Since June 2013, Disney Television Animation has been producing some new and slightly different Mickey Mouse cartoons. Developed by artist and animator Paul Rudish, Mickey and pals set out on some pretty crazy adventures in interesting locales around the world. Tokyo, Switzerland, Brazil and Paris are just a few of these new settings. Rudish, who has worked previously with Cartoon Network, has given a fresh style to the animation, while paying homage to the 1930s slapstick humor with fun mishaps and plotlines that originally made Mickey popular.
Some, if not most Disney fans would agree that the Disney Channel is hardly worth its weight in gold, with its most memorable era coming from 90s cartoons such as Ducktales and Talespin. With annoying teenage sitcoms and chintzy CGI cartoons taking over the majority of the Disney airwaves, why should Disney fans, who have seen it all, even bat an eye at these new Mickey Mouse shorts?
Answer: Disney Easter eggs!
Disney fanatics may find some hidden treasures (also known as Easter eggs in the movie realm) during these three and a half minute funnies. Here are just a few “Easter eggs” that viewers may have the pleasure of spotting:
~ The driver’s license that Donald Duck holds up in the episode titled “No Service” has the ID “MMC0581WED.” MMC stands for Mickey Mouse Club, while WED is the initials of Mr. Disney himself.
~ In “Yodelberg,” the house atop the hill in which Minnie yodels is distinctly done in the style of Mary Blair. This artist and Imagineer is most famous for her work on “it’s a small world.”
~ The game that Mickey attends in “O Futebol Classico” features announcer Jose Carioca, most famously known as one of the Three Caballeros, giving a Portuguese play-by-play.
~ Cinderella and Prince Charming make a brief appearance in their famously not-so-humble abode in “Croissant de Triomphe.”
~ At the end of “Tokyo Go,” Mickey plays conductor atop a miniature train, reminiscent of the idea of Walt’s own Carolwood Pacific Railroad. Also, look to the right side of the barn door for a real photo of Walt himself!
~ In “Potatoland,” Mickey and Donald build Goofy’s dream park made of potatoes with attractions that parody Disneyland: Main Street, Haunted Mansion, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Penny Arcade for the win!
These are just a few of the hidden Disney Easter eggs that can be found in the new animated shorts. We don’t want to give them all away!
Have you tuned into the new Mickey Mouse shorts? What Easter eggs have you discovered?
