Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway - Disneyland

[mlayton144]

I personally really like the new character designs , they actually have personality rather than The dull boring versions intended for elementary school children (except for maybe Donald Duck) - I think this is a result of appealing more to more mature audiences as well as kids

 

[Disney Analyst]

The new shorts are amazing, and I love the design. It is definitely hard to implement that design on AA's while maintaining the 2D style, but it does work well in some places. I'd say the straight on shots where they have to basically round the faces only work if we only see them from straight on.

But honestly, this will be perfect for Toontown, and this ride feels like an instant classic!

 

[TROR]

I personally really like the new character designs , they actually have personality rather than The dull boring versions intended for elementary school children (except for maybe Donald Duck) - I think this is a result of appealing more to more mature audiences as well as kids

I have a philosophical disagreement with you but I can't quite pin it down. The best I can do is compare The Hobbit, a children's fairy tale, to Game of Thrones, a show meant for "adults." Game of Thrones is considered more mature in the eyes of most people due to its nudity, profanity, and violence, and yet the presence of those very things make it immature. The Hobbit, on the other hand, promotes that which is good, not cynicism and sin, and thus, despite being written for children, will always be more mature than Game of Thrones.

 

[Phroobar]

I personally really like the new character designs , they actually have personality rather than The dull boring versions intended for elementary school children (except for maybe Donald Duck) - I think this is a result of appealing more to more mature audiences as well as kids

They really should have used this Mickey. It seems to reflect the corporation better.

 

[DisneyLostBoy03]

The new shorts are amazing, and I love the design. It is definitely hard to implement that design on AA's while maintaining the 2D style, but it does work well in some places. I'd say the straight on shots where they have to basically round the faces only works if you only saw them from straight on.

But honestly, this will be perfect for Toontown, and this ride feels like an instant classic!

I couldn't agree with you more. This ride will be a new attraction classic, especially for Disneyland. I am a huge fan of the Mickey Mouse shorts and the Imagineers pulled it off insanely well. It literally feels like you journeyed through a wacky cartoon world. The 2 and a half D effect is incredible and really brought the flat animated world to life in the third dimension. I believe that this attraction will be a much bigger hit in Disneyland than in Disney's Hollywood Studios since even though there are rave reviews about the attraction, there are guests who are still bitter and refuse to accept it all because it took the spot of the Great Movie Ride while Disneyland's version will be expanding Toontown and not lose any of their rides.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I couldn't agree with you more. This ride will be a new attraction classic, especially for Disneyland. I am a huge fan of the Mickey Mouse shorts and the Imagineers pulled it off insanely well. It literally feels like you journeyed through a wacky cartoon world. The 2 and a half D effect is incredible and really brought the flat animated world to life in the third dimension. I believe that this attraction will be a much bigger hit in Disneyland than in Disney's Hollywood Studios since even though there are rave reviews about the attraction, there are guests who are still bitter and refuse to accept it all because it took the spot of the Great Movie Ride while Disneyland's version will be expanding Toontown and not lose any of their rides.

I mean, it's hard to not be bitter that WDW only gets replacements instead of additions. Disneyland has little space and makes it happen.

 

[DisneyLostBoy03]

I mean, it's hard to not be bitter that WDW only gets replacements instead of additions. Disneyland has little space and makes it happen.

So true. I just hope that the rumor of the attraction's construction at Dsineyland could be delayed or cancelled due to the closing of multiple parks because of the Coronavirus is not proven to be true. This is the kind of attraction that Toontown needs and for certain it will be my new favorite attraction once I ride it in person.

 

[Rich T]

I personally really like the new character designs , they actually have personality rather than The dull boring versions intended for elementary school children (except for maybe Donald Duck) - I think this is a result of appealing more to more mature audiences as well as kids

If by personality you mean “shrieking, screaming and obnoxious,” then, there ya go. Have you ever seen the classic shorts of the 30’s and 40’s? Those were created for adult theater-goers and are beautifully made. That’s what we’re talking about, not the dulled-down versions that followed.

The last good Mickey cartoon that didn’t throw his personality under the bus was Runaway Brain. The new shorts are basically Roger Rabbit cartoons with Mickey as Roger.

I will confess, though, I love how Pluto looks in these new cartoons (and the ride).

 

[Mac Tonight]

Let's be real here... considering how um... weird some of the Mickey cartoons have been...

Wish Upon A Coin

... their representation in the new attraction is extremely tame.

 

[TROR]

Let's be real here... considering how um... weird some of the Mickey cartoons have been...

Wish Upon A Coin

... their representation in the new attraction is extremely tame.

This is mature?

 

[Rich T]

I mean, it's hard to not be bitter that WDW only gets replacements instead of additions. Disneyland has little space and makes it happen.

Some us are still bitter that we lost The Country Bears for a C ticket dark ride.

 

[Mac Tonight]

This is mature?

I don't know what you wanna call it... I just call it weird.

 

[Rich T]

Wish Upon A Coin

This image sums up the new Mickey cartoons perfectly. Let’s aim for lowest level possible. All the time. Because gross is easy.

 

[Mickeyboof]

I feel like it’s been a while since a new ride opened without a full land accompanying it’s construction.

