Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too - Part One

There are two things in mainstream culture that can always make me cry--the Muppets and Winnie the Pooh. This little gem might just make you bawl, so look out!  It might not be as tearjerking as The Search For Christopher Robin or the "Find Her Keep Her" episode, but it's pretty darn touching.

Christmas Too opens with a jaunty little theme (the special has a nice soundtrack) and the gang all gathered at that cliff they're always hanging out on.  Christopher Robin is writing a Christmas list for Winnie the Pooh and friends, and each stuffed animal has something they want.

Tigger wants snowshoes to be able to bounce in the snow.
Rabbit wants a new flyswatter to keep bugs out of his garden.
Eeyore wants an umbrella to keep snow off of his stick-house.
Piglet's not sure what he wants.
Pooh asks for honey (of course) for everyone.
Christopher Robin wants a sled.

It seems like everyone is covered, so Christopher Robin lets the letter go in the wind, off to the North Pole.

The next day, Piglet visits Pooh to see his makeshift tree...and also because Pooh forgot to ask Santa what he wanted for Christmas!

Piglet reminds Pooh that he forgot to ask Santa for a present!  Pooh quickly devises a plan involving flying on a balloon and catching the letter before Santa gets it.

It doesn't go quite as planned...(the writers loved slapstick in this series)

But they get the letter, anyway.  Meeting Tigger and Eeyore, the gang heads over to Rabbit's house to edit the letter.

Meanwhile, Rabbit is decorating his carrot tree when he gets a knock on the door and hears carolers outside. However, he opens the door to discover...

Deagle Deagle Deagle!

Well, not really, but the scene is pretty reminiscent of the Gremlin carolers. The adorably evil Napoleon-clad leader of the bugs who constantly pestered Rabbit in the series stages a surprise attack on the poor guy's house!  The bugs devour the tree and escape without a single casualty, thanks to Rabbit's lack of a sufficient flyswatter.  The writers really enjoyed tormenting Rabbit for some reason.

After Rabbit's tree is wrecked, the other animals show up to add to the Christmas list.  As they write down Pooh's wishes (a few pots of "hunny"), Rabbit remembers that what he wants even more than a flyswatter is a sprayer "that'll take care of those pesky bugs forever." Yes, Rabbit is actually implying that he wants to kill the little bastards.  Apparently he's been afraid to ask, 'cause murder is naughty according to Santa Claus.  And God.  The special suddenly got dark.
The gang begins to get greedy and start asking for everything in mass amounts.  Suddenly, they realize that it's Christmas Eve!  Pooh is enlisted to send off the letter while Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore go off to find a bigger tree for all the presents.

Pooh lets the letter go into the wind, not realizing that the wind is blowing south.

Meanwhile, Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore enlist Gopher (he's not in the book) to help them cut down a huge tree.  Gopher is subjected to some amusing slapstick, but eventually the tree is put in the right place.  It is soon decorated with hundreds of ornaments (mostly old furniture), complete with Eeyore as an angel (easily the best moment in the entire special).

Pooh and Piglet go home, sure that they are in store for the best Christmas that one could have.  It is then that the wind blows the letter to Santa back under Pooh's door.

"Oh bother."

Mickey's Christmas Carol - Part Two

Continuing from where we left off, Scrooge is fast asleep when he is approached by the Ghost of Christmas Past, Jiminy Cricket, badge and all.  Perhaps he was promoted after doing a good job with Pinocchio.

In the original record set, Jiminy's role was actually played by Merlin the Wizard from The Sword and the Stone.  I believe in another version, it was played by the Blue Fairy.  I think they chose the better character in this case.  Below I've posted a picture of them with Human!Fezziwig.

Speaking of Fezziwig (played by Mr Toad), that's exactly where they're headed!  Jiminy takes a reluctant Scrooge sailing out the door and over London (while the orchestra plays an all-too short piece of fun flying music) down to Fezziwig's building.  Inside, all of Scrooge's "very dearest friends."  Take note that one of the guests is Grandma Duck in what I believe is her only animated appearance.

