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Tommy Kirk, the beloved and iconic star of such Disney family favorites from the 1950s and 1960s as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, September 28, at the age of 79. Kirk was named a Disney Legend—the prestigious honor bestowed upon individuals in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to The Walt Disney Company—in 2006.
Kirk began his association with Disney in 1956 when he was cast as Joe Hardy (alongside Tim Considine as Frank Hardy) in the “The Hardy Boys” serial for Mickey Mouse Club. Considine (also a Disney Legend) said of his longtime friend and former colleague, “He was one of the most talented people I ever worked with. Frighteningly talented. A friend of mine who was a casting director told me that when Tommy Kirk came in to audition, he had never seen a kid actor as good as he was, especially because he could instantly cry on cue. He was a great talent, and it was privilege to work with him and call him a friend.”
“The Hardy Boys” led to a long association with The Walt Disney Studios on a string of highly successful films beginning with Old Yeller in 1957. This was followed by starring roles in The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Babes in Toyland (1961), Moon Pilot (1962), Bon Voyage! (1962), Son of Flubber (1963), Savage Sam (1963), The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964), and The Monkey’s Uncle (1965).
Commenting on Kirk’s passing, film historian and renowned author Leonard Maltin said, “One of the reasons people remember Old Yeller is not just the fate of a beloved dog, but the shattering grief expressed by his owner, so beautifully played by Tommy. I think his talent and range as an actor were taken for granted somewhat. He was really very versatile.”
Mouseketeers Tommy Cole and Bobby Burgess also added of their long-time friend, “Tommy and I palled around and even double dated as kids,” said Cole. “To me he was a Disney icon.” Burgess looked back with humor, saying, “When Tommy was filming Old Yeller, he went to school on the lot with us Mouseketeers. I remember our teacher asked us what language we would like to learn. We all chose Spanish except for Tommy who wanted to learn German, and indeed he did!”
Born on December 10, 1941, in Lexington, Kentucky, one of four sons, Kirk moved to Los Angeles in 1943 when he was 15 months old. At age 13, he accompanied his brother Joe to an audition of Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness! at the Pasadena Playhouse. His brother did not get the part (losing out to Bobby Driscoll), but Tommy was cast in a minor role. This led to him getting signed by an agent and being cast in an episode of TV Reader’s Digest (“The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs”). Television work in such popular shows as Gunsmoke and 37 episodes of Matinee Theatre followed.
In 1956, Kirk auditioned for the part of Joe Hardy in the TV serial “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure” for Mickey Mouse Club and got the part. The popular serial had 19 episodes in the first year, and went on to a second series the following year.
After leaving Disney, Kirk found success with a series of beach-themed movies for American International Pictures (AIP). He played a Martian in the 1964 feature Pajama Party, and starred in other beach films for other companies including The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini and It’s a Bikini World.
He gave up acting in the mid-1970s, making only occasional appearances. In later life, he enjoyed writing and seeing his fans at nostalgia conventions. Just several months ago, he was interviewed for an upcoming publication on the making of Swiss Family Robinson, sharing anecdotes and tales of his adventures during the production.
Looking back on his career on the occasion of his receiving the Disney Legends Award, Kirk recalled, “I want to be remembered for my Disney work, like Swiss Family Robinson and Old Yeller.” He fondly remembered bumping into Walt Disney at a Beverly Hills hotel. “He was with Hedda Hopper, the legendary columnist. He put his arm around me, and he said, ‘This is my good-luck piece here,’ to Hedda Hopper. I never forgot that. That’s the nicest compliment he ever gave me.”
An extraordinary family, and the equally wondrous, life-altering house they live in… Walt Disney Animations Studios’ Encanto—the studios’ milestone 60th animated feature—follows the Madrigals, a clan who live hidden in the mountains of colorful Colombia. Their home is an Encanto, an amazing place filled to the brim with heightened spirituality and more than a little enchantment. This Encanto has blessed every child in the Madrigal family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal… well, every child except one, that is: 15-year-old Mirabel (voice of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.
With musical numbers by Tony® Award-winning and Oscar®-nominated songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto is set to enchant audiences beginning later this year. But as luck would have it, D23 was recently privy to a memorable virtual press conference featuring many of the film’s creative team: director Byron Howard; director and co-writer Jared Bush; co-director and co-writer Charise Castro Smith; producers Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer; associate production designer Lorelay Bové; heads of animation Renato dos Anjos and Kira Lehtomaki; and assistant choreographer and animation reference consultant Kai Martinez. Read on for some of the morning’s most magical—not to mention fascinating—moments:
Directors Howard and Bush on how the idea of Encanto was originally conceived: “Byron and I teamed up on Zootopia wanting to evolve and elevate what a talking animal movie could be,” explains Bush. “[Something with] depth of character and sophistication without sacrificing entertainment, but built from a core that really had something to say.”
“And because we’re both musicians—trombonists, by the way,” Howard adds, laughing, “we wanted to apply these same storytelling principles that Jared just mentioned to a musical. We love—L-O-V-E—love musicals. I directed Tangled; Jared wrote Moana. And we knew that if we wanted to take a fresh approach to musicals, we were going to need to work with the best. And luckily, on Moana, Jared worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
“As you know, Lin-Manuel’s whole career is about evolving what a musical could be,” continues Bush. “Obviously, what he brought to Moana was innovative and different and exciting. So it became a no-brainer for us to team up again. And right away we began to talk about what was the most important to us—what do we all have in common?”
“Family was what we had in common,” adds Howard. “No matter the size or the shape, everybody, all of us, we all have a family. For Lin, Jared, and myself, we all have large extended families… so our early research was really about ourselves and our own families.”
“We wanted to ask a central question within our film, a question no doubt we have all asked ourselves at one time or another,” admits Bush; adds Howard, “How well do we truly know our families? And how well do they know us?… We really wanted to get [this film] right. And this has been the most exciting adventure of our careers.”
(l-r) Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Lin-Manuel Miranda during the Encanto team’s 2018 research trip to Colombia.
The directors on deciding where to set the film, and the incredible research trip the team took: Explains Howard, “At the same time, we were also thinking about where our story should take place. Lin, Jared, and I talked about Latin America, and the more we talked about it—especially the importance of family within the region—we wanted to learn about a place often described as the crossroads of Latin America: Columbia. And that’s when we started thinking about our friends Juan and Natalie.”
