"Jungle Rhythm" is a black-and-white short film from 1929, that is almost 90 years old already. The title of course requires that this 7-minute production by Walt Disney has sound and this is what it is mostly about: the music. We don't (really) hear Mickey Mouse speak yet and this one is still from the early days of the world's most famous mouse character. This is not the only film from back in the days that takes place at the jungle and has a cartoon character make music with the help of everything he can find there, especially the animals. Still i must say the music was not too good except one or two occasions and the story was basically non-existent which was a frequent problem in animation before the 1930s. The animation is okay and shows that Disney was among the very best the genre had to offer, also at this point already. But the other components were just too weak for me to recommend it. Thumbs down.

This is an early Disney cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse. There will be spoilers ahead:The only thing even remotely giving the appearance of a "plot" is the indication early on that Mickey is on safari hunting big game, but that blows away with his weapon disintegrating on him first time out.The cartoon turns musical shortly thereafter. While Mickey is trying to be nonchalant in a tight spot, a monkey starts playing a squeeze-box and off we go.Everyone instantly starts getting along except for three monkeys who become music critics in a riff on the old "see no evil" bit. Mickey seems to find musical "instruments" in everyone and everything, from a tree limb to varied and various animal body parts, on occasion engendering anger along the way.It's a fun ride which goes absolutely nowhere-and it's well worth the trip! This short can be found on the Mickey Mouse In Black and White, Volume Two Disney Treasures DVD set and is well worth tracking down. Recommended.

By all means this is not Mickey's best, but is fun and charming still. Some of the backgrounds have a somewhat sparse and primitive look, and the cartoon is virtually plot-less with an abrupt ending. However, the character designs do flow well especially with the lion and also the jungle cat's cute facial expressions. The music is energetic and very catchy, it was nice to hear Turkey in the Straw again, and the dancing shows nifty choreography and flowing movement especially with the lion's hula dance. There are some fun gags, such as Mickey grabbing a branch off a tree and starting to play it like a saxophone and with the Monkeys. Mickey is very likable as ever, and the animals are colourful characters in their own right. Overall, a charming and amusing short if not one of Mickey's best. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Inexplicably, this cartoon short finds Mickey in the jungle. And, like most of the early Mickey cartoons, there is an absence of dialog and lots of music. While today this all seems pretty campy, it was state of the art in its day.For the most part, there really isn't any plot--just lots of jungle creatures parading past the screen--singing and dancing like they are on stage. Then, you get to hear Mickey sing--and it's pretty sad--but fortunately he mostly avoids singing and plays various animals like musical instruments--and abusing them a bit in the process.Far from a classic, there is still an odd charm about this. And, interestingly, Mickey once again plays (among other songs) "Turkey in the Straw"--the same tune he played in "Steamboat Willie" the year before--which was the first cartoon with sound.