The holidays can often be a very nostalgic time for people, and nothing brings back as many childhood memories as old cartoons. For people of all ages, rewatching childhood TV shows can unlock old memories of vacations past. Cartoons seem particularly suited to this, for whatever reason, so animated shows from 20 or 30 years ago are always great to watch at Christmas.
Many old animated shows had Christmas specials or other holiday episodes at some point, and there were some recurring themes. Referencing an older generation of Christmas animation, many of these cartoons use poetry and music, even though this is completely unusual for the show in question. These are just a few quirks that can make Christmas episodes stand out from animated shows, giving them a powerful nostalgia factor.
10
Animaniacs – “'Twas the day before Christmas”
Season 1, Episode 50
Before the Animaniacs revival, the show only featured two seasons of irreverent, fast-paced cartoon humor. Segments in each episode vary greatly in length, with some taking up an entire episode and others lasting a minute or less. “'Twas the Day Before Christmas” is less than five minutes long, but it tells a complete story about Ralph T. Guard squeezing himself into a Santa suit to deliver presents to Yakko, Wakko and Dot at the Warner Bros. water tower .
In just a few minutes, the segment shows glimpses of many of the best Animaniacs characters.
“'Twas the Day Before Christmas” follows the meter of Clement Clarke Moore's famous Christmas poem, and the rewrite squeezes plenty of jokes out of the intentionally clumsy rhyme. In just a few minutes, the special gives glimpses of many of the best Animaniacs characters from other regular segments, including The Hip Hippos, Rita and Runt, and Pinky and the Brain, of course. It's a short but sweet reminder of the erratic humor of a great animated sketch show.
9
SpongeBob SquarePants – “Christmas Who?”
Season 2, Episode 8
“Christmas Who?” tells the story of the first Christmas in Bikini Bottom, when SpongeBob learns about the Earth tradition from Sandy. There were some Christmas episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants over the years, including a new special in 2024, but “Christmas Who?” It's still considered one of the best and probably the most nostalgic as well. “Christmas Who?” is notable for the first live-action appearance of Tom Kenny's Patchy the Pirate, who introduces the story.
“Christmas Who?” is notable for the first live-action appearance of Tom Kenny's Patchy the Pirate, who introduces the story.
SpongeBob whips the entire town into a frenzy by promising that Santa Claus will arrive and give them all their presents, but the residents of Bikini Bottom stay up all night singing for no reason. “Christmas Who?” It's a great episode of Squidward.not just for the way his grinch facade crumbles when he starts feeling sorry for SpongeBob, but also for the bizarre ending, in which a live-action Santa Claus waves to him from his sleigh. This is the kind of joke that is probably even funnier to older audiences.
8
Hello, Arnaldo! – “Arnold's Christmas”
Season 1, Episode 11
“Arnold's Christmas” is twice as long as most other episodes of Hello Arnaldo, which gives it the feeling of a real Christmas special. It's also more emotionally resonant than the show's usual fare. Hello, Arnold sometimes it gets deep, but 'Arnold's Christmas' takes things to a new level investigating Mr. Hyunh's tragic past in Vietnam. Arnold and Gerald do some last-minute shopping around town to find their long-lost daughter.
“Arnold's Christmas” balances this heavy story about fleeing a war zone and emigrating alone to a foreign land with a subplot about Helga trying to find Arnold the perfect gift that will make him fall in love with her. This all comes together in the end, creating a moving finale that cements the episode as a Christmas classic. It was groundbreaking at the time for portraying the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective, and it's still a powerful episode that shows what Hello, Arnold is capable.
7
Invader Zim – “The most horrible Christmas ever”
Season 2, Episode 1
Invader Zim is one of Nickelodeon's best cartoons, even though it was canceled before the end of its second season. Its unusual animation, humor and innovative content made it stand out from everything else on children's TV at the time, and it became a strange cult classic. “The Most Horrible X-mas Ever” may happen at Christmas, but it doesn't compromise Invader Zimunique approach. It's not your typical warm and fuzzy Christmas special.
“The Most Horrible X-mas Ever” may happen at Christmas, but it doesn't compromise Invader Zimunique approach.
Just like many of the best Invader Zim episodes, “The Most Horrible X-Mas Ever” shows that humans are stranger than any aliens, as humanity's love of Christmas quickly turns into an angry, self-destructive cult. Zim poses as Santa Claus to enslave humanity, but his plan backfires, as it always does. It's a great episode on its own merits, and the Christmas setting means it can be watched every holiday season. It's easy to find new jokes with each new viewing.
6
Danny Phantom – “The Fright Before Christmas”
Season 2, Episode 10
After a brief introduction, almost all of “The Fright Before Christmas” is spoken in rhyme to imitate the poem from which the title is named. It's an unusual Phantom Danny episode in that regard, but the Christmas special still delivers much of what the series does best. There's a lot of supernatural action and a lot of fun humor. Danny finds himself trapped in a Christmas poem written by an evil writer who can control the world around him.
