Fans of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, it’s time to get excited! The round-eared OG and his pals have changed addresses. The Mickey Mouse Funhouse is a new Disney CG series premiering August 20th on Disney Junior and Disney Channel. It features, among other things, an enchanted sentient playhouse, a pet doghouse named Teddy, Windy the Weathervane and, of course, the “Sensational Six” — Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy.
Parentology posted an exclusive clip to the new series at the bottom of this post. We also spoke with Disney legend Bill Farmer, who voices both Goofy and Pluto, about this latest preschool offering, and why he considers the Disney family to be an extension of his own.
Same Six, Different Zip Code
There’s lots to love about the gang and their new funhouse. Voiced by Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Funny the Funhouse takes Mickey and his pals on all kinds of colorful adventures through unique worlds that inspire the imagination. “This is not your typical kind of house,” Farmer tells Parentology. “It’s got a mind of its own and opens up a whole world of imagination and playtime for the kids.”
Funhouse certainly has a similar look and feel to its predecessors; the bright, engaging, ultra-colorful scenes pay homage to the franchise and leave a nostalgic impression. “We wanted to put all these familiar characters in a magical and more whimsical setting,” said executive producer and Emmy-winning animation artist Phil Weinstein in Animation Magazine. “We borrowed a lot from Disney theme parks and classic animators and artists. For me, it was really important to give our audience a fun look at this magical world that Mickey and his friends are living in.”
What Kids Can Take Away
With a decidedly un-photo realistic backdrop and a plethora of zany characters, some parents might question the value of another Disney offering. Farmer points to Mickey and his friends as dependable, kind, friendly, and rooted in imagination — important characteristics for any young child to model, regardless of generation.
“Being stuck home, your imagination becomes even more important, and developing that by going on these adventures can help spur that on. We all need a good imagination these days,” Farmer says.
“Partnership and working together is a little hard if they’re not in school and they don’t get that interaction with other kids. Hopefully, they’ll learn through the examples on the show that things can get done when you work together — it just takes ingenuity, imagination and a willing spirit.”
As for his time with Disney, Farmer has nothing but love for his extended family. “Of any of the other studios I’ve worked with, they’re not only my coworkers, everyone’s my friend,” he says. “There is a family feel to Disney that I haven’t found at the other studios. You know, I’ve done probably 4,000 different jobs over the last 30 or 40 years. So they keep me busy. And as a matter of fact, I’m taking my family today to Disneyland!”
The new Mickey Mouse Funhouse series premieres Friday, August 20th, on both Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Disney+ premiere dates will be announced soon.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse — Exclusive Clip
The exclusive Parentology clip features Funny the Funhouse as he takes Mickey, Minnie, and friends on a new adventure using the “Spin the Anywhere Wheel.” Check it out!
Sources – Animation Magazine