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It’s a loaded question, and it’s one Disney and Pixar’s new movie Soul attempts to answer—or, at the very least, ponder—through the eyes of Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx), a middle school band teacher with dreams of becoming a professional jazz musician, and 22 (voice of Tina Fey), an untethered soul who just doesn’t understand what Earth has to offer.
In early November, the aforementioned actors joined co-stars Angela Bassett (voice of Dorothea Williams) and Phylicia Rashad (voice of Libba Gardner), as well as the film’s director and screenwriter Pete Docter, co-director and screenwriter Kemp Powers, and producer Dana Murray, for a virtual press conference to discuss the existential adventure film, available exclusively on Disney+ (where the service is available) starting December 25. The film’s premise boils down to three essential questions, Docter said: “What are we going through? What’s the world about? What am I supposed to be doing with my life?”
Early on, the filmmakers decided jazz would be integral to Joe because, as Docter put it, “You don’t go into jazz to get rich and famous. You do it because you love it and you have a passion for it. It’s fascinating to watch. When you see somebody play, it’s like a magic trick.” In the film, they call that being “in the zone.” And something everyone at the virtual press conference agreed upon was that they, too, felt “in the zone” as they were working on Soul.
Here are seven more things we learned from the press conference:
1.There is no Joe Gardner without Jamie Foxx. Foxx, who won an Oscar® in 2005 for his portrayal of music legend Ray Charles, was the filmmakers’ first and only choice for the leading role. Although he didn’t need much convincing, his 11-year-old daughter helped seal the deal. “She be looking at me like, ‘When’s it gonna take off for you?’” Foxx said with a laugh. “Like, ‘You’re Pixar now. You made it!’” All jokes aside, Foxx is honored to voice Pixar’s first Black protagonist: “I know my grandmother, who is looking down, would be proud we are doing something like this.”
2. Soul is rich in varied experiences and perspectives. “Not only do we have a dream cast, but we have a dream consultant team,” said Murray, who cited Britta M. Wilson, vice president, Inclusion Strategies, as a “great partner” in “building out who the consultants were going to be.” The cultural and music consultants included Dr. Peter Archer, Jon Batiste, Dr. Christopher Bell, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Daveed Diggs, Herbie Hancock, Marcus McLaurine, George Spencer, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, and Bradford Young. “The depth of the bench was crazy,” Murray said, “and we were just really lucky.” An in-house team, dubbed the Pixar Cultural Trust, was also formed and included Frank E. Abney III, Aphton Corbin, Robert Grahamjones, Jessica Heidt, Katrina Henderson, Searit Kahsay Huluf, Paige Johnstone, Albert Lozano, Mara MacMahon, Sean Muriithi, Rod Pearson, Nicole Pellerin Chandler, Montaque Lamont Allen Ruffin, Gini Cruz Santos, and Michael Yates. Unlike the other consultants, who would weigh in weekly or monthly, “They were part of the daily process.”
3. New York City is as energetic and vibrant as ever. From the jazz clubs he frequented with his father to the local barber shop where everyone knows his name, the animators created a stylized version of the city where Joe was born and raised. “I didn’t find it specific to one area of the city necessarily,” said Rashad, who herself has lived in the city and whose character owns and runs a tailor shop in Queens. “However, it was a real neighborhood. There were businesses and shops, and people lived there. And there are a number of neighborhoods in and around New York City like that,” she said. “I thought it was so authentic. And I loved the colors! I loved the colors so much.”
4. Black voices add authenticity to the story. Powers, an accomplished playwright and television writer, offered invaluable insight into who Joe is—down to the smallest detail. “Joe getting a suit was a plot point. I said to Pete, ‘Well, he also needs a haircut, right?’ And someone said the haircut isn’t as important as the suit. I said, ‘I wouldn’t have even come up to Pixar for the interview if I couldn’t have got lined up. So, I’m gonna disagree and say that the haircut is every bit as important as the threads,’” Powers recalled. Other cultural and music consultants agreed, and Powers said Docter and Murray “encouraged us to lean into that stuff as opposed to shying away from it.” In fact, he added, “There were a lot of times in making this film where I kept going, like, ‘Can we really do this? Are we gonna be able to say jazz is black improvisational music? Is the guy gonna be able to say he can’t catch a cab? Are we gonna be able to do all these things?’ And, honestly, no one even batted an eye. And I don’t think it hurts the film at all. I think it’s part of what makes the texture of this film so rich and so honest and so sincere.”
5. Tina Fey brings her signature sense of humor to 22. The team at Pixar was tickled whenever the Emmy® – and Golden Globe® Award-winning actress and writer would pitch a new joke. And although Fey mostly stuck to the script, a few of her lines did make the final cut. “I went into a lot of sessions, and I would come back and there’d be rewrites and new pages of sequences as they evolved,” Fey remembered. “There were tiny bits of improv here and there. But you can really only do that when the structure is solid. And the script is really good, so the credit really goes to Kemp and Pete.”
6. Jerry is a deceptively complex character. Cheery and (mostly) all-knowing, the ubiquitous Counselors in The Great Before are all named Jerry. Voiced by Richard Ayoade, Alice Braga, Fortune Feimster, Zenobia Shroff, and Wes Studi, the Counselors’ job is to wrangle new souls and help them develop unique personalities until they find their spark. “We figured if the souls just ran around amok, no one would ever get born,” explained Docter. “It would just be bedlam up there.” The Counselors describe themselves in Soul as the universe dumbing itself down for humans to comprehend… which explains why they resemble wires twisted into the shape of a person. “It’s not quite two-dimensional; it’s a little bit three-dimensional,” said Docter. “We thought, ‘Oh, these will be very simple, because they’re just a line.’ Well, it turned out—in typical computer form—you never know what you’re getting into. That was one of the more difficult characters to do not only in the film, but in our library of characters at Pixar.”
7. Don’t lose sight of your dream—or it could turn into a nightmare! Joe is so intent on making his dreams come true that he loses sight of everything—including the manhole that is literally right in front of him. Of course, being so single-minded can be as advantageous as it can be dangerous. “This [film] talks about being focused on your dreams,” said Bassett. “But maybe sometimes too much focus, or hearing negative chatter from outside, can derail you and take you to a dark vortex or space.” She hopes people who watch the film are inspired to live their best lives—with balance, of course. Said Bassett, “Live it with gusto. Live it with pride. Live it with spark and vitality!” To that point, Foxx added, “The world has been here however many billions of years, so, 70, 80, 100 years is what? It’s a blink of an eye. So, I say to everybody: ‘Don’t waste your blink.’”
We’re continuing our Fantasia (1940) composer series by exploring the life and music of Franz Schubert.
Ave Maria(1825), streaming now on Disney+
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Fantasia: 01:58:22-02:04:15
Sound operators with “Ave Maria” score at a Fantasound mixing console.
