Disney Partners with Ghetto Film School to Create Short Film in Celebration of Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month

September 14, 2023September 14, 2023

In celebration of Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, Disney Entertainment Television (DET) has commissioned four alumni from the award-winning nonprofit Ghetto Film School to create a short film in honor of their Hispanic and Latin American culture. Titled Yo Recuerdo/I Remember, the project weaves together four personal vignettes into a premium short film that reimagines core memories and connects them to their heritage.

Yo Recuerdo/I Remember will begin streaming exclusively on Hulu today and will also be shared across DET’s extensive portfolio of digital platforms including ABC, ABC News, FX, Freeform, Hulu, National Geographic, Onyx Collective, and ABC Owned TV Stations between Saturday, September 15, and Sunday, October 15.

Building on a multiyear collaboration between Disney and Ghetto Film School, the initiative connected young alumni filmmakers Alyse Arteaga, 21, Kian Cloma, 24, Alejandro Ayala, 22, and Tommy Espinal, 22, with a full array of production resources that included video equipment, graphic designers, and access to editing bays. To help them execute their cinematic visions, the filmmakers were also paired with mentors from across DET who specialize in their desired career tracks.

This collaboration with Ghetto Film School is part of DET and The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to empowering the next generation of storytellers and innovators. Through educational programs, scholarships, mentoring, and technical skill-building, Disney is increasing access to careers in the media, entertainment, technology, and travel and leisure industries for teens and young adults from historically underrepresented communities.

These Stars are Waltzing onto Dancing with the Stars Season 32

September 13, 2023

By Emily Hewitt

The race, or rather the dance, to the Mirrorball trophy will commence on Tuesday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET live on ABC and Disney+. (Episodes will be available on Hulu the next day.) And now we know just which celebrities will be shimmying and gliding across the ballroom, as the competitors for Dancing with the Star Season 32 have just been announced, along with their professional dancer partners. Here’s the complete list, in alphabetical order:

Tyson Beckford, with Jenna Johnson
Supermodel Tyson Beckford, who was named the greatest male model of all time by Vogue, graced Ralph Lauren’s Polo and Polo Sport lines, and has been the face of Pirelli, an ambassador for Ducati, and spokesman for Mercedes-Benz during Fashion Week is trading the runway for the dance floor this fall.

Xochitl Gomez, with Val Chmerkovskiy
Marvel Studios star Xochitl Gomez is known for her role as America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which she will continue during the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Alyson Hannigan, with Sasha Farber
TV and film star Alyson Hannigan is best known for her roles in 20th Television series How I Met Your Mother and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has also had roles in Veronica Mars, the 2019 Disney Channel Original Movie Kim Possible, the Disney+ film Flora & Ulysses, and Disney Junior’s animated series Fancy Nancy.

Harry Jowsey, with Rylee Arnold
Social media and reality TV star Harry Jowsey boasts some 10 million fans across social platforms. After hosting the podcast Tap In, he launched an interactive show on Spotify^®, Dating Harry Jowsey, where he answers fans’ questions about dating, relationships, and everything in between. He also launched The Ritual, a freshly formulated, plant-based, and cruelty-free candle line.

Charity Lawson, with Artem Chigvintsev
The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson, a child and family therapist, found true love with her fiancé, Dotun Olubeko, in Fiji and now she’s finding her love for dance “live from Hollywood.”

Ariana Madix, with Pasha Pashkov
A reality TV star with bartending talents, Ariana Madix has served up her artisanal concoctions in some of the trendiest and most popular bars in New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. HarperCollins published her cocktail book, Fancy AF Cocktails: Drink Recipes from a Couple of Professional Drinkers, in 2019. She also founded the Drink From Home brand, which features direct-to-consumer cocktail kits.

Jason Mraz, with Daniella Karagach
Two-time Grammy Award^®-winning singer-songwriter and Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree Jason Mraz is bringing the rhythm to the dance floor this season. He is known for his hits “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up” and most recently his eighth studio album, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride.

Adrian Peterson, with Britt Stewart
NFL All-Star Adrian Peterson is hanging up his jersey and shimmying into a tux. While playing college football at the University of Oklahoma, he set the freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards. He was named a unanimous All-American that year and became the first freshman to finish as a runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting. He was then drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and set an NFL record for the most rushing yards in a single game, was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and was named MVP for his performance in the Pro Bowl.

