Mickey’s Toontown® at Disneyland® Resort is a favorite among children. Who doesn’t dream of climbing into Chip n’ Dale’s Treehouse or walking into Mickey’s House to meet the main man himself? As only the magic of Disney can do, Mickey’s Toontown® allows children and adults to completely step into a cartoon world that you normally only see in television shows. This land was not made from pure imagination, it was inspired by the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
The inspiration for Mickey’s Toontown® actually goes all the way back to the book Who Censored Roger Rabbit? (1981) by Gary K. Wolf. The novel first introduced the concept of humans and cartoons interacting with each other, and later Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) combined live-action and animation to make it possible. The film’s plot centers around Roger Rabbit who, with the help of private investigator Eddie Valiant, a human, tries to clear his name after being falsely accused of murder. Since the movie had such a dark concept, Disney released it under Touchstone Pictures.
The film was a huge success, becoming the second highest grossing movie of 1988 and influencing the modern age of animation, including what we now know as the “Disney Renaissance”. Who Framed Roger Rabbit also marked the first time animated characters from rival studios, such as Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny and Disney’s Mickey Mouse, appeared in the same movie together. Jessica Rabbit, one of the movie’s main characters, has become an iconic cartoon character and her line “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way,” is listed under the American Film Institute’s top 100 movie quotes. It’s no wonder Disney wanted to dedicate an entire land to the concept!
While some youngsters might not know that this famous film inspired their favorite part of Disneyland® Park, remnants of the movie still exist within Mickey’s Toontown®. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (ROGER RABBIT CHARACTER© Disney/Amblin Entertainment, Inc.) reminds us of what originally inspired the cartoon land. Components of the ride take inspiration from others at the Disneyland® Park; spinning like Mad Tea Party and following the erratic life of its main character as does Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
Mickey’s Toontown® is currently home to Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Chip N’ Dale, Goofy, and Donald Duck. Also located in Mickey’s Toontown® is Gadget’s Go Coaster, which is perfect for smaller children who might not be ready to take on the bigger rollercoasters just yet. Mickey’s Toontown® became so popular, it led to the massive multiplayer online game, Toontown Online, which continued the storyline of Toons fighting those trying to take over their town. Recently rumors spread that the new Star Wars Land® was going replace Mickey’s Toontown®, but they were thankfully incorrect, which means we can look forward to enjoying living like a Toon for years to come.
Roger Rabbit characters© Walt Disney Pictures / Amblin Entertainment, Inc.
