My Son Reviews 'Mickey and the Roadster Racers'

A toddler's thoughts on art in contemporary media (and cars).

It’s not often that a piece of media cuts to the very heart of what it means to be human. And yet such a collection has arrived in the form of Mickey and the Roadster Racers, now streaming on Disney+.

Of course, even a three-year-old such as myself is familiar with Disney’s classic animated characters: Mickey, the lovable optimist. Donald, the mercurial ne’er-do-well. Goofy, the beleaguered simpleton. However, the brilliance in this piece is taking Walt Disney’s beloved inventions, heretofore known for simple tomfoolery… and giving them CARS! Can you believe it?!! I LOVE CARS!!!

Yes, cars. The irrepressible symbol of American industry, the mechanical manifestation of our national identity, the shiny colors that go vroom vroom. It’s impossible to miss the thematic resonance boiling just below this show’s surface. Cars came of age at the very same time that Walt Disney hatched an idea for a whimsical rodent who piloted a steamboat. The assembly line and the animator’s desk are twins, in a way, both producing the American dream at scale. And let’s not forget: Mickey’s car is red, which is the best color.