Blitzen is one of Santa Claus' reindeer, originally named in the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. His name comes from "Blitz", the German word for "Lightning" ("blitzen" means "to flash").
Appearances
Prominent appearances
In the following specials, Blitzen makes a prominent appearance in the story and/or has a speaking part.
| Picture | Production | Voiced by | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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The Year Without a Santa Claus | 1974 | Blitzen is the reindeer who brings Mrs. Claus, Jingle, Jangle, and Iggy to see the Miser Brothers and later Mother Nature. | |
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Santa Claus: The Movie | 1985 | ||
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Rockin' Reindeer Christmas | 1990 | Blitzen is tired of being at the back of Santa's reindeer pack every Christmas. This year he has devised a plan to charm Santa into arranging them in alphabetical order, so he'll be at the front. | |
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Bonkers: "Miracle at the 34th Precinct" | 1993 | At the beginning of this episode, Blitzen helps Santa test out his new sleigh, only for the big guy to fall out of it and land in Hollywood. | |
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The Online Adventures of Ozzie the Elf | Dan Castellaneta | 1997 | |
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie | Garry Chalk | 1998 | In this movie, Blitzen is Rudolph's father. He is also brothers with Comet, Cupid and Dasher and has a wife named Mitzi and a nephew named Arrow. |
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Olive, the Other Reindeer | 1999 | Blitzen gets injured and is unable to fly. The news of this prompts the title character to travel to the North Pole so she can fill in for Blitzen. He is also shown to have a cousin named Schnitzel. | |
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Robbie the Reindeer series | Steve Coogan (UK) Hugh Grant (US) Takashi Taniguchi (Japan) |
1999, 2002 | In the first two films, Blitzen serves as the main antagonist. He is jealous of Rudolph's fame and takes this out on his son, Robbie. In the first film, Hooves of Fire, Blitzen is in a relationship with Vixen, which later ends. |
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Donner | Mark Acheson | 2001 | |
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Blizzard | Leif Bristow | 2003 | In this film, Blitzen has a mate named Delphi and is the father of the title character. |
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Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas | Jim Cummings | 2004 | Blitzen is portrayed as the leader of the reindeer in the final segment, taking in Pluto after he runs away. He and Donner are the only reindeer with extended dialogue. |
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Higglytown Heroes: "Twinkle's Wish" | 2004 | ||
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Robot Chicken: "Robot Chicken Christmas Special" | Dax Shepard | 2005 | |
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Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen | Dave Harris | 2006 | |
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Back at the Barnyard: "It's an Udderful Life" | 2009 | Alongside Donner, Blitzen is a college friend of Otis. | |
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T.U.F.F. Puppy: "A Doomed Christmas" | Jeff Bennett | 2011 | |
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Saving Santa | 2013 | ||
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The Naughty List | 2013 | Blitzen is the coach for reindeer practice. Sparkle causes him and the other practicing reindeer to plummet, and he is last seen bandaged from head to hoof. | |
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Doctor Who: "Last Christmas" | 2014 | Blitzen, along with Rudolph and Donner, appear in this Christmas special. | |
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Puppy Star Christmas | Brian Hull | 2018 | |
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Elliot the Littlest Reindeer | 2018 | ||
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Blue's Clues & You!: "Blue's Night Before Christmas" | Heather Bambrick | 2020 | Unlike other productions, Blitzen was voiced by a female. |
| The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland | Riona O'Connor | 2024 | In this film, Blitzen is portrayed as female. |
Minor appearances
In the following specials, Blitzen is named onscreen, but only has a minor/silent role and/or is indistinguishable from the other reindeer.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948)
- Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)
- A Christmas Story (1972)
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
- A Flintstone Christmas (1977)
- The Santa Clause (1994)
- Pinky and the Brain: "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas" (1995)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001)
- The Powerpuff Girls: Twas the Fight Before Christmas (2003)
- In Search of Santa (2004) - In addition to his minor appearance, he is mentioned when referring to his fallen sleigh bell that is obtained by Princess Crystal.
- Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation! (2009)
- Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011)
- A Fairly Odd Christmas (2012)
- SpongeBob SquarePants: "SpongeBob's Road to Christmas" (2021)
- Dear Santa (2024) - Voiced by Tierre Turner (stunt coordinator of the Farrelly Brothers' previous film, Dumb and Dumber To).
| Reindeer | |
| Santa's team | Dasher • Dancer • Prancer • Vixen • Comet • Cupid • Donner • Blitzen • Rudolph (Rankin/Bass version) |
| Others | Annabelle • Arrow • Barnaby • Blizzard • Blizz • Bucky • Clarice (her father) • Dart • Delphi • Fireball • Fred • Frost • Gargoff • Gift Givers of the Grove (Alice • Aurora • Bori) • Gobie (His friends • Grandfather) • Grandpa • Grandsanta's Pet Reindeer • Holly • Jonni • Leader • Lenni • Lightning • Mitzi • Mrs. Donner • Mrs. Prancer • Nic • Niko • Old Jingle • Olive • Oona • Prancy • Pinky • Renny • Robbie • Roger • Rusty • Saga • Santa Claus's Reindeer's Great-Great-Grandchildren • Scratcher • Schnitzel • Sparkle • Striker • Sven • Tapir • Thrasher • Tobias • Zoey (Her father and mother) |