Disney Lorcana Deals Out a Winning Hand of Big News

By Bruce C. Steele

At the Disney Lorcana panel Friday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, members of the Ravensburger trading card game’s creative team held all the cards and played them one at a time to please the standing-room-only crowd: Pixar! Pocahontas! A Lorcana Challenge World Championship! A one-of-a-kind Lorcana card!

Ryan Miller, senior brand manager and co-designer, began the event by saying that the year since the Disney Lorcana launch had been “like a roller-coaster on a rodeo,” a momentous period only partly captured by “a lot of numbers.” Such as:

  • More than 1 billion Disney Lorcana cards sold, which comes out to 131,000 cards an hour.
  • One-and-a-half times around the equator: The distance that could be covered by all those cards placed end to end.
  • More than 400,000 downloads of the related app.
  • 100,000 players participating in regularly organized play.
  • More than 76,000 organized play events so far.

More important than that, said Brent Strong, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering, is that “every single game is a story.” Appropriate to this creative partnership, he said, “I love the way Lorcanacaptures the stories [Disney tells].” Strong is a player himself, along with his 8- and 10-year-old children.

“We’re bringing all the generations together,” added Steve Warner, co-creator and game designer. “That’s huge.”

There are three ingredients to a great experience, Miller noted: love, attention to detail, and hard work—elements exemplified by both Disney storytelling and Ravensburger’s crafting of the Disney Lorcana game and its beautiful, collectible cards.

After sharing behind-the-scenes details and artwork detailing the finely honed process of creating each Lorcana card—and the creation of the rich, semi-secret backstory that underpins the Lorcana world—the panelists moved on to sharing a lot of big news, including:

  • Four major regional Disney Lorcana events (previously announced) are scheduled for the remainder of 2024: in Toronto, Canada, later this month; in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Birmingham, England, in September; and in Seattle, Washington, in October.
  • Those events will be followed by the European championship in December at the Disneyland Paris Resort and the North American Championship in January at the Disneyland Resort. Exact dates and details will be revealed later.
  • Even bigger news was that a Disney Lorcana Challenge World Championship will take place in 2025 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Dates and details to follow.) The participants in the World Championship will be playing for a one-of-a-kind Disney Lorcana card: a golden card featuring Mickey Mouse as the Brave Little Tailor. (It has already been printed and hidden in a secure location, all duplicates shredded at the printer.)
  • As for cards that every player can own, fans can look forward to:
    • Autograph-ready cards that can be signed in Disney Parks by the characters depicted—part of a Disney Lorcana Quest activity now in development.
    • An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit card later this year.
    • Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers cards, also later this year.
    • Cards featuring The Black Cauldron, coming in 2025.
    • A Pocahontas card to complete the Disney Princess deck, coming in 2026.
    • Cards featuring Pixar stories, songs, and characters, also in 2026.

But besides all the collectible cards and challenging events, Miller emphasized, “Story is the glue that holds it all together.” That, and the warmth of friends and family gathered to enjoy a Disney Lorcana trading card game together.

Ravensburger has just released the fifth and newest card set for Disney Lorcana, called Shimmering Skies. A sixth set (details to come) will have a nautical theme, with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and other characters depicted in pirate roles.

Disney Entertainment Showcases a Slate of New Offerings and Exclusive Sneak Peeks at D23

By Alison Stateman

Music, magic, and sheer delight awaited fans at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Friday night. Fans were treated to a cavalcade of announcements and exclusive reveals about some of its most beloved brands and franchises, including updates about highly anticipated films and series such as Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia 2, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5, Disney’s Snow White, and Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World.

The crowd was primed for the evening with a preshow hosted by CoryLive with The Dueling DJs, DJ SP and DJ Keybo and hype crew, Skye Isaac and Sasha B, before Disney CEO Bob Iger took the stage to thunderous applause.

