My Top 15 Spooky Disney Shorts

 

Way back when I was just a little kid, it always excited me to combine two things I loved into one offering, and for today’s topic ... it’s animated Disney shorts with a spooky Halloween make-over. Oh boy, I loved Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons so much as a kid, and when you put them in a holiday themed scenario ... it’s instant gold. 

Their Halloween shorts are among some of their most nostalgic, and I find myself watching every year. For this countdown, I’ll be listing my personal favorite Spooky or Halloween Disney shorts, but only the shorts featuring the Mickey Mouse characters ... so don't expect any "Night on Bald Mountain" for this list. Also, I'll be breaking this down in two categories ... First, my top 5 favorite Halloween episodes from half-hour Disney channel programs that utilize these characters. Second, my personal top 10 Favorite Halloween or spooky themed Disney shorts. With all that said ... let's see what kind of tricks and treats await us. 

MY TOP 5 HALLOWEEN EPISODES (from Disney Channel Programs)

#5 Quack Pack: “Cat & louse” 

While "Quack Pack" has never been one of my favorite Disney cartoons, it still features my favorite Disney character Donald Duck, and it offered some memorable episodes to watch during October. Late one Halloween night, Donald's nephew Huey (while trick r' treating as a mouse) gets separated from his two brothers, and witnesses a mysterious Black Cat robbing a house. After nearly getting blamed for the crime, the event traumatizes him, even into his young teenage years. 

In present day, during a TV interview with a wild Cat trainer, Huey is reunited with the Black Cat he met on Halloween ... and all his childhood fears return. Now, he has to overcome his phobia, and join his brothers on a mission to unveil the real Halloween jewel thief. Black Cat’s will make a number of appearances on this countdown, and their utilized effectively here. It's a story about concurring your fear, while also discovering something lovable underneath a frightening presence. Also, I’ve always loved the concept of something from your childhood coming back to haunt you when you’re all grown up, and setting Huey's childhood haunts on Halloween night is a nice bones.

#4 Goof Troop: “Hallow-Weenies” 

When greedy neighbor Pete acquires a deserted old mansion for a potential hotel, the boys Max and PJ think it’ll make for a fun Halloween adventure to go exploring the mysterious house. The kids get more then they bargained for, as they find themselves at the mercy of some troublesome ghosts. Soon, their parents Goofy and Pete arrive on the scene to rescue the kids, only to be captured by the spooks themselves. 

After several failed attempts to drive the phantoms out of the house, the last hope comes in the form of Goofy’s late ancestor, who arrives on the scene as a spiritual manifestation, with information on how to be rid of troublesome ghosts. Disney channel Halloween specials were usually pretty basic, but this one has great detail on display, and swims in its holiday. There’s even a top tear opening title card, which is matched with a rapid-fire montage of decorative Halloween images flying at the screen. While the concept of kids trapped in a haunted house on Halloween has been done to death … and will continue to appear on this countdown, this episode at least executes it’s premise effectively, and is just a fun little October adventure.

#3 Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers: “Ghost of a Chance”  

Back when I was just a little kid in the early 90’s, and grew up with the Disney Channel, my favorite program by far was “Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”. Regrettably, they never had a specific Halloween themed episode, but they did at least have a number of spooky adventures that could pass for one. 

A personal favorite of mine is “Ghost of a Chance” in which the team’s strongest member Monterey Jack meets the ghost of his great ancestor and must do a brave deed in order to save his trapped soul. What follows is an exciting venture into a spooky castle, a battle with a giant ghost-cat monster, and a confrontation with the shows best villain Fat Cat. The castle setting gives the episode its atmosphere, and there’s even a tense climax with our hero’s caught in a slow moving death trap. This episode also has a humble message about concurring ones fear, and it’s cool to have a supernatural venture with a Ghost that needs to redeem himself for past failures.  

