Urban Mickey Scowls in Disney D5 Collection

An urban twist on a rural mouse - with half-steppin', too

- by Bob McLain, January 24, 2011

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I don't scare easy.

And Mickey Mouse? Are you kidding me? He couldn't scare a ... mouse.

But Mickey has, well, changed. In Disney's upcoming D5 line of branded apparel, Mickey has channeled some deep, subterranean stream of rabid rodentia.

He's become angry. Troubled. Scary...

Last week, in the Disney Parks Blog, Michelle Harker shared a preview of the Disney Double 5 Collection, the company's newest fashion line scheduled for debut February 5 at Disneyland's D Street.

According to Michelle, the Double 5 is an 'urban twist' on classic Mickey-ware. It includes items with names 'thunk up' by people with a unique take on modern urban life, for example, 'How You Like Me?' (say it in a Will Smith voice) and 'Half Steppin', as in 'you better get to half-stepping back, sucka, or I'ma whack you with this metal pipe - how you like me now?'.

The designs are by Les Schettkoe, the Lead Designer at Disney Consumer Products.

So far, comments on the Disney Parks Blog are running positive, though the single word comment 'CUTE' by Amy somewhat misses the whole point of an urban Mickey. Lori from NY (of course!) puts in the snark and asks if the D5 items will be as pricy as everything else in D Street. Most of the other comments are pleas for plus sizes.

I'm a purist when it comes to Mickey. I like happy, smiling Mickey. I don't like my Mickey doin' no half-steppin'. And I'm not down with 'scowling' Mickey, either.

But I'm thrilled that Disney is taking chances, and I think the D5 line will have enough admirers to keep it viable. In fact, despite my traditionalist tendencies, I wouldn't mind Disney releasing a 'Dark Mickey' line.

Maybe it would appeal to the elusive and highly coveted young male adult demographic that Disney has such a hard time tempting into the parks.

Don't stop there! More Tidings Await...