Fishin' Around: A Quick Dip into Classic Disney Silliness

"Fishin' Around" is definitely one of those old Disney shorts that just kinda hits a certain nostalgic spot, if you're into that sort of thing. If you grew up on classic animation or just like seeing how early Mickey and Pluto looked, then yeah, give it a watch, it's short! But if you're looking for something with a big message or super modern pacing, you'll probably just wonder what the fuss is about. 🤷‍♀️

Mickey and Pluto head out, all excited for a day on the lake. Pluto's tail is just going wild, thumping against the boat. You can tell he's ready for some serious fish-catching action.

But then, things don't quite go as planned. The fish in this lake? They are not playing fair. They're actually little troublemakers, more like tiny delinquents.

They literally peek out of the water, making faces at Pluto. Like, seriously? Who knew fish could be so cheeky and have such distinct personalities?

And then they go for the bait can. Not just one, but a whole school of them, swarming it. It’s a proper little heist, really! They just yank it right off.

Mickey, meanwhile, seems a bit too relaxed about the "no fishing" sign clearly posted. You know, those things are usually there for a reason, right?

It’s almost like he *wants* to get into trouble. Or maybe he just really, really wanted some fish for dinner, consequences be darned.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Fishin' Around (1931) through its definitive frames.

The game warden showing up felt a bit inevitable, didn't it? Like, okay, here we go. 👮‍♂️ You can practically see it coming a mile away.

The chase that follows is pretty standard cartoon fare. Lots of frantic paddling from Mickey, while Pluto mostly just looks bewildered. Some classic Disney sight gags are sprinkled in.

It’s not trying to be anything deep. It's just a quick little escapade, a silly moment in time. A snapshot of what made early animation tick.

What struck me was how much personality the fish had, even without speaking. Their expressions were truly priceless, very human-like almost.

Pluto's exasperation is really the heart of it. You feel for the poor dog, trying so hard just to catch a single fish.

And Mickey? He's just along for the ride, mostly. Kinda oblivious to the chaos he's caused, or maybe just resigned to it.

It’s a reminder of how simple cartoons used to be. No huge stakes, just some lighthearted fun, a quick laugh for a few minutes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Little Bits I Noticed:

• Pluto's ears flapping almost like wings when he's super excited at the very start.
• The way the fish "talk" to each other with little bubbles and gestures.
• Mickey's hat almost flying off a dozen times during the chase, but it always just barely hangs on.
• The game warden's boat is surprisingly fast for a wooden thing from that era.
• One fish actually winks at the camera after stealing some bait. What a rascal!