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The animation is wonderful, and the colors of the tree lights and ornaments are incredible.
I was pleased to finally find this holiday classic out on DVD - as Chapter 4 of "Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse".
But it made me really sad how Mickey yelled at Pluto, because Pluto has always been my favorite. And it wasn't (and never does seem to be) poor Pluto's fault. Mickey should have apologized! Oh well. I love it anyway and it give it an 8, only not a 9 or 10 for cruelness to Pluto.
The chipmunks, in the race, take refuge in a nearby tree which turns out to be exactly the tree that Mickey is chopping down for his Christmas tree. Mickey and Pluto drag it on home, unknowing that they've got two tree squatters. The tree gets decorated and Chip 'n' Dale come wandering out on a limb. Well, apparently they've never seen a Christmas tree before, at least not from the inside and wander around the tree amazed at all the lights and ornaments. Pluto, lazing on the floor outside the tree, is doing the same thing until he notices that one of the bulbs seems to be defective.
Pluto sniffs around the trees, and we see that it is Chip just playing around with one of the lightbulbs. Pluto finds out as well, when Chip attempts to unscrew his nose the same way as the bulb! Pluto discovers the chipmunks, but do you think he'd have any luck convincing Mickey that they have visitors? Not a chance! Meanwhile, Chip has discovered a bowlful of nuts and is happily gathering them up for a feast. Pluto is on the chase again, and Chip runs up to the fireplace hearth where a row of Santa Claus candles is lined up.
Aha! That's the ticket! Chip figures he'll disguise himself as one of the candles. Bad move, because when Pluto begins barking at them, Mickey thinks that he wants them lit up and applies the flame to each one. Luckily, before we have chipmunks roasting on an open fire, Dale comes along and rescues him. Back into the tree they go, where a battle royale breaks out inside the tree, eventually pulling Mickey in as well. Ornaments fly this way and the tree is completely destroyed when what should Mickey discover but ...
"Hey, Pluto, our tree has chipmunks!"
Pluto gives a facial expression as a perfect Homer Simpson "DOH!" But the tension is broken by the appearance of a group of carolers; Minnie, Donald and Goofy singing "Deck the Halls." (For some reason, most Disneyphiles seem to think that Horace and Clarabelle were in this group as well.) The whole gang joins in singing beautifully, except Pluto. When he begins to sing ,or howl I guess would be the better word as Chip seems to think he deserves a "Do Not Open Until Xmas" sticker slapped over his mouth.
And with this short released at the beginning of the holiday season in 1952, Disney wished everybody, as we do here, a very happy holiday season.