Aliens destroy Christmas in this classic Canadian animated film streaming free on Tubi

Maybe because the main character is called Peter. Or because aliens look impressive (so far). Or because I saw it for the first time when I was five years old. Or maybe it’s the pet goose…

For whatever reason, the 1977 holiday special Cosmic Christmas – The first ever animated film from the long-time Canadian animation powerhouse Nelvana – It’s been my comfort entertainment this December ever since I rediscovered it streaming online. This year it is available to watch for free on Tubi only.

In contrast to today’s polished, pixel-perfect animation, the graphics in Cosmic Christmas are retro fun – they look like a chaotic mix of Mad Magazine’s Don Martin and classic animator Ralph Bakshi. Cosmic Christmas isn’t as meandering as Dr. Katz or Home Movies, but there’s a hand-drawn chaos that seems to no longer exist in modern cartoons.

The story of Cosmic Christmas revolves around Peter, a young boy who has a pet goose named Lucy. He discovers three mysterious aliens who have landed their spacecraft on the outskirts of a town preparing for Christmas. The three visitors report that they saw a new star in the extraterrestrial sky 2,000 years ago, and they have come to the planet to find out the true meaning of the holiday.

Peter’s grandmother, a gang of colorful delinquent teens and Lucy the goose drive the holiday plot forward until it reaches a thrilling climax that shouldn’t be too scary for kids of any age, and a resolution that warms the heart.

At a brisk 24 minutes, Cosmic Christmas wastes some time on weird musical interludes — including a strange dance with Lucy and a flying robot assistant — but the core action keeps the story moving forward toward a satisfying conclusion.

When Peter first meets the aliens, he explains the “Star of Bethlehem” and mentions Jesus Christ, but Cosmic Christmas mostly approaches the holiday from a secular perspective. The true meaning of Christmas, according to Peter, is “love, peace, and concern for others.”

If you enjoy quirky old cartoons or are looking for something a little different to watch with the kids this holiday season, try Cosmic Christmas while it’s free on Tubi.

Learn more How to use Netflix secret codes to find a wide range of holiday movies and shows.