Worlds in Motion: A Celebration of the PeopleMover

By Max Lark

The PeopleMover at Disneyland played a major role in conveying the message of Tomorrowland, a future-focused land all about movement, optimism, and the promise of technology.

In his book Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show, Disney Legend John Hench provided an elegant description of this kaleidoscopic place where bright colors, sleek shapes, and whirring technology inspired guests to dream of what could be possible. “In Tomorrowland the view from the Submarine Lagoon was dedicated to action, an orchestration of movement, including the aerial Skyway, the surface-level Autopia, the elevated Monorail and PeopleMover, and the underwater and surface Submarine Voyage. These were all woven into a pattern looping through, around, over, and under each other. The vehicles were streamlined forms with modernistic lines that implied movement. The entire area was staged kinetically to suggest the energy of modern urban life.”

peoplemover

In his book, Hench writes about how Walt discovered the core of his idea for PeopleMover, observing that “transportation as an attraction” had become a pivotal design element. “Walt was always looking for inventive new ways of moving guests around,” Hench wrote. “We discovered the idea for the New York World’s Fair WEDway PeopleMover system while on a business trip to the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. Walt and I were invited to visit the mill where Ford made steel for car bodies. We saw a device for handling steel ingots, masses of glowing red-hot metal. The ingots were moved around on tracks of powered rollers from one area to another while being transformed into sheet steel for making cars. Walt asked, ‘Do you think we could put some kind of seat on that type of conveyor, or some kind of arrangement for people to ride on… do you think this thing would handle it?” I said, ‘Sure, look at the weight carried here. I bet that Roger Broggie would know how to do it.’ Roger devised a platen, a flat metal surface, for the bottom of each guest vehicle to make contact with the powered wheels in the conveyor track. We could check the bed of rollers at night to make sure that they were all working. The system was so simple that it never failed to provide guests with a smooth ride.”

Walt first deployed the basic concept for what would become the PeopleMover at the 1964-’65 New York World’s Fair with his Magic Skyway at the Ford Motor Company’s Wonder Rotunda, where guests could ride through the exhibit in one of Ford’s new convertible automobiles.

peoplemover

The PeopleMover opened at Disneyland on July 2, 1967. The technology, innovative in 1967, featured electric motor-driven rubber wheels embedded in the track that propelled the vehicles. “The idea of track-mounted propulsion wheels that moved ride vehicles first appeared on the 1959 Disneyland Matterhorn Bobsleds, was then adapted for the Ford Magic Skyway, and finally used as a very practical propulsion method for the PeopleMover,” says former Imagineer and Disney Legend Bob Gurr, who, for nearly 40 years, helped move many a happy Disney theme park guest aboard vehicles and ride conveyances of his own design. “While the technical details varied, the basic scheme was the same.”

From the beginning, the emphasis was not only on moving guests from one place to another, but to contribute to a sense of non-stop movement for guests watching from the ground—while affording passengers a bird’s-eye view of surrounding attractions. “In the same manner as the Disneyland Railroad becoming wildly popular as a trip through a ‘new land,’ where one could get a glimpse of exciting attractions to explore after their trip, the PeopleMover would do the same,” Gurr adds. “From an elevated guideway, one could ‘preview’ an array of enticing futuristic places to visit. Walt also envisioned that a PeopleMover could do the same for other venues, such as shopping centers, expositions, and wild animal parks.”

“In designing Tomorrowland,” Hench says in Designing Disney, “Imagineers considered the track layouts and structures to be as much design elements as the vehicles, and intended them to convey the same meaning. On the PeopleMover, the structural forms are designed to support physical forms in motion. The cantilevered and curved track and the winding curves in the structural elements create continuous eye movement for guests, because the eye interprets line as the record of action. The shapes are organic, with softened and tense edges that look like muscles, expressing movement. The streamlined look was efficient, but also beautiful. Normally, it would have been easier to design boxed, right-angle columns; we opted for equally strong curvilinear structures supporting delicate, futuristic-looking roadbeds.”

peoplemover

Although the PeopleMover closed at Disneyland on August 21, 1995, a variation—the WEDway PeopleMover—opened at Walt Disney World on July 1, 1975, which provides to this day a journey in five-car trains, powered by environmentally friendly linear-induction motors. The attraction was re-named Tomorrowland Transit Authority in 1994, and rechristened again in 2010 as the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.

