The Return of Mickey Mouse

[Tigerdaly]

I am writing this a little concerned the way the Disney cooperation and parks are heading.
We are now in an era were the very young children cannot associate with Mickey Mouse because there life has been imersed in Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger etc. You now have to go out of your way to introduce your children to the wonders of Mickey Mouse. Without the Disney channel your child could get to adulthood and query "Who's this Mickey character",
why cant Disney animation put there heads together and revitalise the Mickey brand and come up with a new cartoon series or another fresh feature film. The last cartoons were made in the 50's and since then only a few films have emerged.
I would like to see the Pixar animation team get the Mickey,Donald and Goofy gang back on the screen with the same effect as Toy Story.
It isnt suprising that the gasps and tears that flow during the Wishes show when Tinkerbell swoops down are all from the adults. The kids can't associate with the Disney / Tinkerbell brand captions.:wave:

Roll on July................................:sohappy:

 

[WeLComeHomE OKW]

I would have to completely agree with you. I would love for Disney/Pixar to bring Mickey and the Gang back into our lives. Right now kids know him as an icon, but not as a character. Mickey is famous for a reason, i think his story should be told to a new generation with fantastic new effects.

And i dont count straight to dvd feature films...

 

[DME]

Putting the fab five in a Pixar film would be great. They'd do a much better job at it then Disney would. Of course they're the same company now so hopefully the talented Pixar folks don't disappoint.

 

[timkelmom]

A full length feature starring Mickey and the fab 5 would be awesome. It has been way too long. Something with Pixar involved could be great.

 

[Captain Chaos]

My god-daughter is going to be 2 years old in May.. and what do you think I started teaching her?? MICKEY MOUSE!!!! I agree.. the kids today do not know Mickey and what he means to Disney... of course, with these TV shows using the term "Mickey Mouse" to describe jibberish now-a-days, is it any wonder the kids don't know about Mickey???

When I went to Disney in 2004, I brought my god-daughter home a big stuffed mickey and minnie... Now, when she comes over to my house, all she asks for is Mickey Mouse... I even pop in my Mickey DVDs for her to sit and watch...

 

[ThumpersThought]

Mickey is safe. However, I have reservations about the fab five in a full-length motion picture. Remember, even in Walt's day there was fear of Mickey fading (some upstart named Donald Duck had eclipsed Mickey in popularity) -- he didn't put mickey in his own movie, but gave him a part in another (Fantasia) to rebuild his reputation.

What Mickey and friends really need is good writing. Get them back into shorts written with the feeling and joy that come with the old shorts (watch a Mickey Mouse cartoon on "House of Mouse", then watch "Plane Crazy", "Taxi Trouble" or even "Steamboat Willie" -- contrast the emotions played with the minimum of dialog). Today's shorts hit you over the head -- that kind of humor has little lasting value. Humor that is smarter, deeper and doesn't require a laugh track is what tends to last through time. Good writing.

Now, as to Mickey, he's got image on his side. Certain things in this world are "Sticky" -- that means that they have an instant draw or connection into the human psyche. Santa Claus is one. Children, even before being exposed to the mass market aspects of Christmas will recognize Santa. My son knew Santa long before he knew anything about Christmas or even gifts (still don't know where he found out about Santa, but anyway...)

Mickey has a simular stickiness. An amazing number of people have never really seen a Mickey Mouse cartoon (really quiz some people, you'll find they have vague memories of something, or remember the Mickey Mouse Club). At the same time, people really seem to know Mickey.

While I'm not as worried about Mickey's image, if I were to try to restore or build, my steps would be as follows:

1. High quality shorts. Well written and well animated (2 or 3D). Air them on ABC Saturday mornings and on Disney Channel on weekdays. Heck, toss a couple on the big screen before movies such as "Cars".
2. Six months later, follow with a new Mickey Mouse Club. Call it MMC or whatever. Shows like this stick -- they may not be top rated, but the memories tend to last.

Many characters are the flavor of the year. Mickey has more of an eternal aspect to him, and that needs to be respected. I think trying to turn him into a pop star would backfire.

And to be clear, my one year old can tell the difference between Mickey and Minnie Mouse...

 

[Mecha Figment]

I don't think these characters will ever die. no wories. small children still flock in droves to mickey mouse. so i have no fears of it.

and by the way did we forget house of mouse and mouse works?

 

[timkelmom]

Great thoughts Thumper. The old shorts are great. We watch House of Mouse so we can still see some of the old cartoons. I agree putting the shorts in before all the new Disney movies would be a smart move.

 

[New2WDW]

I think the idea is very good and can be done successfully by Pixar! I also agree to some of the other posts about not trying to change Mickey into a Pop star, etc. but just re-energize the icon!

 

[Nicole]

I think Mickey is safe. He is past the point of needing a feature film to keep him in the public eye.

