Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is an American interactive computer-animated preschool television series which was the first Mickey Mouse and computer-animated program for preschoolers. It aired from May 5, 2006, to November 6, 2016 on the Disney Channel.[1] Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series was created by Disney veteran Bobs Gannaway. 126 episodes were produced.[2]
| Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy Adventure Fantasy Preschool Educational |
| Based on | Mickey Mouse and Friends by Walt Disney Ub Iwerks |
| Developed by | Bobs Gannaway |
| Directed by | Bobs Gannaway |
| Voices of | Wayne Allwine Bret Iwan Tony Anselmo Russi Taylor Tress MacNeille Bill Farmer Will Ryan April Winchell Jim Cummings Dee Bradley Baker Frank Welker Rob Paulsen Corey Burton |
| Opening theme | "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme Song" sung by They Might Be Giants |
| Ending theme | "Hot Dog!" sung by They Might Be Giants |
| Composers | Mike Himelstein & Michael Turner (score) Michael Rubin (songs) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 126 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Bobs Gannaway (seasons 1-3) Rob LaDuca (seasons 2-4) |
| Running time | 21-49 minutes |
| Production company | Disney Television Animation[a] |
| Distributor | Disney–ABC Domestic Television[b] |
| Release | |
| Original network |
|
| Original release | May 5, 2006 – November 6, 2016 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures Mickey Mouse Funhouse |
| Related | Minnie's Bow-Toons |
Premise
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto interact with the viewer to stimulate problem solving during each episode's story.[3]
Once the problem of the episode has been explained, Mickey invites the viewers to join him at the Mousekedoer, a giant Mickey-head-shaped computer whose main function is to distribute the day's Mouseketools, a collection of objects needed to solve the day's problem, to Mickey.
One of them is a "Mystery Mouseketool" represented by a Question Mark, in which, when the words "Mystery Mouseketool" are said, the question mark changes into the Mouseketool the viewer gets to use. Another one is a "Mouseke-Think-About-It Tool" represented by a silhouette of Mickey's head with rotating gears, in which characters must think of what to use before telling the Tool "Mouseke-Think-About-It-Tool, we pick the (object)". Once the tools have been shown to Mickey on the Mousekedoer screen, they are quickly downloaded to Toodles, a small, Mickey-head-shaped flying extension of the Mousekedoer. By calling "Oh, Toodles!" Mickey summons him to pop up from where he is hiding and fly up to the screen so the viewer can pick which tool Mickey needs for the current situation.[4][5] Rhymes are used throughout the show. For example, in "Mickey's Silly Problem", when the "Silly switch" turned on, Mickey for some reason, spoke in rhymes for half of the episode.
The show features two original songs performed by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, including the opening theme song, in which a variant of a Mickey Mouse Club chant ("Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse!") is used to summon the Clubhouse. They Might Be Giants also perform the song used at the end of every episode, "Hot Dog!", which echoes Mickey's first spoken words in the 1929 short The Karnival Kid.[6]
This is the first time that the major Disney characters have regularly appeared on television in computer-animated form. The characters previously appeared in CG form in 2003 at the Magic Kingdom theme park attraction Mickey's PhilharMagic, and then appeared in the 2004 direct-to-video special Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas.
After the show ended in 2016, it was succeeded by Mickey and the Roadster Racers (later renamed Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures), which ran from 2017 to 2021, and Mickey Mouse Funhouse, which started in 2021.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
| Pilot | November 15, 2005 | N/A | |||
| 1 | 27 | May 5, 2006 | July 27, 2007 | Playhouse Disney | |
| 2 | 40 | January 26, 2008 | February 20, 2010 | ||
| 3 | 32 | 14 | February 27, 2010 | January 3, 2011 | |
| 18 | February 14, 2011 | September 28, 2012 | Disney Junior | ||
| 4 | 26 | November 5, 2012 | November 6, 2016 | ||
Characters
Main
- Mickey Mouse (voiced by Wayne Allwine in Seasons 1–3, and Bret Iwan in Season 4) is the optimistic and easy going leader of The Sensational Six. He is very patient and caring, especially towards his pet dog Pluto. He's self-aware, and somewhat puts on a Bugs Bunny-esque disposition. He is Minnie's boyfriend.