Further proof, as if any is needed, of the visionary nature of Walt’s imagination, is the below-ground subway system at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. The system, which was built by Walt Disney Imagineering’s WED Transportation Systems in 1981, provides efficient transportation between terminals and the Marriott Hotel, operates in a circuit, and total round-trip time is approximately 18 minutes. The unique Subway train is the only WEDway PeopleMover built by The Walt Disney Company outside of a Disney property. It uses much of the same mechanical technology employed by the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at Walt Disney World.

“Speaking for myself historically, I seriously valued its ‘not-too far-out’ conservative attraction configuration,” Gurr observes. “One that might be a bit mundane, but very reliable. I’ve discovered this fact many times over as more state-of-the-art attractions encountered difficulties. Having never been a trained engineer, that is my big discovery!”

Want to keep celebrating 65 years of the Disney Theme Park? Make sure to check out all the ways we’re celebrating, including more digital content right here on D23.com, all month long!

Tuna Burgers at Captain Hook’s Galley at Disneyland Park

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 (9 oz.) can tuna
  • 1 tablespoon chopped onion
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped celery
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, divided
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • Sweet pickle slices, to taste
  • 4 unsliced hamburger buns

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
  2. Combine tuna, onion, celery, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons mayonnaise in a medium bowl; set aside.
  3. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and ketchup in a small bowl; set aside.
  4. Slice bun horizontally into three equal slices. Spread bottom layer with mayonnaise-ketchup mixture, then top with sweet pickle slices. Make a double decker with middle bun slice and tuna. Repeat for remaining sandwiches. Wrap in aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Serve hot.

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing more delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. Some include:

Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Stilton Cheesecake at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Three Cheese Lobster Macaroni at Lumiere’s and Triton’s Disney Cruise Line
Chocolate Soda at Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park
French Toast with Fresh Berries and Mascarpone Cream at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park

Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 8 cups peeled and diced Idaho potatoes, approximately 8 large potatoes
  • 1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream
  • 1⁄2 cup butter
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. Place potatoes in a large stock pot with enough cold water to cover potatoes.
  2. Bring potatoes to a boil and reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain potatoes and place in large mixing bowl.
  3. Heat heavy cream and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until butter is melted and warm.
  4. Carefully add the warm cream and butter mixture and the Parmesan cheese to the potatoes, then beat the potatoes with an electric mixer on low speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until blended.
  5. Add salt and pepper and increase speed to high and beat for another 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth and creamy.

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing more delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. Some include:

Stilton Cheesecake at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Tuna Burgers at Captain Hook’s Galley at Disneyland Park
Three Cheese Lobster Macaroni at Lumiere’s and Triton’s Disney Cruise Line
Chocolate Soda at Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park
French Toast with Fresh Berries and Mascarpone Cream at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park

Stilton Cheesecake at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Makes 48 individual mini cheesecakes or 1 large cheesecake

SHORTBREAD CRUST
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup softened butter (packed), cut into small pieces

FILLING
3/4 cup Stilton cheese, rind discarded and cheese crumbled
1 1/4 cup or 10 oz. cream cheese, softened (packed)
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

FOR SHORTBREAD CRUST:

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Blend together flour and sugar.
  3. Add butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse meal (it will not form a dough)
  4. Press into the bottom of 48 buttered mini muffin cups (1 3/4” x 1”) or transfer into buttered 9 1/2-inch springform pan and spread evenly and press into bottom.
  5. Bake for 7-9 minutes on the middle rack of the oven until pale golden.
  6. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

FOR FILLING:

  1. Beat together crumbled Stilton, cream cheese, and sugar in a large bowl with mixer on low speed.
  2. Beat in eggs (add one at a time) beating well after each addition. Add flour.
  3. Beat in sour cream and vanilla until just blended.
  4. Pour filling over cooled crust in mini muffin cups or springform pan.
  5. Bake cheesecake in a water bath in the middle of oven for 30 minutes until puffed and pale golden around the edge.
  6. Transfer to rack and run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
  7. Chill covered, until cold, at least 4 hours, before serving.

