Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 01:48:36 GMT

The same scene where Genie turns into Pinocchio also has a very quick and funny cameo with Sebastian. That gag always gets me. Also, in a gag that did make it into Shrek, the Duloc theme song is a definite knock at Small World. There is too much else to point out but thanks Jim, for pointing out some of the more obscure ones...

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 03:30:51 GMT

Thanks, Nancy!

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 06:27:06 GMT

Don't forget Stich's cameo in Treasure Planet. At the beginning of the film when Jim is still a child and his mother comes into his bedroom, Stitch can be seen as a toy on Jim's shelf.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 08:28:11 GMT

Thanks Nancy (and Jim). Great series!
In "Monsters, Inc.", Boo has Jessie and Nemo dolls.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 09:14:12 GMT

I think there were a couple parodies in Lion King 1 1/2...

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 09:58:37 GMT

You forget about flying over the "Pastoral Symphony" sequence from "Fantasia" in "Aladdin."

And then there's the rather twisted ride through "it's a small world" in "Kronk's New Groove."

"Dumbo" is one of the toys seen in Lilo's room in "Lilo & Stitch" (most likely a tribute to the watercolour backdrops, which hadn't been used since "Dumbo" -- or possibly the Dumbo attraction vehicle that used to be at WDFA-F, as well).

Genie's lamp was *almost* included in John Smith's stash in "Pocahontas."

In Monster's Inc., several Disneyland attraction posters are seen in the scare test room.

Donald Duck and Jack Skelington appear as pirates in "James & The Giant Peach."

Most of the cast of Mickey's Christmas Carol came from Robin Hood or Wind & the Willows.

And then there's numerous things in House of Mouse and Who Framed Roger Rabbit...

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 10:43:38 GMT

Hey, there was more to that shot from "Aladdin" with the Genie in the Goofy hat. His entire costume, the Hawai'ian shirt, the hat, the camera, etc. was exactly what Robin Williams was wearing when he appeared in the film for the Animation Studio Tour with Walter Cronkite at Disney/MGM.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 12:02:10 GMT

If I remember correctly, if you look close in the garden sequence between Hercules and Meg, you'll see just a glimpse of the carpet up in the sky in one shot.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 12:32:41 GMT

In "Oliver & Co." when Fagin rolls up his sleeve to look at the time, there among his timepiece collection is a Mickey Mouse watch.
And it's not just the new generation of animators who enjoyed in-jokes. In "The Recuers" when the Rescue Aid Society meets, there is a Mickey Mouse watch hanging on the wall.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 14:23:10 GMT

So, Jim, you can finish a three part series on making fun of the mouse, but we still are waiting for Star Tours, Light Magic, ..............

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:21:04 GMT

Although not a Disney movie, Nemo was found in Loony Tunes Back in Action (When bugs said, "Hey look, I found Nemo." I believe Nemo also made a small cameo in Brother Bear.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 19:21:51 GMT

There is also the throw-away line in Toy Story 2, where Tour Guide Barbie tells the others in her town car to "Remain seated please. Permanece sentados, por favor"

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 20:38:19 GMT

In a recent episode of "The Emporer's New School" the rollercoaster ride to the scret lab passes a rather motionless Yeti, an obvious reference to the Matterhorn.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 May 2006 20:39:02 GMT

I don't think Disney putting in refrences to their own past creations counts as "Making Fun of the Mouse" part III didn't make it.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Thu, 04 May 2006 10:11:51 GMT

A big round of applause for Jim for finally completing a series! Now, how about those Disneyland CDs for which many of us have already PAID? :-)
And Star Tours, Mary Poppins, et al, would be nice, too....

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Thu, 04 May 2006 11:49:30 GMT

Frankly I have always found these visual in-joke references to other Disney films rather pointless and pathetic. This indulgence in self-parody is what keeps the films from the Eisner era from ever matching the sincerity of the Walt era classics. While some of you folks are giggling over the inclusion of quick cameos from other films, I'm just cringing and shaking my head in wonder at the mediocre mindset of modern-day entertainment.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sat, 06 May 2006 16:52:38 GMT

A couple Disney Afternoon ones...

Disneyland parody on the Hercules tv show, including reference to Pirates of the Aegan and Cloud 33

Elisa from Gargoyles dressed up as Belle in Gargoyles' Halloween episode. A later episode was going to have a gag with a Mickey Mouse watch, but it was vetoed and changed to a large pocketwatch.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sat, 06 May 2006 17:40:09 GMT

Ok, Here is one from Home on the Range.
It IS an inside joke, but not at disney.

Near the end of the movie there is a scene where Alameda Slim is testing a disguise with the Willie brothers

Alameda Slim: Now let's go over this one more time. Who am I?
Willie Brother #1: Uncle Slim?
Alameda Slim: Correct! Now, I put on this hat, and then I put on these spectacles...
Willie Brother #1: Ahh! Who are you?
Willie Brother #2: What have you done with Uncle Slim?
Alameda Slim: It's still me! Can't you dumb sack of hammers get it right?

That is a spoof of an episode of the live action Fox series "The Tick" where the go to the Legue of Superheroes and "Champion" puts on glasses and the Tick goes through the "Who are you? Where is the Champion""Champion, short time no see.""Hey you, didn;t I tell you to get out of here." routeen. HILLARIOUS. I am convinced this is in there because The Tick is Patrick Warburton.
Patrick Warburton has a cameo as a horse named Patrick in the movie.

