Having recently watched Donald Duck be a Nazi in a propaganda film from World War II, I came to this film without knowing much but presuming it is probably something similar. Of course within seconds it is clear that this comparatively basic animation is nothing official and it is actually a protest film against the war in Vietnam, where the death of American youth is made incredibly obvious by essentially enlisting and killing that most American of popular culture characters – Mickey Mouse.
As a film it is effective in how simple it appears but yet how it ends. The looped animation on a few simple scenes lead to a death scene which is sudden and allows for a sudden shift of tone as we see the light fade from Mickey's eyes – it is strangely effective although it by all rights shouldn't be given how short and basic the film is. The lack of sound is distracting at first (I checked to see if my volume was muted – like many I imagine) but on thinking about it, I think the basics of it meant that sound would have dominated the visuals and it does work without sound.
It is a curio film and worth a look just to see it because it is quite simple and basic, however at the same time the very simple delivery and very simple point is surprisingly effective and the change to Mickey's face in that final shot is dramatic and memorable.
As a film it is effective in how simple it appears but yet how it ends. The looped animation on a few simple scenes lead to a death scene which is sudden and allows for a sudden shift of tone as we see the light fade from Mickey's eyes – it is strangely effective although it by all rights shouldn't be given how short and basic the film is. The lack of sound is distracting at first (I checked to see if my volume was muted – like many I imagine) but on thinking about it, I think the basics of it meant that sound would have dominated the visuals and it does work without sound.
It is a curio film and worth a look just to see it because it is quite simple and basic, however at the same time the very simple delivery and very simple point is surprisingly effective and the change to Mickey's face in that final shot is dramatic and memorable.