One of the most beloved traditions of all Disney fans has to be looking for Hidden Mickeys. Those three circles that make up the silhouette of the master mouse himself can be found in everything from the parks to the merchandise and, of course, the myriad of animated classics beloved by all.
While Mickey’s not afraid to show his face in a variety of scenes and scenarios, some hidden Mickey’s aren’t hidden in the most conventional ways. In fact, many of them get down-right weird. Some might be thinking how hard can it be to sneak in three circles? Take a look at this list and find out.
Timon’s Bug (The Lion King)
This Hidden Mickey starts out our list with something simple yet subtle. It’s not the fact that it’s found on one of the many colorful bugs that Timon and Pumbaa gorge themselves on, but the fact that it’s hazed out in the background.
It’s one of those little features that make the viewer squint and try for a second look to confirm their suspicions.
A Kid’s Plush (Zootpia)
While this isn’t technically a movie per se, Mickey does appear in the film in the exact same form. In the movie, a plush of Mickey can be seen in a parent’s stroller as Nick and Judy are walking the street.
The same plush can also be seen on the poster promoting the film. While this might seem like something as commonplace as they come, things start to get stranger when the same plush appears in other films.
Anna & Elsa’s Library (Frozen)
Mickey must be pretty popular if he’s able to become a cherished childhood playmate for Anna and Elsa. Because it seems one of them must have owned a Mickey plush in order to have one sitting on one of the shelves in the royal library.
The inclusion of Mickey into the castle’s decor is certainly charming, but some fans can’t help but wonder who on earth would sell Mickey merch this far away from the nearest Disney Park.
Oaken’s Shop (Frozen)
Not only does Oaken sell climbing gear, reindeer food, and offer a family-friendly sauna, but apparently he also deals in Mickey merchandise as well.
Though it’s slightly obscured by some of the store’s other wears, a small toy Mickey can be seen just barely behind some boxes on a shelf near Anna when she enters the shop. Looks like Mickey can be found in kingdoms outside the magical ones.
Pongo’s Shoulder (One Hundred & One Dalmatians)
The next two entries on this list definitely earn their “spots,” because they consist of sets of spotted fur that conveniently make up that familiar face. The first, being the earlier film, features a certain father of 99 Dalmatians.
Spots on a Dalmatian are nothing out of the ordinary… unless three of those spots make up a Mickey head. If one looks closer at Pongo’s shoulder, the Hidden Mickey is unmistakable.
Clawhauser’s Cheek (Zootopia)
One of the most recent incarnations of a Hidden Mickey on an actual character is without a doubt on Officer Clawhauser of the ZPD. The only thing that could make those ridiculously cute chubby cheeks all the more adorable is making a Hidden Mickey appear in one of his spots.
The reason it makes the list is not due to its immediate recognizability, but how blatant it is. He might as well have been wearing a Disney Parks security badge!
Various Cameos (A Goofy Movie)
Mickey has not one, not two, but three separate appearances in this underrated slice of ’90s Disney. Not only does he appear in person on two different occasions (once while hitchhiking with Donald Duck and another during the concert), but also as a phone in Max’s bedroom.
Mickey merchandise has appeared on the list three times already, so what’s the big idea? The weird thing about it is that Mickey exists in a universe where he’s already famous. Is he an in-universe celebrity? If so, why doesn’t he look like it in his in-person cameos? Can someone at Disney explain how that factors out?
Mickey Soap (Lilo & Stich)
Mickey’s marvelous mug has appeared on everything from stuffed animals to Dalmatian spots, but since when did Mickey start endorsing his own detergent? It’s a small detail, but if one looks closer at the background in Lilo and Nani’s laundry room, Mickey’s face appears on what looks like a bottle of dish soap.
It’s currently unknown how or why Mickey appears in the world of Lilo & Stitch, but his smiling face is right there in black and white. Perhaps its a Disney Parks souvenir?
A Pair of Underwear (An Extremely Goofy Movie)
This list has had Mickey plush, Mickey telephones, and even Mickey dish soap. Now, it features Mickey on a pair of cartoonishly stretchy underwear!
An Extremely Goofy Movie might be one of the lesser Disney sequels, but it definitely holds one of the weirdest hidden Mickeys ever created so it has that going for it. However, there’s still one more mouse that takes the proverbial cheesecake…
Raja Mid-Transformation (Aladdin)
The only way fans were able to catch this Hidden Mickey was if they were especially adept with their movie pausing skills. Right as Jafar’s spell over Agrabah is being broken and Raja reverts from cub to tiger, Raja’s head turns into Mickey’s midframe.
Somewhere, an Aladdin animator is truly patting himself on the back for this well-hidden Easter Egg. Whoever drew this in between deserves a raise.