“Thank you for your warm welcome,” said Iger, while placing a hand over his heart in acknowledgment of the crowd’s enthusiastic greeting. “This is the first time in five years that I’ve been to D23, and over the years I’ve witnessed the special connection Disney has with its fans. Your passion drives us—and there’s nothing we love more than to surprise you and fill your hearts with joy and wonder. We know when we do that, we’ve done our job.”

Surprises and star power aplenty followed Iger’s greeting.

What follows are some of the biggest announcements, updates, and reveals from Disney Entertainment’s event on Friday at the Honda Center as well as show highlights from the evening:

On Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Honda Center, AULI’I CRAVALHO and DWAYNE JOHNSON took the stage during the DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT marquee showcase.

Moana 2
Before getting to the major announcements, the Disney Entertainment Showcase opened with singing, dancing, and Dwayne Johnson hyping the crowd. All of it was to drum up excitement for one of the most anticipated films of the year, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2.

Auliʻi Cravalho—the voice of Moana—performed the brand-new song from the film “We’re Back” alongside dancers and a band while Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, did a call and response with the audience that shook the walls of the Honda Center. The film—which opens in theaters on November 27—debuted a new trailer and poster that celebrated one of Disney’s most popular and growing franchises.

The original Moana grossed nearly $700 million in 2016 before becoming a fan-favorite hit on Disney+.

On Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Honda Center, JENNIFER LEE took the stage during the DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT marquee showcase.

Frozen 3
With more than $2.7 billion earned at the global box office, a significant product line, and countless renditions of “Let It Go,” one of the most popular cultural franchises of the past decade is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen.

And soon there will be even more from Anna, Elsa, and Olaf to keep the franchise warm in the hearts of fans of all ages everywhere when Frozen 3 debuts in 2027.

Jennifer Lee—Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios—showed off enchanting concept art from production designer Brittney Lee, which drew appreciative gasps from fans, as well as a logo for the new film.

On Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Honda Center, PETE DOCTER took the stage during the DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT marquee showcase

Incredibles 3
Pete Docter—Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer—had a lot to be joyful about thanks to the recent successes and the future of the animation studios on Friday night.

“I’m D23-delighted to be here,” said Docter, before thanking fans for their support of Inside Out 2—which became the highest-grossing animated film of all time this summer. He also offered up updates about series such as 2024’s Win or Lose, the studio’s very first original long form series, and films like 2025’s Elio and 2026’s Toy Story 5. Additionally, Docter announced a new series coming to Disney+ in 2025, Dream Productions, based on the world of Inside Out, and a new feature film set for release in Spring 2026 called Hoppers.

However, one of the biggest surprises of the night was the announcement that Incredibles 3 is officially in the works, to which the crowd erupted in applause. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Brad Bird is currently developing the film.

The superhero series is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed franchises in all of animation with the first two films bringing in nearly $2 billion, collectively, and the original film winning the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.

D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA – On Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Honda Center, JAMES CAMERON, SAM WORTHINGTON, ZOE SALDANA took the stage during the DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT marquee showcase

Avatar: Fire And Ash
Disney Entertainment also shared a lot of news about its live-action slate of films… including one of the biggest film series in box office history: Avatar.

The science-fiction franchise had its stars—including Zoë Saldaña and Sam Worthington—and director and soon-to-be Disney Legend James Cameron in attendance to talk about the next film in the series, which debuts in theaters on December 19, 2025. The 20th Century Studios film also revealed concept art from the upcoming third installment, as well as its new title, Avatar: Fire And Ash.

Other Avatar sequels are set to be released in 2029 and 2031.

The Mandalorian & Grogu
Friday night’s event also featured everyone’s favorite bounty hunter and apprentice from the Star Wars galaxy.

Director Jon Favreau and producer Dave Filoni showed off new footage from the upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, to cheers and excitement inside the Honda Center.