#2 Quack Pack: “The Boy who Cried Ghost”

Whenever Disney had a marathon of all their Halloween episodes, it was the “Quack Pack” episode “The Boy Who Cried Ghost” that always stood out as a personal favorite of mine. While Donald Duck escorts his nephews to a Halloween dance, the always troublesome Dewey is driving everyone crazy with his spooky pranks. 

His antics lead to a car crash, forcing them to stay the night at a mysterious old house. The place turns out to be the home of classic Halloween monsters including a vampire, a werewolf, a zombie and a ghost who all aim to scare the new arrivals to death, and their serious about that “death” part. With no-one believing him, Dewey has to utilize all his prankster skills to protect his family from the monsters. This episode boasts some quality animation, lots of great Halloween visuals, and even some really funny jokes. One of my favorite gags revolves around Dewey’s “tough conscience”. Needless to say, this episode has been ingrained in my mind as a personal animated Halloween classic.

#1 DuckTales: “The Trickening” 

The new “DuckTales” is one of those animated Disney programs that took me by surprise, as it channeled all-age comedy, with a slightly mature edge that wasn’t as common place in their programs. The thought of this show doing a Halloween adventure got me very excited, and it didn’t disappoint. Scrooge McDucks four kids Huey, Dewey, Webby, and Louie set-off to go trick r’ treating, only for Louie to lead the group into a spooky house, where he thinks he’ll find mountains of candy left behind by frightened kids. 

Naturally, the house is haunted, and the kids find themselves trapped, with a number of horrific obstacles threatening to scare them … to death. The premise may sound very formulaic, especially when compared to the previously mentioned episodes, but this one transcends its premise, and gives us more twists and turns, with a genuinely dark edge. Turns out the haunts were all staged by the classic monsters in the vein of the Wereduck, Witch Hazel, Nosferatu, and Frankenstein, who’ve lost the ability to scare kids, and thus are resorting to contemporary scares. It becomes a fun game of “name that horror movie”, with visual references to “Poltergeist”, “The Ring”, Steven Kings “IT”, “Dead Silence”, and especially “The Shining” … which is utilized brilliantly in the final shot. 

There’s also a funny subplot in which goofball piolet Launchpad has no clue about the holiday, and thinks all the trick r’ treaters are demon’s that need to be slayed … through some shocking dark comedy, he goes chasing after kids with a razor-sharp power-tool. Another funny joke revolves around Donald Duck and his sister Della, who are dressed as an angel and devil, and they amusingly act out their characteristics. Finally, this is a gorgeous looking episode, with phenomenal details, atmospheric lighting, twisted angels, and elaborate backdrops. It’s a solid, spooky Halloween adventure that packs all the wright chills, visuals, and laughs in one tight package.     

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MY TOP 10 HALLOWEEN or SPOOKY SHORTS 

#10 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Pluto’s Judgment Day”

Disney had a positive way of conveying timeless morals to kids, all except for episodes like this in which he scared the kids into taking his message to heart. Well, I don't think anything scared kids more then this short in which ... Pluto goes to Hell.    

Mickey's dog Pluto is a real bully toward cats, and his actions of chasing them down lead to a terrifying nightmare. Pluto gets captured by a hellish underground cat cult who put him on trial, and sentence him to death by way of burning. So, in other words, kids need to learn to be good or they’ll suffer by burning at the steak … I guess that’s one way to make sure the message sticks with you. Seeing poor Pluto chained up and tortured in this episode is unpleasant enough, but we also learn that he’s responsible for the death of some cats, which really makes this a darker Disney venture than usual. Actually, some of the animation in this episode can get quiet terrifying, especially this one red robbed cat prosecutor. It may not be the most enjoyable Disney episode to watch, but it’s undeniably one of their most memorable spooky outings.