“We met Juan Rendon and Natalie Osma when they were working for the network Fusion,” says Bush. “They were filming a behind-the-scenes documentary on Zootopia, so they were really in the trenches with us. We remained friends with them ever since. And in speaking with them, they kept talking about their home country, Columbia—a melting pot of Latin culture and music and dance and art and food, with some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet, also the home to ‘magical realism’ [a literary genre that blurs the line between fantasy and reality].”
“So in 2018, Lin, his father Luis, Jared, and I packed our bags and headed there,” Howard says. “One of the coolest things we were able to experience down in Columbia were areas… of heightened spirituality, places of magic that some people call Encantos—hence the name of our movie. These are all over Latin America, usually in areas of natural wonder. Our friends in Columbia told us that magic happens in these places and always has.”
“We knew we wanted a partner and needed a partner on this journey,” Bush adds. “So shortly after our research trip, we were so lucky to find the amazing Charise Castro Smith. Our team read literally hundreds of scripts; we met with 20 writers; and then we read Charise’s work—and as soon as we saw it, both Byron and I said ‘Yes!’ immediately.”
Co-director and co-writer Castro Smith on evolving the idea of the Madrigals’ magical home: “It means the world to me to be a part of this project,” Castro Smith admits, “and to have been in the trenches with Byron and Jared and this whole incredible team. Ultimately, we got to work with magical realism at top of mind—and when we infused magical realism into our story of family and thought about those Encantos, everything came alive. Because we realized that if the family in our story lived in one of these magical Encantos, maybe the children born there would be kind of special—special in a way that is a nod to family dynamics that we can all relate to. There’s a strong, dependable child who’s the rock of the family. There’s the perfect golden child whose happiness blossoms. There’s a quiet kid who’s not so comfortable talking to people, so he talks to animals. And there’s the worrywart who can see the future, but only sees the bad things. As we thought about that, we had a big breakthrough, because we realized that the family’s house didn’t just have to be ‘a house,’ because in an Encanto the house itself could have powers too… each of the rooms in this house is a fantastical realm that represents the personality and magical powers of the Madrigal who lives there.”
Producers Merino and Spencer on what made the Encanto experience special for them: “One of the benefits of Walt Disney Animation Studios is, we do form these long-term relationships,” Merino says. “I actually first worked with Byron back on Tangled years ago, and I worked with Clark on the first Wreck-It Ralph. Being able to work on this close-knit team, all together, was a dream project for me. I felt like I’d won the lottery [in terms of] casting and working on a film with this team, so it’s been great.” Spencer echoes Merino’s thoughts, adding, “We have this opportunity in animated films to do things you can’t always do in live action. So to bring the Madrigal house in as a character and let it provide both the comedy that it provides, but also have it be this character you’re gonna fall in love with and have an emotional component to it, was really just so exciting. It kind of harkens it back to when Byron and Jared first pitched Zootopia, and they talked about all these different worlds; you’re gonna have Tundratown and you’re gonna have Sahara Square, and you could immediately see that world. The same thing here. You could see this house being very unique, and [a character] that the audience would fall in love with.”
Associate production designer Bové on a few of Encanto’s compelling design elements: “Early on, we talked to Colombian architects and they gave us such great information about the construction of [this style of] houses, the design of the casita,” explains Bove. “One thing that we learned through the consultants was that in the Coffee region, there’s a lot of [spaces] that have an indoor/outdoor feel, so we really wanted to get that in our casita, as well as the courtyard… we even had a botanist consultant, and we learned about all the plants that grow in the region. We really wanted to reflect the immense biodiversity of Colombia.”
“In our department, we were super excited to have so many diverse characters in this film,” she continues. “Visually, our goal was to organize the families through a distinct color palette so that the audience would be able to understand who is who, and kind of divide the families in two… So we have Julieta and Agustín’s side of the family—they’re Mirabel’s parents, so that side of the family—in cooler jewel tones, and Pepa [Mirabel’s aunt] and husband Félix’s side of the family in a warmer color palette. And since Madrigal abuela [grandma] Alma goes through so much, her costume color palette has a lot of weight, [as does] her character design; everything feels very constricted, more so than the other characters.”
Heads of animation dos Anjos and Lehtomaki on the what inspires the characters’ movements: “When we first start animating these characters, we make ‘walks,’ says dos Anjos. “We have characters walking the screen just to make sure we’re hitting the notes that the directors are looking for. For instance, Mirabel’s sister Luisa: she has this really strong kind of like persona. The way she walks has this strong, iconic kind of pose—like a superhero. When it came to Mirabel, I found that we really couldn’t hit one ‘walk’ that fit her in every way, so she ended up being [animated differently] for every shot. Every shot you see her moving, she has a very specific thing that she’s doing in that one particular shot; the same thing for dancing.”
Speaking of the film’s choreography, Lehtomaki explains, “As soon as our animation department saw [the reference clip for one of the film’s big numbers, ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’], we were so inspired and excited to work on this thing that we actually decided to put people to work on it early. Renato and I got a team of animators together and we put them to work, using the choreography video as reference, concurrently with our layout team. So the animators would start to very, very roughly translate the dance onto the characters, paying really close attention to how they were moving in the physical 3D space.”
Martinez on the opportunity to bring her life experiences to such a unique project: First of all, when I was being asked to be a part of this production as a consultant, it was an honor,” Martinez admits. I am Colombian American, so to not only be a part of the [choreography team] for the film, alongside choreographer Jamal Sims, but to also be a part of the cultural side of the dance was a true honor. I can’t say that enough… One of the biggest joys that I got working on this film was to be able to not only share my experience as a Colombian American woman; to talk about my family and my home, my culture, and really dive into that… It just was so cool to be able to go back into my archives and [recall] some old family stories and videos… But I also really appreciated the interest and the desire to learn [that came] from the whole production team. We had meetings, and they had great questions—and the desire to create an authentic feel, an authentic story. That, to me, went beyond what I could’ve imagined being a part of this beautiful film. It was such a joy.”
See Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto when it comes to U.S. theaters on Wednesday, November 24.
