmas pageant at their junkyard clubhouse, which Tyrone, the mean old junkyard owner, is fixin' to tear down.  That's when Marshall & his parents show up.  With their car broken down, Marshall's mom is about to have a baby and his dad, without health insurance, inspires the gang to invite them in the clubhouse for shelter.  Tyrone agrees to let them stay until the baby is born, in exchange for Fat Albert working for him as a sidewalk Santa.  "Ho-ho-ho's" in Fat Albert fashion ensue.

 

GEORGE AND THE CHRISTMAS STAR  (Potterton Productions/Canadian International Studios (C.I.S.) Inc., 1985)  From the director of "Heavy Metal", Gerald Potterton, comes this holiday classic (based on a segment in the National Film Board of Canada film "Christmas Cracker" ).  George discovers that his Christmas tree lacks a brilliant star, so he puts together a spacecraft and leaves his planet in search of one.  Featuring songs written by Paul Anka.

 

.THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS  (Rankin-Bass Productions, 1985)  The Great Ak calls a council of the Immortals to ask that Santa Claus be given immortality.  And to justify it, he tells the history of Santa Claus.  The Ak found an abandoned baby and gave it to a lioness and a fairy to raise, who named him Claus.  When Claus grew up, the Great Ak showed him the evil and hardship in world and Claus decides to live there and relieve some of the suffering.  He decides to make toys for orphans, but King Agua, the ruler of the valley where Claus lives doesn't want the chidren to be happy. and there is a great battle among Immortals. The last Animagic special produced by Rankin-Bass.

 

The Pink Panther in A PINK CHRISTMAS  (Mirisch/Geoffrey/DePatie-Freleng/United Artists, 1978)

 

THE SMURFS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL  (Hanna-Barbera Productions/SEPP International, S.A., 1982)  Based on the popular series created by Peyo.

 

.A VERY MERRY CRICKET  (Chuck Jones Enterprises, 1973)  Featuring the voice of voiceman extraordinaire Mel Blanc, this holiday tale (a follow-up to the popular A CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE) is filled with fun and "human" interest, as the characters created by children's author George Selden continue their merry adventures.  This time around, Chester the cricket is back in New York to spend Christmas with his friends Harry the cat and Tucker the mouse.  The hustling, bustling, sometimes unfeeling city learns a little about the power of Christmas and honest simplicity, especially when this visiting country cricket stops traffic in its tracks with a haunting rendition of "Silent Night" played on his wings Seasonal warmth is the order of the day, along with loads of goofy fun.  It's a short, sweet little feature, and since it's directed by Looney Tunes maestro Chuck Jones, there is more than enough subtle satire to keep the cynics satisfied as everyone else gets misty in the eye over the power of the season.

 

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WITH BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD  (MTV, 1993)  Beavis & Butt-head watch the Yule Log on TV and decide that Christmas is cool.

 

YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS  (Wolper Productions, 1974)  Partly based on a true story, a little girl writes to the editor of a newspaper concerning the existence of Santa Claus.

 

.YOGI BEAR'S ALL-STAR COMEDY CHRISTMAS CAPER  (Hanna Barbera Productions, 1982)  Yogi escapes from Jellystone Park and poses as a store Santa, helping a little girl restore her faith in the meaning of Christmas.

 

BUGS BUNNY'S LOONEY CHRISTMAS TALES  (Warner Bros., 1979)

 

.A CHRISTMAS STORY  (Hanna-Barbera Productions, 1971)

 

.A FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS  (Hanna-Barbera Productions, 1977)

 

.FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND  (Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc., 1976)

 

.JACK FROST  (Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc., 1979)

 

.THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY BOOK II  (Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc., 1976)

 

NESTOR, THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY  (Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc., 1977)

 

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS  (ELBA Productions, 1968)

 

THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN  (Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc., 1978)

 

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE SMURFY  (Hanna-Barbera Productions/SEPP International, S.A., 1987)

 

.A BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD CHRISTMAS  (MTV Networks, 1995)

 

.EMMET OTTER'S JUG BAND CHRISTMAS  (Jim Henson Associates, 1977)

 

.FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE:  THE BESTEST PRESENT  (Lynn Johnston/Atkinson Film-Arts/Animated Investments, Inc., 1985)

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CHARLIE BROWN  (Charles Schulz/Mendelson/Melendez/United Features Syndicate, 1985)

 

.HE-MAN AND SHE-RA: A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL  (Filmation Associates, 1985)

 

.MR. BILL'S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL  (Walter Wiliams/Dreamsite Productions, 1996

 

A MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS  (Jim Henson Company, 1987)

 

.RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR  (Rankin/Bass Productions, 1976)

 

SANTA BABY!  (Perisphere Pictures/Rankin/Bass, 2001)

 

.THE TROLLS AND THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS  (Titlecraft/Atkinson Film-Arts/Pooled Film Services, 1980)

 

THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS  (Rankin/Bass Productions, 1974)