The film—which hits theaters in 2026—is the first starring the characters from the hit Disney+ show. It’s also the first Star Wars film in theaters since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again, which launches on Disney+ in March 2025, brought out the cast of the street-level Super Hero series, including Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, and Jon Bernthal

The series catches up with Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, and his nemesis, Wilson Fisk, who’s pursuing his own political endeavors in New York. The cast shared footage from the new series with D23 attendees.

THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA – On Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Honda Center, YVETTE NICOLE BROWN, JEFF BRIDGES, GRETA LEE, EVAN PETERS, JARED LETO took the stage during the DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT marquee showcase.

TRON: Ares
The next film in the TRON series hit the stage in style on Friday night as star Jared Leto showed up on an iconic Lightcycle, alongside fellow cast members Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee, and Evan Peters.

The cast shared details about their characters and gave an in-room-only early look. The presentation then used red lasers to announce big news: the film’s music will be done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails.

TRON: Ares—which is directed by Joachim Rønning and slated for theatrical release on October 10, 2025—follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.

YVETTE NICOLE BROWN, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, BRAELYN RANKINS, AARON PIERRE, KELVIN HARRISON JR., THEO SOMOLU, ANIKA NONI ROSE, BILLY EICHNER, SETH ROGEN, BARRY JENKINS

Mufasa: The Lion King
To close out Disney Entertainment Showcase, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King brought out Lebo M., who contributes to the film’s music, performing the iconic “Nants’ Ingonyama” alongside a full choir.

The film—which hits theaters on December 20—is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins and will explore the story of how Mufasa became one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands.

Jenkins welcomed to the stage Mufasa songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda in his first-ever D23 appearance. Together, they offered a special look at a sequence from the film featuring a new song, “I Always Wanted a Brother.” Jenkins was then joined by cast members Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Theo Somolu, Braelyn Rankins, and Anika Noni Rose.

The crowd was also treated to the newest trailer for the film before it’s official release on Saturday.

The prequel continues the tradition of the original 1994 movie—which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year—and follows the cinematic style of 2019’s The Lion King, which made $1.6 billion at the global box office. The innovative approach blends live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery.

On Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Honda Center, JENNIFER LEE took the stage during the DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT marquee showcase.

In addition to the announcements and fan reveals, the audience was dazzled by an array of performances, including from Disney on Broadway’s hit productions such as Frozen, during which white-snow-like confetti drifted on the audience from the rafters during a stirring rendition of “Let It Go” by West End star Samantha Barks (who’ll soon be seen in a filmed version of Frozen the Musical on Disney+); additionally, a first look was revealed for their newest show in development The Greatest Showman. And fans of the hit Disney+ film Descendants: The Rise of Red were treated to a medley of songs performed by the cast following an introduction by the Queen of Hearts herself, Rita Ora, bedecked in a floor-length red gown. And there was some literal magic to boot, when famed magician David Blaine led the audience through an elaborate card trick with a specialty card deck provided at the top of the evening. This followed an official first look at his jaw-dropping series David Blaine: Do Not Attempt from Nat Geo.

Fans leaving the three-plus-hour show were abuzz with excitement about the Disney magic they witnessed—and for what’s to come.

GALLERY: Every Car From “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” at D23

By Courtney Potter

Over 30 incredible automobiles and other vehicles take up 24,000 square feet the Anaheim Convention Center for “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show,” the Walt Disney Archives’ brand-new exhibit for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Engine troubles and can’t make the event this weekend? Never fear! We’ll take a drive through the exhibit and check out the fun. Buckle up, and keep your hands and arms inside the (metaphorical) vehicle at all times...

Drive In to “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” at D23

By Courtney Potter

Start your engines! The storied Walt Disney Archives, which has preserved Disney history for nearly 55 years, opens its vaults once more at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to curate an all-new, truly incredible exhibit. “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” pays homage to vintage car shows and Americana—from racing Fords and Ferraris to fan-favorite love bugs, fabulous pink convertibles, and Flubber-powered Model Ts—giving visitors an up-close look at dozens of vehicles from the Archives’ collection. A “Worlds Beyond” area showcases fantastical vehicles from distant lands, such as Rey’s speeder from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and a transport rover from Prometheus (2012).

