On this day in 1953, the Mickey Mouse short The Simple Things was released. Directed by Charles Nichols and written by Bill Berg, it would be the final Mickey cartoon for theatrical release (until the 1983 Mickey's Christmas Carol). Disney would instead devote his time (and Mickey's too) to television and theme park work.The Simple Things finds Mickey and Pluto on a pleasant fishing trip ... until Pluto has a run-in with a pesky clam and a hungry seagull!
Charles Nichols, already a veteran director of countless Disney shorts (starting back in 1944 with Springtime for Pluto) would work on a few more of Walt's projects before lending his expertise to such classic TV cartoons as The Jetsons, Hong Kong Phooey, The Great Grape Ape Show, and Scooby-Doo.
Bill Berg (whose Disney work started in the early 1940s) would stay with Disney and continue to write for the Disneyland television series. He would also work as an animator and character supervisor on Mulan, Pocahontas, and The Little Mermaid.
James MacDonald - who supplied the voice for Mickey Mouse (since 1947, only the 2nd to ever voice the character) - would continue to voice the mouse, and lend his musical & sound effects talents to countless Disney projects.
At a running time of just about 7 minutes, this final Mickey short features the animated work of Marvin Woodward, Fred Moore, and Norman Ferguson.
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