As a great fan of Disney, and someone who likes Mickey Mouse a lot(though I prefer Donald and Goofy as characters). The Barnyard Battle is one of the best of the early Mickey shorts. Some may be disconcerted by Mickey's lack of voice, but that doesn't harm The Barnyard Battle in any way(in fact I found it far preferable to the instances where Mickey did have a voice but sounded as though he was still trying to find it). The short is not much new in terms of story, apart from a violent subject being dealt with in a more politically correct but endearing and inevitable way, but it is what is done with the story that makes it so good. The gags are crisply timed and very fun, especially when Mickey manages to escape and claps a mouse trap on Pete's tail and the body distortion gags. But if anything The Barnyard Battle is more intriguing than it is funny, though it is the latter as well. The introduction of the cats is very well-done and to see Mickey for once not taking advantage of those around him by here having those around him taking advantage of him was interesting. But the highlight has always been Mickey in the old house with the machine gun and then Pete comes in and starts menacing him. The animation is what makes it so, while the backgrounds are smooth and all the characters well drawn(with the mice all looking like Mickey), it is Mickey's character animation that is the real revelation here, some of the best there is from any Mickey cartoon in my opinion actually. In this scene Mickey is understandably fearful and nervous, and the body language from the nervous smiling to the shuffling of feet perfectly reflects that. The music is as ever rousing and energetic, and Mickey and Pete are strong characters here. All in all, really good, one of the better early Mickey shorts. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Review of The Barnyard Battle