A model-T Ford is seen on the show floor in “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Throughout the exhibit, guests will come bumper-to-bumper with more than 30 unique and memorable vehicles from around the worlds of Disney—some never before displayed for the public.
Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives, is particularly excited to see this display come to life. “This year’s exhibition is particularly special because it’s the biggest exhibition we have ever done,” she tells D23. “In the Archives for sure, but possibly at Disney overall. It’s 24,000 square feet—that’s a lot of space to fill! We have some of our biggest items here, including a tank,” she explains, chuckling. “The Prometheus rover is a Czechoslovakian military tank that’s been dressed up to ‘space age.’ It’s pretty special to have all these amazing things that I was hoping we’d find a place one day to display.” Check out this fun video of the rover driving onto the Anaheim Convention Center show floor:

She continues, “Every once in a while, in our exhibits, you can display one or two big pieces—but in here we have 32 cars, from tanks to a little teeny Interpol car from Muppets Most Wanted [2014]. So there’s something for everybody here, including two vehicles that Walt himself drove.”

Step on the gas to begin with some 1950s and ’60s kitsch! The first area we see is themed to resemble a display outside the Ford’s Magic Skyway pavilion at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this very year. An original Ford Mustang used in the Magic Skyway attraction—on loan to the Archives for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—is displayed on a gigantic turntable. During their visit to this particular space, guests will also see Cruella’s 1974 Panther De Ville from 101 Dalmatians (1996) and 102 Dalmatians (2000); Cruella’s 1987 Zaiker from ABC’s Once Upon a Time; “Herbie,” Maggie Peyton’s 1963 Volkswagen Beetle from Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005); the DHARMA Van, a 1971 Volkswagen Type 2, from ABC’s Lost; the 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 from Ford v Ferrari (2019); and many more.

A Ford Mustang, used inside the Ford’s Magic Skyway pavilion at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, is seen on the show floor in “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

The green lights continue into the next section: Kingswell Service Station. Named after the site of the first Disney Studio, Kingswell draws inspiration from classic Americana and service stations of the 1950s. Don’t miss Ned Brainard’s 1915 Ford Model T Touring from The Absent-Minded Professor (1961); Fern’s 2006 Ford E-250 Van from Nomadland (2020); Sam Flynn’s 2009 Ducati Sport 1000 from Tron: Legacy (2010); Sharpay’s 2008 Honda S2000 Convertible from High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008); and several adorable vehicles related to The Muppets—including Beauregard’s 1959 Austin A35 taxi from both the 1981 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Studio Backlot Tour (c. 1996-2014).

Finally, round the corner into an area themed to the park that started it all: Disneyland! Before Disney California Adventure Park was built, the Disneyland parking lot tram used to drop guests off directly in front of the park gates. It should come as no surprise, then, that this area showcases vehicles used at Disneyland. Keep your eyes peeled for Mickey’s 1939 Bantam Roadster from the Cruisin’ the Kingdom Cavalcade at Disneyland (c. 1995-1997); an early ’60s-era Main Street, U.S.A., Runabout Vehicle; and even a Parking Lot Tram Tractor and Car, used between 1968 and 1997.

A parking lot tram used at Disneyland Park is seen on the show floor in “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

Once guests have taken their spin through the car show area, they can step through a portal—literally, a 20-foot-wide tunnel with over 200 LEDs!—that “transports” them to “Worlds Beyond”… where fantastical vehicles from distant lands, like Jakku from Star Wars and LV-223 from Prometheus, come to life within immersive environments. Slow down and make sure to admire the 2054 Lexus Roadster from Minority Report (2002); the 2089 Weyland RT01 Transport Rover from Prometheus (2012)—the biggest vehicle in the entire exhibit!; a Lightcycle from Disney California Adventure Park’s ElecTRONica (2010–2012) and the promotional tour for TRON: Legacy; and more.

