There’s just something about stop-motion animation. You either love it or you hate it. Me? I love it! Frame-by-frame, animators work tirelessly to bring still figures to life. It’s magic! Cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas just celebrated its 30th anniversary. The film created a new passion for the art form, with fans captivated by its unique style.
Frankenweenie is another festive Halloween favorite from Tim Burton. I remember looking on in awe at the ‘The Art of Frankenweenie’ exhibition located at Disney California Adventure back in 2012. I was fascinated by the attention to detail in the figures. It’s amazing to think of those still vignettes coming to life on film!
In celebration of Halloween, Disney is continuing its stop-motion legacy with a new cartoon! Entitled, Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats, the 21-minute special is now playing on Disney+. I don’t know about you, but I love getting a glimpse behind the scenes, especially when it comes to animation. To welcome the spooky season, let’s look at how animators brought this amazing production to fans across the globe!
Behind the Scenes as Disney’s Stop-Motion Legacy Continues!
Mickey Saves Christmas
Did you catch last year’s stop-motion installment during the holiday season? Mickey Saves Christmas debuted in November of 2022, and it was a delightful watch. The magic of Christmas came alive as the Sensational Six (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto) worked together to get gifts ready in time for the big day. Now, Mickey and the gang are embarking on a new adventure, complete with a spooky twist!
About Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats
Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats premiered on Disney+ on October 1, 2023. While the pals are out trick or treating, they encounter the town’s scariest house, which is home to a witch named Hazel. If they pay it a visit, chances are, they’ll receive some tasty treats, but is it worth the risk? The group decides to take their chances, but much to their chagrin, they end up with a trick instead of treats! Witch Hazel casts a spell, but will Mickey and friends escape? I guess you’ll just have to tune in to find out!
Voice talents for the special include Bret Iwan as Mickey, Kaitlyn Robrock as Minnie, Disney Legend Tony Anselmo as Donald, Debra Wilson as Daisy, and Disney Legend Bill Farmer as Goofy. In celebration of Disney’s 100th Anniversary, MiceChat recently caught up with some of these fantastic talents for a party at Walt’s Mansion. Check out our article below!
Disney’s 100th at Walt’s Mansion: A Star-Studded Celebration Fit For a Centennial!
In the article, you’ll also learn about the Wonderful World of Walt, another magical tribute to stop-motion animation. Check out the teaser for season 2 below!
Behind-the-Scenes of Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats
So, what goes into making a short, stop-motion film like this? I think it’s safe to say that time plays a big part in the process! Read on and you’ll see why. Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats was created in a studio in Burbank, California. David Brooks directed and produced both Mickey Saves Christmas and this year’s Halloween special. His passion for the art form can be summed up in a quote where he states, “We’re all just stop-motion nerds here!”
Interestingly, as part of the endeavor, up to eleven scenes can be filmed all at once. Brooks attributes this to making the stop-motion process a “well-oiled circus.” To add even more efficiency, there are several copies of each character. For example, the team has over four Mickeys that can be implemented. His face and ears are interchangeable, depending on what the scene requires. For perspective, each figure measures about 7 inches in height.
Spider Minnie
Sarah Tejeda is an animator who worked on the film. In the photo below, Spider Minnie is positioned in Witch Hazel’s attic, where a monster catches her attention. Check out those high heels on all six legs!
According to Brooks, it could take up to three days to complete a single shot like this, producing a mere seven seconds of film! This includes setting up the scenery and lights, as well as animating the characters. In order to show movement, the figures are adjusted just a few millimeters at a time, at 12 frames per second. Luckily, the scenery is made in advance before production begins!
Although it’s time-consuming and requires careful calculation, the final product makes the task worth the trouble! As Brooks so eloquently explains, “There is an intangible, magical quality to stop-motion that’s hard to describe. We talk a lot about how it shows the artists’ fingerprint—not a physical fingerprint, like we might see in clay, but the craftsmanship of everything that’s handmade.” Handmade…much like the splendor of Sleeping Beauty, handmade seems to be a winning aspect when it comes to animation.
Is ‘Sleeping Beauty’ the Most Gorgeous Disney Classic of Them All?
3-D Printing
After being modeled virtually on a computer in 3-D, portions of the set and characters are then printed in 3-D. If you’ve ever seen the 3-D printing process in action, I don’t have to inform you of how amazing it is! TikTok is chock-full of artists who make their own 3-D printed art at home using this medium. Check them out if you’re interested! Hand painting and hand fabrication follow 3-D printing. Adorably tiny little costumes are sewn, and crystals are painstakingly applied.
Face Kits
Earlier, we talked about how the characters’ faces can be replaced. To streamline the process, face kits are created to allow them to speak and emote. Magnets are used to hold the faces in place on their heads. In the photo below, animation director Ethan Marak changes Spider Minnie’s face.
Ghost Goofy
Although Goofy has a ghostly glow and floats around in Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats, he’s still meticulously animated, frame by frame just like the rest of the lot. In order to give him a more transparent appearance, he’s covered in blue fluorescent paint. In addition, his scenes were shot twice, both in regular and UV lighting. The images are laid on top of one another and when a third background image is added, it creates a more see-through appearance for the character.
Melodious Music
One of the elements fans love in holiday specials like this is the music and Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats delivers! Several original songs were composed by Beau Black, and each has its own spooky twist! Make no mistake, this film and its soundtrack are not just for kids. Stop-motion animation can be appreciated by children and adults alike. Now that you’ve gotten a taste of the process, I’m sure it’s easy to see why!
After all is said and done, Brooks explains why the art form is worth the long hours. After all, the final product only spans about 20 minutes in length. Although he agrees that it’s hard work, he says “it’s a fun challenge.” To add to that, “It’s the best way to tell this story with the talents that we have.” I concur! If you’re an animation buff, check out Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats on Disney+ this Halloween. It’s a worthy tribute to Disney’s stop-motion legacy!
We’d Love To Hear From You
Are you a fan of the stop-motion process? If so, what’s your favorite Disney film in this medium? Let us know in the comments!
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