"A Mickey Mouse Cartoon"

Release Date July 21, 1939

Running Time 8:34

Synopsis

Pluto becomes a hunting dog, learning how to point for Mickey.

Characters

Mickey Mouse

Pluto

Credits

Director : Clyde Geronomi

Animation

Fred Moore

Ollie Johnston

Preston Blair

Lester Novros

John Lounsberry

Claude Smith

Art Palmer

Josh Meador

Frank Thomas

Lynn Karp

Seamus Culhane

Videos

United States

Cartoon Classics : First Series : Volume 2 : Pluto

Germany

Happy Birthday Pluto!

Mickeys Größte Show

Happy Birthday Mickey

Italy

Le Avventure di Caccia del Prof. de Paperis

Cani e Simpatia

Video Parade 6

Laserdisc

United States

Pluto

Japan

The Hunting Instinct

Mickey's Golden Jubilee

DVD

United States

Disney Treasures : Mickey Mouse in Living Color : Volume 2

Walt Disney's Funny Factory with Mickey

Television

The Ink and Paint Club : #2 : Mickey Landmarks

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Technicolor

Animation type : Standard

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ration : 1.37 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematographic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Released by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Comments

Most critics consider this short to be a milestone in the evolution of Mickey Mouse. Although Fred Moore (long considered the "Mickey expert") tried to do something new with Mickey in every short, "The Pointer" is where it all came together into a more modern Mickey. The "acting" as well, especially in the scene showing the showdown with the bear, is considered to be Mickey's finest to date.

From Tom Wilkins : I am only 27 and still can't believe that I first saw this cartoon in a movie theatre, paired with 1938's Ferdinand The Bull. Unfortunately I did not recall the full-length feature I saw after that. But still, this is one of the finer hunting movies ever made, circulating around Pluto's frozen stature. The birds certainly loved playing basketball with Pluto's eyelids. Mickey is his classic self trying to divert the bear from ending his short 11 year career, but as usual they escape. No "beans" about it, this cartoon sure gets its "points" across.

From Brad Bethel : The Pointer was a rather interesting cartoon for Mickey Mouse. Not because of the humor, but because of the realistic artwork. I'm totally unsure how Walt Disney, even as far back as the late 1930's and without modern computer technology was able to make his cartoons look so beautiful. A method like this was used in his first three animated features, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Pinocchio, and Fantasia. The Pointer also marked one of the earliest versions of the Mickey Mouse of today. Other than the artwork, the story was well presented, and both Mickey and Pluto learned a lot on their hunting adventure. With the United States' cultural aspects of today going down in flames, society could use more cartoons like these, especially from Disney.

From Ryan : This short, aside from being a turning point of Mickey's appearance, has some high quality animation. As an artist myself, I just love how the forest has been painted. If I had been around when this short was produced, Disney could have hired me to paint the background scenes. I also noticed that the animals in this short looked like the ones that were in the movie "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves."

From Trae Robinson : The animation is very brilliant in this short. This is the first time Mickey has human eyes. "Society Dog Show" was the last short to feature Mickey's dot eyes.

From Baruch Weiss : Yes this is definitely a turning point in Mickey's appearance. As Ryan mentioned the forest creatures look like the ones in "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs". The Bear also looked like the one from "Good Scouts", "Little Hiawatha" and "Donald's Vacation"!

Original Animator's Drafts

Gallery

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