Animation World News - Home Video - Mickey Classics, American Tailm Schoolhouse Rock: Money Rock

Mickey Classics. On July 14, Walt Disney Home Video released The Spirit of Mickey, a compilation of select animated shorts featuring Mickey Mouse. The 83-minute video contains the shorts Steamboat Willie (1928), The Band Concert (1935), Thru the Mirror (1936), Lend a Paw (1941), Orphan's Picnic (1936), The Worm Turns (1937), Mickey's Trailer (1938), Mickey's Surprise Party (1939), Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip (1940), Canine Caddy (1941) and Mickey and the Seal (1948). Two of the shorts--Orphan's Picnic and Mickey's Surprise Party--have never been released on video before. The Spirit of Mickey will be available in U.S. retail stores for $22.99 (SRP). Mickey Mouse will be resurrected on television in 1999 with the debut of Mouseworks, a new animated series from Walt Disney Television Animation.

Schoolhouse Rock: Money Rock was released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment July 21. The 30-minute video is the fifth installment in the 25th Anniversary Collection of re-issues of the Schoolhouse Rock interstitial spots conceived by David B. McCall, which have educated kids since the `70s with animated music videos. Other titles are America Rock, Grammar Rock, Science Rock and Multiplication Rock. Each is available for $14.99 (SRP).

American Tail To Be Told Again. Universal Studios Home Video will lift a six-year moratorium and relaunch its American Tail franchise by rereleasing the first two titles and producing a third, new title for the video market. An American Tail (1986) and Fievel Goes West (1991) will be rereleased on video on August 11 for $19.98 each. An American Tail III: The Treasure of Manhattan Island will be released later this year. Sound Source Interactive will release an American Tail CD-Rom game as well.