There are many beloved classic animated holiday films. A personal favorite is A Charlie Brown Christmas. But with a 30-minute runtime, it scales high on the existential crisis of being and low on wintertime adventure. Still, it’s a favorite because Seasonal Affective Disorder is real, and our good man Charlie Brown shows us how to push through. It’s a great life lesson.
But I’m not here to talk about my love for the Peanuts gang. With a 55-year history of annual Christmas television fare, it’s well cemented as a classic, classic. Let’s talk about newer animated holiday films that have become a part of our yearly viewing traditions. I’m sure you have your own list, and I’d love for you to leave a comment down below letting me know which movies are on it.
I will watch a myriad of old and new holiday movies and television specials this year, as I do every year. And I expect much of these holiday movies will be forgettable. But every once in a while, a movie comes along with the right amount of adventure and Christmas cheer. It hooks your heart. And December will never be the same without it. For me, two movies fit the bill Rise of the Guardians and Klaus.
Rise of the Guardians
Rise of the Guardians premiered at the end of 2012. But I don’t remember that. In December of 2014, my younger sister put this on for us to watch as we made sugar cookies. And I was blown away. How did I not know about this movie that teams up Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and Jack Frost against the Bogeyman? Actually, there’s a great article on Vulture that answers this question. But I digress.
The characters are true to their mythical origins with some welcome twists. Bunny, as he’s known to his friends, is a very tall Australian who doesn’t care for Santa Claus’ sense of self-importance. Santa Claus goes by the name North, has tattoos, and more than just elves for helpers. The story is a little dark, a lot heartfelt, and beautifully animated. Oh, and it’s fun to guess all the famous actors behind the mythical characters.
Available to stream on HBO Max.
Klaus
Klaus is an Academy Award-nominated Netflix Original from last year. At the start of the movie, we follow along as an entitled young man, Jesper, is exiled posted to a small town on a remote island as the new mailman. Jesper is introduced to the generations-long Hatfield and McCoy like feud of the local Ellingboe and Krum families immediately on arrival. Smeerensburg is bleak, and the people are cruel. Children don’t go to school and cannot read or write. Tough luck for a mailman that needs to stamp and post 6,000 letters within a year if he ever wants to return home. But fear not, serendipity and an old woodsman are on his side.
If you haven’t watched Klaus, I urge you to do so now. I can’t say enough good things about it, and yet I hesitate to say anything at all. An instant classic; it has all the elements of Christmas. It’s funny and poignant – it’s pure magic.
Available to stream on Netflix.
One Last Thing Before You Go...
Did you really think I’d send you on your way without telling you where to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas? I wouldn’t do that. I’m sure you know the special has traditionally aired on ABC. But Apple recently acquired the Peanuts holiday specials for their streaming service Apple TV+. The idea of the holidays without The Peanuts gang on broadcast TV did not sit well with some folks. And so, Apple has agreed for PBS to air the special on December 13th this year too.
