Seven years had to pass to actually watch again Mickey in a new theatrical short, and although this epic and expensive short premiered without having the same success of Mickey's Christmas Carol (it didn't win the Oscar and was paired with the box-office failure, The Rescuers Down Under) it still was a worthy successor and a surprising comeback for Mickey in the nineties. Not only starring him with a double role (he played the young and brave prince and the innocent and coward pauper) but as usual with the Disney shorts, having a dozens of cameos by famous Disney characters.

Probably twice as longer as Mickey Christmas Carol, this adaptation of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper it's really liberal in terms of the Disney animators, notably toning down the darker themes of the story and making the whole short an enjoyable action-comedy. The animation is impressive, with camera movements, and long open action sequences in open scenarios, helped obviously by the use of CGI (also used in the sequel of Rescuers).

It may not be the most faithful adaptation of the Marks Twain story, but still it's truly an enjoyable and surprisingly good adaptation, and its no doubt that with such animation (and excellent soundtrack) the creators built exciting and touching scenes (in the scene of the death of the king, it's amazing how they make the candles effect so realistically).

Now that I'm older I can see the problems of this short (too long, excessive action and comedy over character development) and that's way it stays a little behind to Mickey's Christmas Carol in the level of awesomeness, but nevertheless it's still holds the grip as one of the best Mickey's shorts and the example of the little masterpieces that could come together now and then the Disney animators.

I absolutely love it! Mickey's my favorite Disney character, and his pal Pluto and Donald Duck (who are also in this film too as a valet) and it's the best short film ever maded in the Disney Studios' "Renaissance" years. I love the storyline it's a good adaptation of Mark Twain's classic book by the same name; and Twain is also the author of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" featuring Mickey and his friends; and also, I love literary films (including literary theatrical shorts).

Personally, I think Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy too are great character actors of their time.