Best movies like The Year Without a Santa Claus
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving journey and take a vacation. Mrs. Claus and two spunky little elves, Jingle and Jangle, set out to see to where all the season's cheer has disappeared. Aided by a magical snowfall, they reawaken the spirit of Christmas in children's hearts and put Santa back in action.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 51 min
Plot tags: claymation, feel good, humorous, semi serious, christmas special, nostalgic
Best tv shows and movies like The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974):
Similar in 83%
Babes in Toyland (1997)
Plot Summary:
Everyone's favorite nursery rhyme characters come magically and musically to life in this animated adventure based on the classic holiday tale.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 610
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags: mysterious, anime, independent film, fairy tale, touching, humorous, semi serious, christmas special
Similar in 89%
Christmas Is Here Again (2007)
Plot Summary:
When the evil Krad steals Santa's toy bag, he crushes the holiday spirit- and over time, the world's children forget all about Christmas. Now, a wide-eyed orphan and her band of friends will embark on the polar adventure of a lifetime, as they try to stop Krad from destroying Christmas once and for all!.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 370
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags: exciting, feel good, humorous, stylized, christmas special, touching, offbeat, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999)
Plot Summary:
A collection of Winnie the Pooh's memorable holiday adventures, as Winnie, Piglet, and Tigger set out to find the right ingredients for Winter, Rabbit learns how to manage a complicated Thanksgiving dinner, and everyone gets a special visit from a new friend. Featuring a number of delightful songs for singing along, this video is sure to become a favorite holiday classic.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Australia, Japan, Taiwan
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: christmas special, anthology, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, 2d animation
Similar in 86%
Robin Harris' Bebe's Kids (1992)
Plot Summary:
When Robin meets the lovely Jamika he thinks he's in heaven. But when he meets her friend Bebe's children, whom she is looking after, he knows he's in hell. Bebe's kids are the most obnoxious, irritating, pain in the butt kids he has ever met. Written by Brian W Martz.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, UK, Canada, Taiwan
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: adult animation, humorous, hood, black comedy, adult cartoon, independent film, offbeat, witty, talky, cynical
Similar in 84%
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Plot Summary:
When the four boys see an R-rated movie featuring Canadians Terrance and Philip, they are pronounced "corrupted", and their parents pressure the United States to wage war against Canada.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 213000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Spain
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: funny, parody, adult animation, black comedy, spoof, cult classic, dark comedy, offbeat, humorous, witty
Similar in 82%
Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-Lot (2004)
Plot Summary:
Funshine Bear travels to Joke-a-lot where the people there crown him king.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 301
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, not serious
Similar in 86%
Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2005)
Plot Summary:
With school out for the summer, the Littles are vacationing in a cabin by the lake, and Stuart is so excited he could burst! But when Snowbell the cat is captured by a mean-spirited creature known simply as the Beast, it's up to Stuart and a skunk named Reeko to rescue him and a few other friends.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 72 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Bartok the Magnificent (1999)
Plot Summary:
Russia is being terrorized by an evil witch known as Baba Yaga; the only one who is not afraid of her is Bartok the Magnificent. Bartok, an albino bat, has just arrived in Moscow and is impressing everyone with his performances, including Prince Ivan Romanov. However, one person is not impressed; Ludmilla finds Bartok annoying and naive. After Bartok's show, a violent bear suddenly attacks. Bartok must save everyone by stunning the bear with dust and then knocks him over and traps him in a wagon.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 68 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, semi serious
Similar in 90%
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
Plot Summary:
Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse and all his Disney pals star in an original movie about the importance of opening your heart to the true spirit of Christmas. Stubborn old Donald tries in vain to resist the joys of the season, and Mickey and Pluto learn a great lesson about the power of friendship.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 68 min
Plot tags: light, anthology, 3d animation, computer animated, light hearted, feel good, humorous, not serious, christmas special
Similar in 77%
Shrek the Halls (2007)
Plot Summary:
The Christmas tree isn't the only thing green in this new holiday classic. Shrek is back and trying to get into the spirit of the season. After promising Fiona and the kids a Christmas they'll remember, he is forced to take a crash course in the holiday. But just when he thinks he has everything for their quiet family Christmas just right, there is a knock at the door.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Animation, Short, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 21 min
