God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

This isn't even Chuck Jones' final form...

Last year I was tipped off to a Chuck Jones animation I was not familiar with. Unheard of, I know, but my good bud Serch had mentioned it and found a working link to this phenomenal short produced by the animation sage himself, Chuck Jones:

As Christmas fast approaches, I must highly recommend you put this on your evening plans with friends and family, because it’s one of the most poignant versions of the classic tale ever presented. As with all great masters of Comedy, when Chuck Jones decides to be sincere, he hits, and he hits hard.

“He told me coming home that he hoped the people saw him in the Church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas day who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

“They are Man’s, and they cling to me. This boy is ignorance, and this girl is want. Beware them both, but most of all, beware this boy.”

Of course, the humor isn’t gone, it just exists within the narrative organically, like the fantastic juxtaposition of character expressions below:

A Christmas Carol (1971), directed by Richard Williams with Ken Harris as master animator, Alastair Sim as Scrooge, and narrated by Michael Redgrave is simply phenomenal. Aside from being one of the most faithful book adaptations around, the artwork is incredibly done, beautifully mimicking the mid-1800's style of French ink illustrations thanks to the animation talents of Dan Backslide himself.

So now as the days close in, please consider taking one evening during this joyous season with your family to watch this 25 minute masterpiece and remember the true meaning of this blessed holiday.