Editing Runaway Brain (section)

==Cultural references==
The beginning of the cartoon shows Mickey playing a [[Snow White (franchise)|''Snow White'']]-based satirical take of [[fighting games]], such as [[Capcom]]'s ''[[Street Fighter]]'' series and the ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' franchise, which details a match between [[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)#Cast|Dopey]] and [[Evil Queen (Disney)|Queen Grimhilde]] in her peddler disguise. Director [[Chris Bailey (animator)|Chris Bailey]] said that [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] was the one who suggested a scene with a video game, and Bailey came up with the fighting game after his idea of a [[first-person shooter]] based on ''[[Bambi]]'' (1942) was rejected.<ref name="polygon">[https://www.polygon.com/features/22738384/runaway-brain-evil-mickey-short-streaming Why Disney buried Runaway Brain, the monstrous Mickey short]</ref> The general plot of the cartoon refers back to [[Mary Shelley]]'s ''[[Frankenstein]]'', with Doctor Frankenollie and Julius being heavily inspired by [[Victor Frankenstein|the titular character]] and [[Frankenstein's monster|his monster]]. The composite name "Frankenollie" comes from the names of animators [[Frank Thomas (animator)|Frank Thomas]] and [[Ollie Johnston]], who were two of [[Disney's Nine Old Men]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Doug |author-link=Doug Walker (comedian) |date=2021-01-29 |title=Runaway Brain – Dark Toons |url=https://channelawesome.com/runaway-brain-dark-toons/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=[[Channel Awesome]] |language=en}}</ref>

Mickey's wallet contains a photo of him from ''[[Steamboat Willie]]'' (1928). In addition, Mickey whistles the short's primary theme, [[Steamboat Bill]], before he is dropped down into Frankenollie's laboratory and a [[Polynesian culture|Polynesian]]-styled rendition of it also plays in the credits.<ref name=":1" /> The wallet also features a [[library card]] from the fictional 'Guillard County Library', a reference to [[Stuart Gillard]].

''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'' (1973) is referenced in the shot where Mickey first arrives at Frankenollie's residence, with the imagery mirroring [[Father Merrin]]'s arrival at the MacNeil house.<ref name=":1" />

Zazu from ''[[The Lion King]]'' (1994), which was released the year prior to ''Runaway Brain'', briefly appears twice; once when Mickey is dropped down into the lab and again when Julius roars at him.<ref name=":1" />

One of the objects seen during Mickey's descent into the lab is a [[Termination of employment#Pink slip|pink slip]] with "J.K." on it. This is a reference to Katzenberg, who left Disney in 1994 and went on to form rival studio [[DreamWorks Pictures]] with [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[David Geffen]].<ref name=":1" />