Halloween is almost upon us, conjuring up thoughts of jack-o-lanterns and silly ghosts and… Poe Dameron? That is no trick—this Halloween season, we’re exploring the spooky (but still silly!) side of the galaxy thanks to our friends at LEGO® Star Wars. While the Star Wars universe doesn’t have its own Halloween-style holiday, the galaxy is FULL of terrifying characters and creatures perfect for filling intergalactic ghost stories! LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales, scaring up fun on Disney+ October 1, takes a ghost story approach to Star Wars, where Poe and BB-8 explore the creepy castle of Darth Vader while being accompanied by the castle’s caretaker, who tells them spooky tales of the Dark Side as they explore. We talked to the special’s executive producers, Josh Rimes and David Shayne, to get an “eek peek” behind the scenes of this terrifying…ly fun special:
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: There’s never been a Star Wars Halloween special—what inspired this one to happen? Josh Rimes (JR): With the success of The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special a year ago on Disney+, we began thinking about other seasonal events we could paint with the irreverent LEGO Star Wars brush. The answer came to us naturally: a Halloween special! We very quickly knew we wanted to lean into the iconic villains of Star Wars and celebrate the dark side—much like the way the Disney parks celebrate villainy during Halloweentime.
David Shayne (DS): A Halloween special felt like a no-brainer. It got even better when we realized we have perfect haunted house setting: Darth Vader’s castle.
D23: What made Poe and BB-8 the perfect characters to lead this story? JR: Like the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, this special takes place immediately following the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. We still wanted to play within that sandbox of New Trilogy characters, because through their eyes, we can look back and capture the entire history of the Star Wars saga.
DS: Throughout the sequel trilogy, Poe is full of confidence and swagger—even in the face of overwhelming odds. It seems like the guy is NEVER scared, so we think of him as “courageous.” But we started to ask ourselves, is that really the right way to measure courage? We wanted to see Poe wrestle with that, and it’s fun to have BB-8 along to call that out.
D23: Can you tell us about the new characters, Dean and Vaneé? DS: Dean is a 12-year-old mechanical whiz kid who uses his wrenching skills to earn money for his family back on Arkanis. Unfortunately, that meant taking a job working for Graballa the Hutt, and while working for a Hutt is never fun, Dean manages to keep a positive attitude.
JR: He’s the heart of our story—a kid who’s a dreamer and is just trying to do his best in a tough galaxy. When Poe comes on the scene, Dean is truly in awe—getting to meet his hero and go on this adventure with him through the castle.
DS: Our villain Vaneé isn’t technically new, since he has a silent appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and has shown up in the comics, but as far as I know, it’s the first time we’ve heard him speak onscreen—which was done brilliantly by Tony Hale.
JS: Vaneé is Darth Vader’s loyal attendant who stayed behind at the castle, despite years going by without Vader ever returning. We’ve seen this character briefly before, but he truly gets his spotlight here as he regales our heroes with dark tales that feature classic and iconic Star Wars villains.
D23: Can you hint at which villains or creepy characters may appear in the special? JS: We’ll cover most of them! We wanted to really cover all eras of Star Wars, so we’ll see Darth Maul and General Grievous go, we’ll witness a formative moment in the life of Kylo Ren, and, of course a LEGO Star Wars special wouldn’t be complete without Darth Vader and The Emperor and their hilarious dynamic.
D23: What makes the LEGO format unique for telling this story? DS: We say that LEGO Star Wars is “canon adjacent,” so we can mess a little with how characters act in order to see their sillier, funnier side. There is nothing more fun than writing scenes with Emperor and Vader, who have a funny, bickering relationship.
D23: What is your favorite part of the special? DS: Without giving away too much, we took a look at Star Wars: A New Hope through the lens of a classic campfire horror story and it is filled with so many little moments—visual jokes, twists on lines, even the spin on the score—that I just love.
JR: There’s one moment that I absolutely don’t want to spoil, but it involves a Twilight Zone-inspired tale that imagines, “What if Luke Skywalker joined the Empire and went bad?”
D23: What message do you hope fans take away from the special? DS: I hope if they learn anything from the special, it’s that fear is natural. We all get scared, but the real measure of courage is what we do in the face of our fears. Even as an adult that’s a lesson I am CONSTANTLY re-learning.
JR: We always try to infuse our Star Wars stories with hope and optimism—and even though we are celebrating scary villains, there’s still this great, big heart to this story about facing your fears and how sometimes it’s okay to be scared. There’s such a sweet dynamic between Poe and Dean, and in the end they both teach each other something valuable about what it means to be a hero.
DS: Also, turning Darth Vader’s castle into a hotel is a really, really bad idea. Don’t do that.
D23: What holiday or holiday season would you like to see a LEGO Star Wars special tackle next and/or do you have a dream holiday special for LEGO Star Wars? DS: I keep insisting that an Ewok-themed Arbor Day special would be a smash hit, but the folks at Lucasfilm wisely keep turning me down.
LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales is streaming on October 1 on Disney+ as part of their annual Hallowstream celebration!
The magic is calling all foodies to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”
On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World Resort opened in Central Florida, bringing Walt Disney’s magical dream to life. In the five decades since, The Most Magical Place on Earth has continued to expand with new stories and characters and memories to cherish for a lifetime. Now, to mark its 50th anniversary, the resort is welcoming guests to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” an 18-month event beginning October 1. As part of the celebration, Disney chefs and mixologists have created more than 150 menu items full of color, whimsy, and a touch of EARidescent shimmer—with more coming through next year!
Inspirations for the celebratory creations include Walt’s personal recipes, fan-favorite attractions (past and present), beloved Disney characters, and nostalgic dishes from 1971.
And thanks to our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, we’re sharing a special look at a few of the delicious offerings you can find starting October 1 at Walt Disney World Resort. To view all the 50th anniversary celebration food and beverage offerings on your mobile device, download the My Disney Experience app or view the full menu at Disneyworld.com.
Let “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begin!
