Anita the Animata TV (Television Ventures)
Conceived by Ashley Masenado
Written by Baldwin17
Chapter 1
"One Hour in Wonderland"
It was Christmastime at the Disney Studio, and everywhere Anita looked, the holiday spirit was abound. She happily helped Chip, Dale and Donald's nephews hang the ornaments on the Christmas tree. While Minnie and Daisy hung the garland on the walls. "I love this time of year." Huey said with a smile. "You and me both, pal." she replied.
Soon, she heard Goofy singing jingle bells as he put a Christmas wreathe up on a wall. "Need some help, Goofy?" she asked. "Uhyuck, I'd sure appreciate it." the silly dog replied. They both straightened the wreath so that it was just right. "Perfect." Anita said with a smile before Goofy shook her hand as thanks.
After helping to decorate the studio, Anita went back to her office and sat at her desk and wondered, how did the studio celebrate Christmas when Walt was alive? As she thought that very question, the familiar Whirlwind of Time swept her off to another time. She found herself in the year 1950, at the very beginning of the Silver Age of the company. Not long after she started walking down Dopey Drive, Jaq and Gus called for her.
"Hey, fellas. What's going on?" she asked. "Walty look for you. Big big reason." Gus replied. "If Walt needs me, I'll head for his office." Anita said before happily going on her way, waving back to the little mice as she went. By the time she reached Walt's office, he was discussing something with Roy.
"Beg your pardon, but is now a bad time?" Anita asked after knocking on the open door. "Oh, Anita. You're just in time, have a seat." Walt answered before she took the seat next to Roy. "So, what's the big idea here, Walt?" she asked. "Well, I was talking with Roy about my latest venture. We're going to get into a new medium of entertainment, television." Walt explained.
Anita knew that, in this time period, television was relatively new and no one knew just what it could or would become. "We made an agreement with NBC and Coca-Cola to create a television special to air on Christmas Day. We're calling it One Hour in Wonderland." Roy added. "Where will it be filmed?" Anita asked. "Here at the studio. It'll be aired live, too." Walt answered.
"Live? That means just about anything can happen." she said in surprise. "Well, we also have special guests coming. My daughters, Edgar Bergan and his two friends, Charlie and Mortimer." Roy pointed out. Anita smiled, she remembered Charlie and Mortimer, and their caretaker, Edgar, well from when she first met them during the production of Fun and Fancy Free.
"I can't wait to meet your daughters, Walt." she added. "I told them about you, so the feeling is mutual." Walt replied with a smile. "Looks like we're gonna have a happy and merry Christmas" Anita said before taking her leave. Not long after, she felt the winds of time blowing all around her as she saw time move forward from when she was to Christmas Day, 1950.
Anita quickly noticed that she had a very beautiful outfit on for the party, a tailored, ankle-length dress made of tweed with a decent neckline, a long skirt and a petticoat. "Wow! I look beautiful!" she said in surprise. "Oh, you certainly do, dear." a familiar voice said before Anita turned and saw it was Walt. "Glad to see you dressed for the occasion. Now let's go in, the other guests are waiting." he added before they entered the room where the party was being held.
They entered and Anita was dazzled by the Christmas decorations around the place. She saw the refreshment table had lots of things for the guests, and not just Coca-Cola. Anita also spotted the NBC cameras around, ready to film and broadcast the celebration. Soon enough, the party was underway and the cameras were rolling. Anita got the chance to meet with Bobby Driscoll, who seemed to have young ladies surrounding him and asking for his autograph, and the hostess of the festivities, Kathryn Beaumont.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Beaumont. But why are you dressed like Alice from Alice in Wonderland?" she asked. "Oh, because I'm the voice of and the live action study model for the title character in Mr. Disney's upcoming picture, Alice in Wonderland." Kathryn answered. "Oh, my." Anita said, surprised. She was actually speaking to the lead in one of her favorite Disney movies.
"Anita, I wanted to show you something." Walt called before showing her a model train. "Oh, goodness. What a neat-looking train." Anita said with an impressed look on her face. "So, you see, this is the result of being a good boy for 30 years. Santa finally came across." Walt replied. Anita didn't know what to think, she knew that Walt grew up in a low income family and likely didn't have many toys growing up, but wanting the same model train since 1920, at the age of 9, was a bit of a stretch.
