By Matthew Bento Jr. , 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

For all who are reading and watching, starting on December 14 2022, I will be posting a new article each day reviewing Christmas specials, all leading to Christmas day. Here are some of the rules of the listing as shown below

1. I will only count one special per franchise.

2. I will not count the holiday specials that do not connect to a show but are freestanding. Examples are Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish and the stop-motion Spongebob Special.

3. I can't promise that I can get the articles done on time each day. But I do hope to complete all the articles before New Year's. 

So please enjoy the articles and if you celebrate it, have a good Christmas.

By Matthew Bento Jr., '26

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

For our top spot, is the famous SpongeBob Squarepants Special, “Christmas Who?”

Synopsis: After learning about Christmas, SpongeBob shares his new-found knowledge about Bikini Bottom.

Review: This basically writes itself. The music is the true highlight, and more importantly, the song “The Very First Christmas To Me.” it is a literal classic that may be more famous than songs like “Snow Miser” and “Heat Miser” from "The Year Without a Santa Claus." Not to mention the background music and how well it fits into the scene and situation. The holiday vibe is apparent and is centered around the plot, which is original and well thought out. We see sides of the main cast we don’t really see that much in the regular SpongeBob shows. For example, we see that Squidward is generous and caring. We also got to see a melancholy side to SpongeBob. Lastly, the comedy is impressive and fits into the story well.

Summary: The music takes the cake in this episode. The holiday vibe was evident and is central to the plot. 

Music: 7/7

Holiday Vibe: 7/7

Story: 7/7

Comedy: 7/7

By Matthew Bento Jr., '26

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

For the 2nd place spot on our list, we have the 2nd Christmas special from the Cuphead Show, “A Very Devil Christmas.”

Synopsis: It’s Christmastime in Inkwell Isles, and the Devil plans to get on Santa’s nice list to get a toy train.

Review: The music was incredible. The devil’s song ("Brings out the devil in me") captures the feeling of a Disney Christmas song. The holiday vibe was everywhere and had that 1930s cartoon style. It was also quite funny. The devil was the true highlight. The writing was excellent and kind of reminded me of, and was possibly inspired by, "The Santa Clause." It also showed a lot of character development for the devil.  Lastly, the animation was detailed and well done, especially with the devil’s transformation.

Summary: The music was great with the holiday vibe shown very clearly. The comedy was hilarious, and the writing was fantastic. The animation was done with care.

Music: 7/7

Holiday Vibe: 7/7

Comedy: 7/7

Writing: 7/7

Perfect Score!

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

For the #3 spot on our list, we have the infamous Adventure Time episode, "Holly Jolly Secrets."

Synopsis: After finding a briefcase full of Ice King’s video tapes, Finn and Jake try to uncover any secrets inside these tapes. However, Ice King has other plans.

Review: The heartfelt moments…I don’t even know where to start. We got to see the tragedy of Ice King’s past and it showed us a character drowned in insanity. Tom Kenney did an incredible job voice-acting Ice King in the reveal scene at the end. The writing was fantastic! There was a great plot twist that no one even saw coming, and it created some heartfelt moments. The comedy was hilarious. Ice King really stole the show with his wacky antics, especially when he tried to sing Marceline’s song while wearing a black wig. The holiday vibe was obvious throughout the entire episode. The action however was only brief and didn’t reveal much. But it was worth it to see this level of writing and comedy.

Review: Although there wasn't much action, the writing, heartfelt moments, and comedy stole the show. All of that plus the holiday vibe made it worth it.

Heartfelt Moments: 7/7

Writing: 7/7

Comedy: 7/7

Holiday Vibe: 6/7

Action: 1/7

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

Coming in at the 6th spot on our list is the infamous "Pinky and the Brain Christmas."

Synopsis: Brain has come up with a new plan to go to the North Pole and put his mind control toys on every list wish in order to hypnotize the world. As for Pinky, all he wants is to bring his wish list to Santa on time.

Review: Fun fact: The voice actors for Pinky and the Brain cried while recording the final scenes. With that and the fact that the episode won a primetime Emmy Award, I already knew that this episode would be a good one. The heartfelt moments in the final scene where Brain reads Pinky’s letter say it all. The writing in the episode was incredibly poetic and moving. And the music enhances the final scenes, making them even more moving. The holiday vibe is felt throughout the entire episode, but the heartwarming feelings and writing outshine the rest. 

