In the 1980s and 1990s, anime based on classic literature were common. It comes as no surprise, then that an anime of Christmas Carol, one of the most adapted works of all time, has been made.
Explore the obscure A Christmas Carol anime with us.
The Lost Anime of Decades Past
A few decades ago, anime wasn't the pop culture phenomenon it is today. With no streaming services, anime would mostly be available on TV, and sometimes, on VCR or DVD.
Many titles faded into obscurity and they are not currently available to watch online anywhere, although some fans possibly retained physical copies.
Even some titles that were reasonably popular at their time, are not in any streaming service at the moment.
If you're wondering what these titles may be, go no further than Baccano!, Berserk (1997), Hell Girl.
Given this surprising fact, it isn't that strange that some even older anime have disappeared.
The Christmas Carol anime we'll discuss below fall under this category, which is to be expected.
A Christmas Carol (1991)
Anime databases such as MyAnimeList contain a limited amount of information for a 1991 adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
It is a 29-minute-long OVA which seems to have a classic Victorian feel about if if the poster can be trusted.
Of course, less than half an hour seems like an insufficient time to adapt the Dickens classic.
At any rate, the poster's look reminds us of other classic adaptations like the 1979 Akage no Anne (Anne of Green Gables) anime series.
Next to nothing is known about this now obscure adaptation. Its director, studio, and voice cast are not listed anywhere, nor does the OVA seem available in streaming services online.
A quick Amazon research does not reveal any old DVDs or VHS tapes, so it's safe to assume that this anime is only available to anyone who might own such materials.
The Stingiest Man in Town (1978)
Researching anime databases revealed another lesser-known A Christmas Carol adaptation known as Machi Ichiban no Kechinbou or The Stingiest Man in Town.
This 49-minute-long anime seems a bit more crudely animated, with a cartoony style.
Moreover, the single MyAnimeList review reveals that it's very condensed.
While the ghosts are deemed appropriately scary, this A Christmas Carol anime is generally deemed average.
Its director is Katsuhisa Yamada who went on to direct the 6th Urusei Yatsura movie among other works.
Compared to the 1991 version we discussed, The Stingiest Man in Town might be possible to find, though, once again, it isn't on streaming services.
The MAL user who reviewed it reports that it does occasionally appear on American TV during the festive season, so you might catch it if you look out for it, though it doesn't air yearly.
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