- Minnie Mouse (voiced by Russi Taylor) is Mickey Mouse's girlfriend. She is often prone to being put in over-the-top experiences.
- Goofy (voiced by Bill Farmer) is Mickey's dimwitted but well-meaning best friend. He is often prone to most of the slapstick presented in this series.
- Pluto (vocal effects provided by Bill Farmer) is Mickey's best pet dog. His arch-nemesis is Butch the Bulldog, whose owner is revealed to be Pete.
- Donald Duck (voiced by Tony Anselmo) is Mickey's short-tempered but good-natured best friend, and Daisy's boyfriend. He is often shown to display a short temper that is easily provoked.
- Daisy Duck (voiced by Tress MacNeille) is Donald's girlfriend who is prone to getting angered by his numerous antics.
- Toodles (voiced by Rob Paulsen in Seasons 3-4) is one of Mickey's equipment that he uses to present the items for every episode. He gains a face, a personality, a voice, and a love interest in Season 3.
Recurring
- Pete (voiced by Jim Cummings)
- Chip and Dale (voiced by Tress MacNeille and Corey Burton respectively)
- Ludwig Von Drake (voiced by Corey Burton)
- Clarabelle Cow (voiced by April Winchell)
- Willie the Giant (voiced by Will Ryan)
- Martian Mickey (voiced by Wayne Allwine and Bret Iwan)
- Martian Minnie (voiced by Russi Taylor)
- Quoodles (voiced by Russi Taylor)
- Goofbot (voiced by Bill Farmer)
- Santa Claus (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker)
- Mrs. Claus (voiced by Tress MacNeille)
- Baby Red Bird and Mommy Red Bird (vocal effects both provided by Tress MacNeille)
- Boo Boo Chicken and Coco the Monkey (vocal effects both provided by Dee Bradley Baker)
- Figaro, Butch the Bulldog, Mr. Pettibone, and Bella (vocal effects all provided by Frank Welker)
Guest appearances
- Mortimer Mouse (voiced by Maurice LaMarche)
- Captain Goof-Beard (voiced by Dick Van Dyke)
- Millie and Melody Mouse (voiced by Avalon Robbins and Grace Kaufman respectively)
- The Singing Lock (voiced by Nika Futterman)
- Count Mickula (voiced by Bret Iwan)
- Boodles (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz)
- Igor the Door (voiced by David Tennant)
- Cuckoo the Cuckoo Bird (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker)
- Goofles (voiced by Bill Farmer)
Production
Mickey Mouse was originally voiced by Wayne Allwine with Bret Iwan taking over the role following Allwine's death in 2009 (however, the final episode to feature Allwine as Mickey premiered posthumously on September 28, 2012). Bill Farmer, the voice actor for Goofy and Pluto, said in February 2014 that the recording of dialogue for new episodes has ceased, but that "it would be quite a while before the show runs out of new episodes for TV. We have been on the air consistently since 2006 and we started recording in 2004. So there is always a long lead-in time between recording and seeing it on TV. So don't worry more is still to come, we just are not making any more."[7]
Broadcast and release
Since the show has ended its run, reruns air on Disney Junior and the show is also on Disney+
Home media
| Title | Season(s) | Episode count | Release date | Episodes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Saves Santa and Other Mouseketales | 1 | 3 | November 14, 2006 | Episode 03 ("Goofy's Bird"), 10 ("Mickey-Go-Seek"), and 20 ("Mickey Saves Santa") | |
| Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt | 1 | 2 | March 20, 2007 | 24 ("Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt") and 27 ("Donald's Hiccups") | |
| Mickey's Treat | 1 | 4 | August 28, 2007 | 18 ("Mickey's Treat"), 21 ("Goofy the Great"), 25 ("Doctor Daisy, M.D."), and A Little Einsteins Halloween | |
| Mickey's Storybook Surprises | 1, 2 | 4 | September 2, 2008 | Episode 07 ("Donald the Frog Prince"), 18 ("Minnie Red Riding Hood"), 19 ("Sleeping Minnie"), and 50 ("Minnie's Mystery") | |
| Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland | 1, 2 | 5 | September 8, 2009 | Episode 64 "Goofy Goes Goofy"), and 65 ("Mickey's Adventures In Wonderland") | |
| Mickey's Big Splash[8] | 1, 2 | 4 | May 5, 2009 | Episode 06 ("Mickey Goes Fishing"), 43 ("Pluto's Bubble Bath"), 57 ("Pete's Beach Blanket Luau") and 58 ("Donald's Ducks") | |
| Choo-Choo Express[9] | 2 | 2 | December 1, 2009 | 41 ("Mickey's Big Job") and 60 ("Choo-Choo Express") | |