Plot tags: christmas special, humorous, witty, fairy tale, feel good, not serious, computer animated, entertaining, 3d animation, exciting
Similar in 80%
Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
Plot Summary:
Rudolph must find Happy, the baby new year, before the midnight of New Year's Eve.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: christmas special, claymation, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, fairy tale, crying
Similar in 86%
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Plot Summary:
When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 42000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: christmas special, sweet, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, sentimental, light, atmospheric, thought provoking
Similar in 88%
Pinocchio's Christmas (1980)
Plot Summary:
Geppetto prepare for Christmas, Pinocchio joins a puppet show to earn money for a present. There he meets and elopes with the beautiful girl puppet Julietta, leaving Geppetto alone and worried.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 761
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 49 min
Plot tags: christmas special, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 90%
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)
Plot Summary:
An animated, magical, musical version of Dickens' timeless classic "A Christmas Carol." The nearsighted Mr. Magoo doesn't have a ghost of a chance as Ebenezer Scrooge, unless he learns the true meaning of Christmas from the three spirits who haunt him one Christmas Eve.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 53 min
Plot tags: christmas horror, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, christmas special
Similar in 75%
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001)
Plot Summary:
When the mysterious Toy Taker grabs all of Santa's toys, it looks like the children will miss out on Christmas. But everyone's favorite reindeer, Rudolph, comes to the rescue with his lovable friends: Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the grizzly prospector, the abominable snow monster Bumbles and Rudolph's very special friend Clarice. Together, they promise Santa they'll track down Toy Taker and rescue Santa's toy. Their incredible quest takes them on a wild adventure with Rudolph's red nose leading the way! This new family holiday favorite features the voices of Jamie Lee Curtis, Richard Dreyfuss and Rick Moranis. The soundtrack includes seven new holiday songs and features the classic original song performed by Tony Bennett. With amazing state-of-the-art animation and great new songs, kids of all ages will treasure this musical adventure forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Canada, Hong Kong
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags: christmas special, feel good, touching, humorous, stylized, semi serious, offbeat
Similar in 88%
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
Plot Summary:
Long ago the Lady Borealis placed the evil Winterbolt under a magic spell, and put the last of her magic into the nose of a newborn reindeer: Rudolph. But now Winterbolt's awake. He gives Frosty's family magic amulets to keep them from melting until the Fourth of July so that Frosty and Rudolph can help Lilly's circus and Milton can marry his girlfriend on the high-wire, and Santa will use his sleigh to make sure everybody gets back to the North Pole in time...which leaves Winterbolt alone at the North Pole on the Fourth.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: christmas special, claymation, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Jack Frost (1979)
Plot Summary:
In this delightful animated tale, Pardon-me Pete (Buddy Hackett), the official groundhog of Groundhog Day, tells the story of Jack Frost, who falls in love with a beautiful young woman and begs Father Winter to make him human so that she can see him. His request is granted, but only on the condition that by the spring he has a house, a bag of gold, a horse and a wife--a tall order! But Jack finds that life as a human is more complicated then he thought. The girl he loves is kidnapped by the evil Cossack who is threatening to destroy the entire town. But the only way that he can save her and the town is to have his magic powers back. Jack Frost is a heartwarming tale that is sure to entertain the whole family!.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 48 min
Plot tags: christmas special, claymation, exciting, touching, feel good, humorous, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 79%
A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008)
Plot Summary:
A Miser Brothers' Christmas is a sequel to the classic 1974 television special The Year Without a Santa Claus. The stop-motion animated special, produced by Warner Brothers Television Animation (owners of the post-1973 Rankin/Bass animated special library) and Toronto-based Cuppa Coffee Studios, premiered as part of ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas on December 13, 2008. Mickey Rooney reprised his role of Santa Claus, which originally debuted in the 1970 special Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, while George S. Irving reprised his role as the Heat Miser. Original music was written by William K. Anderson, with the exception of "Snow Miser/Heat Miser", which was written by Maury Laws and Jules Bass for the 1974 special. Eddie Guzelian (Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch) wrote the story and Dave Barton Thomas directed. The special was nominated for the 2008 Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, entertaining, christmas special, feel good, captivating, exciting, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011)
Plot Summary:
When Sid accidentally destroys Manny's heirloom Christmas rock and ends up on Santa's naughty list, he leads a hilarious quest to the North Pole to make things right and ends up making things much worse. Now it's up to Manny and his prehistoric posse to band together and save Christmas for the entire world!.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 26 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, not serious, 3d animation, light, christmas special, anime, computer animated, naughty
