Not Only Klaus: 5 Lesser-Known Animated Movies With Winter Vibes & High RT Scores
Adventures of the Moomins and ancient legends come to life.
Holidays are a great excuse to take a break from rewatching your favorite animations and discover lesser-known movies that are just as good as the classics.
1. Arthur Christmas, 2011
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Santa is preparing to retire, but the well-oiled delivery system goes haywire. It turns out that one child has never received a present. Santa's youngest son, the good-natured Arthur, unexpectedly takes up the cause.
From the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, this Christmas movie lifts the veil on the mystery of how Santa manages to deliver presents to every child in the world in just one night. And it does so with excellent humor.
2. Song of the Sea, 2014
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
It's hard not to associate Song of the Sea with the winter holidays: whether it's the cold landscapes of the Irish coast or the story of two lost children, as is typical of Tomm Moore's work, both down-to-earth and fairy-tale, a story in which, like any Christmas tale, there is room for magic and miracles.
If you want to feel the melancholy and warmth of the holidays, there's no better movie. Moore will make even adults believe in ancient legends – not to mention younger viewers.
3. Moomins and the Winter Wonderland, 2017
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
Normally, the Moomins stock up on food for the winter and hibernate. But new inhabitants appear in the valley. They say that it is time to prepare for Christmas.
The little creatures have never heard of the holiday and think it is some kind of scary beast. If you greet it wrong, it will be the end of everyone. The Moomins are busy inviting guests, decorating the Christmas tree and cooking various delicacies.
The movie is made without 3D graphics: all characters are created using puppet animation. So you can just admire the charming Moomins and the detailed valley.
4. The Snowman, 1982
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
A grown man remembers how, as a child, he built a snowman, and at midnight it magically came to life. Thus began the most extraordinary Christmas adventure of the narrator's life.
The Snowman story, based on the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs, has become an integral part of British Christmas culture. It is also curious that the narrator is voiced by none other than David Bowie himself.
5. Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury, 2011
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
The action takes place some time after the events of the first full-length animated film. The Vikings are preparing to celebrate the traditional winter holiday – Snoggletog. But suddenly the dragons, which everyone has managed to tame and love, fly away from the island. Hiccup sets out to find out what is going on.
From the creators of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, this movie will tell you more about these fabulous creatures and their way of life, will definitely create a festive mood, and in between will remind you that you need to be able to let go of the ones you love.