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing more delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. Some include:

Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Tuna Burgers at Captain Hook’s Galley at Disneyland Park
Three Cheese Lobster Macaroni at Lumiere’s and Triton’s Disney Cruise Line
Chocolate Soda at Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park
French Toast with Fresh Berries and Mascarpone Cream at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park

Digging in to Disney Theme Parks’ Food & Beverage Revolution

By Zach Johnson

One bite of the grilled pork tenderloin at California Grill in 1995 was all it took. As Karen McClintock, Food & Beverage Content Relations Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, dug into the savory dish—served with goat cheese polenta, mushrooms, kalettes, bacon, dried cherries, zinfandel glaze—she realized the Disney dining experience was about to enter a renaissance period. The restaurant, which opened in 1995 and is located on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, offers picturesque views of multiple Disney properties—not to mention some of the finest cuisine in the world. “That meal was probably the first time I thought, ‘Wow! We can compete with anyone in New York. This is incredible,’” she recalls. “I’ve been fortunate enough to travel and eat some great dishes, but the simplicity of that dish that was so perfectly prepared. I thought to myself, ‘The sky is the limit!’ And I knew we were going to be changing the landscape of Food & Beverage.”

McClintock, after all, would know. After joining The Walt Disney Company in 1992 as a coordinator for Disney’s Food & Wine Society (a precursor to the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival), she had seen firsthand how the dining experience was rapidly evolving. “A lot of people ask me, ‘What’s been the evolution?’” she says. “It wasn’t an evolution; it was a revolution.” With new television networks dedicated to all things food, the public had become more interested—and more knowledgeable—about what was on their plate. She credits Dieter Hannig, then the Vice President of Food & Beverage at Walt Disney World Resort, for having the vision to adapt the Disney dining experience for newly curious and educated guests. “When we opened up California Grill, that was the ‘aha moment,’” she says. “But Dieter and our team had to really sell these concepts to our own people at Disney.” The Disney leadership team bought in fairly quickly. “They were like, ‘We see it!’” McClintock recalls. “

Cítricos

Hannig went on to create other restaurants, Cítricos at Disney Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. And each time, says McClintock, the team had to pitch their vision to Disney’s executives. “One, night, I was racing back to the office because I had poster boards made for a presentation. There was a floodlight on in the parking lot, and I saw the entire team and Dieter had a hammer and all this wood. I asked, ‘What’s going on?’ He said, ‘I just realized no one’s going to know what a boma is. We’ve got to make a miniature boma so they understand why we’re naming the restaurant Boma – Flavors of Africa and why this is going to be a main feature in the restaurant.’ So, I picked up a hammer and I helped build a miniature boma. You see, this was the passion Dieter brought, and that was really why it was so successful. Because of his passion, his creativity, and his knowledge, he was able to build teams and attract this incredible, knowledgeable talent who said, ‘We’re taking Disney Food & Beverage to the next level.’” Although Hannig left the Company in 2009, McClintock says he “left an incredible legacy.”

Just as TV shows centered around food were influencing the Disney dining experience, so too were cookbooks. “In the mid-’90s, more guests said, ‘We want not only to take a piece of Disney home; we want to make a piece of Disney at home,’” McClintock says. And so, she eventually partnered with cookbook author Pam Brandon. After McClintock collected recipes from Disney chefs, Brandon tested them and authored more than a dozen cookbooks, including Delicious Disney (2006), Chef Mickey: Treasures from the Vault & Delicious New Favorites (2012), A Cooking Safari with Mickey Recipes from Disney World’s Animal Kingdom (2015), and more.

napa rose

Learning about food and beverage also occurs in-person and on-property. “Our cast members are so knowledgeable and guests feel they are in a safe zone,” McClintock says. “Dieter and his team said, ‘We’re going to put a stake in the ground when it comes to Food & Beverage. We’re going to make it fun, make it interesting, and make it distinctly Disney.’”