#9 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Mickey’s Haunted House”

It’s a dark, stormy night, and Micky’s desperation to reach shelter leads him to an abandoned house ... one that just happens to be haunted! Before long, he's confronted by a hooded reaper, along with an army of spooks, and they use Mickey as a means to throw a giant house party. There’s so many spooky visual highlights, and the animation is great for such an old Black and White cartoon. We have the hooded crypt keeper, Bat's, skeletons having a freak-out, and a full-on party in which all the haunted objects come to life. It’s great stuff that gets me in the perfect holiday mood.  

 

#8 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Mickey’s Run-Away Brain” 

When Mickey forgets that he’s going to take his girlfriend Mini out for a special vacation anniversary, he becomes desperate to gain money any way he can … even if that means paying a visit to a shady back-alley doctor. Soon, he finds himself the captive to a mad scientist, who aims to switch Mickey’s brain with that of a giant Pete monster. After the experiment, Mickey’s real body has become a rabid monster, and is in pursuit of Mini. Thus, the chase is on for Mickey to get his body back, and protect his girl friend … from himself, or more specifically his ... Runaway Brain. 

Seeing Mickey as a wretched monster is refreshingly different from virtually any other appearance he’s made, and it makes this an unforgettable dark episode. For a mid-90’s cartoon short, both the animation and writing feel like they’re on a higher level of quality then most other Disney shorts of the time. Not only are the visuals fast and expressive, but the lighting is also gorgeous … in fact, from a technical view point, this might just be one of the best-looking Mickey Mouse cartoons I’ve ever seen. There are of course loving visual nods to “Frankenstein” all throughout, as well as an oddly placed replica shot from “The Exorcist”. It’s kind of a free for all short, in which anything can happen, it’s looks amazing, and the jokes are great. It certainly marks a bright spot for Mickey’s dark ventures, and was even Nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Animated Short.

#7 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Donald Duck and the Gorilla” 

It’s refreshing that not every spooky themed Disney short needs either the common images or elements we associate with Halloween to leave an impression. Sometimes, all you need is a dark and stormy night … with an unwanted house guest making a surprise visit. When it comes to funny home invasion adventures with Disney characters, nothing quiet tops ... Donald and the Gorilla. 

For this spooky venture, Donald and his nephews find themselves at the mercy of a giant gorilla, who just escaped from the zoo, and is now terrorizing their home. Thus, it becomes a dark adventure, with characters roaming about the house in an effort to get rid of the invading Gorilla, or at the very least, avoid getting eaten. Again, despite not featuring any of the staples of Halloween, it still invokes an atmosphere of the holiday, especially when your comfortable home becomes the setting for a dangerous game of cat and mouse ... or in this case, frightened duck and angry gorilla.  

  

#6 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “GHOUL Friend” 

In this Dark Disney short, Mickey is out for a pleasant drive in the country, but unfortunately, his car breaks down in a most foreboding neck of the woods. All his attempts to fix his car fail, and it’s at this most unfortunate time, he’s approached by ... Zombie Goofy. 

You’d think for a Disney short, that goofy designed as a zombie would be tame and generic … but’s that’s impressively not the case. Zombie Goofy is downright grotesque, and the stuff of nightmares for little kids. What follows is a funny chase through the woods, with Mickey fleeing for his life from a rabid corps. Everything from the dark-blue lighting, to the detailed back drops are all a work of art, and there’s some nice little nods to other Disney properties like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. Of course, it all builds to a funny joke that zombie goofy was simply trying to … literally … lend Micky a hand with fixing his car. As far as spooky themed Disney shorts are concerned, this one is guaranteed to leave a memorable impression on younger viewers, and well worth checking out during the creepiest time of the year.     

#5 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Donald’s Halloween Scare” 

It’s once again the spookiest night of the year, and everyone is out celebrating, including Donald’s kids Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who are out scaring-up some candy. However, Donald gets the jump on them posing as a masked killer, and scaring the kids out of all their treats. 

