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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Shanghaied remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have any love for the history of animation, absolutely. It’s short, punchy, and moves with a kind of manic energy that modern stuff just doesn't replicate.
If you're looking for a coherent story or a relaxing watch, you might find the relentless cartoon violence a little exhausting. It’s definitely not for the 'calm evening' crowd.
There’s something about the way Captain Pete moves in Shanghaied that feels genuinely threatening, which is weird for a cartoon mouse short. He’s huge, he’s mean, and he’s clearly not messing around. Seeing him boss everyone else on the ship around is a trip.
Mickey, on the other hand, is just trying to survive. Watching him navigate the ship, dodging whatever Pete throws his way, reminds me of the vibe in Three Pals. It’s that same desperate, high-stakes energy where everything is going wrong all at once.
The sound design—or what passed for it back then—is just wild. Every time someone hits the deck, the whole scene rattles. It feels like the animators were just throwing everything at the wall to see what would stick.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got guts. It doesn’t hold your hand and it certainly doesn't apologize for being a bit chaotic. I found myself checking the time, not because I was bored, but because I couldn't believe how much stuff they packed into such a tiny window.
Sometimes you just need to see a cartoon cat—or dog, or whatever Pete is supposed to be—get hit in the face with a bucket. ⚓️
Compared to something more grounded like Kipps, this feels like an absolute fever dream. It’s frantic and, frankly, a little unhinged. I think I liked it more for that reason.