Lele Pons, with Brandon Armstrong
Singer and social media star Lele Pons has captured the hearts of fans around the globe with her comedic videos and now has over 100 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. She has released hit singles including “Celoso,” which became a major hit in Latin America and Spain.

Mira Sorvino, with Gleb Savchenko
Oscar^®-winning actress Mira Sorvino can be seen playing Monica Lewinsky’s mother, Marcia Lewis, in American Crime Story: Impeachment and has previously had roles in the comedy classic Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion and a four-episode arc of Modern Family.

Jamie Lynn Spears, with Alan Bersten
Actress and singer Jamie Lynn Spears rose to prominence in the shows All That and Zoey 101. Most recently, she released an intimate memoir, Things I Should Have Said, which quickly became a national bestseller.

Mauricio Umansky, with Emma Slater
Real estate mogul and TV star Mauricio Umansky is the founder and CEO of The Agency, a billion-dollar brokerage. He has represented some of the world’s most noteworthy properties and recently published The Dealmaker.

Matt Walsh, with Koko Iwasaki
Comedian and two-time Emmy^® Award-nominated actor Matt Walsh is a founding member of the sketch and improv theater Upright Citizens Brigade. He recently appeared in and co-wrote Unplugging and is the co-host of the podcast Second in Command.

Barry Williams, with Peta Murgatroyd
Actor Barry Williams hosted a successful six-year run of the 70s Music Celebration! Starring Barry Williams in Branson, Missouri, and is now ready to burst onto the stage again on Dancing with the Stars. He has starred in hundreds of productions on television, movies, and Broadway, including It Takes a Thief, That Girl, and The Mod Squad. He wrote his autobiography, Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, which stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for several months.

Disney Parks Unveils Future Projects, Surprises at Destination D23

September 12, 2023

By Frank Pallotta

The presentation titled “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” at this year’s Destination D23 in Orlando, Florida, included some major announcements.

Here is a list of just some of the amazing things that guests can expect from Disney Parks and Resorts.

A New Zootopia Show at the Tree of Life Theater

The attraction—which is being created for the Tree of Life Theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park—has guests joining Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other characters as they travel through the wild world of Zootopia.

Imagineers are currently finalizing the concept, and more details will be coming in the future.

A New Pirates of the Caribbean-Themed Lounge

A first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean and is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida.

Imagineers are in the design process now, and more details are coming in the future.

Country Bear Jamboree Is Getting a New Act

The bears of Country Bear Jamboree will be performing a new act in 2024.

When the show debuts, the bears will be reinterpreting classic Disney songs in different genres of country music. Imagineers are envisioning the experience as a homage to Nashville’s classic musical revues.

Don’t worry, the Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans have come to love, with the same famous characters such as the lovable Trixie, Big Al, and others.

A New World-Jump Vehicle Is Coming to Avengers Campus

A brand-new world-jumping vehicle is coming to the next attraction at Avengers Campus that will transport guests and heroes into the Multiverse.

The ride vehicle will incorporate some of the mightiest aspects of the Marvel universe, such as elements of Tony Stark’s time-suits, Xandarian jump points, and Wakandan technology.

More details on this high-tech vehicle are coming in the future.

Test Track Reimagined

Test Track—one of the most thrilling attractions at EPCOT—will be reimagined.

Imagineers and the team at Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration—including the original World of Motion attraction from EPCOT’s early days—and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next evolution of Test Track.

From Dinoland U.S.A. to ‘Tropical Americas’

Walt Disney Imagineering is planning to reimagine Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom into a new land, inspired by a region sometimes referred to as “tropical Americas.”

To create the new land, Imagineers are looking at some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet in the regions just north and south of the equator in the Western Hemisphere—the northern part of South America, stretching up into Central America.

New experiences inspired by Encanto—the award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios film—and the beloved adventurer Indiana Jones are being considered for the reimagined land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, added that “there’s a long way to go and a lot more to discover, but Imagineering teams in Florida are up for the challenge.”

D23 Exclusive Q&A: Proud Mouse Authors Idina Menzel and Cara Mentzel

September 12, 2023

By Alison Stateman

To celebrate Tuesday’s publication of Proud Mouse from Disney Legend Idina Menzel (Frozen) and her sister, Cara Mentzel, an acclaimed writer and teacher, we sat down with the siblings for an exclusive chat about the sequel to their children’s picture book Loud Mouse. The new book, with illustrations by Jaclyn Sinquett, is a lyrical tale geared to readers ages 3 to 5 about a proud sister learning to find her own way in the world.

