Fun and Fancy Free

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Released in 1947, Fun and Fancy Free is the 9th Film in the Disney Animated Canon

The movie is an Animated Anthology, consisting of two shorts that were originally planned to be full length movies in their own right, but due to situations at the time, had to be cut short and put together in this one movie.

The two shorts are:

  • Bongo: The story of a circus bear who escapes into the forest.
  • Mickey and The Beanstalk: An adaptation of Jack and The Beanstalk starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.

The shorts are tied together with a framing story starring Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio, who sets up a record player that plays the first story, and then attends a birthday party where the second story is told.

Mickey and the Beanstalk is by far the more well known of the two shorts, and can often by found in other DVD collections by itself.

Tropes used in Fun and Fancy Free include:

Charlie: Hey! He [Goofy] got caught with his pants--
Edgar: Charlie!
Charlie: Well, his slip was showing...

Edgar Bergen: But Donald doesn't give in, Donald doesn't give up--
Donald: SHUT UP!

  • Let's Get Dangerous: When Bongo stops running in fear and starts putting his circus skills to work.
  • Love At First Sight
  • Mood Whiplash: The scene where the narrator explains the plight of the peasants is somewhat gloomy but still funny. Then Donald starts freaking out....
  • Parasol Parachute: Jiminy Cricket does this.
  • Roger Rabbit Effect: The frame for the second story is in live action. Although Jiminy is so small and has such an insignificant role at this point, it's not really a big deal. But then Willie shows up at the end...
  • Sneeze of Doom: Mikey sneezes after falling in a snuffbox, blowing snuff in Willie's face; he seems about to do this, but stifles it.
  • Title Drop: Jiminy's introductory song essentially names the set - the name "Fun and Fancy Free" describes his happy-go-lucky view on life.
  • Tricking the Shapeshifter: Mickey tries to get Willie to turn into a fly so that he can kill him with a fly swatter. Unfortunately, Willie wants to turn into a bunny rabbit, and does so instead.
  • Villain Song: "Fee Fi Fo Fum."