MAGIC KINGDOM PARK
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
Uncle Orville Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Sundae – Chocolate and vanilla soft-serve, brownie pieces, hot fudge, and whipped cream topped with red, white, and blue sprinkles served in a “bath tub”
Be Our Guest Restaurant
Squids Revenge Drink – A michelada with a salted rim and garnished with charred octopus and cucumber
Casey’s Corner
Pressed Penny Silk Pie – Chocolate tart shell, silky chocolate filling, sweet whipped cream, and a chocolate-pressed penny
50th Celebration Hot Dog – All-beef hot dog topped with strawberry bacon jam, crisp funnel cake pieces, and powdered sugar
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Royal 50th Celebration Flight – Flight of Enchantée Champagne—a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunière (Enchantée Champagne is sold exclusively at the Walt Disney World Resort)
Columbia Harbor House
Happy Haunts Milkshake – Blackberry milkshake topped with a purple chocolate-glazed doughnut covered with black sprinkles
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
Mission to Mars – Burger topped with bacon and macaroni and cheese, served on a bun dusted with crushed cheese-flavored puffs
The Crystal Palace
Walt’s Favorites on the Buffet – Chicken fried steak, New York strip steak, pork chops, and more
Friar’s Nook
The Toad Burger – Brat burger served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and American cheese
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
Veranda Fried Rice – Spicy chili-garlic shrimp served over pork fried rice with eggs and peas (from the original Verandah Restaurant menu)
Outdoor Kiosks
Dumbo Churros – Churros rolled in peanut dust and served with chocolate dipping sauce in a Dumbo-themed churro bag
Royal 50th Churro – Churros rolled in strawberry sugar, drizzled with marshmallow cream, and shimmer sprinkles served with chocolate dipping sauce
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
The Banana Boom – Traditional banana split topped with popping candy and a candied shooting star
Plaza Restaurant
Cheers to 50 Years! – Chocolate and vanilla ice cream, brownies, cupcakes, cookie crumbles, pretzel rods, and hot fudge topped with whipped cream, EARidescent sugar, and a Mickey pretzel drizzled with caramel and chocolate icing (serves 4-6)
Storybook Treats
Heigh-Ho Sundae! – Chocolate soft-serve, hot fudge, graham cracker pieces, chocolate gems, and whipped cream
Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
Five Alarm Wings – Wings tossed in a sweet-and-spicy heat served with ranch dressing for dipping
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM THEME PARK
Drinkwallah
Hand-dipped 50th Celebration Mickey Premium Bar – Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar dipped in blue raspberry-flavored coating with celebration sprinkles and a little bit of pixie dust
Restaurantosaurus
Cheese Fries with Walt’s Chili – Crispy fries topped with Walt’s favorite chili and cheddar sauce
Walt’s Favorite Chili on Foot-long Hot Dog – A foot-long hot dog served on a warm bun topped with Walt’s favorite chili and cheddar sauce
Tiffins
50th Celebration Chocolate Gâteaux – Almond praline, white chocolate crémeux, ganache, and chocolate-South African cream liqueur sauce
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Trolley Car Café
Glimmer and Shimmer Pineapple Mousse – Golden pineapple mousse on a toasted coconut crisp with caramel cream and matcha sponge cake
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Filet Mignon with Walt’s Hash topped with an egg (just the way Walt liked it!)
The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge, Oasis Canteen, Sunshine Day Bar, Animation Bar
Shimmer over the Moon – Apple pie moonshine, amaretto, falernum, pineapple juice, and club soda served with a souvenir glow cube
ABC Commissary
Chocolate Mousse – Raspberry-dark chocolate mousse, chocolate-almond cake, and a layer of hazelnut crunch and whipped chocolate-hazelnut cheesecake
EPCOT
Coral Reef Restaurant
Key Lime Tart with toasted meringue, EARidescent shimmer, sprinkles, and chocolate garnish
The EPCOT Experience
EARidescent Croissant Doughnut – Croissant doughnut with blue icing and sprinkles
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Chocolate Mousse Bar – Dark chocolate mousse, caramel cookie pieces, milk chocolate shell, and chocolate shortbread cookie
Sunshine Seasons
Mini Chocolate Bundt Cake – Mini chocolate Bundt cake with chocolate ganache, sprinkles, and icing dusted with EARidescent shimmer and chocolate 50th anniversary garnish
DISNEY SPRINGS
Amorette’s Patisserie
50th Celebration Petit Cake – Vanilla chiffon cake with celebration blue mousse, blueberry jam, and lemon curd
The Ganachery
50th Celebration Chocolate Bundle:
50th Celebration Ganache Chocolate Bar – Milk chocolate combined with caramel and crispies
50th Celebration Ganache Square – Celebration cake ganache mixed with sprinkles, enrobed in 65% dark chocolate, and decorated with a shimmering castle design
Frontera Cocina
Chocolate Pigñata – Chocolate shell filled with cajeta mousse, tender cake (infused with whiskey and vanilla), crumble of chipotle bacon, candied orange, and Maria cookies (serves 2)
The BOATHOUSE
Sweet Nostalgia Pineapple Upside-Down Cake – Pineapple upside-down cake with caramel glazed with Chantilly cream
Terralina Crafted Italian
Whimsical White Chocolate Mousse – White chocolate mousse with salted caramel and cotton candy
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
Caramel Banana Chocolate Sphere – Dark chocolate sphere, vanilla pudding, banana caramel compote, gold dust, and chocolate pearls
RESORTS
The Mara, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Chocolate Mousse with a cardamom financier
Contempo Café, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
50th Anniversary Peanut Butter-Banana Pie – Sweet tart shell filled with peanut butter mousse and banana sauce topped with chocolate glaze and chocolate décor
Toledo–Tapas, Steak, and Seafood, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Braised Lamb Shank with olive oil-potato purée, rosemary-roasted garlic gravy, huckleberry jam, and English peas
P&J’s Southern Takeout, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds
Chicken Dinner Cupcake Trio
Fried chicken-apple fritter, apple pie moonshine filling, and vanilla buttercream
Peas and carrots-strawberry moonshine custard, white chocolate frosting, and M&M’s Mini “peas”
Mock mashed potato-Snickers® mousse cupcake, caramel buttercream, and Starburst® “butter”
Grand Floridian Café, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
50th Anniversary Vintage Minnie’s Brown Betty Profiterole – Crunchy-topped cream puff filled with one of Walt’s favorite flavors of cinnamon-spiced apples and Chantilly cream
Olivia’s Cafe, Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Spam-Cheddar Biscuits with white gravy and drizzled with honey
Capt. Cook’s, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
50th Celebration Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake with DOLE® Whip pineapple center, tropical fruit salsa, and pineapple macaron
Le Petit Café, Disney’s Riviera Resort
50th Celebration Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake, cake-flavored mousse, and caramel-buttercream icing garnished with crisp pearls, 50th anniversary sprinkles, and a whimsical gold Mickey
Roaring Fork, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Petit Stump Cake – Chocolate cake with birthday cake buttercream filling surrounded by chocolate “bark” fondant topped with 50th anniversary chocolate coin
The Market at Ale & Compass, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
50th Celebration Tart – Birthday cake mousse dome on top of a milk chocolate mousse-filled vanilla tart shell with mini chocolate crisp pearls, buttercream, fondant, and chocolate décor
The following offerings are available at select table-service restaurants, lounges, and pool bars throughout the four theme parks and resorts:
EARidescent Sip-a-bration (Non-Alcoholic Beverage) – Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade and fruity strawberry punch served in a souvenir 50th Celebration Cup with a surprise Character and a little bit of magic!
