Anime has the unique ability to transport viewers to all kinds of wonderful places, including cheerful and colorful places. This extends to holidays as well, and there are many holiday-themed animated films and episodes in this medium.
The best animated holiday movies and episodes, in no particular order, introduce the most wonderful time of the year in a brilliant way, with emotional stories and bright tones. These best animated holiday movies and episodes will help fans get into the holiday spirit.
1. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
This continues to be the quintessential animated holiday movie for fans looking to get into the holiday spirit. Created by Madhouse, this masterpiece depicts three homeless people who find a lost baby and go on a journey to find his parents. It has the right mix of gorgeous winter visuals, genuine laughs, and heartwarming moments.
2. Sword Art Online: “The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Season 1, Episode 3)
The third episode of this then-unique animated series about people trapped in a video game for their lives includes a disturbing and sinister holiday episode. With its twist on Christmas and the heartbreaking outcome of the game, this episode remains the best episode of the first few seasons.
3. Gyakuten Saiban “Gyakuten Saibanara” (Season 1, Episodes 8-12)
In this animated holiday adaptation of the popular video game series, lawyer Phoenix Wright defends his rival and former childhood friend in a gruesome murder trial set during Christmas. This is also the most powerful trial Light undergoes in the anime.
4. Aggressive Musume “We Wish You a Metal Christmas” (Special)
This holiday anime special episode, which follows Season 1, finds Retsuko even more obsessed with getting likes on Instagram instead of making plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas. This leads to an interesting look at friendship and holiday overwork.
5. Blend S “I love you!” (Episode 12)
The finale of this romantic comedy anime series concludes the series so far. Centered around romance and confessions, it’s peppered with hilarious antics, Christmas Eve meals, and fun moments throughout.
6. Cardcaptor Sakura “Sakura’s Wonderful Christmas” (Episode 35)
In this episode, the main character, Sakura, tries to think of the best gift for her friend Yukito on his special birthday this Christmas. It gives a nice, cheerful vibe to what would otherwise be a more filler-like episode.
7. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)
In this film adaptation of the animated series, everything changes around Christmas when Kyon becomes involved in mysterious events of people disappearing. He races against time to solve everything and bring Haruhi back to the Christmas party.
8. Dr. Stone: “Spartan Craft Club” (Season 1, Episode 21)
This post-apocalyptic animated series follows the return of humanity, with later episodes of season 1 covering the Christmas and holiday season. A primitive and interesting take on reinventing light bulbs and Christmas decorations for this event.
9. Horimiya “So far and from now on” (Episode 12)
The penultimate episode of season 1 of this romantic animated series follows various couples as they begin to develop feelings and interact with each other over an eventful Christmas. The piece ends with a monumental moment between the two protagonists.
10. Golden Time: “Golden Time” (Episode 24)
The final episode of this beloved classic romance series sees the protagonist deal with the final hurdle between her past self and her new amnesiac self. He has to choose which girl he ends up with, resulting in an epic and emotional Christmas episode.
11. My Love Story “My Christmas” (Episode 17)
This silly and fun romantic animated series follows two opposite teens who fall in love with each other. This later Christmas-themed episode gives a unique touch as the relationship grows and the main couple helps another young couple come together.
12. Mobile Report Gundam Wing Endless Waltz (1998)
this beloved Mobile Suit Gundam The animated series concluded with a bizarre animated film set at Christmas. A new and alarming threat threatens to destroy the peace during the most beautiful time of the year. This results in an animated holiday movie that is more dramatic and action-packed than most.
13. March Comes in Like a Lion: “The Given” (Season 1, Episode 10)
This emotional animated series and exploration of the mental health of a teenage shogi player has a captivating holiday episode. It depicts the main character, Ray, as he prepares for a Christmas game, and the trauma from a past holiday that still haunts him.
14. My Hero Academia “Have a Merry Christmas!” (Episode 101)
With so much going on in the episodes leading up to this episode, it makes sense to focus on a quieter, more relaxing break for the superhero teens. UA High School. This holiday episode lets them be kids again and stop worrying about villains ending the world.
15. Sing Yesterday (Episodes 9-10)
This classic romance series with a grown-up, serious feel takes a turn with a two-part story arc about Christmas and the holiday season. Although it has a more serious side, it feels realistic when compared to the light-hearted nature of other holiday anime episodes.
16. The Quintessential Quintuplets “Seven Farewells Part 3” (Season 2 Episode 4)
The final episode of this special story about a boy and the five quintuplets who fall in love with him sees major changes in his relationships with several of the quintuplets. The main character decides to leave his past behind and move on, and the story depicts heart-pounding holiday anime moments with the girls.
17. Rent-A-Girlfriend “Christmas and Girlfriend” (Season 1, Episode 8)
Kazuya, the protagonist of this romantic comedy anime series, stands out as one of the troubled yet cheerful protagonists in the genre. This leads into the more stalker-ish but fun Holiday Girlfriends episode where the main girl, Chizuru, grows as a character.
18. Kaguya-sama Wants to Confess ~ A love battle between geniuses ~ The never-ending first kiss (2022)
A sequel to the anime series, the film gives off a holiday-like feel as the battle between the two main characters, Kazuya and Shirogane, rages over who will confess first. This movie surprises viewers by how far the story goes.
19. Sailor Moon S Heart in Ice (1994)
Teenage superhero Sailor Moon doesn’t stop, even on Christmas, to take down bad guys. This holiday movie follows Princess Snow Kaguya, an alien villain who attempts to freeze the Earth. This leads to great development for characters like Luna and Tuxedo Mask, who transforms into Santa Claus.
20. Toradora (Episodes 17 to 19)
The eternal battle between the two protagonists, who are supposedly supposed to confess their feelings for each other, reaches its climax in this three-episode story arc centered around Holiday. This will create an even more epic and wonderful winter edition of the holiday anime.
21. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (2019)
A sequel to the animated holiday movie. bunny girl senpai The TV series is much more than the original show. The story depicts the main character, Sakuta, as he faces a turning point in his life, choosing between his first love and her current lover. This movie has some shocking moments that bring tears to your eyes, which makes it even more emotional and a great Christmas movie.
