Have An Animated Christmas: When To Watch All Your Favorite Christmas Animation TV Specials [UPDATE]

No matter how old you get or how your favorite animated TV specials of yesteryear are available on DVD, there is still something magical about watching these timeless specials while it’s running live. Although, not all of these will go down in history as “classics,” here is a breakdown of this year’s offering of animated holiday hits.

Friday, November 25

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – 8:00 p.m. ABC
  One of the Rankin-Bass Productions finest stop-motion animated tales about how an orphan boy grew up to become Kris Kringle, better known as Santa Claus. Narrated by Fred Astaire, the voice cast includes Mickey Rooney and Paul Frees.
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas – 8:00 p.m. NBC
  This year marks the Grinch’s 50^th birthday (but don’t bug him about it because he gets a little testy) and to celebrate, NBC will air all 26 minutes of the special instead of cutting it short to fit in with today’s normal running time. Written by Dr. Seuss, animated by Chuck Jones and voicing by Boris Karloff and June Foray, what’s not to like?
• Frosty the Snowman – 8:00 p.m. CBS
  Narrated by Jimmy Durante, the classic tale about a snowman coming to life because of a magician’s hat still entertains. Just be sure to distract your kids during the greenhouse scene.
• Frosty Returns – 8:30 p.m. CBS
  Not exactly a sequel to the original tale, but it is still a favorite. This time, Frosty is in danger when the whole town is using de-icer. The story is narrated by Jonathan Winters and Frosty is voiced by John Goodman.
• How Murray Saved Christmas – 8:30 p.m. NBC
  Based on Mike Reiss’s book of the same name, this is a story about a deli store owner who fills in for Santa at the last minute. It features the voices of Jerry Stiller, Sean Hayes, Jason Alexander, Dennis Haysbert, Kevin Michael Richardson, and John Ratzenberger.

Saturday, November 26

• Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire – 8:00 p.m. CBS
  This award-winning BBC stop-motion animated special was re-voiced for American television. The Reindeer Games are still a big thing and Robbie needs to compete to become a member of Santa’s team. Ben Stiller, Hugh Grant, Britney Spears, Jim Belushi, Brad Garrett, Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller, James Woods, Dan Dierdorf, and Dick Enberg lend their voices for the special.
• Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe – 8:30 CBS
  This follow-up story (which uses the same voices as the original) and tells how Robbie faces (and defeats) his nemesis in their attempt to create a reindeer theme park with the help of an elusive tribe of Vikings. (Not based on a true story).
• The Story of Santa Claus – 9:00 p.m. CBS
  The story about how a simple toymaker, Nicolas Claus, and his wife Gretchen become the dynamic duo of Christmas: Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The special features the voices of Ed Asner, Betty White, and Tim Curry.

Tuesday, November 29

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – 8:00 p.m. CBS
  Return to the North Pole (and the Island of Misfit Toys for that matter) for the classic stop-motion animated tale of Rudolph narrated by Sam the Snowman (better known as Burl Ives).

Thursday, December 1

• A Charlie Brown Christmas – 8:00 p.m. ABC
  A digitally re-mastered classic tale about Charlie Brown finding the true meaning of Christmas with the help of a blanket-carrying Linus.

Thursday, December 8

• Toy Story That Time Forgot – 8:00 p.m. ABC
  Featuring many of the Toy Story characters, this story is loosely set around Christmas but is mostly about Trixie the triceratops getting in touch with her dinosaur self and helping the crew to get back to Bonnie’s room. The voice cast includes Tom Hanks, Tim Allen,Kristen Schaal, Kevin McKidd, Wallace Shawn, Timothy Dalton, Don Rickles, and Joan Cusack.
• Shrek the Halls – 8:30 p.m. ABC
  The other favorite green character at Christmas time focuses on Shrek wanting to have a good old-fashioned family Christmas, but being that he never had one before, he doesn’t know how to go about it without ruining the holiday for everyone else. Features the voice cast of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas.

Thursday, December 15

• Disney’s Prep & Landing – 8:00 p.m. ABC
  Ever wonder how Santa is able to deliver all of those presents around the world in just one night? With the help of Wayne and Lanny, the prep & landing crew elves of course.
• Disney’s Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice – 8:30 p.m. ABC
  Follow up story featuring Wayne and Lanny’s battle with a naughty kid while Wayne is reunited with his irritating brother Noel.