Attending D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event? This is your (turn) signal to visit “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show,” located in Hall D on the 1st floor—to discover how various vehicles have helped drive creativity forward throughout the worlds of Disney.

Three Especially Admired Autos
Cline picks three treasures from “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show”—and tells us why they’re so exceptional:

  1. “The last blue and yellow parking lot tram that Disneyland had. We’ve been storing it for years, looking for a way to display it. And I was very happy to be able to finally find a good setting for it.”
  2. “Well, I love the Cruella de Vil cars. Yeah. We have three Cruella cars that are fabulous!”
  3. “One thing that’s really special—something that we borrowed—is the Ford Mustang from the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair; it has a place of honor with a rotating turntable. This is the 60th anniversary year of the fair, and to celebrate that, we were able to borrow from a collector one of the original Mustangs that went through the Ford Pavilion and was actually a ride vehicle! Guests rode on a real Mustang that went through the attraction. So that’s real special. I think fans of the New York World’s Fair, something that’s so important to Disney’s history, are going to be excited to see one.”

Disney Legends in Conversation: Exclusive Q&A with Kelly Ripa

By Zach Johnson

To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

In an exclusive Q&A, Kelly Ripa—who is being recognized in the Television category—reflects on her contributions to the company and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.

You’ve been cohosting Live for years. During that time, you’ve been able to film at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, hosted the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, and more. From those times, what are some of your favorite Disney memories?

I love watching the magic, the excellence, the pageantry, the precision of all of the performers and the Cast Members. Anytime something looks effortless, you know that there’s a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. When it comes to Disney, you just never see the seams anywhere. It all appears so seamless. And being able to raise my kids year after year and to give them this unique privilege of getting to visit the parks—particularly when I was hosting the Christmas Day Parade—was such a fun time.

It’s such a beautiful time to be there and to celebrate the holidays in that way.

What are some highlights from your 30-plus years within the ABC family?

Getting my 30-year Jiminy Cricket award was a pretty big deal because that meant that I worked at Disney as long as my dad worked at New Jersey Transit. I don’t think my dad ever considered my job to be a real job until I reached that milestone! And so now I have been validated that I do in fact have a real job.

You met your husband, Mark Consuelos, on an ABC soap opera, and now you two cohost a talk show that’s syndicated by Disney Entertainment. Are you living a Disney fairy tale?

100%. I’m definitely living a Disney fairy tale without question. However, Mark seems to be Aladdin, and I’m more Ursula.

You’re being presented with this award by your former Live co-host, Ryan Seacrest. How does that make it extra special? 

It’s special that Disney does recognize our co-dependence with each other, and I think it makes sense. We can only give and receive awards from each other, so it is very special, and it gives me a chance to of course harass him on a public stage, which I never get tired of doing.

How does it feel to be honored as a Disney Legend?

It feels surreal. I feel like the job is the gift, and I feel like the longevity is the gift. And so, the honor on top of the job just feels kind of gluttonous, if I’m being honest. But it’s a privilege and a true honor.

Disney Legends in Conversation: Exclusive Q&A with Martha Blanding

By Zach Johnson

To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

In an exclusive Q&A, Martha Blanding—who is being recognized in the Parks & Resorts category—reflects on her contributions and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.

How does it feel to have been the first Black VIP Tour Guide and the first Black female leader at the Disneyland Resort—to know you paved the way for others?

Being the first Black Permanent Tour Guide, VIP Hostess and becoming the first Black Female in Management in my eyes was amazing. I felt that I had achieved a challenge that for some would have felt uncomfortable being the only one. My parents taught me to always put my best foot forward and always do my best, and that’s what I did.

What are some of the highlights from your 50-year Disney career?

I have witnessed many changes in the company, [like] adding new lands and attractions in the park. I am most proud of being part of the growth of cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion for young Cast Members of color coming behind me. I saw the evolution of BERG diversity groups and was one of the founders of PULSE (People, United, Lead, Serve, Excel), which is the Black diversity group.

