For animation collectors who already own Disney’s acclaimed “Walt Disney Treasures” line, the Starring series was designed with a more casual audience in mind. Starring Chip ‘n’ Dale rounds out this collection by gathering nine vintage shorts featuring the mischievous chipmunk duo, and unlike its companion releases devoted to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, this particular disc offers something genuinely rare: cartoons that had never before appeared on DVD.
A Set Built for Chip ‘n’ Dale Completists
Anyone who owns the full run of “Treasures” sets might find little reason to pick up the Mickey, Donald, or Goofy volumes in the Starring line, since the vast majority of those shorts had already surfaced elsewhere. Out of 24 cartoons spread across those three releases, only a pair of Donald Duck shorts were genuinely new to home video at the time, and both were expected to eventually resurface in a future Chronological Donald collection.
Starring Chip ‘n’ Dale breaks that pattern. All nine shorts on this disc made their DVD debut here, with no prior “Treasures” release covering the characters at the time of this review. That made the collection a must-have for serious fans, at least until Disney eventually gave the duo their own dedicated archival set.
Short-by-Short Breakdown
Each cartoon below is listed with its production year, director, a brief synopsis, and a score out of 10.
Chicken in the Rough (1951, dir. J. Hannah) – The chipmunks scavenge for food while dodging a bad-tempered rooster, and Dale finds himself in an unusual bind after accidentally hatching an egg. It’s an odd pairing of cute characters, since shorts built around adorable leads like Chip ‘n’ Dale (or Tweety Bird, for comparison) rarely introduce a second cuddly costar. The chick’s presence shifts focus heavily toward Dale, which slightly undercuts the pair as a team, but the barnyard setting still makes for an entertaining twist. Score: 7/10
Chip an’ Dale (1947, dir. J. Hannah) – Donald Duck accidentally evicts the chipmunks from their tree home, prompting a battle to reclaim their territory. This isn’t the characters’ first screen appearance, but it captures them in an early, formative stage. Their knack for provoking Donald’s temper makes for a lively, enjoyable short. Score: 7/10
Out of Scale (1951, dir. J. Hannah) – Donald tries to remove the tree Chip an’ Dale call home because it doesn’t match the scale of his backyard model train set. Much like the previous entry, the chipmunks make excellent foils for Donald’s frustration, and a clever late twist elevates the short. Modern viewers might also chuckle at the domestic setup the two share. Score: 7/10
Two Chips and a Miss (1952, dir. J. Hannah) – A female chipmunk named Clarice becomes the object of both Chip and Dale’s affection. The musical numbers weigh the short down, and the romantic rivalry premise feels like an awkward fit for these characters. It ranks as one of the weaker entries in the set. Score: 3/10
Food for Feudin’ (1950, dir. C. Nichols) – Pluto’s interference with the chipmunks’ nut supply sparks a feud. Returning the pair to their natural forest setting pays off, playing to their strengths far better than the previous short and delivering a solidly entertaining adventure. Score: 7/10
Working for Peanuts (1953, dir. J. Hannah) – Spotting the generous peanut rations given to a zoo elephant, the chipmunks scheme to claim some for themselves. Despite Donald’s top billing, he’s largely sidelined here in favor of a rivalry with Dolores the elephant, a character who doesn’t bring much personality to the table. The result is one of the set’s more forgettable shorts. Score: 5/10
Out on a Limb (1950, dir. J. Hannah) – Donald’s tree-trimming work becomes an excuse to torment Chip an’ Dale. Unusually, Donald holds the upper hand for much of the short before the tables inevitably turn, keeping the pace brisk and the comedy sharp. Score: 7/10
Three for Breakfast (1948, dir. J. Hannah) – The chipmunks scheme to steal Donald’s freshly made pancakes. The Donald-versus-chipmunks formula doesn’t stray far from its usual playbook here, but the dynamic remains reliably funny even without major surprises. Score: 7/10
Dragon Around (1954, dir. J. Hannah) – After spotting Donald’s construction vehicle, Dale’s imagination convinces him it’s a dragon, setting off a battle against both the “beast” and its operator. The construction-site setting combined with the fantasy angle makes this one of the more inventive and memorable shorts in the collection. Score: 8/10
Final Verdict
Across these nine cartoons, Starring Chip ‘n’ Dale delivers a solid, if uneven, cross-section of the duo’s classic theatrical work, with highlights like “Dragon Around” showing genuine creative spark and only “Two Chips and a Miss” landing as a clear misfire. For collectors who value historical completeness, the fact that every short here debuted on DVD through this release made it a worthwhile pickup, even for those who already owned the other Starring volumes.
If you’re building out a classic Disney shorts collection, this set is worth tracking down for its rarity alone. Have you seen these Chip ‘n’ Dale cartoons? Share your favorite short from the collection in the comments below.