Andrew's Corner: Top 10 Best Animated Christmas Specials

In memory of Carroll Spinney, the original voice actor and puppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street.
Christmastime is here again in most countries, and instead of reviewing another Christmas movie, I decided to do my Top 10 Best Animated Christmas Specials. However I have made some rules.
1. It has to be at least 21 minutes long.
2. TV shows with a format of one 22 minute story per episode is prohibited, so episodes of The Simpsons, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, and Danny Phantom will not be included.
3. For the sake of my blog, the special has to be family-friendly.
As a bonus, at the end of this countdown, I will also include links to purchase these specials on Amazon or eBay.
Anyway, let's get down to my Top 10 Best Animated Christmas Specials!
10. Annabelle's Wish (1997)

I know this is kind of cheating, since this is technically a direct-to-video movie, but Annabelle’s Wish is a favorite of my mom’s. Anyway, this hour-long special is about a calf named Annnabelle, who was born on Christmas Eve. She, along with other animals on Charles Barker’s farm, was granted the ability to talk, but only for one day. Annabelle befriends Barker’s son Billy, who lost his hearing when the barn was set on fire years ago. Annabelle personally wishes to become a flying reindeer, but when Billy’s Aunt Agnes threatens to adopt him from Charles Barker the next year, it’s up to Annabelle to make the ultimate decision.

Annabelle’s Wish is a charming and overlooked Christmas tale with impressive animation, a heartfelt story, likable characters, and an impressive voice cast including Jerry Van Dyke, Kath Soucie, Cloris Leachman, and the late Jim Varney.

9. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town! (1970)

To be completely honest, I'm not that fond of the stop-motion Rankin-Bass Christmas specials as other people are. However, one special has stuck out to me ever since I was a little boy: Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town! This hour-long special answers many questions that kids may have about old Saint Nick: Why does Santa Claus live in the North Pole? Why does he go down the chimney? How are his reindeer capable of flying? Well, in this beloved Christmas classic, there was a gloomy Northern village called Sombertown, ruled by the evil toy-hating Burgermeister Meisterburger. When Meisterburger comes across a baby on his doorstep, he orders his law keeper Grimsley to take the baby to the orphan asylum. Thankfully, the woodland animals take him to a family of elves. When Tanta Kringle sees the baby, she names him Kris and raises him to make toys. When he is old enough, Kris Kringle decides to go on a quest to deliver toys to Sombertown. During his adventure, he meets a penguin named Topper, the not-as-evil Winter Warlock, and peasant woman and school teacher Miss Jessica. While the animation may not live up to Aardman or Laika standards, this TV special makes up for it with memorable songs, likable characters, a decent story, and an overall message that being happy and selfless like Santa Claus can make the world a better place.
8. Billy and Mandy Save Christmas (2005)

Image result for Billy & Mandy Save Christmas

While on a trip to the North Pole to prove that Santa Claus does exist, Billy, Mandy, and Grim discover that Santa Claus has been turned into a vampire! Now the unlikely trio has to kill the Head Vampire and find a way to turn Santa back to normal in order to save Christmas.
Billy and Mandy Save Christmas is not only a hilarious episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, but it's also a really good Christmas special with guest voices Carol Kane as Mrs. Claus, Malcom McDowell as Baron Von Ghoulish (a vampire who isn't as threatening as he seems), and Gilbert Gottfried as Santa Claus.

Santa after being turned into a vampire.

