Love animation to bits. It was a big part of my life as a child, especially Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbera and Tom and Jerry, and still love it as a young adult, whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more now, having more knowledge of the different animation styles and directors and what work went into them.
Am most familiar with the 'Mickey Mouse Works' cartoons from them featuring on 'House of Mouse', a show still held a fondness for by me. With the colours and sound effects, that 'Mickey Mouse Works' makes a real effort to retain the spirit of the old/classic/golden age Disney cartoons is to be lauded. The characters' original personalities are admirably stuck true to as well, particularly Goofy and Donald, while also expanding those for a few, Mickey being more interesting here than before. The hyperactive energy present here is one of few things that is different.
Admittedly am not a fan of the "Mickey to the Rescue" cartoons. 'Train Tracks' makes good use of the train tracks setting and there are neat moments in seeing the lengths of how to get out of the scrape, but like the rest of the cartoons in that particular series it's predictable and repetitive (the ending can be seen from miles away).
'How to be a Waiter' is a strong example of how the Goofy "How to" series from 'Mickey Mouse Works' does a great job emulating the spirit of the classic "How to" Goofy cartoons from the 40s (primarily), Goofy is funny and endearing, his clumsiness and ineptitude at tasks being fun to watch and the narration is fun and educational. Look out also for the 'Steamboat Willie' reference/spoof.
For those who love classical music and animation together, they will get a kick out of the "Maestro Minnie" cartoons. 'William Tell Overture' is amusing and clever with gags and a scenario that fits perfectly with Rossini's music. Minnie in wild west mode has to be seen to be believed.
'Donald's Failed Fourth' epitomises what is so great about Donald as a character. His classic personality is stuck to loyally here and, like his cartoons from the 30s-50s or so, the cartoon is a great example of Donald trying to accomplish a task with good intentions but failing with hilarious results. His personality is both funny and endearing and the cartoon is great fun and charming with a sweet ending.
'Roller Coaster Painters' shows why Mickey, Donald and Goofy work so well together. How their distinct personalities gel and clash and how they interact together are such pleasures, and their "answer service" cartoons does a great job bringing all this across. Mickey and Donald's competitiveness carries the cartoon, culminating in a surprising and appropriately face-palming ending.
While not surprising in outcome, the stories are lively and engaging, kept afloat by the character interaction, characters and the atmosphere. The writing is clever and very funny, even with the deliberately corny moment and pun which made me grin rather than groan.
Really enjoy the spontaneous flow of the episode and Donald's spotlight stealing/accident with the elephant is very funny indeed, if not the funniest of the series.
Furthermore, the animation is very colourful, smooth in movement and with some meticulous detail. The music is suitably groovy, jaunty and cleverly used.
Voice acting is very good with some of the best voice actors in the business involved. Wayne Allwine, Bill Farmer and Tony Anselmo are more than worthy successors to Walt Disney/James MacDonald, Pinto Colvig and Clarence "Ducky" Nash. Corey Burton narrates 'How to Be a Waiter' beautifully, entertaining and teaching. Jim Cummings has little to do though, despite showing numerous times why there's good reason he's the most well-known voice actor for Pete.
Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Am most familiar with the 'Mickey Mouse Works' cartoons from them featuring on 'House of Mouse', a show still held a fondness for by me. With the colours and sound effects, that 'Mickey Mouse Works' makes a real effort to retain the spirit of the old/classic/golden age Disney cartoons is to be lauded. The characters' original personalities are admirably stuck true to as well, particularly Goofy and Donald, while also expanding those for a few, Mickey being more interesting here than before. The hyperactive energy present here is one of few things that is different.
Admittedly am not a fan of the "Mickey to the Rescue" cartoons. 'Train Tracks' makes good use of the train tracks setting and there are neat moments in seeing the lengths of how to get out of the scrape, but like the rest of the cartoons in that particular series it's predictable and repetitive (the ending can be seen from miles away).
'How to be a Waiter' is a strong example of how the Goofy "How to" series from 'Mickey Mouse Works' does a great job emulating the spirit of the classic "How to" Goofy cartoons from the 40s (primarily), Goofy is funny and endearing, his clumsiness and ineptitude at tasks being fun to watch and the narration is fun and educational. Look out also for the 'Steamboat Willie' reference/spoof.
For those who love classical music and animation together, they will get a kick out of the "Maestro Minnie" cartoons. 'William Tell Overture' is amusing and clever with gags and a scenario that fits perfectly with Rossini's music. Minnie in wild west mode has to be seen to be believed.
'Donald's Failed Fourth' epitomises what is so great about Donald as a character. His classic personality is stuck to loyally here and, like his cartoons from the 30s-50s or so, the cartoon is a great example of Donald trying to accomplish a task with good intentions but failing with hilarious results. His personality is both funny and endearing and the cartoon is great fun and charming with a sweet ending.
'Roller Coaster Painters' shows why Mickey, Donald and Goofy work so well together. How their distinct personalities gel and clash and how they interact together are such pleasures, and their "answer service" cartoons does a great job bringing all this across. Mickey and Donald's competitiveness carries the cartoon, culminating in a surprising and appropriately face-palming ending.
While not surprising in outcome, the stories are lively and engaging, kept afloat by the character interaction, characters and the atmosphere. The writing is clever and very funny, even with the deliberately corny moment and pun which made me grin rather than groan.
Really enjoy the spontaneous flow of the episode and Donald's spotlight stealing/accident with the elephant is very funny indeed, if not the funniest of the series.
Furthermore, the animation is very colourful, smooth in movement and with some meticulous detail. The music is suitably groovy, jaunty and cleverly used.
Voice acting is very good with some of the best voice actors in the business involved. Wayne Allwine, Bill Farmer and Tony Anselmo are more than worthy successors to Walt Disney/James MacDonald, Pinto Colvig and Clarence "Ducky" Nash. Corey Burton narrates 'How to Be a Waiter' beautifully, entertaining and teaching. Jim Cummings has little to do though, despite showing numerous times why there's good reason he's the most well-known voice actor for Pete.
Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox