Squatter's Rights is a Mickey Mouse and Pluto short that was released on June 7, 1946. The cartoon is about a confrontation between Pluto and Chip and Dale who have taken up residence in Mickey's hunting shack. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1947, but ultimately lost to The Cat Concerto, a Tom and Jerry cartoon by MGM.
The film was directed by Jack Hannah and features the voices of Dessie Flynn as Chip and Dale, and Pinto Colvig as Pluto. Mickey Mouse was voiced by both Walt Disney and Jimmy MacDonald, making this the debut of MacDonald as Mickey. He would go on to provide Mickey's voice for over 30 years. It was also Mickey's first post-war appearance. With the exception of a very brief cameo in The Three Caballeros (1945), Mickey had not appeared in a theatrical film since Pluto and the Armadillo in 1943.
The chipmunks Chip and Dale wake up one winter morning inside the wood stove they have made their home. The stove is located in Mickey Mouse's hunting shack (called "Mickey's Hydout") which appears to have been unoccupied for a while. Soon, Mickey and Pluto arrive for the hunting season.
Pluto soon discovers that the stove is occupied by the chipmunks and helps Mickey build a fire to smoke them out. Chip and Dale realize what is happening and blow out Mickey's matches and roll of newspaper before they can catch the wood on fire. Finally, Mickey is about to use a can of kerosene which the chipmunks can't blow out. From a hiding place underneath the stove, the chipmunks burn a hole in Mickey's boot with a match. Mickey assumes that Pluto is to blame and scolds him. Mickey remains unaware of the chipmunks throughout the film.
After Mickey leaves to get more wood, Pluto chases Chip and Dale across the room. They lead Pluto across a table and mantle above the fireplace. Pluto accidentally gets his nose stuck in the muzzle of Mickey's rifle, which is hanging over the fireplace. As Pluto tries to pull is nose free, he realizes that one of the hooks on which the rifle is mounted is directly in front of the trigger; the more Pluto pulls, the more he will cause the gun to go off in his face. Gradually, the table which Pluto is standing on with his hind paws starts to slide back. Pluto falls and makes the rifle fire, but the rifle's delay is just long enough that Pluto narrowly avoids the bullet. Pluto lands on the floor where the rifle hits him on the head momentarily knocking him unconscious. From the table above, Chip and Dale pour ketchup over the dog to make it look as if he is seriously wounded.
Suddenly, Mickey returns having heard the gunshot, and when he sees Pluto with the rifle beside him, he thinks his beloved pooch is dead. Pluto comes to and first starts to comfort Mickey. But when he sees the ketchup, he starts to panic, thinking it's his blood. Mickey hurriedly carries him off to find help. Thus, Chip and Dale regain working ownership over the property. This transfer of ownership is the reference of the film's title "squatter's rights" which is a form of adverse possession.
Fiddling Around • The Barnyard Concert • The Cactus Kid • The Fire Fighters • The Shindig • The Chain Gang • The Gorilla Mystery • The Picnic • Pioneer Days • The Birthday Party • Traffic Troubles • The Castaway • The Moose Hunt • The Delivery Boy • Mickey Steps Out • Blue Rhythm • Fishin' Around • The Barnyard Broadcast • The Beach Party • Mickey Cuts Up • Mickey's Orphans • The Duck Hunt • The Grocery Boy • The Mad Dog • Barnyard Olympics • Mickey's Revue • Musical Farmer • Mickey in Arabia • Mickey's Nightmare • Trader Mickey • The Whoopee Party • Touchdown Mickey • The Wayward Canary • Parade of the Award Nominees • The Klondike Kid • Mickey's Good Deed • Building a Building • The Mad Doctor • Mickey's Pal Pluto • Mickey's Mellerdrammer • Ye Olden Days • The Mail Pilot • Mickey's Mechanical Man • Mickey's Gala Premier • Puppy Love • The Steeple-Chase • The Pet Store • Giantland • Shanghaied • Camping Out • Playful Pluto • Gulliver Mickey • Mickey's Steam-Roller • Orphan's Benefit • Mickey Plays Papa • The Dognapper • Two-Gun Mickey • Mickey's Man Friday • The Band Concert • Mickey's Service Station • Mickey's Kangaroo • Mickey's Garden • Mickey's Fire Brigade • Pluto's Judgement Day • On Ice • Mickey's Polo Team • Orphans' Picnic • Mickey's Grand Opera • Thru the Mirror • Mickey's Rival • Moving Day • Alpine Climbers • Mickey's Circus • Mickey's Elephant • The Worm Turns • Magician Mickey • Moose Hunters • Mickey's Amateurs • Hawaiian Holiday • Clock Cleaners • Lonesome Ghosts • Boat Builders • Mickey's Trailer • The Whalers • Mickey's Parrot • Brave Little Tailor • Society Dog Show • Mickey's Surprise Party • The Pointer • The Standard Parade
1940s
Tugboat Mickey • Pluto's Dream House • Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip • The Sorcerer's Apprentice • The Little Whirlwind • The Nifty Nineties • Orphan's Benefit • A Gentleman's Gentleman • Canine Caddy • Lend a Paw • All Together • Mickey's Birthday Party • Symphony Hour • Pluto and the Armadillo • Squatter's Rights • Mickey and the Beanstalk • Mickey's Delayed Date • Mickey Down Under • Mickey and the Seal
1950s
R'Coon Dawg • Pluto's Party • Pluto's Christmas Tree • The Simple Things
Private Pluto • Squatter's Rights • Chip an' Dale • Three for Breakfast • Winter Storage • All in a Nutshell • Toy Tinkers
1950s
Crazy Over Daisy • Trailer Horn • Food for Feudin' • Out on a Limb • Chicken in the Rough • Corn Chips • Test Pilot Donald • Out of Scale • Donald Applecore • Two Chips and a Miss • Pluto's Christmas Tree • Working for Peanuts • The Lone Chipmunks • Dragon Around • Up a Tree • Chips Ahoy
Park Life episodes
"Thou Shalt Nut Steal / The Baby Whisperer / It Takes Two to Tangle" • "The Whole Package / Bird Brains / Acorn In My Side" • "The Jungle / The Flight / Deep Dive" • "A Nut You Can't Refuse / Chipmunks Away / Ruff Justice" • "Dog in the House / Cone Alone / Highway to Hugs" • "The Hazelnut King / Egg Baby / Mega Muscle Chip" • "Struggling Duckling / Friends of the Family / Top Dog" • "The Ghost / The Imperfect Crime / Nut Soup" • "The Unusual Nutspects / An Evening With Clarice / Craft Craze" • "Too Late to Hibernate / Sorry Nut Sorry / Never Trust a Sausage" • "Night of the Pizza Moon / Who's Your Granny? / Summer Sidekick Syndrome" • "Delivery Duck / Dark in the Park / Choppin' Dale"
