Between November and December is the time of the year where TV Networks, apps, and websites try to promote Christmas specials. There are tons of movies and shows to choose from across all walks of life. There are longtime classics for kids like A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Then there are things more for adults set around Christmas without that traditional holiday spirit such as Die Hard and Krampus. What about anime? There aren’t many original programs to speak of but there are plenty of holiday-related episodes from big anime shows that may be worth a visit during Christmas.
8 Pokemon
“Holiday Hi-Jinx” is an early season one episode of the anime that is non-cannon. The Pokemon Jinx is established as Santa’s little helper instead of elves. Jinx somehow drifts away from Santa so Ash and the gang agree to help it reach its home again.
Team Rocket gets mixed up in all of this as usual. Jessie had some trauma with Jinx as a child. The craziest part of this episode is that Santa is a real person. Instead of reindeer, he uses one Rapidash. This was before the series had any deer-like Pokemon like Stantler.
7 Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko: We Wish You a Metal Christmas is a special that premiered after season one of the anime. It’s longer than a traditional episode but only marginally. It also takes place directly after the finale.
In it, Retsuko gets addicted to Instagram. She is too busy focusing on establishing cute shots that she doesn’t have time to make Christmas plans. The best part of the episode is her metal song about Instagram but there are fun holiday themes to take away from this special too.
6 Detective Conan
“The Detective Boys in a Grove“ is a two-part episode of Detective Conan, or Case Closed as it is known in the West. It’s in the 800s which is well past where the English dub stopped around the 200s. Thankfully they are at least releasing subtitled versions.
The episode begins with Conan, the professor, and his young detective club all going to a mall. It’s set during Christmas so there are decorations everywhere. There are even mall Santa workers. It begins with a heavy Christmas theme but loses that idea once the attempted murder happens. It’s a good mystery and may at least get viewers in the mood for the holiday even without explicit themes throughout.
5 Sgt. Frog
“The Space Frog Who Stole Christmas!” is the first half of the usual double-sided episodes. It’s the first Christmas for the alien frog conquerors. Upon hearing about gift exchange traditions, the Sgt. decides he wants to steal every present in the world.
He will then sell everything they acquire so that they can all pay off their debt to their froggy overlords. All of his platoon bounces, thinking the idea is too cold-spirited. The Sgt. also has a change of heart when he finds out being good may bring him gifts from Santa albeit a Santa with tentacles. It’s a fun parody throughout.
4 The Big O
“Daemonseed” is all about Heaven’s Day. This is The Big O’s version of Christmas and Roger is his usual cranky self who pretends not to care about the holidays. On his shopping exercises, Roger runs into Oliver, a street-performing saxophone jazz player. All Oliver wants for his holiday is to buy his girlfriend a present.
He gets a jewel from a mysterious Santa-looking figure which turns out to be a trap. Big O then bursts onto the scene to save the day. It’s not the most exciting episode of the anime as Roger only fights vines, but the story and holiday themes are touching.
3 Shaman King (2021)
“Chocolove’s Christmas” or “Joco’s Christmas” in the Western version since they changed his name, is toward the end of the first season of the reboot of Shaman King. This continue’s Joco’s match from the previous episode. When he is having trouble, the anime then flashes back to Joco’s past. Tragically, his family was murdered on Christmas which then turned him into a hardened criminal.
Later on in life, he is visited by a mysterious old man on Christmas who looks a little like Saint Nick. This old man takes Joco under his wing and teaches Joco the way of the fighting comedian. It’s a tragic backstory juxtaposed next to one of the jolliest holidays around the globe. It’s a reminder that not every Christmas is as magical as the storybooks.
2 Yo-kai Watch
“Christmas Blackout” is a third season episode of the monster-catching adjacent anime. For those that have never watched Yo-kai Watch, this is an underrated gem. It is billed for kids but the writing and puns are top-notch. Whisper, Nate’s ghost butcher, turns into an angel from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
There is even accompanying music. It gets more wild from there. Nate has to appease a bunch of electrical ghosts who are on strike on Christmas. They want to see Thomas Edison. Can Nate fix the electricity problem in time for the Christmas lights show to begin?
1 Sword Art Online
“The Red-Nosed Reindeer” is an early episode in the first season of the anime. The first half shows Kirito finally joining a guild. However, the good times soon end when everyone dies. On Christmas, the game puts on an event.
There is a rumor going around that the event’s boss, Nicholas the Renegade who looks like a demon version of Santa, has an item that can revive the dead. Kirito wants to get it to revive one of his guild members but all is not what it seems. This episode of Sword Art Online has a tragic middle and a bittersweet finale. It’s not a full Christmas episode but the themes are needed to balance out the more comedic anime out there.