The Weasels are antagonists who first appeared in Disney’s 1949 animated feature film, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. They are a gang of crafty thieves and crooks with fast-moving, hoodlum-like qualities.
Background
The weasels are a band of thugs whose reputation proceeds them. Their typical ambitions revolve around the acquisition of wealth, typically through means of theft and murder. The weasels are known for their slimy, fast-paced actions. They are also large in quantity, with their legion being depicted as anywhere between a mere trio, to several dozens. This makes them formidable and elusive foes. In The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, they are associates of the conniving barman, Mr. Winkie. More prominently, however, they are criminals in the world of Mickey Mouse and his friends, first appearing as such in 1952’s How to Be a Detective. When not acting as independents, they are generally under the employment of other powerful villains, especially Pete. Not all weasels depicted are necessarily evil, however. Some hold legitimate professions, but carry out their business with somewhat shady practices. An example can be seen in “Mickey's Mechanical House”.
Appearances
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
In their original film, the Weasels were hired by Mr. Winkie in an attempt to steal the deed to Toad Hall.
They first appear in a flashback surrounding a testimony told by Cyril Proudbottom when J. Thaddeus Toad is brought to court for allegedly stealing a red motorcar. Seven weasels are seen in the vehicle speeding past Toad and Cyril down a highway, having stolen the car and fleeing the police apparently for an earlier robbery; one of the weasels emerging from the motorcar's trunk is seen carrying a bag (presumably containing stolen goods or valuables) and stopping by a nearby tavern. Toad is instantly enamored by the sight of the automobile, going so far as to smell the fuel emitting from the muffler, and decides to seek out the "owners". Toad steps inside the tavern where the weasels are seen scheming at a table until they finally notice him walk in. He approaches the tavernkeeper, Winkie, at the bar and asks him as to who owns the "hot-looking car." At this instant, the weasels, believing that Toad is an informant sent by the police, suddenly scurry beneath the table and draw guns at him but soon lower their weapons when Toad declares that he merely wanted to buy the motorcar. However, having no money on him at the time, Toad instead proposes to trade Toad Hall for the motorcar, a bargain the weasels quickly and eagerly accepted.
Later, on Christmas Day, the entire gang of weasels are seen by Angus MacBadger partying and drinking beer in Toad Hall with Winkie. Angus sees Winkie holding the deed to the hall, which is the only thing that can prove Toad's innocence. The heroes hatch a plan and go to Toad Hall to retrieve the deed. One of the weasels is keeping watch and is alerted of their presence. He quietly follows them into Toad Hall, where Winkie and the other weasels are drunk for too much beer. Just as Mole is about to take the deed back, the guard weasel stops them and wakes his boss and comrades. After a dangerous and comical game of keep-away, Toad and his friends escape with the deed. It is assumed that Winkie and the weasels were sent to prison afterward.
How to Be a Detective
A weasel thug tries to hinder Goofy's attempts to solve the "Al" case. Early on, he threatens Goofy with a gun. At another point, he serves Goofy a martini laced with a goofball and then leaves him to drown underwater with his feet set in concrete. During the car chase, the weasel tries to stop Goofy's car by covering the road with tacks, only for Goofy to sweep them out of the way with a broom. At another point during the chase, the weasel places a traveling billboard in the path of the other cars, so that they will drive off the road. He also engages Pete in a shootout between the cars. Finally, in the end, he serves as a parson for Pete (revealed as the missing Al) and the dame's wedding.
The Prince and the Pauper
They appeared as the henchmen of Pete, as the English King's military force. In secret, however, they act more like ruthless crooks that constantly rob the poor, in the ill King's name (or as Pete claimed). The weasels are voiced, here, by Charlie Adler and Bill Farmer.
DuckTales
Two weasels appeared as Glomgold's henchmen in "Horse Scents" and two Australian weasels appeared in "Back Out in the Outback".
House of Mouse
The weasels make appearances in several episodes of the series.
In "Pete's House of Villains", Pete hires them to replace the Penguin Waiters, but causes legal issues when they begin to steal the guests' belongings such as Prince John's gold, Zeus' thunderbolts, and Ariel's voice. When Pete fires a weasel for it, the others drop a safe on him.
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse
In "Cheese Wranglers", the weasels serve as Pete's henchmen to rustle Mickey's herd of cheese.
Other appearances
In Mickey's Christmas Carol, two of the weasels appeared as gravediggers for Ebenezer Scrooge.
A gang of weasels known as the Toon Patrol appear in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, as henchmen to Judge Doom.
Video games
Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse
The weasels appear as the main enemies in the "Prince and the Pauper" level. There are two kinds of such enemies here: those who throw knives and those who shoot arrows from crossbows.
Mickey's Speedway USA
The weasels serve as the antagonists of the game. They kidnap Pluto in order to steal the latter’s diamond-encrusted collar. Mickey and his gang embark on an adventure around the world to find the weasels and rescue Pluto. Throughout the game, postcards of the weasels from various locales depict the villains torturing Pluto. In the game’s epilogue, the weasels are arrested.
Other games
In Mickey Saves the Day 3D Adventure, some weasels appears as Pete's henchmen in his plot to become mayor of the town.
Gallery
See also
- Stan Woozle - another Disney weasel whose design is based on the Weasels.
- Toon Patrol - A gang of weasels who visually resemble the originals.
References
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: See the easter eggs in new Mickey Mouse shorts at Disney+". New York Daily News. Retrieved on November 17, 2020.
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