Mickey Mouse Loses His Voice

It wasn't until recently I learned the sad, sad news. It appears that Wayne Allwine, who voiced Mickey Mouse since 1983's "Mickey's Christmas Carol", passed away a couple days ago (May 18th, 2009). This post on the WDWMAGIC.COM forums is where I found out. Other internetters posted tributes to him:

April Winchell, voice of Clarabelle Cow and daughter of the late Paul Winchell: Here.
Honor Hunter at the Blue Sky Disney Blog: Here.
Jerry Beck at Cartoon Brew: Here.
John Frost at the Disney Blog, whose post asks for additional online tributes: Here.
Michael J. Ruocco at the For the Birds Blog: Here.
The news at Toonzone: Here.

Looks like Mickey's gonna be speechless for a while. Wayne Allwine was the best Mickey in my opinion (even better than Walt Disney who first voiced the mouse) and no other could take his place.
Aw, gosh. I'm really gonna miss that fella.

Almost "Goofy"

Goofy's big day is almost here, on May 25th to be exact, but some people, like the folks who maintain the WDWHistory YouTube channel are celebrating early on the 12th which is today. Here's their video that commemorates it. I'm preparing a fanfic for Goofy to honor him, but it probably won't be posted by his birthday. In the meantime, here's my previous post on all the "Goofy" links I could find at the time. So, Happy (Early) Birthday, Goofy! Keep us laughing.

My First Blogiversary

Today marks the day when one year ago, I started this blog. Check out my first entry here. One year later and still not many comments. Come on, guys! Get with it! Share your opinions with me! Choose one of my post and leave a comment already! Oh, well. Even with the drought of comments, I still have plenty of stuff I'm thinking of blogging about in the near future. Hopefully then, I can get more comments on here. Keep in mind though, I won't post often as I'm just flat-out lazy, but that doesn't mean I won't surf the web for flickr pics and YouTube videos. ...mostly for Disney stuff, like Goofy (the cartoon character, not the verb). And Sailor Moon. I've redeveloped a passion for Sailor Moon recently. About three years ago I started watching the Sailor Moon musicals in Japan (known by fans as Sera Myu) on YouTube, thanks to Curiosayh and sailorwarsupreme. But I'll ramble about that in a future post. For now, leave a comment. On any of my posts. Sometime this decade would be nice. Please?

Dream Disney Remakes

Honor Hunter over at Blue Sky Disney posted about what movies he'd like to see Disney remake. That got me thinking about what I want to see Disney remake. I already commented in said post, but here's what movies I'd like to see from Disney.

1. Xanadu
This has been on mind quite a while since I saw Disney's "Hercules". I'm a fan of Xanadu (the movie with Olivia Newton-John, not the Broadway show) and figured "Why not use the muses from 'Hercules' in this film?" As for casting the leads, I'd pick Monique Coleman from "High School Musical" as Kira/Terpsichore, Orlando Brown from "That's So Raven" as Sonny Malone, and Nathan Lane as Danny McGuire. (I like "High School Musical" even though I'm an adult. ...still living with my mother.)

2. Babes in Toyland
I recently got the idea of Mickey Mouse and his friends in this remake of Walt Disney's musical. Here's the cast list:
Mickey Mouse as Tom, the Piper's Son
Minnie Mouse as Mary, Quite Contrary
Donald Duck as Jack Be Nimble
Daisy Duck as Little Bo Peep (she dresses as Bo Peep in some episodes of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse")
Goofy as Simple Simon
Huey, Dewey, and Louie (Donald's nephews) as Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Pete (Mickey's nemesis) as Barnaby, the Crooked Man (or should I say, Crooked Cat)
Scrooge McDuck (Donald's rich uncle from Duckburg) as the Toy Maker
Ludwig von Drake as Grumio, the Toy Maker's assistant
J. Worthingthon Foulfellow (from Walt Disney's "Pinocchio") as Gonzorgo
Gideon (also from "Pinocchio") as Roderigo
Since Huey, Dewey, and Louie are the only kids in the cast, this version allows them, as Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, to look for the sheep for Little Bo Peep. So, Daisy, who plays Bo Peep, has a minor role as does Donald, who plays Jack Be Nimble. The two stay behind in case the kids come back from the Forest of No Return. However, Goofy, who plays Simple Simon, joins Tom and Mary, a.k.a. Mickey and Minnie on the search for the kids and from there, help out in the toy factory in Toyland. (Well, Goofy is my favorite classic Disney character. How could I not include him in this remake at all?)

