Tag Archives: pluto

Pluto Shorts

Rescue Dog

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Original release date: March 21, 1947

Rating: TV-G. “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: seven minutes

Background:

Can you believe we are already in 1947 in the chronological Disney+ experiment?

Well y’all, I’m going to be honest. I have no real background on this – thanks for nothing, Internet – but it’s a Pluto short!

Review:

It’s cold and snowy as Pluto looks out from his special rescue dog doghouse, before coming out and prancing around… or trying to prance, as he quickly falls though snow.

After taking a plunge to save his fallen canteen, Pluto skims across ice before losing his canteen to a seal in icy water. This freaks out Pluto because, well, most dogs don’t interact with seals.

Pluto grabs the canteen and attempts to march away, but the seal would rather play. Pluto is a brat though and kicks him into his icy water hole.

The seal just wants to play, marching under Pluto’s legs before playfully running off with the canteen again. We end up in an ice cave, where we get the neat echo effect for sound effects and music. This was a well-done effect for 1947.

Well, things go bad and Pluto falls down a cliff, through the ice and into frigid waters. The rescue dog gets stuck under the ice and things get dire. Is Pluto going to die? That would be a different short.

Rescue seal makes the save, diving under and pulling out the near-death dog, ice block and all. The warm contents of the canteen come in handy and our little dog friend is saved, now becoming quick cuddle buddies with the seal.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

Yes, watch it! So far most of the Pluto shorts haven’t landed well with me, but this one was a good ones. The seal steals the show.

Mickey Shorts

Lend a Paw

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Original release date: October 3, 1941

Rating: TV-Y7. “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Length: eight angelic minutes

Background: “Lend a Paw” was one of the few “Mickey” shorts of 1941, though really it might as well be considered a Pluto short.

This short won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1942, so it must be good, right?

It has been rereleased over a dozen times and seems to be thrown in as a bonus feature on every home release of “Oliver & Company.”

Review:

Pluto, sniffing through the snow, hears a mewing. It turns out to be a cat strapped in a bag that’s floating on ice, a cat that Pluto immediately rescues because he is a good dog.

Well, until he sees it is a cat. Then he keeps blowing it away. Not so good, Pluto.

The cat continues to follow Pluto, going right into Mickey’s house and following happy. As Mickey reads the paper, he notices Pluto’s “new friend,” laughing and petting it. Mickey goes as far as pouring milk into Pluto’s food dish, something Pluto isn’t happy about.

The classic cartoon troupe of the angel and devil appear, a green devil version of Pluto telling him to get rid of the cat while a white angelic Pluto tells him to be kind.

Devil Pluto gets the early advantage, advising Pluto to knock the kitten into the house’s fishbowl. This doesn’t end well for Pluto, having him kicked out of the house while the kitten plays.

Kitten runs out side and drops its ball into a well, jumping in after it. Pluto, good dog, follows his first instinct and runs over to the well. Angel Pluto begs him to save the kitten while Devil Pluto tells him he’ll be a sap.

The kitten keeps on drowning, so Angel Pluto throws off the halo and socks Devil Pluto right in the nose. This is all the motivation Pluto needs to jump in and save the kitten. Unfortunately, this gets poor Pluto stuck in the well.

Mickey makes a quick save and out comes Pluto as an ice cube. Mickey and the new kitten friend nurse Pluto back to warmth, with the message of “kindness to animals will be rewarded” at the end.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

Absolutely you should watch it. It’s the best Pluto short so far and the Academy Award appears to be well-deserved.

Mickey Shorts

Canine Caddy

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Original release date: May 30, 1941

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

Length: seven golfin’ minutes

Background: Outside of being one of several golf shorts released in the time period, there isn’t much background for “Canine Caddy.”

Remember the buck teeth that Mickey grew in the last short reviewed, The Little Whirlwind? This is the last short with those. Easy come, easy go.

Review:

It should be noted that this is a Pluto short – the short begins with the Pluto title card – and not a Mickey short, despite Mickey appearing in it.

And appear he does. We start with Mickey, golfing in red pants but no shirt – surely against every country club dress code – and his buddy Pluto reduced to a caddy.

As Mickey goes for a swing, he notices Pluto sniffing and scratching and gets mad First of all, wash your dog. Second of all, he’s a dog.

Mickey finally smacks the ball, sending it flying. Pluto points it out, dog-style, before lifting the flag for Mickey to putt it in.

Nope. Because this isn’t a three minute short, we aren’t done yet. Mickey just misses. Then he ends up in a sand trap somehow. Honestly, he’s not great at golf. He has the Happy Gilmore game, with a great long shot but absolutely no putting skills.

Eventually, Pluto finds himself going at it with a gopher. This gopher is much more active than the famed Caddyshack gopher, basically antagonizing Pluto and helping him tear up the entire course.

In the end, Mickey laughs it off. Why not. He’s a rich mouse. He can play golf somewhere else.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

Cute and inoffensive but non-essential. Skip it.

Mickey Shorts

Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip

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Original release date: November 1, 1940

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

Length: eight sneaky minutes

Background: After a somewhat quiet year for the big cheese, Mickey returned to the screen with “Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip.”

