Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso and JoJo's Circus have all made their appearances on streaming, as promised. I think I have now seen every episode.
Lots of new stuff today! My queue bloats more and more...
First up, there are some DVD transfers of classic Disney animation. Each volume shows up as its own series on Netflix streaming; the first "episode" is play all, then each short is listed individually. I'm skimming these synopses from Amazon reviews of the DVDs, because the official descriptions are only about the "main" short... hopefully they don't lead me astray.
Disney Animation Collection 1: Mickey & Beanstalk (2009)
"Mickey and the Beanstalk"--a re-telling of the classic story of "Jack and the Beanstalk", but this time with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as the heroes. This short was originally planned as a feature film, but due to budget constraints was shortened and included as part of the 1947 movie FUN AND FANCY FREE. This version of the short doesn't include the live action narration with Edgar Bergen, but the animated storytelling of Ludwig Von Drake and Herman the Cricket from the 1963 television airing of the short. "Mickey and Beanstalk" isn't just worth watching because it's a good story, but because it's also the last cartoon that Walt Disney himself did the voice of Mickey Mouse.
"The Brave Little Tailor"--of all the Disney shorts I watched as a kid, "The Brave Little Tailor" was my favorite. Mickey stars as the Tailor. The village he lives in is all worried about a giant. Meanwhile, oblivious to the giant worries, the tailor is trying to work but is pestered by a group of flies. He kills seven with one blow and shouts it out his window just after a peasant asks aloud, "Say, did you ever kill a giant." Thinking he means seven giants and not flies, they bring him to the king who promises the tailor the hand of Princess Minnie if he defeats the giant.
"Gulliver Mickey"--first released in 1934, "Gulliver Mickey" is a black and white cartoon that features Mickey retelling part of the story of Gulliver in Lilliput to his nieces and nephews. This short was later featured as a segment in KINGDOM HEARTS 2.
"Thru the Mirror"--first released in 1936 Mickey falls to sleep while reading THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS and has a dream where he enters the looking glass, dances with a pair of gloves and a pack of cards, and is eventually attacked and chased by those same cards.
"Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip"--first released in 1940. Mickey and Pluto need to get from Burbank to Pomona, but dogs aren't allowed on the train as conductor Pete makes perfectly clear. Mickey sneaks Pluto on the train in his suitcase, but Pete finds out and chases them throughout the train.
Disney Animation Collection 2: Three Little Pigs (2009)
"Three Little Pigs" - (8:51) A 1933 Silly Symphony animated short about the classic story of the "Three Little Pigs" who live in their own homes but a big bad wolf who wants to eat the pigs starts blowing the homes of two of the pigs down. Will the third pig's home be strong enough to prevent the wolf from getting to them?
"The Big Bad Wolf" - (9:30) A 1934 Silly Symphony animated short features the return of the three little pigs in a new story that involves Red Riding Hood who comes to visit her grandmother (featuring the wolf in disguise). Will the pigs be able to protect Red Riding Hood from the big bad wolf?
"Three Little Wolves" - (9:30) A 1936 Silly Symphony short featuring the three little pigs and the big bad wolf, who is training his three children how to go after the pigs. Directed by David Hand.
"Lambert the Sheepish Lion" - (8:26) A 1952 animated short about a stork who mistakenly delivers Lambert, a lion to a flock of sheep. The mother accepts Lambert as one of her own and raises it like a sheep but as Lambert grows up, he feels he may be different from the others. Directed by Jack Hannah and written by Bill Peet and Ralph Wright.
"Chicken Little" - (8:56) A Technicolor animated short from 1943, Foxy Loxy wants to eat chicken for dinner and convinces Chicken Little that the sky is falling. When he spreads the news to the chickens, the information proves to be false. But when Chicken Little sees the cloud actually falling, the chickens are reluctant to believe him. Foxy Loxy goes after the chickens.
"Three Blind Mouseketeers" - (8:53) A 1936 Silly Symphony short about three blind mice who are musketeers. Their nemesis a cat sets many traps in order to catch the mice. Directed by David Hand.
"Elmer Elephant" - (8:43) A Silly Symphony 1936 animated short about Elmer the Elephant who attends the birthday part of his friend Tilly Tiger. But all the animals at the party make fun of Elmer's trunk. When a fire breaks out in Tilly's treehouse, Elmer may become the hero who can save the day. Directed by Wilfred Jackson and written by Earl Hurd. Based on a story by Bianca Majolie.
Disney Animation Collection 3: Prince & The Pauper (2009)
"The Prince and the Pauper" - (25:32) This Disney animated short from 1990 about a pauper and a crown prince who look exactly alike. The two decide to switch identities and experience each other's life. The pauper as a prince learning about his reponsibilities and the prince as a pauper learning how his Royal Captain of the Guard has been taking advantage of his power. Directed by George Scribner and screenplay by Gerrit and Sam Graham.
"The Pied Piper" - (7:37) A Silly Symphony animated short from 1933. The people of Hamelin has their town being overrun by rats. They will offer gold to anyone who can get rid of the rats and a piper takes on the job. Directed by Wilfred Jackson and based on a poem by Robert Browning.
"Old King Cole" - (7:33) A 1933 Silly Symphony animated short featuring a party thrown by Old King Cole and invited are all the Mother Goose characters. Directed by David Hand.
"Ye Olden Days" - (8:25) A 1933 black and white Disney animated short about Princess Minnie who is arranged to marry Prince Goofy. Minnie refuses to marry him, so her father, the king locks her in the tower. Minstrel Mickey then tries to rescue her. Directed by Burt Gillet.
"A Knight for the Day" - (7:06) A 1946 Disney animated short featuring Goofy as Cedric who has the opportunity to become a knight for a day. Featuring a story directed by Jack Hannah and written by Bill Peet.
Disney Animation Collection 4: Tortoise & The Hare (2009)
"The Tortoise and the Hare" - (8:40) A Silly Symphony animated short from 1939 featuring the popular tale of the race between the tortoise and the hare.
Babes in the Woods - (7:45) A Silly Symphony animated short from 1932 about two children and dwarfs who go against a wicked witch who has captured and turned children to animals.
"The Goddess of Spring" - (9:36) A Silly Symphony animation from 1934 featuring the Goddess of Spring who is captured by the Devil and with her capture has turned the world into Winter.
"Toby Tortoise Returns" - (7:32) a Silly Symphony animation from 1936 featuring another animated short starring Toby Tortoise and the Hare who are in a boxing match.
"Paul Bunyan" - (17:07) a 1958 Technicolor animated short starring the tall lumberjack Paul Bunyan.
"The Saga of Windwagon Smith" - (13:32) A 1961 Technicolor animated short featuring a Western animation about the adventures of Windwagon Smith.
