If you want a Christmas card that looks like a favourite drawing style rather than a snowy photo frame, these four Style Swap looks are the playful set. Upload a clear photo on Ottermagic, try Anime, Chibi, Pixel Art, or Brick, preview until it still looks like them, then order a printed A5 card or take an e-card. Printed cards are 148×210mm folded, 330gsm gloss, envelope included, made to order in the UK and posted with Royal Mail in around 3–5 working days, or sent by airmail to US addresses in around 2–3 weeks. The same artwork can be a poster or canvas; check Ottermagic.com for live wall-art details.
This is a style-picking guide, not a tour of every festive look. For the wider Christmas map see Style Swap Christmas cards. For quieter painted portraits, the Watercolour, Sketch and Royal Portrait piece is the better sibling. The looks are Ottermagic’s own.
Anime
Anime is the sharper, more dramatic cousin of a cartoon Christmas card. Faces stay recognisable. Eyes and hair often carry more of the likeness than a wide grin does. It suits teens, couples who already watch animated series, older siblings, and anyone who would rather look striking than cute.
Photos that help. Face the camera, hair visible, not a tiny figure at the back of a party. Glasses usually survive if the lenses are not a wall of glare. A slightly serious portrait can work as well as a smile.
Who to send it to. A sixteen-year-old who would roll their eyes at Chibi. A partner. A friend who treats December as costume season. Pets can work in Anime via Pet Swap if the animal’s face is clear, though Chibi is often kinder to round dog heads.
Message ideas.
- “Happy Christmas. You already look like the protagonist, so we leaned in.”
- “From our sofa to yours. New year, same plot.”
- Keep the inside short if the front is already doing a lot of talking.
US shoppers can have the A5 sent by airmail if Christmas is about three weeks away or more; closer than that, the e-card is the quick path (personalized file, print locally or send it). UK shoppers who have the working days can post the A5.
Chibi
Chibi is small, round, and affectionate. It forgives a bit of chaos in the original photo, which is useful in December when everyone is in pyjamas. It is the default playful look for young children, for a card “from the kids”, and for adults who like a soft cartoon of themselves without the teen-drama lighting.
Photos that help. Group shots of two or three people, a baby’s face large in the frame, matching jumpers, a dog pressed against a child. Side profiles are harder. Hats that hide eyes are worse.
Who to send it to. Grandparents who want the grandchildren recognisable. Class friends. A sibling who still has stickers on their laptop. Couples who do not mind looking a bit squishy.
Message ideas.
- “Love from the small ones (and the two larger ones who make the tea).”
- “We come in peace, and also in pyjamas.”
- For a pet: “The roundest member of the household says happy Christmas.”
Chibi sits nicely next to Christmas cards from the kids, from the baby, from the bump if that is the actual job.
Pixel Art
Pixel Art is blocky on purpose. It reads as a game still, a desktop icon, a slightly nostalgic screen. Good for gamers, teens, office desks, and anyone who would rather a card that looks designed than a misty illustration. It is also a strong look for a single clear face or a pet with distinct markings.
Photos that help. High contrast, face large, simple background. Fairy lights behind someone’s head can turn into noise. A plain sofa or a doorway is easier. For pets, visible eyes beat a black cat in a dark hallway.
Who to send it to. The cousin with a console under the telly. A colleague who talks in game metaphors. A couple who met online and still joke about it. Kids who think “pixel” means they are in the game.
Message ideas.
- “Saved game: Christmas. Player two has been added.”
- “Please insert mince pie.”
- “Still your favourite extra life.”
Pixel Art is close in spirit to Retro Game, which you can try if you want a more arcade flavour. Keep the joke kind. Secret Santa is fine; punching down is not.
Brick
Brick rebuilds the photo as construction-brick figures: chunky, toy-like, oddly sincere. It is excellent for kids, for grown-ups who never put the brick box away, and for a new-home card where the front door becomes the set. It is also a surprisingly good pet look, because animals already read as characters.