Magical Beacon Cocktail – Gin, blue curaçao, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, orgeat (almond) syrup, lemon, hibiscus grenadine, and a souvenir glow cube
In addition, the classic Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar has a festive new wrapper showcasing Mickey in his EARidescent finest!
Sprig, I have a feeling we’re not in Amphibia anymore…
When season three of the Emmy® Award-nominated series Amphibia debuts Saturday, October 2, at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW, it will find Anne (voiced by Brenda Song) transported from Amphibia back to her hometown of L.A. She will be joined by the Plantar family, who must learn to navigate the complexities of this new world while trying (and occasionally failing) to hide their identities as talking frog people. If they work together, can the Plantars—Sprig (voiced by Justin Felbinger), Hop Pop (voiced by Disney Legend Bill Farmer), and Polly (voiced by Amanda Leighton)—make it back home?
“Season three brings a complete role reversal in an extremely fun way. The Plantars have been looking after Anne this whole time in Amphibia, and now she gets to look after them in L.A.,” says creator and executive producer Matt Braly. “It’s very rewarding to see the shoe on the other foot, as it were.” Although season three feels “like a different show” in some respects, Braly says, “It feels like a logical progression of the story we were telling.”
As one might expect, adjusting to life in modern-day L.A. leads to some hilarious hijinks from the Plantars. “It’s easy to forget, but these guys come from a medieval-era frog world,” Braly explains. “Our modern world is new and amazing and surprising to them. It’s really fun to see the Plantars enjoy future comforts, like microwaves and massage chairs, and come to grips with a concept like the internet, which is something that would be very hard to explain to a 15th century peasant.” Luckily, the Plantars pick things up pretty quickly. “It’s really fun to see them interacting with our world, in the same way that it was fun to see Anne interacting with their world,” he says. “It’s almost like a cultural exchange.”
From Anne’s perspective, not much about L.A. has changed. If anything has changed, it’s Anne, given everything she’s experienced in Amphibia. “Anne is a much different person now,” says Braly. “The biggest example of this is seeing how her parents interact with her. They have very clear opinions about the person she was when she left, and throughout the first episode, they realize that she’s not the same person. It’s very rewarding to see Anne, having grown so much, return to L.A. and have to experience it through a different lens.”
Not to mention, Anne has a lot on her plate these days. She wants to help the Plantars return to Amphibia; defeat King Andrias (voiced by Keith David) once and for all; and make up with her best friends, Marcy (voice of Haley Tju) and Sasha (voice of Anna Akana), and bring them back to L.A. Oh, and there’s also the matter of Anne’s mysterious new powers…
“You can tell at the end of the first episode that Anne is a little overwhelmed,” Braly says. “But what’s so great is that this was a girl who had very low expectations for herself, and now she’s basically got a to-do list that is impossible. I think that speaks volumes to how much she has changed, because she’s taking the bull by the horns. For the first time, Anne is leading the narrative—in a way that she didn’t in the first two seasons—because she’s finally become a responsible person who is being a bit more proactive with their mission.”
As for Anne’s powers—which she herself doesn’t quite understand—Braly admits it was a “tricky” thing to introduce at the end of season two. “But it’s become so key to the storytelling in season three, where her powers are sort of a metaphor or a mirror for her own personal growth, where the more she is becoming sure of herself, the better she can use these powers. Something we wanted to be careful with regarding her powers was to make sure they never felt like a quick fix. We wanted to make sure that every time she used them, she was really tuckered out, and it didn’t feel like something that she could just pull out anytime she needed it. You want her to still feel like a 13-year-old girl who’s trying to come to grips with all this crazy stuff that’s happening around her. What’s so nice for Anne is that she’s the last person who expected to have these powers and these responsibilities.”
Without spoiling the rest of what’s ahead in season three, Braly says “a good chunk” will be spent in L.A., and the rest will be spent in Amphibia. “But first, before they can return, Anne needs to make good with her past,” he says. “This is a chance for Anne to really get to know her parents better and reflect before she launches in to this very dangerous mission.”
Don’t “froget” to tune in for the season three premiere of Amphibia on Saturday, October 2, at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW. New episodes of the series will premiere every Saturday through November 27 on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW.
With the leaves falling from trees and temperatures getting cooler, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by continuing our tour through the decades and looking at some of the most haunting films from 20th Century Fox. For the 1950s—the era of milkshakes, drive-ins, and the Cold War—we shall witness for ourselves The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951).
A loose adaptation of Harry Bates’ 1940 short story “Farewell to the Master,” The Day the Earth Stood Still explores what happens when a mysterious spaceship lands in Washington, D.C., and two even more mysterious figures disembark from it: the humanoid alien Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and his silent, towering robot sentinel, Gort (Lock Martin). Klaatu comes in peace and goodwill, seeking an audience with the leaders of the world, but he is instead greeted at every turn by fear, anger, and mistrust from civilians, the military, and government authorities. However, this changes after he disguises himself as a human man, befriending the young widow Helen Benson (Patricia Neal), her son, Bobby (Billy Gray) and Professor Jacob Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), “the greatest living person” in Bobby’s estimation. It is to Helen and Professor Barnhardt that Klaatu divulges the true reason for his arrival: to warn of Earth’s elimination at the hands of other planets should humanity continue its dangerous escalation of atomic power and its unceasing hostility towards each other. With the help of his newfound allies, Klaatu is able to return to his spaceship and to Gort; upon his departure, he ominously intones to the uneasy crowd gathered around him: “Your choice is simple. Join us and live in peace. Or pursue your present course—and face obliteration. We will be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you.”
The Day the Earth Stood Still reflects the period of world history in which it was made, with Klaatu’s words of warning echoing the very real fears and anxieties that beset a global society in the thick of the Cold War. The film’s score, accented by the eerie sounds of a theremin and the sleek, cool lines of its production design, give it a defined “space race” edge. In fact, the Gort of the film’s source material is described as all green and looking much like an overly muscled human being, while the Gort film audiences see is all atomic era, from his smooth, silvery sheen to the deadly laser beam that emerges from his visor, disintegrating an Army tank in the blink of an eye.
The Day the Earth Stood Still was a modest success upon its release but it is now considered one of the finest science-fiction films ever made, with Klaatu’s iconic command to Gort, “Klaatu barada nikto” engrained in popular culture.
