Top 30 Times TV Shows Made Fun Of Disney
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best times TV shows parodied Disney and/or criticized the massive corporation. Is there a piece of sweet satire we missed? Let us know in the comments!
#30: Goofy & Clarabelle’s Forbidden Love
“Robot Chicken” (2005-)
This wacky “Robot Chicken” sketch pits Mickey Mouse against the concept of inter-species relationships. When the mouse gets riled up about Goofy and Clarabelle dating, a meeting gets arranged where other notable Disney characters share their two cents. You’d think this plucky crew would be positive and open-minded, but instead they’re pretty bigoted. Walt Disney actually ends up being the voice of reason by preaching against their close-mindedness. While that’s great, it’s also interesting considering Disney’s own alleged racism – a fact that Uncle Remus’ inclusion pokes fun at. What we do know for sure is that love is love and Mickey Mouse is a jerk here!
#29: New Corporate Overlords
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“The Simpsons” (1989-)
If you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em. That seems to have been Disney’s plan with several major media franchises. It’s not something that was lost on the team behind “The Simpsons” when Disney bought their parent company Fox, and then made everyone’s favorite dysfunctional cartoon family a centerpiece of the Disney+ promotional campaign. In an ad, Homer praises their new corporate overlords as he and his unimpressed family are surrounded by statues of then-Disney Chairman Bob Iger and Darth Vader. He insists his family praise their new bosses even when Dumbo falls from the sky and crushes him. Now that’s some brand loyalty!
#28: The Not-So Wonderful World of Wizzly
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“My Life as a Teenage Robot” (2003-09)
In an episode from “My Life as a Teenage Robot”, Jenny and the gang visit the famous amusement park known as Wizzly World. It offers all kinds of rides and a boatload of fun. Unfortunately it’s not a fun time for everyone. When this clear Walt Disney World parody is introduced, the robot employees are shown to be treated very poorly. They might be machines, but that’s no excuse for the cruelty they face. This situation repulses Jenny, and it could probably be seen as an allegory for the conditions workers at Disney’s amusement parks have reportedly faced. Let’s just say a lot of employees haven’t had a magical time working for the media conglomerate.
#27: Disgruntled Mickey
“Rocko's Modern Life” (1993-96)
During the episode “Rocko’s Happy Sack”, Rocko goes about his business shopping at a grocery store. While he does, viewers briefly get a glimpse of another shopper by the frozen aisle. This rodent quickly complains about how the store’s out of their favorite ice cream before walking off. The rude rodent is a parody of Mickey Mouse, but unlike his Disney counterpart, he’s not so pleasant to be around. You can just tell by his pissed-off expression that he’s a lot less cheery and a lot more bitter. We can’t blame him for being upset about the store being out of his favorite ice cream, but could he have at least closed the door like a proper gentleman? Or maybe it’s gentlemouse?
#26: Hieronymus Glove Is Walt Disney
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
While visiting Glove World!, a place that also happens to be a pretty clear Disney parks spoof, SpongeBob and Patrick meet its founder, the illustrious Hieronymus Glove. Even if you’re not a Disney expert, you’d probably recognize that Hieronymus is a parody of Walt Disney, with all the details perfectly lining up. That includes the way the “SpongeBob” character looks, the way he acts, and so much more. The show goes so far as to poke fun at the wild theory that Walt wanted to be cryogenically frozen. It looks like not even the depths of the ocean are free from Disney parodies!
#25: “Witches of Rodeo Drive”
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“Big Time Rush” (2009-13)
Remember Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place”? You probably do, but do you know about “Witches of Rodeo Drive”? Probably not. It’s a spoof Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush” made of their competitor network’s aforementioned show. We first learn about it when James and Camille audition. While we don’t have all the details regarding “Rodeo Drive”, it seems like it features the zaniness of “Wizards,” dialed up to eleven. This may be a parody, but it feels more like a lighthearted dig than a mean-spirited insult. Still, we wonder what the ratings war would’ve looked like if “Rodeo Drive” had existed.
