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Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 3; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Classic entertaining holiday shorts with perennial lessons.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    For "Christmas Carol," the usual sound lesson about how being miserly affects yourself and others. In "The Small One," a young boy is forced to sell his favorite donkey, who is old and unable to carry his workload. Teary goodbyes and lessons of kindness dominate this story.

  • Role models:

    Of course Scrooge transforms from miserly to very giving in "Christmas Carol." Mickey Mouse generally provides a kind and good-hearted role model. But in the cartoon "Pluto's Christmas Tree," he loses his cool and calls Pluto names while wringing his neck. The only females in any of these cartoons are wives and girlfriends.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Some scary moments in the "Christmas Carol" cartoon, in which Scrooge is confronted with a frightening ghost of Christmas future and a burning coffin. A little comic violence in "Pluto's Christmas Tree," peaking with Mickey wringing Pluto's neck and saying: "You dumb mutt!"

  • Sexy stuff:

    A flirtatious Daisy Duck wants a kiss from Scrooge in  the "Christmas Carol" cartoon. She gives him a big kiss on the cheek and his eyes spin and his heart beats wildly.

  • Consumerism:

    Money and greed are themes in the "Christmas Carol" cartoon, as well as "The Small One." Men count coins, grabbing bags of money and act irrationally around money. In "Santa's Workshop," a host of trains and dolls are prepared for Santa's gift bag.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Cigar and cigarette smoking take place in the "Christmas Carol."

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol was written by Joly Herman

Parents need to know that in September 2009 "Mickey's Christmas Carol" became available on DVD as part of the Classic Short Films Animation Collection. Other shorts in the collection include "Pluto’s Christmas Tree," "The Small One," and "Santa’s Workshop." There are some mildly scary moments in the featured cartoon. Of course, these images serve to scare Scrooge into becoming a generous man when he wakes up in the morning, but youngest viewers might flinch at the ghostly presence. In "Pluto's Christmas Tree" there's one scene of comic violence when Mickey wrings Pluto's neck and shouts "You dumb mutt!" Also of note -- there are very few girls or women to be found in any of these animated classics.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about greed. Does it always have to do with money? Can people be greedy in other ways? What does Scrooge miss out on in his life because of his greedy nature?
  • Getting presents is a big part of Christmas. But should Christmas be ALL about the presents? Can you name three gifts that you can give that are not bought or sold?
  • Parents might like to check out these age-appropriate  tips that can help families navigate the consumer blitz during the holidays.
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More on Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol

What’s the Story?

Ebenezer Scrooge is a busy duck when Christmas rolls around. He has to count lots of money in his Counting House. He does have a certain mouse helping him, named Bob Cratchit. And though Bob has a friendly attitude to his miserly boss, he is not duly rewarded for his work and his family doesn't have enough food to go around. Scrooge can't be bothered with other people's misery. That is, until he is visited by three ghosts, who show him the effects of his miserly ways. The other shorts are also related to Christmas, the most religous of which is called "The Small One," which ends with a starlit cross lighting the sky on the eve of Jesus' birth

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Is It Any Good?

MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL takes Dickens' lesson-rich tale of greed and redemption and gives it some light Disney touches, making it a better version to share with younger viewers. The theme of generosity comes up again in the touching cartoon (and most religious of the bunch) called "The Small One," in which a young boy must sell his pet donkey.

Not to be overlooked is the final animated short called "Santa's Workshop" -- an early Disney masterpiece complete with rhyming text and a wonderfully imagined North Pole. There are many funny and deliberate details to behold. All in all,  these cartoons will get the whole family in the mood for a cheerful Christmas.
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Movie Details

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Directors: Burny Mattinson, Don Bluth
Run time: 64 minutes
DVD release: 9/29/2009
MPAA Rating: NR

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    saritabonita
    Kids ages: 5
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    okcmaxk
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    mickeys chirstmas carol rocks

    i watched this last year when i was 6 and it scared me.but now i like it!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    8Dcoolbeans8D
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    kids

    i own the movie and have been watching it since i was little. some parts may be a little frightening for younger children though.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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