The volume starts off with "Mickey and the Beanstalk." Originally, this cartoon aired as part of the animated movie, Fun and Fancy Free, but the version on the DVD is actually the 1991 version that is narrated by Ludwig Von Drake. This cartoon is the longest on the disc (clocking in at about 30 minutes) and features Mickey, Goofy and Donald re-creating the "Jack and the Beanstalk" fairytale. In this story, the land, which was once beautiful and lush, has gone dark and depressing ever since a shadow came on the land and took a magical harp. When our three heroes decide that they have to sell their last cow in order to survive, Mickey makes a trade for some magic beans. Of course, Donald is mad and throws the beans out. That night, a massive beanstalk grows, taking them and their house into the sky where they discover the land of a giant named Willie. Their adventures in the land lead to them finding the magical harp and trying everything in their power to bring her back home.
This cartoon did a great job of making a solid first impression. The soft, hand-drawn lines of "Mickey and the Beanstalk" look great and the overall feel of the cartoon made me very nostalgic. Thankfully, the rest of the cartoons did just as good a job.
The next cartoon was another classic from my childhood, "The Brave Little Tailor." This 1938 cartoon has Mickey boasting about swatting seven flies at once, but when his little town misunderstands and thinks he took out seven giants, they ask him to take care of an impending giant problem.
This toon is followed by the oldest in the collection with "Gulliver Mickey" from 1934. This is also the only black and white cartoon in this volume. Here, Mickey tells a portion of "Gulliver's Travels" to a pack of young mice. In his story, Mickey is washed ashore in a land where everyone is a lot smaller than him. At first, the land is scared of Mickey, but when they are attacked by a giant spider, he saves the day. Fans of Kingdom Hearts should find this cartoon especially pleasing since there is a level devoted to this cartoon.
Disney Animation Collection Volume 1 also contains the 1936 cartoon, "Thru the Mirror" which has Mickey falling asleep to a reading of "Alice Through the Looking Glass" and having his own adventure in that backwards world. Here he encounters living furniture, dancing gloves and a kingdom of playing cards. At first, everything seems cheerful, but when the King sees him dancing with the Queen (both cards, of course), the strange world attacks. I especially liked Mickey's Fred Astaire-type dance that he does with a pair of white gloves.
The collection ends with a cartoon that I hadn't previously seen, "Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip" (1940). Here, Mickey and Pluto try to take a train across country, but when they find out no dogs are allowed, Mickey sneaks him onto the train in a suitcase. But when the conductor shows up checking tickets, their cover is blown and a chase through the train ensues.
All five of Volume 1's cartoons are great and fun for the whole family. The soft, hand-drawn style really makes this collection worthwhile. While I like modern animation, there is just something about the classics. Maybe it goes back to the classic "Analogue versus Digital" argument, but quite frankly, these just feel better. Any Disney fan should jump at the chance to get this awesome collection.
