You’ve probably seen the name popping up every December, usually attached to a tiny, wide-eyed CGI evergreen. It’s a bit of a weird phenomenon. Most Christmas specials focus on a reindeer with a glowing nose or a snowman that magically comes to life, but Nickelodeon took a different route back in 2016. They gave us Albert the Christmas tree, a Douglas fir with a personality that is, quite honestly, a lot more relatable than your average holiday hero.
Albert isn't just a mascot. He’s the star of Nickelodeon’s first original animated TV movie, simply titled Albert. If you haven't seen it, the plot is basically a road trip movie, but with plants.
Who Exactly is Albert the Christmas Tree?
Albert is a pint-sized Douglas fir who lives in a nursery called Earth Mama’s. He’s obsessed with Christmas. Like, really obsessed. While most trees are content just staying hydrated and avoiding the woodchipper, Albert has a massive, borderline delusional dream: he wants to be the Empire City Christmas tree.
Think of it as the animated version of the Rockefeller Center tree.
The movie, which runs about 44 minutes, features a surprisingly heavy-hitting voice cast. Bobby Moynihan (of Saturday Night Live fame) voices Albert, bringing that specific brand of manic, high-pitched energy he’s known for. He’s joined by fellow SNL alum Sasheer Zamata, who plays Maisie—a relentlessly positive palm tree—and Judah Friedlander, who plays a grumpy weed named Gene.
Yes, a weed.
It’s a strange trio. A Christmas tree, a palm tree, and a weed trekking across the country in a van. They even have to face off against a villain named Cactus Pete, voiced by Rob Riggle. Pete hates Christmas because he gets shoved into a dark corner of his restaurant every December to make room for festive decorations. Honestly? You can kinda see where he’s coming from.
Why the Movie Stuck Around
When Albert premiered on December 9, 2016, it was a bit of a gamble for Nickelodeon. They hadn't really done the "original animated holiday movie" thing before. Usually, they just aired holiday-themed episodes of SpongeBob or The Fairly OddParents.
But Albert worked for a few specific reasons:
- The Humor: It’s directed by Max Lang, who did The Gruffalo. It has that slightly dry, fast-paced humor that works for parents as much as kids.
- The Original Music: Songs like "The Best Thing That Can Happen to Christmas" are actually catchy. They aren't just filler; they move the plot along.
- The Message: It’s not just "believe in yourself." It’s more about understanding that your size or your "type" doesn't dictate your value.
It also spawned a Big Golden Book titled Albert: The Little Tree with Big Dreams, which turned the movie’s plot into a staple for bedtime reading. If you’ve ever browsed the holiday section at a Barnes & Noble in the last few years, you’ve likely seen his face on a shelf.
The Real History: The Other "Albert" Connection
If you're a history buff, the name Albert the Christmas tree might trigger a different association. Before the Nickelodeon character, there was Prince Albert.
In the mid-19th century, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, is famously credited with popularizing the Christmas tree tradition in England. He brought the custom over from his native Germany. In 1848, a drawing of the Royal Family standing around a decorated tree at Windsor Castle was published in the Illustrated London News.
That single image changed everything. Suddenly, everyone wanted a "Prince Albert tree." It’s a fun bit of trivia that the tiny animated fir shares a name with the man who basically made the tradition a global phenomenon. Whether the writers at Nickelodeon did that on purpose or it was just a happy accident is up for debate.
The Pop Culture Legacy
Even though the movie is nearly a decade old, Albert remains a cult favorite. Why? Because the animation holds up. The CG isn't the hyper-realistic style you see in big-budget Disney films; it’s stylized and vibrant.
People still hunt for the "Albert the Christmas Tree" plushies and ornaments that were released during the initial marketing push. You’ll occasionally see him pop up in memes during the "Christmas in July" sales or on social media when people are discussing underrated holiday specials that deserve more love.
One thing most people get wrong is thinking this was a theatrical release. It wasn't. It was a TV movie through and through. But because it has such a high production value—thanks to the involvement of The Adventures of Pete & Pete creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi—it feels much bigger than a standard cable special.
How to Experience Albert Today
If you’re looking to add this to your holiday rotation, here is the deal. You can usually find the movie streaming on platforms like Paramount+ or for purchase on Apple TV and Amazon. It’s a quick watch—less than an hour—which makes it perfect for kids who have the attention span of, well, a weed.
If you’re more of a reader, the Albert: The Little Tree with Big Dreams book is still widely available. It’s a 32-page illustrated version that captures the vibe of the movie without the need for a screen.
Next Steps for Your Holiday Marathon
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To get the full Albert the Christmas tree experience, start by watching the 44-minute special to appreciate the voice acting of Bobby Moynihan and Rob Riggle. Afterward, if you have kids, tracking down the Big Golden Book version is a great way to reinforce the story’s themes of persistence and self-worth. Finally, if you're feeling nerdy, look up the 1848 illustration of Prince Albert’s tree to see just how far the tradition has come from the palace at Windsor to a tiny Douglas fir on a Nickelodeon road trip.