D23: What inspired you to write a sequel to Loud Mouse?
Cara Mentzel (CM): We always wanted it to have a companion [book]. It was a pair.
Idina Menzel (IM): It’s a story about sisters. The real spirit in it is the sibling relationship. Loud Mouse might have begun with the impetus to write about my own honest early childhood experience as a little girl, discovering her own voice, literally and figuratively, but because my sister is such an important part of my life, she would be in the book no matter what. And, of course, she’s the person I turn to for guidance, so it became evident that we wanted to explore their dynamic more. I actually wanted to take the spotlight and put it on her for a change.
CM: I really love the idea of two people who love each other being able to stand as individuals, but also being highly connected.

D23: For Loud Mouse, one of the themes was about embracing the light inside of ourselves. How does Proud Mouse build on that theme?
CM: In Loud Mouse, you’ve got Dee, who takes this part of herself, this talent, out into the world and then has this unique experience of it. There is some discomfort in that for her, and then she has her journey to figure that out. And in Proud Mouse, Cara Lee is so excited to take herself out to school for the first time and introduce herself to the world. Then she has this uncomfortable experience she’s not sure what to make of, and she has her own self-discovery experience.
IM: Cara likes to say that it’s a little misleading when we say to kids “just be yourself” all the time, as if that’s the easiest thing in the world. We’re all trying to figure that out as grownups. It’s something we’ll continue doing forever, always trying to assess who we are and how we take up space in the world and what we want to say in the world. So asking little kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is essentially putting the cart before the horse. I think it’s actually rare for someone like me, at 7 years old, to say, “I want to be a singer and that’s it.” Most people in the world are exploring and asking questions and trying different things. I love that in this followup book, it’s about Cara’s curiosity and the questions she asks, the desire to understand herself—whether it be in her own reflection or standing beside other people and in connection to the world around her, but that it’s okay to have questions.
CM: She so values this idea of being a student of the world and being a student at school, and what she realizes is one of the things she has to learn about is herself. And, of course, we encourage kids to learn about the world and to learn about others too, but in this instance, it’s her sense of self that she’s not sure about, because she’s sort of sister-adjacent all the time and doesn’t know the world without her sister in it.
IM: What’s really nice about this project for the two of us as adults is that obviously art really does imitate life in so many ways. It’s this beautiful lens that we’re seeing our own relationship through.

D23: Cara, how did your experience as a teacher lend itself to writing Proud Mouse? What lessons from teaching have you applied to this story and storytelling in general?
CM: I started out teaching third grade, but have since taught second, fourth, and fifth grade—and then I taught as a literacy specialist for kindergarten through fifth. It informed the book in so many [ways]. Everything from what words I chose—the fact that it’s Dee and Cara Lee, so there’s a rhyme there—to wanting to make sure the storyline is explicit and clear. But there’s also all of these sophisticated semantic levels, so if you’re an older sibling or a parent or just someone who’s read the book 100 times, there’s something new that you’re getting out of it. And the humor, knowing what’s going to make a kid laugh.
IM: I don’t think I would have done it without her, honestly, because she gives it the integrity that it has because of her understanding of language and it being age-appropriate for children’s development. And the idea that, knowing that I would want to have a musical aspect to it, knowing how refrains are such wonderful ways to encourage and help with literacy—
CM: To give kids access to the text. Even if they can’t read the book yet, they memorize the refrain. They feel like they’re part of the experience.

D23: The illustrations in the book are really sweet and funny. Do you have a favorite page or moment?
CM: It changes every time, because Jaclyn Sinquett is just so talented and she’s captured so many beautiful things. Part of what makes it hard is that sometimes there are these frames that are just so gorgeous, and other times there’s some that are just so detailed and funny.
IM: It was important that we had both in the illustrations, when we were looking to choose who would illustrate the book. So when you go back and read these books over and over, as you normally do with your kids, you discover new things. But I think the ponytail…
CM: Ah, the ponytail…
IM: But there’s also this beautiful pool and she dives into it.
CM: Yeah, when she dives into her own reflection.

