This is the trifecta of Dickensian Christmas storytelling. Disney and Dickens have come together in three adaptations of the always classic and always relevant tale: in 1983 with Mickey’s Christmas Carol, in 1992 with A Muppet Christmas Carol, and most recently in 2009 with A Christmas Carol (the one where Jim Carrey plays seven different characters, including Scrooge).
They may all be Disney adaptations, but each one is a uniquely perfect summation of all that is Christmas. So to celebrate this tale and get ready for a now inevitable Christmas Carol marathon, let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences of all three:
Scrooge
What misers, the lot of them. Played by Scrooge McDuck, Michael Caine, and Jim Carrey, Ebenezer has definitely grown more sinister with each version. But that’s okay since it makes the end scene that much more joyful.
London
The Muppets’ London skates by as the winning version in our books. Kermit just looks so happy sliding by those hatted penguins. We just want to skate along with him.
That Doorknocker Scene
The 2009 version is downright scary, and we may have jumped in our seats pretty high when Marley appeared. Scrooge may be able to ride it off as “balderdash,” but it seemed real enough to us. Real ominous.
Marley(s)
Whether it’s one Marley or two, they’re all scary. Period. Let’s move on to…
Tiny Tim
And our hearts are melted forever. We honestly can’t say who would win the cute contest here. Don’t make us choose.
Most Fashionable
We decided not to risk the ire of Miss Piggy, so the only one noted here is her version of the beautifully ruffled and perfectly coiffed Mrs. Cratchit.
Ghost of Christmas Past
Ah, Jiminy. You continue to be the ever omnipresent voice of reason. And while we find the ethereal nature of the latter versions to be beautiful in their own right, Jiminy will always steal our hearts.
Ghost of Christmas Present
It’s like they’re triplets…but not. They all sport a green cloak and red shaggy hair. And we can’t help but fall for their somewhat bumbly nature because they just love Christmas so much. So do we, good ghost. So do we.
Ghost of Christmas Future
Shiver. We can’t look at that Muppet version any longer. Moving on…
Narrators
This is a trick category because there’s only one true narrator in any of these films: Gonzo, aka Charles Dickens.
The Ending
There’s so much holiday cheer! Tiny Tim! Toys! Turkey! We love it all.
So have your own Christmas Carol marathon (we’ll be doing the same), and don’t forget—there is only one more sleep ‘til Christmas!