Saturday, December 17

• Rudolph’s Shiny New Year – 7:00 p.m. Freeform
  Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer on a new adventure AFTER Christmas.
• I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown – 8:00 p.m. ABC
  Charlie Brown and friends are back with a special focusing on Linus’ younger brother, Rerun (who looks just like Linus) who wants nothing more than a dog for Christmas. Namely Snoopy.
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey – 8:00 p.m. Freeform
  Traditional Nativity story told from the donkey’s point of view.

Sunday, December 18

• Mickey’s Christmas Carol – 11:30 a.m. Freeform
  A Christmas Carol retold with Disney characters with Uncle Scrooge as Ebenezer Scrooge of course!
• Disney’s Prep & Landing – 4:10 p.m. Freeform
  Ever wonder how Santa is able to deliver all of those presents around the world in just one night? With the help of Wayne and Lanny, the prep & landing crew elves of course.
• Disney’s Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice – 4:40 p.m. Freeform
  Follow up story featuring Wayne and Lanny’s battle with a naughty kid while Wayne is reunited with his irritating brother Noel.

December 20

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – 4:30 p.m. Freeform
  One of the Rankin-Bass Productions finest stop-motion animated tales about how an orphan boy grew up to become Kris Kringle, better known as Santa Claus. Narrated by Fred Astaire, the voice cast includes Mickey Rooney and Paul Frees.
• A Year Without a Santa Claus – 5:35 p.m. Freeform
  What happens when Santa gets sick? Mrs. Claus to the rescue!

December 21

• Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas – 8:00 p.m. NBC
  Loosely based on the Elf movie

December 22

• Frosty’s Winter Wonderland – 4:10 p.m. Freeform
  The further adventures of Frosty the Snowman in stop-motion animation form
• Toy Story That Time Forgot – 4:40 p.m. Freeform
  Featuring many of the Toy Story characters, this story is loosely set around Christmas but is mostly about Trixie the triceratops getting in touch with her dinosaur self and helping the crew to get back to Bonnie’s room. The voice cast includes Tom Hanks, Tim Allen,Kristen Schaal, Kevin McKidd, Wallace Shawn, Timothy Dalton, Don Rickles, and Joan Cusack.

December 23

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – 4:35 p.m. Freeform
  One of the Rankin-Bass Productions finest stop-motion animated tales about how an orphan boy grew up to become Kris Kringle, better known as Santa Claus. Narrated by Fred Astaire, the voice cast includes Mickey Rooney and Paul Frees.
• A Year Without a Santa Claus – 5:40 p.m. Freeform
  What happens when Santa gets sick? Mrs. Claus to the rescue!
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas – 8:00 p.m. NBC
  This year marks the Grinch’s 50^th birthday (but don’t bug him about it because he gets a little testy) and to celebrate, NBC will air all 26 minutes of the special instead of cutting it short to fit in with today’s normal running time. Written by Dr. Seuss, animated by Chuck Jones and voicing by Boris Karloff and June Foray, what’s not to like?
• How Murray Saved Christmas – 8:30 p.m. NBC
  Based on Mike Reiss’s book of the same name, this is a story about a deli store owner who fills in for Santa at the last minute. It features the voices of Jerry Stiller, Sean Hayes, Jason Alexander, Dennis Haysbert, Kevin Michael Richardson, and John Ratzenberger.

December 24

• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas – 8:05 a.m.
  Mickey Mouse and friends celebrate Christmas with a variety of short stories
• Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas – 9:40 a.m.
  More Christmas tales with the mouse and friends.
• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – 11:15 a.m. Freeform
  One of the Rankin-Bass Productions finest stop-motion animated tales about how an orphan boy grew up to become Kris Kringle, better known as Santa Claus. Narrated by Fred Astaire, the voice cast includes Mickey Rooney and Paul Frees.
• A Year Without a Santa Claus – 12:20 a.m. Freeform
  What happens when Santa gets sick? Mrs. Claus to the rescue!

December 25

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – 3:30 p.m. Freeform
  One of the Rankin-Bass Productions finest stop-motion animated tales about how an orphan boy grew up to become Kris Kringle, better known as Santa Claus. Narrated by Fred Astaire, the voice cast includes Mickey Rooney and Paul Frees.
• A Year Without a Santa Claus – 4:35 p.m. Freeform
  What happens when Santa gets sick? Mrs. Claus to the rescue!

[Featured Image by NBC]