Executive producer Rob LaDuca has wanted to bring back the much-loved “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” for years, and this summer, he finally got his wish.
After a 10-year hiatus, the show is back every Friday on Disney Jr. and Disney+ in its new incarnation as “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+.”
After working on shows like “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” and “Mickey and the Roadster Racers,” LaDuca, with a career spanning four decades, was wondering if it was time to retire. But then he got a call asking if he wanted to do more clubhouse, and LaDuca was back in business.
Here, LaDuca spoke about honoring Mickey’s legacy and why Walt Disney’s mouse is so beloved.
What was important in honoring the legacy of Mickey and friends?
We kept it to a very select world in the clubhouse of who Mickey surrounded himself with in the early cartoons. Donald, Daisy and Clarabelle Cow would make an appearance. Goofy was always there. It was the same group of friends.
Originally, they wanted to do the show in CG, but I was trying to convince them not to. There were certain things, like Mickey’s ears. In a 3D world, his ears look like satellite dishes on his head. So we had to figure out a computer program to slide his ears as he turned. There were a lot of challenges, but they turned out to be fun. Now we have the freedom to do textures, color and shadowing, and the world looks much more beautiful in this version of the show.
Another factor that stands out in the show is the songs. By the second verse, the lyrics have become earworms. What is the secret to that?
I’d have to ask our composer, Mike Himelstein, who did our music in the original show. He gladly came back, and we always worked well together. A lot of it came from what I loved to dance to. When I was a little kid, it was early rock and roll, or boogie-woogie.
Kids seem to have very little attention span, but the episodes run for 22 minutes. How are you considering that when you’re putting episodes together?
I thought with a 22-minute show for two-to five-year-olds, we definitely have to keep them focused. It was about being a little bit dramatic, and there’s a problem that we need your help to solve. It was mostly because Mickey was talking to the audience. We’re asking for help in an adventure, and it empowered the kids to be involved. The friends also have very distinct personalities. Mickey’s the good guy, and he’s everybody’s friend. Minnie is totally adorable, and Goofy is just a big goof. He’s slipping on things, and he says, “Whoops.” I think they enjoy all the personalities.
You mentioned animating Mickey’s ears. What other conversations are you having with the team about animating this world?
The characters are squashy and stretchy like they were in the old days. Advances in computer animation and rendering are huge. We can do so much more expression on the characters. Ludwig Von Drake was always a little stiff in the past, now, he is very animated and a lot of fun.
This time, we added a second level. There’s the laughing loft and the wacky tubes. Mickey, Minnie and Daisy can go up very easily. The wacky tube doesn’t really care for Donald and knows that Donald gets frustrated. So it’s fun to get him riled up, which I’ve noticed a lot of kids laughing at.
You’re also making 2-minute shorts on YouTube. What are the challenges of that storytelling medium?
You’re condensing this world into a two-minute video, which is how, sadly, a lot of older kids consume content. So, half of them are songs, and that’s easy, but the funny stuff is also happening within the song, and that keeps kids entertained. With others, we limit to a simple story, have a problem that Mickey helps with. Fun is the ultimate goal.
What would you say is the reason for this love? Why do people love Mickey Mouse and friends after all these years?
Everybody wants a good friend, and that’s what Mickey is. He’s sympathetic, helpful and always there for you when you need him. He’s just that kind of character. I think it’s just human nature that you want someone in your life to rely on and to, you know, who’s going to be dependable?
This interview was edited and condensed.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ is airing every Friday on Disney Jr. and Disney+
