Runaway Brain
Entry updated 12 February 2024. Tagged: Film.
US animated short film (1995). Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios. Directed by Chris Bailey. Story by Tim Hauser. Voice cast includes Wayne Allwine, Jim Cummings, Kelsey Grammer and Russi Taylor. 8 minutes. Colour.
Mickey Mouse (Allwine), engrossed in a Snow White Videogame – the witch is about to despatch the final dwarf – denies he has forgotten this is the anniversary of his first date with Minnie (Taylor) and – spotting an ad for miniature golf – shows her the newspaper: unfortunately Minnie assumes he means the ad for a $999.99 Hawaiian cruise. Panicking because he cannot afford it, Mickey sees another ad declaring "Earn $999.99! For a mindless day's work inquire Dr Frankenollie 1313 Lobotomy Lane" and – noticing none of the red flags – rushes there.
On knocking a trapdoor opens: he falls into a forbidding underground laboratory and is locked into a chair. A well-spoken ape (see Apes as Human) – the Mad Scientist Dr Frankenollie (Grammer) – introduces Mickey to his creation, a giant Frankenstein Monster called Julius (Cummings) – resembling Mickey's frequent nemesis, Peg Leg Pete – and reveals he is going to put Mickey's brain in their body (see Identity Exchange). He operates the Technology: there are flashing lights, smoke, an explosion and it is done. Unfortunately the explosion was unplanned and has killed Dr Frankenollie: Mickey, now in Julius's body, sees Julius in his, which is now sharp-toothed and feral. On examining a photo of Minnie in his wallet, Julius as Mickey becomes excited and goes off to find her, with Mickey as Julius pursuing. The trio become involved in a chase through the City until Mickey and Julius fall on to some overhead cables, the electric shock swapping their brains back. Mickey then gets to be an action hero and captures Julius, using him to pull a dinghy containing the two lovers to Hawaii.
Initially accompanying A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995) in the USA and A Goofy Movie (1995) elsewhere, this is an entertaining animated short, with rabid Mickey the highlight. Disney was apparently unhappy about having the supposedly family-friendly Mickey involved with such Horror elements, though there had been early precedents – particularly The Mad Doctor (1933) (see The Walt Disney Company). [SP]
links
previous versions of this entry