Later on in the year the short film Runaway Brain is turning 30. It premiered on August 11, 1995. A few things come to mind when I reflect on the film's production:
At the time the French animation crew in Paris was so ready to take on a project like this one. These were the artists who had previously animated the beautiful Goofy Movie. Not much tutoring on my part was needed to get the crew ready for a potentially classic Mickey Mouse short (which I think it is.) All of the animators had done "their homework", they knew how to produce top notch Disney animation.
When the film was released I wondered about the tempo in which the story was told. It seemed a bit too fast to me. But looking at the short now, it looks perfect. A dynamic, fresh and entertaining short which echoes Mickey's early gutsy personality.
Last not least I met quite a few French people who became lifelong friends. What more can you ask for from an animated short film production?
Here is a write up from the time of the film's release in Disney's internal news letter.
Here is a blog post on Runaway Brain from 2012:
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2012/12/runaway-brain.html
A couple scenes of mine.
I'm not sure that every Mickey film should be like Runaway Brain, but I really like it! I love that type of well-controlled, but very squashy and lively animation.
ReplyDeleteWish they'd do a Mickey feature along the lines of A Goofy Movie
When Runaway Brain first released, I was still pretty young-- and I was terrified of the ads. I skipped watching A Kid in King Arthur's Court with my sister so I would miss it.
ReplyDeleteLittle did I know that Disney would sneak the short in front of a screening of George of the Jungle a couple years later. Once it started playing, I went, "Oh... this is fine!" I loved the gags and Mickey's swashbuckling antics at the end. Once I got past my initial fear, I was fine. I get why Disney is careful with rereleasing the short nowadays, but I wish they weren't.
You are right on the money about the Paris team crushing it, Andreas. The way Dr. Frankenollie's arms and legs trade off for expression and movement a few times was a great touch. Who animated his scenes?
I animated some of that (Dr. Frankenollie's intro).
DeleteBravo! 👏
DeleteWhat a great post! Thanks for sharing your unique reflections on this short and posting a few pags from the Newsreel--loved it.
ReplyDeleteWhat movies was it shown before? Mike mentioned A Kid in King Arthurs Court, but I never saw that however I remember seeing this in theaters in its first run....
ReplyDeleteit was also out with Goofy and Hunchback, depending on regions
DeleteI love Runaway Brain, it's so amazingly high energy and an interesting spin on Mickey's adventures that still does the character complete justice.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite shorts (and Mickey designs), thanks for your work on it!
ReplyDeleteDid you ever get to animate Professor Ludwig Von Drake, like you said you wanted to in the article?
Still never have animated Ludwig Von Drake. I'll just have to come up with a scene, just for fun.
DeleteI hope so!
DeleteHi Andreas do you remember who animated Mickey in Julius’ body tugging on Dr Frankenollie’s body and him crumbling into a skeleton and Minnie trying to fight Mickey in Julius’ body and revealing who he really is?
ReplyDeleteI don't remember, but it is great animation.
Deleteone of your bests🤩
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great if Mickey Mouse was continued this way.
ReplyDelete