What about working for Disney has stood out the most to you?

Creating the magic for our guests and Cast Members. Designing events that our guests will remember and share with family and friends. Meeting all kinds of people from Hollywood and all over the world.

What’s it been like to chronicle your experiences in the book Groundbreaking Magic?

Being able to relive my journey has been interesting, and now it is on paper for people to read. Hopefully they will be inspired to reach their goal in life and help others.

What does it mean to you to be honored as a Disney Legend?

Becoming a Disney Legend was not something that I thought would happen to me. I was totally surprised when I received the call. I [began at Disneyland as an hourly] Cast Member and moved up the ladder, working hard with many wonderful co-workers along the way. This makes me proud because I am proof that an hourly Cast Member can become a Disney Legend.

Disney Legends in Conversation: Exclusive Q&A with Colleen Atwood

By Zach Johnson

To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

In an exclusive Q&A, Colleen Atwood—who is being recognized in the Costume Design category—reflects on her contributions to the company and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.

How does it feel to be the first costume designer to be named a Disney Legend?

To be the first costume designer to receive the Disney Legends Award, I am thrilled! It is an honor from a company founded by artists and remains one that has always supported the art of film.

What’s the secret to creating unique costumes that are distinctly Disney?

The secret to creating costumes that are uniquely Disney lies in taking the character that has been made familiar to audiences as a starting point and building a new world around it.

What is it about working with Disney that has helped your creativity in creating these costumes?

I think the support that Disney has always given me as a designer, along with the belief in the filmmakers I work with expands creativity.

There’s often a dark edge to your designs, which work well in films like Alice in Wonderland, Into the Woods, and Dumbo. What appeals to you about this aesthetic?

The dark edge in design goes hand in hand with the sort of stories these movies have; there is a feeling of characters that are dark, much like old fairytales. To me, it is fun to design the scary folks alongside the innocent beauties.

Out of all the costumes you’ve created, which one is the most deceptively complex?

The Red Queen dress in Alice was cheated in a way that was a fun challenge. Her head was larger than normal, so I had to make the bodice and collar look like they fit with big head while Helena [Bonham Carter] was wearing the costume.

When you think of your Disney oeuvre, what makes you most proud?

For me, Alice remains my favorite accomplishment. The technology was new to us and the challenges of merging real with bits of animation made it unique for all times.

Disney Legends in Conversation: Exclusive Q&A with Frank Oz

By Zach Johnson

To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

In an exclusive Q&A, Frank Oz—who is being recognized in the Film & Television category—reflects on his contributions to the company and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.

How does it feel to be honored as a Disney Legend—and to get to share in this year’s celebration with Harrison Ford following the previous inductions of George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones, Jon Favreau, and Ming-Na Wen?

It’s very nice to continue being in that Star Wars family.

Yoda means a lot to many people, but what does he mean to you?

He means struggle, humor, responsibility, steadfastness, and gravitas to me.

You played a number of beloved characters on The Muppet Show, and you did it alongside Disney Legend Jim Henson. What stands out about that time in your life?

The relationships with the Muppet writers and Muppet workshop, and playing with my fellow performers, and the fun and the hard work, and the fun of doing hard work with gifted people I cared about.

How did you transition into directing, and which Disney film are you most proud of?

I always wanted to direct—theater, actually. But when Jim asked me to direct Dark Crystal with him, that opened a whole new groove that spoke to me. And because of Jim’s support I was able to transition into directing full time.

As for which Disney film I’m most proud of, I directed two things for Disney. One was a short segment about how sound was used in movies. It starred Mel Gibson, Pee Wee Herman, and Darryl Hannah; I felt I did a good job on that.

And I also directed What About Bob? for Disney with Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus, which I think turned out pretty good.

You reprised your role as Dave in Inside Out 2, which is now the biggest film in Pixar’s history. At this point in your career, what’s it like to be part of such a success?

