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The Mad Doctor

 The Mad Doctor
type
TVTItem
 The Mad Doctor
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The Mad Doctor
 The Mad Doctor
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TheMadDoctor
 The Mad Doctor
comment
A 1933 Mickey Mouse short that, while not known for being particularly innovative, is quite popular among Classic Disney fans for its sheer dark, macabre tone.The plot of the short is centered on Mickey, as Pluto is kidnapped by the titular mad doctor (named Dr. XXX) to be used in a chimera-esque experiment involving cutting off Pluto's head and splicing it onto the body of a chicken. Naturally, Mickey treks off to save him, all while trying to make his way through the doctor's elaborate castle.As with the earlier Disney shorts The Skeleton Dance and The Haunted House, this short's macabre tone was its own undoing; many theaters refused to show it (and was even completely banned in England), even though Mickey was at the height of his popularity at that point. However, the short has managed to become much more popular in recent years for the same reasons it was initially shunned.This short was the inspiration for the later Mickey Mouse short Runaway Brain, and was remade as an entire level in the video game Mickey Mania. Epic Mickey also features the Mad Doctor prominently as a key villain (called "The Mad Doctor"), a side-scrolling Nostalgia Level themed to the short, and even the original short itself as an unlockable bonus. It also loosely inspired the storyline "Blaggard Castle" in the 1930s Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip by Floyd Gottfredson.
 The Mad Doctor
fetched
2024-01-16T15:58:26Z
 The Mad Doctor
parsed
2024-01-16T15:58:26Z
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Dropped link to AffectionateParody: Not a Feature - ITEM
 The Mad Doctor
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Mad Doctor / int_148e222c
type
Crosses the Line Twice
 The Mad Doctor / int_148e222c
comment
Part of one drawing on the board is the sequence of a dog, then a division sign, then a saw. Get it? A dog divided by a saw?
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The Mad Doctor / int_148e222c
 The Mad Doctor / int_14beeefd
type
Darker and Edgier
 The Mad Doctor / int_14beeefd
comment
Darker and Edgier: The Skeleton Dance aside, which was more silly than scary, this cartoon was the first notable Disney cartoon to delve into a dark storyline which played more for Black Comedy if anything
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The Mad Doctor / int_14beeefd
 The Mad Doctor / int_16364a29
type
Evil Sounds Deep
 The Mad Doctor / int_16364a29
comment
Evil Sounds Deep: Again, The Doc.
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The Mad Doctor / int_16364a29
 The Mad Doctor / int_18aff462
type
Artistic License – Biology
 The Mad Doctor / int_18aff462
comment
Artistic License – Biology: Dr. XXX wants to combine "a chicken's gizzard with the wishbone of a pup". Wishbones (more accurately called furculas) are a trait exclusive to birds and some non-avian dinosaurs, so a dog would not have one. A chicken would, though. Possibly justified partly due to the doctor's insanity and partly due to it all being a dream. Also, the doctor wanting to know what hatches from the dog-headed chickens egg. If the animal really would survive the surgery, its genitals would still be from the chicken, therefore it could only lay normal chicken eggs.
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The Mad Doctor / int_18aff462
 The Mad Doctor / int_1a3a91dd
type
Say My Name
 The Mad Doctor / int_1a3a91dd
comment
Say My Name: "PLUTO!!!"
 The Mad Doctor / int_1a3a91dd
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The Mad Doctor / int_1a3a91dd
 The Mad Doctor / int_1ba8eb64
type
Visual Pun
 The Mad Doctor / int_1ba8eb64
comment
Two more that also double as Visual Puns occur during Dr. XXX's monologue to Pluto, who is strapped under an X-Ray allowing view of his heart and ribcage. Halfway through, Pluto's heart begins to race and jumps up into his throat (so he has his heart in his throat). Then at the conclusion of the monologue, his heart falls all the way down to his pelvis (or his heart sank).
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The Mad Doctor / int_1ba8eb64
 The Mad Doctor / int_1ccad9a3
type
Villain Song
 The Mad Doctor / int_1ccad9a3
comment
Villain Song: Sort of. Doctor XXX's monologue.