The decision rests with you to experience for yourself The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Prepare for another can’t-miss crossover event between Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy when both series return for new seasons this Thursday on ABC. Then, on Friday, enjoy the spooktacular first short from ZOMBIES: Addison’s Monster Mystery on Disney Channel, in addition to LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales on Disney+ and Sweet Home Alabama on Hulu.
Station 19—Thursday, September 30, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC Relationships are challenged at Station 19 after Maya (Danielle Savre) was suspended, complicating things between Sullivan (Boris Kodjoe) and Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz). Meanwhile, Dean (Okieriete Onaodowan) comes to terms with his feelings for Vic (Barrett Doss), while Travis (Jay Hayden) rekindles an old flame. The annual Phoenix Festival ends in chaos, as some unruly locals test the teams at both Station 19 and Grey Sloan Memorial.
Grey’s Anatomy—Thursday, September 30, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC The drama continues as the city of Seattle revels at the Phoenix Fair celebrating the city’s rebirth post-COVID, and the Grey Sloan doctors treat a patient who encounters illegal fireworks. Meanwhile, Bailey (Chandra Wilson) has her sights set on hiring new doctors, but she’s having trouble finding viable options. Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver) attempt to take the next step in their engagement, and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) receives a surprising opportunity when she meets a dynamic doctor from her mother’s past.
ZOMBIES: Addison’s Monster Mystery—Friday, October 1, at 10:04 p.m. ET on Disney Channel In the first episode of this new animated series of shorts, Addison (voice of Meg Donnelly) is hosting Seabrook High’s Halloween Fall Ball. She’s going above and beyond to ensure the event is fa-boo-lous. After she gives the “Shrimpy” mascot costume a makeover using stones from the Wolf Den, a mysterious power brings the costume to life. As “Monster Shrimpy” terrorizes the town and smashes everything in his path, she and Zed (voice of Milo Manheim) must work together to save the Halloween Fall Ball… and Seabrook itself.
LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales—Friday, October 1, on Disney+ After the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Poe Dameron (voice of Jake Green) and BB-8 must make an emergency landing on the planet Mustafar. There, they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt (voice of Dana Snyder), who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-Wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa, and a mechanic named Dean (voice of Raphael Alejandro) venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé (voice of Tony Hale). Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. As Vaneé spins his tales and lures the group even deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With Dean’s help, Poe and BB-8 must face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends.
Sweet Home Alabama—Friday, October 1, on Hulu New York fashion designer Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) is over the moon after getting engaged to Andrew Hennings, the city’s most eligible bachelor (Patrick Dempsey). There’s just one hitch: Melanie’s high school sweetheart, Jake Perry (Josh Lucas), refuses to divorce her, meaning she must return home to Alabama to face her past.
Brand-New Trailer for Muppets Haunted Mansion—Coming Soon to Disney+
The Muppets are back with an all-new spooktacular special for Disney+, and our pals at the streaming service just released an official trailer, above.
Premiering Friday, October 8, Muppets Haunted Mansion stars a gaggle of fan-favorite Muppets alongside Will Arnett as The Ghost Host, Yvette Nicole Brown as The Hearse Driver, Darren Criss as The Caretaker, and Taraji P. Henson as The Bride.
In the special, the Great Gonzo—world famous daredevil artiste—has done it all, seen it all, and survived it all. But on Halloween night, the fearless Gonzo takes on the greatest challenge of his life by spending one very daring night in the most grim-grinning place on Earth… The Haunted Mansion! Will he (and his sidekick, the inimitable Pepe the King Prawn) see the morning? You’ll have to tun in to find out!
Muppets Haunted Mansion will also feature special appearances from Chrissy Metz as Harriet; Alfonso Ribeiro as Fred; the late, great Edward Asner as Claude; Jeannie Mai as Maude; Danny Trejo as Huet; and Sasheer Zamata as Mary… plus Craig Robinson, Skai Jackson, Pat Sajak, Geoff Keighley, and Justina Machado as the infamous Haunted Mansion busts, friend of D23 John Stamos as himself, and Walt Disney Imagineering’s Kim Irvine as Haunted Mansion Maid.
In addition to the special, the Muppets Haunted Mansion EP will be also released on Friday, October 8, from Walt Disney Records. Look for three new original songs—“Rest in Peace,” “Life Hereafter,” and “Tie the Knot Tango”—plus a cover of “Dancing in the Moonlight.”
When we say we’re excited for this special, it’s possibly the understatement of the year! Mark those calendars, y’all…
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend
It’s the first official weekend of fall (even though in our neck o’ the woods, it’s distinctly not “sweater weather” quite yet)—so why not take in some great viewing from around the worlds of Disney to celebrate? Feel all the feels when The Fault in Our Stars returns to Disney+; play along as Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Supermarket Sweep return for new seasons on ABC; and so much more.
Go Behind the Scenes at Pixar with A Spark Story
Speaking of this weekend, don’t miss the debut of A Spark Story, a new feature-length documentary from Disney+ and Pixar Animation Studios. Taking an intimate look at Pixar’s SparkShorts filmmaking process, A Spark Story allows viewers to follow along as two directors strive to get their uniquely personal SparkShorts visions onscreen.
The film introduces Twenty Something director Aphton Corbin and Nona director Louis Gonzales, who navigate the emotional roller coaster of stepping into a leadership role and inspiring their crews—all during the tumultuous times of 2020. Giving fans an exclusive and immersive look at the filmmakers and their films, A Spark Story explores the creative philosophy that makes Pixar unique.
Look for A Spark Story on Disney+ beginning today (Friday, September 24).
California Grill Celebrates Walt Disney World’s 50th with Limited-Time Menu
Walt Disney World Resort is replete with gastronomical wonders… the delights at California Grill, overlooking Magic Kingdom Park and Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, among them. It’s where guests can not only savor the finest in Californian cooking, but now they can also step into a bygone era as the resort ushers in its incredible 50th anniversary.
Evoking the spirit of 1971, California Grill celebrates its past while offering a nod to the incredible future ahead: As part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” the restaurant will soon offer a limited-time three-course menu with dishes inspired by past favorites as well as new market-fresh creations. Look for these latest tasty morsels to be offered beginning October 3, with reservations now available.