Franz Schubert may not be a household name like Beethoven, but he too was an important figure in bringing about the Romantic era of Western classical music. The Viennese composer wrote music for only about half of his short 31 years, and yet he managed to compose operas, symphonies, overtures, masses, string quartets, quintets, piano sonatas, choral works, and six HUNDRED songs! Unfortunately, Schubert was not seen as a major composer during his lifetime because he tended to write older forms of music, music for domestic settings, and he was not a virtuoso as were Bach and Beethoven. But that didn’t stop him—in 1823, he even started work on his song cycle Die schöne Müllerin while in the hospital!
“Ave Maria” Fantasia (1940) concept art.
We all recognize Schubert’s beautiful “Ave Maria” from the finale of Fantasia (1940). But the history of the composition is not what it seems. The music of “Ave Maria” was indeed composed by Schubert, but with different words and under the title “Ellens dritter Gesang” (“Ellen’s Third Song”). It was one of seven songs that Schubert wrote in 1825 as part of a song cycle based on the text from Sir Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake. As was common in Romantic-era music, composers drew upon themes from other art forms, such as paintings or literature.
“Ave Maria” Fantasia (1940) concept art.
So where else can you see (or hear) Schubert? Check out Almost Angels (1962), streaming now on Disney+! The film revolves around the Vienna Boys Choir, of which Schubert was a member in 1808. And be sure to check back for a look at Modest Mussorgsky!
00:20:58-00:25:10 – In this scene in Max Heller’s office, you can see a bust of Schubert on his desk. You can also hear Schubert’s song “Der Lindenbaum” played by Heller on the piano and sung by choir boys Peter Schaefer and Toni Fiala.
Walt listens to a Vienna Boys Choir album during his lead-in for Almost Angels, which aired as part of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color in 1965.
Did You Know? Schubert idolized Beethoven: he was a torchbearer at Beethoven’s funeral, and today they are buried next to each other in a circle of musicians in Vienna’s Central Cemetery.
In case you missed it, click here to see our spotlight look at Ludwig van Beethoven!
It’s a tradition as cherished as cookies for Santa: Grab the family, cozy up in your snuggliest festive sweaters and settle in for more holiday fare than eight tiny reindeer can possibly pull. This yuletide season, get ready for beloved classics and new favorites all across the networks of Disney, including Disney+, Hulu, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, ABC, FX, FXX, and ESPN. From Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration, a bright new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight, to original seasonal movies and holiday episodes of your favorite TV series, such as Raven’s Home and The Simpsons, there’s something this December for everyone. Even Scrooge.
Read on for our comprehensive list to help you schedule your season’s screenings; and discover more ways to virtually celebrate the holidays with Disney right here on D23.com.
Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD
Tuesday, December 8
Random Rings—“Cricket Pranks Chandler” (Short-form)Cricket pretends to be Santa Claus and tells Chandler Kinney (ZOMBIES 2) she’s on Santa’s naughty list, unless she mails Cricket a bunch of money. Airing on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube
Friday, December 11
Bluey—“Christmas Swim”
Bluey gets a new teddy for Christmas and introduces him to the whole family. But the family play too rough with him and now he wants to go home. Until Frisky convinces him to stay. 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW
Disney Channel Holiday House Party Features Disney Channel stars, remotely from their homes, delivering a holiday sketch comedy show for kids and families. Miranda May (BUNK’D) hosts, and starring are Raphael Alejandro, Suzi Barrett, Issac Ryan Brown, Kylie Cantrall, Scarlett Estevez, Kaylin Hayman, Ramon Reed, Trevor Tordjman, Ruby Rose Turner, and Tobie Windham. 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW day after
Just Roll With It—“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year”
When Rachel is put in charge of running Beatz 101’s charity Christmas telethon and the starring act’s props and costumes are mysteriously destroyed right before the show, Owen takes it upon himself to uncover the mystery of “who dunnit.” 8:25 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW
Monday, December 14
Vampirina—“New Century’s Eve” / “Bridget to the Brave”
In the first story of the episode, Vampirina and her family celebrate New Century’s Eve and learn that following their resolutions is harder than they thought. Then, Bridget finds a spell book in the attic and accidently casts a spell that makes her fearsome instead of fearless. 11 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior and in DisneyNOW
Tuesday, December 15
Random Rings—“Tilly Tests Trevor” (Short-form) Tilly is making her very own Christmas movie and wants to cast Trevor Tordjman (ZOMBIES 2) as Santa Claus, but Gramma Alice challenges Trevor to prove he’s worthy of the role. Airing on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube
Friday, December 18
Raven’s Home One-hour Holiday Episode—“Mad About Yuletide”
It’s Christmas Eve and the Baxter/Grayson family are trying to make the best of the holiday when a storm hits and disrupts their plans to celebrate together at a cabin on the lake. 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW
Sunday, December 27
Fancy Nancy—”New Year’s Nancy” / “Nancy’s Gift to Grandpa”
In the first story of the episode, Nancy wants to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, but finds that staying awake is harder than she thought. Then, to cheer up Grandpa on a wintry day, Nancy draws a masterpiece in chalk on the driveway. *Kal Penn and Aparna Nancherla (both from Disney’s Mira, Royal Detective) return as Mr. and Mrs. Singh. George Wendt (Cheers) returns as Nancy’s Grandpa. 12 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior and in DisneyNOW
Disney+
Disney+ Originals
LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special—Now Streaming Once Upon a Snowman—Now Streaming Noelle—Now Streaming Godmothered—Now Streaming High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special—Premieres December 11 On Pointe—Premieres December 18 Arendelle Castle Yule Log—Premieres December 18
Holiday Movies Big The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Home Alone Home Alone 2 Home Alone 3 The Santa Clause The Santa Clause 2 The Santa Clause 3 Frozen Frozen 2 The Muppet Christmas Carol Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas A Christmas Carol (2009) Mickey’s A Christmas Carol Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas Santa Paws 2 Miracle on 34th Street Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year Disney’s Fairytale Weddings Holiday Magic Decorating Disney Holiday Magic Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Santa Buddies The Ultimate Christmas Present The Search for Santa Paws One Magic Christmas I’ll Be Home For Christmas Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas! Babes in Toyland ‘Twas the Night The Christmas Star Full-Court Miracle 12 Dates of Christmas Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Pluto’s Christmas Tree
The Simpsons Christmas Episodes “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire” (Season 1, Episode 1)
“Marge Be Not Proud” (Season 7, Episode 11)
“Miracle on Evergreen Terrace” (Season 9, Episode 10)
“Grift of the Magi” (Season 11, Episode 9)
“Skinner’s Sense of Snow” (Season 12, Episode 8)
“She of Little Faith” (Season 13, Episode 6)
“Tis The Fifteenth Season” (Season 15, Episode 7)
“Simpsons Christmas Stories” (Season 17, Episode 9)
“Kill Gil, Volumes I & II” (Season 18, Episode 9)
“The Burns and the Bees” (Season 20, Episode 9)
“The Fight Before Christmas” (Season 22, Episode 8)
“Holidays of Future Passed” (Season 23, Episode 9)
“White Christmas Blues” (Season 25, Episode 8)
“I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” (Season 26, Episode 9)
“The Nightmare After Krustmas” (Season 28, Episode 10)
“Tis the 30th Season” (Season 30, Episode 10)
“Bobby, It’s Cold Outside” (Season 31, Episode 10)
America’s Funniest Home Videos Holiday Episodes “The Jolly Old Fat Man, It’s Better to Receive, and Santa Claustrophobic” (Season 13, Episode 10)
“Santa Claus Versus the Easter Bunny, Not so Wise Men, and the Grinch who Gave Fake Lotto Tickets” (Season 14, Episode 8)
“Deck the Halls, Soggy Skateboarder, and Christmas Chaos” (Season 15, Episode 10)
“Not so Merry Christmas, Terror in Tinsel Town, and Bad Santa” (Season 16, Episode 7)
“Christmas Critters, Everyone’s a Kid at Christmas, and Practical Jokes” (Season 17, Episode 9)
“Old People Falling off of Boats versus Dogs Licking People in the Mouth” (Season 17, Episode 10)
“AFV: Holly Jolly Follies” (Season 18, Episode 9)
“Christmas 2008” (Season 19, Episode 8)
Holiday TV Episodes That’s So Raven—“Escape Clause” (Season 1, Episode 19) Even Stevens—“Heck of a Hanukkah” (Season 1, Episode 15) Kim Possible—“A Very Possible Christmas” (Season 2, Episode 13) The Proud Family—“Seven Days of Kwanzaa” (Season 1, Episode 11) The Suite Life of Zack and Cody—“Christmas at the Tipton” (Season 1, Episode 21) Girl Meets World—“Girl Meets Home for the Holidays” (Season 1, Episode 16) Sonny with a Chance—“A So Random Holiday Special” (Season 2, Episode 22)