Of course, these are just my ideas. What do you think, though? Leave a comment here sometime and let me know if these are good ideas for remakes. 'Kay?

Getting Ready for Mickey's Birthday! ...Or Not?

Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland toted 2008 as the year of the mouse, rather than the rat, in honor of Mickey Mouse, of course.

This seems fitting because this is the year Mickey (and Minnie) turn 80! However, I'm not sure if Disney's doing anything special for the occasion. So, I wrote to Jeff Pepper, moderator of 2719 HYPERION, asking if Disney even cares about the characters' birthdays nowadays. Here's the response. (Yes, my real name is Marci Cameron, so, don't go accusing me of lying just because I'm called Acme Girl on the blog.) According to the response, Disney might not be doing anything special for Mickey's 80th. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel for it seems Disney is allowing merchandise to celebrate the event.

The first to appear is from PEZ Candy which commemorates the occasion with a three-PEZ set in a collectible tin. (Link from Cartoon Brew.) Strangely enough, PEZ is celebrating its 80th anniversary, too, which makes the set even more special for PEZ lovers.

Next came the Disney Dollars. Disney Dollars, in case you didn't know, are special currency used at the Disney theme parks here in the U.S. This year, the Disney Dollars showcase Mickey for his 80th. (Link courtesy of DisneyDollars.net.) Wow! Looks like Disney is doing something for Mickey's 80th after all. Although, it is a minor detail, but hey, I'm not complaining.

And Disney's not done contributing the merchandise themselves, even their online store has items celebrating the mouse's big moment. Among them, the creme del la creme of Mickey's 80th anniversary themed merchandise, this appealing snowglobe which features Mickey in his most famous roles: "Steamboat Willie", "The Brave Little Tailor", "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", "Mickey's Christmas Carol", "The Prince and the Pauper", and "Runaway Brain". What a lineup!

So, with all this merchandise around, what about the Disney theme parks? Will they hold a big celebration for Mickey and Minnie's birthday this year? I'm not sure, but I'll be at Walt Disney World during that moment, namely, November 18th, the day "Steamboat Willie" premiered, so, I will celebrate the occasion nonetheless.Be patient, Mickey. Just a whole month more.

UPDATE 12/2/08: I was in WDW for Mickey's (and Minnie's) big day and I had noticed at their pin stations that they had pins marking the occasion. I got a pin with Mickey from his first appearance standing in front of the number 80 since that's how old he is. There are others, but I don't know how to describe them all. And although it seemed very low key, at least Disney did do something for the birthday of the mouse that started it all.

Forget the Pageant, We Want the Mouse!

The Laughing Place just posted a video of the 2009 Miss America Contestants visiting Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. See it here. (I recommend watching it all the way towards the end for an extra bonus guaranteed to give you a giggle.)

A "Treasure" to Treasure

Jeff Pepper recently posted on his blog, 2719 Hyperion, about what he wants a future wave of "Walt Disney Treasures" to be. I posted a comment of said post my idea, but here it is in full detail. You see, what I want in the "Walt Disney Treasures" line is... The Complete Goofy Volume Two!

The reason is because I feel there is more "Goofy" cartoons out there than what we have in the first volume. Here's the list of cartoons as follows in chronological order:

"How to Ride a Horse" (released June 20, 1941)
Originally a segment from "The Reluctant Dragon", it was rereleased as a stand-alone short February 24, 1950. It's on DVD right now on "Extreme Adventure Fun", but having it as a part of "Treasures" line would truly be memorable.

"El Gaucho Goofy" (released August 24, 1942 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 6, 1943 in the U.S.)
This segment from "Saludos Amigos" is more of a bonus feature than an actual cartoon just as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" from 1940's "Fantasia" and "Mickey and the Beanstalk" from 1942's "Fun and Fancy Free" were on "Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume 2". That fact aside, this segment's inclusion in the "Treasures" line would mean they wouldn't have to edit out Goofy smoking on a cigarette in the beginning of the segment like they did in the "Classic Caballeros" collection.

"The Goofy Success Story" (aired December 7, 1955)
An episode from "Walt Disney Presents Disneyland", but reaired in color. My preference is the color version, but they should keep Walt Disney's original intro to this episode. Although it's already on DVD as a bonus feature to "A Goofy Movie", having it as a main program on a "Treasures" set would make it even more collectible. In case you can't tell by the title, this episode "chronicles" Goofy's climb up the ladder of success with new animation wrap-around complimenting the cartoons reused here: "Moving Day" with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, "How to Ride a Horse" (already mentioned above), and "Motor Mania" (from the first volume of "The Compete Goofy").