However, I do have a warning to those parents out there reading this countdown: Billy and Mandy can have a sick sense of humor reminiscent of Ren and Stimpy and The Simpsons. If I were you, I'd read this review of the show on Common Sense Media.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-grim-adventures-of-billy-and-mandy

7. Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011)

Each Winter, the Vikings of Berke celebrate Snoggletog, a holiday similar to Christmas. This year, the Berkians celebrate Snoggletog with Dragons, who were once their enemies. When all the Dragons but Toothless mysteriously fly off, everyone gets upset, and Hiccup accidentally drops his helmet in the ocean. While Hiccup and Toothless fly off to a mysterious island and discover a new breeding habit that Dragons have, Fishlegs, the big-boned blonde Viking who has a vast knowledge on Dragons, discovers that his Dragon Meatlug is actually a girl, as she laid some eggs. Astrid decides to give everyone on Berke a Dragon egg, and they’re in for an explosive surprise. Gift of the Night Fury is a holiday special that will delight fans of the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy with impressive animation, a good score from Dominic Lewis, and a message about faith, love, and friendship that kids will understand.
6. Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014)

While at a post-Christmas play date at Mason's house, Woody, Buzz, Rex, Trixie, and a Christmas ornament end up in a playroom with a new franchise of dinosaur toys called the Battlesaurs. There's just one problem: The Battlesaurs think that they're actual warriors. Now Trixie has to convince Reptilis, a highly-skilled Battlesaur, that he, along with the other Battlesaurs, is just a toy, and that being played with by a kid is the most important thing in the world.
Toy Story That Time Forgot may not be as good as Toy Story of Terror and recycles the same story as Toy Story 1, but it has top-notch animation, a good score from Michael Giacchino, and some character development on Trixie, the Kristen Schaal triceratops. Too bad none of her new traits in this special were applied to Toy Story 4.
5. Arnold's Christmas (1996)

It’s Christmastime again in Hillwood, and Arnold has been chosen to be the Secret Santa for Mr. Hyunh. With the help of his friend Gerald, they embark on a wild goose chase to find Mr. Hyunh’s long-lost daughter, Mai. The first half-hour episode of the successful Nickelodeon series, Arnold’s Christmas is a classic Christmas-themed episode that I recommend watching year after year.
4. The Snowman (1982)

Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman is about a boy who makes a snowman that comes to life at night. He takes the boy on a trip to the North Pole, where there's a snowman family reunion being held. The boy also meets Santa Claus and is given a scarf as an early Christmas present. The scarf is the only proof that it wasn't a dream, because the next day, the snowman melted. The Snowman is an unforgettable and timeless holiday special with beautiful animation, a poigent dialogue-free story, and a memorable score from Howard Blake.
3. Prep & Landing (2009)

Ever wondered how Santa Claus delivers billions of presents to every kid on Earth in a single night? He has a team of elves to help him land safely on each roof, spy movie style! However, after working at the 'Prep and Landing' division for over 200 years, Wayne (Dave Foley) considers retiring. However, he has been assigned to train a rookie elf named Lenny (Derek Richardson). While Wayne just relaxes and watches TV in a house, Lenny gets captured by a kid named Timmy. With no one on the roof, Santa misses one of the millions of houses during a harsh snowstorm. Can Wayne save Christmas and remember what it means to be a true elf? Prep and Landing is an underrated gem with impressive animation, a solid story, and likable new characters. This is a TV special that I recommend for years to come.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

In this beloved holiday special, Charlie Brown has been selected to direct a play inspired by the First Christmas. He and Linus Von Pelt have also been assigned to buy a Christmas tree for the play, but the gang is so surprised and disappointed by the tree. However, they soon realize that all it needs is a touch up. A Charlie Brown Christmas is a timeless and charming Christmas special that sticks faithfully to its original source material.
1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Image result for How The Grinch Stole Christmas! 1996 TV special

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Blu-Ray)

https://www.amazon.com/How-Grinch-Stole-Xmas-Blu-ray/dp/B002HQZX8Y/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567947142&sr=1-4
*If CN Christmas Volume 3 is too much strain on your wallet, here's a link to the special below.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6s3k6a
And if you're wondering if I plan on doing a Top 10 Best Animated Halloween Specials countdown, I'm actually almost done with it, but you'll have to wait until October 2020.
Well, that wraps up Top 10 Best Animated Christmas Specials! I won't review a new movie until January 19th, but on December 25th or so, I will update my DVD collection.

Andrew's Corner

Friday, December 13, 2019

Top 10 Best Animated Christmas Specials

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