Are cartoon holiday specials becoming a thing of the past?

I noticed this Christmas season seemed different on television. December started out strong with the old favorites like Charlie Brown, Frosty and Rudolph but then things seemed to fizzle.

A few sporadic airings of newer cartoons and then reruns of each of the above. Shout out to Fox for showing a Mammoth Ice Age Christmas on the 26th of December. Anyone still watching? Doesn't make much sense to me.

The last few years there have been many different specials airing on television. For example, The Little Rascals Christmas, Noel, Pink Panther were all on abc Family a couple of years ago, Cabbage Patch Kids Christmas on Boomerang last year, Fat Albert, Forgotten Toys, Poky Little Puppy and Snow White Christmas on the Angel Network last year. Disney what happened to Moles Christmas, the Brand Spanking New Doug and Recess holiday specials? Cartoon Network what happened to Toon Heads Christmas or Tom and Jerry Christmas special? I miss the Tom and Jerry Halloween and Thanksgiving specials also.

Now with Christmas past, I have not much hope for the other Holidays.

New Years day usually gives us the Charlie Brown and Rudolph's Shiny New Year. I really can't think of any others.

Valentines Day usually gives us a couple of Charlie Brown specials but what about Bugs Bunny's Valentine, Cathy's, the Chipmunks , Family Circus, Smurfs and The Popeye Valentine Special.

Not sure anyone celebrates Arbor day but Charlie Brown has a special about it.

Easter seems to have dropped off to one special, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. I do not recall any airing this past year of Easter Is in my area, that Waldo and Benji cartoon is one of my favorite of the series. Last time I watched Bugs Bunny Easter on television was 2004. Dish Network had that and the Easter Bunny is Comin to Town as pay for view. Sure $4.99 each cartoon but it was worth it.

I could rant on and on but each holiday seems to have less and less cartoon showings. Maybe growing up as a kid in the 1970's and early 1980's has a lot to due with me missing the cartoon specials of yesteryear. Looking forward to every special that aired even the non holiday ones. Maybe 24 hour cartoon channels have made cartoon specials obsolete.

Here is hoping that 2015 is a better year for watching my favorites.

You make a great point, Emeraldisle.

I probably missed some on ABC Family this past year.

Growing up I was the only one interested in the Holiday television specials. My older siblings had to watch Scooby Doo but not much else. Now that I have my own family, I can remember back to 2004 when five of us watched every special. Fast forward to 2014 and I am the only one watching. Electronic devices have taken over. lol. Funny in a way but makes me worry that cartoon specials will one day go the way of the Bugs Bunny Road Runner/Bugs Bunny Tweety Show.

Holiday specials could probably not be considered educational and deemed a lost cause if viewers are not turning in to watch. I still recall the attacks on Looney Tunes in the 1980's and finally they were off the major networks. Replaced and cut up for time or content on cable channels. Hardly worth watching anymore.

Are holiday cartoon specials becoming a thing of the past?

I might have the Rankin-Bass specials. I bought the Easter 3 pack DVD with the First Easter Rabbit, Yogi the Easter Bear and the Easter Bunny is Comin' to town. Which I had the last one when it showed as a double feature with Bugs Bunny's Easter.

These specials are harder to track down as VHS tapes are becoming thrown out and less are making it to DVD. Also some get forgotten. I always remember Easter Is special but do not recall the Davey and Goliath Easter themed special. I know the show focused on strong values but seemed to have missed that particular special. Do you recall the title?

Thanks! I am always on the look out for these lost gems and will have to track it down.

Good idea and a great place to start my search.

Another one is "A Family Circus Easter", with Scatman Crothers as the voice of the Easter Bunny.

All but forgotten the Family Circus Easter. Watched it years ago. Truly a forgotten one. Thanks!

Scatman Crothers is a favorite of mine. Loved him as "Bowlegs" on Sanford and Son. My favorite Transformer is Jazz, in large part to Scatman Crothers voicing the character. Sadly his passing before season 3 of Generation I Transformers led to me losing interest in the show. Same thing happened with the new Transformers movie after Jazz was killed off.

I mainly remember Scatman Crothers as Louie the garbage man on Chico and the Man, and of course as the voice of Hong Kong Phooey. (And he sang the theme song of "The Heathcliff and Marmaduke Show".) I've also seen him in The Shining, Bronco Billy, and Zapped!.

Not sure how I forgot about Hong Kong Phooey. Thanks!

With Valentines Day coming up, we can expect Charlie Brown which is great but what about Popeye or even Cathy. They both had specials that seem forgotten.

I haven't seen the Popeye Valentine special since 1979. Has it even aired on TV since then?

There also was a Family Circus Valentine special. ("It's Barfy's fault!")

I do not recall seeing the original Popeye Valentine Special at all. Seen it mentioned and a few clips posted here and there. Not sure if it aired after the first showing. I recorded this copy of the Cathy Valentine Special after an airing of This Is America, Charlie Brown back in 1989. Not sure it ever aired again in my area.

Thanks for the information about the Family Circus Valentine Special. Wish these specials still were shown on television.