Tag Archives: mickey mouse

Mickey Shorts

Clock Cleaners

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Original release date: October 15, 1937

Rating: TV-G for wholesomeness and “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: nine clean minutes

Background: “Clock Cleaners” is one of the most acclaimed Disney shorts of the early days.

It was voted the 27th greatest cartoon of all time and has seen many releases. However, those re-releases have been filled with controversy due to – who else? – Donald Duck.

As we all known, Donald can be a bit hard to understand. Two of his lines in this short – “says who” (which sounded to some like the F word was involved) and “snake in the grass” (which apparently sounds like “son of a…”) were censored and replaced in re-releases of the film after the theatrical release. More recent releases, including the Disney+ version here, have been released as it originally was in 1937.

Review:

One thing you’ll immediately notice is that this short hasn’t received the major HD cleanup that a lot of other shorts have. There are still plenty of film marks and other imperfections.

As the name suggests, clock cleaning is the name of the game. Mickey scrubs the outside of the large tower clock while Donald and Goofy work on the inside.

Coming in to work, Mickey finds a snoring stork on top of some fears. Instead of being nice and letting him sleep, Mickey harasses him, tapping on his beak and pushing him around in an attempt to toss the sleeping bird out the window. Mickey really isn’t as nice as we’ve been told. Eventually he succeeds, tossing the stork out the window… who swoops back in and tosses Mickey out the window.

Meanwhile, Donald hammers the mainspring of the clock (which I guess counts as cleaning?). I can see where he would be misinterpreted here with his “says who” line, but they say you hear what you want to hear.

Goofy ventures outside with a broom to clean the giant bell. He happens to be out there right at 4:00, as the clock strikes, its giant figures march out and ring Goofy’s bell.

Goofy, having had his mental bell rung, tumbles off the side of the building, only to be seen by Mickey who is cleaning the numbers of the clock. Mickey tries for the save which leads to some mid-air chaos. It’s a tough job cleaning clocks.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

Absolutely you should watch it. It was the last Mickey short to debut before the release of Disney’s first full-length animated feature and it’s pretty funny.

Mickey Shorts

Hawaiian Holiday

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Original release date: September 24, 1937

Rating: TV-G with wholesome Hawaii fun and “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: eight surfin’ minutes

Background: Mickey and the gang decide to take a trip to Hawaii in “Hawaiian Holiday.”

Of note, this is the first Disney short that was distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. The previous shorts were distributed to theatres by United Artists.

Review:

We begin on the beautiful animated beach of Hawaii, Pluto sniffing around as Minnie hula dances and sings to Mickey and Donald’s instruments. Goofy sings as well, gearing up his surfboard.

Goof runs out, jumps on the board… and the wave sees him and backtracks, causing Goofy to hit the ground. Then the wave comes back and throws him into chaos. Poor Goofy.

Meanwhile, Mickey gets into it with his guitar before playing some impressive four-fingered Hawaiian music. Donald has taken over hula duties, shaking his tailfeathers and warming them directly IN the nearby campfire. Anybody up for some roasted duck?

Pluto – in his earliest appearance on Disney+ as of this writing – starts chasing a starfish and, too, gets pounded by the waves. Goofy tries bodysurfing with the surfboard instead, having a lot more success until the wave starts acting a fool again. Pluto gets into an extended scene with a crab and if you think the crab does some pinching, you are right and have seen cartoons before.

Goofy finally masters surfing – or so he thinks – before making a bad landing on the beach, complete with Minnie singing and a clever surfboard-as-tombstone sight gag.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

Yes, watch it! This is the first short on Disney+ (as of this writing) to feature all five of the “Fabulous Five.” It’s classic Disney.

Mickey Shorts

Magician Mickey

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Original release date: February 6, 1937

Rating: TV-PG due to I’m going to guess gunplay and “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: eight magical minutes

Background: “Magician Mickey” is another famed Mickey Mouse short from the 1930s.

It has a bit of modern day cultural impact at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The Mickey meet and greet in Town Square Theater is based on Mickey being a magician, with the obligatory post-photo gift shop being themed to magic.