#24: A Place Disney Supported
Top 20 Times TV Shows Made Fun Of Disney
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
Family Guy clearly has no problem bringing up Walt Disney's rumored anti-Semitism. While this usually happens as one joke in a larger segment, this cutaway gag bluntly gets right to the point. It starts with Peter telling Lois that she always tricks him into going places he doesn't want to go. Cut to the couple standing outside Auschwitz with Peter dressed for Disneyland. Lois then says that the infamous place was not a place Disney built, where Peter thought he was going, but rather one Disney supported.
#23: The Dingo Channel Steals iCarly’s Jokes
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“iCarly” (2007-12)
Plagiarism in any industry is considered a very serious offense. So when the gang in “iCarly” suspect the Dingo Channel is stealing their bits, they decide to take action! Instead of trying to fight the giant TV channel through the court of law though, they pay a visit to Dingo Studios. Besides the obvious spoof of Disney Channel, the episode also includes Spencer and Freddie finding the frozen head of founder Charles Dingo. It shouldn’t take you too long to guess who that’s a reference to. The gang later uses this as a way to ensure their work is no longer taken. That’s definitely one way to keep writers on the straight and narrow.
#22: Copyright Expired
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
It’s no secret that Disney is very protective of its property. If your product invites too much comparison to the Disney brand, a lawsuit is likely on the horizon. So when Principal Skinner uses the slogan, “The Happiest Place on Earth,” for the school carnival, Disneyland threatens to sue Springfield Elementary. What Disney’s lawyers don’t realize is that Skinner was a Green Beret in the United States Army. Before a legal battle can ensue, Skinner commences a literal battle that leaves the lawyer and one of his bodyguards whimpering on the ground. Another Disney minion attempts to get away, but Skinner sends him packing with a mouse-eared briefcase. Of course, now that Disney owns “The Simpsons,” we shouldn’t expect any more copyright wars.
#21: Goofy in Hell
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
Writing an article on teenage girls, Brian tries to spy on Meg from a ladder outside her room, but Stewie warns him not to fall - as not all dogs go to heaven. Leaving nothing to the imagination, a cutaway reveals that famed Disney dog Goofy is in hell. Why? Apparently he was involved in the September 2001 tragedy - and Goofy confesses to it in his familiar southern drawl. He doesn’t stop there with his hateful remarks, soon adding more fuel to the rumors that Walt Disney was anti-Semitic. The real kicker though is when Goofy does his characteristic holler as he’s pushed into the eternal pit of fire!
#20: “Disney Channel Acting School”
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“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)
Not sure if you’ve got what it takes to land a role on one of Disney Channel’s many sitcoms? Don’t worry, Miley Cyrus and the “SNL” cast have got your back! In this sketch, the “Hannah Montana” star tries to help the next generation of aspiring actors. But her advice’s usefulness might be questionable. She points out an extensive amount of tropes – like loudness – that are common in these shows, to fantastic comedic effect. Did we mention Kenan Thompson stars as Raven-Symoné alongside her, taking the parody to the next level? Disney Channel’s had many great programs, but as the satirical sketch brilliantly points out, they can also be pretty formulaic.
#19: Most Disney Moms Are Dead
Top 10 Times Robot Chicken Made Fun of Disney
“Robot Chicken” (2005-)
This sketch is quick to point out an unfortunate trend in animated Disney films – and that’s how so many of the mothers in them have passed on. The segment shows multiple characters at the cemetery, visiting their late moms. It leads to some pretty interesting scenarios. Let’s just say we didn’t expect such morbid words from the ghost of Bambi’s mom. And Mickey Mouse venting about his less-than-kind mother is something you have to see to believe. After a certain point you really have to wonder if Disney has it out for moms. Alright, probably not, but it’s weird how regularly they die off, so we get where “Robot Chicken” is coming from here.
