These animated movies define holiday spirit. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best animated movies that are perfect to watch curled up in front of the fireplace with a mug of something hot.
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00:00 Are you cold Karen? Now that's a silly question.
00:03 Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best animated movies that
00:08 are perfect to watch curled up in front of the fireplace with a mug of something hot.
00:13 I need to get to Kristoff.
00:15 Why?
00:15 Oh I know why!
00:18 Number 10 - The Nightmare Before Christmas
00:23 What's this? What's this? There's colour everywhere. What's this? There's white things in the air.
00:28 Here's the very first Christmas-themed movie you should watch after Halloween. It acts as a nice
00:33 bridge between one holiday to the next, barring Thanksgiving in the middle there, but we digress.
00:38 What a splendid idea! This Christmas sounds fun! I fully endorse it! Let's try it at once!
00:44 The debate has been around since its release. Is it more of a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie?
00:50 We like to answer that it's both, but it's hard to deny how much time Jack spends
00:54 focusing on the latter holiday. With that all said, if you're a fan of the macabre,
00:59 and you don't mind that bleeding over into the red and green festivities, this is the watch for you.
01:04 And what did Santa bring you, honey?
01:06 Number 9 - An American Tale
01:10 Presents! What about presents?
01:14 With so many holiday movies focusing on Christmas,
01:16 it's imperative that we see other traditions honoured.
01:22 An American Tale celebrates Hanukkah and follows a Russian-Jewish family of mice as they try to
01:28 make their way to the United States for a better life. It's a little weightier than some of the
01:32 other entries on our list, but it's beautifully animated and aims to tell a story reminiscent of
01:37 that of many immigrants. If the vibes feel familiar at all, that would be because it was directed by
01:48 Don Bluth, the same man responsible for fan favourite Anastasia. While this movie isn't
01:53 really about Hanukkah, the holidays can be a time where we reflect on our heritage and ancestry,
01:58 and this movie certainly explores those themes.
02:02 Number 8 - Prep & Landing Franchise
02:04 Relax! I told you to pull it together, not crumble like a Christmas cookie!
02:08 While the focus on Christmas tends to be on Santa Claus, let's be honest for a second,
02:12 most of the action actually takes place with the elves. Prep & Landing gives them an even
02:17 more hands-on role, as if they weren't already overworked enough.
02:20 We follow them out of the workshop as they help prep houses for the big guy's arrival.
02:34 This is Mission Impossible for Santa's helpers, so if you were ever looking to combine the two
02:39 rather distinct genres, you'll love this one. It does only have a runtime of 22 minutes,
02:45 which makes for a breezy watch that keeps the magic of holiday alive,
02:49 despite the calculatedness of the elves' mission.
02:52 Number 7 - Rise of the Guardians
02:58 Though not specifically a holiday movie per se, Rise of the Guardians showcases a few different
03:08 traditions. We get the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and Jack Frost,
03:14 as quite the ensemble of characters. "I think we just dodged a bullet. I mean,
03:18 what's this clown know about bringing joy to children anyway?"
03:21 "Uh, you ever hear of a snow day? I know it's no hard-boiled egg, but kids like what I do."
03:28 With Jack Frost bringing us snow days and Nicholas St. North leading the team, we get some nice
03:34 winter imagery. It's a totally underrated movie regardless of when you choose to watch,
03:39 and the true heart and soul of the movie aligns nicely with what so many love
03:43 about December celebrations. "Ah, finally!"
03:54 Number 6 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
03:56 "It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."
04:03 And so the comfort picks begin. There's something so soothing about the Peanuts franchise,
04:09 whether it's because of the pleasant music, the characters' adorable designs,
04:12 or Snoopy being the cutest cartoon beagle known to man, the nostalgia hits.
04:17 For those of us who get the holiday blues, there's also a lot in comfort in Charlie Brown
04:27 openly talking about feeling glum during a time where everyone tells you you should be happy.
04:32 "I like getting presents, and sending Christmas cards, and decorating trees and all that,
04:37 but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed."
04:41 Incidentally, this is the movie that first introduced Charlie Brown's sad,
04:45 barren Christmas tree to the world, and it's been a pop culture staple ever since.
04:49 Charlie brings it home after feeling that it needs a home, and that's just so precious.
04:55 "I don't care. We'll decorate it and it'll be just right for our play.
04:59 Besides, I think it needs me."
05:01 Number 5 - Mickey's Christmas Carol
05:04 There are a few different films that feature the sensational six around Christmas time.
