Plane Crazy

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For the game, see Plane Crazy (computer game)

For the Disney Afternoon-based stage show, see Plane Crazy (stage show).

Plane Crazy (1928) (first released on May 15, 1928) was the first animated cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse as well as Minnie Mouse (Mickey's girlfriend). A soundtrack was added to the cartoon on December 29, 1928. Plane Crazy was followed by The Gallopin' Gaucho and Steamboat Willie.

The short was co-directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Iwerks was also the main animator for this short and reportedly spent six weeks working on it. Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising were credited for assisting him; these two had already signed their contracts with Charles Mintz, but he was still in the process of forming his new studio and so for the time being they were still employed by Disney. This short would be the last they animated under this somewhat awkward situation.

Synopsis

The plot of Plane Crazy is fairly simple. Mickey was apparently trying to become an aviator in emulation of Charles Lindbergh. After building his own aircraft, he proceeds to ask Minnie to join him for its first flight, during which he repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempts to kiss her, eventually resorting to force. Minnie then parachutes out of the plane. While distracted by her, Mickey loses control of the plane. This becomes the beginning of an out-of-control flight that results in a series of humorous situations and eventually in the crash-landing of the aircraft. A non-anthropomorphic cow briefly becomes a passenger in the aircraft. Some believe this to be Clarabelle Cow making her debut, a claim also supported by the Kingdom Hearts series, though the cow is actually an early predecessor of Clarabelle named Carolyn.

Mickey as portrayed in Plane Crazy was mischievous, amorous, and has often been described as a rogue. Modern audiences have occasionally commented on this version of Mickey as being somewhat more complex and consequently more interesting than his later self. At the time of its first release, however, Plane Crazy apparently failed to impress audiences unlike the first Mickey Mouse cartoon Steamboat Willie. Though understandably disappointed, Disney went on to produce more Mickey cartoons.

This was the first animated film to use a camera move. The POV shot from the plane made it appear as if the camera was tracking into the ground. In fact, when they shot this scene, they piled books under the spinning background to move the artwork closer to the camera.

Trivia

In a cartoon shown on the House of Mouse series, Mickey purchases a plane to impress Minnie. She is worried and recalls that he isn't good with planes. The short is probably a reference to Plane Crazy.
The ToonPlane in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the same plane as in this cartoon short.
Felix the Cat is seen in this short. When the plane crashes into several animals, it shows Felix driving a car and he is hit.

External links

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Last updated on Tuesday February 26, 2008 at 15:42:58 PST (GMT -0800)
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