ABC
Wednesday, December 9
The Great Christmas Light Fight—Season Premiere—It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as ABC’s tree-mendously popular decorating competition series, The Great Christmas Light Fight, takes over Wednesdays in December as it returns for its eighth season with back-to-back episodes. (8–10 p.m. ET/PT)
Wednesday, December 16
The Great Christmas Light Fight (8–10 p.m. ET/PT)
Friday, December 18
Shrek the Halls—DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek the Halls, a half-hour of entertainment starring America’s favorite ogre and his friends, features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas. (8:30–9:01 p.m. ET/PT)
Sunday, December 20
The Sound of Music—ABC will air the Rodgers & Hammerstein cinematic treasure The Sound of Music. Celebrate the Oscar®-winning classic with popular favorites “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Every Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “The Lonely Goatherd,” and “The Sound of Music.” (7–11 p.m. ET/PT)
Wednesday, December 23
General Hospital—As holiday celebrations begin in Port Charles, Carly and Jason return to Sonny’s house to find that in her absence Michael and Joss have stepped up and added all the finishing traditional touches for a beautiful multigenerational family Christmas at home. (2–3 p.m., check local listings) The Great Christmas Light Fight(9–11 p.m.)—Season Finale
Thursday, December 24
The Greatest Showman—Network Broadcast Premiere—An original musical inspired by the life of P.T. Barnum, starring Hugh Jackman. (8–10 p.m. ET/PT)
Friday, December 25
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration—Disney’s annual Christmas celebration airs Christmas morning on ABC and features heartwarming stories and amazing celebrity performances. (10 a.m–12 p.m. ET)
Freeform
Deck the halls and celebrate Christmas all month long with Freeform and the highly anticipated “25 Days of Christmas” month-long event. (All times ET)
Wednesday, December 9
10:30 a.m.—Santa’s Apprentice
12 p.m.—Prancer Returns
2 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol
4 p.m.—The Star (2017)—Freeform Premiere
6 p.m.—Home Alone
8:30 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m.—Prancer Returns
Thursday, December 10
7 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
10:30 a.m.—The Star (2017)
12:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause
2:30 p.m. – The Santa Clause 2
5 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
7 p.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
8:30 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12 a.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
Friday, December 11
7 a.m.—Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic 8 a.m.—Snow 10 a.m.—Snow 2: Brain Freeze 12 p.m. – Snowglobe 2 p.m.—Christmas with the Kranks 4:05 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) 6:45 p.m.—Home Alone 9:15 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 11:55 p.m.—Daddy’s Home 2 – Freeform Premiere
Saturday, December 12
7 a.m.—The Simpsons – Christmas episodes
8 a.m.—Daddy’s Home 2
10:05 a.m.—The Santa Clause
12:15 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
2:45 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
4:50 p.m.—Toy Story (Disney and Pixar)
6:50 p.m.—Toy Story 2 (Disney and Pixar)
8:55 p.m.—Toy Story 3 (Disney and Pixar)
11:25 p.m.—Toy Story That Time Forgot (Disney and Pixar)
11:55 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Sunday, December 13
7 a.m.—Love the Coopers
9:30 a.m.—Toy Story That Time Forgot (Disney and Pixar)
10 a.m.—Prancer Returns
12 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol
2:05 p.m.—Home Alone
4:35 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
7:15 p.m.—The Santa Clause
9:25 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
11:55 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Monday, December 14
7 a.m.—Prancer Returns
11 a.m.—The Perfect Holiday
1 p.m.—Almost Christmas
3:30 p.m.—Home Alone
6 p.m.—Home Alone: 2 Lost in New York
8:30 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12 a.m.—The Perfect Holiday
Tuesday, December 15
10:30 a.m.—The Magic Snowflake
12 p.m.—Jingle All the Way 2
2 p.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
4:05 p.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 5:45 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
8:25 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol
10:30 p.m.—Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
12 a.m.—Jingle All the Way 2
Wednesday, December 16
11:30 a.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
1:35 p.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
4:15 p.m.—The Santa Clause
6:25 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
8:55 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12 a.m.—Black Nativity
Thursday, December 17
7 a.m.—The Simpsons – Christmas episodes
10:30 a.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
1 p.m.—The Holiday
4 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol
6 p.m.—Home Alone
8:30 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m.—Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve
Friday, December 18
7 a.m.—Holiday in Handcuffs\ 9:05 a.m.—The Holiday 12:15 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol 2:20 p.m.—The Santa Clause 4:25 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2 6:55 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 9 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)—Freeform Premiere 11 p.m.—The Star (2017) 1 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
Saturday, December 19
7 a.m.—Kung Fu Panda Holiday
7:30 a.m.—The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
8 a.m.—The Star (2017)
10:05 a.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
11:45 a.m.—Home Alone
2:15 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
4:55 p.m.—Frosty the Snowman
5:30 p.m.—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6:35 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
8:40 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
11:20 p.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Sunday, December 20
7 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
9:30 a.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
12:10 p.m.—Jingle All the Way 2
2:20 p.m.—Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town 3:25 p.m.—Frosty the Snowman
4 p.m.—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
5:05 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
7:45 p.m.—Home Alone
10:15 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:55 a.m.—Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
Monday, December 21
10:30 a.m.—Jingle All the Way 2
12:30 p.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
3 p.m.—Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause
6:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
9 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12 a.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
Tuesday, December 22
7 a.m.—Santa’s Apprentice
8:30 a.m.—Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
11 a.m.—The Perfect Holiday
1 p.m.—Christmas with the Kranks
3:05 p.m.—Disney’s A Christmas Carol
5:10 p.m.—Home Alone
7:40 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
10:20 p.m.—The Night Before—Freeform Premiere
12:30 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
Wednesday, December 23
7:30 a.m.—Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve
9:30 a.m.—The Mistle-tones
11:30 a.m.—Holiday in Handcuffs
1:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause
3:35 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
6:05 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
8:10 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
10:50 p.m.—Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
11:55 p.m.—Prancer Returns
Thursday, December 24
7 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
10:30 a.m.—Prancer Returns
12:30 p.m.—Home Alone
3 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
5:35 p.m.—Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
8:15 p.m.—Frosty the Snowman
8:50 p.m.—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
9:55 p.m.—Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
12 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
Wednesday, December 25
7 a.m.—The Simpsons—Christmas episodes
10:30 a.m.—The Santa Clause
12:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause 2
2:30 p.m.—The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
4:30 p.m.—Frosty the Snowman
5 p.m.—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6 p.m.—Home Alone
8:30 p.m.—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12 a.m.—Matilda
FX and FXX
FX’s: A Christmas Carol Special Presentation Thursday, December 17 (8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, December 23 (7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET)
FX
The dark and modern retelling starring Guy Pearce and Andy Serkis will bring you deep into the soul of Ebenezer Scrooge as he’s haunted by the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future to expose the man whose name is synonymous with greed.
