Best Christmas Holiday Television Cartoons

The Top 10 You Must Watch

Robin Vinci
Robin Vinci, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Oct 25, 2010 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
There are many great cartoons for the holidays. But, which ones are must watch? Here is the Top 10.
  1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - This is the cream of the crop. The story was created by Robert L. May in 1939. The reindeer, we all know and love, made his television debut on NBC in 1964, when Rankin/Bass produced a stop-motion animated TV special. It features great characters such as Yukon Cornelius, Clarice, Hermey and the Abominable Snowman. Santa Claus is also in it although he is not portrayed very well in the beginning. It is an hour long.
  2. How The Grinch Stole Christmas! - This cartoon is 26-30 minutes long andis a 1966Americananimatedtelevision special directed by Chuck Jones. It is based on the homonymous children's book by Dr. Seuss. Boris Karloff narrates the film and also provides the speaking voice of The Grinch. It starts off that the Grinch is quite mean and steals Christmas, but then again maybe his heart needs to just grow a few sizes.
  3. A Charlie Brown Christmas - debuted to top ratings in December 1965. it was an instant hit. It focuses on Charlie Brown being tired of a commercialized Christmas. Through a puny Christmas tree, Charlie Brown helps us see the true spirit of the holiday. A Charles Schulz classic.
  4. Shrek The Halls - A fairly new Christmas cartoon sure to be a classic. The 2007 animation is set after Shrek the Third as Shrek, Fiona and the kids prepare for their first Christmas together as a family. Shrek doesn't know what Christmas is all about. Or does he?
  5. Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol - is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous short story A Christmas Carol. It was the first animated holiday special ever produced specifically for television in 1964. A unique version of the classic that is a must see.
  6. Frosty the Snowman - In 1969, the Rankin-Bass company produced the 30-minute animated television special that featured the voices of comedians Jimmy Durante as narrator and Jackie Vernon as the title character. This was a story based on the discovery of Frosty the Snowman.
  7. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town -It is a 1970 television special, made by Rankin-Bass starring actor Fred Astaire as S.D. Kluger, the narrator, and Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus. The film tells the story of how Santa Claus came about as well as several of his traditions. It is quite cute.
  8. The Little Drummer Boy - This is probably the most religious of all the cartoons on this list, but it is a great story. It is another Rankin and Bass Classic from 1968. It is very sad and a real tear-jerker.
  9. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Letters addressed to Santa Claus from the town of Junctionville are returned because of a letter denouncing Saint Nick as a myth. Another Rankin and Bass this is from 1974.
  10. Year Without a Santa Claus - Yes, A Rankin and Bass 1974 cartoon. Mrs. Claus tells the tale of when Santa felt that the world lost the Christmas spirit. Santa takes a vacation from Christmas because he thinks that no one cares.

Published by Robin Vinci

A full-time news reporter for 17 years. I have won over 20 different journalism awards in CT-SPJ and NEPA including investigative reporting, sports, columns and news. I recently opened my own business sellin...  View profile

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted to top ratings in December 1965.

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