Toy Tinkers

In the last Disney cartoon released in the 1940s, Donald is out cutting a Christmas tree. This attracts the attention of Chip and Dale. They follow him to his cabin, where they observe him decorating the tree, contemplating his toys, and then they spot the immense bowl of walnuts. They must have it!

Of course it starts out simply, and grows in complication as more and more war toys are used the the increasingly frenzied battle between good and evil .... which side you come down on. Will there be dynamite?

A Walt Disney DONALD DUCK Cartoon.

Chip 'n' Dale become TOY TINKERS after discovering the treasures spread out under Donald's Christmas tree.

Although enjoyable, this little Oscar nominated Duck versus Chipmunks Holiday film is unremarkable as far as animation & storyline are concerned. Clarence "Ducky" Nash supplies Donald's unique voice; the Chipmunks are largely unintelligible.

Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a blizzard of doomsayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.

It's Xmas in July as Bobsheaux said. Part of the classic Disney Xmas special that is shown every year on Danish TV for decades. Well deserved Oscar nomination.

Toy Tinkers (1949)

*** (out of 4)

Donald goes into the forest and cuts down a Christmas tree, which is witnessed by Chip and Dale who in return sneak into Donald's house to steal some walnuts. After they're caught the two sides battle with various ornaments and toys. This film has a lot in common with DONALD'S SNOW FIGHT, which featured Donald doing battle with his two nephews and I think you can also see that this film had an influence on PLUTO'S Christmas TREE, which had Pluto doing battle with Chip and Dale after they got into his home. This middle film isn't nearly as great as the other two but I think there's enough here to keep people entertained. I think the highlight of the movie is a sequence where the chipmunks are on a train and have to try and steal the walnuts from Donald who has a few tricks of his own. Throughout the film the animation is top-notch and there's no question that there's enough action for two movies.

I will admit that I much prefer Pluto's Christmas Tree, but this is a very amusing cartoon. My only complaint is that it is noticeably more violent than other Christmas vignettes. The animation and the music are lovely, and a lot of the episode is laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the part when Chip an' Dale put a candle in the telephone, and when Donald answered it, it exploded, it was hilarious. Chip an' Dale are as sweet as ever, especially when they argue over the Christmas present. It was also nice to see Donald having fun, though he isn't as temperamental as he appears in other episodes. Overall, a very amusing and well done cartoon, not the best, but well worth looking out for! 9/10 Bethany Cox.