Mickey Mouse: Merry & Scary an Old School Treat

Everything old is new again at the House of Mouse. Gone are the 3D-CGI renderings of Mickey and the gang, and in their place we get 2D animation that looks like lost animation cels were found under some Oswald the Lucky Rabbit notes.

This particular collection, MICKEY MOUSE: MERRY & SCARY -- aside from five wonderful short cartoons -- give us some new Disney holiday traditionals that should get some repeat airtime.

On the scary side, we get "The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!" It's Halloween, and Mickey, Donald and Goofy have just returned from taking Huey, Dewey, Louie, Ferdie, and Morty trick-or-treating. We're told it's midnight (which is awfully late to keep kids up, let alone to have just completed waking the neighbors for candy) even the the clock behind goofy says it's 8:40. Mickey has promised the boys a story that will scare their pants off, but every attempt bores them. Goofy and Donald tell Mickey that it's not his fault, because he comes from "the happiest place on Earth" and doesn't have it in him to be frightening.

And then Mickey...snaps. And that's pretty scary. But he goes into a tale about five little bratty boys who steal pies, which leads them to a world of trouble. It's a tale so scary, it even ends up scaring Mickey himself!

Then we get the merry side of the collection, "Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special." Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, as well as Goofy are decorating the house for Christmas. And just when Donald starts to get into the spirit, Daisy reminds him that they'll be missing it. Again. Because they're ducks, and it's time to migrate. But Donald makes a break for it and chooses to stay for the holidays. As Daisy, Uncle Scrooge, and the nephews all enjoy the beach, Donald begins to experience the downsides of a duck staying in cold weather. (It's not just discomfort, as Professor Ludwig von Drake illustrates.) Sensing Donad's health deteriorating, Mickey and the gang have to act fast to get Donald south before his goose is cooked. Does Santa's sleigh hold the answer to their dilemma?

Featuring wonderful animation, old school humor, and engaging stories in each, the MICKEY MOUSE: MERRY & SCARY collection will be a new holiday tradition for Disney fans.