Review:

We begin with, not shockingly, a magic show starring Mickey (with curtain and lighting work being performed above by Goofy).

Magician Mickey makes a bird appear, which causes a certain other famed duck sitting in the balcony to mock him. Mickey makes water balloons appear, which Donald also tries to sabotage.

We get some lighting issues as Goofy makes a light bulb work by sticking his finger in an electrical outlet. This scene has been cut out of modern day airings but was left in tact for the Disney+ version.

Mickey makes more birds appear (which makes his act seem limited). Then he does a card trick that ends up making Donald throw a bottle at him. Mickey does magic, as one does, and sends the bottle right back at Donald. Donald is very angry about water for being a duck.

This causes Donald to march on stage – security was very absent at this show – and steal the magic wand. Mickey does some trickery and shrinks Donald down, doing tricks with him before putting him into a pistol and shooting him into a lightbulb. Magic!

Donald has had enough of Mickey being a competent magician and tries to start a fight with him, which naturally ends with Donald being turned into animals and other nonsensical tricks. Fireworks become involved and the entire stage is destroyed, Donald being blackened by fire and Mickey winning… I guess? The stage is destroyed.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

It’s classic Mickey and has Donald, so it definitely gets a watch it rating. There are better Mickey shorts on Disney+, but eight minutes of Mickey and Donald doing things are worth the time. There is the pistol incident and Goofy sticking his finger in a light socket that are probably teachable moments for children.

Mickey Shorts

Mickey’s Rival

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Original release date: June 20, 1936

Rating: TV-G for “gosh, why Mortimer?” and “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: eight rival minutes

Background: “Mickey’s Rival” is yet another in the long catalog of Mickey shorts. It introduces the character of Mortimer Mouse.

There’s a little history here as Walt’s original choice for Mickey’s name was Mortimer. His wife, Lillian, suggested Mickey instead. In addition to this Mortimer, a totally different Mortimer was introduced in the Mickey comics as Minnie’s uncle.

This short’s Mortimer – rival Mortimer – has continued making random appearances in Disney shows leading all the way up to the current “Mickey and the Roadster Racers” Disney Junior show.

Review:

We begin with Minnie preparing a nice picnic in the park while Mickey dances near his car. A fancier car speeds by, stopping to introduce Mortimer Mouse. Mortimer has a Mickey look but much longer legs, towering over Minnie. He kisses her hand as Mickey struggles to get out of food that the racing car threw on him.

Minnie introduces Mortimer to Mick, a friendship Mickey has no interest in as the friend zone isn’t his favorite. Unlike Mickey, Mortimer does wear a shirt. Practical joke after practical joke follow and it is quickly apparent that Mortimer is a jerk. Mickey’s little car gets into it with Mortimer’s car as well, as you’d expect from cars with eyes.

Mortimer joins the picnic, much to the chagrin of Mick, and devours the turkey and makes Minnie laugh. Mickey really shouldn’t be letting this happen.

A nearby bull roars, as bulls do in areas with picnics, and Mortimer offers to go fight the bull for Minnie. Mickey isn’t impressed.

Morty keeps the bull at bay until the fence opens, running and jumping in his car. The bull charges Minnie instead, sending Mickey charging into action.

After quite the battle, one that includes Mickey’s car joining in the fight, Mickey of course wins and escapes. Mickey asks Minnie if she still likes Mortimer and she gives him a big “no,” giving Mickey enough assurance to continue through over half a century later without giving her a wedding ring.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

It’s worth a watch, so watch it. Honestly I faded out during the Mickey-bull battle, but it was entertaining enough and justice was done with some color and HD detailing.

Mickey Shorts

Thru the Mirror

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Original release date: May 30, 1936

Rating: TV-Y7 due to Mickey hijinks and “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: nine magical minutes

Background: Since its 1936 release, “Thru the Mirror” has been one of the most revisited Mickey shorts.