05:09 "Madam, your sleigh awaits."
05:11 "Oh, how wonderful!"
05:17 Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is a popular one. But with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and
05:22 raving reviews all around, many feel the Mickey's Christmas Carol short is the seasonal must-see.
05:29 It's exactly what it sounds like - the typical A Christmas Carol story,
05:33 with Mickey and co as the cast.
05:35 "Who are you?"
05:36 "Why, I'm the ghost of Christmas past."
05:39 If you're a DuckTales fan, you'll get a kick out of seeing who else but Scrooge McDuck in the role
05:47 of Ebenezer. This is another movie - or a bunch of movies if you plan to watch them all - that
05:51 brings nostalgia by the heaps.
05:54 "Merry Christmas!"
05:56 "And a Merry Christmas to you, Master Fred!"
05:58 "Ah, humbug."
06:01 Number 4 - Arthur Christmas
06:03 "Ah, what are the others called? I could never ruddy remember. B-B-Bambi?
06:08 John! You there with the white ear. And you, not you, you bag of fleas."
06:13 British humour is elite humour. We said what we said.
06:18 Take us up with the Royal Family if you don't like it.
06:20 With a brilliant voice cast and a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes,
06:29 this one is up there as far as animated Christmas gems go.
06:33 While you would think elves who carry out their mission in a spy-like manner would be hard to come
06:37 by, Prep and Landing is not the only film to do it. In addition to an elf battalion, we're treated
06:43 to some wonderful family dynamics and a message that emphasises the importance of standing by
06:48 what you believe is right.
06:50 "Gwen can't not have a present from Santa."
06:53 "Do you know, Arthur, there is a way."
06:56 Number 3 - Klaus
06:58 This film is a breath of fresh air. While most animated holiday adventures emphasise punchline
07:03 after punchline and in-your-face action, Klaus slows things down. We follow Jesper,
07:09 a postman's son sent to Norway to learn some discipline.
07:13 "Stop. Don't tell me. Let me try to guess. I give up. Who are you?"
07:18 In the small town, he meets a man called Klaus, who hand-makes small toys and develops a habit
07:24 of sending them out to children who write to him. If you ever wanted a Santa origin story,
07:29 this would be the movie to see.
07:31 "Shall we then?"
07:31 Not only is it visually stunning with beautiful backdrops and a keen focus on lighting,
07:39 it's also just a really heartwarming story.
07:42 "He came! He came!"
07:44 "Mine's the big one!"
07:47 "I told you! I told you he would come!"
07:52 "Mum!"
07:53 Number 2 - How The Grinch Stole Christmas
07:56 Our hearts grow three sizes every time we watch this one.
08:00 "The Grinch got a wonderful, awful idea."
08:04 It's a classic like Frosty the Snowman or A Christmas Carol and just can't be left out.
08:11 Dr Seuss's rhymes are always a delight to hear,
08:13 and the 1966 version really feels like an animated storybook come to life.
08:18 "Why for 53 years I've put up with it now."
08:22 "I must stop Christmas from coming. But how?"
08:28 If you're looking for something a bit more current, Universal Pictures put out
08:33 The Grinch in 2018, which takes everything we love about the original and gives it a modern spin.
08:39 Plus, with Benedict Cumberbatch at the helm,
08:42 an otherwise intolerable character becomes somehow likeable.
08:46 "You're a mean one, mister."
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09:05 Number 1 - The Polar Express
09:07 There are a lot of magical moments that make this movie so great.
09:11 "Well, you coming?"
09:13 "Where?"
09:16 "Why, to the North Pole, of course!"
09:19 There's also something sort of Hogwarts-y about a train coming to pick up and drop off kids in
09:24 the middle of the night, no matter where they live. While the Hogwarts Express doesn't do
09:28 this exactly, the utter magic surrounding the Polar Express is palpable.
09:33 "Ooh, we got it!"
09:39 The conductor validating the golden tickets, the warm feel of the interior of the train,
09:44 and the kids eventually making it to the North Pole are all moments we look forward to seeing.
09:49 The scene where the train gets derailed is also some incredible animation for its time,
10:00 and an excellent example of how to build tension.
10:03 In the end, though, nothing really compares to that sweet moment with the bell.
10:08 "I believe."
10:08 Which movie do you always watch around the holidays? Let us know in the comments.
10:20 "Sneaking into Santa's office while he's sleeping?"
10:23 "We're going on the naughty list for sure!"
10:26 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms Mojo,
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10:38 [music]