Runaway Brain
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| Runaway Brain Mickey Mouse series |
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 Poster |
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| Directed by | Chris Bailey |
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| Produced by | Ron Tippe |
| Story by | Tim Hauser |
| Voices by | Wayne Allwine Russi Taylor Bill Farmer Jim Cummings Kelsey Grammer |
| Music by | John Debney |
| Animation by | Gary Dunn Deboissy Sylvain |
| Studio | Walt Disney Animation France |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
| Release date(s) |  August 11, 1995 |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 7 min |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | The Prince and the Pauper (1990) |
Runaway Brain is an Academy Award nominated 7-minute animated short-subject produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation Paris, and starring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. It was released on August 11, 1995 attached to the feature A Kid in King Arthur's Court and was re-released on July 16, 1997 in front of Disney's live-action remake of George of the Jungle. In international theaters, it was shown preceding A Goofy Movie. The short, according to Leonard Maltin, was inspired by the 1933 Mickey Mouse short The Mad Doctor.[citation needed]
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[edit] Plot
In the cartoon, Mickey is hooked on a video game based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when Minnie arrives to find that Mickey forgot their dating anniversary. Mickey comes up with a last-minute idea to take her to a miniature golf course. Showing her a newspaper, Minnie misinterprets and thinks Mickey is taking her to Hawaii, a trip that would cost $999.99. An excited Minnie skips out the door before Mickey can set her straight, causing Mickey to worry about how to earn so much money. Pluto shows his master the "help wanted" ads, and Mickey finds an ad for work with a Dr. Frankenollie (an inside joke reference to Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, while also referring to Frankenstein) for a day of "mindless work" that would instantly give him $999.99.
Mickey goes to the home of the simian Dr. Frankenollie (played by Kelsey Grammer of Frasier fame, also known for Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons). When he knocks the door, Mickey gets sucked downward through a trap door into Frankenollie's laboratory, where Frankenollie plans to switch Mickey's brain with that of his monster, Julius (portrayed by perennial nemesis Black Pete). Although Dr. Frankenollie's body is destroyed in the experiment, the brain transfer is a success, with Mickey's mind ending up in Julius' giant body, and Julius finding himself in control of Mickey's body.
The dimwitted and insane Julius finds Mickey's wallet in his pocket and, finding a photo of Minnie, is instantly smitten with her. He escapes the laboratory on a hunt for Minnie, whom he finds shopping for a bathing suit. When the real Mickey (in Julius' body) shows up to save his girlfriend, Minnie screams for help and runs until Mickey convinces her of who he is. Julius continues to pursue Minnie, leading to an epic battle between the two of them ("Go get em, Mickey," cheers Minnie. "Rip his ears off!").
During the course of their battle, Julius and Mickey fall onto electric wires, which cause their minds to transfer back to their correct bodies. Although Julius is more of a threat than ever now that he is again in control of his own monstrous body, Mickey manages to subdue him and save Minnie. Julius falls from the tall building with a bungee rope, which then winds itself up and down like a yo-yo.
The closing scene of the film finds Mickey and Minnie on their way to Hawaii, with Julius providing the horsepower for their inner tube as he swims towards the same photo Mickey had in his wallet that Julius saw before.
[edit] Trivia
- At the beginning of the short Mickey is shown playing a Mortal Kombat themed Snow White fighting game.
- Mickey has a picture of himself from Steamboat Willie in his wallet to which he comments "Oh, that's old."
- Julius bears some representation to Pete and has a metal leg which may refer to Peg Leg Pete. He is also voiced by Jim Cummings
- Mickey whistles the song from Steamboat Willie when waiting at the door. The song is also heard during the credits.
- Doctor Frankenollie is an in-joke to the legendary Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.
- When Minnie turns Mickey's TV off you can hear a Wilhelm scream.
- In two shots of the short, the hornbill Zazu from The Lion King can be seen: once when the trapdoor at Dr. Frankenollie's office opens and again when Julius roars.
- Mickey's arrival at Dr. Frankenollie's lab bears a striking resemblance to the movie poster of The Exorcist (film)
[edit] Home video
The short was released on DVD in the Walt Disney Treasures collection Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Vol. 2.
