Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox film Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is a 1999 American direct-to-video animated Christmas anthology comedy fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.[1] The film includes three features: Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas (featuring Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Daisy Duck, and Scrooge McDuck), A Very Goofy Christmas (featuring Goofy, Max, and Pete) and Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi (featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Pete, Daisy, and Mortimer Mouse).[2] Other Disney characters also make cameos in the film.
A sequel, titled Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas, was released on November 9, 2004. Unlike its predecessor, the sequel is produced in CGI rather than hand-drawn animation and is composed of five segments.[2]
Upon the release of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, the film received mixed reviews from critics. However, it was well-received by audiences, making the film a Christmas cult classic.[3]
Stories
Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas
This short was inspired by the 1892 short story "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean Howells.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie wake up one Christmas morning and then go downstairs to open their presents, although they are supposed to wait for Daisy, Uncle Scrooge, and Aunt Gertie to arrive. Donald comes with breakfast for the family, and drops it all on his head after yelling at the boys. The family comes and the three boys are kissed by Aunt Gertie, then is shown by Donald a surprise sled that comes with a card, though the boys don’t read the card and run outside. The boys then go sledding before Christmas dinner, where Donald yells at them to learn manners, as they eat all the food. Daisy tells Donald they are just enjoying Christmas dinner. The boys play with their new toys as Donald, Daisy, Uncle Scrooge, and Aunt Gertie sing carols.
Later, it is time to go to bed, and having enjoyed the day immensely, the boys wish for it to be Christmas every day. Their wish is granted and at first, they are joyful. After a few days, however, they begin to become tired of Christmas and realize that every day will be the same. They decide to try to change the next day's course of action by playing tricks and pranks, including swapping the cooked turkey with a live one at dinner. It turns out to be a terrible Christmas for everyone, especially Donald, who chases after the turkey running on the piano so fast that it falls apart.
Shortly after, the boys read the card that was given to them earlier by Donald and Daisy. The card wishes them love and explains that Christmas is not just about presents and the shining decorations, it is also about being with family. The boys feel guilty and decide to make amends by making the next day the best Christmas ever. As the boys spread love and cheer by giving Aunt Gertie kisses and helping Daisy with dinner, Donald begins to become suspicious to the point that, whilst singing carols, he confronts the boys, demanding to know what they are up to. Huey, Dewey, and Louie pull out their gift for their uncle - a sailboat made out of their sleds. Genuinely surprised and touched, Donald thanks his nephews with a warm hug. At the end of the next day, the boys finally realize the true meaning of Christmas, and the time loop ends, leading to the day after Christmas.
A Very Goofy Christmas
Goofy and Max are getting a letter mailed to Santa Claus, and go on a wild chase to get it to the mailman after the two miss the mailman. When they get home, they start shoveling the snow to make room for Santa, which their neighbor Pete overhears. Pete blows all his snow to their house, and they start cleaning again. After Goofy finishes, he goes back inside, and Pete tells Max that Santa does not exist, saying that he can't fly around the world in just one night. Things begin to get worse when an unprepared Goofy poses as Santa for some kids and Max finds out that he tricked him after a baby pulls his hat off, revealing his face.
Goofy is determined to prove to Max that Santa does exist and stays up all Christmas Eve to keep an eye out for him while Max, still bitter, just wants to move on. After mistaking a Beagle Boy (who was robbing Pete's house) for Santa, Goofy eventually loses hope. Not wanting to see his dad sad on Christmas, Max does everything that Goofy did, to try and cheer him up, including posing as (a very small) Santa himself, although Goofy soon finds out.
In the end, the real Santa comes and gives Max the gift he had asked for earlier (as well as burying Pete's house next door in the snow as punishment for his blunt misbelief and his behavior with the Goof family). When Max asks Goofy if Santa forgot his present, Goofy answers that every year he asks for the same thing and he always gets it - Max's happiness.
This segment chronologically precedes the cartoon series, Goof Troop and its film A Goofy Movie.
Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi
Based on the 1905 short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry.
Mickey wants to get Minnie a gold chain for her one heirloom, her watch, so he works at Crazy Pete's Tree Lot. Minnie wants to give Mickey something special for Christmas as well, so she works hard at her job in a department store to get a bonus to buy a present with.
When Mickey offers a small tree to a poor family who cannot afford to buy a special 10-footer tree, his greedy supervisor Pete steals Mickey's money and fires him. Pete inadvertently puts his lit cigar into his pocket with Mickey's money without noticing, which triggers a sequence that ends up setting himself, the money, and his trees – including the 10-footers – on fire, much to Pete's dismay. Meanwhile, Minnie's bonus from her stingy boss Mortimer Mouse proves to be nothing but a fruit cake.
After playing music for a toy drive with the Firehouse Five, Mickey has the idea that he can trade his harmonica for the gold chain. The shop closes when he gets there and the owner who is just leaving is not interested in the harmonica but changes his mind after hearing Mickey play it.
Back at Minnie's house, Mickey gives her the chain for her watch, which she reveals she sold to buy Mickey a case for his harmonica, which he also no longer has. However, Mickey and Minnie get emotional seeing how far they went to profess their love and they will still be able to celebrate a happy Christmas. As told in The Gift of the Magi's original story, the thought behind each gift is what really counts.[4]
Finale
The film concludes with a medley of various songs, "Jingle Bells", "Deck the Halls", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", featuring the main characters from all the three segments.