It’s awesomely difficult.

In Inside Out 2, Dave Goelz and I reprised our roles of the two guards from the original Inside Out. We were very happy to have been asked again, but we feel we can’t keep carrying the success of Pixar’s movies on our shoulders. I just hope in the future Pixar will be able to create other movies that are not so dependent on us for their success.

Disney Legends in Conversation: Exclusive Q&A with Mark Henn

By Zach Johnson

To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

In an exclusive Q&A, Mark Henn—who is being recognized in the Animation category—reflects on his contributions and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.

How does it feel to be honored as a Disney Legend?

It feels both exciting and humbling being honored as a Disney Legend.

What inspired you to be an animator?

I was inspired by Disney Animation growing up as a small boy. Both Cinderella and The Reluctant Dragon played an important role in inspiring me to become a Disney animator.

Your first major assignment at Disney was animating Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. How would you summarize that experience, and—given that he is one of Walt’s original creations—did it deepen your appreciation for the character?

Animating Mickey Mouse for Mickey’s Christmas Carol was a major opportunity for me. I always thought how cool it was to start my animation career animating Mickey Mouse. Needless to say, I had rather large shoes to fill.

From Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine to Mulan, Giselle, and Tiana, you’re the Disney Princess expert. What’s the key to making them unique but also distinctly Disney?

Having animated many of Disney’s princesses, the challenge is making each one a unique personality. They each must support the role they perform in their respective films. Each princess needs to be accessible so the audience can relate to them. Plus, I think all of our princesses are just very nice people.

What’s it like to mentor the next generation of hand-drawn animators at Disney?

It’s hard to believe I’m now at the other end of my career acting as the “elder statesman,” when it seems just like yesterday I could go to [Disney Legend] Eric Larson to get help and inspiration from him. I thoroughly enjoy working with our new animators. They come into the studio with the same drive and energy to carry on the tradition of Disney Animation that my generation had following Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men. It has been my role to help in any way that I can to pass along all the knowledge I have and to encourage them along their way.

Disney Legends in Conversation: Exclusive Q&A with Jamie Lee Curtis

By Zach Johnson

To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

In an exclusive Q&A, Jamie Lee Curtis—who is being recognized in the Film category—reflects on her contributions to the company and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.

How does it feel to be honored as a Disney Legend?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, the city of Angels. Disneyland was and is such a big part of California history, and for me to become an actor and then work many times for The Walt Disney Company in such successful and loved films is the [greatest] honor. The Legend status I can’t even wrap my mind around.

How did working with Disney help you evolve your scream queen persona?

I started my career as a scream queen. I was thrilled to be able to get a solid footing in an industry which can often feel like quicksand. From that footing, I’ve been able to then leap higher into many different genres and my work with Disney was a big catapult with Freaky Friday.

You’re reprising your role as Tess Coleman opposite Lindsay Lohan in a sequel to Freaky Friday. Why did you want to revisit this character, and what can fans expect?

I am the catalyst for the new film because while on a tour of the world promoting the Halloween franchise, the most asked question, wherever I went, and whatever language was, “Are you gonna make a Freaky Friday sequel?’ When I returned from that trip, I called Bob Iger and suggested that they take very seriously the possibility—and now we are in the process of making that film. It’s a relatable question. What would it feel like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes? We have a few surprises in this new film, and a lot of old favorites.

In addition to the Freaky Friday films, you’ve developed quite a Disney oeuvre, from Beverly Hills Chihuahua and You Again to Haunted Mansion and Ella MacKay. What’s your favorite part about making these movies for The Walt Disney Studios?

I love the movies because they allow people to group together and have a communal experience while having a very personal one. Disney exemplifies that, and it also shows how diverse The Walt Disney Company is in its storytelling and audiences.

Are there any Disney roles still on your bucket list?

I think my dance card has been filled with the most unexpected and delightful work that I’ve been able to do. I’m just grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of such an important entertainment giant.