Heartwarming / Arthur Christmas

• This scene near the beginning.
  Santa: But if I'm not Santa... Who will I be?
  Mrs. Claus: You'll be my Malcolm.
• The last 15 minutes or so are heartwarming.
  • The elves, who all previously saw Arthur as nothing more than a clumsy, naive oaf that "would be more fitting in the South Pole" (an opinion that Arthur is secretly aware of), chanting his name while watching him ride Gwen's bicycle to her home to deliver it, with seconds to spare! And their voices fill the huge control room!
  • Malcolm and company arrive to cover the sunlight for Arthur to deliver the gift before Gwen wakes up.
  • Arthur, Malcolm, and Steve seeing Gwen finding her gift and the latter two realizing Arthur should succeed his father. Arthur is in overjoyed awe, Malcom gives a warm smile, and the normally uptight Steve softens considerably as he sees the happy child play with her gift.
  • Malcolm giving both of his sons a pat on the back and expressing how proud he is of them. Both Arthur and Steve are clearly touched.
  • The "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue ending with "Arthur Christmas...who made everyone happy."
  • Lets not forget this moment; after Arthur delivers Gwen's present, he falls in the snow on his way up to the S1 and gets snow on his face, and the wind puffs up his jacket. Gwen comes outside and catches a glimpse of him for a second before the S1 takes off. The fact that Arthur had become the new Santa makes it even more heartwarming.
• When one elf scanned a child in the beginning, and got "56% Naughty," meaning no gifts in the stocking. An absolutely heartbroken look appeared on the elf's face, and he then promptly scanned himself, getting a "82% Nice" reading and thus letting him put presents in the naughty kid's stocking anyway.
• The moment when Arthur snaps out of his Heroic BSoD because he recognises that his journey isn't about Santa, it's about Gwen. He's even willing to row across the ocean in order to get there as long as there's time left. In general, just how much he cares about Gwen, or any the children, makes for one of these. He's definitely worthy of the role of Santa.
• Any time Arthur is seen answering letters, or we hear them in his voice. It's not very often, but he makes sure to give some kind of answer to every single thing the children say, and comment on every drawing or picture he receives. Truly, he is the man who cares about every child. Another little tidbit is that the elves go out of their way to make it look like the reindeer eats the carrots that children leave out, just to keep the entire magical idea alive. It's really quite amazing.
• Have you noticed anything strange on the picture of the S1 during the epilogue? Now she's called EVIE.
• Doubles as a Tearjerker, but the fact that there's a children's ward of a hospital shown. While they use it as a funny moment with the babies, it does bring to mind that some kids are in the hospital during Christmas.
  • But easily made heartwarming again, because the elves didn't forget them. Gwen's letter at the start worries about Santa finding her to give her her gifts if she's staying somewhere else for Christmas... this scene of the hospital shows without a doubt that no matter where you are, be it at home or even at the hospital, you will always get your presents at Christmas.
• Individually, these things are mentioned already, but it's worth saying just how devoted the elves are to their jobs. They are precise and uber-efficient, yes, but they also care about the kids SO much, and you can see that. They turn on the Christmas dinner, give the dog a bone, but the kids are where the elves really shine to me. They really can't stand the idea of a kid not being happy. There's the elf that scans themself over the naughty kid, the waker scaring them half to death, Bryony's determination for Gwen to have a nicely wrapped present. And there's the idea that one kid not mattering makes them basically have a breakdown and question everything they knew, and that, as mentioned already, they were IMMEDIATELY ready to help Arthur, because that one child did indeed matter, especially to those elves.
  • Note that for Malcolm, who has become too old and absent minded to really continue the role of Santa, they are basically doing all the work and having to keep him from making an ass of things. Yet when Malcolm decides to stay on the job in spite of plans for his retirement, they still burst out in applause.
• Arthur seeing a decorated living room in the wrong Trelew. He's so in awe at the colours and warmth of Christmas, especially since his home is part igloo part military base, with scarcely any festive touches. Even Bryony, an elf trained to be quick and efficient, happily lets him take a moment to marvel before placing the gift under the tree. After leaving the house in the wrong Trelew, Arthur turns and happens to catch sight of the owner's Chihuahua, who tried to attack him (or more precisely, his beloved festive slippers), making puppy eyes at him through the glass. Arthur promptly opens the window and gives the little dog one of his slippers as a present, and it's adorable.
• Arthur's faith in Steve - that if Steve helps them, they can deliver Gwen's present, and, subsequently, "I'll be the candle."
  • Said phrase stems from a cute moment from their father, while playing a board game, Malcolm hands the player pieces, giving Steve the candle for "all his bright ideas". While it comes off as patronising for Steve at first, who wants to be Santa himself, it shows how much pride and trust Malcolm has in his oldest son.
  • It could also be symbolic in that while Arthur will take on the role of Santa, Steve will be the candle that keeps the way lit for him.
• The fact that Arthur put Steve in charge of the command center, allowing him to shine at what he does best and essentially making Steve his second-in-command. He even gave Steve a fancy chair with a built-in espresso dispenser.
• When they were finally leaving Africa and two of the reindeer were being chased by lions, Arthur takes the time to sprinkle the whole desert with magic dust in order to help them get away. No matter who or what they are, he won't leave anyone behind.