It feels great to just have a new ride, and not worry about the pros and cons of a land we’re stuck with forevermore.

 

[Phroobar]

So it is too late for Universal to reboot Ren and Stimpy for their version of this ride?

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

 

[britain]

I have a philosophical disagreement with you but I can't quite pin it down. The best I can do is compare The Hobbit, a children's fairy tale, to Game of Thrones, a show meant for "adults." Game of Thrones is considered more mature in the eyes of most people due to its nudity, profanity, and violence, and yet the presence of those very things make it immature. The Hobbit, on the other hand, promotes that which is good, not cynicism and sin, and thus, despite being written for children, will always be more mature than Game of Thrones.

Though I do prefer the YouTube Mickey - that was very nicely said.

I think there's a lot of nuance in the idea that "mature audiences" like the new Mickey more. It's not so much that it's about maturity, but rather us grown-ups are a little bored with the Walt-era quest for realism in animation.

Walt was so determined for the world to see his vision that animation was a legitimate art form, that he always was pushing for more and more techniques that put his films on equal footing with live action and/or painted masterpieces. (Controversial opinion: Walt would have loved Jon Faverau's Lion King.) But post-WWII saw animation being produced more cheaply, especially once television entered the mix. And Walt's interests and obsessions flew elsewhere.

For the purposes of this conversation, I'm calling Mickey from 1940-2010 "Realistic Mickey." There's consistency in the placement of Mickey's nose, the appearance of volume in his torso, eyeballs instead of black pies, etc. As many of us know, there was even a brief period in the 1950's when they tried to get his ears to take up 3D space realistically.

But Classic Mickey (1928-1939) was the one that "started it all" and is the icon.

And these days, "mature" audiences find more visual interest in the playful deconstruction of the icon. He's a toon! A graphic shape made of graphic shapes. It's not that kids wouldn't find the jokes in Bad Ear Day funny, it's that adults also get that there's a history to the iconography of Mickey's ears.



In fact, the first few of the YouTube Mickey shorts practically read like a list of riffs based on classic character iconography:

Why did classic Mickey wear no shirt but Donald wear no bottom? No Service
Why did Goofy's hat always look like a cartoon bone? Ghoul Friend
Again with the ears - why are they the "decorative" item on Mickey? Hats Enough
Why are Pluto and Goofy both dogs? Dog Show

It's not so much that you have to be "mature" to appreciate the humor. It's that kids wouldn't know that the "Realistic Mickey" can't go there. There's no way for this Mickey to wink at the audience and acknowledge that he's a graphic design icon because this version has had the graphic design sucked out of him in exchange for realism.

 

[mickEblu]

I haven’t seen a full POV ride through because I want some things to still be a surprise including the pre show. I’m glad to read all of these positive reviews though. I’m hoping the ride is more like the tunnel scene and less like that wide open Wild West scene with just screens. Or if it they are only using screens in a particular scene that it’s more like the waterfall scene.

 

[Mickeyboof]

Curious to see if our MMRR is still set for a (completely ridiculous) 2022 opening, or stalled for the corona panic.

I can’t tell if Royce’s Toy Chest is currently employed by WDI, or an intern who can’t let a good 6months in Burbank back in 2003 die.

 

[Ismael Flores]

Decided to watch the full ride on youtube since i will not get to see it in person until it opens in Anaheim. I just can not see myself spending time in WDW although when EPIC opens i might just decide to go for a few days.

This is what i captured by the video

The attraction looks like it would be pretty fun and being surrounded by the chaos will definitely be better in person than on video.

I have a mixed reaction on how these new attractions are being built with huge show buildings and ride vehicles. The grand scale of the buildings work in creating a sense of awe but the large floor spaces take away from the intimacy the older dark rides gave to riders. It seems like with an attraction like this and Rise of the resistance they could have raised the bar of excited a bit more by designing one of the ride vehicle mechanism to be free roaming prop pieces.

Other than that this attractions seems like it will be a hit and can not wait for it to open in toontown where it seems like it will fit nicely.


Now if only they would consider giving Roger Rabbit an update like they have been doing to the other darkrides. These new projector ideas would really work great in that wonderful darkride if integrated to give the toon facades and walls some life.

 

[DavidDL]

Tastes in cartoons change with generation to generation and the new character shorts are simply Disney and Mickey adapting to that change. The surge in "CalArts Style" animation on television (Adventure Time, Gumball, Star vTFoE, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, etc.) has proven that kids (-and adults) are into the style and weirdness that it inherently brings because it's so different. The irony of course being that once it becomes oversaturated, it will eventually give way to the next change in tone and style. This has always been the way of things, it's the nature of the beast and I do not blame Disney for adapting to a change in the times in order to get Mickey and the gang to appeal to as many people as they can.

For those who do not dig the new style, the old cartoons (of which there is no shortage) remain with welcome and loving arms for you to enjoy over and over again. I don't like every new show or style that comes out these days but I don't let it stop me from enjoying the ones that I do or did. For some, I understand this tone and style being a downhill slope or a low point but like history has proven, it will change again if it starts to not resonate with audiences or another shake up is needed.