Part of the great fun of the holiday season is revisiting our favorite Christmas specials. We all have those classics we go back to year after year, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rewatching these specials can fill you with instant nostalgia. But what’s even better is rediscovering some old favorites you’ve forgotten about.
With so many great Christmas specials throughout the years, it’s not surprising that some can get lost in time. But these underrated gems are worth seeking out around this time of year so you can relive the holiday fun all over again. Here are some forgotten Christmas specials you’ve probably already seen before.
The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Tree
The Berenstain Bears books were a staple of many people’s childhoods, but some fans might forget that they also had a few animated television adventures throughout the years. Their standout special was this charming and simple Christmas story which aired for the first time in 1979.
The story follows Papa Bear taking his young cubs on the search for the perfect Christmas tree and running into some trouble along the way. The inventive special is funny and charming while delivering a worthwhile message about thinking of others during the holidays.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is probably the most iconic and most retold Christmas story of all time. There are endless versions of the story in all kinds of mediums, which means there are several great versions that you might have forgotten all about.
One of the best versions comes courtesy of Disney with Scrooge McDuck appropriately filling the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. The special is a short but sweet retelling of the classic tale with several of your favorite Disney characters playing some of Dickens’ original characters.
The Snowman
With so many Christmas specials going for the extravagant look and feel, sometimes the smaller, more intimate stories really stand out. That is very much the case for The Snowman, a beautiful Christmas tale based on a beloved children’s book. Despite the popularity of the book, many have forgotten about this special.
The simple story follows a young boy who forms a friendship with a snowman around the holidays. The story is told without words, relying on the brilliant and unique animation style to tell this bittersweet tale.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean might be a British creation, but he has certainly made a name for himself around the world. The silent and awkward man (played by Rowan Atkinson) often finds himself obliviously getting into all kinds of bizarre situations. And his holiday escapades might be his best ever.
The special follows Bean as he goes about various Christmas activities such as buying Christmas lights, finding the perfect gift for his girlfriend and cutting down his Christmas tree. If you’re not sure if you’ve seen this special before, wait until the classic turkey scene, which is sure to jog your memory.
A Muppet Family Christmas
For most fans, A Muppets’ Christmas Carol is the go-to holiday adventure with these beloved puppets, but A Muppet Family Christmas is not to be overlooked. Long before the MCU built their own ambitious crossovers, this special brought together the Muppets, Muppet Babies, the Fraggle Rock gang and the folks from Sesame Street all together for one giant Christmas celebration.
The packed house of puppet characters makes for an extremely entertaining special filled with holiday cheer. It is quite thrilling to see all these iconic characters sharing the screen and singing some Christmas songs together.
Winnie The Pooh And Christmas Too
Winnie the Pooh is one of the most charming and lovable animated characters of all time, so it’s no wonder his Christmas special is such a treat. The story follows Pooh as he attempts to make his friends’ Christmas wishes come true after their letter to Santa goes missing. Of course, things don’t go according to plan.
The special doesn’t get replayed as often as some of the other classics, but it remains a gem that is worth seeking out. The story of friendship during the holiday season is heartwarming and the characters provide a lot of laughs and heart to the story.
The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Rankin-Bass Christmas specials are among the most beloved and rewatched Christmas specials of all time. However, while most people remember Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, they can often forget about The Year Without Santa Claus.
Despite not being as popular as those other specials, this story is equally as fun and filled with the same kind of Christmas spirit. The story follows Mrs. Claus who has to step in when Santa finds himself sick on Christmas Eve. There are lots of memorable songs and fun moments to revisit.
Star Wars Holiday Special
As divisive as some Star Wars movies might be, nothing compares to the Star Wars Holiday Special. After the wild success of the first film in 1977, this bizarre and probably ill-advised Christmas special was made with much of the original cast.
George Lucas and others seemed to realize it was a mistake and the special never aired, but that hasn’t stopped many fans from finding a way to check out the hidden film. While it might not be a “classic,” it is an interesting footnote in the Star Wars universe.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas
Disney really knows how to get into the holiday spirit, and this animated special is another example of how well they can tell these yuletide stories. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas tells three separate Christmas stories involving classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
There is a nice variety in the stories being told, each exploring some new aspect of the Christmas season and including a nice little holiday message as well. They are funny, heartfelt adventures that allow viewers to have some Christmas fun with these iconic animated characters.
It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
For many people, A Charlie Brown Christmas is the quintessential Christmas special. Perhaps because that original special is so hard to top, the second Peanuts Christmas special rarely gets the same kind of attention.
It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown revisits the classic Peanut characters in a new nostalgic story. We follow the gang as they go about their various Christmas activities and mishaps. While it might not have the same emotional punch of the original, it is a worthy follow-up that will still fill you with Christmas cheer.