D23: What made you want to pick mice as your main characters?
IM: We had a bunch of classic books that we love that were mice—
CM: Stuart Little, or [The Tale of] Despereaux, or the Kevin Henkes books.
IM: And then we also felt when we were talking about a being needing to grow really big—when they’re full of their passion and their love for what they do—it would make the best juxtaposition for it to come from something that’s not normally seen as being very boisterous.
CM: We thought it was really fun, and animals are very universal in terms of access.
IM: They make it less specific to us, so kids can see themselves in an animal more than perhaps a little Cara.

D23: You have created a book focusing on each one of you. Can we look forward to more adventures between the two siblings?
IM: We’re working on it being out in different mediums and we have other stories and characters, little Easter eggs in both books that we’ve put there so the other characters can come to life perhaps a bit more—[particularly] the Deaf and hard-of-hearing character, and Val, who is a they. What we like writing about are complicated emotions for kids. We as moms prided ourselves on giving our kids a verbal way of expressing their emotions, being able to put words to the way they feel, which I think gives them more power in their life.
CM: [Kids need to know] that you can feel more than one emotion at a time. From a teacher perspective, the social and emotional learning piece is something that’s important to us. We wanted there to be a lot of access points for conversation.

Launchpad Carries the Theme of Connection into Season 2

September 12, 2023

By Emily Hewitt

Season 2 of Launchpad, the Disney+ short film collection, continues to address human connection through compelling stories that address the integral union of people and ideas. The season’s six episodes premiere September 29 on Disney+.

“The theme of connection just seemed very truthful to the moment,” said Phillip Domfeh, producer of Disney’s Launchpad. “We started in 2021, and at that time people were starting to reconnect with people that they had been distanced from during the pandemic.”

Each episode has something special in store for audiences. One episode, titled “Black Belts,” explores the connections between the African American and Asian American communities through the world of martial arts.

Family is at the heart of most of the short films as well, as in the episode “Project CC,” which tells the story of a child scientist who joins forces with her sister when a cloning experiment goes awry. Another episode, titled “The Ghost,” features two sisters working together to stop a powerful spirit from tearing apart their family. (A ghost story is also featured in “The Roof.”)

“Family is more important than ever before, as we are continuing in the pandemic,” said executive producer Mahin Ibrahim.

The series is the product of experienced writers and directors from underrepresented backgrounds who submitted material to the Launchpad program. This year, there were 2,000 script submissions—double the number for Season 1.

“There’s a hunger and an excitement around Disney and the opportunity to get to learn how to make stories in our world,” Domfeh said. “The ethos is really to match the Disney kind of storytelling world with younger storytellers. We really try to let the application process illuminate to us things that start to feel really true to that idea. I’m always pleasantly surprised by the incredible filmmakers that we discover.”

The selected writers and directors are paired up with creative executives who mentor them throughout the filmmaking process. The program tries to align the writers and directors with mentors who share a common vision with them.

“It takes everyone—it takes the writers, it takes the directors, it takes the mentors. They really help to shape where the story goes. As we like to say, [the goal is to] ‘take it from good to great,’” Domfeh said.

Also vital to the films are the experienced actors—such as this season’s Margaret Cho, Wes Studi, and Wendi McLendon-Covey—who contribute their talents. “These are really, really special actors who have really big hearts and who are anxious to find the next exciting story, to take risks, and to work with young filmmakers,” Domfeh said.

Up-and-coming actors are also vital to the shorts, providing a spotlight that may open up new paths to success. Launchpad Season 1 fostered breakout star Keyla Monterroso Mejia, who went on to appear in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Abbott Elementary.

With the pool of talent in Season 2, one can only imagine what opportunities will come to the talented filmmakers involved in these six new episodes.

“These guys are really incredible filmmakers,” Domfeh said. “They’re the real deal, and it’s really our honor to be able to showcase their talent and to be able to have them put their fingerprints on Disney’s storytelling canon.”

Disney100: The Exhibition to Open November 18 in Chicago—Birthplace of Walt Disney

September 9, 2023September 8, 2023

The Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions, a worldwide exhibit presenter and producer, announced today that Disney100: The Exhibition will open at the 35,000-square-foot Exhibition Hub Art Center (formerly known as the Windy City Fieldhouse) in Chicago on November 18, 2023. The facade of the building will be transformed and rebranded through Disney magic to include stunning visuals that are sure to catch the attention of fans and tourists alike. This date is also special because it’s Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthday. The pair made their first on-screen appearance in Steamboat Willie, which premiered in New York City on November 18, 1928.

