Ho ho ho! Welcome to the animated section of the winter wonderland of cinematic history!
This is a special funfair, featuring the best animated Christmas movies ever made, from classics of the 1960s to the latest ones. Although these films were made primarily for kids, the inner child in you may surely enjoy the ride too.
We made you a list, we checked it twice,
Just to find out which movies are nice.
So how did we pick the Top 9 Animated Christmas Movies Ever Made?
Well, it wasn’t simple, and it wasn’t easy! “Best” is a relative term, but there are certain factors that can be used as guidelines, such as Critical Acclaim, Audience Feedback, Box Office Performance, Awards and Nominations, Iconic Status, Popularity, Watchability, etc.
After much debate, we decided to keep this an animated-only list, so puppet movies are not included – Sorry to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and his puppet buddies.
The other filter we added was that each entry on the list should be a stand-alone story. So the Christmas themed spin-offs or episodes of major animated movies like Shrek the Halls or A Charlie Brown Christmas also didn’t make the cut.
Also, every film of this collection actually focuses on the Christmas spirit, not just happens to take place on a snowy landscape, so sorry, but no Ice Age or Frozen here.
That’s the spirit we embraced while composing this list of the Best Animated Christmas movies of all time. Every film featured here has a minimum FrameClass of 3 stars, so they are at least in the “Worth a Watch” category. If you want to find out how we calculate the FrameClass of each film, just visit our FrameClass page.
We believe that the movies that made the cut should not compete with one another any further, so we will just present them in the order they were released in.
And now let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Buckle up, and let the best animated Christmas movies of all time carry you to the Winter Wonderland of Cinema!
Revealing the Top 9 Animated Christmas Movies of All Time
A Chronological Presentation
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas brings an impressive array of talent to bear on an adaptation that honors a classic holiday story – and has rightfully become a yuletide tradition of its own.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Frosty the Snowman is a jolly, happy sing-along that will delight children with its crisp animation and affable title character, who makes an indelible impression with his corncob pipe, button nose, and eyes made out of coal.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
The Snowman (1982)
Charming wordless animated adventure about a young boy who makes a snowman one Christmas Eve, only for it to come to life that night and take him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.
Source: IMDB
*The Snowman also has a worthy, hearth warming sequel entitled The Snowman and the Snowdog. It was created in 2012, to mark the 30th anniversary of the original film.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, is bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, so when he discovers Christmas Town, he attempts to bring Christmas to his home. However, his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere!
The Polar Express (2004)
This visually stunning movie tells the story of a doubting young boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
A Christmas Carol (2009)
When three ghosts take penny-pinching Scrooge on an eye-opening journey, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas – but he must act on it before it’s too late.
Amazon
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Aardman Animations broadens their humor a bit for Arthur Christmas, a clever and earnest holiday film with surprising emotional strength.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
The movie tells the story of Santa’s clumsy son, Arthur, who sets out on a magical adventure to deliver the final present to a young girl to save Christmas.
The Grinch (2018)
The Grinch gives the classic Seuss source material a brightly animated update that’s solidly suitable for younger viewers without adding substantially to the story’s legacy.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Klaus (2019)
Beautiful hand-drawn animation and a humorous, heartwarming narrative make Klaus an instant candidate for holiday classic status.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg’s new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.
IMDB
…end of the reel…
So there you have it: The 9 Greatest Animated Christmas Movies of All Time
If you want to take a look at the ‘Top 9 Best Animated Christmas Movies Ever Made’ list without all that info between the titles, here’s a quick recap:
 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) |
 | Frosty the Snowman (1969) |
 | The Snowman (1982) *Part of the Collection: The Snowman Duology |
 | The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) |
 | The Polar Express (2004) |
 | A Christmas Carol (2009) |
 | Arthur Christmas (2011) |
 | The Grinch (2018) |
 | Klaus (2019) |
Is there a movie, that you believe should be on this list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