#18: Disneyland
“MADtv” (1995-2016)
Working in the Magic Kingdom or any Disney Park may not be the easiest job in the world, but this MADtv segment takes things to a whole new level. A tour guide is shot by a sniper for almost revealing the existence of more than one Mickey Mouse to a park guest, and is replaced by a robot. Then a performer dressed as one of the chipmunks meets a similar fate when he tells the same worried guest about a secret city and Disney’s nuclear capabilities. Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee and a marching band cover up these murders, as well as Walt Disney’s frozen head, which floats around the park.
#17: Minnie Models
”Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
There are many problematic elements of Walt Disney’s legacy, some rumored and some proven. But the studio founder running a sketchy casting couch is not one of them, at least not as far as we can tell. That didn’t stop Seth MacFarlane from using Disney in an early season cutaway gag to make a joke about male Hollywood executives exploiting female talent. After Brian tells Peter that all the great artists he knows took classes, we cut to Minnie Mouse asking Disney if she really has to undress, and he says she does if she wants to be a star. She obliges, and he proceeds to get excited as he draws her.
#16: A Cheesy Disneyland Parody
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“The Loud House” (2016-)
If you have any plans for the weekend, then those plans better moo-ve along because we’re going to Dairyland! This amusement park is a beloved site for the Loud family, who’ve visited it in multiple episodes. It definitely bears a resemblance to Disneyland. It even has its own version of the “it’s a small world” ride – except the Dairyland one is quite the cheesy caricature. No, literally, there’s a sea of melted cheese and everything. Yeah, you could argue that shows are starting to really milk the whole “spoofing Disneyland” thing. But hey, if it works then it works!
#15: It’s a Tiny World
Top 10 Times Disney Channel Shows Got Serious
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
In order to bond with Stewie, Peter does the one thing guaranteed to get a child’s approval – he takes him to Disney World, and naturally, Stewie’s over the moon about it. This gives the show’s writers ample opportunity to make fun of Disney as much as possible. The least subtle of these jabs occurs when Stewie is separated from Peter and gets discovered by two security guards. Promptly kidnapped and chained up with other lost children, Stewie is forced to sing, “It’s a Tiny World” as part of a ride, playing off of Disney’s real ride, “It’s a Small World.”
#14: EFCOT Center
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
Let’s be honest, if you’re going to visit a Florida theme park, Epcot probably isn’t top of the list. “The Simpsons”’ EFCOT Center does little to distinguish itself from EPCOT with its signature structure being a large geodesic sphere. Homer is bored from the second they fly over the park, which is advertised as the place you go “when everything else is booked.” The park’s vision of the future apparently hasn’t been updated since the late 60s and it really shows. Eventually, Homer decides to make a break for Disney World, although he’s horrified to learn that the churros are $14. As many jabs as the episode takes at Epcot, the writers have to admit that Disney parks do have some incredible restaurants.
#13: Mickey Mistreatment
Mickey Mouse vs Bugs Bunny
“South Park” (1997-)
In the world of “South Park”, Mickey Mouse isn't just a mascot for Disney, he’s the boss. And when an employee steps out of line, he’s not above getting personally involved. In this episode, someone has been bad mouthing the Chinese government. To get to the bottom of it, Mickey rallies all Disney characters and interrogates them to try and find out who the traitor is. And it’s pretty full on, playing on the perception that Disney is super strict with its stars. The writers also throw a dig in at Mickey being unsure whether his company owns “South Park” - ya know, cause Disney owns everything.
