Hidden Images
Not all of the bloopers are bad though. The most intriguing sections of Mouse Under Glass are the guided tours of the "hidden stuff" which can be found in selected films. Under close scrutiny, the educated viewer will find many racy images, caricatures of animators, and saucy words, implanted by many a clever animator. Be warned, however; to find these sequences, one must be quick of the eye and fast on the VCR pause button. In Who Framed Roger Rabbit, for instance, the infamous "dirty" frames featuring the Jessica Rabbit character sans underwear is visible for only three frames, or, one eighth of a second. In a less controversial sequence in The Little Mermaid, animators inserted split-second cameo appearances from Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy appearing at the entrance to King Triton's underwater palace. These little-known "bloopers" are a real treat to watch.

Overall, Mouse Under Glass is a good entertainment guide to Disney films. It doesn't conquer tough questions or capture the essence of what makes Disney special. It does, however, have lots of neat facts. If you are a Disney fanatic, you will probably learn some new trivia that is not widely publicized and enjoy the book. If you have seen just a few of the films, rent one and then sit back with the book and enjoy the tour. But remember, you will need the book in one hand, and the VCR controller in the other to catch the slightly outrageous! If you are caught with the TV screen frozen on one of the more suggestive frames, just remember to say it's in the name of education and in the interest of art.

Mouse Under Glass: The Secrets of Disney Animation and Theme Parks by David Koenig. Bonaventure Press, 1997. 270 pages, illustrated. Hardcover, $23.95; ISBN: 0-9640605-0-7.

Susan Palmer is a freelance writer and an animator/illustrator living in Los Angeles, CA.