Santa vs. the Snowman began as a 2002 animated Christmas special created by Steve Oedekerk, first shown in IMAX 3D before reaching television and home video. It follows a lonely snowman who envies Santa and tries to take his place on Christmas Eve, setting up the rivalry the title promises. Clips and sounds from the special later circulated on soundboards and in holiday edits, where the simple Santa against snowman setup works even without the full story. Its seasonal humour keeps it returning every December.