Voice cast
- Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse[5]
- Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse,[6] Huey, Dewey, and Louie
- Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck[7]
- Diane Michelle as Daisy Duck[8] (singing voice in the finale. This was her final time voicing the character, before passing the role to Tress MacNeille.)
- Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck[8] (speaking voice), Chip,[9] and Aunt Gertie[10]
- Alan Young as Scrooge McDuck[11]
- Bill Farmer as Goofy,[12] Pluto[13]
- Corey Burton as Dale[14]
- Shaun Fleming as Max Goof[15]
- Jim Cummings as Peg Leg Pete,[16] Police, Mailman, Fire Chief, Dad, onlooker, shop owner, and Santa Claus
- Jeff Bennett as Dad Firefighter #2, Mortimer Mouse,[17] Store Announcer, Man, and Costumer
- Gregg Berger as Mr Anderson and Shopper
- Kylie Dempsey as Kid #2 and Little Girl
- Taylor Dempsey as Little Jimmy, and Kid #1
- Andrew McDonaugh as Boy
- Pat Musick as Distressed Woman, Angry Woman, Eccentric Lady, Shopper and Mrs Anderson
- Frank Welker as Turkey[18] and Figaro[19]
- Mae Whitman as Girl
- April Winchell as Mom, Old Woman, Firewoman, and Firefighter #1
- Kelsey Grammer as The Narrator
- Tommy Morgan provides Mickey's harmonica solos
- Randy Crenshaw, Rick Logan, Bobbi Page, and Norman Large as Christmas Carols Medley
Release
Home media
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas was originally released on VHS and DVD on November 9, 1999.[2] It was later re-released on VHS and on DVD (as part of the Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection) on November 7, 2000. Coinciding with its 15th anniversary, the film was released in a 2-Movie Collection Blu-ray and DVD with Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas on November 4, 2014.
In 2000, the film was part of McDonald's Happy Meals toys as one six titles highlighted as the Disney Video Showcase Collection. Each toy came as one of three interlocking characters from the film (Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto) packaged in a simulated video case.[20][21]
The film was made available to stream on Netflix.[22][23] It was subsequently released on Disney+.[24][25]
Broadcast
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas aired in the United States on ABC Family in December 2013,[26] and in December 2015.[27][28] It aired on Freeform in December 2022.[29][30]
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 40% based on 5 reviews with an average rating of 5.60/10.[31]
Allison McClain Merrill of Screen Rant called the three stories of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas "memorable",[32] while Zach Grass wrote, "This movie is like a cup of hot chocolate with all the marshmallows and toppings you could possibly ask for. The plots aren't exactly deep, but they're touching, funny, and oh-so festive that you just can't help but catch the feels from these wholesome holiday stories. They'll definitely make your binging session merry and bright."[33] Caitlin Gallagher of PopSugar described Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas as one of the "perfect holiday underdogs" and as a "heartwarming movie",[34] while Sabienna Bowman said, "Each one of the segments is terrific, but Mickey and Minnie's version of "The Gift of the Magi" is a standout for being a total tearjerker."[35] Andrea Beach of Common Sense Media gave Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas a grade of three out of five stars, and praised the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing love, caring, and the spirit of giving.[36]
Megan McCluskey of Time included Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas in their "10 Best Christmas Movies for Kids on Netflix" list, stating, "Disney's most beloved characters get into some holiday hijinks in one of the best Christmas kid movies on Netflix. With two Disney-themed retellings of classic Christmas tales, "Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas" and "Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi", as well as the original short "A Very Goofy Christmas", this animated anthology is a nice solo-watch for kids."[37] Bryce Olin of FanSided included Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas in their "Best Christmas Movies on Netflix 2016" list.[38] Michael Thomas of Collider included Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas in their "Best Holiday Movies and Shows on Disney+ Right Now" list, stating, "Once Upon a Christmas is Disney at its finest. It's a wholesome watch with beautiful animation, and all three stories fit well within the relatively short runtime. We're reminded why Mickey and the gang have endured for so long,"[39] while Ashley Amber ranked the film ninth in their "10 Best Animated Christmas Classics" list and described it as a "memorable watch for gen Z-ers and millennials alike."[40]
Ashley Jones of Romper ranked Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas fifth in their "20 Of The Best Christmas Movies For Kids" list, saying, "Though it's not so much a movie as it is a film-length collection of animated shorts, Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas earns a spot on this list thanks to its charming holiday appeal. Kids who love Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and the whole crew won't be able to resist these heartwarming stories."[41] Rachel Johnson of MovieWeb ranked Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas eighth in their "Best Christmas Movies of the 1990s" list and called it a "holiday gem".[42] TV Insider ranked Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas thirty-eight in their "50 Best Holiday Specials and Movies of All Time" list, asserting, "There is lots of fun, songs and laughter and you'll find yourself being thawed out of any "humbug" state and embracing the Christmas spirit."[43]
Accolades
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas won the Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 5th Kecskemét Animation Film Festival in 1999.[44] It was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production at the 2000 Annie Awards.[45]
See also
References
External links
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