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Tag Archives: Short film

October 27

October 27, 1982 – The Special Short Film Fun with Mr. Future is Released to Theaters

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“I know you’re all extremely eager to see the energy-efficient trends in future living, but first, let’s take a look at the inefficient trends of the recent past.”

On October 27, 1982, the special short film Fun with Mr. Future was released to theaters for Academy Award consideration. The short was directed by Darrell Van Citters, with story by Citters, Michael Giamo, Ed Gombert, and Joe Ranft. Mr. Future was voiced by Philip Proctor.

The short begins with an audio-animatronic figure named Mr. Future, who announces his intention to show the future lifestyles after comparing them to the inefficient ways of the past. Looking back, we see a mad scientist plugging in a light, then overloading the socket with several electronics. The mad scientist goes overboard, sending the whole town into a blackout. Mr. Future then introduces the thoughts of the audience about the future, before treating the audience to a rare glimpse of the future: machines that make getting ready for work and school done in a snap, chores done by a small machine that accidentally “cleans” the dog, and teleworking. Mr. Future then explores personal computers and teleworking, as well as home entertainment systems by the use of a process called “holography.” The short ends with Mr. Future singing “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.”

October 23

October 23, 1942 – The Goofy Short Film How to Swim is Released to Theaters

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“Everyone should learn how to swim.”

On October 23, 1942, the Goofy short film How to Swim was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack Kinney.

The short begins with Goofy modeling a simple bathing suit, before using a piano stool to simulate swimming across his living room. Unfortunately, Goofy doesn’t realize that he’s left his living room and is now “swimming” through traffic, though he manages to head back safely – until he crashes into his bathtub. The next step is to head to the beach, where he barely manages to fit in a beach locker. True to fashion, Goofy ends up with his locker in the bottom of the ocean. Another mishap occurs as Goofy eats his lunch underwater, and ends up with cramps all over. Afterwards, Goofy is taught how to dive, though he is not as elegant as the chart drawing, as he gets caught on the board and lands in an empty pool. His last session is using an inner tube to “surf,” but winds up being thrown onto a deserted island. All is not lost however, when he is surrounded by beautiful, adoring mermaids.

October 20

October 20, 1983 – The Featurette Mickey’s Christmas Carol Premieres in England

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“Merry Christmas, Uncle Scrooge!”

On October 20, 1983, the special Mickey Mouse featurette Mickey’s Christmas Carol premiered in England. The featurette was Mickey’s first film appearance since the 1953’s short film The Simple Things. This British premiere had the featurette paired with a re-release of the animated feature film The Jungle Book. It was based on the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film. The short was written by Burny Mattinson, Tony L. Marino, Ed Gombert, Don Griffith, Alan Young, and Alan Dinehart; it was directed by Mattinson. The featurette starred Alan Young as Scrooge, Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse, Clarence Nash as Donald, Hal Smith as Goofy, Eddie Carroll as Jiminy Cricket, and Will Ryan as Willie the Giant and Pete.

October 19

October 19, 1955 – The Disney Anthology Episode “The Story of the Silly Symphony” Airs

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“Next week, Walt Disney brings you ‘The Story of the Silly Symphony.’”

On October 19, 1955, the episode of Disneyland entitled “The Story of the Silly Symphony” aired on ABC. The episode covered some of the more popular entries in the Silly Symphony line, including The Practical Pig, Three Orphan Kittens, Little Hiawatha, and The Old Mill, as well as the special short film Ferdinand the Bull. The episode was directed by Clyde Geronimi and written by Bill Peet. It is one of a select few episodes to cover the Silly Symphony line.

October 18

October 18, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice the Fire Fighter is Released to Theaters

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On October 18, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice the Fire Fighter was released to theaters. It was the 35th Alice Comedy produced, and starred Margie Gay as Alice.

The fire bell sounds as a large fire ravages a hotel downtown. Inside the fire station, the fire fighters are sound asleep, until the bell quickly gets them moving in droves. Everyone sets off, while the hotel is evacuated quickly, and Alice heads to the scene as the fire chief. The crew arrives in comedic fashion to find one person stuck at the top of the hotel. They are able to rescue those that are stuck, but find another problem with putting out the fire, as the hose isn’t long enough. Julius gets exhausted trying to put out the fire by the bucketful, and there is another person stuck in the burning building. Two firefighters attempt to catch him with a trampoline, but they miss. Alice hears the cry of another woman stuck on the top floor, but she is rescued by a fire fighter that falls in love with her.

October 16

October 16, 1923 – The Walt Disney Company Officially Starts

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“The first of this series, the title of which has been changed…is now in production and in all probability I will have this subject to you by December 15th.”

