In these stop-motion Christmas movies and specials, the snow has texture and the reindeer leave actual little tracks. The older Rankin/Bass productions use puppets and miniature sets. Later films and shorts push the…
Items 27 The creator’s order
1 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) ★ 8.0 IMDb Released Dec 6, 1964 Start with the 1964 Rankin/Bass puppet special. Rudolph’s bright nose first keeps him out of the reindeer games and later changes which route Santa can fly. The snow sets, songs, and Island of Misfit Toys make this the most familiar reference point for the style. 0 2 Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) ★ 7.7 IMDb Released Dec 13, 1970 A mailman puppet tells the story of how Kris Kringle starts delivering toys. The young man’s plans have to get past a town that bans them and a powerful Winter Warlock. Look for the 1970 Rankin/Bass special, which builds an origin story from its many practical obstacles. 0 3 The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) ★ 7.7 IMDb Released Dec 10, 1974 Santa considers staying home, so Mrs. Claus and a pair of elves look for signs that people still care about the holiday. The 1974 puppet special puts opposing weather spirits into the same search. The songs and miniatures give the Heat Miser and Snow Miser very different worlds. 0 4 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) ★ 7.9 IMDb Released Oct 9, 1993 Jack Skellington brings a Halloween Town idea of Christmas back to the people who have to build his presents. The stop-motion feature’s snow and colored lights look extravagant against the skeletons and crooked rooftops. It suits viewers who like their holiday movie a little spooky. 0 5 The Little Drummer Boy (1968) ★ 6.9 IMDb Released Dec 19, 1968 Aaron has little to offer when he reaches the Nativity, but he has his drum. This 1968 Rankin/Bass puppet special makes a Christmas song into a short story about what a child can give. It includes loss and cruelty before reaching its gentler ending. 0 6 Robin Robin (2021) ★ 7.0 IMDb Released Oct 9, 2021 A robin raised by mice wants to be able to sneak into kitchens as quietly as they do. The Aardman special builds a small Christmas journey out of felt figures, a wish, and a very large world from a bird’s height. A cat supplies its main scare. 0 7 Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas (2014) ★ 5.4 IMDb Released Dec 16, 2014 This stop-motion television special gives Buddy’s trip to New York the staging and songs of a short musical. Take it when you want a compact version of the story about enthusiasm meeting a much less enthusiastic city. 0 8 Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2021) ★ 7.2 IMDb Released Dec 3, 2021 A search for a bigger stocking leaves one little sheep farther from home than the flock intended. Aardman uses miniature rooms and the sheep’s habit of acting together to tell a mostly dialogue-free Christmas rescue. 0 9 Alien Xmas (2020) ★ 6.3 IMDb Released Nov 20, 2020 An alien arrives to steal Earth’s gravity and comes across a Christmas operation with a lot of generosity to spare. This is an outer-space alternative to the old North Pole specials, with small woolly shapes and mechanical surprises forming the stop-motion world. 0 10 It's a SpongeBob Christmas! (2012) ★ 7.2 IMDb Released Oct 20, 2012 Plankton tries to change how Santa judges Bikini Bottom by convincing other residents to behave more like him. The Nickelodeon holiday special uses stop-motion for its undersea Christmas lights, fruitcake, and comic experiments with who seems naughty. 0 
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)Released Dec 6, 1964Start with the 1964 Rankin/Bass puppet special. Rudolph’s bright nose first keeps him out of the reindeer games and later changes which route Santa can fly. The snow sets, songs, and Island of Misfit Toys make this the most familiar reference point for the style.0
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)Released Dec 13, 1970A mailman puppet tells the story of how Kris Kringle starts delivering toys. The young man’s plans have to get past a town that bans them and a powerful Winter Warlock. Look for the 1970 Rankin/Bass special, which builds an origin story from its many practical obstacles.0
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)Released Dec 10, 1974Santa considers staying home, so Mrs. Claus and a pair of elves look for signs that people still care about the holiday. The 1974 puppet special puts opposing weather spirits into the same search. The songs and miniatures give the Heat Miser and Snow Miser very different worlds.0
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)Released Oct 9, 1993Jack Skellington brings a Halloween Town idea of Christmas back to the people who have to build his presents. The stop-motion feature’s snow and colored lights look extravagant against the skeletons and crooked rooftops. It suits viewers who like their holiday movie a little spooky.0
The Little Drummer Boy (1968)Released Dec 19, 1968Aaron has little to offer when he reaches the Nativity, but he has his drum. This 1968 Rankin/Bass puppet special makes a Christmas song into a short story about what a child can give. It includes loss and cruelty before reaching its gentler ending.0
Robin Robin (2021)Released Oct 9, 2021A robin raised by mice wants to be able to sneak into kitchens as quietly as they do. The Aardman special builds a small Christmas journey out of felt figures, a wish, and a very large world from a bird’s height. A cat supplies its main scare.0
Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas (2014)Released Dec 16, 2014This stop-motion television special gives Buddy’s trip to New York the staging and songs of a short musical. Take it when you want a compact version of the story about enthusiasm meeting a much less enthusiastic city.0
Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2021)Released Dec 3, 2021A search for a bigger stocking leaves one little sheep farther from home than the flock intended. Aardman uses miniature rooms and the sheep’s habit of acting together to tell a mostly dialogue-free Christmas rescue.0
Alien Xmas (2020)Released Nov 20, 2020An alien arrives to steal Earth’s gravity and comes across a Christmas operation with a lot of generosity to spare. This is an outer-space alternative to the old North Pole specials, with small woolly shapes and mechanical surprises forming the stop-motion world.0
It's a SpongeBob Christmas! (2012)Released Oct 20, 2012Plankton tries to change how Santa judges Bikini Bottom by convincing other residents to behave more like him. The Nickelodeon holiday special uses stop-motion for its undersea Christmas lights, fruitcake, and comic experiments with who seems naughty.0