Monday, August 11, 2008
Runaway Released...
Thirteen years ago today, Walt Disney Pictures releases "Runaway Brain", the first Mickey Mouse short in over thirty years. While not the sweet, innocent shorts Mickey is known for, the animation is pure Disney... the antics may be Warner Bros., but the short has a charm that has grown on me over time and will tide us over until a new Mickey short goes up on the silver screen...
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I love "Runaway Brain". It's sheer comic genius, it succeeded in "updating" Mickey for a new age, and it's a damn shame there were no follow-up shorts, thanks to the brain-dead Eisner, who preferred spending money buying other people's characters (like the frickin' power rangers and those freakin' Muppets) instead of spending it on the rejuvenation of Disney's classic characters. I hope if there are new Mickey shorts in the pipeline, that they have the same design, energy and wit as "Runaway Brain". Iger could hardly do better than to try to at least match the quality of that wonderful little short.
Some of the best animation in history!!
As much as I don't like Eisner, let's keep in mind that the whole movie industry is against short films. They can't charge more for a ticket that has a short on the bill, yet it increases the running time, and therefore less showings of that film will fit into a day. I know we're talking about fractions of an hour, but if every studio were still releasing shorts, the theater industry would be even more in trouble than it is.
That being said, the real benefit of shorts is just the sort of unqauntifiable commodity that Eisner was no good as seeing, and that Lasseter is, namely shorts are a great classroom for learning what does and doesn't work. This applies to all parts of the process, but most importantly animation and story.
Director Chris Bailey's work is really terrific! He has a way of preserving the beloved Mickey Mouse, while taking him on a very funny, edgy journey. This same, edgy, fun style can be seen in his "Kim Possible" series.
Good job Honor! Bob
Runaway Brain reminded me of the earlier more mischievous Mickey Mouse more than anything. Rather than 'updating' Mickey, IMO, Disney brought him back to his roots.
Is this wonderful short ever going to end up on a DVD so we can enjoy over and over? If it has been I must have been sleeping. Anybody know anything about a DVD Release even as part of something else?
Is this wonderful short ever going to end up on a DVD so we can enjoy over and over?
The short is on the Walt Disney Treasure "Mickey Mouse in Living Color - Volume 2."
*The short is on the Walt Disney Treasure "Mickey Mouse in Living Color - Volume 2."*
Yeah, but just try to find and buy that DVD. I HAVE tried. It's pretty much unavailable.
"Yeah, but just try to find and buy that DVD. I HAVE tried. It's pretty much unavailable."
Then, I'm lucky to get my copy a few weeks ago as of this writing. It was used, but plays rather well. I have yet to see "Runaway Brain", but now that I've got the DVD set, I'll watch it when I choose. Eventually.
You can find the "Mickey Mouse in Living Color - Volume 2" on Amazon for under 10 bucks. I'm ordering mine right now ;)
http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Treasures-Mickey-Living/dp/B0000BWVAF
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