Blu-ray Review - Mickey's Christmas Carol: 30th Anniversary Edition

Mickey's Christmas Carol
30th Anniversary Edition
Director: Burny Mattinson
Voice Cast: Alan Young, Wayne Allwine, Hal Smith, Will Ryan, Eddie Carroll, Patricia Parris, Dick Billingsley, Clarence Nash
Studio: Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 5th, 2013
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00DGWZKHM
Running Time: 58mins. (includes the bonus shorts)
Rating: G

Review:
Mickey's Christmas Carol, the Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Short Subject of 1983, is being released on Blu-ray for the first time on the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack, as well as the DVD, and Digital Copy on Tuesday, November 5th in celebration of its 30th Anniversary! As added bonus, Disney has also released five animated shorts, the All-New "Yodelberg," "The Hockey Champ," "Pluto's Christmas Tree," "The Art of Skiing," and "Corn Chips." When you press pause while playing, you'll get the Disney Intermission featuring Mickey and his pals singing Christmas Carols - "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," "Deck The Halls," and "Jingle Bells."

Mickey's Christmas Carol is based on the timeless tale by Charles Dickens and was released to theaters with The Rescuers in 1983. The following year it aired around Christmastime on television and has continued to air annually.

Set in England on Christmas Eve 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge (portrayed by Scrooge McDuck) is a selfish and rude businessman who dislikes the holidays; he even refuses to have dinner with his nephew, Fred (Donald Duck; This is the last time Clarence Nash voiced Donald). He gives his employee, Bob Cratchit (Mickey Mouse) a below average pay; he won't even allow him to put an extra coal in the stove.

Later that night, Scrooge is awaken by strange noises and is greeted by his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley (Goofy). Jacob was a cruel person and has been forced to wear chains in the afterlife. He warns Scrooge that three ghosts will visit him that very night.

The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Future all visit Scrooge, giving him a much needed reality check.

Mickey Mouse returned this year in several three-minute shorts. In Yodelberg, Mickey tries to visit Minnie, who is living atop of a mountain, but he must battle an avalanche and a Yeti to get there.

Donald Duck stars in the 1939 short The Hockey Champ. Donald considers himself "The Hockey Champion of Duck Swamp" and accepts a hockey game challenge against his nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie.

Mickey Mouse cuts down a Christmas in Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952), but he doesn't know the tree is the home to Chip 'n' Dale, who happen to bother poor Pluto.

Goof starred in the 1941 short called The Art of Skiing, where he goes to the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort to master the art of skiing.

Chip 'n' Dale wreck havoc in the 1951 short Corn Chips by snatching Donald Duck's bowl of popcorn.

Mickey's Christmas Carol is one of the best adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic book, The Christmas Carol. It had been released on DVD collections before, but this is the first time it has gotten a proper release on DVD & Blu-Ray! I can hardly believe it has been thirty years since it first came out. I watched it every year as a child on television, but it has been years since I had seen it. The picture quality is superb thank to Disney's digital restoration, though the screen shots been a little chopped to fit into a widescreen presentation. It was nice to see the original animation shorts that were shown with the television versions in the 1980s as bonus shorts, but Donald's Snow Fight wasn't included. The new animation short, Yodelberg is cute and returns Mickey Mouse to his roots. Overall, I loved watching Mickey's Christmas Carol: 30th Anniversary Edition. I think it would make a great present for any kid or adult.