Besides being rereleased about a dozen times on various Disney retail releases, “Thru the Mirror” has been referenced in numerous Disney video games. Most notably, “Disney’s Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse” is based on the short. The hit game “Epic Mickey” also featured elements of the short in the beginning of one of the games.

Review:

We begin with Mickey sleeping well, having dozed off reading “Alice: Through the Looking Glass” and I assume imagining it would one day be a book worthy of Johnny Depp in crazy makeup.

Mickey’s spirit jumps out of him in dream land and goes through his bedroom mirror, discovering a similar bedroom but with living furniture. The footstool barks at him, the umbrella chases him, and the nutcracker… well, cracks nuts.

Mickey eats one of the nuts and grows to gigantic size before shrinking to miniscule, similar to the Alice story and movies. He gets to jump rope with a telephone – they once had cords, kids – and do a Fred Astaire-style dance with a tiny hat and a match.

Hijinks continue with Mickey marching with a deck of cards and playing a game of leapfrog with them. The animation is really fantastic in this short and the color – and HD upgrading – is shown off well.

Anyway, Mickey eventually decides to dance with the cards, doing a number with the Queen of Hearts. The King of Hearts does not appreciate it, jumping down and chasing Mickey with multiple swords. Mickey finds a tool of his own and a swordfight ensues, the King eventually calling all cards to chase Mickey. Not only does the deck he was dancing with chase him, but several other sets appear from throughout the room.

After trying to battle them, Mickey realizes he isn’t winning this fight and makes a run through the room back to the mirror. He gets into a fight with the globe before luckily growing back to size and jumping back through the mirror.

Sleeping Mickey, rejoined with his dreaming side, is woken up by an alarm clock, realizing it was all just a dream… much like that Nelly song from 2010.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

There aren’t many shorts I’ll give a higher watch it recommendation for, as this one is a classic, looks fantastic thanks to some HD work, and is nine straight minutes of entertainment. There isn’t a dull moment.

Mickey Shorts

The Band Concert

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Original release date: February 23, 1935

Rating: TV-Y7 due to Mickey hijinks and “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: nine musical minutes

Background: “The Band Concert” is one of many popular Mickey Mouse shorts released by Disney.

It was the first Mickey short to be released in color and landed in third place – the only Disney entry in the top five – in the “50 Greatest Cartoons” book.

The short has been seen time and again in Disney history. It is the inspiration for Mickey’s PhilharMagic at The Magic Kingdom in Florida and the Silly Symphony Swings at Disney’s California Adventure in California. It has also been featured in video games like “Kingdom Hearts” and “Disney’s Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse.”

Review:

We begin at what seems like an ending with Mickey and his hand receiving a round of applause. This, however, leads them into the music of “William Tell.”

This is where I note that Mickey’s band includes illustrious entertainers as Goofy and the Three Little Pigs. As Mickey gets this ragtag group of characters playing, hot dog salesduck Donald Duck appears yelling “hot dogs!” and jumping on stage with his flute. He is quickly the most entertaining one on stage and a dang fine flutist.

Mickey, jealous mouse that he is, breaks Donald’s flute… then Donald’s backup flute… then Donald’s backup to the backup flute. Mickey is, again, kind of a jerk.

To their credit, the band doesn’t lose a step. Donald finds another flute and plays near Goofy, who throws him and his menagerie of flutes into an ice cream stand. Donald really does have too many flutes. He plays again, unfortunately attracting a bee into the flute. Donald and the bee spar while the band plays on. The bee lands on conductor Mickey’s head, leading to Donald lobbing ice cream right at poor Mickey’s head.

The bee decides to harass Mickey instead, causing him to conduct out of order and cause the crew to play out of tune. The bee tries to attack Horace Horsecollar, who uses his cymbals to miss it and smack poor Goofy on the head.

The next performance is “The Storm,” a song that wears out the band and even causes Horace to strip. A real storm in the form of a tornado eats up the surrounding farm and entire house, something the band doesn’t notice. The crowd does, running along with the benches. Ever the professionals, the band keep playing as they get sucked into the tornado. The band plays through the tornado dropping them to the applause of Donald.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

This is a big watch it pick. Donald makes everything better and this is truly one of the most classic Disney shorts.