No matter where guests choose to dine, they can trust cast members will not only point them in the right direction but also ensure they have a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime experience. “A guest could say, ‘I’m ordering this. What’s the best wine pairing?’ Or, ‘You know what? I’m not a big wine drinker. Is there a good cocktail?’ Or, ‘I don’t drink alcohol. Do you have a good mocktail?’” McClintock says. “We could take the easy way out and say something like, ‘We’re going to make a regular gin tonic at Dahlia Lounge.’ But we don’t. We say, “We’re going to take that cocktail to the next level, because we’re Disney… and we can do it! And we know that in Spain, the gin tonic is obviously the drink of choice. So, we’re going make the Disney difference and make our own saffron-orange tonic.’”

animal kingdom

From quick service to family table service to fine dining, Disney always goes the extra mile. And the Disney dining experience is in the midst of another revolution, McClintock says. “It’s ongoing—very much so,” she says. “I think it’s very evident with plant-based options. We’re listening and we’re changing, and we see when guests come in and want something—we want to deliver.”

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing nine delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. From restaurants like The Crystal Palace and The Empress Lilly, you’ll soon be able to recreate some of the most beloved Disney dishes from your very own kitchens.

Fashion and Fun: Costume Art from World of Motion

By Nikki Nguyen, Walt Disney Archives

World of Motion, an opening-day attraction at EPCOT, provided Guests with a fun-filled look at the history of transportation. Former Disney animator and train-enthusiast Ward Kimball came out of retirement to lend his characteristic sense of humor to the attraction’s action. As an art director, Ward helped shift the initial concept of a primarily screen-based attraction to one incorporating a large cast of Audio-Animatronics® characters and set pieces. In fact, at the time of its opening, World of Motion featured the largest number of Audio-Animatronics® figures featured in any attraction to date, not only including human characters but also pigs, alligators, zebras, and even a fanciful sea serpent!

The “Invention of the Wheel” scene provided great gag opportunities as these characters showed off their not-so-successful concepts.

Marc Davis, a former animator and one of Walt’s Imagineers, created earlier gag concepts for the attraction and spoke to the importance of costume design as a comedic tool:

“If you go through the history of fashion from the very beginning, you’ll find that certain styles stand out from the others. These are styles that enhance or articulate the human figure; they don’t impede it. The ones we get the biggest laugh out of are those which defy the human figure. A costume for a comic character will always defy, to a degree, logical anatomy. We look at these things and think they are funny—and they will remain funny because of their relationship to something that is real.”—Marc Davis, as quoted from Pete Docter and Chris Merritt’s Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks (Disney Editions, 2019).

Audio-Animatronics® costumes for World of Motion showcased stylistic elements from periods throughout history, as seen from these Renaissance-inspired designs.

As part of the planning for parks and resorts experiences, concept illustrations for costume designs are often made, and sometimes feature accompanying swatches of fabrics to help better visualize the creative direction of a look. These concepts can go through a series of revisions and often have interesting notes or approval marks, indicating their important role in the design process prior to the creation of the final garment.

Textile swatches, like those attached in the top right corners here, helped provide additional reference for the final look, and often showcased a variety of different types of fabrics.

The well-dressed Audio–Animatronics® cast of World of Motion brought the history of transportation to life, entertaining Guests with their humorous antics for more than a decade. Today, Test Track continues the tradition of exploring the world on the go by providing Future World Guests with the opportunity to design a virtual concept car for a thrilling test ride, proving that it’s still fun to be free, and to be on the move!

Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh Discuss Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe

By Jim Frye

Animated favorites Phineas and Ferb; their sister, Candace; and the whole gang are back in the great big new adventure Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, from Disney Television Animation and Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, creators/executive producers of the beloved Emmy® Award-winning Phineas and Ferb series.

phineas and ferb candace saves the universe

The 104 days of summer may be coming to an end, but stepbrothers Phineas (voice of Vincent Martella) and Ferb (voice of David Errigo Jr.) find their biggest adventure yet—while still trying to avoid getting in trouble with Mom. This time, though, they dash across the galaxy to save their older sister, Candace (voice of Ashley Tisdale), from space aliens who have taken her to a planet free of pesky little brothers—which, of course, is pretty enticing for Candace.