| Minnie's Bow-Tique | 2, 3 | 4 | February 9, 2010 | 32 ("Minnie's Picnic"), 61 ("Minnie's Bee Story"), 75 ("Minnie's Pajama Party"), and 83 ("Minnie's Bow-Tique") | |
| Road Rally | 1-3 | 5 | September 7, 2010 | 76 ("Road Rally"), and 82 ("Pluto Lends A Paw") | |
| Numbers Round-Up | 1–3 | 5 | November 16, 2010 | Episode 01 ("Daisy Bo-Peep"), 42 ("Mickey's Round-Up"), 67 ("Mickey's Big Surprise"), 70 ("Super Goof's Super Puzzle") and 87 ("Mickey's Show and Tell") | |
| Minnie's Masquerade | 1–3 | 5 | February 8, 2011 | Episode 02 ("A Surprise For Minnie"),Episode 47 ("Secret Spy Daisy"), 55 ("The Friendship Team"), 81 ("Minnie's Mouseke-Calendar") and 84 ("Minnie's Masquerade") | |
| Mickey's Great Outdoors | 1–3 | 5 | May 24, 2011 | 14, "Daisy in the Sky"), 38 ("Mickey and Minnie's Jungle Safari"), 39 ("Mickey's Camp Out"), 78 ("Daisy's Grasshopper") and 88 ("Mickey's Fishy Story") | |
| Space Adventure | 1-3 | 5 | November 8, 2011 | 89 ("Space Adventure"), and 94 ("Goofy's Thinking Cap") | |
| I Heart Minnie | 1–3 | 5 | February 7, 2012 | 8 ("Minnie's Birthday"), Episode 11 ("Daisy's Dance"), 40 ("Daisy's Pet Project"), 53 ("Minnie's Rainbow") and 95 ("Minnie and Daisy's Flower Shower") | |
| Mickey and Donald Have a Farm | 1–4 | 5 | December 11, 2012 | 23 ("Goofy's Petting Zoo"), 29 ("Goofy the Homemaker"), 52 ("Clarabelle's Clubhouse Mooo-sical"), 98 ("Donald Hatches an Egg") and 100 ("Mickey and Donald Have A Farm") | |
| Minnie's the Wizard of Dizz | 3, 4 | 4 | August 13, 2013 | 91 ("Goofy's Gone"), 99 ("The Golden Boo Boo") and 104 ("Minnie's the Wizard of Dizz") | |
| Quest for the Crystal Mickey | 2–4 | 5 | May 21, 2013 | 59 ("Goofy's Coconutty Monkey"), 71 ("Donald of the Desert"), 77 ("Donald the Genie"), 85 ("Goofy's Giant Adventure") and 101 ("Quest For the Crystal Mickey") | |
| Super Adventure! | 3, 4 | 4 | December 3, 2013 | 79 ("Mickey's Mousekersize"), 80 ("Mickey's Little Parade"), 97 ("Aye, Aye, Captain Mickey") and 105 ("Super Adventure") | |
| Around the Clubhouse World | 1–4 | 5 | February 11, 2014 | 5 ("Donald and the Beanstalk"), 9 ("Goofy on Mars"), 30 ("Mickey's Handy Helpers"), 74 ("Pluto's Dinosaur Romp") and 115 ("Around the Clubhouse World") | |
| Disney Junior Holiday | 1 | 1 | October 23, 2018 | 20 ("Mickey Saves Santa") | |
Reception
Critical reception
Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times compared the television series to Wonder Pets!, saying that "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is simpler, and sometimes less is more," writing, "For much of his television career, the mouse was more a master of ceremonies than a comic lead. Now he has been whittled down to a Mister Rogers role — kindly and didactic."[10] Stuart Heritage of The Guardian included Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in their "Best shows to watch on Disney+" list, stating that preschoolers will respond enthusiastically and accept eagerly the show, compared to older children and adult who are likely to have no interest.[11] Charles Curtis of USA Today ranked the television series 9th in their "20 best shows for kids right now" list, asserting, "Whether it's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey and the Roadster Racers or Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures, they're all good."[12] Larisa Wiseman of Common Sense Media rated the show a 4 out of 5 stars, complimented the educational value, saying the series teaches early mathematics skills, and praised the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing, teamwork, positive interactions, and encouragement of social interactions.[13]
David Perlmutter in The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows says that the show "was yet another case of vintage cartoon characters embarrassing themselves for the enjoyment of preschoolers in a heavily dumbed-down format. While it demonstrated the wide appeal of the Disney brand, it also indicated that this brand could be compromised as any other could through association with an inferior product."[1]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Production for Children | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Nominated | [14] |
| 2011 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series | Nominated | [15][16] | |
| Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Bill Farmer
