A Preface for the Mouse

Before officially beginning our retrospective, I would like to spend a moment talking about this little guy. Disney movies have always been a part of my life (except for those few awkward years where I thought cartoons were "not cool"). I grew up in the era affectionately known as the Disney Renaissance, I idolized Aladdin, I knew every Lion King song by heart. But there was always something that I didn't understand as a kid: why was Mickey Mouse the Disney mascot? Was there some great Mickey movie I had missed? Can I rent it at Blockbuster? I didn't understand Mickey's place within the Disney universe. To me, he was always just the face on the box. Not a character but a logo. An icon. As a kid, all I could tell you about Mickey Mouse was that he had a squeaky voice, he loves Minnie Mouse and he lives in that really cool looking park in some magical place called Orlando. And that's the way he stayed for a long time. 

My first visit to Disney World was in 2004 as a senior in High School on a class trip. I was pretty excited, this being my first time going but I wasn't losing my mind or anything. I was more excited about being on trip with my friends. You know, high school stuff. I never went as a child so I didn't have these larger than life memories as a reference. At most, I was curious. "The most magical place on Earth." So there'll be a few roller coasters and some folks walking around in costumes signing autographs. Like Six Flags, right? I was totally unprepared for what I was about to experience. I hadn't discovered Disney magic yet. It's hard to describe how it happened, it worked on me very slowly and undetected. All of the little details of Magic Kingdom, the music in the trees, the history in every ride and attraction, Dole Whips, and most of all, the characters.  There was a spirit of respect, even reverence, for what Disney represents in every aspect of the experience. Nothing in that park is done with anything less than 100% commitment and that more than anything was what impressed me and by extension made me care too. By the end of that trip, I understood. I was old enough for fairy tales again and my passion for Disney and Mickey Mouse was rekindled. Big time.

When I got home, I gathered up as many Disney DVDs as I could find. I spent the next several weeks becoming reacquainted with the likes of Princess Aurora and the Cheshire Cat. But the Mouse still eluded me. Where did he come from? Being a student of film, I was vaguely aware of a thing called "animated shorts", you know, the 5 minute thing they show before the main attraction, Pixar has gotten really good at them. Over time, I had learned that this was how the art of animation began and this is the way the world was introduced to Mickey Mouse, in a little black and white short called "Steamboat Willie". Even though this isn't truly the first Mickey Mouse cartoon ever created, and even though there was another guy first (we love you Oswald!) it's Steamboat Willie that launched Mickey Mouse to fame and set Walt on the path that would lead to where we are today. This short has come to be incredibly meaningful to me. In my mind, this is truly where Disney began. All those years ago, before the parks. Before Snow White. Before animated films in general. The big bang. At last I understood. Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and the rest of the gang were the vanguard. They laid the foundation for an animated universe and established a tradition of quality, comedy, and family. 

And here's the cherry on top, the thing that ties this all together for me. Several years ago, to commemorate the company's return to traditional animation after more than a decade, Disney added a new intro to their animated films. Guess what the intro was? 

Doesn't that just put a smile on your face?

Introduction

A glass slipper. A poisoned apple. An enchanted rose. 

For many of us, these images conjure a flood of memories and emotions connected to a very special group of stories that we grew up watching on the big screen or in the comfort of our living rooms. These stories, brought to vivid life through the art of animation, taught us some our first lessons in life: never judge based on appearances, let your conscience be your guide, don’t give up on your dreams, be yourself. And Hakuna Matata. 

Over the next several weeks, I will be revisiting this massive catalogue of masterpieces in a comprehensive retrospective of the Disney Animated Classics Collection. Starting with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the film that started it all, and going straight through to today, I will be viewing each and every animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, in (mostly) chronological order. Some of the topics I plan to explore will include a review of the film itself, the songs, the villains, and the moments that make Disney magic happen! As an added bonus, I have also created a playlist of sorts comprised of the classic Mickey, Donald, and Goofy animated shorts. Prior to each film, I will also be watching these. Think of it as two parallel retrospectives; one for the feature films, one for the classic Disney gang. I encourage you to comment with your own memories, thoughts, and opinions along the way. 

NOTE: Just to clarify, there will be no live action Disney films (Roger Rabbit) direct to video films (Return of Jafar) or Pixar films included on this list. Only the films produced by Disney Animation Studios. Nothing against Buzz, Sully, and Nemo but I have always drawn a line between the two studios. Maybe in my next blog?

So without further ado, think lovely thoughts, hop into your pumpkin carriages, and get ready for a whole lot of Disney magic!