Pluto Gets The Paper: Spaceship/Donald's Rocket Ruckus/Goofy's Extreme Sports: Paracycling/Organ Donors/Mickey's Mistak

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.

'Spaceship' is one of the better "Pluto Gets the Paper" cartoons. It amuses and charms, but it is also one of the more imaginative concepts/stories and has some very inventive and suitably strange execution.

If you, like me, enjoyed (still do actually) the classic era Donald Duck versus nephews cartoons, it will be a relief that 'Donald's Rocket Ruckus' is remarkably true in spirit to those cartoons. Donald is wonderfully hot-headed and Huey, Dewey and Louie are a perfect match for him, being cute and amusing troublemakers. The outcomes are not surprising, but the nephews' attempts to outwit Donald and their interaction really keeps things afloat.

'Paracycling' is entertaining and educational enough, Goofy is endearing in his ineptitude and the narration beautifully delivered by Corey Burton is witty and informative in a way that is a fond reminder of the narration in the classic "How to" series with Goofy.

Similarly love the "answer service" cartoons with Mickey, Goofy and Donald together. Their distinct personalities, how they gel and clash with each other and their chemistry really drive the cartoons and are delightful. 'Organ Donors' is one of the best of that particular series of cartoons, it has a lot of entertainment value but it is the quite macabre creepiness that is the most memorable (one of the creepiest 'Mickey Mouse Works' cartoons easily), both in the classic horror film atmosphere and the sinister character of the toymaker.

'Mickey's Mistakes' is very charming and with an emotional core at times. Loved what it tried to show/teach and Mickey trying to correct his mistakes with good intentions, while his and Pluto's disguises and attempts to get the bow back induce a good deal of amusement.

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 electrical sign is very funny indeed.

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 is as ever dead-on as the narrator and Matt Frewer makes the Toymaker a memorably sinister character.

Overall, once again very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox