Hand drawn Mickey shorts are back!

Disneyland has announced that 19 new hand drawn Mickey 2D shorts have been developed.  My first reaction when I read this headline was lukewarm I’d say.  After all, we’ve seen Mickey cartoons before, we know how they go.  I mean, I’m glad they’re making them and all, but it wasn’t anything I was immediately excited about.  I didn’t even bother to read the full article in fact.  But then I saw this photo.

And that changed everything for me.  This looks awesome, right?   You have Mickey, you recognize him and all, but he’s different!  He looks…hip.  And hip is something Disney has never been very good at.  Oh, they try, and most of the time they wind up failing.  Badly.  But this looks very cool.  And I’m loving the moped.  But there’s more!  They’ve released the first 3:30 short online at Disney.com.

This short is entitled “Croissant De Triomphe”, is entirely in French (which didn’t bother me in the least) and centers around Minnie and her efforts to serve her Parisian customers some Croissants.  She has run out though and requires the help of Mickey to come to her rescue.  And so Mickey does with his usual sense of earnest.  The short adventure that follows is reminiscent of some very old school Disney.  It reminded me of why we love Mickey.  He’s the best friend one can have.

 As for the art, it’s wonderful, and is really why I’m so giddy about it.  I applaud Disney for leaving the 3D trend, and doing something that is much more artistic, and much more beautiful.  Mickey’s Clubhouse, for example, while fun for kids, is a disaster artistically.  There is simply no soul in there at all.  This latest short has soul coming out of its ears.  It oozes soul.  It makes me want to hug Mickey.  I want to hug a cartoon.

The rendering is familiar, but unique.  It’s bold and courageous and is a testament to Disney’s ability to keep things fresh without spoiling its history.  It’s the kind of thing that gives me a small measure of confidence that they can restore Tomorrowland, revive Star Wars, and build a Marvel park, all with care and respect.  Maybe I might even be able to stand a remodeled Market House.  I should calm down now.

Check out the clip at Disney.com and see for yourself.  I think you’ll love it.