Rating:
Since I was very, very young, A Christmas Carol—Dickens’ novel and its many different adaptations—has been one of my favorite stories. Before even my obsession with Star Wars or Indiana Jones, I was obsessed with this tale of Victorian England and positive values. If you’re thinking that I must have been the coolest, most popular preschooler on the block, brother are you ever right.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol wasn’t one of the first versions of the story that I saw, but it’s now one of my favorites. In fact, this theatrical short is probably the best thing Disney animation did between One Hundred and One Dalmatians in 1961 and the renaissance period begun with The Little Mermaid in 1989.

What makes it so good? First is the artistry on display in the animation, which in style is far more akin to the earliest Disney classics than what was coming from the studio in the 70s and 80s. Second is the good use of existing Disney characters in A Christmas Carol’s roles, particularly Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, Goofy as Marley’s ghost, and Scrooge McDuck as—surprise!—Ebenezer Scrooge. This allows for two things: the right amount of freedom and looseness in the characterizations and the storytelling and at the same time the ability to treat the story with the seriousness it warrants.

And perhaps most importantly, the piece succeeds by recognizing the strengths of Dickens’ novel and distilling the book to its essence, moving through it in 25 minutes without ever feeling rushed. As someone with the approximate attention span of a cocker spaniel puppy, I appreciate that brevity. If all movies were less than half an hour long, I’d be very happy indeed.

For the thousandth time in your life, let’s recap the story. Scrooge: mean. Some ghosts! Past, present, and future. Scrooge: nice. Somewhere in there, Goofy falls down the stairs. End.

What you’ve got here is a quick little cartoon that rests comfortably alongside the best adaptations of A Christmas Carol, the best Disney animation, and the best of all Christmas movies generally. How can you beat that?

A short review, I admit, but it’s a short film. You shouldn’t need me to sell it to you; quit wasting time on the internet and watch this with the whole family.

If You Hated This, You Will Also Totally Hate:

• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
• The Muppet Christmas Carol
• Fun and Fancy Free
• The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Can’t Be a Good Idea
• Wednesday Top Ten: Disney Animated Features