Donald's Fish Fry/Presto Pluto/Mickey's Cabin

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.

'Donald's Fish Fry' is a fond reminder of why Donald worked as well as he did with Humphrey the Bear, a cute and very funny short lived character who deserved to last longer. It is wonderful for 'Mickey Mouse Works' and 'House of Mouse' to resurrect him and do it in a way that stays true in spirit to the old Donald and Humphrey cartoons.

'Presto Pluto' is very cute and charming, without being too cloying. The amusing chemistry with the liveliest character Butch stops it from being that.

'Mickey's Cabin' has Mickey both likeable and funny, doing some quite smart outwitting. The cartoon is stolen though by the quite hilarious chemistry between Pete and Zeke, who also interact very well with Mickey. Zeke is as funny as Pete and is not too much of an idiot.

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 hot air balloon is very funny indeed, even if predictable.

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 and Tony Anselmo are more than worthy successors to Walt Disney/James MacDonald and Clarence "Ducky" Nash. Jim Cummings is spot on as Pete and brings just as much enthusiasm to Zeke.

All in all, never less than enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox