That is why I believe a well-chosen collection of animated films is a true Christmas gift. I can only recommend five such cartoons that can be found on the shelves of our library.
The Polar Express (2004)
Who doesn’t want to visit the legendary city of elves and Santa Claus?
Although relatively recent, this animated film about Santa Claus’s world carries a strong sense of mystery that accompanies the unmistakable spirit of the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. While the story does not reach the level of a masterpiece like Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, it remains engaging and captivating.
On Christmas Eve, a sleepless boy sees a steam locomotive arrive on his street and goes outside to investigate. He discovers that it is the Polar Express, bound for the North Pole, and decides to join the journey. Along the way, he meets other children, including a girl who has lost her ticket. While trying to return it to her, he loses it between the train cars, but in the end he succeeds in finding it and giving it back.
After many adventures, an unforgettable meeting with a truly majestic Santa leaves all of us—young and old—speechless. How could it be otherwise? Finally, on Christmas morning, the boy receives as a gift the very bell that fell from one of Santa’s reindeer’s reins. He is the only one who can hear it ring—do I really have to add that this is because he is the only one who truly believes in Santa?
Song of the Sea (2014)
One of the great discoveries of recent years has been the animated films created by the Irishman Thomas Moore and his team. Last year I presented their first creation, The Secret of Kells (2009); this year I will speak about their second, equally wonderful and successful film.
Song of the Sea is a modern Irish fairy tale set in the 20th century, deeply rooted in Celtic and Irish mythology—especially the folklore of selkies, the seal-people who can shed their skins and become human.
Ten-year-old Ben and his six-year-old sister Saoirse live with their widowed father, Conor, in a lighthouse on a lonely island off the Irish coast. Their father, a devoted lighthouse keeper, is devastated by the loss of his wife. Saoirse has never spoken a word and is believed to be mute; and Ben would much rather spend time with his loyal dog, Cu, than look after his little sister, as he is expected to. When their grandmother attempts to “rescue” them by taking them to Dublin, the children escape and set off on a journey back to the lighthouse. Along the way, they find themselves immersed in many of the fantastical stories their mother once told them.
The mythological world of the film exists alongside the everyday one—one of the cartoon’s greatest strengths. Some might be tempted to call it an “urban fantasy,” but in reality it is an ancient story placed within a modern context. The mythic elements become a metaphorical meditation on grief and its power to drain us of vitality and connection to the world.
The film’s enchanting atmosphere is shaped by its slow pace and subtle tone, encouraging viewers to savor moments of peace and beauty and to open themselves to wonder and mystery. The visuals are beautifully simple, the music is balanced and integral to the story, and the narrative is heartfelt and sincere, making it easily accessible to children.
Song of the Sea was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Up (2009)
It is very difficult to decide whether this film is meant for adults or children. Perhaps the simplest answer is that it is for everyone. Adults will discover themes worth reflecting upon—the ups and downs of life—while children will be thrilled by the adventures of the house that flies using balloons.
Carl is an elderly widower harassed by a corporation that wants to demolish his home to build skyscrapers. Cornered from all sides, he seems destined to give in and accept the sanitized comfort of a retirement home. But Carl has one last card to play. He decides to escape by lifting off with the most unlikely aircraft imaginable: the house in which he spent his entire life with his wife, Ellie. In doing so, he pursues the dream that once brought them together—to follow in the footsteps of explorer Charles Muntz and fly to South America to see the magnificent Paradise Falls.
How many contemporary films dare to focus on such a lonely, stubborn old man? How many portray, with empathy and humor, a character who is seen by others as a burden to be removed? Up is at once a tragedy and a surreal animated comedy, a whimsical fantasy and a melancholic story that blends clever humor with sharp observations and profound moral themes.
Redwall (TV Series, 1999–2002)
A few years ago, during a visit, my good friend Nicholas from Saint Paul mentioned his favorite cartoon: the TV series Redwall. Some time later, I bought the first season second-hand. Since then, my children have never parted with it. Without a doubt, it has become one of the most beloved cartoons in our family.
The story, written by Brian Jacques, is simple and very clear—it could be told in ten minutes. The real achievement belongs to the animators, who managed to transform it into engaging and beautiful visuals.
The series centers on an orphaned mouse named Matthias, adopted by the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey. Aspiring to become like Martin the Warrior, the Abbey’s legendary founder, Matthias gets the chance to prove his courage by facing the one-eyed rat Cluny the Scourge and his followers. The episodes unfold through numerous adventures and battles between good and evil.
The flute, the charming mice and their clothing, and the medieval designs all contribute to an outstanding series for both children and adults. Most important, however, is the chivalric ideal it presents to young viewers—a world of medieval heroes adapted for children as a call to nobility, courage, and honesty.
Franklin (TV Series, 1997–2004)
How could we forget the small and joyous turtle?
The animated series follows episodes from the life of a young turtle named Franklin. He lives with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Turtle, goes to school, and plays with his friends—a snail, a bear, a beaver, and other animals from his village, Woodland. In the fifth season, viewers are introduced to his sister, Harriet. Dialogues and witty jokes are woven between them, all of them, in the atmosphere of a united and harmonious family.
The characters are so well designed that they naturally inspire innocence and friendship while setting a positive example for children. Rather than focusing on spectacular adventures, Franklin portrays ordinary events, resembling a “slice-of-life” film whose situations closely mirror everyday life. The emphasis on camaraderie and solidarity offers valuable life lessons for young viewers—and gives parents and grandparents the chance to smile as they watch children delight in a cast of truly lovable characters.
