Protraph
Lack of good storyline.
SpecialsTarget
Disturbing yet enthralling
Sameer Callahan
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"The Mad Doctor" is a 7-minute Disney cartoon from 1933, so this one will have its 85th anniversary next year already and if you read this review past 2018, then it already did and to put it all into perspective this is from the year that Hitler came into power in Nazi Germany. That's how old it is. And while Disney made some propaganda films too, the mad doctor reference here is not yet connected to the Führer. The film is in black-and-white and it is one of the earlier Mickey cartoons and even earlier for Pluto, but not one of the very earliest for this famous duo. Pluto gets abducted by an evil doctor who has plans to create a creature half-dog half chicken. And Mickey is of course out to save his dog quickly, but not only does he have to deal with the mad doctor, there's also tricky doors, clingy skeletons and a lot more getting in the way of his mission. Is it really doable in 7 minutes? Watch for yourself. Or don't as early Mickey was not that great to be honest, at least not before the color cartoon era. Dream sequences also weren't really that new anymore, even in the 1930s. Here the action and comedy feel rather random and confusing. Sure it is a cartoon and a mix of creepy fantasy and horror, but realism is completely MIA here. I wasn't too entertained by this one. Yes I do like Mickey, but it's not his fault this one was underwhelming. Thumbs down. Don't watch.
TheLittleSongbird
This has to be one of the best Mickey-Pluto cartoons. It is quite dark for a Disney Silly Symphony, with some parts scaring me as a kid(such as Pluto's heart being at his throat). As a young adult I still enjoy it while admiring its technical values. The story is simple, but still manages to be engaging with a lot of suspense. The animation is just fantastic, the black/dark and white/light shades are some of the best I've seen, helping at times to give some depth to Mickey's design as he enters the Mad Doctor's castle. I also loved the animation for the catacombs, recalling Egyptian Melodies, and the skeletons that Mickey has a constant battle with, imaginatively animated and very expressive even for skeletons. Mickey has more depth animation-wise than he has ever had before and is as likable as ever, Pluto is cute and energetic and the Mad Scientist immediately makes an impact by how frightening he is. The gags are clever, the creatures are suitably creepy and the cartoon goes at a terrific pace. Overall, while some MAY find themselves cheated by the "it's all a dream" ending, this cartoon is an absolute must see for Disney and animation fans. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Cartoon King
"The Mad Doctor" was considered by many to be very dark for a Disney short. The character of the Mad Doctor is quite creepy himself, and him trying to kill Mickey with a saw truly shows his evilness. But I'm not saying all of this is bad. This is actually part of why I love this short so much.Now I am a HUGE fan of golden-age cartoon shorts. And of course, some of the best of these classic cartoons come from Disney. I truly think "The Mad Doctor" is one of the best Mickey Mouse cartoons. It's dark, spooky and kind of eerie, but that just adds to how great this short really is. It's in black and white of course, since color wasn't very common in 1933, but the animation in this short is fantastic. Like other classic Mickey shorts, this one has a very rubbery feel to the animation, and that was really cool. The animation is just done so perfectly in this short, I can't find a single fault in it.The plot of this short is about Pluto being captured by an evil doctor who plans to attach Pluto's head to the body of a chicken. Mickey goes to the scary castle to rescue Pluto.Even the story of this short is kind of dark. Still, Ithis was a great cartoon. Sure it may frighten small children, but at least it has a happy ending."The Mad Doctor" is one of the best classic Mickey Mouse cartoons. It's dark, spooky, eerie, and kind of creepy, but it has great animation, an original, well-written story, and is very fun and enjoyable to watch.Rating: 9/10 "Excellent"
Robert Reynolds
This is a fascinating cartoon-sort of a cross between Skeleton Dance and the much later Brave Little Tailor. A dramatic, rather scary short in spots, with some incredible visuals throughout, but most particularly a long scene set in a tunnel. Disney did some exceptional work in the early 1930s and the quality is still clearly evident even some 70 years later. There is apparently a computer-colorized version skulking about. I haven't seen it and, to judge by the colorized early Mickey Mouse black and whites that I have seen, I hope I never have it inflicted on my retinas. Part of the scariness here is the use of shadows in the black and white background. Colorizing this lessens the impact of those shadows. Excellent cartoon with an early appearance by Pluto. Well worth watching. Recommended.
