10 Best Animated Christmas Movies in 2022 (Robert Zemeckis, Henry Selick, and More)

It's Christmas Eve, and our hero is questioning the existence of Santa Claus. He lies awake in the hope of hearing Santa and his reindeer but instead hears the arrival of a train. The boy is not only taken on a magical ride to the North Pole but a journey of self-discovery, too. 

The train ride puts the young characters in many life-threatening situations and may not be suitable for very young children. The animation style may also not be liked by youngsters either.

Reviewers say that the story is a magical tale, and although it is a modern movie, it has a very traditional feel to it. They praise the children's voice acting, and they especially like Tom Hanks' performance in his multiple roles. Plus, they like the fun, engaging tone of the movie.

The Star tells the tale of a donkey called Bo, who strives for a more fulfilling life. Bo escapes his boring life at the mill and goes on an adventure with several animal friends as they follow the Star that leads them to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Some reviewers didn't realize that this movie has a religious message. Other reviewers found that the story deviated from the Biblical version too much for their tastes.

The story does differ from the one in the bible as it concentrates on Bo's journey, but many reviewers found that the spirit of the movie was still respectful. Overall, they enjoyed the story it told. They said it is funny, heartwarming, and appropriate for children of all ages.

Based on the beloved book by Raymond Briggs, this movie was originally released in 1982. Other than a spoken introduction, the movie has no dialogue. It tells the story of a young boy who makes a snowman that comes to life. The two have a magical time together that is told through beautiful animation and music.

There is a lot of debate by reviewers about the ending of this story. For some people, it is sad, and for others, it is bittersweet. You may want to watch the movie first if you don't already know the ending before showing it to young children!

Reviewers love how the lovely animation and music come together to create a magical atmosphere. They say it is suitable for all ages; even very young kids can easily follow the story and enjoy it. Plus, reviewers enjoy watching this nostalgic childhood classic with their kids and grandkids.

The Grinch is one of the most famous Christmas characters, and this is the latest version of the story. The Grinch hates Christmas but his neighbors, the Whos, love it. He decides that the only way to escape the Christmas fever is to steal it.

There are many versions of The Grinch, and they all try to do something new. For some reviewers, this version made some changes that they didn't like. They didn't like some of the characters or that Dr. Seuss's rhymes were presented as raps.

However, many reviewers enjoyed this movie. They said that the animation is well-done, and the Grinch isn't as creepy as he has been presented in some other versions. They think the movie is funny and heart-warming, and the love for Max the dog is almost universal!

This stop-motion animated movie tells the story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Jack becomes bored with his annual Halloween duties and decides to take over Christmas. Unfortunately for Jack, Christmas doesn’t come naturally to him as Halloween does, and things don’t go to plan!

The Nightmare Before Christmas is suitable for children of all ages and has many adult fans due to its colorful characters and creepy aesthetic. The movie has 11 fun songs and is spooky without being scary. However, younger children may find it unsettling. 

Many reviewers state that it is part of their annual Christmas (and Halloween!) routines and enjoy singing along. They especially love the variety of characters and the relationships between them. Plus, they note that the stop-motion animation is wondefully done. 

This is an animated retelling of the famous story by Charles Dickens. On Christmas Eve, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who show him his past, present, and future as they aim to change his heart.

The original story was not written for children, and although this is a Disney version, it may be too frightening or complicated for the youngest of children. Reviewers say that this version is surprisingly dark and has some scary scenes.

Reviewers like that the movie is very faithful to the book and features many lines of dialogue that are straight from the novel. They like the animation style and praise how real it looks. They also appreciate the quality of the voice acting, especially from Jim Carrey.  

Frozen tells the story of two princesses, the sisters Elsa and Anna. Elsa has mysterious ice powers that she has managed to keep secret, but they make themselves known on the day of her coronation as queen. It's up to Anna to help her sister and stop the eternal winter caused by Elsa's powers.

This movie is suitable for children of all ages and features 10 original songs that have been immensely popular. It is very possible that several of the songs will take over your life for a few days after watching!

Reviewers love the movie's message as it focuses on the relationship between the sisters instead of on romantic love. They say that Elsa is an inspirational character and young children love the snowman Olaf. Plus, they note that the voice acting and singing is wonderful. 

This Christmas special is set within the timeline of the original Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. When Belle discovers that Beast doesn't like Christmas, she decides to decorate the castle. However, one piece of enchanted furniture doesn't want the curse to be broken tries to force Belle out of the castle.

Some reviewers think that this movie is too scary and dark for young children. It focuses heavily on the story of the pipe organ trying to dispose of Belle instead of the happier Christmas scenes. Others also found the animation slightly lacking.

Reviewers like that this movie has the voice actors from the original movie and say that Tim Curry's performance as the pipe organ is very strong. For fans of the original, it is a great addition to the story!

When an elf finds that a Christmas present has been accidentally left behind at the North Pole instead of delivered by Santa, it's down to Santa's son Arthur to deliver it. With the help of Grand-Santa, an old wooden sleigh, and descendants of the original eight reindeer, can the present be delivered in time?

Some reviewers state that this movie isn't for the youngest children as it has scenes of drinking. They also don't like that Santa doesn't find missing one child to be important and how children will view this.

Overall, however, reviewers praise the animation and the quality of the voice cast. They find it very funny and say that the overall message of the movie is very heart-warming. They also like that the story is original and has a modern approach to delivering presents.

The Cat in the Hat and his guests have a fantastic Christmas party on Christmas Eve. After the party, the guests depart, but one little reindeer is left behind. The Cat in the Hat and a few of his friends need to help the reindeer find his way home.

Reviewers feel that this movie is aimed at very young children. They found the Cat in the Hat less funny and jolly in this movie than they expected.

Reviewers love the mix of fun and education that is present in this movie. They also like the friendship theme and how it approaches the topic of travel. Reviewers praise the songs and the performance of Martin Short as the Cat in the Hat, too.