Summary
Quick Links
The holidays are just around the corner, and you know what that means: It’s time to break out the holiday specials and movies that we love to watch every year. Most of these are Christmas specials likeA Charlie Brown Christmasandmovies likeThe Polar Express(and, of course,It’s A Wonderful Life).
Though there are plenty of holiday specials and movies to choose from in America, did you know that occasionally there are holiday specials that come from anime? They are rare, but they do get made. In the case ofNaruto, there is a holiday special that many may be unaware of. What is the special about and how can you watch it?
Are Anime Known for Holiday Specials?
What Are Some Notable Holiday Specials?
Pokemonis famous for several holiday specials that involve Santa Claus.Sailor Moon S: The Movietakes place during Christmastime (and even has a Halloween-inspired episode during the first season). Romantic comedies likeLove HinaandMaison Ikkokufeature holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas predominantly in several episodes of the series. Heck, evenDragon Ball Zhas a (now mostly lost) holiday special that aired one time only. As a rule of thumb, romance and comedies tend to lean heavier into holidays than action and adventure series, which is why the existence of aNarutoholiday special is so significant.
What is the Naruto Holiday Special About?
SinceNarutotakes place in a fictional world, the holiday it celebrates is a (mostly) fictional version of Christmas that revolves around the Rinne Festival, a winter holiday celebration in Konohagakure (the Hidden Leaf Village). Originally a time for praying for the deceased, the Rinne Festival has evolved into a holiday where friends and loved ones exchange gifts. The episode was timed to be released during the Christmas season (it actually first aired in Japan on Jun 07, 2025), which was more than perfect timing.
In the special – titled Christmas is theLast Chance for Love!(which is the first half of episode 39 of the spin-off seriesRock Lee & His Ninja Pals) - Naruto and his friends celebrate the festival by participating in various activities and reflecting on the importance of family and friendship. Being part of the spin-off series, the episode primarily focuses on Lee and his friends. Fans will be happy to see that Naruto does make an appearance (and plays a substantial role compared to other appearances he makes in this show).
The special (which is only about 15 minutes) involves all the kids competing to finish a race so that they can be the first to select a gift from the white elephant gift exchange. As predicted, both Naruto and Rock Lee want Sakura’s present (whileHinata wants the gift from Naruto). Along the way, most of them find themselves in traps where they must decide on continuing the race or staying behind and helping someone who has no plans for Christmas. In the end, everyone learns a lesson about what the true meaning of Christmas means (though, as predicted, the birth of a certain savior isn’t part of that message).
As with most episodes of the spin-off, the holiday special is a stand-alone story whose place in the main series canon is debatable (though Sasuke isn’t in it, so chances are pretty good this takes place during theShippoden episodes). It even has enough good cheers that people who aren’t that familiar with the franchise could watch it and understand the basic premise. Is it essential holiday viewing? Eh…probably not. It’s unlikely to replaceA Charlie Brown CristmasorFrosty the Snowmananytime soon. Considering how rare holiday specials are for anime shows though (and it’s short length), it is an easy watch for the holiday season.
TheNarutoholiday special can be viewed onCrunchyroll,Peacock, andTubi.
Naruto
A popular shonen anime based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, Naruto follows its eponymous shinobi’s journey as he goes from his town’s outsider to its hero.