#12: Itchy the Lucky Mouse
Top 10 Greatest Itchy & Scratchy Episodes
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
We all know who Walt Disney is, but fewer people are familiar with Mickey’s co-creator, Ub Iwerks. In this episode, it’s revealed that Roger Meyers stole the character Itchy from another animator in 1928, the same year Mickey made his debut. This doesn’t exactly parallel Disney and Iwerks’ partnership, as both played a hand in creating Mickey. That being said, there’s no denying that the public associates Mickey more with Disney than Iwerks. Roger Meyers is clearly meant to be a Walt Disney parody, right down to a line about him being cryogenically frozen. Of course, the episode could also be seen as a shot at Charles Mintz, a distributor who took control of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit away from his creators, Disney and Iwerks.
#11: Evil Mickey Mouse
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“Drawn Together” (2004-07)
Some sendups are bound to portray Disney in a negative light, but having Mickey Mouse essentially be a stone-cold killer is definitely subversive. In the “Drawn Together” episode titled “Terms of Endearment,” Foxxy becomes a controversial character after getting radiation poisoning. She morphs into an offensive stereotype, so the KFCC steps in. It’s a pretty wild premise. But what makes it so much weirder is that Mickey Mouse is later revealed to be the mastermind who’s hellbent on eradicating all problematic cartoon figures. He’s even covered in shadows every time he shows up, so you know he’s one seriously rotten apple. That’s right, Mickey wants to create “the happiest place on Earth” through any means possible.
#10: Hotstar Censorship
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (2014-)
When John Oliver’s fans let him know that Hotstar, the streaming service that carries his show in India, failed to upload an episode where he criticized the country’s government, Oliver and his staff did some digging. They found out that Hotstar had, in fact, also been censoring jokes about Disney, its parent company. They took out references to 1980s Mickey Mouse having a substance use problem and to what should be Donald Duck’s correct anatomy out of the show. Oliver not only mocked Hotstar’s jarring editing technique but brought up the fact that he played Zazu in “The Lion King” remake, meaning that no matter how offensive, everything he said was a “Disney fact”.
#9: Diz-Nee Land
Top 10 Times Adult Cartoon Shows Made Fun of Each Other
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
A not-so-subtle imitation of various Disney parks, Diz-Nee Land is briefly seen in season 2. The amusement park resurfaces in season 26 and this time the writers come off as much more cynical, describing it as “The Happiest Hell on Earth.” A lengthy car trip is followed by an even more tedious journey simply to enter the park. Once inside, the Simpsons end up bleeding their wallets dry and sitting through repetitive rides. The episode also draws attention to Disney’s acquisition of “Star Wars” and the overhaul to make “Pirates of the Caribbean” more “politically correct.” A Springfield themed area is currently located at Universal Studios, but it’ll be beyond ironic if “Simpsons” attractions start popping up in Disneyland later down the line.
#8: Same Old Heroine
Top 10 Times Shows Made Fun of The Simpsons
“Animaniacs” (1993-98)
If you’re going to accuse most Disney movies of being formulaic cash grabs, why not do it with a parody of a typical Disney princess song? That’s what ‘90s cartoon series “Animaniacs” did during the height of the Disney renaissance. The number visually references “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” and even namechecks “Pocahontas”, which the larger segment the song appears in is parodying, by having the film’s name appear on money. The song even asks, in the voice of a Disney exec: “We have got your seven bucks, why should we try something new?”
#7: Mickey Puts the Jonas Brothers in Their Place
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“South Park” (1997-)
For this entry, we’re back with Mickey Mouse and his totalitarian way of running Disney - at least within the world of “South Park”. Harking back to when boyband The Jonas Brothers wore purity rings, the episode suggests that Mickey Mouse made the boys wear them in a sneaky plot to sell sex to young audiences. And when the band refuses to play along, he beats one of them violently. We’ve already mentioned how “South Park” likes to play on the apparent ruthlessness of Disney and its treatment of its stars, but this scene is particularly hard-hitting. And that laugh Mickey keeps doing - oh man.
