In this Movie List from The Film Magazine, we are looking at these movies in particular. The films that have spoken to us as a culture, have lasted long in our public consciousness, have been present for many a warm Christmas memory. These films are all under one hour in length – you can find our feature length selection in our 50 Unmissable Christmas Films list – and must be exclusively festive in nature. These are the most important, the most memorable, the most beloved, the 10 Best Christmas Short Films.

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10. Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Rankin/Bass are one of the most famous animated short producers in film history, their contributions to seasonal fare living long in the public consciousness of those in the United States and beyond since their releases more than fifty years ago. The animation of this production house was so beloved that Jon Favreau famously fought for it to be paid tribute to in his 2003 Christmas film Elf (a unique aspect of this contemporary live-action film that separates it from many of its competitors). Rankin/Bass’s legacy is one that continues to find fondness generation after generation.

Frosty the Snowman was the final animated short made for (and released on) television that Rankin/Bass released in their most popular decade, the 1960s, and the first of a few Rankin/Bass films to make this list.

Based on the song of the same name by Walter E. Rollins and Steve Nelson, this 1969 version of the seasonal tale is harmless and fun, animated with all the soft lines and wholesome glow of the best Rankin/Bass films. It tells of a snowman and a small girl being pursued by a magician for the snowman’s magic hat, and aside from a few slightly scary scenes offers all the warmth and heart of the season.

Recommended for you: 5 Reasons ‘Elf’ Is a Gen Z Christmas Classic

9. Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999)

This uniquely animated Christmas musical released by Fox Television and Flower Films just before the turn of the century is as star-studded as it is lovely.

Based on the 1997 children’s book of the same name by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold, which in turn was based on the misunderstanding of the lyric “all of the other reindeer” as “Olive, the other reindeer” in the Christmas song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, Olive, the Other Reindeer follows Drew Barrymore’s titular Jack Russell Terrier who travels to the north pole to help pull Santa’s sleigh when it is discovered that Blitzen is injured and unable to fly.

Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, the seasonal short is stylish and beautifully brought to life by the voice actors, with the type of story that will bring plenty of smiles to faces, especially at Christmas. There’s even a song by Blitzen’s cousin Schnitzel, voiced by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. What more could you need?

In this edition of Ranked, we at The Film Magazine will take you through each of these thirteen feature film releases, ordering all of the now defunct studio’s movies from worst to best in terms of artistic merit and cultural importance. These are, the Blue Sky Studios Animated Movies Ranked.

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13. Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)

Budget: $105million
Worldwide Box Office: $408.6million
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Stephanie Beatriz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Adam Devine, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Offerman, Keke Palmer, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Seann William Scott, Michael Strahan, Wanda Sykes

In making less than half of the $877million its predecessor made, Ice Age: Collision Course inevitably became the final ever instalment of the central Ice Age franchise.

Unfortunately, this meant the series went out with a whimper, as Collision Course was a shallow and perhaps even hollow presentation of the characters, voices and animation that the studio had so wonderfully delivered in its past.

Blue Sky finally reached the bottom of the creative barrel with this one, offering by far their poorest release.

12. Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)

Budget: $95million
Worldwide Box Office: $877million
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Aziz Ansari, Peter Dinklage, Drake, Nick Frost, Josh Gad, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Keke Palmer, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Seann William Scott, Patrick Stewart, Wanda Sykes, Alan Tudyk, Rebel Wilson

Ice Age: Continental Drift Review

Ice Age 4 (Continental Drift) marked an important moment for Blue Sky Studios as the film came in the height of the studio’s popularity and their central franchise’s popular appeal, yet on the cusp of their downward trend.

It was, officially, the second highest-grossing movie in the history of the studio, yet it can be seen so clearly to define the very reason as to why Blue Sky struggled to bring audiences to their movies in the years that followed.

Continental Drift was the first sign of the studio beginning to lose creative credibility, turning to another sequel to bring audiences back to their product in the name of money. This time however, there wasn’t such universal appeal to the film as had occurred elsewhere; an issue that turned a lot of audiences away from the franchise following this film’s release. To adults, Ice Age had finally began to suffer from accidental self-parody, one of the least respectable traits of any film/franchise.

It was better than Ice Age 5 because it held a sense of nostalgia for the characters and their journeys, but Continental Drift still only ranks at number 12, in the 2nd lowest position on this list.