Stop-motion artists Charles, Stephen and Edward Chiodo are working on a new half-hour holiday special titled Alien Xmas which will premiere on Netflix in the fourth quarter of 2020. The news was announced at CTN Animation Expo’s Netflix Animation Preview panel on Saturday, November 23.

Hosted by Netflix head Melissa Cobb, the panel also featured director Kris Pearn and Disney legend Glen Keane who also previewed their much-anticipated Netflix movies The Willoughbys and Over the Moon. Netflix also announced yesterday that it will premiere Aardman Animation’s 2020 feature Shaun the Sheep Movie 2: Farmageddon and a new half-hour animated special Robin Robin, which will premiere in December 2020.

Alien Xmas is based on a 2015 picture book by the Chiodo Bros, and is a homage to the classic Rankin-Bass holiday specials. The stop-motion special will be executive produced by Jon Favreau, David Ellender & Thomas Lesinki of Sonar Entertainment, Sander Schwartz, Jim Strain and Karen Gilchrist. Favreau will also voice one of the main characters. He previously collaborated with the Chiodo Bros on his blockbuster holiday movie Elf.

Alien Xmas finds a race of kleptomaniac aliens trying to steal Earth’s gravity in order to nab everything on the planet. The fate of the Earth depends on Santa, his elves, the spirit of Christmas and a generous, small alien named X!

The Chiodo Brothers (Charles, Stephen and Edward) are best known for creating the 1988 cult classic Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Their animation and VFX credits include Team America:World Police, Elf and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. In addition to directing and co-writing Killer Klowns, Stephen served as animator and technical director on Tim Burton’s acclaimed short film Vincent.