The Toontown Field Guide: No Fools Inc.

Though Jiminy Cricket is certainly best remembered for his star turn in Pinocchio, he is that rare feature film character whose career quickly and successfully eclipsed his point of origin. He would go on to star in a second feature film, Fun and Fancy Free, and enjoyed frequent appearances on the Disney weekly television program throughout the years. But likely most extensive of his extended studio duties were the various educational vignettes that he hosted on the original Mickey Mouse Club television show. Distinct homages are paid to one of those series in the Toontown theme park landscapes at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

A window on a building in Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland advertises the services of Jiminy Cricket, Motivational Speaker, representing the business No Fools, Inc. In both Mickey's House at Toontown and Minnie's country house in Walt Disney World's Toontown Fair, bulletin boards display fliers advertising Jiminy's acclaimed "I'm No Fool" lecture series.

I'm No Fool was a series of educational cartoons produced for the original Mickey Mouse Club. Jiminy hosted the series that focused on teaching safety on such subjects as fire, electricity and recreation. The first in the series, I'm No Fool With a Bicycle debuted on Thursday, October 6, 1955. A total of six cartoons were produced in the I'm No Fool series; they would all be later released in 16mm format for use in schools. In the early 1990s, Disney's Educational Media division created new editions for the series that would continue to feature Jiminy Cricket, but also include Pinocchio and Geppetto and add a number of new characters as well.

Media Images © Walt Disney Company