Summary: This may be one of the greatest episodes of Pinky and the Brain. We get to see how much Brain does care for Pinky and vice versa. We also witness a side of Brain we rarely see and it is FANTASTIC! I absolutely adore this episode!

Heartwarming Feelings: 7/7

Writing: 7/7

Music: 7/7

Holiday Vibe: 7/7

Perfect Score!

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

For the 7th spot on our list is the Amphibia Christmas special, "Froggy Little Christmas."

Synopsis: For Christmas, Anne tries to surprise her mom by trying to put her float in the Christmas parade. Meanwhile, Andrais has other plans.

Review: This is one of my favorite Amphibia episodes. First thing first, the music was phenomenal. When this episode gets a song written and sung by Rebecca Sugar herself, then you know that it’s good. There weren’t many heartwarming scenes except for the ending. The holiday vibe, however, was felt all throughout the episode. The action was maybe a bit fast, but the comedy was incredible, with humorous scenes and unique facial expressions that really sealed the deal.

Summary: Most of the episode was incredible, especially the music. The heartwarming scenes were few but still a little bit satisfying. And in spite of the action being fast, it was still pretty good.

Music: 7/7

Heartwarming Scenes: 4/7

Holiday Vibe: 7/7

Action: 6/7

Comedy: 7/7

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

For the 9th spot on this list, we have the Steven Universe special, "Three Gems and a Baby," a special loved by fans.

Synopsis: Greg informs Steven about the blizzard that hit Beach City fourteen years ago and his first winter with Steven.

Review: I enjoyed the episode to an extent. We got to see how the Crystal Gems cope with Rose’s death, observing how her death impacted each member of the team and Greg. Some of the effects would be felt for a long time.  I also appreciated the breadcrumbs of foreshadowing coming up to the final few episodes of the show like the razor Garnet gave baby Steven and Pearl's way of trying to “free” Rose. There were some heartwarming scenes showing Greg and the other gems. The music was phenomenal and the song of the episode ("I Could Never Be Ready") was incredible, as was the writing. Some people can relate to this episode if they have lost someone and it’s their first Christmas without them.

Summary: Although it does not have any holiday vibe to it, the good writing and heartfelt moments really shine. For me, it was hard because this is my first Christmas without my Grandmother. That’s why I could relate so well. 

Heartfelt Moments:7/7

Music:6/7

Writing:7/7

Holiday Vibe:1/7

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK 

In the 8th spot on the list is the 2nd Big City Greens special, "Virtually Christmas," one of the newest specials of the twelve featured here.

Synopsis: After Cricket is snowed in at the Remington's, the Greens must attempt to make their Christmas traditions happen in virtual reality.

Review: One of the main reasons why I put this special on the list and not the other one from the series is because of the animation style. For the scene in virtual reality, they give us 3D animation. It was vibrant and smooth, reflecting the creator's time and effort. The holiday vibe was evident throughout the episode. But the heartfelt moments were mediocre. It couldn't really connect. But for those who may be far away from home, separated from their loved ones for Christmas, they may be able to relate. Also, anyone who lived through Covid-19 might find some connections. The plot was original. Some characters' storylines, such as Tilly's and Bill’s, were pretty good. However, the virtual reality story felt like a summary of Minecraft.

Summary: The animation was the highlight of this episode for me. The Christmas theme did go all out, but the 3D animation was the true highlight. Although the heartfelt moments were just ok for me, some others may relate to this more. 

Animation: 7/7

Holiday Vibe: 7/7

Heartfelt Moments: 3/7

Writing: 5/7

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

For the 11th spot on our list is the “My Little Pony” Christmas special, which is a parody of Charles Dickens’ famous “A Christmas Carol.”

Synopsis: When Starlight doesn’t feel like celebrating Hearth’s Warming, Twilight tells her about the story of Snowfall Frost and how she almost destroyed the holiday.

Review: After watching the episode again, I have to say that this was a good one overall. I do love how each of the show's characters fits into the story line. Luna is the Ghost of Hearth's Warming Future and Starlight Glimmer is Snowfall Frost (The Scrooge of this story). They are in these roles because of their past choices and history throughout the series. The writing is phenomenal, fully  showing the Christmas Carol story plotline. My only quibble with this episode was that there is no Tiny Tim plot like the original movie. However, since this is a children's show made for a demographic that probably hasn’t even heard of the meaning of death yet, I can understand why. It is also a musical which is the 4th one in the series overall. The songs were catchy and fit the characters well.

