This is the movie that introduced most kids in my generation to the Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol. Nearly all of the major Disney cartoon characters, as well as several from movies, bring Dickens' tale to the youngest viewers at Christmas. It was this mini-classic that introduced Scrooge McDuck into the cast of Disney regulars -- taking his first name, of course, from the last name of ol' Ebeneezer. The Scottish goldhound would go on to star in his own series, Ducktales, and a subsequent movie.

Playing Fred, the cheery nephew of Ebeneezer Scrooge, is Donald Duck. Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole are a pair of men collecting for the poor, while Mr. Toad plays Fezziwig, Ebeneezer's old boss. Mickey Mouse is hard-working and good-hearted Bob Cratchit and Minnie is his devoted wife. Putting in a comical appearance as the ghost of Scrooge's partner Jacob Marley is Goofy.

Daisy Duck plays Isabella, the love interest of Scrooge when he was young. Jiminy Cricket is the chiding Ghost of Christmas Past. Contrasting his practicality and diminutive size is the lumbering oaf, the Ghost of Christmas Present, played by the giant from Mickey and the Beanstalk. And finally, the ever-demonic Pete plays the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Future.

The whole movie runs less than half an hour, thus the term "mini-classic". You're not going to find the complexity and detail you would in a full-length version of A Christmas Carol, but it's adorable and retains all of the major events of the story. This is the perfect way to introduce your children to this treasured Christmas tale. There are a couple minutes near the end in the graveyard that would probably frighten young children; you ought to be ready to hold their hands during this segment. After they've graduated from this movie, treat them to A Muppet Christmas Carol, which is much more in-depth but just as delightful. Both of these will be movies they'll love to watch over and over long after they've moved on to a "grown-up" version.



Recommended: Yes