I love this scene.  The music playing is fantastic (if you listen closely, you can hear that it's actually an upbeat version of Scrooge's leitmotif) and there are so many fun cameos!  Personally, I think it would have been nice if Brer Rabbit and Pluto made an appearance as well, but what are you gonna do, right?

It's a bit odd seeing Scrooge being romantically intertwined with Daisy (playing Isabelle), but Donald was Fred, so...

However, Scrooge's love for Isabelle is short-lived, as he grows to love his money more than her.  While most versions of the story have Isabelle dumping Scrooge, here he is actually the one to spurn her when he forecloses on their honeymoon cottage.  The douche doesn't even notice when she leaves until she slams the door, causing his gold to fall!

Of course, Scrooge regrets this now, but it's too late.  In a flash, he is back in his own bed.

I like how they handled this version of Christmas Past.  While it is rather rushed, I always found the past sequence to be kinda boring.  I understand that it is crucial in explaining Scrooge's character, but some versions I've seen are slow as molasses (I'm looking at you, 1970's Scrooge...TWO ballads in a row? Really?!).  Here, although it might be a little too fast, things really keep moving along.

Scrooge is stunned to find Christmas Present/Willie the Giant (wonderfully voiced by Will Ryan) towering over him.  He is soon calmed, though, by the food of generosity, which has flooded his bedroom.  Watch for a disturbing moment where Scrooge eagerly rips the leg off of a turkey.  You're practically related to him!

Willie clomps down the street and shows Scrooge the incredibly humble-but-cozy home of the Cratchits.  It is here that we meet Minnie/Mrs Cratchit who doesn't get a single line.  Russi Taylor (wife of the late Wayne Allwine, who first voiced Mickey Mouse in this short) didn't do Minnie until 1987.  Minnie does, however, have lines in the original record version.

We also meet Tiny Tim, who I read somewhere was played by Mickey's nephew, Morty.  I guess Ferdie played the other kid.  No idea on who the girl is.  Minnie had nieces in the comics, so maybe she's one of them.

Here's where the pacing has some issues.  Although Tim is adorable, we barely get a chance to get to know him before the scene switches.  Luckily, Mickey's grieving is so powerful (more on that in a bit) that we are still moved when we see what the future may hold.

In a nice scene transition, just as Scrooge realizes that Tim may not be alright, the lights in the Cratchit's house go out and he is engulfed in a fog that turns out to be cigar smoke.

Yep, it's Peg-Leg Pete as Christmas Future.  This is a big step up from the original record when the role was played by the Snow White Witch.

In what is possibly the best scene in whole film, Pete shows Scrooge the grave of Tiny Tim, where Mickey stands, tears in his eyes.  No words need to be said.  A beautiful flute piece plays on the soundtrack.  Best Tim death scene EVER, and a great example of "less is more."

We then get a cameo from a pair of weasels as the gravediggers as Scrooge sees his own grave in a chilling scene:

"Spirit, who's lonely grave is this?"

"Why, yours, Ebeneezer...THE RICHEST MAN IN THE CEMETERY!"  Like Goofy, I believe this is Pete's finest hour, despite him only having one line.

Scrooge is then shoved into the grave, falling into a coffin filled with fire and smoke in a scene lifted from 1970's Scrooge.  I don't recall being afraid of this scene, but I wouldn't be surprised if it frightened any kids.

Scrooge, of course, is very much alive and vows to change for the better.  The short then goes through the motions as he rights his various wrongs, ending with a tender scene at the Cratchits' house.

In the book, Scrooge surprises Cratchit at work the next day, but I prefer this, actually.  I think that rushed as Mickey's Christmas Carol is, the pacing really works in this case.

All in all, it's a wonderful little special, and although it's not the best Christmas Carol, it's easily my favorite.

The Muppets come pretty darn close, though...

Thanks to Digitalius for the screencaps!

Mickey's Christmas Carol - Part One

For my first review, I would like to recap a little piece of film that is very near and dear to my heart: Mickey's Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol has always been one of my favorite stories for almost as long as I can remember, and Mickey is the reason for it. The story has so many wonderful themes, scenes, and characters.  Frankly, I just adore it.