Summary: The music and writing were great. Back when I saw the sneak peek of this episode back at my grandmother's, I did find the music very catchy. It was somewhat enjoyable, even to older audiences. Even after many years, this generation of the show hasn’t lost its charm.

Heartfelt Moments: 4/7

Music: 7/7

Writing: 6/7

Holiday Vibe:7/7

By: Matthew Bento Jr., 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK

Synopsis: After “Sector V” breaks into Santa’s workshop, Santa’s Elfa Strike Squad attacks our heroes.

Review: I do recall watching and enjoying this special before and enjoyed the references to Marvel superheroes such as the X-Men and Fantastic Four. It also included references to Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, and others. The action scenes were pretty entertaining. They perfectly used those scenes to introduce the characters and their abilities. And most Christmas specials don’t have fight scenes.

The writing of this episode was mostly good but not perfect, although there was a touching moment in the end. But it was mainly fight scenes to fill in the time. However, there was still a holiday vibe, even with the Marvel references and battle scenes.

Summary: This episode was par at best. The loose holiday connection and fight scenes were at least a bit enjoyable. And the new characters were creative Christmas counterparts to the heroes of the Marvel universe. 

Heartfelt Moments: 4/7

Writing: 5/7

Holiday Vibe: 7/7

Action: 6/7

By Matthew Bento Jr. , 2026

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL ALREADY, GO CHECK IT OUT AND COME BACK! 

For our 12th spot (counting down from 12 to 1) on our list is the first “Ducktales” reboot Christmas special: “Last Christmas.” 

Synopsis: In order to escape his family on Christmas, Scrooge travels in time with the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. However, Dewey travels along with him and teams up with the past child versions of Donald and his mother, Della Duck.

Review: After rewatching the episode, I really enjoyed this. The thought of them bringing in Jack McBrayer to voice the Ghost of Christmas Past was incredible. Seeing Dewey bond with younger Donald and Della was heartwarming. And the scenes just with Donald and Della were even more heartfelt. This episode also showed how Scrooge grew as a character. At first, he was just a loner that didn't care for his family after an incident involving the Spear of Selene, a spaceship from the 2017 “Ducktales” series. But now, he accepts his family and that he should spend Christmas with them.

Summary: After watching, it does show Scrooge’s growth. Although he showed personal growth in past episodes, here it is obvious to all. The heartwarming feel of this episode draws viewers in. I placed this as #12 because compared to the other picks on this list, it is not as compelling. Stay tuned for the other 11 picks!

Heartfelt Moments: 5/7

Music: 6/7

Writing: 6/7

Holiday Feels: 7/7

By Matthew Bento Jr.,  '26

Disclaimer: This is part of the reviewers "12 Specials of Christmas animated movies." It is not an endorsement of any particular religion or belief system. 

Spoiler Protection: 6/7

When you’re a normal girl living in another world, you just gotta ribbit, ribbit jump on in it. Amphibia is a Disney Channel animated show made by Matt Braly.

Synopsis: After opening a mysterious music box, Anee Boonchuy (voiced by Brenda Song) and her friends are teleported into a world of frogs and then separated. Anne is teleported into the town of Wartwood and taken in by the Plantars, including the Adventuring Sprig Plantar (Justin Feilbinger), the chaotic and deadly Polly Plantar (Amanda Leighton), and the old-fashioned grandfather Hop Pop (Bill Farmer). But is there more to Amphibia than meets the eye?

Review: I have been watching this series since its prime in season 2. I fell in love with this show! The comedy is hilarious and relatable. The voice acting is amazing. But it is the voice talents of Bill Farmer that sealed the deal. It even brought Alex Hirsch back for a Gravity Falls crossover.

The animation of this show is an incredible piece of work at times. It looks a bit more well done in some scenes and sometimes helps the comedy and story as well. But the real highlight of the show is its writing. The story and character development are excellent throughout the series, especially in seasons 2 and 3. At times it isn’t afraid to get dark to the point that it shows a trigger warning at the beginning of one episode for its intense final scenes.

Summary: This is one of Disney Channel's best-animated cartoon masterpieces so far. Even if you don’t watch a lot of cartoons, I highly recommend that you watch this masterpiece.

My Rating

Story:7/7

Animation: 7/7

Comedy: 7/7

Voice Acting: 7/7