Walt showed her and a couple of other guests the throttle and whistle of the model before one of Walt's daughters told him that there was a call waiting for him. It was Walt's secretary, who told him that Edgar, Charlie and Mortimer had arrived. Walt told everyone the news before the three entered. "Wow, what a mob! Hiya, guys and gals!" Charlie said before the guests greeted the three, with Mortimer giving a simple 'How do you do?'
"Glad you could make it boys. I want you to meet your hostess. This is Kathryn Beaumont, she's the voice of Alice in Wonderland." Walt said. "Yeah. Well, what goes with the voice isn't so bad, either." Charlie said, impressed before Kathryn thanked him. "Glad to see you three again." Anita said as she shook Mortimer's hand. "Last time I saw you was on the set of Fun and Fancy Free." the kindly country boy said.
"Yeah, you got a close encounter with Willie the Giant, if I remember correctly." Anita replied. While Kathryn got to know Charlie, Charlie got to know a bit about Bobby Driscoll and Edgar was telling some guests about his ventriloquism act, all the while Mortimer was busy telling Goofy about his time on the farm with his grandpa.
Soon, Anita saw Donald Duck. "Hey, Donald. Merry Christmas." she said. "Merry Christmas, Anita." the water fowl replied before shaking her hands. "I was just bringing in some Christmas cookies for the guests. Daisy and Minnie baked them, with help from Clarabelle Cow." he added as he set the tray of cookies on the refreshment table.
"That was very thoughtful of them. Say, what kind of tea is served at this tea party?" Anita asked. "Well, Snow White picked out one of the flavors, with help from Cinderella. Chilled Apple." Donald answered. "I love chilled apple tea." Anita said with a big smile on her face. "Tell Snow White I said thank you." she added. "Sure. Need to get back to the kitchen. Daisy might need some help. See ya later." Donald said before leaving the room.
"Donald looked like he lost some weight since I last saw him." Charlie pointed out. "Well, he's been a very popular cartoon star at the theaters, so it's no surprise. He has to keep in good shape for his pictures." Edgar explained. "Mr. Disney, everyone's here, so are you ready to show that surprise you mentioned?" Kathryn asked Walt.
"Sure am." Walt replied before he called for everyone's attention. "I have a surprise for everyone." he said, garnering curiosity from the guests. 'Surprise? Okay, Walt, what are you up to?' Anita thought, knowing that Walt's unpredictability was what made his employees so happy to work at the studio.
"It all started over 20 years ago when I was traveling to Europe with my brother, sister-in-law and my wife. I happened upon a mirror maker who had a shop near the center of a village in Germany. Now, she put me on to this amazing mirror she had for sale, which she claimed to be magic. I figured it would help with production of Snow White so I bought it and brought it back here to the studio as design reference for Queen Grimhilde's magic mirror." Walt explained
"Wait, THAT magic mirror? You got a mirror as design reference for it?" Anita asked in surprise. "And is it behind that curtain?" Kathryn asked. "Sure is, now watch. Just have to say the magic words." Walt answered. "Magic words? Which ones? Those said by Queen Grimhilde or Cinderella's fairy godmother?" Anita asked. "The Fairy Godmother, and I'll need some help." Walt replied.
Anita nodded and with the magic words, 'Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo', the curtain rose and revealed the mirror. She and the guests couldn't believe their eyes. "Will it really do magic, Mr. Disney?" Kathryn asked. "Oh, sure. I'm a little rusty though." Walt answered before he tried twice to bring forth the slave in the mirror using a variation of the same words spoken by Queen Grimhilde; 'Oh, slave in the magic mirror, come from the farthest space! Through wind and rain and hail, I summon thee! Let me see your face!'
With those words spoken, from all time and distance, across matter and space, Walt's powers had summoned the slave, to promptly show its face. "I am here, master." it said. Mortimer couldn't help himself and asked the famous quote from Snow White; 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all.' Course, the mirror asked if he was kidding, only for Mortimer to quietly say the mirror was a city slicker and a smart aleck.
