| Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas | |
| Producer: | Jim Ballantine |
| Music: | J. Eric Schmidt |
| Editing: | Elen Orson |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Television Animation[1] |
| Distributor: | Walt Disney Home Video |
| Runtime: | 66 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
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. 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). 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 Once Upon a Christmas, the sequel is a computer-generated film rather than a hand-drawn, and is composed of five segments.
Upon the release of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, the film received mixed reviews from critics. However, it has been rediscovered by audiences, and the annual celebration of Christmas has helped make the film a cult classic.[2]
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. The boys then take their new sleds from Uncle Donald (not reading the included card) and go sledding before having Christmas dinner, where Donald yells at them to learn some manners. As Donald, Daisy, Uncle Scrooge and Aunt Gertie sing carols, the boys play with their new toys.
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 exactly the same. They decide to change the course of action of the next day 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, 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. Whilst singing carols, Donald confronts the boys, demanding to know what they are up to. An outraged Daisy snaps at Donald, accusing him of spoiling a perfect Christmas. Huey, however, admits that Donald was right and that he and his brothers forgot something. Huey, Dewey and Louie pull out their gift for Uncle Donald - a sail boat made out of their sleds. Genuinely surprised, embarrassed 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.
Goofy and Max are getting a letter mailed to Santa Claus. However, as soon as they get home, their neighbor Pete tells Max that Santa does not exist, saying that it is impossible for him to fly around the world in 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. 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 gives up hope of Santa coming. Max then does everything that Goofy did, to try and make him happy, including posing as (a very small) Santa himself, although Goofy soon finds out. In the end, the real Santa actually comes and gives Max the gift he had asked for earlier (as well as burying Pete's house next door in snow as punishment for his cruel disbelief). 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.
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 dismisses 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 in The Gift of the Magi original story, the thought behind each gift is what counts.[3]
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.
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas was originally released on VHS and DVD on November 9, 1999. 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.[19] [20]
The film was made available to stream on Netflix.[21] [22] It was subsequently released on Disney+.[23] [24]
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas aired in the United States on ABC Family in December 2013,[25] and in December 2015.[26] [27] It aired on Freeform in December 2022.[28] [29]
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 40% based on 5 reviews with an average rating of 5.60/10.[30]
Allison McClain Merrill of Screen Rant called the three stories of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas "memorable",[31] 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."[32] Caitlin Gallagher of PopSugar described Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas as one of the "perfect holiday underdogs" and as a "heartwarming movie",[33] 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."[34] 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.[35]
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."[36] Bryce Olin of FanSided included Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas in their "Best Christmas Movies on Netflix 2016" list.[37] 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,"[38] 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."[39]
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."[40] 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".[41] 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."[42]
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas won the Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 5th Kecskemét Animation Film Festival in 1999.[43] It was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production at the 2000 Annie Awards.[44]