The Walt Disney Company has premiered a charming new holiday short film in what seems to now officially be a series and holiday tradition. The heartwarming story is called A Disney Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever and was made under the direction of Academy Award winner Taika Waititi. Disney Legend John Goodman lends vocal talents for a central character who finds his voice during the holiday season.

This short follows last year’s Emmy-nominated, A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus, also directed by Taika Waititi, and decidedly establishes a consistent approach for this format. Each film is grounded by a gentle rendition of a classic Disney song which serves as the soundtrack for the story. This year, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Toy Story, the song “You’ve got a Friend in Me” serves as the inspiration for the story.

Where to Watch

The film has been made available on Disney+ and can also be seen on YouTube free of charge for a limited time.

About the Short

At the center of A Disney Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever is a little girl and her doodle who comes to life on Christmas Day after Santa mistakes the drawing for a holiday wish. The short follows the charming story of the friendship between the girl and the animated product of her imagination during this magical season in a uniquely Disney way. The film ends with a call to action for viewers, “Make Someone’s Holiday Magic,” which serves as the tagline for Disney’s holiday campaign this year. Renowned Walt Disney Animation Studios animator Eric Goldberg, the creator of beloved Disney characters such as Genie from Aladdin (1992), acted as an advisor on the animation of the short in collaboration with Untold Studios, producer hungryman, and creative agency adam&eveDDB.

Disney Legend John Goodman (Doodle), who has voiced numerous beloved animated characters for Disney, including James P. “Sulley” Sullivan from Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Monsters University (2013), as well as Pacha in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), and “Big Daddy” La Bouff in The Princess and the Frog (2009), among many other Disney titles.