Love Charles Dickens's work, and respect him highly as an author. As said in my recent review for 2017's 'The Man Who Invented Christmas', 'A Christmas Carol' has always been my personal favourite of his, it was my first exposure to him and the one that is the most frequently re-visited. It is similarly the quintessential Christmas story and this is evident by how much it's been adapted and how well served on the most part it is (with a few exceptions), the Alastair Sim and George C. Scott versions in particular. There are many great, even classic, animated Christmas specials, like the best of Rankin/Bass and 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. 'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol' is, as well as one of the first (the first?), among the best ones for me and one that has always held dear to my heart. This is not nostalgia talking that it clouds my judgement, have seen childhood favourites that have not held up well, 'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol' does and splendidly. All the important details are here and it captures the spirit of the story perfectly, so it doesn't disappoint as an adaptation even with its own spin (very like the Muppet and Mickey Mouse versions of 'A Christmas Carol', also have a fondness for them).'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol' fares quite well in the animation. It's not amazing and it's more simple than lavish, but it's at least appealingly drawn and has a lot of atmosphere and colour. Even better is the music, the score is whimsical but also atmospheric and the various songs are very well done. Although a singer and consider music an essential in my life, part of me also can be picky and expects a lot. "We're Despicable" and "All Alone in the World" are particularly good, while carol favourites "Joy to the World" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", Christmas is not the same without them, are always welcome. Furthermore, the writing is very funny, as well as heart-warming and very touching, like 'A Christmas Carol' should be. 'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol' adapts the story incredibly well, despite having Mr. Magoo in it the spirit of the story is intact as well as its heart and the impact of the best scenes. Parts are amusing, others are scary (Jacob Marley and especially the Ghost of Christmas Future) and others truly wrench the heart (always tear up during "Alone in the World" and at the end). The portrayal of the Cratchits avoids being too cloying. Every one of the characters are very strongly portrayed, Scrooge's development and change of heart are incredibly believable and not rushed in any way when it is so easy for Scrooge to show signs of changing too early. The voice acting is top notch, with Jim Backus achieving a perfect balance of crusty and emotive. Royal Dano is an eerily effective Jacob Marley and Jack Cassidy endearingly humble. Veteran Paul Frees similarly shines and doesn't sound over-parted in multiple roles. In conclusion, a classic animated festive favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The best ever.Let those words penetrate. I state them in reference to the titular work under review and, mind you, I have seen every film and telefilm 'straight' version of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, plus almost every humorous take on it- be it spoof or satire, from lame musical adaptations to modernized updates to the brilliant reworking of the tale in the first season of the great American television sitcom, The Odd Couple. But, the animated Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol is the best version ever of the tale, and that includes Dickens' own often too heavyhanded morality play itself. The reason is that the cartoon takes on all the best elements of the source work, mitigates that work's flaws, deepens its positives, and adds a goodly amount of its own improvements. It is, in short, one of the finest examples of television cartoonery ever made, and, interestingly, try as I might, I cannot find a single objective flaw in it. But, there is a flaw, albeit in my own criticism. I just stated that Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol is 'one of the finest examples of television cartoonery ever made,' and that is incorrect. In fact, it is THE finest example of television cartoonery ever made, with the caveat that I have only a great knowledge of American cartoonery. It is also a great example of pop art made for children that succeeds on other levels, not unlike such films as The Curse Of The Cat People and Godzilla's Revenge.

An animated, magical, musical version of Charles Dickens' timeless classic "A Christmas Carol", starring the nearsighted Quincy Magoo (Jim Backus).In 2002, TV Guide ranked Mr. Magoo number 29 on its "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time" list. And he has won an Oscar. And this was the first animated holiday program ever produced specifically for television, predating the classics like Charlie Brown. And, yes, it features the original songs of the Broadway team of Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), who collaborated on the musical "Funny Girl". So I really need to give Magoo some credit for his importance to cartoon history.But, I am sorry. The animation is outdated, choppy and not very funny. I can give it credit for what it was, but I can not give it credit for what it is. I find it hard to believe that today's audiences would be too excited about this (although I will give them credit for the largely faithful adaptation they did).

"A Christmas Carol" is 100 pages long and would take 2 hours to read, however it has generated so many variations on screen and stage(and probably the Internet). Here is the first animated one, after reading the original last year(cost 25 cents)I was surprised to find out that the cartoon version took great pains to preserve much of the exact wording of the novel. There is not even a hint that it is not the mid 1800s in the cartoon. One particular scene always gets me- the ghost of Christmas past's(a young boy or girl)face turns profoundly sad when Scrooge/Magoo sings "why such a lonely beach" and it seems like the ghost understands Scrooge's sadness. When you are a kid, there is NOTHING scarier than the ghost of Christmas future, and nothing more desolate than Scrooge/Magoo on the grave singing "I'm all alone in the world" with the camera panning the cemetery. A close second in scariness is when Marley jumps out the window(as a ghost) and bellows as he merges into all the other ghosts flying around London. Music, dialog, and even the chintzy animation is just right. I must go home and play my VHS tonight!