The Simpsons Christmas Celebration Thursday, December 17–Friday, December 25
FXX School’s out and the only zooming to be done is around the tree! Celebrate the Winter recess with holiday themed episodes of The Simpsons on FXX. The celebration begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, and continues throughout the week, in its regular time period, concluding with 12 back-to-back episodes from 6 p.m. to midnight on Christmas Day.
FXM Presents A Christmas Carol Christmas Eve and Day Marathon Thursday, December 24 (2:30 p.m.–3 a.m. ET)
Friday, December 25 (3 p.m.– 3:30 a.m. ET)
FX
Let the films of holidays past and present guide you through this year’s Christmas with FXM’s marathon of A Christmas Carol (1951) and FX’s: A Christmas Carol (2019).
FX Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Movie Marathon Thursday, December 24 (12 p.m.–2:30 a.m. ET)
Friday, December 25 (7 a.m. – 3 a.m. ET)
FX
Take a break from gift wrapping and unwrapping, and grab a cup of hot cocoa to enjoy family films including Saving Santa, The Star, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, Almost Christmas, Minions, Despicable Me 3, and more.
FXX Christmas Movie Marathon Friday, December 25 (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
FXX
Settle in with the fam and relax with films including Why Him? and Daddy’s Home 2. Fun no matter who you call family!
FX New Year’s Eve Superhero Movie Marathon Thursday, December 31 (8 a.m.–3 a.m.)
FX
Team up with the world’s greatest antiheroes to knock 2020 out and show the New Year who’s boss with a lineup of films that includes X-Men: Apocalypse and Deadpool.
The Simpsons New Year’s Marathon Begins Thursday, December 31, at 1 p.m. ET, concludes Friday, January 1, at midnight
FXX
Forget the old year and ring in the new one with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and the residents and visitors of Springfield. If only the whole year could be this good!
National Geographic
12 Days of Pol All-Day Marathons, December 21–January 3 One racehorse neighing! Two piglets squealing! Three hound dogs howling! Four cows a-mooing! Five cats meowing! This holiday season, Nat Geo WILD is having snow much fun with 12 festive days of The Incredible Dr. Pol, followed by all new episodes beginning January 2.
ESPN
SportsCenter Presents: 2020—History, Heroes and Hope In a three-hour prime-time event, ESPN will look back at the challenging events of the past year and look ahead to the future through the lens of sports with SportsCenter Presents: 2020—History, Heroes and Hope. Airing as three programs of one hour each, 2020—History, Heroes and Hope will debut at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 24, on ESPN and the ESPN App, and is hosted by Jeremy Schaap and Lisa Salters.
ESPN & ABC Combine to Nationally Televise All Five NBA Christmas Day Games with 13 Consecutive Hours of Live Event Coverage ESPN and ABC will combine to nationally televise all five NBA Christmas Day games on December 25, spanning approximately 13 consecutive hours of live event coverage. This marks ESPN’s 19th season of Christmas Day game coverage. All games will be available to stream on the ESPN App. (All times ET)
12 p.m.: New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat—ESPN, ESPN App
2:30 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks—ABC, ESPN App
5 p.m.: Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics—ABC, ESPN App
8 p.m.: Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers—ABC, ESPN, ESPN App
10:30 p.m.: LA Clippers at Denver Nuggets—ESPN, ESPN App
HULU
Featuring beloved Christmas films, favorite TV episodes and exciting new originals, the Hulu Holiday lineup can’t be beat. Here are some highlights of what’s streaming this month, but to find even more yuletide fare, visit Hulu’s Holiday Hub throughout the season.
A Christmas Carol (2019) Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a dark night of the soul in an original take on Charles Dickens’ iconic ghost story.
Happiest Season A woman learns that her girlfriend hasn’t come out to her conservative parents in this original Hulu movie.
A Very Brady Christmas Deck the halls with love and laughter as the Brady Bunch comes home for Christmas! Mike, Carol and the whole gang are back, in a warm and wonderful two-hour special featuring all of the characters from the popular series—plus their new families.
Christmas Cookie Challenge Flour will cloud the air as a festive yet furious battle ensues between bakers to determine the best cookie baker in the country.
CMA Country Christmas Legendary acts and country music stars perform Christmas classics and festive collaborations; Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins host.
A Christmas Solo Two single parents try to use the Christmas magic to calm down the rivalry between their daughters, however they discover that they are not immune to that magic themselves.
Christmas on Holly Lane Three life-long friends reunite on Christmas in order to help each other’s lives, and in the process their own as well.
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas George and The Man in The Yellow Hat are having a merry time counting down to Christmas. But neither can decide what to give each other. Will they find the answers before Christmas morning?
Arthur Christmas When Santa misses one child out of hundreds of millions, someone has to save the day. It’s up to Arthur (James McAvoy), Santa’s youngest son, to deliver a present to the forgotten tyke before Christmas morning dawns.
A Very Kitty Cocktail Party Make your holidays meow with this purr-fect kitten get-together. Please catnip responsibly.
Puppies Crash Christmas Puppies. Puppies. Puppies. So cute, you aren’t even mad they destroyed Christmas.
Holiday Gingerbread Showdown Nine food artists use detailed workmanship and compelling techniques in a four-night battle. The winner takes home $25,000, the title of Best Gingerbread Artist in America and earns a feature in Food Network Magazine.
Holiday Baking Championship Eight bakers enter the kitchen to show off their traditions and baking skills.
Die Hard Yes, it’s a Christmas movie (sorta)! Super cop Bruce Willis battles terrorists inside a Los Angeles skyscraper in this action classic.
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist A young boy is forced to booby trap his house to defend against a group of hapless thieves in this fifth film in the Home Alone series.
Eve’s Christmas On Christmas Eve, a high-powered executive’s guardian angel offers her a chance to live her life again with a different spin.
