Best Cartoon Series Holiday Episodes

If there is a time when we can be kids again this is the Christmas period.

There are gifts, sweets, the family reunited, good feelings, fairy tales, a certain magic in the air. What’s missing? A healthy dose of black humor and cynicism in cartoon version.

So why not watch some Christmas-themed episodes of cartoon TV series? nss suggests the best 10.

 

BoJack Horseman “Christmas Special: Sabrina’s Christmas Wish” 

No one escapes to Christmas.

Not even the series created by Raphael Bob-Wakberg which tells the story of a former actor-horse with a brilliant mix of cynicism, black humor, narcissism, failure, drugs, alcoholism, depression, ...

And when December 25 arrives, also Todd arrives at BoJack’s house with a giant Christmas candy and Christmas episode of Horsin’ Around the fictitious situation comedy in which the horse adopts three kids and tells their life together.

 

Rick e Morty “Anatomy Park” (S01E03)

Rick e Morty is one of the most popular animated series of the last years. In this episode, the Christmas party is an excuse to introduce a dysfunctional family, but also to make an incredible journey inside the body of a homeless man. In this non-place Rick has to save the Anatomy Park, where all the pathogens of the planet are collected.

Definitely an alternative Christmas.

 

The Simpsons: “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire” (S01E01) 

In over 25 years of programming, the Simpsons have collected a large number of Christmas episodes: from the one in which Lisa becomes Buddhist as a reaction to the consumerism of the holidays that in which Bart snags a videogame that Marge had not wanted to buy him, from the one dedicated to the future Christmas to the one in which Homer steals all presents and is attacked by an angry mob.

The must-see episode among them? The very first of the series entitled “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire” in which, after a long adventure and a failed job as Santa Claus, Homer brings home the Santa's Little Helper, who will become the family dog.

 

American Dad! “For Whom The Sleigh Bell Tolls” (S06E08)

And if your son accidentally killed Santa Claus?

So expect a hard revenge from his elves.

That’s what happens in the sixth season to Stan when he gives Steve a shotgun. To escape the battle against an army of fierce elves take refuge in the mountains, but the battle is inevitable and bloody.

Fun fact: the original title of the episode For Whom the Sleigh Bell Tolls is a clear reference to the almost homonymous work of Ernest Hemmingway For Whom the Bell Tolls, but also to the song of Metallica inspired by it.

 

Spongebob Squarepants “Christmas Who?” (S02E28)

There is no Christmas at Bikini Bottom.

Not even SpongeBob has even heard of it, but when Sandy tells him the story and the voice spreads among the other inhabitants, everyone wants to celebrate.

Everyone except Squidward.

In the end will Santa Claus and the magic of parties succeed in reaching the bottom of the sea?

Cult moment: The very first Christmas song.

 

South Park “Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo” (S01E09)

Can a poop with Santa Claus hat remain in history and camp on t-shirts or sweatshirts even of cool brands like HUF?

Well yes.

At least if the bizarre character is part of South Park the cartoon series created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

In the ninth episode of the first season when parents ask that religious elements be omitted from the Christmas play Kyle suggests the figure of Mr. Hankey aka Christmas poop.

Genial or insane?

 

Futurama “Xmas Story”(S02E04)

In the future Santa Claus is no longer a kind man with a white beard who brings presents, but has become a robot that sows death and destruction.

For Fry, the first December 25th in the year 3000 turns out to be more traumatic than expected.

The only consolation is to sing in chorus: 

“He knows when you are sleeping,

He knows when you’re on the can,

He’ll hunt you down and blast your ass from here to Pakistan!

Oh

You better not breathe, you better not move!

You’re better off dead, I’m telling you, dude.

Santa Claus is gunning you down!”

 

Daria “Depth Takes A Holiday” (S03E03)

Among the many 90s TV series to watch there is absolutely Daria.

The show focused on Daria Morgendorffer, witty girl, nonconformist, the monotonous voice and the lack of propensity for socialization is still today a very modern character, just as her sarcastic jokes and dark humor are always current.

In one episode the bespectacled brunette meets a kind of all star team of holidays: Cupid (the spirit of Valentine’s Day), a Leprechaun (the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day), Christmas, Halloween and Guy Fawkes Day.

 

Adventure Time “Holly Jolly Secrets”(S03E19-E20)

Adventure Time is the most lysergic cartoon in circulation, but it is not immune to the tradition of the episodes dedicated to the holiday season.

In the third season Finn and Jake find a suitcase containing secret videos of King Ice and, watching them, they discover the story of

Simon Petrikov, an antique dealer who, after having made up his mind a magical crown has begun to lose sanity and himself, to become ...