Mickey Mouse Returns in 19 Brand New Short Films
It all started with a mouse… and that mouse is finally back in action.
After the announcement that Disney currently have no 2D feature films in production it is nice to see the brand is alive for these shorts produced for the Disney channel.
Earth’s most iconic character has returned to the world of the animated short that made him famous (and some would argue BUILT the animation industry). Disney has teamed up with Paul Rudish [Powerpuff Girls] and debuted today the first of 19 (!) new shorts staring Mickey and his pals. Croissant de Triomphe puts Mickey in Paris, rushing to the rescue of Minnie Mouse whose cafe has run low on delicious croissants.
The short takes on a fresh-yet-familiar style, with the character designs harkening back to days gone by, but with the clean lines and limited animation that made shows like Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Lab so popular. The anthropomorphic nature of Mickey’s scooter remind any animator who has poured over old Disney films of the rubber-hose days when toasters and violins sprang to life complete with faces and expressions.
It’s nearly impossible to compare this new short with the classic Mickey animations of the 1930’s and 40’s, because Croissant does not attempt to mimic the fluid frame-by-frame production of the geniuses who practically invented modern day animation. And that’s an okay thing, because it still manages to overflow with style and charm while remaining its own work of art. As a fan of the classic Mickey cartoons, I have to say that I prefer the full-on 2D of those days. If there was ever going to be an alternate attempt, though, this is brilliantly crafted and wonderfully produced. There is no question the level of quality the artists put in rivals that of previous Mickey shorts. It’s simply a different style.
Future shorts, starring all the classic characters like Pluto, Goofy, and Donald, will begin appearing (via The Disney Channel) starting June 28th, 2013. It will be a long wait after the taste Disney has provided today, but if Croissant de Triomphe is any indication, it will be well worth it.