Deck the Halls Holly (Gabrielle Carteris, Beverly Hills, 90210) returns to her hometown with her 8-year old son, Ben, to work for her father’s toy business. Soon after, Ben watches a man (Steve Bacic, Big Love) move in next door with a sleigh, red suit and lots of Christmas goodies. Ben begins to believe that their new neighbor is Santa Claus, and devises a plan to set up his mom with Santa Claus.
Disney’s Investor Day 2020 delivered an amazing array of announcements from across The Walt Disney Company, including the exciting news that over the next few years, Disney+ plans to release approximately 10 Star Wars series and 10 Marvel series, as well as 15 Disney live action, Disney Animation, and Pixar series, as well as 15 Disney live action, Disney Animation, and Pixar features—and that’s in addition to the premium content set to premiere in theatres or on linear channels before coming to the streaming service. Today we learned that one of Disney’s most highly anticipated titles, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon, will be available on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets, at the same time as it is released in theaters, on March 5, 2021.
Today’s Investor Day featured an abundance of new details on the future of The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer services Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+; a first look at Disney’s upcoming international general entertainment content brand, Star; and previews of an unbelievable slate of all-new content. Read on to discover everything we know so far!
Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, and Bob Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, led the virtual event, which included presentations from leaders of the company’s content and distribution teams, along with financial updates from Christine McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Lowell Singer, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations.
Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company
“The tremendous success we’ve achieved across our unique portfolio of streaming services, with more than 137 million subscriptions worldwide, has bolstered our confidence in our acceleration toward a DTC-first business model,” said Mr. Chapek. “With our amazing creative teams and our ever-growing collection of the high-quality branded entertainment that consumers want, we believe we are incredibly well positioned to achieve our long-term goals.”
Bob Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board
During the Investor Day presentation, the company announced that, as of December 2, its portfolio of direct-to-consumer services has exceeded a total of 137million global paid subscriptions, including 11.5 million ESPN+ subscribers, 38.8 million Hulu subscribers, and a staggering 86.8 million Disney+ subscribers since its launch in November 2019. After greatly exceeding expectations, The Walt Disney Company shared guidance that it now expects its streaming services to hit 300–350 million total subscriptions by fiscal 2024, driven primarily by a significant increase in content output. Disney+ alone is targeting to release more than 100 titles per year.
Beginning March 26, 2021, Disney+ will be priced in the U.S. at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, while the Disney Bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ will be priced at $13.99 per month. A new agreement with Comcast was also announced, that will bring Disney+ and ESPN+ experiences to Comcast X1 set-top boxes and Flex platforms in the first quarter of 2021, joining Hulu which became available on these platforms in Spring 2020. Additionally, Hulu customers will also be able to subscribe to ESPN+ within the Hulu user interface and access the ESPN+ lineup of sports programming there beginning in early 2021.
A New International Star in Streaming
Building on the successful launch of Disney+ Hotstar in India and Indonesia, Disney shared new details for its international general entertainment content brand, Star, which will be included as part of Disney+ in select international markets, and launch as a separate streaming service in Latin America as Star+. The Star brand will serve as home to thousands of hours of television and movies from Disney’s creative studios, including Disney Television Studios, FX, 20th Century Studios, 20th Television, and more, enhanced by the addition of local programming from the regions where available.
Star will launch in Europe and several other international markets on February 23, 2021, as a fully integrated part of Disney+, with its own branded tile and a new collection of renowned general entertainment series, movies, documentaries and more that will double the content catalog available to Disney+ subscribers. Disney+ will be updated globally to offer enhanced parental controls enabling the family-friendly experience parents expect, including the ability to set limits on access to content for specific profiles based on content ratings and the ability to add a PIN to lock profiles with access to mature content. In Europe, the service will be priced at €8.99 per month or €89.90 per year, with a similar pricing adjustment in the other Star launch markets, including Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The streaming service will continue its global rollout, now with Star, in new markets beginning with Singapore on February 23, 2021, followed by Eastern Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea later in 2021.
In Latin America, to take advantage of the region’s portfolio of live sporting events, the company will launch Star+ as a standalone streaming service. Star+ brings together an unrivaled Star content collection, local original productions, and an array of live sports from ESPN, including top soccer leagues, grand slam tennis, and more. Star+ will launch in June 2021 as a stand-alone service for ~$7.50 per month (or the local equivalent), or as part of an attractively priced bundle with Disney+ for ~$9.00 per month (or the local equivalent).
All the Stories We Can’t Wait to Experience!
Today’s big event brought updates on some of the titles that have already been on our can’t-wait-to-watch list; along with announcements of new projects that we we’re beyond thrilled to know are in the works.
Disney Television Studios for Disney+
Two beloved Disney properties have inspired high-profile entertainment series in development for Disney+:
Beauty and the Beast (working title), will star Luke Evans and Josh Gad and will have new music composed by Disney Legend Alan Menken.
Ron Moore and Jon M. Chu will reimagine the classic Swiss Family Robinson.
Additionally, the studio is developing Percy Jackson and the Olympians based on the bestselling book series by Rick Riordan from Disney Publishing Worldwide.
And Disney Television Studios is currently in production on four live action series set to debut on Disney+ in 2021:
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, which picks up where the films left off. Emilio Estevez returns as Gordon Bombay and Lauren Graham joins the flock.
Turner & Hooch is a buddy comedy starring Josh Peck and his partner, a sweet and slobbery mastiff.
Big Shot, a celebration of girl power set in the world of high school basketball starring John Stamos, Yvette Nicole Brown and Jessalyn Gilsig.
The Mysterious BenedictSociety, based on the international best-selling book series, with Tony Hale and Kristen Schaal.
National Geographic
National Geographic’s ambitious Disney+ slate includes high profile titles Limitless With Chris Hemsworth,Welcome to Earth (working title) featuring Will Smith, and a fourth season of the Emmy®-winning anthology series Genius, which will profile Martin Luther King, Jr.
The studio also announced the new documentary film Cousteau, which will debut in theatres before coming to Disney+, as well as the new documentary series Secrets of the Whales, A Real Bug’s Life, and America The Beautiful.
Content for Hulu and Star Under a multi-year deal, the Kardashian Jenners will create new global content that will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and internationally on Star, with an expected debut in late 2021. Next year, Hulu and Star are also set to premiere the premium series Only Murders in the Building, which reunites two comedy icons: Disney Legend Steve Martin and Martin Short, who will be joined by Selena Gomez; The Dropout, which tells the story of the con artist that captured the world—Elizabeth Holmes, played by Kate McKinnon; and Dopesick, a new drama series inspired by true events with a cast that includes Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, and Rosario Dawson.
A slate of FX originals, including The Old Man, American Horror Stories, Platform, Reservation Dogs, and Y: The Last Man will be available on Hulu in the U.S. and Star in multiple international markets in 2021.
Hulu
It was announced today that ahead of its eagerly anticipated season four premiere, Hulu’s award-winning hit drama series The Handmaid’s Tale has been renewed for a fifth season.