And even though it’s been five years since the TV series concluded, the characters feel as fresh as ever. “They never really left,” says Marsh. “They’ve always been with us.”

phineas and ferb candace saves the universe

“They’re like family,” adds Povenmire. “We lived with these characters day in and day out for 10 years. Swampy and I kinda’ missed the characters. After the finale we thought, ‘We’ve done this for 10 years—we’re done, let’s move on.’ And now, five years later, it’s like, ‘Yeah! We would love to play with those guys again.’ So we got together with a lot of our old Phineas writers and hatched a plan.” That plan, of course, involved Disney+, which seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring back these iconic characters.

Original cast members returning for the movie also include Caroline Rhea as Linda, Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus, Alyson Stoner as Isabella, Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet, Bobby Gaylor as Buford, Olivia Olson as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz, Tyler Mann as Carl, Povenmire as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, and Marsh as Major Monogram. Joining the fun are Ali Wong as Super Super Big Doctor, Wayne Brady as Stapler Fist, Diedrich Bader as Borthos, and Thomas Middleditch as Garnoz.

phineas and ferb candace saves the universe

Original songs, a staple of the series, are back and funnier than ever—including the upbeat opening number, “Such a Beautiful Day,” sung by Candace as she rides her bike around Danville. “In the beginning of the movie, it was hard to hit the right tone because we were showing the end of a day in a Phineas and Ferb summer where Candace misses busting them,” says Povenmire. “She was coming off as shrill if you had not seen the whole series, and we needed people to be on her side, so we thought, ah-hah, we need a song to get people on her side but still show how crazy she is. For that I actually called my friend Kary Kirkpatrick.” Povenmire has known Kirkpatrick—who works mainly as a screenwriter and director— since college, but the two friends had never collaborated together until this film. Kirkpatrick’s body of work includes writing on such Disney films as The Rescuers Down Under; Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves; and many more. But for this project, “He just showed up with guitars,” says Povenmire.

The central premise of the original Disney Channel series—Candace trying to get Phineas and Ferb in trouble for carrying out crazy adventures—is still the same. But the movie allowed for a bit more depth, and even “sweetness,” to seep in.

“The sweetness comes from the extra sugar we added,” says Marsh.

phineas and ferb candace saves the universe

“Usually we use just a cup of sugar, but this time we used a cup and a half,” adds Povenmire. “And it really pumped up the sweetness. So much of the series seemed to be Candace against the boys, but she’s really just against what they’re doing. She thinks, ‘If I were to do that, I’d get in trouble.’ So it’s all about fairness in the house. That said, we always like when we get to show that these characters actually care for each other and love each other. And we usually don’t get to do that in the short-form as much. I feel like we’ve done it better in this movie than we’ve done it before.”

Marsh adds, “But every time we’ve done it, it’s felt so great and so emotional. Those are the moments where I will automatically get choked up.”

Speaking about getting choked up… Where did the nickname “Swampy” come from?

“It’s descriptive,” says Povenmire playfully. “He used to not shower very much.”

“I used to be green and mossy,” jokes Marsh. “No, actually, it’s because of my last name. I acquired the nickname at a club I worked at. A bunch of people decided they were either going to call me Boggy Marsh or Swampy Marsh, and I think I got a little too stroppy about how much I didn’t want to be called Boggy Marsh. And that kind of sealed my fate. I’ve been Swampy ever since.”

phineas and ferb candace saves the universe

All nicknames aside, Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe premieres exclusively on Disney+ on August 28. This Friday, when you ask yourself that age-old question, “What are we going to do today?,” the answer is clear.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Zach Johnson

August is ending on a high note, Disney fans! The final week of fun begins Monday when FXM broadcasts Love, Simon. Then, on Wednesday, ABC will air the season finale of United We Fall. To cap it off on Friday, Disney+ will travel to outer space (twice!) with the addition of Fantastic Four (2005) and the premiere of the original film Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe. Disney+ will also offer something more grounded—literally—with a fun farming-themed episode of Weird But True! from National Geographic.

