Christmas Carol-a-Thon 2022 continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with this look at the often-overlooked animated version from 1997.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1997) – This musical cartoon version of the Dickens classic was produced by DIC, the animators known for the early Real Ghostbusters and Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons. The animation quality is adequate but nothing outstanding. However, I will say I find this version’s animation superior to that in the 1982 Australian cartoon A Christmas Carol.
The songs range from bland and forgettable to annoying. I take back everything bad I ever said about a few of Leslie Bricusse’s songs in Scrooge. Every bit of his work towers over the “striving for competence” songs we get in many other Christmas Carol renditions. Santa’s Sooty Suit from this one sticks in your head but not necessarily in a good way.
Tim Curry of all people voices Ebenezer Scrooge and shows how good he can really be. If you’re like me, you can’t see anything but Dr. Frank N. Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show whenever Curry appears as himself on screen. Because he gets to hide behind animation in this production it’s much easier to lose yourself in the character he plays, and he does an excellent job. Continue reading
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