There are always new movies to watch with the coming winter and holiday season. Disney has dozens of great winter and holiday films, but their streaming service also has some entertaining shorts to keep the whole family entertained.
While it’s always fun to sit down and watch a fun seasonal story, there isn’t always time for a full-length film. Shorts allow viewers the entertainment of holiday stories without timely dedication. There are many Disney shorts that capture the winter and Christmas experience available on Disney+, and these are some of the most entertaining.
Christmas Crashers
Big City Greens – 2 Minutes
In this Chibi short Christmas Crashers, Gramma and Cricket trap Santa on Christmas Eve as a joke. When Bill and Tilly discover what the two troublemakers have done, they force them to go around and deliver presents for Santa.
There are many obscure shorts on Disney+ that offer something unique to the platform. Though there isn’t any script in this Chibi Tiny Tales, people find these quick stories to be endearing and entertaining. This is a cute short to watch that highlights making amends around Christmas, with an adorable Chibi Santa Claus to add merriment to the storyline.
The Little Matchgirl
7 Minutes
In this captivating short adaptation of The Little Matchgirl, a little girl struggles to survive on the streets without anyone willing to buy her matches. She uses the rest of her matches one night to create light and heat. In this match light, she sees visions of a happy life with her grandmother.
This is not one of Disney’s best shorts, but it’s certainly one of the most emotional. Though this is a cartoon, it’s a difficult concept for children to grasp. Instead of focusing on the fun of snow, this short explores the implications of poverty in harsh weather.
Say It Ain’t Snow
Big City Greens – 1 Minute
In the Say It Ain’t Snow short, the Chibis can’t seem to keep snow out of their house. The snow busts through every window and door, forcing the characters to use different methods to try to get it out of their houses.
This Disney short is a much funner and more lighthearted take on the difficulties of snow. This very short episode captures the different ways in which one can try to overcome the intrusiveness of snow. Though this short also focuses on problem-solving, it also features the Chibis having some fun as they try to overcome this obstacle.
A Mammoth Christmas
Ice Age Short – 25 Minutes
This short captures the characters in Ice Age celebrating Christmas after the events of the third movie and before the time jump in the fourth. Not only does this short feature the fan-favorite character from this franchise, but it tells a unique tale of how Santa invents his Naughty List and meets his eight reindeer.
This is a fun watch for fans of the Ice Age franchise, as well as the side character of Scrat that appears a couple of times throughout the short. This episode-length short is a good option for those looking for a quick story, but one that has a little more substance than others.
Snow Bunny’s Business
Chip N’ Dale’s Nutty Tales – 5 Minutes
In this Nutty Tales short, Snow Bunny’s Business, Chip and Dale help Minnie and Daisy build a snowman. However, they realize they made a mistake when they discover they built the snowman right over a bunny’s home in the ground.
This cute short incorporates the fun of snow play and then allows these well-known characters to do something nice for another. Though Christmas isn’t a theme in this short, this act of kindness is a common holiday theme. This is a great watch for children to enjoy a snow scene while also teaching them a lesson.
Oh, Christmas Tree
Minnie’s Bow Toons – 5 Minutes
This short features Daisy and Minnie getting competitive as they try to best each other while decorating their Christmas trees. After they realize how foolish they’ve been competing, they end up having a fun time together as friends.
Minnie’s Bow-Toons feature one of the most recognizable costume pieces in Disney, and even Daisy is seen adding an iconic Minnie bow to her Christmas tree. This is a fun, quick watch to get viewers excited to spend time with loved ones decorating their trees for the holidays.
Snowscapes
Zenimation – 6 Minutes
In the episode “Snowscapes” in Disney’s Zenimation series, there are several clips from popular Disney movies that feature the serenity and peaceful quality of snow landscapes. This short features some fan-favorite Disney characters as well, such as Tigger and Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh.
This short isn’t a story with a plotline, dialogue, and resolution. Instead, this short is meant to use snowy landscapes to allow someone to enjoy the scenery in these clips without the distraction of character and plot.
Once Upon A Snowman
Frozen Shorts – 14 Minutes
In Frozen, Olaf is introduced as a character when he meets Anna and Kristoff. This Disney short allows the audience to get to know this fan-favorite character from a different light, following him from the time he’s created by Elsa before he meets the main characters.
Olaf Presents is one of the best Disney shorts on the streaming service, giving the viewers more of their favorite snowman. While Frosty the Snowman might be a cherished classic for holiday films, this new talking snowman adds some charm and humor to magical snowmen.
Naughty Or Nice
Prep & Landing – 23 Minutes
This short features two elves, Lanny and Wayne, from the movie Prep & Landing. These elves go on a mission to track down technology from the North Pole that has been taken by a hacker.
Elves are not a common theme in Disney holiday shorts, so these elves stand out. They mimic those of technologically advanced agents, making them more unique than other depictions of Santa’s elves. This short is a fun watch for those that enjoy Santa’s little helpers and the different ways they can be portrayed.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Frozen Shorts – 28 Minutes
One Olaf special might not be enough to satisfy your fun-loving snowman needs this holiday. In this holiday special, Olaf goes on an adventure with Sven to find fun Christmas traditions to give Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff a fun holiday experience.
This lengthier featurette of Olaf captures the snowman’s fun nature but also highlights how much he cares about his unique family. This longer short is a perfect watch for a family on Christmas Eve, that highlights the family-oriented traditions that go along with this joyful holiday.
