One of the Christmas programs that I always used to watch as a child at that time of year was Disney and Mickey Mouse's version of Dicken's classic, 'A Christmas Carol'. Disney characters are cast into the parts of the characters in this famous story. Goofy plays the ghost, Mickey plays the under-payed business partner, Scrooge McDuck plays Scrooge, Daisy Duck plays the love interest, among the cast of other characters. Think of this short (probably 30-minute) cartoon as the ultimate children's story of 'A Christmas Carol'. I have very fond memories of watching this, and it made me feel all Christmasy and anxious for Christmas. I wish that they would continue to show this and other Christmas programmes on the television nowdays. :( I remember the fear of seeing Scrooge almost cast into the never-ending grave, and the happiness when he learns the real spirit of Christmas. It really is a special Christmas film.

The result is a thing of beauty and I have absolutely no idea how this one lost the animated short film category to "Sundae in New York" 30 years ago. It features all the famous characters, from Scrooge over Donald to Micky and Goofy and some of the lesser known ones too like Grandma Duck. They're all turned into characters from the famous Dickens story and of course the final result brings all the heart you had hoped for. The Christmas past scenes with Isabelle (Daisy who for once is not Donald's but Scrooge's sweetheart) and, especially, Tiny Tim with his crutches (and the teddy in the end) were truly moving. The scene at his house was a perfect display of how you really don't need much financially if you're surrounded by the ones you love. But also the humor doesn't come too short. You can always count on Goofy when it comes to that. I laughed so hard when Scrooge told the ghost of his old partner how he had class by doing such horrible things and Goofy at first laughs flattered, but then realizes what's going on and goes like "NO!". The voice acting is top-notch. Alan Young makes a good scrooge, but the highlight is definitely the supporting cast. Wayne Allwine's Mickey has always been a thing of beauty. Always has been, always will be. And the film has historic value as well as this was Clarence Nash's very last performance as everybody's favorite Duck (shut up, Daffy) almost 50 years after Nash voiced Donald the very first time.

So all in all, this one delivers everything you can hope for (including the sweetest ending) in an animated short-film. It's having its 30th anniversary this year and is still a much better watch than most of the Christmas-related stuff they're releasing these days, especially during the holidays. Show it to your children and you will not regret it.

This is beautifully animated, and faithful to the much loved Dickens story. It is a bit short, but most of the Disney Christmas specials are barely over an hour, so I don't think it as an issue. Scrooge, great to hear Alan Young's voice again, is a miser who hates Christmas, much to the despair of his clerk Bob Cratchit, earnestly voiced by Wayne Allwine. He is visited by three spirits, after being warned by Jacob Marley, who convince him once and for all to change his ways! The animation is beautiful, as is the title song, an occurring motif in the mini-film. (It's only 25 minutes.)When Scrooge thinks Tiny Tim is dead, I had tears in my eyes, and that rarely happens. There are truly entertaining appearances from Jiminy Cricket, Goofy, Willy the Giant, Donald Duck and Toad from Wind in the Willows. Other than its length, I had no real quibble with the movie, so it is a 10/10. Bethany Cox