History WesternAnimation / MickeysChristmasCarol

For years, WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, a once-mighty force in animation, was but a memory. After his fall from popularity in the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation 1940s]], and his final appearances in the 1950s, it seemed like there was no future for the mouse save as a corporate symbol for Creator/{{Disney}}.

** DecompositeCharacter: Willie the Giant as the Ghost of Christmas Present is an AdaptationalNiceGuy compared to how in the Original story he gleefully mocked Scrooge with IronicEcho's, Pete as the Ghost of Christmas Future instead becomes the mocking ghost after his SuddenlySpeaking moment at the end.

'''''Mickey's Christmas Carol''''' is a 24-minute film, and a fairly straightforward adaptation of [[Literature/AChristmasCarol that one classic story]] [[YetAnotherChristmasCarol everybody knows about by now]]. Despite the short being billed as Mickey's comeback, he serves only as the character of Bob Cratchit. Scrooge [=McDuck=] (in the role of—take a wild guess—[[TheDanza Ebenezer Scrooge!]]) carries the bulk of the film instead, making his first animated appearance since the 1967 educational short ''Scrooge [=McDuck=] and Money'' (Otherwise, up to this point he'd only appeared in the Creator/CarlBarks ''Uncle Scrooge'' comics and this short's precursor, a storybook album from TheSeventies.), along with the debut of Creator/AlanYoung as his primary voice actor.

-->'''Scrooge: And what can I do for you two gentlemen?\\

* GentleGiant: The Ghost of Christmas Present. At least he ''tries'' to be gentle.

* NeverSayDie: ''Almost'' averted. Scrooge says "Then that means Tim will..." but gets cut off when he realizes that the Ghost of Christmas Present [[StealthHiBye has vanished]]. The next scene makes the conclusion abundantly clear, though.

* FurryDenial: Scrooge [=McDuck=], who's playing Ebenezer Scrooge from ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' is referred to as an "Englishman," despite being a drake (a male duck) and actually Scottish.

* TheCameo: Several classic Disney characters make appearances, including WesternAnimation/TheThreeLittlePigs, [[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} Jiminy Cricket]], [[WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree Willie the Giant]], and [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Mr. Toad]]. And just about everybody at Fezziwig's appeared in a Disney feature (''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' in particular) or short.

* DecoyProtagonist: Also combined with NeverTrustATitle, whereas the special is named ''Mickey's Christmas Carol'' and he is a huge part of it, the true main character was Scrooge [=McDuck=]. Siskel and Ebert actually took umbrage with this and which was among one of the main reasons why they panned the cartoon (nevermind the fact that the special probably wouldn't work as Mickey being a villain, albeit initially).

Debuting as a supporting feature with the 1983 theatrical re-release of ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'' (after an animators' strike delayed an intended 1982 premiere on television), this adaptation was fairly well-received and nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Film. In 1984 it began airing annually around Christmas on network and cable television and remains a holiday season favorite to this day. In 2001, it was included in the Christmas special ''WesternAnimation/MickeysMagicalChristmasSnowedInAtTheHouseOfMouse.''

-->'''Scrooge''': Good morning, gentlemen. I've something for ya.\\

'''Scrooge''': Not enough? Here.\\

'''Scrooge''': Fifty gold sovereigns!\\

'''Scrooge''': Still not enough! You drive a hard bargain. Here you are.\\

'''Scrooge''': One hundred gold pieces, and not a penny more!\\
'''First Charity Collector (Mr. Rat)''': Oh, thank you, Mr. Scrooge! Thank you! And a *merry* Christmas to you!

