When we think of Disney, Mickey is usually the first character that comes to mind, his silhouette being the legendary studio’s mascot. And when we think of the mouse in question, we think of this adorable character who rocked our childhood and who has nothing evil and yet…
As the Polygon and Fortress of Solitude sites remind us, there is indeed a version of Mickey that can shock regulars: in the dark short film Mickey Loses His Mind from 1995, the latter is transformed into a monster after a lobotomy!
The 7-minute short follows Mickey as he attempts to earn enough money to be able to treat Minnie to an expensive cruise: a promise accidentally made after he forgets their anniversary. The means by which he attempts to obtain the money are controversial, however, and he ends up immediately regretting his decision. He unwittingly enlists himself as a test subject for a mad scientist’s monstrous experiment who swaps his brain with that of a Frankenstein-type monster.
Mickey loses his mind is the first short film centered on the character that was shown in theaters. Created to attract new spectators, it was also supposed to be screened just before 101 Dalmatians but this idea was very quickly abandoned and it was ordered to replace the short film with trailers for upcoming Disney projects. However, some cinemas did not receive the message in time and ended up showing it anyway.
Nominated for an Oscar, the short film, although modern, strange and funny, was completely abandoned after losing the award to Wallace & Gromit: Clean Shaven. Its director even left the studio due to the film’s poor perception.
Fortunately for the fans and unfortunately for the studio which is still trying to hide it, you can see the film in the video that accompanies this article!