Day 6: Ghoulfy?
October 6, 2022
Dear Disney,
The 2013 Mickey Mouse cartoons are an enigma to me. They are, in some ways, darker in stylistic tone and color palette than the earlier versions. There is something about them that immediate resonates with me and also creates a dissonance within me. In Season 1 of Mickey Mouse there are a number of interesting shorts that try to place Mickey in differing locations than middle-America. Episode 10, “Ghoul Friend” does it exactly that, places Mickey Mouse in a location that you would not normally find him, a desolate and desiccating forest where a terror waits.
“Ghoul Fiend” begins with Mickey driving his car to an undisclosed location. Birds are chirping, blue cloudless sky, then suddenly his car stops. Sky is gone. Birds are gone. There is nothing but Mickey and his car, broken. Mickey attempts to fix that car, but the only tool he has is a comically too small wrench. He hears a noise behind him only to have large, yellow eyes stare back. The creature comes forward, and it’s only a squirrel. The squirrel is looking at Mickey and behind him when the squirrel gets frightened as well. Mickey turns around to see Zombie Goofy coming out of the forest. Mickey and Zombie Goofy chase each other through the woods. Finally, Zombie Goofy corners Mickey and it was all a misunderstanding as Zombie Goofy literally gives Mickey a hand, fixes the car, and they are both off again, this time to Fresh Peaches ahead.
The short was directed by Aaron Springer. The artwork is dark and gloomy. The first depiction of Zombie Goofy is nightmarish.
The body horror of Zombie Goofy is grotesque and amusing, with bones sticking out where bones should not be and the zombie ooze flowing out of differing orifices. The humorous antics between Zombie Goofy and Mickey are perfect. These antics are call-backs to the older slapstick shorts but are a little more modern in its silliness. The combination of everything makes my skin crawl and yet, I am smiling and enjoying watching this short.
Darling watched it with me and her reaction was one of stunned horror.
I am not sure that this specific episode was for me, but as a Halloween short, it touched on all the right things: spooky atmosphere, creepy characters, and relatively happy ending.
These 31 Days of Halloween have just started and I cannot wait to see what is left to offer.
Sincerely,
Jim Dear and Darling