My first exposure to the story was in 1993 when my parents taped an airing of Mickey's Christmas Carol. I was only three at the time, but I absolutely fell in love with the short.  Once the doorknocker had turned into Goofy/Marley's face, I was hooked.  While this might not be the best version of the story, it's still my personal favorite.

The short begins with some of the best opening titles I've ever seen---written on crumpled old paper that looks like classical sheet music, accompanied by my favorite Christmas song, "Oh, What a Merry Christmas Day" that does a wonderful job of setting the mood for the show.

After the lovely opening, we pan down into the smokey streets of London where we get the first of many Disney cameos--the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf caroling together.  Even they've formed a holiday truce!  Otto the dog from Robin Hood, meanwhile, stands with a few companions, warming his hands (paws?) on a meager fire.  It is then that we are introduced to Ebeneezer Scrooge, playing fittingly enough by Scrooge McDuck.

Scrooge refuses Otto even a penny and continues on to work where he gives us the usual "Marley was dead to begin with" exposition.  Apparently, Marley left Scrooge enough money for his tombstone...and Scrooge had him buried at sea!

Scrooge dusts the snow off of the office's sign and enters, introducing us to our leading mouse--Mickey!  Yes, the classic "ears look the same no matter which way his head turns" Mickey.  Despite this being "his" Christmas Carol, the real star is Scrooge himself.  Poor Mickey really doesn't get that much screentime, when you think about it.

Mickey/Cratchit is caught with his hand in the coal bin, trying to thaw out his ink.  We get some nice interaction between Scrooge and Cratchit in this scene.  We learn that although Scrooge pays his sole employee almost nothing, he appears to treat Cratchit with the slightest bit of decency, when it comes to his attitude.  We also get a closer look at Scrooge's personality.  As the excellent blog "Old Sinner" puts it, Scrooge really enjoys being stingy.

In bursts Donald/Fred (Clarence Nash in his final performance) in a much more cheerful mood than the lovable Duck is usually in, accompanied by a tender instrumental version of "Oh What a Merry Christmas Day."  Despite Donald being absolutely adorable ("boy, oh boy!"), Scrooge, is quick to kick him out and then does the same to a pair of collectors for the poor (Mole and Ratty from The Wind in the Willows).  Interestingly enough, in the original version of Mickey's Christmas Carol (the short subject was originally a record), the collectors were played by Foulfellow and Gideon.  If you ask me, that's even more out of character than Goofy was!

We then enter my favorite portion of the film:  The Marley scene.  It left a huge impression on me as a child, and it still does.  There was just something about the pacing and atmosphere it created that was hauntingly beautiful about it.  Mickey/Cratchit leaves for the night, leaving Scrooge all alone in his work.  The sense of isolation builds as Scrooge finally leaves about two hours later.  The streets are deserted.  All of the lights in the houses are out.  The only illumination comes from a few streetlamps.  Everyone has gone to bed, leaving only Scrooge out in the cold.  Alone.

The snow swirls around Scrooge and we are suddenly at his house.  The soundtrack plays a low version of his leitmotif.  Scrooge begins to unlock his door when suddenly his unique lionhead doorknocker seamlessly morphs into the face of Goofy/Marley!  Scrooge gives it a honk on the nose, pissing the guy off (understandably).

Scrooge dashes inside and after a bit of shtick on the staircase with Marley's shadow, Scrooge is in his bedroom, cowering in a chair, as Marley makes his big entrance...tripping on a cane.

Yep, it's the same lovable old Goofy in one of his finest performances.  It's a very odd casting choice, seeing as one could never imagine Goofy as a nasty, old swindler.  However, since we're seeing Goofy after he's dead and remorseful for his previous actions, it somehow works.  He gives the classic Marley warning and leaves in a classic Goofy fashion--falling down the stairs, hollering all the way.

In a short scene I really like, Scrooge checks his room for ghosts while a short, lullaby-like theme plays.  Finding nothing, he settles into bed.  However, his night is only beginning...

Welcome to my blog!

In this blog, I'll be recapping various animation stuff and whatever else floats my boat. Sadly, I don't know how to really start these things or make a good intro, which isn't a good sign...I guess all I can say is that I hope you enjoy it!