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Mickey's Christmas Carol

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Directed by: Burny Mattinson
Written by: Burny Mattinson
Tony L. Marino
Ed Gombert
Don Griffith
Alan Young
Alan Dinehart
Release date: December 16, 1983
Running time: 25 minutes
Characters: Scrooge McDuck
Mickey Mouse
Donald Duck
Available on: VHS
CED
Laserdisc
DVD
Promotional artwork for the special (used for the cover of a storybook adaptation).

Mickey's Christmas Carol was a theatrical featurette, featuring established Disney characters enacting A Christmas Carol. The production, hailed as Mickey Mouse's big-screen comeback (despite his limited supporting role) was inspired by A Disney Christmas Carol, an earlier Disney record conceived by Alan Young and Alan Dineheart. Young also debuted as the voice of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, here playing Ebenezer Scrooge, and would reprise the role in nearly every subsequent production, notably DuckTales. The featurette also marked the first theatrical outing for Wayne Allwine as the voice of Mickey Mouse (who had previously voiced the character in animation produced for the 1977 Mickey Mouse Club TV series) as well as Clarence Nash's final performance as the voice of Donald Duck.

In addition to Scrooge McDuck, the cast of characters included Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, Donald as nephew Fred, Daisy Duck as Scrooge's first love, Minnie Mouse as Mrs. Cratchit, Morty Fieldmouse (one of Mickey's nephews) as Tiny Tim, Goofy as the Ghost of Jacob Marley, Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Willie the Giant (Fun and Fancy Free, 1947) as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Pete as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Mole and Ratty (The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, 1949) as the charity collectors, Mr. Toad himself in a silent role as Fezziwig, and scores of other cameos from the theatrical shorts and films.

The film was released on December 16, 1983, and packaged together with a re-release of the 1977 film The Rescuers. It was billed as Mickey's "big-screen comeback" because his last appearance on film, the short "The Simple Things", was thirty years previous, in 1953.

The featurette made its television debut over NBC on December 10, 1984, and was rebroadcast for several years, usually accompanied by Christmas and winter-themed theatrical shorts such as Donald's Snow Fight and Pluto's Christmas Tree to fill out the running time. It was also featured was the last cartoon played in the direct-to-video compilation film Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse. Also, a short snippet of the film appeared in the ABC/Walt Disney Animation special Prep & Landing.

The special stopped airing on television in 2000. It later aired on ABC Family on December 10, 2008, but with many abrupt edits. On Christmas Day in 2008, the special was finally aired on Toon Disney (now known as Disney XD) as a stand-alone 30-minute spot, as opposed to being shown as a segment in Mickey's Magical Christmas.

Cast

Cameo appearances include:

  • Zeke Wolf (Street Cornet Santa)
  • The Three Little Pigs (Singers standing with street corner Santa, also seen running in the street at the end)
  • Dancers in the party sequence:
    • Toby Tortoise
    • Max Hare
    • Clara Cluck
    • Gus Goose
    • Peter Pig
    • Paddy Pig
    • Clarabelle Cow
    • Horace Horsecollar
    • Grandman Duck
    • Chip 'n' Dale
    • Huey, Dewey and Louie (seen decorating Christmas tree)
    • MacBadger
  • Two of the Three Little Wolves (seen running in the street)
  • Cyril Proudbottom (horse pulling Donald's cart at the end)
  • Two of the weasels from The Wind in the Willows (gravediggers)


Disney
Shorts: Empty SocksMickey's OrphansSanta's WorkshopMickey's Good DeedThe Night Before ChristmasToy TinkersPluto's Christmas TreeThe Small OneMickey's Christmas CarolJingle Bells, Something SmellsThe NutcrackerMickey's Mixed NutsMickey's Christmas Chaos

Movies: One Magic ChristmasThe Christmas StarErnest Saves ChristmasA Mom for ChristmasThe Muppet Christmas CarolThe Nightmare Before ChristmasThe Santa ClauseThe Christmas TreeBeauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasI'll Be Home For ChristmasMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasWinnie the Pooh: Seasons of GivingSanta Who?The Ultimate Christmas Present'Twas the NightMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of MouseThe Santa Clause 2Mr. St. NickEloise at ChristmastimeMickey's Twice Upon a ChristmasThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseMy Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas MovieA Christmas CarolSanta Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws

TV Specials: A Disney Christmas GiftA Disney Channel ChristmasChristmas at Pooh CornerWinnie the Pooh and Christmas TooA Goof Troop ChristmasA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaPhineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!Prep & Landing

TV Episodes: A Jolly Molly ChristmasIt's a Wonderful LeafMiracle at the 34th PrecinctDoug's Secret ChristmasA Christmas CruellaYes, Mikey, Santa Does ShaveDon't Be ElfishA Kosher ChristmasHoliday TimeHeck of a HanukkahSeven Days of KwannzaThe Blight Before ChristmasPete's Christmas CaperClarabelle's Christmas ListXtreme XmasHappy Holidays, Mr. Gruff!Escape ClauseA Very Possible ChristmasTopperOn Whiskers, On Lola, On Cheryl and MerylChristmas at the TiptonChristmas BreakThe Christmas WishMickey Saves SantaHairy ChristmasA Giftmas StorySeason's BeatingsDick Daring's All-Star Holiday Stunt Spectacular VKilling Me Softly With His HeightFor Your Ice Only / ColdfingersThe Night Before Zipsmas / A Gift For ZooterHappy Ha-Ha Hoildays

Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade

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