Among the dishes you can expect are the California Grill Sushi Classics Trio; the House-Made Artisanal-Style Duck a l’Orange Pizza; and an Oak-Fired Filet of Beef. Okay, now we’re hungry…
Disney Halloween Time Returns to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Should you find yourself at across the world this Halloween season, do not miss out on the spooky fun happening now through October 31 at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort! Disney Halloween Time is back—featuring the iconic Disney Villains, as well as beloved Disney Friends decked out in brand-new Halloween looks, and they’re ready to put on an incredibly fun and wicked Halloween extravaganza!
Guests are invited to join the Halloween party by dressing up in their own stylish Halloween outfits, inspired by favorite Disney characters. And what can you expect? Photo opportunities with Mickey Mouse and all manner of his friends, including Vampirina; trick-or-treating at the Halloween Time Festival Gardens during the day; the brand-new Wicked Fun Party Zone, where the Disney Villains are consolidating their power to create the spookiest party vibe; a “Halloween BBQ Feast” at Karibuni Marketplace; the delightfully evil musical stage show “Let’s Get Wicked” returning to mesmerize guests this year; and much more.
Find out how you can get in on the all the fa-boo-lous action by visiting HongKongDisneyland.com.
ICYMI: Disney+ Day Coming This November…
As if this season wasn’t already chockablock with amazing things to look forward to, our pals at Disney+ just added another holiday to the mix! On Friday, November 12, The Walt Disney Company will host Disney+ Day, a truly global celebration that will come to life across all dimensions of the Company. For more on what you can expect, check out our rundown right here at D23.com.
Hello there, you kooky people, you! Are you in for a treat! 60 years ago—on September 24, 1961—the egotistical, erudite, eccentric professor Ludwig Von Drake made his debut on the premiere episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. The only major animated character Walt created especially for television, Professor Von Drake is Donald Duck’s father’s brother. (According to no less an authority than Walt himself, he has a different last name because Donald took his mother’s name when he went into show business.) As quoted from Von Drake’s official bio by Walt Disney, Ludwig is “an eminent psychologist, renowned color expert, etymologist” and “the most sought after lecturer in the world. He is undoubtedly the outstanding genius of the century”—apparently also an author for as Walt said, “Undoubtedly, the Professor must have written this himself!” Since that wacky quack is always ready to celebrate himself, join in the double-nickel festivities as D23 presents eight fun facts about that lovable lunatic Ludwig.
Ludwig Outshines a Certain Peacock
Walt Disney’s arrival at the forefront of color television programming in 1961 was big news. His move to NBC, “the Color Network,” from ABC, home to the Disney TV hour since 1954, made headlines. To signal his serious intent to produce must-see full color broadcasts (make that “colorcasts”) the great showman created an all-new animated character—and Ludwig Von Drake burst on to the scene, holding forth on “An Adventure in Color/Mathmagic Land,” the first Wonderful World of Color episode. Ludwig lets looses with the first of his loony lectures, on color, of course, especially as seen via color TV. Bird meets birdbrain when a Disney-fied depiction of the peacock—symbol of NBC‘s “living color” since 1957— makes a surprise cameo appearance. When the animated peacock’s famous feathers upstage Ludwig, the newly introduced TV star retorts, “Oooh, what a show-off!” Ludwig then tells the viewers with a wink, “Confidentially, he dyes his feathers!” Von Drake also takes a satiric stab at the peacock in the 1963 episode, “Fly with Von Drake.” When Ludwig calls his seagull pal, Orville, “a seagoing peacock,” the bird’s tail feathers fan out in an array of “living color” hues.
(Almost) Nine Old Men Brought Ludwig to Loquacious Life
Aside from indicating the importance of the new version of his weekly primetime TV series, Walt created Ludwig Von Drake in order to ensure a regular stream of new Disney animation on TV. Putting his best food forward for his new web-footed star, Walt called on his elite team of animators, the Nine Old Men, to introduce Ludwig on his first appearance 55 years ago. Seven of the Nine served; Ollie Johnston, Eric Larson, Ward Kimball, Les Clark, Frank Thomas, John Lounsbery, and Milt Kahl turned their special Disney skillset to Ludwig’s multi-hued performance on that first animated Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color episode.
Ludwig’s “Ghost” Voice
One of Walt’s favorite voice artists, Disney Legend Paul Frees, is the vocal powerhouse behind Professor Von Drake’s zany on-screen personality. Gifted with a three-octave vocal range and an unerring ear for impressions, Frees was also a talented actor who skillfully performed many an audio characterization. His vocal improvisations helped shaped the Von Drake character beyond simply a wild Austrian accent. “When we have a story conference, the writers toss questions and situations at me,” Frees once revealed. “I ad-lib on tape and it’s incorporated into the script. Walt Disney gave me a lot of liberty in portraying the Professor, and I’ve made him more personal than any of my other characters. Originally, Ludwig was a supercilious character but we’ve given him point and shade as we brought him along. His complete knowledge in every avenue helps bring a little culture to TV.” In addition to non-Disney vocalizations—including one half of the Beatles (John and George) for the animated series about the band—and any number of characters for Hanna-Barbera, Jay Ward and Rankin-Bass, Frees voiced a variety of Disney roles, including many of the buccaneers in Pirates of the Caribbean and the weirdly welcoming Ghost Host at the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland® Park. Curious to see Ludwig’s voice on screen? Try Walt Disney’s The Shaggy Dog (1959), wherein the versatile Mr. Frees prophetically played a psychiatrist just a few years before voicing the animated “duck-ter” of psychology on TV.
Multi-Dimensional Duck
What did Walt Disney watch on TV? Why, The Von Drake Report, of course, as seen on the 1961 World of Color episode, “Carnival Time.” As Walt relaxes in his armchair with his miniature poodle, Lady, he switches on his living room console via remote—only to be startled by the over-the-top intro to the “special, special, extra special Von Drake Report.” Ludwig’s TV news show really displays the Von Drake versatility, for the show is produced and directed by the wacky web-footed virtuoso, who also serves as “ace commentator.” Aside from those many Von Drake vocations, Ludwig emphasized academia, reveling in rants and ramblings about geometry, geography, atomic energy and especially psychiatry. In “Inside Donald Duck” (1961), the learned loony actually succeeds in curing Donald of his infamously fiery temper—until Ludwig presents his nephew with the bill. Donald blows his top, causing the Austrian egghead to crack up and begin psychoanalyzing himself. And in DuckTales the learned professor took on perhaps his greatest challenge (since Donald anyhow) as psychiatrist to Launchpad McQuack in the DuckTales TV series.