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The Mad Doctor / int_1ccad9a3
 The Mad Doctor / int_1e7c47ab
type
Stealth Pun
 The Mad Doctor / int_1e7c47ab
comment
Stealth Pun: Part of one drawing on the board is the sequence of a dog, then a division sign, then a saw. Get it? A dog divided by a saw? Two more that also double as Visual Puns occur during Dr. XXX's monologue to Pluto, who is strapped under an X-Ray allowing view of his heart and ribcage. Halfway through, Pluto's heart begins to race and jumps up into his throat (so he has his heart in his throat). Then at the conclusion of the monologue, his heart falls all the way down to his pelvis (or his heart sank).
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The Mad Doctor / int_1e7c47ab
 The Mad Doctor / int_215f0830
type
Big Shadow, Little Creature
 The Mad Doctor / int_215f0830
comment
Big Shadow, Little Creature: Right after the long shot of Mickey in the corridors, he winds up between the shadows of two towering wolf-like creatures staring down on him. He turns around, only to see two metal figures not even his height in front of a fire. Even Mickey himself laughs at this, at least until a coal ember burns him.
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The Mad Doctor / int_215f0830
 The Mad Doctor / int_233b20c9
type
Door Judo
 The Mad Doctor / int_233b20c9
comment
Door Judo: Mickey falling victim to this is what sets up the climax.
 The Mad Doctor / int_233b20c9
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The Mad Doctor / int_233b20c9
 The Mad Doctor / int_234bd900
type
For Science!
 The Mad Doctor / int_234bd900
comment
For Science!: XXX wants to graft Pluto's head to a chicken just to see what comes out of the eggs afterward.
 The Mad Doctor / int_234bd900
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1.0
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hasFeature
The Mad Doctor / int_234bd900
 The Mad Doctor / int_255608b2
type
Public Domain Animation
 The Mad Doctor / int_255608b2
comment
Public Domain Animation: This is one of the very few Disney works that have slipped into the Public Domain, likely due to it's horror elements, the fact it was banned in England, as well as most theaters refusing to show it, giving Disney very little reason to renew the copyright. Public Domain Character: This in turn makes Dr. XXX one of the very few public domain Disney characters.
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The Mad Doctor / int_255608b2
 The Mad Doctor / int_28114487
type
Bald of Evil
 The Mad Doctor / int_28114487
comment
Bald of Evil/Beard of Evil: Dr. XXX
 The Mad Doctor / int_28114487
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The Mad Doctor / int_28114487
 The Mad Doctor / int_3114c1e5
type
Ramming Always Works
 The Mad Doctor / int_3114c1e5
comment
Ramming Always Works: Except when the door can make use of Door Judo all by itself.
 The Mad Doctor / int_3114c1e5
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The Mad Doctor / int_3114c1e5
 The Mad Doctor / int_3517000d
type
Mad Scientist
 The Mad Doctor / int_3517000d
comment
Mad Scientist: Dr. XXX. He is an Evil Genius who performs horrible experiments on animals For Science!.
 The Mad Doctor / int_3517000d
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The Mad Doctor / int_3517000d
 The Mad Doctor / int_39de664a
type
Mad Doctor
 The Mad Doctor / int_39de664a
comment
Mad Doctor: Subverted. Despite the title, XXX uses no medical technology at all. While he does have the title of "doctor", he fits the Mad Scientist trope much better.
 The Mad Doctor / int_39de664a
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The Mad Doctor / int_39de664a
 The Mad Doctor / int_3fe6a857
type
Public Domain Character
 The Mad Doctor / int_3fe6a857
comment
Public Domain Character: This in turn makes Dr. XXX one of the very few public domain Disney characters.
 The Mad Doctor / int_3fe6a857
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The Mad Doctor / int_3fe6a857
 The Mad Doctor / int_4ebbbd17
type
Matryoshka Object
 The Mad Doctor / int_4ebbbd17
comment
Matryoshka Object: When Mickey hears Pluto howling near the end, he encounters a door version of this; he opens five doors that are all on the same hinges before reaching the locked sixth, which he resolves to ramming. It doesn't go how he expected.