love, simon

Love, Simon—Monday, August 24, at 5:30 p.m. ET on FXM
The 2018 film follows Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a closeted high school student who falls hard and fast for an anonymous online pen pal from his school who is also gay. After classmate Martin Addison (Logan Miller) obtains their deeply personal e-mails, he uses them to blackmail Simon, who must decide how to reveal his sexuality to his friends and family while attempting to turn his online flirtation into a real-life romance. Directed by Greg Berlanti and based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, the film stars Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Keiynan Lonsdale, Miles Heizer, Logan Miller, and Tony Hale.

united we fall

United We Fall—Wednesday, August 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Wedding bells are ringing… again! In the heartwarming and hilarious season finale, “Re-Wedding Crashers,” Jo Rodriguez (Christina Vidal Mitchell) and Bill Ryan (Will Sasso) decide to renew their vows to celebrate their 10-year anniversary. Unfortunately, their overzealous extended family and an approaching snowstorm threaten to ruin the event.

fantastic four

Fantastic Four (2005)—Friday, August 28, on Disney+
Transformed into superheroes after surviving a disaster in space, the Fantastic Four—Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd), Susan Storm/Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Chris Evans), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Michael Chiklis)—struggle to reconcile their powers, responsibilities, and relationships as a dysfunctional family. Overcoming their personal conflicts, they finally join forces to defeat Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon), the malevolent, metallic embodiment of their deceitful former investor.

phineas and ferb candace saves the universe

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe—Friday, August 28, on Disney+
Stepbrothers Phineas (voice of Vincent Martella) and Ferb (voice of David Errigo Jr.), Candace (voice of Ashely Tisdale), Perry the Platypus (voice of Dee Bradley Baker), and the Danville gang are back together in an out-of-this-world feature film from Disney Television Animation. Executive produced by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, creators and executive producers of the hit series Phineas and Ferb, the animated adventure follows Phineas and Ferb as they set out across the galaxy to rescue Candace, who finds utopia in a far-off planet—free of pesky little brothers!—after being abducted by aliens. Rounding out the voice cast are Marsh as Major Monogram, Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet, Caroline Rhea as Mom, Povenmire as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, and Alyson Stoner as Isabella, among others.

weird but true

Weird But True!—Friday, August 28, on Disney+
In the third episode, “Farming,” Charlie Engelman and Carly Ciarrocchi run a fruit-and-vegetable stand outside of headquarters—but lately, they’ve been selling all their crops faster than they can grow them! Carly has an idea to turn the garden into a farm, but alas, they don’t have enough space to grow everything they need outside. So, she takes Charlie on a trip to an indoor vertical farm in New York City to learn about a different way to farm.

Get Ready to Spin with New Disney Channel Original Movie—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

disney channel

Disney Channel Announces New Original Movie Spin

There’s a sure-to-be-fabulous new Disney Channel Original Movie coming to a TV screen (or mobile device) near you in 2021… Spin—starring Avantika Vandanapu (Disney Junior’s Mira, Royal Detective; Disney+’s Diary of a Future President) and directed by Manjari Makijany (the upcoming Desert Dolphin, India’s first-ever skateboarding feature)—follows an Indian American teen who discovers her artistic side through the unique world of DJ culture.

Rhea Kumar (Vandanapu) is an effervescent 15-year-old who lives with her tight-knit multigenerational family. After her mother’s death, she has been her father’s emotional rock, and her life revolves around her family’s restaurant; her eclectic group of friends; and her after-school coding club. Everything changes when she falls for aspiring DJ Max and a long-lost passion for music is reignited. Rhea discovers that she has a natural gift for creating beats and producing music that blends the textures of her Indian heritage with the world around her… but she must find the courage to follow her inner talent.

Look for Spin on Disney Channel next year!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

With kids around the country starting school, we’re facing facts—summer is almost over, and so is the month of August. (Crazy, right?) But don’t fret: There’s plenty of cool stuff to watch this weekend, from around the worlds of Disney. Take a breather from those back-to-school shenanigans with a brand-new episode of Muppets Now on Disney+; the series finale of Elena of Avalor on Disney Channel; and more! To make sure you don’t miss a moment of fun, click here for our weekend-watching rundown.

american idol

American Idol Season 4: Bryan, Perry, Richie, and Seacrest Will Return

Great news, American Idol fans! Just this week, ABC announced the iconic star-maker competition series will welcome back music industry legends Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as judges—and veteran host Ryan Seacrest—to help find America’s next singing sensation for a fourth season on the network!

