By Michael Lyons
There’s really only one major flaw with “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”: you wish it was longer.
This backhanded compliment is true of many films, but this one especially. The short film (or “featurette,” to use a Disney term) is so rich in character, story, themes and, most definitely, animation that it could have gone on for another hour without a complaint from anyone.
It’s been thirty five Christmases since “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” made its debut, so to celebrate this milestone, let’s re-visit Mickey and the gang’s re-enactment of Charles Dickens’ classic.
The movie takes its inspiration not just from the literary masterwork, but from a Disney Record Album (which is how the world listened to music before iTunes) that told the story of “A Christmas Carol” by casting the “Disney Players” in each role. As animation production at the Studio ramped up in the ‘80’s, filmmakers turned to the album as source material. Some casting changes were made for the film (Merlin from “The Sword in the Stone” and the Old Hag from “Snow White” were two of the Ghosts in the album version).
However, casting for each role in the film is spot on: no one is more earnest or empathetic than Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit or, believe it or not, friendlier than Donald Duck as Scrooge’s nephew Fred and Ratty and Moley from “The Wind and the Willows” section of “Ichabod and Mr. Toad” are perfect as the very proper solicitors for the poor.
The Ghosts themselves are inspired casting. Goofy makes the clumsiest Jacob Marley you’ve ever seen; Jiminy Cricket is the perfect conscience for Christmas Past; As the Ghost of Christmas Present, Willie the Giant (from “Mickey and Beanstalk”) is, quite literally, a specter who looms large and Pete has never been more menacing and bullying than he is as the Ghost of Christmas Future.
There are, of course, multiple cameos throughout from Minnie Mouse as Mrs. Cratchit, Daisy Duck as Scrooge’s love interest Isabel and Mr. Toad as Fezziwg. Also, keep an eye out for fleeting glimpses of the Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Chip and Dale, as well as characters from “The Aristocats,” “Robin Hood” and other Disney animated films.
The most inspired casting, however (and typecasting that would stick forever) was Scrooge McDuck as Ebineezer Scrooge. The character’s already frugal nature is paired well with the dour, embittered sprit of Ebineezer and we actually find ourselves rooting for Scrooge at the end. Given Scrooge’s popularity with the ‘90’s series “Duck Tales,” it’s hard to believe that this was only the character’s second screen appearance, as he had been created specifically for Walt Disney Comics in 1947.
Giving voice to Scrooge is actor Alan Young (of TV’s “Mr. Ed” fame), who had also co-written the record album version and would go on to be the official voice of Scrooge for several decades after. He is one of a number of talented “Disney veterans” providing voices in the film, along with Clarence Nash, the original voice of Donald Duck and Wayne Allwine, for which this film was his first assignment voicing Mickey Mouse. Allwine at this point was only the third actor to give voice to Mickey (before him was Jimmy MacDonald and before that, Walt Disney himself). Mickey was voiced by Allwine until his death nine years ago and the spirit and enthusiasm he had for this iconic character is definitely on display in “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.”
Mickey’s animation in the film is courtesy of another Disney veteran, animator Mark Henn, who would go on to be one of the architects of the animation resurgence at the Studio in the ‘90’s. Henn would animated such characters as Jasmine in “Aladdin” and the title character in “Mulan.” The same emotional depth he brought to those characters can be seen here too. Try not to get choked up, no matter how many times you’ve seen the film, when Mickey places Tiny Tim’s crutch at his son’s grave site.
In fact, all of the animation, under the direction of Bunny Mattinson (who started his career with Disney in 1953 and is STILL working at the Studio) is so full and lush and, well, Disney. From the quiet detail of rain on a windowsill to the large, comedic scene of Willie the Giant literally walking through a town to the climax that finds Scrooge desperately trying to hang on while a fiery coffin threatens to engulf him, this is as classic and comforting as Disney animation gets
“Mickey’s Christmas Carol” debuted on December 16, 1983, as part of a double bill with a re-issue of “The Rescuers.” While it received very positive reviews from critics and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Subject, the film wasn’t a tremendous box office hit.
However, “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” coincided with the explosion of both VHS home video and cable in the early to mid ‘80’s, both of which helped make it very successful after its theatrical release. Additionally, it became a staple on TV each season. The shorter length of the film lent itself to the smaller screen, making it seem more like a TV special and fitting it very comfortably alongside such Christmas standards as “The Grinch” and “Charlie Brown.”
Three and a half decades later, “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” is nothing short of beloved. Watching it each season is like a Holiday visit from old friends.
The film is also very true to both Disney AND Dickens’ original work. The characters in the film play a role, but they never lose their true personality (Goofy’s bumbling ghost of Jacob Marley is the perfect example). “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” truncates Dickens’ story, but loses none of its impact. The themes of kindness, it’s never too late to change and keeping the spirit of Christmas alive all year round are still there, even in its brief run time.
Now...if it were only longer.
Sources: IMDb
“The Making of Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” Walt Disney Home Video
Wikipedia
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