Animation · 1960s
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Jazz piano, a sad little tree and the gentlest Christmas message going.
- American
- Family-safe
- Good for kids
- Animated
CBS
1965
First shown 9 Dec 1965
- First shown
- 9 December 1965
- Channel
- CBS
- Runtime
- 25 mins
- Genre
- Animation
Where to watch
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Charlie Brown is feeling glum about Christmas, which is fair, because everyone around him is far more interested in presents and decorations than in anything else. Lucy hands him the job of directing the Christmas play, and he goes off to find a proper tree, comes back with a very small, very bare one, and gets laughed at for it. It is gentle, a bit wistful and quietly funny, with Vince Guaraldi's jazz piano doing half the work and a proper moment from Linus. Pop the kettle on, get the good chair and let it remind you what the fuss is about.
Stay on the sofa
Watch next
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A magic hat, a freight train north and a snowman who just won't stay frosty.

Checked 9 Nov 2026