October 15th, 2020 
Michael Lyons 
Mickey Mouse. One of film’s most iconic animated characters. Instantly recognizable in his trademark yellow-buttoned-red shorts or any of his iconic roles: Steamboat Willie, The Sorcerers Apprentice, Bob Cratchit in Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Julius the Monster…wait…what?!?
Often forgotten and seldom discussed, Mickey did turn in one of his most daring performances as a wild-eyed, fang-toothed monstrous product of a mad scientist in Disney’s 1995 short subject, Runaway Brain. With this year marking the 25th anniversary of this short, coupled with the fact that it’s ideal viewing for Halloween Season, it’s the perfect time to look back at one of Mickey’s more frightfully funny outings.
In Runaway Brain Mickey (voiced by the late Wayne Allwine, who had provided the icon’s voice for 32 years) finds himself short of cash and looking for a way to take Minnie (Russi Edwards Taylor) on a Hawaiian vacation that will cost $999.99. Lo and behold, Mickey sees an ad in a newspaper for “mindless work,” that pays exactly $999.99 (he needs to report to “1313 Lobo-to-my lane,” as Mickey says, phonetically).
When Mickey reports for work, he finds himself at the laboratory of a mad scientists named Dr. Frankenollie (voiced by Kelsey Grammar) a bizzare, monkey-like creature with a light bulb affixed to the top of his head.
Like many a classic horror movie, the mad doctor has a plan to swap Mickey’s brain with that of his gigantic monster Julius (voiced by Jim Cummings and looking suspiciously like Pete).
What ensues is that brains are swapped with hulking Julius taking on the “that’s swell,” meek personality of Mickey and Mickey, now with Julius’ brain, transformed, as we’ve never seen him before: his familiar ears now shaggy, his eyes now wild and blood shot, fangs where his familiar grin once was. Monster Mickey also starts pursuing Minnie like King Kong going after Fay Wray.
From here, Mickey (now in Julius’ body) pursues the monster to save Minnie and reverse the “brain swap.”
Runaway Brain was released on August 11th, 1995 on a double bill with Disney’s live-action film, A Kid in King Arthur’s Court. It was also released two years later with the live-action “George of the Jungle.”
However, the short never truly got a major release. To say that Runaway Brain is unconventional is an understatement (Mickey is, after all, possessed) and the fact that it took many aback, may have caused the Studio to downplay the short’s release.
This hasn’t stopped Runaway Brain from becoming a cult hit and rightfully so. Although irreverent, the short is brilliantly crafted, as its moves at its breakneck pace.
Deftly directed by Chris Bailey, Runaway Brain balances Disney traditional with an endearing self-deprecating sense of humor. “Easter Eggs” (and “Hidden Mickeys”) abound in almost every corner of the film.
As it opens, Mickey is playing a “Mortal Kombat”-like video game, in which Dopey and the Old Hag from Snow White are hysterically going at each other using martial arts moves; When Mickey arrives at the Doctor’s house, it’s actually a duplicate shot from (of all movies!) The Exorcist; at one point, when photos fall out of Mickey’s wallet, the first is a black and white still from “Steamboat Willie,” to which Mickey responds, “Oh, that’s old”; the mad scientist’s name, Dr. Frankenollie, is a tribute to legendary Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, members of the famed “Nine Old Men,” a name given to the upper echelon of animators at the Studio.
Mickey in Runaway Brain is animated by the brilliant Andrea Deja, who was the perfect choice for this multi-personality of the character. Andreas was well versed in animating Disney’s biggest star, as he had done so in 1990’s The Prince and the Pauper. Additionally, he also knew the darker side of animation, bringing to the screen three of the Studio’s most famous villains: Gaston in 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, Jafar in 1992’s Aladdin and Scar in The Lion King (1994).
Runaway Brain was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short subject in 1996 (losing to the Wallace and Gromit short, A Close Shave), but it hasn’t been seen much since its debut twenty-five years ago.
Its one and only time on DVD was in 2005 as part of the Walt Disney Treasures Collection: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Vol. 2 and has also been available as a digital download, at times.
Ironically, Mickey in his monstrous form has been seen in different pieces of Disney Merchandise through the years and he has been featured, in this form, in compilations of the Studio’s villains.
Over the past two and a half decades, it’s been the die-hard devotees who have kept Runaway Brain resurfacing, particularly in “Hey, did you ever see?’ conversations.
It may not be remembered as one of his more famous moments, but Runaway Brain is definitely one of the cleverest short subjects to come out of the Disney Studio. And while Mickey Mouse may look and act completely different than he ever has before, even an icon is entitled to stretch his artistic wings…or in this case, ears.
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