Similar in 84%
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Plot Summary:
Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his glowing nose, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudoph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks over Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Canada, Japan
Duration: 47 min
Plot tags: sweet, touching, claymation, christmas special, fairy tale, feel good, humorous, semi serious, buddy comedy, allegory
Similar in 76%
An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998)
Plot Summary:
Charlie B. Barker and Itchy Ford are back with Sasha and the gang having a Dicken's of a time as they try to save Christmas from Carface and an evil spirit that wishes to use dogs all over the world to ruin Christmas forever.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 73 min
Plot tags: christmas special, exciting, touching, feel good, humorous, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Plot Summary:
A discarded silk top-hat becomes the focus of a struggle between a washed-up stage magician and a group of schoolchildren, after it magically brings a snowman to life. Realizing that newly-living Frosty will melt in spring unless he takes refuge in a colder climate, Frosty and Karen, a young girl who he befriends, stow away on a freight train headed for the north pole. Little do they know that the magician is following them, and he wants his hat back!.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Animation, Short, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: sweet, christmas special, anime, crying, feel good, humorous, semi serious, fairy tale, sentimental, light
Similar in 84%
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
Plot Summary:
Mickey, Minnie, and their famous friends Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto gather together to reminisce about the love, magic and surprises in three wonder-filled stories of Christmas past.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, South Korea
Duration: 66 min
Plot tags: anthology, light, light hearted, christmas special, feel good, humorous, semi serious, crying, 2d animation, nostalgic
Similar in 90%
Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
Plot Summary:
It's Christmastime in the Hundred Acre Wood and all of the gang is getting ready with presents and decorations. The gang makes a list of what they want for Christmas and send it to Santa Claus - except that Pooh forgot to ask for something. So he heads out to retrieve the letter and get it to Santa by Christmas...which happens to be tomorrow!.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, France, Taiwan, South Korea
Duration: 65 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, christmas special, captivating, anthology, children's story, 2d animation
Similar in 77%
'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
Plot Summary:
When a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, intellectual, christmas special, 2d animation
Similar in 89%
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)
Plot Summary:
A postman, S.D. Kluger, decides to answer some of the most common questions about Santa Claus, and tells us about a small baby named Kris who is raised by a family of elf toymakers named Kringle. When Kris grew up, he wanted to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown. But its Mayor is too mean to let that happen. And to make things worse, the Winter Warlock who lives between the Kringles and Sombertown, but Kris manages to melt the Warlock's heart and deliver his toys.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 48 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, humorous, semi serious, sweet, christmas special, banned
Similar in 90%
Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999)
Plot Summary:
After mis-hearing a radio broadcast about Santa canceling his Christmas trip due to an injured reindeer, Olive the dog decides to travel to the North Pole and volunteer to be a replacement. Unfortunately, Olive must deal with an evil postman who's tired of handling all the extra Christmas mail. Will Martini the penguin be able to help Olive realize her dream?.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, christmas special, computer animated
Similar in 75%
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Plot Summary:
Each Christmas, Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce gifts and distribute them around the world in one night. However, when one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed ‘acceptable’ to all but one – Arthur. Arthur Claus is Santa’s misfit son who executes an unauthorized rookie mission to get the last present half way around the globe before dawn on Christmas morning.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 65000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, stylized, touching, exciting, entertaining, colorful, 3d animation, computer animated, christmas special, feel good
Similar in 76%
The Polar Express (2004)
Plot Summary:
When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 232000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: feel good, computer animated, fairy tale, 3d animation, motion capture, sentimental, stylized, christmas special, light, inspirational
Similar in 82%
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Plot Summary:
Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of the nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raids the village to steal all the Christmas things. The village is sure to have a sad Christmas this year.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 26 min
Plot tags: christmas special, colorful, atmospheric, feel good, semi serious, sweet, cult classic, humorous, fairy tale, sentimental