Love animation to bits. It was a big part of my life as a child, especially Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbera and Tom and Jerry, and still love it as a young adult, whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more now, having more knowledge of the different animation styles and directors and what work went into them.
Am most familiar with the 'Mickey Mouse Works' cartoons from them featuring on 'House of Mouse', a show still held a fondness for by me. With the colours and sound effects, that 'Mickey Mouse Works' makes a real effort to retain the spirit of the old/classic/golden age Disney cartoons is to be lauded. The characters' original personalities are admirably stuck true to as well, particularly Goofy and Donald, while also expanding those for a few, Mickey being more interesting here than before. The hyperactive energy present here is one of few things that is different.
The "Pluto Gets the Paper" series has always been pleasant and amusing enough if not exceptional. 'Mortimer' is an example of that, though Mortimer spices things up.
'Minnie Visits Daisy' is my least favourite of the cartoons. Minnie is always watchable and there are moments here, just not enough to make up for the slight content and Daisy being annoying.
'How to Wash Dishes' mostly is a misleading title, with only the bookending scenes having anything to do with dishwashing. It is very interesting and entertaining to see how Goofy uses the charge card.
'Domesticated Donald' is very funny with Donald and Baby Shelby (a total pest but one that has great comic timing) a great pairing. One does feel sorry for Donald, who shows off his temperamental personality to a tee, and Shelby is one amusingly anarchic turtle. Estelle Harris overdoing it (again) as Mrs Turtle is the one drawback.
While not surprising in outcome, the stories are lively and engaging, kept afloat by the character interaction, characters and the atmosphere.
The writing is clever and very funny, even with the deliberately corny moment and pun which made me grin rather than groan.
Really enjoy the spontaneous flow of the episode and Donald's spotlight stealing/accident with the magic disappearing box and the lion is very funny indeed, one of his funniest.
Furthermore, the animation is very colourful, smooth in movement and with some meticulous detail. The music is suitably groovy, jaunty and cleverly used.
Voice acting is very good with some of the best voice actors in the business involved. Wayne Allwine, Bill Farmer and Tony Anselmo are more than worthy successors to Walt Disney/James MacDonald, Pinto Colvig and Clarence "Ducky" Nash. Corey Burton narrates beautifully.
Overall, a lot to enjoy. 8/10 Bethany Cox