On October 16, 1923, the Walt Disney Company was officially started after Walt and Roy Disney signed a distribution contract with film distributor Margaret Winkler. The deal was for six Alice Comedies, priced at about $1,500 each (about $21,000 in 2015), plus six further comedies at $1,800 each (about $25,000 in 2015), as well as the option for two more series. Winkler, who had been interested in the Alice Comedies since seeing the then-unfinished short film Alice’s Wonderland, requested that the little girl in the short (Virginia Davis) be in the upcoming films; Walt was able to convince Davis’ parents to move the family to California from Kansas City. The signing of the contract has been named as the official start of the Disney we know and love today.

October 15

October 15, 1932 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Touchdown Mickey is Released to Theaters

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“Mickey made a touchdown! Oh, what a game, what a game!”

On October 15, 1932, the Mickey Mouse short film Touchdown Mickey was released to theaters. It was directed by Wilfred Jackson.

It’s a tough football game between Mickey’s Manglers and the Alley Cats, but Mickey manages to scramble across the field to score a touchdown with three minutes left in play. Mickey’s team is down by one touchdown, and the crowd is going wild for the action. Goofy is the radio announcer, though a bit unintelligible. The game stars up again, and the Alley Cats take the ball close to the goal posts, though it is so revealed that they are not above cheating. Luckily, one of Mickey’s players gets the ball and passes it off to Mickey, who manages to score again, thanks to the help of an unwitting Pluto. When the Manglers kick-off, Mickey stays attached to the ball, and makes a break for the goal. He ends up with his head stuck in a cleat, and runs the wrong way, but is quickly directed back the correct way. Though he manages to get far downt he field with help from his teammate, he soon loses the ball again, and nearly gets knocked out. The last few seconds are intense, but the Manglers are able to pull off a strong finish, with Mickey taking the ball from the hands of the Alley Cats after a series of mishaps, and take it in for the final touchdown. Mickey is hailed as a hero, and gives Minnie a kiss as he is carried on the crowd’s shoulders.

October 14

October 14, 1949 – The Donald Duck Short Film The Greener Yard is Released to Theaters

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“It was a paradise all right, just full of fancy foods.”

On October 14, 1949, the Donald Duck short film The Greener Yard was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Bill Berg and Milt Banta.

The story begins next to the yard of Donald Duck, where Bootle Beetle is preparing a meal for his son. His son is upset that they’re having beans again for dinner, and Bootle Beetle warns him that the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence. In Donald’s yard, Donald is feeding his birds, which Bootle Beetle calls a land of plenty – except for beetles. He then recalls a story from his youth when he travels to Donald’s yard to savor the foods in the garden. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize that Donald is coming to work in his garden, and is caught unawares. Donald tries to smash Bootle Beetle, but the beetle ends up escaping into the hose. Donald manages to get him out of the hose, but knocks himself out on a tree branch in the process. Donald rouses and chases him across the yard, as do the chickens, but the resourceful beetle manages to save himself from being eaten. Two birds run off with Bootle Beetle, and he manages to slip out of their grasp as they argue who will eat him. He falls into his home, and relays that there is no place like home. His son rushes to gratefully eat his beans, but when he hears the clucking of chicken, he looks up in surprise to find his father has stolen some watermelon from Donald’s yard for dessert.

October 8

October 8, 2010 – The Cars Toon Heavy Metal Mater Premieres on Television

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“Nah, I don’t want to steal the show.”

On October 8, 2010, the seventh Cars Toon Heavy Metal Mater premiered on the Disney Channel. The short was written by John Lasseter, Rob Gibbs, Matthew Luhn, Scott Morse, Kevin O’Brien, and Derek Thompson, and was directed by Lasseter and Gibbs.

The video begins with karaoke night at Flo’s, and Mater proceeds to tell Lightning McQueen about his time as a famous rock star. He started out in a band called Mater and the Gas-Caps, which began in a garage. They get their first gig at a truck stop, and when the waitresses fawn over them and ask if they have a record, they quickly rush to the studio to record one. The drummer swats at a fly during the session, hitting random drums and percussion instruments, and the band plays along, with the band soon becoming a heavy metal band called Heavy Metal Mater. Mater then changes the story to include McQueen, though McQueen isn’t convinced that it happened.

October 4

October 4, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice in the Wooly West is Released

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On October 4, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice in the Wooly West was released. It was the 34th Alice Comedy, and starred Margie Gay as Alice.

Julius is riding a horse in the old West, doing tricks with his lasso, when a stagecoach robbery passes by. Alice is thrown out of the stagecoach, and is cornered by one of the bandits. Julius watches from a nearby ledge when he and his horse decide to slide in and save the day. One of the bandits rides away with Alice, and Julius follows in hot pursuit. A fight ensues, even as the two fall off a tall rock formation, but Julius manages to confound the bandit by hiding amongst the rocks. Julius finally manages to subdue the robber and rescue a grateful Alice, who proclaims him her hero.