Well, two can play this game, and the boys hatch their own trick to get back at their greedy uncle. With the help of Micky, Goofy and Minnie, they send Donald through a living nightmare, in which he’s perused by the ghoulish spirits of his nephews, seeking revenge after literally being frightened to death. This once again is a highly decorative short, with gorgeous colors, striking images, and awesome details … like a wicked face in the moon cross-dissolving into a lit-up scarecrow face. If you want a dark Disney toon that has Halloween featured in just about every frame, this is a top-tear short to check out.

#4 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Lonesome Ghosts”

In this animated classic, Mickey, Donald and Goofy are out hunting a silly gang of Ghosts in a creepy old house. 

It’s always a treat to have all three of the classic Disney characters together in one episode, and each encounter with the ghosts leads to some great slapstick. For an old cartoon from 1937, there’s some great animation on display, and I love all the details of the house ... from the banging window shutters ... to the tilted stairways. This also pre-dated "Ghostbusters", and can be called the real genesis tub for goofy mishaps with Ghost-Exterminators. The four titular Lonesome Ghosts featured in this episode have become staples of the holiday season for me, and just as marketable from Disney’s side of the Halloween season.

#3 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Duck Pimples” 

What’s creepier than physical haunts … how about mental haunts. It’s once again a dark and stormy night for Donald Duck, who’s reading scary books, as well as listening to frightening stories on the radio.

It doesn’t take long for the chills of the night to take their towel, and as a result … Donald loses his mind! Random people begin appearing in his house, the setting changes, and Donald finds himself caught in a capper, in which he’s the suspect to kidnaping and theft. It’s a fun examination of one surrendering to the night, and letting his imagination run wild, to the point where you can no-longer tell dreams apart from reality. The backgrounds are striking, the atmosphere absorbing, the comedic moments on display are bizarre, and the end result is a wild dive into insanity. 

#2 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “The Mad Doctor”

One of Disney's darker episodes was titled “The Mad Doctor”, which involved an evil scientist that captured Pluto, and is experimenting on him in his castle. Thus, it’s up to Mickey to rescue him, all while battling traps lade throughout the castle, and armies of skeletons. This episode features stunning animation, and a lot of spooky details, including skeletons coming to life, giant spiders, and the castle itself becomes a character. 

It's almost like a video game, as Mickey goes from one obstacle to another in an effort to rescue his captured friend. Now, despite some amazing animation, this short can also get rather disturbing. In fact, this short has a reputation for being ... the banned Mickey Mouse Cartoon ... as it's shocking depictions were too much for several countries. We have Pluto's shadow pealed apart, and most notably of all is this shot of Micky Mouse strapped to a table ... as he's about to be sawed in half. It’s some crazy dark stuff for a Disney cartoon, but that’s what also gives the episode some appeal, because it’s so drastically different from what we typically get from these cartoons.

Before I reveal my #1 Favorite, here are some quick honorable mentions … 

“The Worm Turns” 

“Soup's On”

“Donald's Lucky Day”

“How to Be a Detective” 

“The Gorilla Mystery”

 

#1 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Trick R’ Treat” (1952)

Here’s one of my favorite Disney cartoons, that’s always stood out to me as a Halloween classic along with the likes of “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". 

When Donald Duck cruelly mistreats his nephews, a kind old Witch named Hazel comes to their aid, and gives them a healthy dose of ... Trick or Treat. Old Witch Hazel is one of the most memorable guest characters from the Disney cartoon roster, and her hex casting antics lead to some bouncy animation highlights. There’s a really catchy theme song to boot in this episode, and the animation, like I said, is just bursting with memorable holiday visuals. It's neither the darkest or spookiest of Disney shorts ... but it's the one that I love watch the most around this time of year. A lot of people say that 1968’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” is what really started the notion of classic animated Halloween specials, but look at this short, which came out almost a decade before it, and is just swimming with holiday delights. In my view, this right here is a top-tier Disney Halloween Treat!

Thanks for reading my Countdown ... and continue to enjoy the Halloween Specials you love!