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Classic Cartoon Favorites - Best Pals - Mickey & Pluto (Vol. 12) (1949)
Pluto teams up with his pal Mickey for classic doggone fun in this new collection of eight shorts. Mickey travels to South America and has a ball with “Pluto And The Armadillo,” a clever turtle and Pluto match wits in “Pluto’s Housewarming,” and some playful puppies keep Pluto on his paws in the adorable “Pluto, Junior” and the hilarious “Pueblo Pluto.” You’ll be rolling over with laughter when you join Mickey, Pluto, and their pals for fun and adventure!
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume Two (1947)
Unlike the other animal characters in Disney’s cartoon repertory company who served as substitute humans, Pluto remained a dog. Although he began as Mickey Mouse’s companion, he was soon given films of his own: Mickey and Minnie appear in only a few of these cartoons from the late ’40s and early ’50s. Most of the stories follow the pattern animator Norm Ferguson set in “Playful Pluto” (1934). The hectored hound has to cope with either a recalcitrant object or an adorable but problematic animal: a little bird in “Pluto’s Fledgling,” the embarrassing pink sweater Minnie knits in “Pluto’s Sweater,” Chip an’ Dale in “Food for Feudin’.” The animation in these shorts is polished and subtle: the animators capture the nuances of a change in expression as skillfully as the rhythm of a run. But the humor feels very tame. While director Charles Nichols and his staff made beautiful, amusing films, the artists at Warner Bros. and MGM were pioneering a brasher, faster-paced style of cartoon that was much funnier. The extras are generally interesting but some of the choices are odd: Pluto doesn’t appear in some cartoons. Animator Andreas Deja offers an interesting commentary on “Hawaiian Holiday” (1937), but the film isn’t shown in its entirety. Similarly, the pencil test from “Pluto’s Judgment Day” (1935) provides a rare look at the animators’ drawing, but the finished film isn’t included. The Complete Pluto, Volume Two is well worth having, but it’s not likely to provide many belly laughs. (Rated G, suitable for ages 5 and older: cartoon violence, minor ethnic stereotypes) –Charles Solomon
Mickey’s best pal Pluto continues to light up the screen as leading dog in more of his adventure-filled cartoons. Putting the spotlight on his comical antics from 1947 through 1951, this volume includes the inspired “Bone Bandit” of 1948 and the 1951 classic “Plutopia.” The treats continue with three rarely seen shorts featuring Pluto’s feline nemesis Figaro, and a revealing exploration of a classic Pluto short. Plus, contemporary Disney master animators discuss their favorite Pluto moments and the art and craft behind them. It’s no wonder Mickey’s faithful pup became top dog around the world. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume One
Mickey’s pal Pluto developed from the pair of bloodhounds in “The Chain Gang” (1930). Walt Disney liked animator Norm Ferguson’s handling of the dogs’ expressions, so the artists continued to work with the character. Ferguson’s breakthrough animation of the flypaper sequence in “Playful Pluto” (1934), available on Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White, Vol. 2, showed that the cartoon character could think and react to a situation through pantomime. Many cartoons follow the pattern of “Playful Pluto”: the ochre dog tries to cope with either a recalcitrant object–skates in “On Ice,” an inflatable rubber horse in “Beach Picnic”–or a cute but troublesome animal: a seal in “Pluto’s Playmate,” a gopher in “Canine Caddy” and the title character in “Pluto and the Armadillo.” Pluto’s quick temper and willingness to rush in where pedigrees fear to tread made him a popular subject for cartoons (and military insignias) during World War II. In “First Aiders,” Pluto serves as a reluctant subject when Minnie practices splinting and bandaging. Eager to do his bit, he serves as a military watch dog in “Private Pluto,” “Dog Watch,” and “Canine Patrol.” In several of these cartoons, Mickey is reduced to playing straight man to Pluto, who gets the laughs. Pluto is pitted against a black housekeeper, reminiscent of Mammy Two-Shoes in the Tom and Jerry cartoons in “Pantry Pirate”–a rare example of ethnic stereotyping in a Disney short. (Unrated, suitable for ages 5 and older: cartoon violence, occasional ethnic stereotypes) –Charles Solomon
Mickey’s faithful friend Pluto is unleashed in this first volume of the celebrated canine’s cartoon capers. Spanning the years 1930 to 1947, these 29 classic shorts include Pluto’s 1930 debut in “The Chain Gang” — which was actually his first and second appearance playing unnamed, identical bloodhounds — and the 1941 Academy Award(R)-winning short “Lend A Paw.” The tales continue with a special “dogumentary” focusing on the birth and evolution of everybody’s best friend, an excerpt from the TV program “A Story Of Dogs,” a look back at the life of Pluto’s father, animator Norman “Fergy” Ferguson, and more. It’s no wonder Pluto’s star rose faster than his temper.
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