Top 10 Christmas Anime Everyone Should Watch During the Holidays

There are few media traditions that are as well-known and frequent as Christmas specials. Not only are these easy ways to attract viewers when an episode of something airs around Christmas, but because Christmas' themes of love, family, and peace are universal, a good Christmas special can resonate with countless people around the world, and many of them have long since become some of the most iconic stories in entertainment.

Christmas episodes or specials are a common occurrence in media and anime is no exception. While Japan doesn't necessarily treat Christmas the same way as the United States or other countries in the Western world, the themes of love, family, and peace are still readily apparent, and because of this, there are many great anime specials or films that use the idea of ​​Christmas to tell great, emotional, complete stories from start to finish. Some Christmas anime shows and specials stand out, in particular, and are worth watching both in and out of the holiday season.

10

Sister Chocotto

Nomad Inc. anime series; Based on the manga by Go Zappa

At Nomad Inc. Sister ChocottoWhen Haruma Kawagoe was a child, he wished that Santa Claus would bring him a little sister after his mother suffered a miscarriage, a wish that, unfortunately, was not granted. It turns out that raising a little sister takes a lot of time, and when Haruma is in college, he finally gets his little sister, Choko, and the instruction manual on how she works.

Sister Chocotto is a simple story that never breaks the anime mold, but does a good job of executing its tropes in a way that's fun to watch, and overall, Sister ChocottoHoliday-centric family themes capture the true essence of what makes a good Christmas story. The anime doesn't cover the entire story of the manga, but with what is covered, it's still a great anime to watch on vacation.

9

Holy Company

Kenji Studio anime film; Directed by Kenji Itoso

Kenji Studio Holy Company stars Noel White, a Tonttu apprentice in Santa's workshop who struggles to pass the final test to become one of Santa's official workers: finding the most important thing to a Santa. As the deadline approaches, Santa discovers that Santa Claus has lost a letter and decides to fulfill the neglected request and discover what it really means to be Santa Claus.

Holy Company and its various sequels were all crowdfunded products from Kenji Itoso and Kenji Studio, and besides looking surprisingly good for something that wasn't made by conventional means, Holy CompanyThe premise of characters trying to work for Santa Claus is a simple but effective way of conveying Christmas themes. It's a film that hits all the beats of a classic Christmas story and is great for those looking for something new during the holidays.

8

Itsudatte My Santa Claus!

TNK anime series; Based on the manga by Ken Akamatsu

TNK Itsudatte My Santa Claus!Loosely translated as “Always My Santa!”, it stars Santa Claus, a boy so named because he was born on Christmas Eve and hates Christmas because his parents always prioritize celebrating the holidays over spending time with him. As such, it comes as a surprise to Santa when he meets Mai, a student at Santa's Academy who has come to use her magic to teach Santa the true meaning of Christmas.

Itsudatte My Santa Claus! is based on an early work by Ken Akamtsu of I love Hina fame, and for sure, Itsudatte My Santa Claus! has the same romantic comedy charm that made mangaka Ken Akamatsu's works so iconic for almost 30 years. Naturally, the fanservice-laden nature of Akamatsu's work may turn off some, but anyone who can get past that will find a surprisingly touching Christmas story in Itsudatte My Santa Claus!

7

Love Hina Christmas Special – Silent Night

Anime Special by Xebec; Based on the manga by Ken Akamatsu

Love Hina Christmas Special – Silent Night is, as the name suggests, a Christmas special for Xebec's I love Hina released shortly after the end of the anime. As Christmas slowly approaches, a rumor reaches the Hinata House that since it is the first Christmas of the millennium, confessing his love will make it come true, so Keitaro decides to finally confess his feelings to Naru, as complicated as that may be.

Silent Eve invokes all the same rom-com tropes as harem of I love Hinaand although this may be a turn-off for some, anyone who had fun with I love Hina you will find everything you liked in Love Hina Christmas Special – Silent Night with the added benefit of a charming Christmas theme adding a new dynamic to everything. The story is, unfortunately, as inconclusive as the original anime, but anyone looking for a good extension of the classic anime won't be disappointed.

6

Sailor Moon S: The Movie

Toei Animation anime film; Based on the manga by Naoko Takeuchi

Toei animations Sailor Moon S: The Movie is the second film derived from the original Sailor Moon anime. The Sailor Guardians must deal with Princess Snow Kaguya, an alien tyrant who tries to turn Earth into a frozen wasteland, and at the same time, Luna must also deal with her growing affection for the astronomer who studies Kaguya named Kakeru.

