Disney, snowed in at the House of Mouse, releases on DVD today *** 3 Stars
By Gabrielle Pantera

Disney Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 11/3/2009 – “When people laugh at Mickey Mouse, it’s because he’s so human,” said Mickey Mouse creator and original voice Walt Disney. “That’s the secret of his popularity. We wanted something appealing, and we thought of a tiny bit of a mouse that would have something of the wistfulness of Chaplin, a little fellow trying to do the best he could. I think we are rather indebted to Charlie Chaplin for the idea.”

Disney Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse presents Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and their animated friends. When they get snowed in, they learn the true meaning of Christmas. Originally debuted in 2001, this hour-length adventure stars more than 35 Disney characters including Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Bambi, Dumbo and The Lion King.

Mickey Mouse might never have been created but for the competitiveness of Charles Mintz at Universal Studios. Disney asked for a larger budget for his popular Oswald the Lucky Rabbit animated series. Mintz reacted by hiring the bulk of Disney’s staff away from him. Mintz told Disney if he wanted to keep working he could go on his payroll, for less money. Since Mintz owned Oswald, what could Disney do? What Disney did was create a replacement character: Mickey Mouse.

The Walt Disney Company released Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928. Walt Disney would be the voice of both Mickey and Minnie. Disney first conceived of Mickey as being named Mortimer Mouse. However, a five-year-old Mickey Rooney met cartoonist Walt Disney while working at the Warner Brothers studio. Disney liked the name Mickey and the famous mouse character would be named Mickey Mouse.

Disney’s first Mickey Mouse film, Plane Crazy, was a flop. At the time of Steamboat Willie’s release, sound was a sensation sweeping theaters. The Jazz Singer released a year earlier on October 6, 1927. By the time Steamboat Willie released, most United States movie theaters had installed sound, and Steamboat Willie was the first cartoon with synchronized sound. Other cartoon studios were still producing silent pictures and unable to compete with Disney.

In 2006, ABC Disney traded sportscaster Al Michaels to NBC Universal ESPN in exchange for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald is to be a major character in the Disney Wii video game codenamed Epic Mickey to be released in 2010.

Disney Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse has Mickey, Goofy, and Donald running a nightclub for an audience of Disney characters. There are songs, skits, sight gags and cartoons. Donald is in a humbug mood, and Mickey wants his friend to have a Merry Christmas along with everyone else. Donald is great as a reluctant Mouse King in the Nutcracker. He’s even got on Mickey ears. John Cleese is the narrator.

Mickey’s Magical Christmas is great for youngsters. It will keep them amused on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.

Bonus Features include an episode from the animated series House of Mouse, The Sounds of Christmas, and a special version of Twas the NightBefore Christmas. In Sounds of Christmas kids discover the secrets of movie sound effects with a Disney sound effects artist. There are also the sing-along songs Deck the Halls and Sleigh Ride.

Disney Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

DVD Release: November 3, 2009

Cost: USA $26.99, Canada $29.99

Rated: US: Not rated, Canada: rated G

Total episode run time: 65 minutes

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Languages: English, Spanish, French