Balladeer’s Blogs Fourteenth Annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon continues with reviews of multiple versions of A Christmas Carol, both new reviews AND old favorites mixed in.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2006) – This computer-animation version of the Dickens classic was produced by BKN and distributed by Genius Entertainment, Kidtoon Films and Image Entertainment. Ric Machin directed. The 48 minute film had a brief theatrical run in November of 2006 before being released on home video.
If you’re in the mood for a shallow, “just going through the motions” rendition of A Christmas Carol then THIS is the version for you! The target audience seems to have been very, very young children so all strong emotional content has been removed, leaving the shell of the actual story.
The computer animation, though dated by today’s standards, was very good for 2006 and probably delighted children. Anthropomorphic animals play the characters, with skunks as Ebenezer Scrooge and his nephew Fred, rabbits as Bob Cratchit and his family, an anteater as Jacob Marley and so on.
Taking the story beat by beat:
OPENING AT SCROOGE AND MARLEY’S – Mrs Cratchit and Tiny Tim, bum leg and all, are outside in the streets waiting to walk Bob Cratchit home when his workday is over. Inside the office, Ebenezer Scrooge is trying to blame the timid Bob Cratchit for the loss of a shilling from his fortune.
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