There’s a fascinating footnote to this short that was only recently discovered in the last few decades despite the short nearing its 80th birthday. As he did for Mickey shorts at the time, Walt Disney himself provided the voice of Mickey.

However, film exists of the entire voiceover session for this film. It’s the only known footage of Walt performing as Mickey. It hasn’t been seen often, but was included as a bonus feature for the DVD version of “Fun and Fancy Free.”

Review:

We start in Burbank at the train station, Mickey whistling happily and awaiting his train ride. Pluto is nearby with his suitcase packed as well, ready to take a ride.

As they board, Conductor Pete throws them right back off. “No dogs allowed!”

Mickey crams Pluto into the suitcase, which appears to have been otherwise empty. Travelling light, Mouse. They hop on the train and Pluto, understandably, is not happy in the suitcase. Mickey sneaks him out in a fun visual sequence.

Pete comes through asking for tickets, which I’d think you would do before you took off but I’m no train guy. Pluto is back in the suitcase, which Pete puts up in the overhead compartment.

A chase eventually ensues, with Mickey and Pluto finding a way to hide before being caught. They run again, leaving Pete punching a mattress. Who is actually running this train, anyway?

We eventually hit a point where Mickey is dressed like a Native American, which would fall under that “outdated cultural depictions” category. It doesn’t last long, and Pluto ends up outside of the train. Mickey jumps out after him and, well, Pete wins. Mickey and Pluto win too though, being thrown right at the train station they needed. Everyone is a winner!

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

Sure, watch it. It’s a funny short and a good show of the play between Mickey and Pete.

Mickey Shorts

Beach Picnic

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Original release date: June 9, 1939

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

Length: eight sandy minutes

Background: There isn’t much history behind this short, but it is one of the very few times that Donald and Pluto have been paired together. Can a bad duck and a good dog make magic together? Let’s find out!

Review:

Donald prepares a gigantic picnic, pies and sausages and all, before running to jump in the water.

Despite being a duck, this doesn’t go well for Donald. He struggles to get on his large inflatable and it does not go well. This is where I noticed, for the first time, that you can see the film patterns a lot more in this short than usual. Those little fuzzy dots are all over. It doesn’t really take away from it, but they are there.

Meanwhile in cartoon world, Pluto goes on the chase of the inflatable. This, too, does not go well and Donald gets a good laugh at Pluto’s misfortune.

Pluto’s battle with the inflatable goes on for quite some time, perhaps a little too long. Eventually the inflatable inflates Pluto, sending him soaring through the air before crashing to the ground.

Over in picnic area, an ant – in what is definitely stereotypical Native American facepaint and feather – goes marching onto the picnic. The ant calls his fellow ants and they do a Native American call before stealing all of the food. Yep, I found the cultural depictions this time!

Donald catches them in the act, screaming in regular Donald fashion before setting out fly paper for the ants. As an ant sneaks away a giant piece of pie, Pluto – still stuck from his flight – notices and starts sniffing after it. If you were thinking Pluto gets stuck on the fly paper, you win! The prize is dessert. You’ve earned dessert. Eat well.

The ants are likely eating well with the giant piece of cake as Pluto battles the flypaper stuck to his rear-end. Donald also ends up stuck to the same paper and, therefore, the butt of Pluto. An argument ensues and Donald ends up in a lot more flypaper, ending the short under a licking attack from Pluto. Awwwww.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

I went back and forth on my recommendation on this one. I drifted away during the overly long Pluto vs inflatable battle. The Native American ants scene was, well, culturally an issue. While the ending is a lot better than the majority of the short, I’m going to end on skip it. You can do better.

Mickey Shorts

Society Dog Show

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Original release date: February 3, 1939

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

Length: eight ruff minutes

Background: “Society Dog Show” is one of many starring roles for our beloved dog friend Pluto.

While the short itself hasn’t made a huge footprint, it is notable for being the last regular appearance for the older character design of Mickey Mouse.

Review:

Mickey and Pluto arrive at the red carpet for the society’s dog show along with many other fancier dogs. Seeing the other owners groom their dogs, Mickey gives Pluto a little brush-up. There is no difference in the end outside of a shinier nose and the sweet smell of what seems to be far too much perfume.

Mickey gets distracted and wanders off. This gives Pluto the chance to notice a cute (much smaller) dog named Fife the Peke. They flirt, as dogs do apparently.

Judging begins, calling Pluto to the judge’s stand. Mickey reappears, trying to pull Pluto away from his new love. The judge is not impressed by Pluto acting improper, giving the judge doggie kisses instead of holding still.

Finally Pluto gets with it and receives a proper judging, actually going vicious and chasing after the judge. The commotion is heard over the intercom, sounding out all over the show.

The talent portion begins, Pluto skating in on skates just as the photographer’s camera sets the whole stage on fire. That never happens to Instagram models.

He doesn’t necessarily mean to, but Pluto saves Fifi and most everyone else as he clumsily skates through the arena on his skates. His accidental bravery wins him the top prize and the lovey eyes of Fifi.

I noticed no cultural depictions.

Extras:

Nothing.

Should you watch it?

I’m giving this one a skip it. I couldn’t get into it. I could barely even find enough worth writing about it. Sorry, Pluto. You’re still a good dog.

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.