Turkey’s great. Pumpkin pie? Even better. But nothing hits the cozy holiday spot quite like curling up with a classic (or quirky) Thanksgiving cartoon.
Whether you want to revisit nostalgic specials or discover something fresh, these animated gems deliver the perfect blend of laughs, life lessons, and seasonal spirit.
From Snoopy serving toast to turkeys running wild, here are 10 Thanksgiving cartoons worth adding to your watchlist this year.
1. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – The Timeless Classic
If Thanksgiving had an official cartoon, this would be it. Since 1973, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving has been the gold standard for animated holiday specials.
The plot? Peppermint Patty invites herself and half the gang over to Charlie Brown’s house.
Snoopy, in his chef hat, saves the day with a feast of toast, jelly beans, and popcorn. It’s funny, it’s heartfelt, and it ends with a quiet reminder: Thanksgiving is about being together, not what’s on the table.
2. Garfield’s Thanksgiving – Feline Feasting Chaos
Leave it to Garfield to make Thanksgiving dinner all about him and food. This 1989 special sees the world’s laziest cat slapped with a pre-holiday diet, Jon scrambling to impress a date with a Thanksgiving meal, and Odie just… being Odie.
Predictably, everything spirals into disaster, but in true Garfield fashion, it’s laugh-out-loud funny with just enough warmth to keep it festive.
3. A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving – Honey, Friends, and Heart
In the Hundred Acre Wood, a perfect Thanksgiving feast means finding every “traditional” dish, which, for Pooh and friends, turns into a full-blown scavenger hunt. By the end, they realize that the perfect menu doesn’t matter; it’s the company that counts.
Soft animation, gentle humor, and pure nostalgia make this one a must-watch with younger kids or anyone who grew up on Pooh.
4. The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw – A Lesson in Understanding
This 1980 special introduces Bigpaw, a towering bear who’s mistaken for a threat to Bear Country. Naturally, Papa Bear leads the panic, but the real story is about kindness and not judging others too quickly.
Sweet, wholesome, and soaked in old-school charm, it’s a great way to mix a little moral with your mashed potatoes.
5. Regular Show: “The Thanksgiving Special” – Weird, Wacky, Wonderful
If your holiday needs more absurdity, Mordecai and Rigby have you covered. In this 2013 episode, the duo competes in a televised Thanksgiving contest to win a massive turkey for their park feast.
Expect celebrity cameos, original songs, and enough chaotic energy to keep you laughing through your food coma.
6. Bob’s Burgers: “Dawn of the Peck” – Turkeys on the Loose
When Linda signs up for a Thanksgiving fun run that unexpectedly turns into a full-on turkey uprising, the Belcher family finds themselves in the middle of poultry chaos.
Clever writing, dry humor, and the show’s signature family warmth make this a standout for older kids and adults who like their holiday entertainment with a side of satire.
7. Teen Titans Go! – “Thanksgiving” – Superhero Mayhem
Robin wants a picture-perfect holiday. Raven’s dad shows up uninvited. The table’s set for disaster literally.
This short but snappy episode packs superhero humor, over-the-top situations, and the kind of silliness that’s perfect for a quick watch between cooking, eating, and napping.
8. The Simpsons – “It’s a Blunderful Life” (2023)
The newest Thanksgiving-themed episode, from Season 35, jumps to a future family gathering where Homer appears as a hologram. Lisa recalls a childhood Thanksgiving storm that led to a massive blackout and Homer taking the blame.
It’s heartfelt, funny, and proof that the Simpsons still have fresh holiday stories to tell.
9. Arthur: “An Arthur Thanksgiving” – Community Spirit at Its Best
Arthur’s holiday is packed: there’s the big parade, a missing pet, and a neighbor in need. The result? A story that blends humor with lessons on kindness, problem-solving, and the joy of helping others.
It’s one of those rare specials that manages to be heartwarming without feeling preachy.
10. Looney Tunes Thanksgiving Compilation – Slapstick for All Ages
Sometimes, you just want classic cartoon chaos. These Thanksgiving-themed episodes, like Bugs Bunny’s Thanksgiving Diet and Daffy Duck’s Thanks-for-Giving Special, are pure Looney Tunes madness.
Think wild chases, exaggerated feasts, and the kind of physical comedy that still holds up decades later.
Final Bite
Thanksgiving is a short holiday, but its cartoons have a long-lasting charm. Whether you’re looking for nostalgia, comedy, or a little chaos to balance out all that family time, these 10 specials deliver.
So this year, after the plates are cleared and the leftovers are stashed, gather around the screen, press play, and let these animated gems remind you that the best part of Thanksgiving isn’t the turkey, it’s the shared moments that come with it.