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The Mad Doctor / int_4ebbbd17
 The Mad Doctor / int_56b8b4f1
type
Lean and Mean
 The Mad Doctor / int_56b8b4f1
comment
Lean and Mean: The doctor is very tall and thin.
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The Mad Doctor / int_56b8b4f1
 The Mad Doctor / int_68068108
type
Evil Laugh
 The Mad Doctor / int_68068108
comment
Evil Laugh: The Doc does one of these.
 The Mad Doctor / int_68068108
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The Mad Doctor / int_68068108
 The Mad Doctor / int_6a47a1e2
type
Knight of Cerebus
 The Mad Doctor / int_6a47a1e2
comment
Knight of Cerebus: Dr. XXX for the cartoon and the Disney franchise in general, as a darker villain wouldn't show up until Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
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The Mad Doctor / int_6a47a1e2
 The Mad Doctor / int_6e92a631
type
Four-Fingered Hands
 The Mad Doctor / int_6e92a631
comment
Four-Fingered Hands: Aside from Mickey, Dr. XXX also has these despite being human.
 The Mad Doctor / int_6e92a631
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The Mad Doctor / int_6e92a631
 The Mad Doctor / int_7c0bfb83
type
Obviously Evil
 The Mad Doctor / int_7c0bfb83
comment
Obviously Evil: XXX is a skeleton thin man with Evil Eyebrows, a Beard of Evil, and a villain mustache.
 The Mad Doctor / int_7c0bfb83
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The Mad Doctor / int_7c0bfb83
 The Mad Doctor / int_7ea2a915
type
Animation Bump
 The Mad Doctor / int_7ea2a915
comment
Animation Bump: The part where Mickey is walking through a three-dimensional hallway, as well as falling down two flights of stairs. Scenes like that were notoriously difficult to animate on account of perspective. The scene originally came from one of the Silly Symphonies, called Egyptian Melodies, with Mickey being animated over a spider.
 The Mad Doctor / int_7ea2a915
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The Mad Doctor / int_7ea2a915
 The Mad Doctor / int_823c6e3e
type
Large Ham
 The Mad Doctor / int_823c6e3e
comment
Large Ham: Dr. XXX when he explains his Evil Plan.
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The Mad Doctor / int_823c6e3e
 The Mad Doctor / int_863fa679
type
What Happened to the Mouse?
 The Mad Doctor / int_863fa679
comment
What Happened to the Mouse?: Dr. XXX cutting Pluto's shadow in half is the last shot we see of the poor dog inside the castle. Justified due to the whole thing being a dream. But one can only imagine Mickey assuming the worst.
 The Mad Doctor / int_863fa679
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The Mad Doctor / int_863fa679
 The Mad Doctor / int_8fc111c3
type
Evil Eyebrows
 The Mad Doctor / int_8fc111c3
comment
Evil Eyebrows: The doctor has thick, large eyebrows.
 The Mad Doctor / int_8fc111c3
featureApplicability
1.0
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The Mad Doctor / int_8fc111c3
 The Mad Doctor / int_90769dd0
type
Evil Genius
 The Mad Doctor / int_90769dd0
comment
Evil Genius: Dr. XXX. He is a mad scientist who wants to attach Pluto's head to a chicken's body.
 The Mad Doctor / int_90769dd0
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The Mad Doctor / int_90769dd0
 The Mad Doctor / int_9bfc997e
type
Saw Blades of Death
 The Mad Doctor / int_9bfc997e
comment
Saw Blades of Death: A saw blade instrument is present above the operating table, for purposes of cutting up anyone under it.
 The Mad Doctor / int_9bfc997e
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1.0
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The Mad Doctor / int_9bfc997e
 The Mad Doctor / int_ad62678e
type
Living Shadow
 The Mad Doctor / int_ad62678e
comment
Living Shadow: While Pluto is being hung by a hook, the Mad Doctor takes a pair of scissors and cuts Pluto's shadow in half. Disturbingly, the shadow then just hangs there lifelessly as Pluto continues to squirm and howl for help...