The show is presented in partnership with Exhibition Hub and Fever, both leaders in global live-entertainment operations. Guests can experience ten immersive galleries with visual, audio, and interactive elements, as well as more than 250 unique and rarely seen works of art, artifacts, memorabilia, costumes, and props from the historical collections across the many realms of Disney, all on display as The Walt Disney Company celebrates its centennial anniversary on October 16, 2023.

“It took several years to plan and assemble the artifacts for Disney100: The Exhibition, and many of them will be on display for Disney fans for the first time,” said Christoph Scholz, Director, Semmel Exhibitions. “Most of the artifacts are presented from the Walt Disney Archives collection with some additional treasures from Marvel Studios, the Pixar Living Archives, the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, and Walt Disney Imagineering, including some that will be displayed for the first time in Chicago.”

The city of Chicago plays an important role in the Disney story: Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood; Walt purchased his first motion picture camera in Chicago; he attended McKinley High School where he divided his attention between drawing and photography; and attended night classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. The Windy City provided inspiration for the project that eventually became known as Disneyland® Park, including by way of the Chicago Railroad Fair.

“We are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to Chicago,” said Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience some of their favorite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”

Visitors will be taken on a visual journey where they can explore seldom viewed works of art including visual development drawings for Sleeping Beauty (1959), created by artist and Disney Legend Marc Davis. A very special piece of art from Mary Poppins (1964), which can also be seen in the opening titles of Mary Poppins Returns (2018), created by artist and Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw will also be on display. Also included in the experience are some of the iconic props from various films such as the Mad Hatter’s teapot from Alice in Wonderland (2010); the poisoned caramel apple from Enchanted (2007) used by Timothy Spall and Amy Adams; and the dinglehopper from The Little Mermaid (2023) used by Halle Bailey. Fans won’t want to miss seeing Disneyland® Park Employee Badge #1, issued to Walt Disney in 1955, and early photography of Walt Disney’s birthplace in Chicago. Disney enthusiasts will have the chance to leave with both memories and memorabilia, as the exhibition will include several extraordinary backdrops and photo opportunities along with exclusive merchandise offered inside the Disney100: The Exhibition gift shop.

“Chicago is proud to host Disney100: The Exhibition, returning to the very city where the Walt Disney legend first began,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “We welcome Disney fans from all corners of the world to enjoy this immersive exhibition and spend time in the city that inspired the imagination of a young Walt Disney, one of the 20th century’s most influential Americans.”

The waitlist for tickets opens today, September 6, 2023, and ticket sales will begin on September 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. CDT. For images, please visit the press kit here. Disney100: The Exhibition is scheduled to be open throughout the holiday season and into 2024.

The Exhibition Hub Art Center in Chicago is located inside the Lincoln Park neighborhood at 2367 W. Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647 and is easily accessible from Chicago’s public transit system. For more information, please visit https://disney100exhibit.com/chicago

Your Watch Guide to All Things The Little Mermaid

September 8, 2023September 7, 2023

By Emily Hewitt

After much anticipation, this year’s The Little Mermaid finally dove onto Disney+ on Wednesday. To celebrate this magical occasion, we’ve put together a watch guide of the best The Little Mermaid-themed content, ready to make a splash onto your television or other viewing devices. All titles are available on Disney+.

The Little Mermaid (2023)
Of course, you have to start with The Little Mermaid (2023)—even if you’ve already seen it once… or twice… or more. The classic plot remains: Upon falling for the charming Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), who lives on land, Ariel (Halle Bailey) goes to the wicked sea witch, Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), and reluctantly agrees to trade her voice temporarily for legs. As Ariel experiences land for the first time, Ursula plots a way to keep Ariel’s voice forever.

The Little Mermaid (1989)
After seeing the new live-action film, you can throw it back to the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, inspired by the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Relive the cascade of songs and thingamabobs and remember why this Ariel was instrumental in making her voice, Jodi Benson, a Disney Legend. After your pipes are warmed up, you can watch The Little Mermaid Sing-Along next.

