The Other Christmas Classics
Four holiday films made outside the United States.
Happy Thursday! Hope you’re doing well. In this issue, we’re exploring Christmas animation that isn’t from America or famous in America — but that’s climbed up to classic status.
These are annual rewatches: some are like the Rudolph or How the Grinch Stole Christmas of their home countries. Only they hit different beats, address the holidays in ways that feel local. We’ve picked four today — each one unique to its place.
Now, let’s go!
Seasonal Christmas broadcasts can be a bit left-field. In Sweden, for example, the ultimate in holiday programming is From All of Us to All of You. It’s a Disney television special from the late ‘50s — and it’s been a Swedish tradition for 60-plus years. Most know it as Kalle Anka and, in 2020, around 43% of the country gathered around to watch it.1
Alongside Kalle Anka, though, Sweden has its own animated classic for Christmas. It’s a barbed, ironic, slightly adult special that’s aired since the ‘70s — very funny, kind of melancholy, kind of meditative. Lines from it (“I have nourished a communist at my bosom!”) are quoted to this day. It’s called The Tale of Karl-Bertil Jonsson’s Christmas Eve.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Animation Obsessive to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.