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?

1. White Christmas (1954) by Michael Curtiz

In this lovely film, two ex soldiers Bob (Bing Crosby) and Phil (Danny Kaye) decide to form a sing and dance duo after returning to the States following the war, and they manage to establish their own production company. By pretending to be her brother, ex-sergeant ‘freckle-faced’ Haynes, who was part of the same division as Bob and Phil during the war and is played by Vera Ellen, writes them a letter to gain their help. In doing so however, she also lies to her sister Betty (Rosemary Clooney) who is completely in the dark about Judy’s cunning expedient. Once Bob and Phil go to the sisters’ show, they are impressed by their talents and beauty, and they eventually help them to get a train ticket to Vermont where the sisters are to perform during the holidays. In the end, they all travel together to get to Vermont and stay at the Columbia Inn, but when they arrive there is no snow in “The winter playground of America” and worse yet, no customers – the Inn actually seems ready to be shut down. Bob and Phil quickly learn that the Inn’s owner is their former army General Thomas F. Waverly (Dean Jagger) and they decide to help him regain some custom. In the midst of it all, the four main characters fall in love and successfully manage to help their old army comrade bring his business back on track, all the while reinforcing how important and respected he is in the eyes of those who served with him.

This film conveys a very heartwarming message – and a very appropriate one to the atmosphere of Christmas – as it shows loyalty, solidarity and friendship, all exemplified by the kind and gratuitous acts the two protagonists perform towards their former General but also towards the sisters. The soundtrack features the famous hit ‘White Christmas’, which was first performed by Crosby in the film ‘Holiday Inn’ (1942) by Mark Sandrich.

2. The Miracle on 34^th Street (the 20^th Century Fox Hour) (1955) by Robert Stevenson

Kris Kringle (Thomas Mitchell) is hired by Macy’s to work as Santa Claus in their store in New York and it soon becomes apparent that he believes himself to be the real Father Christmas. Doris Walker (Teresa Wright) also works in the store; she doesn’t believe in Santa, is skeptical about the holidays in general and worries about allowing her daughter Susan (Sandy Dasher) to believe in anything that she can’t actually see or touch. Her policy is to believe in reality: cold, hard, facts. After several occurrences come to prove that Kringle is Santa Claus, Doris eventually believes him, finding help in Fred Gaily (Macdonald Carey) – who is secretly in love with her – when Kringle is fired from his job and in need of a home. Despite the tribulations, Kringle is officially believed to be Santa by the end of the film and Susan gets her Christmas wish of a new home. The lovely Santa also helps matters with Susan’s family and helps Fred and Doris to finally get together. This film, which was a remake of the original 1947 version, embodies all the good sentiments Christmas should bring and in a way ‘redeems’ the skeptical Doris, leaving everyone happy and joyful.

3. Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) by Burny Mattinson

This is, to me, the more traditional version of a popular Christmas tale that all people and especially children should know. I remember watching this 1983 version when I was a child and simply loving it. It is an adaptation – entirely animated – of Charles Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol” about Ebenezer Scrooge: a curt, old man that hates everything related to Christmas. In this version, Mickey Mouse and Scrooge McDuck portray Bob Cratchit and Ebenezer Scrooge respectively, with voice actors Wayne Allwine and Alan Young lending their voices to the characters.

Scrooge shuns everyone on Christmas eve and refuses his nephew’s invitation to have dinner with his family. As a result of this, he heads for a night alone before receiving a visit from his late business partner Marley, who warns him about the consequences of his behaviour. Afterwards, three spirits visit him: the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present and the ghost of Christmas future. As a consequence of these visits, and of what the spirits show him, Scrooge repents his ways and vows to make amends. It is a hopeful message of redemption that never gets old, tied up in a wonderful piece of Disney animation that makes it perhaps the most family friendly of all of these fantastically family friendly films.

Happy Christmas!