Christmas movies come and go, some leave more of an impact than others. Then there are some that get glanced over and maybe deserve more attention than what they are receiving. For me, this is the case with the 1999 direct to DVD movie called Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas. This movie that includes an antology of stories is the perfect Christmas treat for both old and new fans of Disney's classic characters.
The movie includes three stories with the first one called Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas. It’s about Huey Duey and Louie wishing for it to be Christmas every day but soon realizing how boring it can be after a while. The second story is called A Very Goofy Christmas which is about Goofy’s son Max,(Much younger in this version) and his belief that there may not be a Santa Claus even with goofy going to extreme lengths to prove it. The third and final story called Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi is about Mickey wanting to get a gift for Minnie while Minnie does the same. They will both go to extreme lengths to get the money they need to buy the perfect present for each other.
Each story is centered around the holiday and each of them is sweet and charming as heck. Sure it’s not the most complex or interesting movie ever made but that’s not what makes these stories so great. They are simple, timeless, and fun stories that each have engaging morals with characters we all know and love. My personal favorite one is Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas but each of the three stories are all wonderful and packed with cartoonish humor and a boatload of Christmas spirit.
The characters need no introduction as you quite possibly know each and every one of them all by heart. The way they are portrayed in this special is exactly what you’d expect and none of them feel like watered-down versions as each of them got great voice talents to bring characters such as Mickey Donald and Goofy into a fresh new light.
One of the most interesting and impressive things this movie has to offer is the surprisingly high-quality hand-drawn animation they managed to get on the screen especially considering this is a direct to DVD movie. The backgrounds have a lot of wintery and cozy imagery and the characters are animated in such a delightful and even hilarious manner. there are a lot of visual gags but also atmospheric settings that evoke the warm feelings of Christmas.
The Music is done by J. Eric Schmidt who brings a lot of over-the-top classical cartoon craziness but also a lot of soft and mellow melodies that are perfect for the Christmas season. I haven’t heard if this guy went on to score other movies, but judging by what I’ve heard with this one, I’d say he may have a steady career going for him in the future because this soundtrack is great.
I hope this movie gets more attention as the years pass by because I think this wonderful and high-spirited direct to DVD movie is more than just a blatant cash grab that happens to feature Mickey and other classic Disney cartoons. It’s a wonderful sendup to the holiday season with three timeless and simple stories that are sure to make anyone frown turn upside down, especially during the holidays.
(Final Grade: A)