By the way, Patrick Warburton is just AWSOME and it seems he is in EVERYTHING animated.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sun, 07 May 2006 00:09:31 GMT

Since you visited the "Lion King", let's not forget the moment, later in the film, when Timon and Pumbaa are cornered by Hyenas. In a moment of desperation, Timon breaks into a chorus from the original "Tiki Room" (with admittedly altered lyrics) with Pumbaa, on a plate, with an apple in his mouth, ala luau!
And, don't overlook "Lilo and Stitch". The version of "The Ugly Duckling", which Stitch identifies with, contains illustrations from Walt's Oscar-winning Silly Symphony.
Even the direct-to-video features contain a plethora of references to other Disney films (check out "Aladdin and the Prince of Thieves" or "Lion King 1 & 1/2")
In "Jungle Book 2", which was released theatrically, Kaa (the Snake), appears for a short time as Mickey Mouse!
Thanks for this informative series and I hope it inspires many to share the 'inside references" they have discoverd in Film, on Television, and in the Theme Parks.
Nitemuze2

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sun, 07 May 2006 00:12:31 GMT

To Figment:

An obvious reference to "Matterhorn", perhaps, or a well-placed, synergistic placement for "Expedition Everest", the new coaster attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom, at WDW, in Flroida!

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sun, 07 May 2006 00:25:27 GMT

to Ponsonby Britt:

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, certainly, but the Disney creatives have been creating "in references" and "hidden Mickeys" long before the Eisner years. And rather than being a silly giggle for the rest of us, this represents an opportunity to acknowledge the Disney heritage and lexicon with our present artists and the future potential and possibility.

The original designs for "Disneyland" Park contained hidden Mickeys, and the windows of Main Street in all of the Theme Parks, worldwide, are filled with in jokes and tributes to those whose creative force and vision saw these projects to fruition.

The Oscar-winning short, "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom" contains caricatures of several Disney Artists as cavemen.

As I stated about "Lilo and Stitch", it's heart-wrenching when Stitch, holding "Ugly Duckling" in his hands proclaims "I'm Lost!!". What makes it poignant is the inclusion of the artwork from the Silly Symphony that ties an outcast in the Disney present to an outcast in the Disney past. For those of us with the understanding and focus, this juxtapostion was not lost and did not go unnoticed.

Everything is perspective, and before you begin belittling people's viewpoints, you should have a solid base of facts to support you. The history of the Disney orgnization is filled with these little references - which puts your house of cards on a shaky foundation.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sun, 07 May 2006 13:13:31 GMT

For the record, Nitemuze2, you're talking to a ten year veteran of Disney and one who is quite knowledgable on Disney film history. I stand by my opinion on these Eisner-era films. By including images of other characters in background shots, all you are going for is a cheap laugh. It is so easy to throw in a picture of something from an unrelated source that the audience will recognize from elsewhere but there is nothing clever about it. In fact, it takes the viewer out of the story and diminishes the overall sincerity of the storytelling.

I am well aware of the times that Disney animators of the past would include caricatures of themselves and other studio personnel in the films but this was primarily limited to the shorts in Walt's day, rarely in the features. Besides, it was not necessary for the viewer to recognize them in order to appreciate the story. It did not add nor take away from the story but merely gave something for animation scholars to appreciate in later years. To the average viewer they were just interesting character designs that signified nothing out of the ordinary. It is not necessary for the viewer to know that the matador in "Ferdinand the Bull" is a broad caricature of Walt, nor that the piccadors are various animators - they are all just funny character designs drawn in the style of that particular short.

My question to you is this. Would you want to see, for example, a quick shot of the Dwarfs marching off in the distance down one of the lanes of Pinocchio's alpine village? How about Peter Pan rummaging through his hat and pulling out Dumbo's magic feather before frowning and discarding it before settling on some Tinker Bell pixie dust to enable Wendy and the boys to fly? This is precisely the type of throwaway gags I have come to associate with the Eisner-era films that I am happy did not take place in the Walt-era Classics.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Tue, 09 May 2006 14:27:47 GMT

I have truly enjoyed this three part series of articles. I am a bit surprised that one of my favorite parodies is missing and presumably a candidate for part IV of this series. The Simpsons were mentioned in the comments to the first part of this series and, unless I am mistaken, there was no mention of the episode titled "Special Edna" from season 14 where the Simpsons travel to Orlando and visit EFCOT Center. Wikipedia.org has a wonderful synopsis of this poke at WDW's vision of tomorrow.

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Tue, 09 May 2006 18:12:50 GMT

What about in "The Santa Clause 2?"

When Fake Santa is fighting with Tim Allen on Santa's sleigh, Fake Santa says to Tim Allen: "You are a sad strange little man." Which is of course a reference to Toy Story when Tim Allen said this to Tom Hanks.

Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III - Beanie Baby

Jim Hill — Sat, 27 May 2006 09:50:04 GMT

PingBack from http://beaniebaby.jbkb1.info/archive/making-fun-of-the-mouse-part-iii/

re: Making Fun of the Mouse: Part III

Jim Hill — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 03:25:52 GMT

As far as I am cocnerned, I'[m totally with Ponsonby Britt on this. Even "The Lion King","BatB",etc. as if divas and such did not ruin 'em had these constant

refernces. These were suppsoedly to be insular-in-their-own-world stories.

Can you think of 1951's "Alice in Wonderland" using, say, "Dumbo" or "Pinnochio" or "Reluctant Dragon",etc. references? Or "Cinderella" [1950] saying "This didn't happen to Snow white!"

Or Colonel Hathi in 1967's "Jungle Book" saying to a errant member of his troop " I shoulda traded you for Dumbo!"