"This has to be some kind of gag." Charlie said, thinking the mirror was just a joke or magic trick. "I don't know about you, Charlie, but I'm convinced." Anita said. "Anita isn't the only one. According to the story of Snow White, the magic mirror can show anything you choose, be it from the past, in the present, or far in the future." Kathryn added. "From time and distance, from sky and sea. What master wishes, herein shall be." the mirror said, confirming what Kathryn had said.
"Sounds like malarkey to me. This mirror may just be a hopped-up television set for all we know." Charlie claimed, clearly still not convinced. "Television? TELEVISION?!" the mirror bellowed before the eyes of the crowd. "Whoa! Steady, old boy! Take it easy." Walt said, calming down the slave in the mirror. "Television. HA! I have never been so insulted in all my unborn days." the being stated. 'Way to open your trap, Charlie.' Anita thought before she got an inspiration.
"Walt, I have an idea. How about a few of us ask the mirror to show us something? Not all of us, though. A select few will do." she offered. "I agree. Wonderful idea." Kathryn added. "I agree, plus Kathryn is the hostess of this party, so it's only fair she has the first chance." Walt replied. "Oh, slave in the mirror. Anything Kathryn wishes to see, is okay with me." he said to his magical servant. "If that is thy wish, master." the mirror replied.
Kathryn approached the looking glass. "Oh, mirror on the wall. I wish to see something that I remember and would love to see and hear again." she said. "What do you wish to see, child?" the mirror asked, warmly. "The happy song of the Seven Dwarfs, the one they sang to Snow White at a party they gave to her within their cottage." Kathryn replied. "The young mistress speaks, I hear it well. Behold! Now works the magic spell!" the mirror declared before showing to everyone, the Silly Song/Yodel Party scene from Snow White.
Seeing it brought Anita back to when she first got to know Snow White and her seven friends. Oh, how she loved hearing the happy yodeling and seeing Dopey play the drums like a happy child on Christmas morning. And boy did she ever laugh when Dopey and Sneezy's little plan to get Dopey to dance with Snow White on an equal level come to a halt when Sneezy let out one of his trademark sneezes and sent Dopey up to the rafters of the cottage.
The scene ended and everyone in the room applauded. "Oh, that was lovely, mirror. Thank you." Kathryn said with a smile. "Twas nothing, really." the mirror replied before turning towards Charlie. "And done, may I add, without the aid of vulgar knobs, tubes and aerials." he continued, clearly still offended by Charlie's earlier comment.
"Okay, no-knobs. Maybe you're on the level and maybe you aren't." the ventriloquist dummy said before a young lady asked if he had been in any movies. "Why, I certainly have, dreamboat. But I couldn't possibly ask to show one, I'm too modest." he stated. But with a bit of encouragement, Charlie finally agreed. "Okay, magic boy, let's see how good you really are." he said. "What does thou wish to see, son of the sapling?" the mirror asked.
Everyone in the room got a laugh out of it, save for Charlie and Edgar. "I'll ignore that remark. So, what I wish to see is a talented actor, young and in the prime of his career, loaded with untapped charm and considered a rascal, especially with the ladies. A delightful, though underpaid young fellow, known and loved the world over." Charlie answered. "And you wish to see this famous young actor in one of his early successes?" the mirror asked.
"Precisely." Charlie said. "Very well, then. It shall be done. Oh, minions of time and the universe, again create the scene. We see, a famous young actor. We see, a great clocktower." the mirror declared before, to the astonishment of all, but the confusion-turned-displeasure of Charlie, everyone saw the 1937 Mickey Mouse short film, Clock Cleaners.
Anita watched the short and though it had the best comedy for both Donald and Goofy. Everyone had plenty of laughs during the short and applauded after it ended. "That was a pretty funny picture, wasn't it, Charlie?" Anita asked. "I'd rather not discuss it, if you please." Charlie answered. All the while, Mortimer was continuing his talk with Goofy about his years on the farm, including a time when he lost a crop of raspberries and how he'd rather raise pigs than raspberries.
