It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for kids of all ages to sit down in front of a screen and watch an animated tale of turkeys, families and craziness unfold before their eyes.
TV fans can’t wait to see their favorite animated friends go on a Thanksgiving themed adventure each year, making viewers feel like they're along for the ride with their extended animated family.
Here's a review of ten great Thanksgiving themed animated TV episodes:
1. The Simpsons- Bart Vs. Thanksgiving-
Bart runs away from home and finds himself on the wrong side of the tracks, making him consider how much he has to be thankful for, even his Neanderthal father Homer.
The Simpsons have always approached holiday themed episodes with a fresh perspective, and this episode from season 2 manages to both poke fun at and show the true meaning of the holiday.
2. Aqua Teen Hunger Force- The Dressing-
The food monsters next door celebrate Thanksgiving a week later than everyone else, when suddenly a robotic turkey called Turkitron shows up and spins a yarn about traveling back in time to save the great, great grandfather of Goblox, the leader of the turkey rebellion.
3. American Dad- There Will Be Bad Blood-
The Smiths aren't your typical American family, but that doesn't mean they don't deal with the usual problems.
Take Stan's half-brother Rusty for instance- he's more American than Stan because he's Native American, and he's got more money than Stan and his family will ever make in their lives. So how does Stan deal with a family problem like Rusty? With a little lifestyle switcheroo, of course!
4. Bob's Burgers- An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal-
Bob puts down the spatula and picks up a baster in this Thanksgiving themed episode full of deception, dirty little secrets and dinner theater.
Bob is hired by his landlord to cook a Thanksgiving meal, but this catering job comes with a price- Bob must let Linda and the kids pretend to be Mr. Fischoeder's family. Can Bob keep it together long enough to pull off this turkey day trick, or will he crack up before dinner is served?
5. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving-
Arguably the most beloved Thanksgiving themed animated television episode ever made, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is full of all the things you've come to expect from the Peanuts- fun moments in childhood alienation, existential introspection, life lessons, and one beagle who brings it all together.
6. King Of The Hill- Spin The Choice-
It's finally Bobby Hill's turn to carve the turkey but his discovery about how the white man treated the indians during the original Thanksgiving makes Bobby decide to protest the entire holiday instead.
7. Regular Show- The Thanksgiving Special-
Mordecai and Rigby are just starting to make their own way in the world on Regular Show, so they have yet to discover all the good and bad moments associated with adulthood. One quick way to learn- try to put together a Thanksgiving meal for every park employee and their family!
8. South Park- A History Channel Thanksgiving-
The truth about Thanksgiving is really out there when those four kids from South Park write a history paper based on History Channel's extraterrestrial take on Thanksgiving, and come a little too close to the truth. Alien pilgrims, History Channel conspiracies and Natalie Portman make this one mixed up holiday episode!
9. Garfield's Thanksgiving-
Garfield loves one thing about the holidays- the food, so it only makes sense that Thanksgiving would be one of his favorite holidays of the year. In this adorable episode Garfield is put on a diet, Jon completely fails to cook the meal and almost ruins his date with Liz the vet, and Grandma is called in to save the day with her signature flair.
10. Rocko's Modern Life- Turkey Time/Floundering Fathers-
Rocko's Modern Life is one of those shows you rewatch as an adult and notice all the humor, and insight and infrequent raunchy bits you missed as a kid.
This Thanksgiving themed episode finds Rocko conflicted about the idea of eating those poor turkeys, so he saves their little gobblin' lives by serving up a jumbo veggie bird instead, which displeases his uninvited guests immensely...
Here's hoping you have a fun, and filling, Thanksgiving day!