Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures (TV Series 1987–1988) Poster

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6/10
This really played better in 1987...
planktonrules13 August 2013
Out of a sense of nostalgia, I decided to rent a DVD of this cartoon series. I remembered when "Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures" premiered back in 1987. Compared to the rest of the cartoons of the day, it was terrific. This Ralph Bakshi production was clever at times and was filled with sarcasm and as a result, adults could even enjoy it. But, I also noticed as I watched the show that by the mid-1990s, LOTS of more clever and more sarcastic cartoons had come along and were simply better. So, while "Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures" looked great when it came out (and it was ahead of its time), compared to later shows like "Animaniacs", "Pinky & the Brain" and "Time Squad", this 1987 show comes up lacking in most every way--particularly when it comes to the quality of the animation--which is awfully poor. Not a bad show but certainly not as good as my memory thought it was--probably because 1987-88 was just before cartoons in the US became rejuvenated with a much, much higher quality standard. Worth seeing but not at all a must-see.
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"so let the trumpet players play, for Mighty Mouse is here today..."
Rid.X11 March 2000
Undoubtedly this is one of the more innovative cartoons of the '80s, which is not particularly surprising, given it has the talents of both Ralph Bakshi (of "Fritz The Cat" fame) and John Kricfalusi, who would score another cult-favorite four years later with "Ren & Stimpy."

The show, which lasted only one season, added tongue-in-cheek humor to the proceedings (see the "Quotes" section.) It was this rapid-fire wit that was the precursor to the likes of "The Simpsons", among others. This is the same kind of wit that's missing in most cartoons nowadays, which are more concerned with product placement and commercial accessibility (how else to explain how a generation of youngsters embrace something as hollow as "Pokémon"?)

Sadly, there's a dark spot in the show's history, one that led to it's demise. An episode that aired on April 23(?), 1988, drew the attention of Rev. Donald Wildmon. This particular episode featured a scene that showed Mighty Mouse sniffing what appeared to be cocaine. In actuality, Mighty Mouse was sniffing a dead, dried-up flower that had been given to him by Scrappy, the orphan. (This was an incredible piece of symbolism: the flower represented good in a world of evil.) Even when confronted with this, Wildmon insisted that it was cocaine. This led to protest from media watchdogs, which prompted brass at CBS to move the show to a later timeslot, only to cancel it shortly thereafter. Aside from a brief reappearance on the Fox network in November 1992, the show hasn't been widely seen.

All in all, if there's one relic from the 80's worth bringing back, this is it. And you gotta love that a capella reworking of the theme. :-)
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10/10
I miss this show.
I think that this show was a wonderful new version of the original terry Toon character, combining some elements of the original with others that were new and innovative at the time when it was released. Now the Mighty Mouse have a secret identity, also new friends and new enemies as well (as the Cow, that was my favorite villain) The show frequently parodied other shows, some from 1940's cartoons , Scooby Doo, classic and modern movies, and also the humor of the show was more sophisticated than the other cartoons of the same years, making it good for children and adults as well . The show also involved the collaboration of Bakshi with Canadian John Kricfalusi, creator of "Ren and Stimpy", (Also a good show).

I think that this show deserves more appreciation, it is way better than the horrible cartoons that were made in the recent years.
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10/10
I loved it.
CaptainPronin4 July 2008
I have to say that I never was a fan of the original Mighty Mouse. However, I liked the style of the new Mighty Mouse. Why? Well, because despite the strange style of the show, I found it very funny and clever. I liked the animation, the new characters, and the way in what the characters of the old Mighty Mouse were used.(Like the episode of Gnady Goose)

even when John Kricfalusi said that this show didn't have his humor style, there are some elements in common with his other shows, as "Ren & Stimpy" and "The Goddamn George Liquor Program". (at least in the animation and the bizarre characters and situations) I miss a lot this one. It is one of the few cartoons that loved as a kid and I still like it.
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10/10
It saved the 80's cartoons
a0510226722 July 2008
"The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse" was a a cartoon ahead of his time. During the 80's,most cartoons were basically made in order to sell toys, or were inspired in any cultural phenomena of the decade (real action movies, video-games, old TV-shows) and most of them weren't funny or interesting at all. And that's what makes this show great: It was exactly the opposite of those dull shows, that didn't have any personality or fun at all, using a more mature and complex sense of humor that made this remake superior to the original. The New Mighty Mouse not only had a better characterization and stories than most cartoons of the recent days, but it also had the wit and charm the many shows aimed to children would like to have. And yes, it have the strange elements that are common in the works of John Kricfalusi and Ralph Bakshi, and that isn't a problem, but only makes this cartoon better. "The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse" is a highly underrated cartoon, considering how it influenced in modern animation,something that is a shame.
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"..so let the trumpet players play, for Mighty Mouse is here today!"
Rid.X13 March 2000
Undoubtedly this is one of the more energetic and creative cartoons of the '80s, which isn't that surprising, given that it had the combined talents of Ralph Bakshi ("Fritz The Cat", "American Pop") and John Kricfalusi, who'd score another hit four years later with "Ren & Stimpy". The show, which lasted only one season on CBS, had a spark that's missing from most cartoons today.

One of the things that distinguished this cartoon is its deadpan sense of humor (see the Quotes section.) It goes without saying that this serves as the precursor to the likes of "The Simpsons", "King of the Hill", and many more sophisticated cartoons of the '90s.

