MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL. Truly magical

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a Christmas classic—a timeless little book that, like no other, reminds us of what truly matters during the holiday season. It’s likely still read in many homes during the lead-up to Christmas, but at some point, the original work by the English author was overshadowed by its screen adaptations. And there are plenty of those.

The first films based on A Christmas Carol appeared shortly after the invention of cinema—though they only lasted a few minutes. Later came feature-length productions, made for both the big screen and television. These included faithful adaptations and ones that transported the story into modern times. Some were serious, while others were comedic, featuring Bill Murray as Scrooge or even the Muppets. Whether as live-action or animated films, Dickens’ work has also inspired countless TV show creators to incorporate its framework into special episodes. Truly, there’s something for everyone. I imagine each of you has a favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol that you return to regularly. I do too. For me, it’s Disney’s 1983 short animated film.

In the 1990s, my uncle ran a VHS rental store and often dropped off films at my place in the evening—movies no one had rented. All for free, with the condition that I’d return them the next morning. That’s how I got my cinematic education as a kid. One of the films I watched back then was Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

I don’t think I’d encountered this story before. It was Disney and its most famous characters that introduced me to the message of A Christmas Carol. And that’s probably the greatest strength of this film—it’s the perfect introduction for young audiences to this literary classic. The whole thing lasts just 25 minutes, featuring iconic characters like Scrooge McDuck (guess who he plays?), Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and others in the roles from the original. It’s a bite-sized A Christmas Carol, touching briefly on its key themes but still capturing what’s most important about the story. I remember being completely charmed by this animation all those years ago.

I didn’t see the production again for a long time. Then one day, during the period between Christmas and New Year’s, one of the TV stations aired it. I was over 18 at the time, flipping through channels when I stumbled upon its distinctive opening. For a moment, I hesitated to watch—so many of my childhood film memories had been ruined when I revisited them years later—but nostalgia won out. And you know what? It still resonated with me. This short cartoon turned out to be much more than just a kids’ film. Maybe it was nostalgia, or perhaps the lingering holiday spirit, but watching Mickey’s Christmas Carol as an adult, I still felt the magic, and the ending genuinely moved me.

In 1984, the film was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated Short Film category. Esteemed animators worked on the project, including Academy Award winners Glen Keane and John Lasseter. Clarence Nash provided the voice for Donald Duck for the last time, a role he had voiced since the character’s creation. At the same time, Mickey’s Christmas Carol marked the first film appearance of Alan Young as the legendary voice of Scrooge McDuck.

It’s well worth setting aside 25 minutes during the holiday season to watch Mickey’s Christmas Carol—especially with your children, nieces, or nephews. It could become a truly magical Christmas moment, perhaps even one that grows into a cherished family tradition.