Addlepated Authority on Anything
Is this self-proclaimed expert on everything all he’s quacked up to be? Nothing stopped Ludwig from lecturing at length about a kaleidoscopic variety of Wonderful World of Color topics, from travel in “Mediterranean Cruise” (1964) to philosophy and safety in “Man Is His Own Worst Enemy” (1962). Referred to as “our self-appointed expert on everything” by Walt Disney, musicologist Ludwig illustrates melody in “Music for Everybody” (1966) by writing “a lot of do-re-mis, fas, fee-fees and loo-loos all over this music score sheet.” Inspired by JFK’s famous physical fitness program, Ludwig introduced his own program in 1964 with “In Shape with Von Drake.” After Walt set up the show by playing a record entitled “Von Drake And His Musical Muscles,” the all-around authority dementedly delved into the world of sports and exercise. Showing his propensity for getting sidetracked, Ludwig used a dumbbell to create a not-so-hidden Mickey, making a makeshift Mouseketeer hat his own by singing “L-U-D-W-I-G V-O-N D-R-A-K-E.” This talkative quack-up also crashed the spoken-word recording trend of the 1960s by yakking it up about color theory, music (singing some specially composed Sherman Brothers songs along the way), and the art of sound recording on his own LP album, Professor Ludwig Von Drake. Once available only as a vinyl LP “licorice pizza” this classic comedy album is accessible today on iTunes.
Printed Page Pundit
Ludwig jumped from the television screen to the printed page with the book-loving prof appropriately becoming the subject of such hardcover classics as “Ludwig Von Drake, Dog Expert.” In addition to being awarded his own comic book title, Ludwig also joined the comic-page cast of the classic newspaper strip drawn by Disney Legend Al Taliaferro and written by Bob Karp. On September 22, 1961, Donald starts preparing for the arrival of the “all-around genius” from Vienna by redecorating his guest room with a telescope, test tubes, and maybe even a “hunk of uranium 255.” Donald unveils an oversized painting of his Uncle Ludwig (sent as a gift by the Professor himself) in the Sunday color comic page published on September 24, 1961—the very date Von Drake debuted on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. From that point on, Ludwig was a supporting star of the Donald Duck strip for the next four decades.
Ludwig Has a Bootle Beetle Buddy
Such a talkative talent needs someone to converse with besides the television audience, so Ludwig was given a pet named Herman to interact with. A bootle beetle—that particularly Disney species of insect—Herman popped up from time to time to help Ludwig with his presentations. In “The Hunting Instinct” (1961), for example, Ludwig’s tiny friend runs the projector to screen The Von Drake Plastic Hour (parodying such TV series as The United States Steel Hour). In “Music For Everybody” (1966), Ludwig introduces his own 99-piece orchestra made up entirely of bootle beetles. Herman and his musical pals also appear as the Bughouse Five, a spoof of the Disney-artist jazz band, Firehouse Five Plus Two, headed by frequent Ludwig animator Ward Kimball. Ludwig considers Herman his best friend—when the absent-minded prof isn’t almost accidently squishing his bug buddy.
Today’s Television Star
In addition to playing it up in various video games, this Teutonic-tinged television star continues to thrive in TV productions. Living up (if not lousing up) to his status as all-around authority, Ludwig starred in his own segment, “Ask Von Drake” on House of Mouse, and his tricky song wherein the wacky vocalist rapidly rattled off an endless list of Disney characters has become a YouTube favorite. On Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Von Drake invented the titular high-tech clubhouse, equipping it with outlandish accessories, including the Handy Helper. Ludwig’s crazy inventions often help out Mickey and his pals, as when Ludwig returned to his World of Color roots, inventing a device that restored color when it was being drained from the world. In the stylized and crazily creative Mickey Mouse series of newly produced cartoons, the kooky professor fits right in. This Disney favorite continues to delight video audiences whether or not they are aware of his zany television debut 55 years ago. Happy anniversary, Ludwig Von Drake!
Get ready for a good cry, because The Fault in Our Stars is returning to the Disney+ library this weekend. Also on Friday, the streaming service will debut A Spark Story, chronicling Pixar’s SparkShorts filmmaking process. On Sunday, two fan-favorite competition series, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Supermarket Sweep, return for new seasons on ABC. That same day, ABC News Live, FX, and ABC will air highlights from the Global Citizen Festival.
The Fault in Our Stars—Friday, September 24, on Disney+ Forced by her mother to attend a cancer support group, 16-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) is surprised when she forms an instant connection with Gus Waters (Ansel Elgort), who lost a leg to bone cancer but has since apparently been in remission. They share an acerbic wit and a love of reading, and after Gus scores an invitation to meet Hazel’s favorite reclusive author, the two teens embark on the adventure of their brief lives.
A Spark Story—Friday, September 24, on Disney+ A co-production of Pixar and Supper Club, this feature-length documentary takes an intimate look at Pixar’s SparkShorts filmmaking process as two directors strive to get their uniquely personal SparkShorts visions on screen. Directed by Jason Sterman and Leanne Dare, A Spark Story introduces Aphton Corbin (director of Twenty Something) and Louis Gonzales (director of Nona), who navigate the emotional roller coaster of stepping into a leadership role and inspiring their crews. Giving an exclusive and immersive look at the filmmakers and their films, it also explores the creative philosophy that makes Pixar unique.
Global Citizen Live—Sunday, September 26, at 1 p.m. ET on ABC News Live, 3 p.m. ET on FX and 7 p.m. ET on ABC (Special) The global event will feature dozens of artists, activists, corporate leaders, philanthropists, and world leaders uniting to defend the planet and defeat poverty—all in support of Global Citizen’s year-long Recovery Plan for the World campaign, which is working to kickstart an equitable global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists and advocates donating their time and talent to the global special include Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, BTS, Camila Cabello, Coldplay, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman, Keith Urban, Lizzo, Lorde, Meghan Markle, Metallica, Prince Harry, Ricky Martin, Shawn Mendes, Stevie Wonder, The Weeknd, Usher, and many more.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune—Sunday, September 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC Hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, America’s Game® invites celebrity contestants to spin the world’s most famous Wheel and solve word puzzles for a chance to win up to $1 million for a charity of their choice. Celebrity contestants competing in the season premiere include Jason Alexander (playing for Americares), “The Miz” (playing for Connor’s Cure at the V Foundation for Cancer Research), and Cheryl Burke (playing for PhilDev).
Supermarket Sweep—Sunday, September 26, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Attention, shoppers! The fast-paced and energetic game show, hosted and executive produced by Leslie Jones, returns for season two. Watch three teams of two battle it out using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes.
