No matter which country you grew up in, Mickey Mouse was probably a major part of your entertainment. Arguably the most recognizable cartoon character in the world, our familiar friend is getting a retro makeover with the release of a new series of animated shorts on the Disney Channel.

No matter which country you grew up in, Mickey Mouse was probably a major part of your entertainment.

It's a Disney reunion as Mickey is joined by his friends Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto. The new Mickey Mouse series on the Disney Channel will feature old-fashioned, retro 2-D animation with a few modern touches.

Earlier this week, Disney previewed the series at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, which features historical Mickey Mouse animations and memorabilia. The audience was treated to a series of shorts featuring contemporary pacing, but the same innocent quality, slapstick routines and retro graphic influences from the past.

Mike Moon, VP of Disney Television Animation, said, "The style borrows a lot of stuff from the past that we've cherry picked and pulls into this very futuristic, very modern, very contemporary execution, there's a lot of 'rubber hose' influence on Mickey and the gang. There's a lot of sixties and fifties graphical influence on some of the backgrounds. All together that served as the source of inspiration where we were able to make something very contemporary out of it."

There's also an international aspect to the new Mickey series. In one of the new shorts, the beloved Disney icon is in Tokyo trying to catch a train with hilarious consequences.

In another, Mickey says "oui" to France and sets out on a high-speed moped ride through the streets of Paris. The international settings are no accident. The Disney Channel airs in more than 160 countries. The 20 new Mickey Mouse shorts will premiere on the Disney Channel on June 28.

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