Last season, American Idol became the first reality competition series to air remotely and the unprecedented season dominated Sunday nights, claiming the No. 1 spot for a broadcast series (among adults ages 18 to 49) as well as the night’s most talked-about show on social media.

And guess what? Virtual auditions for season 4 are already underway! Idol Across America will give hopefuls in all 50 states the chance to showcase their talents from anywhere in the U.S. of A., across any official audition date and face-to-face with an American Idol producer—staying true to its roots by providing aspiring Idols real-time feedback on their journey to being crowned the next American Idol.

Stay tuned for more Idol news as it becomes available…

New Trailer for Earth to Ned—Coming to Disney+ in September!

These are the kind of thoughts that keep us up at night: What would a talk show hosted by a very curious alien be like? We’re ever so thankful we don’t have to wonder any more… because this September, Disney+ is premiering Earth to Ned—a fresh take on the late-night format starring larger-than-life extraterrestrial creatures as they interview some of the biggest stars in our galaxy. Check out the brand-new trailer for the series, above.

The talk show is hosted by alien commander Ned and his lieutenant Cornelius, who call off an invasion of Earth after they fall in love with human culture. Broadcasting from the bridge of their spaceship, hidden deep underground, Ned and Cornelius interview Earth’s greatest resource: celebrities. With the help of the ship’s artificial intelligence, BETI, and the destructive CLODs (Cloned Living Organisms of Destruction), Ned must keep his show a secret from his home planet or suffer the wrath of his father, the Admiral of the Galactic Fleet.

Each episode focuses on a topic or theme that is both equally unique to earthlings and fascinating to Ned, including comedy, sports, social media, and fashion. Look for appearance from the likes of Rachel Bloom, Billy Dee Williams, RuPaul, Andy Richter, Raven-Symoné, High School Musical The Musical The Series’ stars Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo, and so many more…

Produced by Brian Henson and Vince Raisa from The Jim Henson Company, Earth to Ned will feature creations brought to life by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop—the team behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters. Meet Ned and crew when the series makes its Disney+ debut on Friday, September 4!

ICYMI: New Trailer and Posters for The New Mutants 

D23 recently heard from writer/director Josh Boone about The New Mutants, an original horror thriller debuting soon. Inspired by a spin-off of Marvel’s X-Men comic series, the film follows four teenage mutants as they’re held in an isolated psychiatric hospital for monitoring. Read more about the film—and see its brand-new trailer and posters—by clicking here.

First Trailer Revealed for Death on the Nile

The latest film from Twentieth Century Studios, the daring mystery-thriller Death on the Nile, is set to mystify audiences beginning this October… and to that end, they just debuted the film’s brand-new trailer this week! Directed by and starring five-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh, this tale of passion, jealousy, and intrigue features an all-star cast of suspects. Take a look at the new clip, above.

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s (Branagh) Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against a landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, Death on the Nile features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers—and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until its shocking finale.

The film reunites the filmmaking team behind 2017’s global hit Murder on the Orient Express; joining Branagh onscreen this time are a cavalcade of stars including Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright.

Death on the Nile is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on October 23.

Danny DeVito and Phillipa Soo Talk The One and Only Ivan

By Courtney Potter

Directed by Thea Sharrock, Disney’s The One and Only Ivan tells the story of a gentle, artistically inclined 400-pound silverback gorilla (voice of Sam Rockwell) who begins to wonder what life is really like outside the suburban shopping mall habitat—and struggling circus attraction—he calls home. Ivan’s not alone, however; among his circle of animal friends are a colorful parrot named Thelma (voice of Phillipa Soo), and an adorable stray dog named Bob (voice of Danny DeVito).