"Bobby, what do you remember best that you'd like to see in the magic mirror?" Kathryn asked. "Good question, I'd like to know that myself." Anita chimed in. "Well, girls, I guess as long as I live, I'll always remember the Bre'r Rabbit stories from when I worked on Song of the South, and the great, wonderful man who told them, Uncle Remus." Bobby answered. "I agree, Bobby. Uncle Remus was the best teller of animal stories that ever lived." Kathryn concurred.
"You think that I...?" Bobby began to ask, but Kathryn was way ahead of him. "Why, yes. Go ahead and ask." she said. "Magic Mirror, would you...?" Bobby asked after approaching the looking glass. "My pleasure. From out the dim and happy years, comes the magic voice from a distant shore. There speaks, and in the gentle tones, Bre'r Fox, Bre'r Bear, Bre'r Rabbit, live once more." the slave in the mirror replied before he brought the Zip-a-dee-doo-da scene to life, with the rest of the Bre'r Rabbit story that followed following after.
Anita's mind was quite amazed at the flawless blend of live action and animation. Yet she knew that Walt had managed to pull it off in The Three Caballeros a year before Song of the South premiered at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Everyone applauded when the scene came to an end. "Charming." the mirror said. "I agree, but I think I'm getting a bit thirsty, and we don't want to overwork you." Anita said.
"You're very considerate." the mirror replied. "What say we have refreshments?" Kathryn asked. "Agreed, don't mind if I do. For all to see, for all to have, beyond me a price or measure. On the table there, look upon this fair, this rare, this simple treasure." the mirror answered before everyone took a plate and grabbed whatever they chose to eat, be it a slice of cake or cookies. Anita was among them, and she also poured herself a nice cup of chilled apple tea.
But as for everyone else, they got bottles of Coca-Cola, the sponsor of the show. Anita didn't mind if she didn't have a bottle of coke, she was content with the wonderful taste of tea, though she did find some joy out of hearing the bottles open and fizz before hearing the clinging of those glass bottles as everyone toasted.
"Ahh. The delicious, most refreshing taste of apple." Anita said as she enjoyed her Christmas cup of tea. "A simple young lady with simple tastes, are you?" the mirror asked. "You could say, mirror." Anita answered as she finished her tea. "Now that everyone is refreshed, may I continue?" the mirror asked. "Most certainly." Anita replied. "From the hidden mists of time, past and future, all are same. Do but ask and I will bring thee, here, within this frame." the mirror said as Mortimer chuckled a bit at the rhyme.
Anita and Kathryn soon approached, and immediately, Mortimer went a bit bashful. "Mortimer, we mustn't forget you." Kathryn said to the shy ventriloquist dummy. "Is there something you'd like to see in the mirror?" Anita asked. "Nothing in particular that I can think of. I ain't much for remembering, as you know." Mortimer answered. But with a bit of encouragement, the shy dummy finally agreed, on the condition that whatever was shown within the mirror wasn't mushy.
"Well, I believe you heard what Mortimer had to say, mirror." Anita said. "Indeed I have. A tale I'll tell, of a hero bold who never causes blushes. He fights and schemes and dares and dreams, but never never mushes. Tis morning hour, our hero wakes. Tis Pluto by his lair. He opens his eyes to realize, he's hungry as a bear." the mirror replied.
As the mirror spoke, within the glass was the old 1940 Pluto cartoon known as Bone Trouble. Anita and the guests had plenty of laughs with the antics that dog got himself into, especially at the climax involving several funhouse mirrors at a carnival. "I rather enjoyed that myself." the mirror admitted as the short came to a close and everyone applauded. "It's amazing what can be done with mirrors, isn't it?" Anita added.
Soon, Walt approached Kathryn. "Kathy, have you asked Mr. Bergen if he'd like to see something in the mirror yet?" he asked. "No." Kathryn answered before turning towards the famous ventriloquist. "Mr. Bergen? Is there anything you would like to see in the magic mirror?" she asked. "Thank you for asking, Kathy. There is. I'd like to see something happening in the present time. A group of young men here at the Disney studio. By day, they're artists, but after hours, they become the newest and most famous band in the country." Edgar replied.