Additionally, Nicole Kidman will star in Nine Perfect Strangers, which she executive produces with David E. Kelley. Look for that on Hulu next year.
FX
In addition to Hulu in the U.S., the FX premium content brand will bring its library of award-winning content and exclusive new originals to Star around the world.
Devotees of the live-action sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have reason to celebrate: Today we learned that FX has ordered four additional seasons of the series—smashing the record for longest running live-action sitcom in television history.
The group also announced today that the first series adaptation of the sci-fi horror classic Alien is in development, and advanced talks are underway on a two-season order of The Stones, a drama series about the world’s greatest and most enduring rock ‘n’ roll band, The Rolling Stones.
FX will also embark on one of its most sweeping, sophisticated and adult series with the retelling of James Clavell’s beloved epic saga, Shōgun, set within feudal Japan.
Walt Disney Studios Content
Lucasfilm
Investor Day 2020 is the way to a host of thrilling announcements from Lucasfilm that look ahead to exciting Disney+ series and new feature films destined to expand the Star Wars galaxy like never before! Among the projects for Disney+ are Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor with Hayden Christensen returning as Darth Vader, and two series set in the Mandalorian era from Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni: Rangers of the New Republic and Ahsoka, a series featuring the fan favorite character Ahsoka Tano and starring Rosario Dawson.
Additional new titles announced for Disney+ include Andor, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions, Lando, The Acolyte, and A Droid Story.
The studio is also revisiting Willow in a new series with Warwick Davis returning in the title role.
And fans are advised to set their coordinates for December 2023 and the next feature film in the Star Wars franchise: Rogue Squadron, to be directed by Patty Jenkins of the Wonder Woman franchise.
Also announced today was the next installment of the Indiana Jones franchise directed by James Mangold, a Star Wars feature film by writer/director Taika Waititi and Children of Blood & Bone, based on Tomi Adeyemi’s New York Times bestselling novel, to round out the feature-film slate.
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Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production
An unbelievable star-studded lineup of original movies is in the works for Disney+, including:
Hocus Pocus 2, a spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic. Adam Shankman will direct.
Reboots of Three Men and a Baby with Zac Efron, and Cheaper by the Dozenwith Kenya Barris and Gabrielle Union, and a new Sister Act film starring Disney Legend Whoopi Goldberg, who is on board as a producer with Tyler Perry.
But that’s far from all. Additional Disney+ projects revealed include:
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers, a hybrid live action-animated film starring John Mulaney and Andy Samberg.
Pinocchio, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks.
Peter Pan & Wendy, starring Jude Law as Captain Hook and Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell.
Disenchanted, a sequel to the hit film Enchanted, with Amy Adams returning as Giselle.
New live-action biographical films set for the service include:
Greek Freak, about NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as projects about Keanon Lowe and Chris Paul.
The group is also developing new animated takes on favorite 20th Century Studios’ titles Diary of a Wimpy Kid; The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, starring Simon Pegg; and Night at the Museum.
Today’s presentation also included a preview of upcoming feature films such as Jungle Cruise; Cruella; a prequel to The Lion King; and The Little Mermaid.
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Among today’s biggest news was the reveal that Raya and the Last Dragon will debut simultaneously on Disney+ Premier Access and in theatres in March 2021. Premier Access for the title will be priced at $29.99.
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Today Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) also highlighted the upcoming feature film Encanto, which includes new songs by Emmy®, GRAMMY® and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, slated for theaters in November 2021. Encanto takes you to Colombia, where a magical family live in a magical home. Directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, co-directed and co-written by Charise Castro Smith, and music written by Miranda.
We also learned today of the first-ever WDAS-produced animated series! New titles announced today, coming to Disney+, include Baymax, Zootopia+, Tiana, and Moana, The Series, as well as Iwájú, which will be produced in collaboration with the Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali.
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Pixar Animation Studios
Pixar Animation Studios revealed its upcoming slate of original series for Disney+ and feature films, including: Win or Lose, Pixar’s first-ever long-form animated series, which debuts exclusively on Disney+ in February 2023, follows a middle school softball team in the week leading up to their championship game, and each episode is told from the perspective of a different character.
Two brand-new feature films slated for theaters in 2022, Academy Award®-winning director Domee Shi’s Turning Red, and Lightyear, the definitive origin story of the hero that inspired the toy. Chris Evans will voice the hero on his journey to becoming the most famous Space Ranger ever.
In Turning Red, fans will meet Mei—she experiences the awkwardness of being a teenager, with an added twist: when she gets too excited, she transforms into a giant red panda. Turning Red comes to theaters March 11, 2022.
The original feature film Luca is slated for theaters next summer. Luca is a celebration of the friendship between a boy named Luca and his best friend Alberto during their unforgettable summer. You won’t want to miss Luca, diving into theaters June 2021.
Additional details were shared about new Disney+ series, including Inside Pixar, Pixar Popcorn, Dug Days, and Cars, as well as the upcoming feature film Soul and short Burrow—both debuting on Disney+ on December 25, 2020.
In the Up spin-off Dug Days, Dug discovers the dangers of suburbia like puppies, fireworks, and… SQUIRRELS!! Dug Days will premiere on Disney+ in Fall 2021.
Pixar is also speeding ahead with a new series following Lightning McQueen and Mater on a road trip across the country. Featuring new characters, old friends, and imaginative destinations; coming to Disney+ in Fall 2022.
Marvel Studios
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow! Today Marvel Studios revealed details about upcoming content for both Disney+ and theaters.
The MCU’s exciting future includes three new series for Disney+: Secret Invasion, starring Samuel L. Jackson; Ironheart with Dominique Thorne as a genius inventor; and Armor Wars, starring Don Cheadle as James Rhodes aka War Machine who faces Tony Stark’s worst fears.
These, of course, are in addition to the studios’ robust lineup of Disney+ titles that includes WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Loki; the animated series What If…?; Ms. Marvel; Hawkeye, with Hailee Steinfeld joining Jeremy Renner in the series; She-Hulk, starring Tatiana Maslany in the title role alongside co-stars Mark Ruffalo and Tim Roth; Moon Knight; Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special; and a series of original shorts, I Am Groot, featuring everyone’s favorite baby tree.
Today also brought the reveals of two feature films: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third feature in the Ant-Man franchise; and Fantastic Four, which introduces Marvel’s most iconic family. Marvel Studios’ upcoming feature films also include Black Widow, Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, Eternals, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder,Black Panther 2, Blade, Captain Marvel 2, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
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ESPN and Sports Content
Calling all college football fans: Today, ESPN announced a milestone new 10-year agreement with the Southeastern Conference (SEC), expanding its partnership and adding college football’s most-watched TV package, beginning with the 2024 season. The deal will also bring select SEC football games to ESPN+, beginning with the 2021 football season and running through the term of the agreement.
ESPN+’s more than 11.5 million U.S. subscribers can also look forward to several new original series and studio shows launching in the coming months:
Peyton’s Places, the Emmy-nominated series currently in its second season on ESPN+, will return for a third season (Fall 2021) and expand to other sports—with some of the most engaging names in sports fronting their own versions of the series, including Abby Wambach (soccer), Ronda Rousey (combat sports), David Ortiz (baseball), and Peyton’s brother, Eli Manning (college football).
