'... then I am Mickey Mouse.'

Thanks to Boing for mentioning this EXCELLENT re-visioning of Mickey Mouse. It has been a long time since Disney made anything exciting with their 'flagship character'. As evidenced in this video a face-lift is in order.


I am really amazed by this creation, not by how new and relevant Mickey can look with a little vision, but rather I am giddily impressed by how well Matthew Cruickshank recreated the joy and pleasure I used to have as a child watching Mickey Mouse, or really any other classic and great cartoon.

Cruickshank's safe and fascinating realm delights me. It is rare that media creations takes a healthfully optimistic and curious look at a world (either this world or a fictional space) .

In this video Cruickshank animates a world where there are no negative consequences to curiosity. Take that chance, it says, and if you fall down that cliff, get up and keep looking, keep exploring.

This encouragement is essential to childhood development, and therefore it should be a HIGH priority for programing aimed at kids. I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for shows like Sesame Street, Mr.Rogers, and especially Reading Rainbow. 'Neo-Mickey' takes the visually exciting world of the Teletubies and elevates it this pantheon.

The levity in Cruickshank's 'Neo-Mickey' amplifies the joy of curiosity and investigation that is so often thwarted by an un-sympathetic 'adult' public; likely similar to the way that Disney will thrawt this project. Shame.