Runaway Brain

I've got a little confession. While I love Disney movie and the shorts with Donald and Goofy, I have never understood the world's love affair with Mickey. Generally, he is a very bland character and lacks the edge and fun of the rest of the Disney gang. I'm sorry, but that's how I've always felt.

However, when I saw RUNAWAY BRAIN, I finally saw a Mickey Mouse cartoon that I absolutely loved. Gone was the sickeningly sweet Mickey and instead this "new Mickey" was like the old one done by the folks who made Ren and Stimpy or Tex Avery!!! The art style was much more "elastic"--with lots more action and weirdness than you'd find in ten traditional Mickey shorts. The new Mickey was also part action-hero and I really liked what I saw. Plus, with a plot involving brain transplants, you know this is definitely NOT your grandpa's generation mouse!!

A wicked sense of humor, fantastic animation and more than anything else FUN--this is the type Mickey Mouse cartoon I would like to see a lot more of in the coming years!

By the way, if you want to see this film, get a copy of "Mickey Mouse in Color: Volume 2"--it's included in this nice collection of Mickey shorts.

This short was nominated for an Academy Award when it came out and I can see why. It's hilarious, exciting and the pace is frenetic and unrelenting. There are also quite a few gags pointed at heavy-duty Disney and/or movie fans, starting with the opening shot of Mickey playing a video game. Look at what he's playing. This is not your grandfather's Mickey. The visuals are great and the gags come almost as fast as the average Tex Avery cartoon.

This was recently released on the Disney Treasures Mickey Mouse In Living Color, Volume 2. If you haven't already got it, you probably better hurry. I doubt they'll last too long. The cost on the secondary market will be considerable. The set is great, as are the other Disney Treasures releases. This short is definitely recommended and the Disney Treasures sets cannot be more highly recommended!

I have come across a few criticisms over this short, but even those didn't ruin if when I finally saw it. First off, the animation was great. I love the way they did. They basically kept Minnie and Mickey's designs and freshened them up. The only thing I can complain about was the pace, since it did move a little too fast. But I think it is a great way to evolve Mickey into current trends and it'll still appeal to teenagers. Honestly, when the classic Mickeys were put out, do you think that the time was and trends were the same? I think not.

Also, for the people that say it's too scary. I find that hard to believe. I showed this to a 7 year old, and they like it. Played three times more. I also showed it to my pops, who seemed to enjoy it and laughed at the references. So I think this was a success.

The only reason I think some didn't enjoy it was because it came as a surprise as how dark this was. I guess some people didn't catch the commercials that were being shown on Disney channel that I saw when I was like...7 or 8. Anyway, this was a great way get put Mickey in the current time. And I see they're doing the same with "House of Mouse". They actually do have some good jokes in the show.

My only complaint really of this otherwise excellent cartoon is that some of it was a little too rushed. That said, it is hugely enjoyable. Bizarre yes, with some quite effective freaky imagery, but also very off-the-wall in its humour. The animation is of very good standard, the colours are bold and Mickey looks better than I have seen him in quite some time.

The music just enhances the atmosphere, often exciting, haunting, evocative and nightmarish it suits the tone of Runaway Brain wonderfully. The dialogue is memorable and the story while simple benefits from a great idea and is kept at bay right up until the end. I loved Mickey here, I always have although he can be bland sometimes when he is sidelined, but here we have a completely different side to him and while it mayn't be to everybody's tastes I liked that side to him.

Overall, bizarre yet still excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Not many people know this, but Runaway Brain is actually being released by Disney on DVD! It's included on the Disney Treasures Mickey in living colors volume 2 DVD box. I love the quality of the animation, which is far much better than 3 Musketeers or Mickey's House of Mouse. Although this movie isn't suitable for very young children, it will be funny for the older ones and especially adults who will adore the spoofs to other movies. The hardcore Disney fan will adore this short too, mostly because it shows Mickey in a whole different way we know him. My advice is: get the Treasures box and enjoy one of the best Mickey shorts of the past years.