But Mickey still shows up on many movies my 5 year old (and I) have loved recently, like "Twice Upon a Christmas" and "The Three Musketeers."

Stitch notwithstanding, Mickey is still the face of Disney.

 

[cj2me]

When I make my daughter her scrapbooks after each trip, (she;s 2 and has been there 5 times) the last page is always entitled "It all started with a mouse" with new pcitures of Mickey and his pals and her. I also put a new fact about Mickey Mouse or Walt Disney on it. I don't want her to know just the "IN" characters but the man and the mouse who started it all.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Just a small legal issue, Mickey is on his way to becomign public domain. WHile Disney will likely still have a trademark, unless they can get another extension in copyright law as they did recently, use of Mickey will become easier or at least involve more suits. That means A LOT of time and money for the company. They will never lose Mickey, and they will have a pretty easy time establishing trademark rights over him with secondary meaning. However, using him is simply not as profitable as creating new characters that have nice, long copryights on them (although their ability to do so without Stitch and Pixar Is somewhat questionable).

 

[disneylands]

I dont really agree, I think that just about every kid growing up in this country knows very well who mickey mouse is, they put his face on diapers and underwear, t-shirts, and hats. Not only that he is the Walt Disney Company's logo and Brand, commercials and other products.

Although I dont agree on the recognation portion, I will agree that there has not really been any noticable production of him in any feature length movies. But there must be a reason, maybe at this point there just isnt a very high demand to see Mickey in the movies right now...

 

[Sledge]

I think House of Mouse is a great show. I always thought they should make a Fantasmic like movie with a bunch of the characters from all the movies in one show. That would be pretty awesome.

I'm not worried that kids won't know who Mickey is. I don't think it'll ever get to that point. I DO wish the Disney Channel would have more Mickey though and bring back some of the awesome old shows Duck Tales, Tale Spin, Rescue Rangers and Darkwing Duck. It makes me sad they aren't around anymore and you can't get them on DVD. Speaking of which, does anyone have videos or pictures of the old show where Mickey's Toontown Fair used to be that had all these characters on one stage show. I remember someone getting locked in a vault or safe and Launchpad, Scrooge and others were trying to get them out. It was my favorite show! What was it called?

 

[Dragonrider1227]

Mickey is imortal as a pop-culture icon. Everyone knows him and as long as there's Disney, there is Mickey but it would be nice to see the Disney Channel use him more for no other reason than because it's Mickey. The symbol of Disney. It'd also be nice if either Disney Channel or Toondisney played to old toons for the sake of memory. I also always thought a full-length film with the classic Disney toons would be cool too. Especially if Pixar did it.

 

[jesserin]

Mickey might not be in any movies right now - but he's still on the Disney Channel on House of Mouse... I don't think he'll ever fade... but I too would love to see a movie about the fab 5 anytime!

EDIT - sorry - sledge just said this...

 

[Sledge]

I think House of Mouse is a great show. I always thought they should make a Fantasmic like movie with a bunch of the characters from all the movies in one show. That would be pretty awesome.

I'm not worried that kids won't know who Mickey is. I don't think it'll ever get to that point. I DO wish the Disney Channel would have more Mickey though and bring back some of the awesome old shows Duck Tales, Tale Spin, Rescue Rangers and Darkwing Duck. It makes me sad they aren't around anymore and you can't get them on DVD. Speaking of which, does anyone have videos or pictures of the old show where Mickey's Toontown Fair used to be that had all these characters on one stage show. I remember someone getting locked in a vault or safe and Launchpad, Scrooge and others were trying to get them out. It was my favorite show! What was it called?

A follow up on my own post. You CAN get Duck Tales Volume One and Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers Volume One on DVD.

Anyone know the stage show I was talking about? Pictures? Videos?

 

[Connor002]

In many ways, Mickey stays out of the spotlight because he must. Mickey is a set character; we know, for the most part, what he thinks and how he will react, and in that way the animation division is limited. I believe even Walt once said that he could do more with other characters due to this. Mickey won't fade, but a "return" would be debatable as well.

 

[djmatthews]

Whilst at Disneyland this year, it was quite sad to see 'older' characters by themselves with no attention, whilst the 'newer' characters got all the attention from the kids. I saw this a few times.

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

I grew up watching the OLD SCHOOL disney cartoons, that are now available on the Disney Treasures DVD sets...
In my opinion, showing these old cartoons on the Disney channel would be the best move the channel could make! I think it's essential for kids to know who the fab five are, and all of the old silly symphonies, and so on!
Remember the blue owl that taught music lessons, or Casey at Bat or the Little Tug Boat, or the little house... OR DARE I SAY Alice Blue Bonnet and Jonnie Fedora, *sings* in the window of the department store...
I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING for all of these to be brought back into regular progamming on the Disney channel!
BRING THEM BACK!