"You mean The Firehouse Five Plus Two?" Walt asked, to which Edgar nodded, though this was a surprise to everyone, especially Anita. She didn't know that some of the artists, likely seven of them, formed a band that played and performed after their day job at the studio was done. "Just so you know, they never let their music interfere with their work." Walt pointed out. "I've heard their music at night on the radio, and I've grown curious." Edgar stated.
"Allow us, Mr. Bergen." Anita said before she and Walt stood up. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, show us the hardest workers here of all." they said together. "The time is present. Now through this wall, come now with me down nearby hall and see what my master fondly calls, the hardest workers here of all." the mirror replied before they all saw the famous Firehouse Five Plus Two doing their job before one of them asked another if Walt was around. The group consisted of Danny Alguire, Harper Goff, Ward Kimball, Clarke Mallery, Monte Mountjoy, Erdman 'Ed' Penner and Frank Thomas.
But as soon as they found out Walt was nowhere to be seen, they immediately started to play a bit of a jazzy, almost Dixieland rendition of Jingle Bells. Danny played the cornet, Harper was on the banjo, Ward was on the trombone, Clarke was on the clarinet, Monte was on the drums, Ed was on the tuba and Frank was on piano. But not long after they finished their piece, they got a message from Walt saying they looked, and likely sounded, great.
Right at that moment, they realized they were being watched through the magic mirror, so they quickly set their instruments aside and started back to work. One of them started to show a scene he finished, one that involved two characters from the upcoming Alice in Wonderland picture, Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
The audience was quite impressed, until the magic mirror cut off the feed. "Oh, dear. I'm afraid you nearly witnessed the making of a scene for a future Disney feature film, and it's top secret, too." the slave in the mirror stated. The audience was somewhat disappointed. "Jeepers, here I thought we'd see a bit of Alice in Wonderland." Bobby said.
"It might spoil the story, and it's not finished yet." Anita added. "Any story in the making must be kept secret until it's ready to be told." the mirror pointed out. "Maybe, magic mirror, but that was clearly a mistake on the part of the boys in the Firehouse Five. Plus, the full movie debuts in theaters next year, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to show a tiny peek at the story in the making. We already saw a glimpse anyway." Anita replied.
"Only if master Walt doesn't mind." the mirror answered. "I'll allow it, but just this once." Walt replied. "Very well, just know that it isn't easy for me." the mirror said. "Oh, great mystic portents of the universe, alpha and omega, do but lift the valent curtain of the future, revealing that which now is not, but soon, SOON will be!" it declared before a scene familiar to Anita, but not to the other guests, appeared.
"Now, from Alice in Wonderland, the famous tea party." the mirror added as they all watched the scene play out. To most of the guests, it was beautiful. To Anita, it was a friendly reminder of her childhood, especially when the Mad Hatter and the March Hare began to sing their Unbirthday song. Everyone applauded before the slave in the mirror faded away, exhausted after his time showing events of the past, present and future, and at the same time, the cameras stopped rolling.
"Say, where'd he go?" Bobby asked. "Well, I think he needs to rest. He did use his powers pretty frequently here." Walt answered. "Well, I'd like to say something, if I may." Anita said. "Please do." Walt replied before Anita gathered the attention of everyone in the room. "I don't know if all of you still have any Coca-Cola or tea left, but I'd like to say, on behalf of the man who made this possible, thank you all for joining us here at the Walt Disney Studio for this Christmas tea party. And without further ado, I'd like bid you all farewell, and have a very, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." she said.
Everyone clapped as Anita soon left the room. In no time, the wind picked up and transported Anita back to her time. "Well, that sure was a pretty interesting Christmas party." she said before she walked into the lunchroom and saw everyone finishing up for the big Christmas party. "Anita, we seem to have a problem as to what beverages to serve." Minnie Mouse said.
"How about chilled apple tea and Coca-Cola?" Anita suggested. "I know that first choice is your favorite, but why Coca-Cola?" asked Jiminy. "Well, you know what they say, where there's Coca-Cola, there's hospitality." Anita answered with a giggle. This would definitely be a Christmas season she'd never forget anytime soon.