What to Watch: Animated Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Specials

A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING is a delightful PEANUTS cartoon movie made for television where Peppermint Patty invites herself and many others over to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving. A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING is an adorable animated movie with some great, positive messages the whole family can enjoy.

AN ARTHUR THANKSGIVING follows Arthur the aardvark as he tries to find his lost puppy during Thanksgiving. It is well made and has a strong Christian worldview with only a few moderately questionable elements.

The PAW PATROL PUPS SAVE THANKSGIVING special is an episode in the PAW PATROL show about five patrol dogs (Skye, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, and Zuma) and a boy named Ryder who save people for a living. It is a fun, animated adventure that kids can enjoy again and again. The animation is in its simplest form, but it is made on a TV budget so it does not distract or detract from its entertaining storyline and cute characters. The writing makes the drama go by fast and every actor gives a believable performance. This special demonstrates a light moral and Christian worldview with the main characters saving and protecting others. Teamwork, loyalty, kindness, gratitude, and friendship are all extolled with the main characters giving a gift to one of the characters and characters to uplift another character with low self-esteem and tell him that he is an important part of the team. Other than the mayor’s bad attitude, mild peril and cartoon violence, there is nothing objectionable whatsoever. MOVIEGUIDE® commends the filmmakers for making a wholesome special for the whole family!

Netflix’s animated LLAMA LLAMA THANKS FOR GIVING DAY is the first half of an episode about Llama and his friends who decide to plan a day thanking all the community helpers after Officer Flamingo sprains his ankle.

WILD KRATTS is an action-comedy TV series on PBS Kids about two brothers who teach about wild animals. Chris and Martin Kratt are high-tech zoologists who study wildlife from across the world. In the season two episode, “Wild Turkey Day,” a mischievous chef threatens to poach a wild forest turkey for Thanksgiving. Will the Kratts be able to keep turkeys off the menu?

WINNIE THE POOH: SEASONS OF GIVING is a combination of two episodes from the show THE NEW ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH and the 1998 special “A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving.” Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and the rest of the gang get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with Christopher Robin. It is an absolutely delightful, nostalgic trip down memory lane! The three segments look a little rough, but it does not distract from the top-notch story, characters, and message. The cast members also excel in their voicework as they relish in their roles of portraying these fun characters. It demonstrates a light moral and Christian worldview with the main characters saving and protecting others. Teamwork, kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and friendship are all extolled. A character is angry and stubborn and refusing to let another character go, but this is rebuked, because the character apologizes. MOVIEGUIDE® commends the filmmakers for delivering a stand-out Thanksgiving and Christmas treat!

PBS’s animated children’s series THE BERENSTAIN BEARS – COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS features the beloved Berenstain Bear family as Mama and Papa teach their children to be thankful for what they already have instead of a never-ending want for more after visiting with other children who have more toys. Overall, this is a wholesome and welcome message that is helpful to parents, especially during such a commercialized season. This classic show reminds the audience to be thankful for what is already in front of us.