The unmistakable voice of BoJack Knight, Will Arnett makes a fun appearance as the Ghost Writer in “The Fright Before Christmas.” The episode also introduces most of the major villains from Phantom Danny, like Skulker, Ember McLain and Box Ghostall of whom share an annual Christmas truce. There is a brief battle royale between these villains, but they quickly turn their attention to the Ghost Writer and save Christmas. It's a fun change of pace to see these characters in a different light.
5
The Terrifying Adventures of Billy and Mandy – “Billy and Mandy Save Christmas”
Season 4, Episode 14
Maintaining the show's macabre style The Terrible Adventures of Billy and Mandy delivered one of the most unusual Christmas episodes ever. The two-part special “Billy and Mandy Save Christmas” features a vampire Santa Claus. Its dark story would make more sense as a Halloween special in some ways, but that's exactly what The Terrible Adventures of Billy and Mandy it's all about.
Gilbert Gottfried unleashes his glorious comic screams as Santa Claus, and he is joined by Carol Kane and Malcolm McDowell.
“Billy and Mandy Save Christmas” features a surprisingly impressive cast of guest stars. Gilbert Gottfried unleashes his glorious comic screams as Santa Claus, and he is joined by Carol Kane and Malcolm McDowell. They help make “Billy and Mandy Save Christmas” an unforgettable double episode. It's a Christmas special that manages to bring a little joy amidst the creepy horror and Mandy's deadpan comedy.
4
Codename Kids Next Door – “Operation NAUGHTY”
Season 5, Episode 2
Codename Kids Next Door often pokes fun at the spy genre, but “Operation NAUGHTY” also has time for a superhero parody, as Santa's elves band together to save Christmas while looking like the X-Men. As is so often the case, the villains of the episode are the Delightful Children From Down the Lane, the evil counterparts of the Kids Next Door who seem to share a malevolent hive mind.
Codename Kids Next Door often pokes fun at the espionage genre, but “Operation NAUGHTY” also has time for a superhero parody.
Amidst the festive action and mind-bending chaos of the main plot, “Operation NAUGHTY” follows Wally and Kuki's mutual passion as the two Kids Next Door agents finally reunite. This ensures that the special Christmas special leaves its mark on the programbut is best remembered for Santa Claus and his Elf Squad fighting the Delightful Children From Down the Lane.
3
Darkwing Duck – “It's a wonderful leaf”
Season 1, Episode 41
“It's a Wonderful Leaf” focuses on Bushroot, one of the Darkwing Duckthe most idiotic and fun villains. Bushroot devises a plan to manipulate the Christmas trees to ruin the holiday, stealing presents, making children cry, and generally causing a nuisance. It's the kind of relatively low-risk plan that Bushroot usually devises, and the kind of plan that leads Darkwing Duck to his most dysfunctional and incompetent state.
While there's plenty of action and a good dose of slapstick, the episode ends with a heartwarming festive message.
Bushroot's green feathers give him the ideal grinch appearance that suits the plot. He leads Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack on a chase through the city, although the pair are saddled by Gosalyn and Honker, until the chase culminates in a fight with an army of enormous anthropomorphic Christmas trees. While there's plenty of action and a good dose of slapstick, the episode ends with a heartwarming festive message that matches the title.
2
Kim Possible – “A Very Possible Christmas”
Season 2, Episode 16
Kim Possible is one of Disney's best animated shows of all time, and its high-tech spy parody has acquired a charming retrofuturistic charm over the years, which only adds to the nostalgic quality. 'A Very Possible Christmas' Includes All of the Series' Best Supporting Charactersas Dr. Drakken hatches another half-baked scheme to take over the world while Kim is enjoying Christmas Eve with her family.
“A Very Possible Christmas” has many Kim Possiblefast-paced action.
When Ron goes after Dr. Drakken alone, his gift of a stress-free Christmas to Kim and her family quickly backfires. “A Very Possible Christmas” has many Kim PossibleThe action is fast-paced, including a rocket-powered snowboard chase, a brawl aboard a spaceship, and a fight with a giant anaconda in the Amazon rainforest, but balances this with the hilarious bromance between Ron and Dr. funniest on the show.
1
The Powerpuff Girls – “'Twas the fight before Christmas”
Season 5, Episode 4
The Powerpuff Girls is still one of Cartoon Network's best shows, and there are often calls for a reboot, not to mention the scrapped live-action show from just a few years ago. The show has no shortage of iconic baddies, from Mojo Jojo to HIM, and Princess Morbucks is the villain du jour in “'Twas the Fight Before Christmas” as she plots to steal Christmas and once again insert herself as the fourth Powerpuff Girl Girl.
One of the most memorable episodes of The Powerpuff Girls is “Stuck Up, Up and Away”, which features Princess as a spoiled brat trying to buy superpowers. “'Twas the Fight Before Christmas” echoes some of the same ideas, but it's a much longer episode with a lot more to offer. The princess really gets her superpowers this time, and it makes for some delightful fight scenes.