With this CGI/live-action adaptation of Katherine Applegate’s award-winning novel coming to Disney+ in just a few days’ time, D23 spoke with both DeVito and Soo about what made their experiences making The One and Only Ivan so unique.

the one and only ivan

When it came to joining The One and Only Ivan’s voice cast, Tony®-nominated Soo (Broadway’s Hamilton) was especially elated. “I actually didn’t know anything about the novel or the story that it was based on,” explains Soo, alluding to the true tale that inspired Applegate’s Newbery Medal-winning book. “[But] I was so excited—I just got married three years ago and because of that, I have all of these young nieces and nephews. Being asked to be a part of something that’s so iconic for them was super cool for me; so many cool ‘aunt’ points!” It’s not just the story (and its popularity amongst family) that delighted Soo—it’s the particularly impactful way it’s presented. “[Kids] are so knowing—and at the same time, they’re just curious and wide-eyed and open to the world,” she continues. “So they connect with [this story] a lot… And especially in this day and age, when we’re just trying so desperately to protect our environment, I think that kids are really aware of that. I think what this story shows them is that they can really contribute to that. Big change starts small. And just because they’re young should not deter them from wanting to help advocate for change, and change what they want to see in the world.”

As for Emmy® winner DeVito (Taxi), his participation in the film came about—at least in part—due to a previous role: “[With The One and Only Ivan], I’m working with a director I’ve worked with before,” he explains. “I did The Sunshine Boys on the West End in London, which Thea Sharrock directed, and it was great. I loved working with her, and when she told me about this [project], I thought it was great! I’ll play an animated dog in your movie, y’know? So I read the book—an amazing book.”

the one and only ivan

Giving voice to a CGI-animated animal is an interesting challenge from the start—but when said animal already has an iconic sound, it could prove daunting. Not so for Soo, who took her parrot voice seriously—with a hearty dollop of humor, of course. “It’s not very often I get to play characters like this parrot; it’s a very long jump from Eliza Hamilton,” says Soo, chuckling. “So as an actor, I feel so lucky that I was given that opportunity—because all I want to do is stretch, [and] be asked to do things that I’ve never done before and take risks. What a great way to be involved with, now, two Disney films”—Soo also lent her voice to 2016’s Moana, featuring music by her Hamilton compatriot Lin-Manuel Miranda—“[where] the characters are very different.” During recording, “I was lucky enough to see my Ivan character as I was working on it,” explains Soo. “The animation had largely been complete for Thelma, so when I got to go in and record, I had something there to reference. That was really exciting.”

For DeVito, recording included something that’s not often done in animation: “The uniqueness of doing this was that we—Sam Rockwell [voice of Ivan], Angelina Jolie [voice of Stella], Brooklynn Prince [voice of Ruby], myself, Helen Mirren [voice of Snickers]—were able to, at some point or another over the past couple of years that we’ve been doing this, to be actually in the same room. Disney had fixed it up so that we could see each other [in the recording studio]; it really makes a difference for an actor to be able to communicate, because you improvise—one thing leads to another… That was a unique experience, and it was great working with those people.”

the one and only ivan

Lending her talents to a Disney film—especially an animated one, and one that focuses on animals and the natural world to boot—might’ve been fate for Soo, who came of age during the Little Mermaid-led renaissance of Disney animation. “Growing up, my best friend and I would watch Pocahontas over and over and over and over,” she admits. “And we would go outside and run around—run through the woods, which we called ‘the forest.’ I definitely feel like it was such a great way—kind of like The One and Only Ivan—to really understand and appreciate nature. I think Pocahontas was my first deep understanding and connection that I had with the planet, and the animals that are on it.”

All told, both Soo and DeVito feel The One and Only Ivan is the perfect film for such a singular time in our history. “This is one of those great films where you feel like there’s a lot of wonderful lessons, as well as humor,” Soo says. “[And] what I think is so unique about this film is that it really captures the purity and the sweetness of these animals… I was just so struck by the fact that the writing and the directing really captured this purity; the knowingness that these animals have, and how precious that is.” DeVito agrees, adding, “It’s a movie for kids of all ages. First of all, it’s a lot of fun—it’s a comedy and it’s spirited. And the themes in it—of captivity and freedom—[it’s] heartfelt… The way it [all] was woven in with Mike White’s screenplay—Ivan the gorilla realizing that he should be free; keeping promises; being true to your word. All these different themes are woven into The One and Only Ivan—and that’s what makes it such a spectacular movie.”

Don’t miss The One and Only Ivan, premiering on Disney+ this Friday, August 21!