In January, ESPN+ will launch Stephen A’s World, a new, original program featuring the insights and opinions of one-of-a-kind personality Stephen A. Smith in January.
Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, the highly anticipated nine-part documentary series coming to ESPN+, is built around Tom Brady’s never-before-seen, first-hand accounts of the journey to each of his nine Super Bowls.
Plus, a newly reimagined version of SportsNation will return weekday mornings, beginning in January, exclusively on ESPN+.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements and information in this communication may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expectations about subscribers or subscriptions; statements regarding the future of our offerings (including our direct-to-consumer offerings) including content, launch dates and timing, availability, pricing, and other expectations and plans regarding our products; and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. We are not under any obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions), from execution risk in technology, service promotion, or creative development as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including:
further changes in domestic and global economic conditions and competitive conditions;
health concerns;
consumer preferences; willingness to pay for an expanding set of direct-to-consumer services; and performance of the markets in which we operate, including the pay television ecosystem;
government regulation, including revised foreign content and ownership regulations;
poor quality broadband infrastructure in certain markets;
international, political, or military developments;
technological developments;
labor markets and activities; and
adverse weather conditions or natural disasters;
each such risk includes the current and future impacts of, and is amplified by, COVID-19 and related mitigation efforts.
Such developments may further affect entertainment, travel and leisure businesses generally and may, among other things, affect (or further affect, as applicable):
demand for our products and services;
performance of our direct-to-consumer technology platforms;
performance of the Company’s theatrical and original direct-to-consumer releases;
the advertising market for entertainment programming and services;
expenses of providing medical and pension benefits;
income tax expense; and
performance or operations of some or all company businesses either directly or through their impact on those who distribute our products.
Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 3, 2020 under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” Item 1, “Business,” and subsequent reports.
Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” continues all weekend long, and we can’t wait to watch two of our favorites: Snowglobe and Toy Story That Time Forgot. Other highlights for the weekend include the festive special Disney Channel Holiday House Party on Disney Channel, plus Ralph Breaks the Internet on Disney+ and Madagascar: A Little Wild on Hulu!
Snowglobe—Friday, December 11, at 12 p.m. ET on Freeform In this 2007 holiday film, Angela (Christina Milian) yearns for the kind of picture-perfect world she sees inside her Christmas snow globe. After winding one of her baubles before bed, she is transported to a winter wonderland where every day is Christmas! When Angela awakens with a trinket, she realizes that this special place—called Snow Globe, natch—wasn’t a dream world at all! Enchanted, she returns to Snow Globe more and more… until she realizes her choices in this “perfect” world are having negative effects in the real world.
Disney Channel Holiday House Party—Friday, December 11, at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel Miranda May hosts the new and original holiday sketch comedy special for kids and families, which features your favorite Disney Channel stars decking the halls with a myriad of zany characters and silly sketches—including a Gen Z influencer take on a Charles Dickens classic, a Disney Wand ID fail, a High School Musical throwback, and much more! The special features fan-favorite Disney Channel stars Raphael Alejandro, Suzi Barrett, Issac Ryan Brown, Kylie Cantrall, Scarlett Estevez, Kaylin Hayman, Ramon Reed, Trevor Tordjman, Ruby Rose Turner, and Tobie Windham (all of whom filmed remotely at home).
Ralph Breaks the Internet—Friday, December 11, on Disney+ The sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph is sure to trend when it joins the Disney+ library! In order to save the video game Sugar Rush, Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the World Wide Web in search of a replacement part. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet—aka the netizens—to get them up to speed. Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson) is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site BuzzzTube… and she knows just how to help them! The two newbs will have to make some fast cash by creating viral videos—and fast—before Mr. Litwak (Ed O’Neill) pulls the plug.
Madagascar: A Little Wild—Friday, December 11, on Hulu In the adorable six-episode second season, Alex (voice of Tucker Chandler), Gloria (voice of Shaylin Becton), Marty (voice of Amir O’Neil), and Melman (voice of Luke Lowe) continue their big adventures in New York City. For example, they become babysitters for a new litter of tiny hedgehogs, Melman gets stuck in a firetruck, and Alex is accidentally mistaken for a large house cat. While their silly shenanigans may lead to sticky situations, the foursome always works together and makes the best of whatever life throws their way.
Toy Story That Time Forgot—Sunday, December 13, at 9:30 a.m. ET on Freeform During a post-Christmas play date, the gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turns out to be dangerously delusional. All eyes are on Trixie, the triceratops (voice of Kristen Schaal), if they hope to return to Bonnie’s room.
There’s only a few weeks left to get the 2020 D23 Gold Member Gift, which includes the spectacular D23 Fantastic Worlds Map! You can have your own 24-by-36-inch map designed by Disney artist Bryan Mon as part of the 2020 Gold Member Gift when you join or renew a D23 Gold Membership before the end of the year, so act quickly if you want to add some extra Disney magic to your future adventures!
If you can’t wait to start planning your next dream Disney adventure, we’re sharing close-up looks at parts of the map throughout the year. Check out our previous peaks at the map here, here, here, and here, and then take a look at our next section of the map, featuring iconic castles, boats, cars, and more from across the worlds of Disney.
Five details to find:
Cruella De Vil’s car, One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Julius the Cat, Alice Comedies
Goat, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland Park
For many years, The Walt Disney Company would send an annual Christmas card, often created by incredible Disney staff artists like Bob Moore and Tom Wood. After being introduced in the 1930s, it became a beloved holiday tradition—and more recently, we here at D23 have gotten into the spirit by offering our very own cards.
Designed by artist Joey Chou, this year’s cards feature adorable caricatures of Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio and the Blue Fairy, and more! Download the cards below to spread holiday cheer to friends far and near…
Supplies:
8.5 x 11-inch white cardstock (printable)
Scissors
OPTIONAL:
4 x 4-inch square envelope(s)
Download and print out the greeting card images onto your cardstock.
Bust of Beethoven in Walt Disney’s collection of miniatures at The Walt Disney Studios.
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of those historical figures who is often used to show the bridging of two musical worlds: there is before Beethoven and after Beethoven. Before our pal Ludwig, many composers wrote and performed their music as an obligation to their job (remember J.S. Bach from our last spotlight?). Beethoven, however, who was brought up in this old world, eventually veered off on a freer and more independent path of self-expression, leading to what we now know today as the Romantic era of Western classical music. His compositions were longer, more complex, and had more orchestral color than that of the previous Classical era (home to composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), and throughout his life he composed works such as piano concertos, string quartets, works for solo instruments, songs, one opera, and nine symphonies.