Mickey Shorts

Ye Olden Days

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Original release date: April 8, 1933

Rating: TV-PG because Mickey is troublesome. “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: eight olden minutes

Background: Our boy Mickey is back! Produced of course by Walt himself, this short film was very loosely based on “Ivanhoe.” It is in black and white, a change from the previous few shorts, and is the first on Disney Plus (as of this writing) to feature Goofy, though he is under his birth name of Dippy Dog.

Review:

It all starts out with King Pete introducing Prince Dippy Dog to Princess Minnie. Minnie doesn’t want to marry Dippy while Dippy tells her, “I know you’ll learn to love me” like any creeper in a female’s Facebook messages would say. She denies, so the King throws her in the attic along with her friend Clarabelle Cow. All the classic characters are here!

Mickey and his lute climb a tree outside the prison and sing to her, then flies up to her window and vows to save her. Meanwhile, Pete brings on the wedding feast anyway because he likes food and why waste good food. He’s not wrong.

Mickey strings together blankets and he and Minnie climb down from the attic window, eventually being caught. Pete puts Mickey in the guillotine, which seems rough, but Minnie begs for his life. Pete calls for a duel between Dippy Dog and Mick, Dippy getting actual armor and a horse and Mickey getting a donkey and not much else. Mickey stabs Dippy in the butt with a spear, the horse and donkey get into it, and Dippy falls assumingly to his death out of a window, never to be seen again.

Mickey, Minnie and donkey get a parade and I assume get married. Or not.

As far as the cultural depictions, I didn’t catch anything. They could be there, but they made it past my bad eyes and good glasses.

Extras:

There are no extra features. You already got Dippy Dog.

Should you watch it?

Yes, absolutely watch it. It’s Mickey, Minnie, and the eventual Goofy in hijinks. It’s an entertaining eight minutes. The violence is slapstick, though Mickey with his head in a guillotine might raise a few questions.

Mickey Shorts

Steamboat Willie

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Original release date: November 18, 1928

Rating: TV-Y7 because it’s Mickey Mouse. Mickey is downright mean to some animals and there’s about a minute scene of Pete having chewing tobacco hijinks (which somehow didn’t get the copious amount of warning that other things on Disney+ have received).

Length: seven glorious minutes

Background: You’ve heard of “Steamboat Willie,” even though you might call it “Steamboat Mickey.” It is technically the debut of both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, though they appeared in “Plane Crazy” which test debuted but didn’t officially debut several months earlier. Pete also appears, but he actually debuted three years prior in “Alice” shorts. That’s right, ol’ Pete has been around longer than Mickey. No wonder he acts like he does.

It was the first Disney cartoon with synchronized sound. It basically skyrocketed Walt Disney into fame and threw Mickey Mouse into the world as the most famous cartoon character ever.

Review:

It all starts with the famous scene you see at the beginning of every modern Disney animated film: Mickey whistling and driving the steamboat. Pete, the actual captain of the steamboat, appears and kicks Mickey off.

Mickey gets into hijinks as you would expect. He finds a whole area of animals and, at this point, pretty much becomes a brat. All to the tune of “Turkey in the Straw,” he kicks a nursing baby pig, plays music on the mama pig, and play’s a cow’s teeth like a xylophone.

Pete puts Mickey back to work in the potato peeling area of the boat, something all modern boats seem to be missing. Mickey throws a potato at a bird because, despite being an animal himself, he is abusive to other animals and that’s how it ends.

Extras:

There is one extra in the “extras” area: the retelling of “Steamboat Willie” using emojis. It is cute but probably unnecessary.

Should you watch it?

Well, obviously. It’s the debut of Mickey and Minnie and the short that catapulted Disney to the top, a level it hasn’t left in almost 100 years since. You’ll enjoy it, the kids will enjoy it, and either the whistle at the beginning or “Turkey in the Straw” will be stuck in your head for hours later. Watch it.