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)
A second generation of mermaids graces the screen in The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, as Ariel and Eric’s daughter, Melody, voiced by Tara Strong, explores the place her mother once called home—the sea. Once there, however, Melody finds herself entangled with a plan by another evil sea witch, Morgana (Pat Carroll), to bring down King Triton (Kenneth Mars). Ariel (Jodi Benson) must return to Atlantica to find her daughter and save her family.

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008)
Before Ariel and Eric met, she was just a young mermaid under the sea, swimming along with her sisters. A prequel to the original film, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning takes place just after the death of Athena, Ariel’s mother, which leads King Triton (Jim Cummings) to ban music from the kingdom of Atlantica. Watch Ariel (Jodi Benson) rebel against her father’s law while Sebastian (Samuel E. Wright) does his best to keep the rhythm going.

The Little Mermaid (1992–1994)
Set between The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning and the original film, this 31-episode series follows the adventures of Ariel (Jodi Benson), her six sisters, and her trusty companions, Flounder (Edan Gross) and Sebastian (Samuel E. Wright). Watch the mighty mermaid fight off threats to her family and build relationships with her loved ones.

The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! (2019)
Ariel’s story becomes part of our world in The Little Mermaid Live!, a stage retelling of the film that aired on The Wonderful World of Disney. Although Ariel (Auliʻi Cravalho) doesn’t get too far flipping her fin in this version, you will definitely get to see her dance under the stage lights. The cast includes Queen Latifah as Ursula, Graham Phillips as Prince Eric, Shaggy as Sebastian, and John Stamos as Chef Louis.

The Art of Restoring 27 Classic Walt Disney Animation Studios Shorts

September 7, 2023

By Zach Johnson

This past summer, Disney+ began debuting a collection of 27 newly restored Walt Disney Animation Studios shorts, ranging from classics to lesser known titles. A new batch will roll out this week—including Trolley Troubles (1927); All Wet (1927); The Barn Dance (1929); Playful Pluto (1934); Mickey’s Kangaroo (1935); Merbabies (1938); Bone Trouble (1940); and Pluto, Junior (1942)—before the final installment of shorts arrives on Friday, October 6. It’s an important passion project, as this year marks the centennial of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, which is being honored as part of the ongoing Disney100 celebrations.

The restorations were spearheaded by Walt Disney Studios Restoration and Preservation team, led by director Kevin Schaeffer. Creative advisors from Walt Disney Animation Studios included special projects and 2D animation producer Dorothy McKim, production designer Mike Giaimo, and animator/director Eric Goldberg. Below, Karen Weissman, Restoration and Preservation Manager at The Walt Disney Studios, details the team’s creative process.

Paint us a picture of how some of these shorts looked and sounded before they were restored. What did you all find as you as you revisited each one of these classic shorts?
Karen Weissman (KW): It’s definitely a mixed bag, that’s for sure. They all are very different as far as what we were able to work with. For a lot of the shorts from the late ’20s and early ’30s, we didn’t always have the original elements [at our disposal]. Some of them didn’t make it over time, but some of them did. It made it a little more challenging, so we had to try to find the best source in order to get the best image quality and audio possible.

Were you familiar with all of these shorts prior to the restoration project?
KW: Definitely not all of them! Disney has hundreds of classic shorts. But once you start working on them, you get very familiar with every frame. Now I have a little more expertise.

Which of these shorts would you consider the most valuable restoration?
KW: It’s tough, because so many of them have different significance. To see Pluto in his early stages and then to see how much he’s changed is, for me, super interesting. Working on the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shorts felt important, because for a long time, the rights didn’t belong to Disney; they belonged to Universal. [Walt Disney Company CEO] Bob Iger did some deals and got some of them back, so it’s really neat to have them available. We also got to work on Bone Trouble [1940]; a long time ago, they had replaced the original title cards, so we didn’t have them. But we were able to track them down and we put them back in, so when everybody gets to see it now, they’re going to see the original main titles.

During the restoration process, how do you honor the different versions of certain characters? For example, Minnie Mouse is animated much differently in Building a Building (1933) than in Bath Day (1946). How do you account for that kind of evolution?
KW: We would use whatever references we could find from the times. We also sometimes consulted with the animators; a few of them have been around for a while, and they know how the characters should look in the shorts. We’re usually just fixing issues of consistency.

With 100 years of Disney animated shorts, do you have a favorite?
KW: That’s always tough. We love all our children! [Laughs] I’ve always been a big Chip and Dale fan, so working on Chips Ahoy [1956] was really neat; it was also an early example of Cinemascope. We have a small handful of shorts filmed in Cinemascope, so that was really cool. Although… you work on these shorts and you learn to love them all, of course!