 The Mad Doctor / int_ad62678e
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The Mad Doctor / int_ad62678e
 The Mad Doctor / int_b39d5719
type
Sadist
 The Mad Doctor / int_b39d5719
comment
Sadist: XXX clearly takes joy in his horrible experiments.
 The Mad Doctor / int_b39d5719
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The Mad Doctor / int_b39d5719
 The Mad Doctor / int_bc452029
type
Strapped to an Operating Table
 The Mad Doctor / int_bc452029
comment
Strapped to an Operating Table: Mickey himself at the climax, as a giant buzzsaw lowers to slice him in half.
 The Mad Doctor / int_bc452029
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The Mad Doctor / int_bc452029
 The Mad Doctor / int_c3f6e68
type
Dem Bones
 The Mad Doctor / int_c3f6e68
comment
Dem Bones: Dr. XXX's castle is loaded with living skeletons.
 The Mad Doctor / int_c3f6e68
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The Mad Doctor / int_c3f6e68
 The Mad Doctor / int_cc6cc811
type
Xylophones for Walking Bones
 The Mad Doctor / int_cc6cc811
comment
Xylophones for Walking Bones: Xylophone music is used in some of the skeleton scenes. It's mainly used to play quick notes indicating the skeletons' movements.
 The Mad Doctor / int_cc6cc811
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The Mad Doctor / int_cc6cc811
 The Mad Doctor / int_d2102da0
type
Bad People Abuse Animals
 The Mad Doctor / int_d2102da0
comment
Bad People Abuse Animals: Dr. XXX wants to attach Pluto's head to a chicken's body.
 The Mad Doctor / int_d2102da0
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The Mad Doctor / int_d2102da0
 The Mad Doctor / int_d3aad64a
type
Morally Ambiguous Doctorate
 The Mad Doctor / int_d3aad64a
comment
Morally Ambiguous Doctorate: XXX doesn't seem to practice any medicine, as he acts more like a Mad Scientist than a Mad Doctor.
 The Mad Doctor / int_d3aad64a
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The Mad Doctor / int_d3aad64a
 The Mad Doctor / int_da1c8191
type
Writers Cannot Do Math
 The Mad Doctor / int_da1c8191
comment
Writers Cannot Do Math: One of the drawings on the mad doctor's chalkboard, refers to the 32nd root of minus divided by zero. Of course, the character who wrote it was completely insane.
 The Mad Doctor / int_da1c8191
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The Mad Doctor / int_da1c8191
 The Mad Doctor / int_de0df7a0
type
Stock Scream
 The Mad Doctor / int_de0df7a0
comment
Stock Scream: Mickey's yells in this short are easily mistakable for the famous Goofy Holler. (They are slightly different, but seem to be early versions of it).
 The Mad Doctor / int_de0df7a0
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The Mad Doctor / int_de0df7a0
 The Mad Doctor / int_ea85d6ea
type
All Just a Dream
 The Mad Doctor / int_ea85d6ea
comment
All Just a Dream: Of the "nightmare" variety, no less.
 The Mad Doctor / int_ea85d6ea
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The Mad Doctor / int_ea85d6ea
 The Mad Doctor / int_fa6bfde9
type
Have a Gay Old Time
 The Mad Doctor / int_fa6bfde9
comment
Have a Gay Old Time: The cartoon predates the first use of the X classification rating for pornographic films by about 35 years. As a result, Dr. XXX's name tends to get changed to The Mad Doctor in modern appearances like Epic Mickey.
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The Mad Doctor / int_fa6bfde9
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The Mad Doctor

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Mad Doctor
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Artistic License – Arachnids / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
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Beard of Evil / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
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Crashing Dreams / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
hasFeature
Evil Eyebrows / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
hasFeature
"I Am" Song / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
hasFeature
Kidnapped for Experimentation / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
hasFeature
Public Domain Animation / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
hasFeature
Public Domain Character / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
hasFeature
Surprise Slide Staircase / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
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The Dead Can Dance / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
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The Great Depression / int_bd660d0a
 The Mad Doctor
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Xylophones for Walking Bones / int_bd660d0a