Such a jarring experience from a Disney short. The Mad Doctor is such a departure from the fun and easy-going Disney vibe. It´s genuinely scary at times and the added comedy feels nearly surreal and out of place for a short like this. But it´s masterfully done no doubt. From the beautiful animation to the incredible score, The Mad Doctor is a most see experience.
In the middle of the night Pluto is kidnapped by a mad doctor, it´s up to Mickey to save his dog.
The animation is so beautiful and stunning. Everything looks so incredible, and the backgrounds and skeletons looks incredible. The backgrounds are no doubt the highlight. The castle both inside and outside is drawn incredibly and the shadows and attention to details look incredible. Every aspect of the animation is incredible in my eyes.
The score also helps. It´s so scary and atmospheric and that is what this short is, atmospheric. It hits that creepy vibe perfectly and this Disney short is actually creepy.
This is a sick plot and so not Disney. It feels like an alternate timeline somehow where Disney went down a darker path. I know Disney himself didn't make it or liked this, but the fact they got this made feels insane. The atmosphere and vibe are just so creepy, and you feel bad for both Pluto and Mickey here. The stakes feel high.
I felt like the ending was a bit too safe, but I get why they went down that route. I also feel the humor nearly fells too much in the short and out of place somehow. While it works, I more so felt the creepy factor here and that it should be the essence of the short.
The Mad Doctor is incredible. While there are a few aspects I didn't like or vibed with me it´s still an incredible experience. The animation at display is incredible, the atmosphere spot on, the creepy factor dialed up, it´s a sight to be seen.