* BookSnap: Scrooge is working on his ledger when Donald Duck (as Fred) comes in and wishes him a Merry Christmas. Scrooge slams the ledger shut and asks him "What's so merry about it?"
* TheCameo: Several classic Disney characters make appearances, including WesternAnimation/TheThreeLittlePigs, [[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} Jiminy Cricket]], [[WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree Willie the Giant]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Mr. Toad]]. And just about everybody at Fezziwig's appeared in a Disney feature (''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' in particular) or short.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: When visiting his past, Scrooge expresses regret for foreclosing his would-be home with Isabelle, thus driving her out of his life. When he sees the potential future, he also expresses horror over the thought of [[spoiler: Tiny Tim dying at a young age because he wasn't paying Bob enough.]]

--> "Why, '''yours''', Ebenezer! ''The richest man in the cemetery!''"

'''''Mickey's Christmas Carol''''' is a 24-minute film, and a fairly straightforward adaptation of [[Literature/AChristmasCarol that one classic story]] [[YetAnotherChristmasCarol everybody knows about by now]]. Despite the short being billed as Mickey's comeback, he serves only as the character of Bob Cratchit. Scrooge [=McDuck=] (in the role of—take a wild guess—[[TheDanza Ebenezer Scrooge!]]) carries the bulk of the film instead, making his first animated appearance since the 1967 educational short ''Scrooge [=McDuck=] and Money''. (Otherwise, up to this point he'd only appeared in the Creator/CarlBarks ''Uncle Scrooge'' comics and this short's precursor, a storybook album from TheSeventies.)

* DigitalDestruction: The 30th Anniversary Edition home video releases have digitally smeared picture, which also looks zoomed in too closely. The Digital HD release of the 2001 anthology special ''Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' does provide an un-cropped, more filmic-looking alternative, albeit without any credits.

--> "Why, '''yours''', Ebenezer! ''The richest man in the cemetery!!''"

* AnimatedAdaptation: This is an adaptation of Disneyland Records' 1974 audio [[TheMusical musical]] entitled ''[[http://www.mousevinyl.com/content/dickens-christmas-carol-disneyland-records An Adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol]]''. The biggest difference is that the first and third ghosts in the animated short are played by [[Characters/TheSwordInTheStone Merlin]] (Past) and [[Characters/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs the Evil Queen/Witch]] (Future), while Willie the Giant still played Present. The alms collectors are played not by [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole]], as in the animated short, but by [[Characters/{{Pinocchio}} J. Worthington Foulfellow and Gideon]].

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: At the very beginning of the short, we see the Big Bad Wolf ringing a bell next to a pot, which is way too much like the Salvation Army (which was founded in 1865, 22 years after the novel's 1843 publication). What's really bad, however, is that he's wearing a modern Santa Claus suit - it wasn't until Creator/NormanRockwell drew numerous pictures of him in the 1920's that his current appearance really solidified. Anyone dressed like that in the 1840's would have looked more like a clown than St. Nick.

* CarnivoreConfusion: A suckling pig makes an appearance when Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, after the Three Little Pigs have a cameo as carolers in the opening scene on the city streets. Donald also invites Scrooge to have goose for dinner despite having at least two cousins who are geese.

* DoorSlamOfRage: after Scrooge breaks up with Isabelle, the heartbroken girl walks out the door, slamming it and causing Scrooge to lose count of his coins.
* DramaticallyMissingThePoint: When Isabelle asks Scrooge about his decision, she means whether they get married, while he thinks it's about the mortgage on their honeymoon cottage, which he closes. Needless to say, she walks out on him forever.

* GoodIsNotNice: While all of the Ghosts are meant to change Scrooge into becoming a better person, they make it no secret that they think he's a despicable miser who has done nothing, but choose money over love and the needy.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: When visiting his past, Scrooge expresses regret for foreclosing his would-be home with Isabelle, thus driving her out of his life. When he sees the potential future, he also expresses horror over the thought of [[spoiler:Tiny Tim dying at a young age because he wasn't paying Bob enough.]]

** In the book and most adaptations Scrooge (because it's a social custom) reluctantly agrees to give Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off, with expecting him earlier the following morning, while here he only gives him half a day off, docks his pay by half, and makes him wash his laundry for him.