How does it feel to bring these restored shorts to a platform such as Disney+?
KW: It’s really great to have them there. So many people—even within the Studio—have reached out to say, “I watched the shorts with my family, and some of my kids had never seen them. We had never seen them!” It’s really great that it’s so accessible. It’s fantastic that Disney+ made it a priority to restore all of these shorts this year for 100th anniversary.

Listen to the complete D23 Inside Disney podcast interview with Karen Weissman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, Stitcher, and TuneIn.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Watch the Trailer for the New Video Game Gargoyles Remastered

September 7, 2023September 6, 2023

Gargoyles Remastered is now available for pre-order on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam and GOG!

Launching October 19^th, Gargoyles Remastered is an artfully crafted revival of the ‘90s classic 16-bit side-scrolling platform adventure. Relive the epic journey of Goliath and the Gargoyles featuring enhanced visuals, animations, and SFX, all inspired by the acclaimed animated series. The world of Gargoyles comes to life with a level of detail that will thrill fans of the animated series and retro gaming enthusiasts alike. Experience classic gameplay that stays authentic to its predecessor while including new features such as achievements, gameplay rewind, and more!

Click here to learn more about Gargoyles Remastered.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

September 7, 2023September 6, 2023

By Courtney Potter

It’s a veritable smorgasbord of entertainment from around the worlds of Disney this weekend—everything from classic animation to Jedi adventures and live-action situation comedy… with a certain mermaid’s debut on Disney+ thrown in for good measure! So kick back and relax with a cavalcade of fantastic things to watch. But don’t forget to tune into the most fantastic thing of all: the Destination D23 livestream on Saturday, September 9! Check it out on D23’s YouTube or Facebook pages (@DisneyD23)—or right here at D23.com/DestinationD23.

The Little Mermaid—now streaming on Disney+
The live-action reimagining of the 1989 Walt Disney Animation Studios classic is now on the streaming service—so get ready to go under the sea all weekend long. Disney+ subscribers will even have access to special bonus content! If you need a refresher: The film follows Ariel (Halle Bailey), a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest and most defiant of the daughters of King Triton (Javier Bardem), Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea. After visiting the surface and falling for the dashing Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), she makes a deal with evil sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), which gives her a chance to experience life on land… but ultimately places her life, and her father’s crown, in jeopardy.

I Am Groot—now streaming on Disney+
All five new shorts in season 2 of this adorable series—written and directed by Kirsten Lepore—have crash-landed on Disney+! The troublemaking twig returns to mischief… and this time ’round, Baby Groot finds himself exploring the universe and beyond aboard the Guardians’ spaceships, coming face-to-face—or nose-to-nose—with new and colorful creatures and environments. Vin Diesel returns to the galaxy as the voice of Baby Groot. Read all about the series via a D23-exclusive chat with Lepore herself!

Walt Disney Animation Studios classic shorts (next batch)—now streaming on Disney+
The third batch of hilarious classic animated shorts, from the early days of The Walt Disney Company, will hit the streaming service from Tuesday, September 5, through Friday, September 8. Look for gorgeously restored versions of Trolley Troubles (1927), All Wet (1927), The Barn Dance (1929), Playful Pluto (1934), Mickey’s Kangaroo (1935), Merbabies (1938), Bone Trouble (1940), and Pluto, Junior (1942). Hear more about how these restored shorts came to be, thanks to a recent episode of the D23 Inside Disney podcast.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures—Friday, September 8, at 9 a.m. ET on Disney Channel and Disney XD and 7:35 p.m. ET on Disney Junior
The episode’s two stories include: “Tree Troubles,” in which Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) and the Jedi protect his favorite tree; and “Big Brother’s Bounty,” where the Jedi help a young bounty hunter find her brother.

BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes—Sunday, September 10, at 8:30 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
Who says summer’s over! Camp’s still in session on Disney Channel’s BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes… In an episode titled “Don’t Hate the Mayor, Hate the Game,” Jake (Luke Busey) and Parker (Trevor Tordjman) compete to be mayor; meanwhile, Lou (Miranda May) creates a fake treasure hunt to spend time with Bill (Alfred Lewis) and Destiny (Mallory James Mahoney).