Disney's Mickey Mouse is a visual love letter to all things classic Disney. From the retro-inspired traditional animation of the show to the short yet familiar formula of its episodes, the series is stuffed to the gills with everything that made the original Disney cartoons great. But one thing that truly stands out is all the Easter eggs.
There are nods to past cartoons, theme park rides, and other pieces of Disney history, but the show goes to great lengths to throw in references to full feature films as well. From Snow White to The Lion King, the series knows how to pay respect to the masterpieces that came before.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Wish Upon a Coin)
Sometimes the fourth wall needs to go down with a wrecking ball. Right from the start, the short opens with the familiar image of Snow White scrubbing the stone stairs and humming the opening bars of "I'm Wishing." It's a pretty and soothing scene until Mickey and Minnie come splashing through. Even the dwarves manage to make their way into the short as Pete plunders pennies from Snow's wishing well.
Cinderella (Crossaint de Triomphe)
Along the same lines of the previous entry, this nod to another famous Disney Princess is large, looming, and instantly recognizable. In the first episode of the series, Mickey turns the sites and streets of Paris into his own X Games course on his mission to deliver bread to Minnie's Cafe.
Before he reaches his destination, he comes crashing through the window of a very familiar castle. Of course, Cinderella and her prince are both inside as Mickey sails by and spoils their fairytale moment.
Fantasia (Touchdown and Out/Hat’s Enough)
Credit is given where credit is due, and these shorts truly know how to be serious and silly at any given episode. For these two Fantasia references, viewers are treated to a bit of both. In "Touchdown and Out" Chernabog and his minions of Bald Mountain appear for a formidable football match. In the latter, Mickey goes through a comical montage of hats in search of his identity and, of course, stumbles upon his famous sorcerer hat.
Dumbo (New Shoes)
While Casey Jr. already made one appearance during the series, this one features more of the Dumbo cast. While Mickey, Donald, and Goofy swap bodies through means of some rather painful slapstick, Mickey decides to wield Goofy's large lanky form as a force for good.
Using his frame as a bridge for the oncoming train, viewers can see Casey Jr (with Casey Jones at the throttle), Dumbo and Timothy, and even those infamous crows in the caboose.
Make Mine Music (O Sole Minnie)
Music has the power to charm, entrance, and even win the hearts of fair maidens, and Chris Diamantopoulos has a seriously sweet set of pipes in his role as Mickey, but that's small potatoes compared to Willie the Operatic Whale from Disney's Make Mine Music. As Mickey prepares to belt out the big finish of "O Sole Mio," he's interrupted by the golden tones of the massive musical aquatic mammal.
Mary Poppins (One Man Band)
As much as the more blatant references have been discussed, there are those that fly low under the radar. The opening shot of "One Man Band" might seem like any park in the arms of old London, but those washed in the dye of Disney know it's location instantly.
The episode opens with a direct recreation of Mary Poppins's beginning scene, including Mickey dressed in Bert's one-man-band attire. Even the park where he plays is the exact same one featured in the famous film.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Wonders of the Deep)
On the other hand, there are those direct references that take up the entirety of an episode. Wonders of the Deep features Mickey, Donald, and Goofy embarking on an undersea voyage with Professor Von Drake and his take on the Nautilus. The episode is overflowing with references to the sci-fi classic. Even a scene with Goofy playing Captain Nemo's pipe organ and an encounter with the giant squid.
Beauty and the Beast (Adorable Couple)
Some of the best Easter eggs on the show are the full character cameos. While there have already been a handful mentioned so far, they've generally all been those from Walt's era. But what about something a little more modern?
While Mickey and Minnie take a grumpy Donald and Daisy dancing at a bandstand, the latter couple has a run-in with Belle and her Beast. It's a sweet nod... until Beast tries to take a bite out of Donald.
The Lion King (Safari So Good)
To get the elephant out of the room, the short in question was released within close proximity to Jon Favreau's Lion King remake. So, as obvious as the short's inspiration might be, it does feature a rather adorable scene with Mickey and Minnie in leaf manes cuddling up to a family of lions on what is a clear reference to Pride Rock. The design of the animal population might take more from vintage movies like Dumbo, but its true inspiration is clear as day.
The Black Cauldron (For Whom the Booth Tolls)
It's a very small detail, barely even the focus of the shot, but there was no possible way any Disney fan worth their salt missed it. While Mickey is looking under his seat for change for the toll booth, there is what appears to be a bootleg VHS of The Black Cauldron. Known as the film that nearly killed Disney animation, fans understand why the tape is hidden, and apparently, Mickey does too.