Sailor Moon S: The Movie has nothing to do with Christmas beyond the snowy setting and Tuxedo Mask briefly dressing up as Santa Claus, but between the cast's great chemistry and the heartbreaking drama of Luna's failed romance, Sailor Moon S: The Movie It has all the same action and charm that did Sailor Moon such an iconic anime. The film is the only one based on the manga's story, and that plays a big role in why it's so great to watch.

5

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in your pocket

Sunrise anime series; Directed by Fumihiko Takayama

Sunrise Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in Your Pocket is the first Mobile SuitGundam OVA series and the first story not directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with Patlabor writer Fumihiko Takayama was put in charge. Alfred “Al” Izuruha is a boy with an innocent idealization of war, but all that changes when he and his friends are drawn into the One Year War as Zeon attacks their colony to stop the launch of a powerful new Gundam.

War in your pocket is a Christmas story largely because it takes place at Christmas, but regardless, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in Your PocketThe small-scale narrative that perfectly captures the franchise's anti-war themes makes it a great watch for old and new alike Gundam fans, equal. The series is often considered one of the best Gundam anime ever made, and overall, it's easy to see why.

4

Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

Sunrise anime series; Directed by Yasunao Aoki

Sunrise Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is an OVA series that serves as an epilogue to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. One year after the events of the anime, a rebel military force called the Mariemaia Army, led by Treize's daughter Khushrenada, seeks to take control of the United Earth Sphere Force, and now Heero and his friends must turn to their Gundams once again to protect the peace they worked so hard to achieve.

Endless waltz is more of a story set at Christmas than a true Christmas story, but whether by coincidence or design, Gundam Wing: Endless WaltzThe themes of war and peace, combined with its incredible action, make it an excellent action-packed Christmas story in the same vein as Die Hard. Wing is one of the most emblematic Gundam anime, and in general, Endless waltz it was a great way to end his story.

3

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The first kiss that never ends

Anime film from A-1 Pictures; Based on the manga by Aka Akasaka

Images A-1' Kaguya-sama: Love is War – The first kiss that never ends is the sequel to the film Kaguya-sama: Love is War. After the events of season 3, Kaguya, afraid that she has gone too far with Miyuki by turning their first kiss into a French kiss, reverts to her stoic “Ice Kaguya” persona as a defense mechanism, further complicating their relationship as They and their friends all try to find love during the holidays.

Not only does the film have the same great writing and visuals as the anime, but it also Kaguya-sama: Love is War – The first kiss that never ends finally having Kaguya and Miyuki become a couple is as cathartic a moment as a fan could ask forand it feels completely deserved too. Because of this, the film offers some of the best romantic writing in the series, and is a perfect film to watch on vacation.

2

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

Kyoto Animation anime film; Based on the light novel by Nagaru Tanigawa

Kyoto animation The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is the sequel to the iconic film The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. As Kyon prepares for the SOS Brigade's Christmas party, he wakes up one day to find that the SOS Brigade is gone and he is the only one who knows about Haruhi. Kyon has little time to make things right, but soon, the big question is whether he should instead make this calmer reality his new home.

Between its gorgeous visuals and excellent character writing, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a well thought out and entertaining sequel to the original anime that more than makes up for its long running time with the quality of its direction. There is still no word on whether Haruhi Suzumiya will receive a third season, but as it stands, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya It's a perfect way to end the anime.

1

Tokyo godparents

Madhouse anime film; Directed by Satoshi Kon

Hospice Tokyo godparents is a film by legendary anime director Satoshi Kon loosely based on the 1948 film 3 godparents. One Christmas Eve, a trio of homeless people – alcoholic Gin, transgender woman Hana and teenage runaway Miyuki – find a baby abandoned in the trash, and the three end up on a wild adventure of escalating circumstances as they try to reunite. the baby with his parents.

While much more grounded than Satoshi Kon's usual work, between its stellar animation and its careful character writing centered on love and family, Tokyo godparents does a perfect job of capturing the spirit of Christmas through its sentimental themes and the beautiful visuals that accompany them. There is no anime that embodies Christmas better than Tokyo godparentsand that, of course, makes him the best Christmas anime a person can watch.