"Goofy's Cavalcade of Sports" (aired October 17, 1956)
Again, this episode from "Disneyland", reaired in color, would have Walt Disney's original intro (if any) and the rest of the episode in color. In case you don't remember this episode or never seen it, this Olympic-themed episode, hosted by a bald, but jolly greek man (dressed in a toga with a wreath on his head), showcases Goofy's athletic skills through his classic sports cartoons. Another episode with new animation as a wrap-around for the cartoons.

"The Goofy Adventure Story" (aired March 20, 1957)
This episode, too, would have Walt Disney's original intro (if it exsists) and the rest of the episode in color. The title is deceiving because Goofy explains to his then-red-haired son about the Goofy Family Tree with the help of his classic cartoons wrapped-around by (you guessed it) new animation.

Another bonus feature on disc one, other than the aforementioned "El Gaucho Goofy", is the music video to "You Can Always Be Number One" from the 1983 album "Mickey Mouse Splashdance". This song is considered to be the anthem for "Sport Goofy" as the Goof is called whenever he plays a major sport. So, fittingly enough, the music video has clips from Goofy's sports cartoons. The album is available on Amazon in CD form and on iTunes where you can download the whole album or the individual songs.

It's here that disc one would be all filled up and it's time to pop in disc two. To continue, keeping in chronological order:

"Freewayphobia or the Art of Driving the Super Highway" (released February 13, 1965)
This cartoon was excluded from the first volume of "The Complete Goofy", but Leonard Maltin, who hosts the "Treasures" line, makes mention of this cartoon. However, I would like to own it on DVD and the "Treasures" line seems like the perfect home for it. It's an educational cartoon explaining the three kinds of drivers on the freeway. In the meantime, you can watch the cartoon on YouTube: Part 1 and Part 2. (Courtesy of JamieInnesNZ.)

"Goofy's Freeway Troubles" (released September 22, 1965)
Commonly known by fans as "Freewayphobia #2", this cartoon was also excluded, but mentioned by Leonard Maltin. Another cartoon I would like to see on DVD, especially in the "Treasures" line. Another educational cartoon, however, this time, focusing on one driver (played by Goofy, of course) and how to deal with car problems and emergencies on the freeway. Another cartoon to watch on YouTube: Part 1 and Part 2. (Also from JamieInnesNZ.)

"Sport Goofy in Soccermania" (aired May 27, 1986)
Yet another cartoon that should have been on DVD, but isn't. Not in the states at least. Could be a pilot for DuckTales since it's set in Duckburg and includes Scrooge McDuck, the Beagle Boys, and Donald's nephews - Huey, Dewey, and Louie, but this cartoon focuses on the game of soccer (as indicated by the title) and features Goofy as the boys' soccer coach. (The nephews', not the Beagle Boys'.)

And finally, I've saved the best for last. Drum roll, please. The last main cartoon on disc two is...

"How to Hook Up Your Home Theater" (released December 21, 2007)
Shown in front of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" instead of "Enchanted" as we had hoped, this is one of those cartoons that's just too good not to be on DVD. You can, however, purchase it on iTunes through here.

The bonus features on disc two would be separate interviews with two of the people who voiced current Goofy projects with Bill Farmer, the current voice of Goofy. The first interview would be with April Winchell, daughter of the late Paul Winchell. April not only voiced Peg on "Goof Troop", but also Clarabelle Cow on "House of Mouse", "Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers", and, most recently, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse". The second and last interview would be with Jason Marsden who voices Goofy's son, Max, since "A Goofy Movie". Having interviews with these two voices on their experience working on these Goofy projects would make this all the more special.

Of course, this is just my opinion on what I would like to see on a "Treasures" set. What do you think? Should there be a volume two to "The Complete Goofy"? Be sure to let me know by leaving a comment. I just hope whoever's in charge of Walt Disney Home Entertainment reads this and picks up the idea.

UPDATE 11/01/10: Disney has finally released "How to Hook Up Your Home Theater" on DVD in Volume 1 of their "have a laugh!" series. Check out Ultimate Disney's review here. It still would be cool to get the cartoon on a Walt Disney Treasures set though.