* InkSuitActor: A rare case of an ''animated'' character doing it, [[ComicBook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck Scrooge McDuck]] was named after Ebenezer. Though he himself was created in 1947 his name was based on the title character from the original story, first published in 1843.

Debuting as a supporting feature with the 1983 theatrical re-release of ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'' (after an animators' strike delayed an intended 1982 premiere on television), this adaptation was fairly well-received and nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Film. In 1984 it began airing annually around Christmas on network and cable television and remains a holiday season favorite to this day. In 2001, it was included in the Christmas special ''Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.''

* AdaptedOut: Fred's wife isn't seen or mentioned, presumably since Daisy is already playing Young Scrooge's love interest, Isabelle.

* LittlestCancerPatient: Tiny Tim is terminally ill. In the bad future, Tim has died of his illness and Bob is deeply in grief, having never had a chance to say goodbye, much less spend with him during Tim's last few days as Scrooge worked him past the point of exhaustion.

* AdaptationalNationality: Scrooge is described as an Englishman, in line with the original novel, whereas Scrooge [=McDuck=] has always been Scottish (migrated to America) in the comics.

-->'''Scrooge:''' Spirit...whose lonely grave is this?\\

'''Ghost:''' (''removes his hood to reveal a maniacally grinning Pete'') Why ''yours'' Ebenezer! (''pushes Scrooge into the grave'') ''The richest man in the cemetery!'' (''laughs wickedly'')

* AnimatedAdaptation: This is an adaptation of Disneyland Records' 1974 audio [[TheMusical musical]] entitled ''[[http://www.mousevinyl.com/content/dickens-christmas-carol-disneyland-records An Adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol]]''. The biggest difference is that the first and third ghosts in the animated short are played by [[WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone Merlin]] (Past) and [[WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs the Evil Queen/Witch]] (Future), while Willie the Giant still played Present. The alms collectors are played not by [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole]], as in the animated short, but by [[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} J. Worthington Foulfellow and Gideon]].

** In the original Disney record version, Foulfellow and Gideon are the alms collectors, with Gideon at one point speaking in unison with Foulfellow. May double as a MythologyGag, Gideon was meant to speak in ''Pinocchio'', but all his lines but a hiccup sound effect were cut.

* SuddenlyVoiced:

Debuting as a supporting feature with the 1983 theatrical re-release of ''Disney/TheRescuers'' (after an animators' strike delayed an intended 1982 premiere on television), this adaptation was fairly well-received and nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Film. In 1984 it began airing annually around Christmas on network and cable television and remains a holiday season favorite to this day. In 2001, it was included in the Christmas special ''Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.''

* AnimatedAdaptation: This is an adaptation of Disneyland Records' 1974 audio [[TheMusical musical]] entitled ''[[http://www.mousevinyl.com/content/dickens-christmas-carol-disneyland-records An Adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol]]''. The biggest difference is that the first and third ghosts in the animated short are played by [[Disney/TheSwordInTheStone Merlin]] (Past) and [[Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs the Evil Queen/Witch]] (Future), while Willie the Giant still played Present. The alms collectors are played not by [[Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole]], as in the animated short, but by [[Disney/{{Pinocchio}} J. Worthington Foulfellow and Gideon]].
* AnthropomorphicShift: Inverted with Cyril Proudbottom the horse. He is a PartiallyCivilizedAnimal in ''Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad'', but he's a NearlyNormalAnimal in this featurette.

* TheCameo: Several classic Disney characters make appearances, including WesternAnimation/TheThreeLittlePigs, [[Disney/{{Pinocchio}} Jiminy Cricket]], [[Disney/FunAndFancyFree Willie the Giant]] and [[Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad Mr. Toad]]. And just about everybody at Fezziwig's appeared in a Disney feature (''Disney/RobinHood'' in particular) or short.

* PorkyPigPronunciation: As in ''Disney/FunAndFancyFree'', Willie still can't say "pistachio".