#6: The Roger Meyers Story
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“The Simpsons” (1989-)
A vacation to Itchy & Scratchy Land invites numerous possibilities for parodies, including a documentary about fictional founder Roger Meyers, Sr. The documentary depicts Meyers as a seemingly wholesome figure who actually had a few skeletons in his closet. Just as Walt Disney has been accused by some of being anti-Semitic, Meyers landed in hot water for a controversial cartoon. Meyers’ filmography also includes an ultra-violent version of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” entitled “Scratchtasia.” His follow-up feature is a “Pinocchio” parody called “Pinnitchio,” which is perhaps even more shocking than the original novel by Carlo Collodi. A manic Scratchy robot destroys the screen before the documentary’s conclusion, but we can’t help but wonder if Itchy and Scratchy ever got the Bambi treatment.
#5: Journey to the Disney Vault
“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)
In this TV Funhouse animated segment from “Saturday Night Live”, a couple of kids hear about the Disney Vault and wish they could live there, and Mickey Mouse tells them they can. With a setup like that, you might think the skit would be a bunch of jokes about Disney direct-To-DVD sequels and while there are plenty of those, the kids soon discover that the vault also contains Walt Disney's frozen head, records of Disney's testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee outing cartoonists as Communist and an ultra-racist version of “Song of the South”, a film already controversial in reality. Plus there’s Jim Henson, who wouldn’t sell, and Scar the Disney Lawyer.
#4: Fievel Mousekewitz
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
Fed up with Peter’s shenanigans, Lois hires a nanny named Natalia to help raise the kids. Tough, brawny and stereotypically Eastern European, Natalia turns out to be a Belarusian assassin. When confronted by Stewie, Natalia claims to be doing her job in pursuit of Russian ex-patriot Fievel Mousekewitz, the protagonist from Don Bluth’s “An American Tail.” Mousekewitz appears, claiming to be named “Frank Maxwell,” and nervously gets into his car -- which then explodes, though Natalia denies responsibility. Well who should be lurking around the corner but Mickey Mouse, who sarcastically laments the mouse’s “bad luck” -- playing on Walt Disney’s rumored bigotry, and the fact that Bluth once worked for Disney.
#3: Randy Marsh Confronts Winnie The Pooh
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“South Park” (1997-)
And you thought we were done with Mickey Mouse mercilessness - of course not! When Mickey blames Winnie the Pooh for jeopardizing a deal with China, Randy is sent to take Pooh out! The brutal scene consists of Randy luring Pooh down an alley with some honey, and then graphically attacking him. Again, this is another moment targeting the lengths that Disney allegedly goes to in order to keep business running as usual. But ... Why did it have to be Pooh? South Park has never shied away from shocking imagery, but this really pushed the envelope!
#2: Kimba, I Mean Simba
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
When the late Bleeding Gums Murphy appears to Lisa in the sky, it’s hard not to think about Mufasa’s heavenly message to Simba. Actually, Mufasa appears alongside Bleeding Gums with Darth Vader and James Earl Jones. While “The Lion King” lampoon is evident, there’s another joke that might’ve flown over your head. Mufasa accidentally says “Kimba” instead of “Simba.” Animation fans will know that this is a reference to “Kimba the White Lion,” an anime series from the 60s that shares an astonishing amount in common with the Disney film. “The Lion King” directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff claim they had no knowledge of the anime while making their film, but this moment seems to be suggesting that somebody at Disney was familiar with it.
#1: Brian & Stewie Visit the Disney Universe
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“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
This classic episode features Brian and Stewie visiting alternate universes. The multiverse-hopping duo soon find a Disney universe, and are quickly won over -- and it’s not hard to see why. With a sickly sweet atmosphere, talking animals and objects, gorgeous animation, and a show stopping musical number about pie, this universe embodies nearly everything we love about Disney animations. However, “Family Guy” yet again brings up the racism rumors when everyone instantly turns on Mort Goldman, which prompts Brian and Stewie to move on. If it weren’t for that disturbing bit, we’d love a whole episode in this style!
