'Spirited' puts a modern, self-aware spin on 'A Christmas Carol' with some winks to contemporary values, but overall keeps the focus on character growth and personal redemption. While there are a few nods to diverse casting and progressive attitudes, these don't completely overwhelm the film’s structure, but they are certainly present in spots for the obligatory box-checking.

The film slightly pokes fun at traditional Christmas morality and embraces more modern interpretations of right and wrong, as well as taking a less serious approach to family and redemption. The classic tale’s spiritual elements are more or less backgrounded in favor of pop-culture quips and sanitized feel-good lessons.

There's a general ideological consensus among characters (mostly upbeat, very modern, and non-confrontational), with little attention given to alternative or more traditional worldviews. Dissenting opinions are mainly the butt of jokes, rather than representing genuine conflict or debate.