The Mouse King

The Mouse King is the antagonist in E. T. A. Hoffman's 1816 tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and the resulting ballet. In Elmo's Christmas Countdown, in an updated variation of the tale and music as told by Jamie Foxx, the Mouse King arrives via toy helicopter to disrupt the pleasant time enjoyed by the Elmo Nutcracker and his best friend Clara.

The King orders his Dancing Mice to seize Clara, but the Nutcracker stops him. The Mouse King angrily challenges the Nutcracker. In contrast to the fierce sword fight in the ballet, the King instead faces his opponent in a dance-off. Elmo Nutcracker's smooth moves easily outshine the rodent sovereign, who graciously faces defeat, bows to the master dancer, and promptly exits.