Come Christmas 1971, the infamous New England Green Christmas, ABC aired a strange 1/2 hour animated version of 1951's "A Christmas Carol". Directed by famed master animator Richard Williams and Produced by veteran master animator Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, The Grinch) with narration by Sir Michael Redgrave and Alastair Sim himself reprising his role as Scrooge, this "Christmas Carol" is as faithful and stylistic as any filmed version. In fact, the atmosphere evoked by the double-vision animation itself makes it the spookiest version told; indeed, some scenes may be too intense for children under five. The artists' unique use of lighting adds to the spectral effects, this film "Being a Ghost Story of Christmas" as the subtitle reminds us. The artwork is stunning: the backgrounds recall the bleakness of mid-19th century England and the characterizations remind one of the pen and ink renderings that graced 1930s editions of the novella by illustrator Milo Winter. Important details often overlooked by films three times the length are included. The narration itself mirrors the classic 1951 film version and Sim himself lends all his charm to this remarkable picture. Why this was aired so little then disappeared altogether is as mysterious as the story it tells; perhaps a new generation will enjoy this as I did going thirty years on (Cartoon Network, are you reading this?). My only regret is that it isn't longer. Don't let the video cover art fool you, this is THE animated version that we lost too many years ago, the one that the Academy awarded for best animated short in 1972. It deserves no less recognition than that.DVD is All-region and is in English.  Special Edition includes very nice case and artwork and trailers and trivia.  30 mins.