Photos that help. Full heads and shoulders, or a standing group. Hands holding mugs or a wreath become part of the charm. A very tight crop of one eye will struggle. Shopfronts and front doors work if the building is the point and the people are still readable.
Who to send it to. Children. Dads. Anyone renovating. Friends who build things at the table after lunch. A household that already displays toys as decor.
Message ideas.
- “Built this year’s card from the usual parts: us, the dog, and too many potatoes.”
- “Click. That’s the family assembled.”
- For a new house: “First Christmas in the new build (the brick one on the front is a hint).”
Brick pairs well with the new-home section in first Christmas together, new home, and grandparents.
Which playful style for whom
| Style | Feels like | Best recipients | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anime | Expressive cartoon portrait | Teens, couples, older siblings | Needs a clear face; can feel intense for very young kids |
| Chibi | Soft, rounded, affectionate | Children, grandparents, pyjama photos | Hats hiding eyes; huge group shots |
| Pixel Art | Game-screen, blocky, designed | Gamers, teens, desk cards | Busy Christmas-tree backgrounds |
| Brick | Toy figures, construction look | Kids, builders, pets, new homes | Tight crops; very dark indoor light |
Try two. Christmas cards go out in batches, so the preview that makes you smile first is usually the one to print. Classic Cartoon, Cartoon, Retro Game, and Clay 3D sit nearby if none of the four is quite right. Christmas card trends 2026 covers Photobooth and other nostalgic looks if you want a different flavour of playful.
Face Swap is optional here. These four are Style Swap jobs: the whole photo restyled. Use Face Swap when the fun is a finished festive scene rather than a restyle of your snapshot. Pet Swap is first-class if the animal is the subject; do not squeeze a dog into a people crop as an afterthought. Text Swap remains available if you have no photo and still want a name on a designed front.
Print, e-card, posters
UK posted cards: A5 148×210mm folded, 330gsm gloss, envelope, blank inside or printed message, recyclable stock, water-based inks, Royal Mail around 3–5 working days. Weekends and bank holidays sit outside that count.
US posted cards: the same A5, printed in the UK and sent by airmail, around 2–3 weeks door to door.
E-card: hi-res, watermark-free download after payment. Use it for last-minute family chats and for anyone far away who should see it today.
Posters and canvas are available in the same Anime, Chibi, Pixel Art, or Brick look. Check the site for current wall-art details.
Photo tips: face the camera, keep the main person large, turn a lamp on, include the whole pet for Pet Swap. More in how to choose a photo.
Ready when you are
Make the playful card they will actually put on the shelf. Upload a photo, try Anime, Chibi, Pixel Art, or Brick, and stop when the likeness feels like them. Order a printed A5 card (148×210mm, 330gsm gloss, envelope; around 3–5 working days in the UK, around 2–3 weeks to the US), order a poster or canvas, or download the e-card. Results so good it feels like magic. Start at Ottermagic.com. Support: support@ottermagic.com (reply within one working day).
FAQ
Which is best for a child’s Christmas card, Anime or Chibi?
Chibi, for most young children. Anime can suit older kids and teens who already like that drawing style. Preview both if you are unsure.
Can I make a Pixel Art Christmas card from a phone photo?
Yes, if the face is large and the light is decent. Busy fairy-light backgrounds are the usual problem. Step away from the tree for one shot.
Is Brick only for children’s cards?
No. Plenty of adults like the toy-figure look, especially for pets and new homes. If they would display a small model on a shelf, they will probably like Brick.
Can US shoppers get these styles?
Yes. The styles are the same, and the US shop sends the printed A5 by airmail to US addresses. Inside about three weeks of Christmas, use the e-card and print or send the file locally.
What if I want a calmer Christmas portrait?
Try Watercolour, Sketch, or Royal Portrait instead. This page is the playful set.
Can the dog be in Pixel Art or Brick as well?
Yes. Use Pet Swap with a clear photo of the animal. The same A5, e-card, poster, and canvas options apply.