Fantasia (1940) art
What is remarkable about his symphonies is that Beethoven could break so much ground in the symphonic genre (his ninth symphony featured a choir – highly unusual at the time!), and yet he simply did not compose that many of them. His contemporary, Mozart, composed forty-one, and his well-known teacher, Franz Josef Haydn, wrote over 100! What is also remarkable is that Beethoven hadn’t even published his own first symphony when he started to hear a buzzing in his ears. He was going deaf. Beginning in his mid-twenties, Beethoven gradually lost his hearing until he was completely deaf around the age of 44 in 1814. He was so distraught about this that he spent some time in the quieter outskirts of Vienna and wrote a personal and heartbreaking letter to his brothers known as the Heiligenstadt Testament (1802):
“…what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair…”
Fantasia (1940) publicity still
When you picture a typical portrait of Beethoven, do you see a frustrated and angered man? Perhaps it makes a little more sense now.
But the Beethoven work heard in Fantasia (1940), Symphony No. 6 in F Major, is far from angry! It is overall light and gentle when compared to works like his infamous fifth symphony (dun dun dun dun!), which coincidentally was composed at the same time in 1808. The sixth symphony depicts life in the country (no doubt inspired by his time in the Viennese countryside) and gets Beethoven’s rare distinction of programmatic music: he really does want it to convey pastoral feelings of the countryside, having given titles to the sections of the composition such as “Scene by the brook” and “Thunderstorm.” And, having composed the symphony in 1808, we know that Beethoven was more than halfway through his losing battle of becoming deaf. Again, a quote from his Heiligenstadt Testament, this time to show how important music was to him:
“…only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon to produce…”
Fantasia (1940) storyboardFantasia (1940) concept art
So where else can you see (or hear) Beethoven? Well, there is no shortage of Ludwig’s music in popular culture, from four notes motifs to entire symphonies. But for starters, check out these films, streaming now on Disney+ and more! And be sure to check back in next week for a look at Franz Schubert!
Music Land (1935)
00:00:00-00:00:05 – This Silly Symphony title card is introduced by the main theme of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major.
00:00:26-00:01:15 – Minuet in G Major, WoO 10, No. 2
00:06:57 – You can see a bust of Beethoven on Mr. Holland’s desk in his classroom.
00:09:15-00:10:00 – The student orchestra attempts to play Beethoven’s fifth symphony.
00:58:48-01:01:30 – After learning about his son’s “90% hearing loss,” we see Mr. Holland playing Beethoven’s seventh symphony for his class and teaching them about Beethoven’s own deafness.
01:50:41-01:51:34 – Mr. Holland conducts the ending of the final movement of Beethoven’s third symphony.
01:11:05-01:12:31 – We hear the second movement of Beethoven’s seventh symphony when Apocalypse takes over Cerebro. It is an apt choice as this particular piece of music has been described as an “almost unrelievedly doom-laden episode, with its relentlessly repeated statements of grief and mourning.”
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016): Version B Domestic One Sheet
Did You Know? Like Bach, Beethoven was also a keyboard virtuoso and master of improvisation!
In case you missed it, click here to see our last spotlight look at J.S. Bach!
For Ray McELrathBey, Clemson University—particularly the Clemson football team—gave new meaning to the term “home-field advantage.”
The real-life Ray McELrathBey started his freshman year on a football scholarship at Clemson University, one of the most prestigious and demanding college football programs in the country. And even though he faced the same challenges that most college freshman face—new home, new people, and balancing a full academic load with his responsibilities to his team—he was hit with one challenge that nearly derailed his entire future: figuring out what to do with his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr (Fay), who was left on his own after their mother got arrested for possession.
Faced with the impossible choice of staying the course on his college scholarship or losing Fay into the foster care system, Ray decided to smuggle his younger brother into his dorm room at Clemson, which was strictly against the school’s rules and the rules of the National College Athletics Association. If found out, Ray risked losing his place on the team, his scholarship, and his future. This incredible true story is the basis for Disney+’s powerful and moving drama Safety, which explores one player’s college sports experience when put up against seemingly insurmountable odds, while ultimately redefining what it means to have community, family, and friendship.
“This is a surreal, wonderful experience,” McELrathBey said about the film during a recent press conference. “I was born in Chicago but raised outside Atlanta, and I stayed with various coaches and bounced around a little bit when I was younger. [The opportunity to attend] Clemson came during my senior year when I attended a football camp there.” His skill shone through during the camp, and McELrathBey was eventually recruited on a full football scholarship. He says that the Clemson community became like a family to him. “It was one of the better decisions I made in my life.”
When the director of Safety, Reginald Hudlin, first read the script, he knew he had to do it. “I was so excited and moved and inspired,” he says. “This young man—Ray’s 19 years old [in the film]—is taking on a level of responsibility that’s beyond most people. And I don’t care what your background is, what your education is—he’s doing too much! And, through sheer force of will, he manages to do it all. It’s a story of great individual triumph but also brotherhood—the entire community, his football team and the wider university all join in to help him.”
Central to the film, and to Ray’s story, is his drive to escape his disadvantaged background. “I was in a place I didn’t want to be, so to stay there was scary,” he says. “To have to continue to deal with the things I had to deal with—with no end in sight—was unfathomable. My ambitions came from being so scared—it was the fear of failure.”
He continues: “The most difficult part about those first few months [in college] was struggling between the line of what I was able to do, and what others were able to do. I was moving in silence and not telling a lot of people what I was doing early on. It was just being alone in my decision that was the toughest part, but once everyone found out, life became a lot easier. My teammates were always there, they were always guys I could count on. Even in the tougher times there were people I could lean on, and that was God’s gift.”
“I think this movie will speak to all those people out there who are somehow just making it, people for whom failure is not an option,” adds Hudlin. “Here’s a guy who’s just like them who worked hard and did the impossible and inspired a community by his efforts to say this guy deserves our support. And he’s earned it because of his incredible dedication.”
In a film full of people who do heroic deeds, from Ray to his coaches to his teammates, it might be surprising to hear who Ray himself considers to be the hero of this story. “If I had to pick a hero, I’d pick Fahmarr,” he says, referring to his younger brother. “Fahmarr was the catalyst that made me step up. I was a teenager, I was young, I wasn’t different from many other teenagers. But I hadn’t been asked to step up and he put me in a position where he brought leadership out of me.”
To see Ray and Fahmarr’s heroic tale, catch Safety, which premieres on Disney+ December 11, 2020.
Tonya Felicia McELrathBey, Ray McELrathBey, and Fahmarr McELrathBey behind the scenes of Safety, exclusively on Disney+.
Director Reginald Hudlin filming Safety on-site at Clemson University in South Carolina.
’Tis the season for sharing gifts and spreading some cheer. Add some extra Disney magic to gifts for loved ones both near and far with these D23 Season of Magic gift tags.
SUPPLIES:
8.5 x 11-inch white cardstock (printable)
Scissors
Double-sided tape
OPTIONAL: 8.5 x 11-inch white sticker paper (found in scrapbooking section of craft store)
Download and print out your sheet of gift labels onto your cardstock.
Using scissors, cut around each tag (using its grey border as your outline).
Fill in the “to” and “from” on the front of the labels.
Attach to your gifts using double-sided tape.
OPTIONAL: Print the gift labels onto a sheet of sticker paper—then cut around each image (as described above), fill in the “to” and “from” on the front, remove the backing, and affix to your packages.
Give gifts to friends and family… and watch them smile as big as the Cheshire Cat!