For all the creativity throughout, there's a dark spot in the show's history, one that led to its demise. An episode that aired on April 23(?), 1988, drew the attention of Rev. Donald Wildmon. This particular episode contained a scene that showed Mighty Mouse snorting what looked like cocaine. In actuality, and in a brilliant piece of symbolism, Mighty Mouse was sniffing the dead, dried-up remains of a flower, given to him by the orphan Scrappy as a symbol of the good in the world. Despite this, Wildmon, along with other media watchdogs, instigated a strong campaign against the show. CBS brass then decided to move the show to a later timeslot; shortly thereafter, it was cancelled. Aside from a brief run on the FOX network in November-December of 1992, it hasn't been seen on television since.

Controversy aside, this still remains one of the finer pieces of animation ever seen on network television, and if there's any relic from the '80s worthy of resurrection, this would be it.
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10/10
Allow me to set you guys straight
pvollan21 February 2007
This is something I happen to know a little bit about. I saw the alleged coke sniffing episode, it is called "The Littlest Tramp". I was fortunate enough to record it off the air. It was actually shown twice before they got in trouble, and then edited in further showings (quite different from "never being seen again"). There is a British video cassette collection of New Mighty Mouse available only in PAL format; I have seen it and the alleged sniffing has been editing out. If you watch the cartoon, wait for him to say these words: "I know someone else like that". You should immediately see the pink powder fly up his nose. If you see Mighty staring at a fire or something else, the scene is missing. I saw John K at an appearance at the Seattle Art Museum. He said that he was the director, Bakshi was the producer. Both of those guys can say that it was a symbolic flower all that they like, that's their perogative. I say that if someone sniffs powder up their nose, it is a drug reference. It also seems to me that the show went on for quite some time after this happened.
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10/10
THE PERFECT GENERATION FOR ALL ANIMATORS, MILLENIALS, AND GEN Z
christianimation10 May 2023
Mighty Mouse has got its own story as different villians arrive,along an orphaned mouse, and the same characters. Mighty mouse has got its plot and animation generation for all the people, including Millenials, and Gen Z. It's by far the greatest generations of all the animation industries as much as ever. The entire series has got its ups & downs, but that doesn't mean the show is terrible. No Matter what comes and what goes, it can include randomness, and references? And it's humor is great. Mighty Mouse The New Adventures will be history, and perfect for a new generation. The Movie will be soon.
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Ahead of it's time.
lmereal14 March 2006
I honestly loved it because as a kid, I was always wise beyond my years. So most of the jokes and connotations were over the heads of 90% of their target audience- but they made ME laugh.... When I look at Cartoons on Adult Swim and Cartoon Network now its almost like they can't be funny without taking the adult humor to an extremely vile and offensive level. Either that or they'll throw in a gay undertone and that's not really a paradigm that I want my children to follow or think that it is funny or cute. This incarnation of Mighty Mouse pushed the envelope and made you forget about the golden age image by making it into a parody of the innocent age. IT WAS ORIGINAL. Not some cheesy retread of an old series. I personally didn't like the old school version anyway. I thought it was non-innovative like "Anybody can take the framework of Superman and project it onto a Mouse"

I liked the characters, supporting cast and villains on the new adventures. I also liked how they threw Cosmic Cow in the mix and made him an extremely wacky anti-hero. It was extremely creative.

In my opinion this cartoon should be re-aired on Adult Swim to see if people catch onto it in this era. Kids are into that stuff nowadays. But Saturday morning definitely wasn't an appropriate slot for it back then. That is probably why they pulled the plug on it so quickly.
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Freaky
weerdo148221 October 2001
I think I was like 6 when this was on the air and it used to freak me out. not that I didn't like it, I remember totally not understanding any of it. but, 4 years later when Ren and Stimpy premiered, I became totally obsessed with the same warped comedy. I wish I could find a copy of this cartoon. it, and the twisted adventures of felix the cat. that reminds me Ralph Bakshi did NOT create Fritz the Cat. He stole it from R. Crumb. anyway, this is a great cartoon, highly recommended
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Hated it.
ultramatt2000-17 March 2004
Welcome to "Matthew Rants" Since the DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS review can't come. My brother liked it, but didn't. Mighty Mouse the world's most loveable cartoon character, ruined! His adventures were wacky. Ultra wacky. As a child I like the old cartoons of the 40's. I saw this new one in 1989. I never understood it. I saw one episode where Mighty Mouse fought a witch and who lived in a pumpkin. It was messed up. The hat talks, pants talks. It was like a messed up LIDSVILLE. And of course, Might Mouse fighting the pumpkin-like beast was spoofing KING KONG. And speaking of old movies, there is one episode where Scrappy and Mighty Mouse go back in time, and see a spoof of prehistory. Where you see some creatures that are a combo between a cat and a dinosaur. A lot of episodes I saw were messed up! The only good episode I saw where Scrappy is getting chased, and he hides in a movie theatre, and sees old Mighty Mouse cartoons. I was glad to see it. I was so happy to see the old ones. But alas, the sweet age is over, and the wacky age is in! At the time I saw this cartoon. I began hating SESAME STREET, because it was too wacky, beginning with Ernie plucking off Bert's nose. Eewwww! What, SESAME STREET turns Hershel Gordon Lewis on us? I found Elmo annoying. Anyway, the drawings in this poor show spawned a whole range of wacky cartoons, like REN & STIMPY (1991-1995), DEXTER'S LABORATORY (1996-2003), FARLY ODDPARENTS (2001-onwards), etc. Bottom line: I liked the old cartoon series. You can say I'm a fuddy duddy.
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