| Nominated | [15][16] | ||
| Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | Mike Himelstein Michael Turner | Nominated | [15][16] | ||
| 2012 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Production - Preschool | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Nominated | [17] |
| 2013 | iKids Awards | Best Web/App Series | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
| Won | [18] |
| 2013 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational | Bret Iwan, Tony Anselmo, Bill Farmer, Russi Taylor, Tress MacNeille, Jim Cummings, Corey Burton, April, Winchell, Dee Bradley Baker, Will Ryan | Won | [19] |
| 2014 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational | Nominated | [20] | |
| Best Female Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Children's/Educational | Russi Taylor
| Nominated | [20] | ||
April Winchell
| Nominated | [20] | |||
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Children's/Educational | Bill Farmer
| Nominated | [20] | ||
Tony Anselmo
| Nominated | [20] | |||
| 2015 | Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Dick Van Dyke
| Nominated | [21][22] |
Spin-off
Minnie's Bow-Toons
Minnie's Bow-Toons is a spin-off series which premiered in the fall of 2011 and concluded in 2016. It aired in the daytime Disney Junior programming block for younger audiences. It is based on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode "Minnie's Bow-tique" and depicts Minnie's continuing adventures in business as proprietor of her own store which makes and sells bows for apparel and interior decoration with her friend Daisy. She interacts with many of the characters seen in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse series. The show has been revived with new episodes starting April 2021, renamed to Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Party Palace Pals, with the animation style of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’s successor, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures.
Notes
References
- ^ a b Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 387–389. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 192. ISBN 9781476672939.
- ^ "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - TV Review".
- ^ . Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
- ^ . Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (August 16, 2019). "Disney Junior's Mickey Mouse Series Gets New Title, Updated "Hot Dog!" Theme Song for Season 3 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ Mike Gencarelli (February 9, 2014). "Disney Legend, Bill Farmer talks about voicing Goofy and new Disney Junior series "The 7D"". Media Mikes. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ . Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ . Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ^ Stanley, Alessandra (May 5, 2006). "For Today's Preschooler, a Slick New Mickey Mouse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "From Mickey Mouse to the Simpsons: the best shows to watch on Disney+". the Guardian. March 24, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "The 20 best shows for kids right now (March 2020)". For The Win. March 27, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse TV Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "Annie Awards (2010)". IMDb. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c "'General Hospital' Is No. 1 in Daytime Emmy Award Nominations With 21 | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. May 11, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE 38th ANNUAL DAYTIME ENTERTAINMENT EMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS, WAYNE BRADY TO HOST THE LIVE TELECAST | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "Annie Awards (2012)". IMDb. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "Winner of inaugural iKids Awards announced". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "2013 BTVA Voice Acting Awards". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "2014 BTVA Voice Acting Awards". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards (2015)". IMDb. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at IMDb
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at The Big Cartoon DataBase