5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Whether you’re in need of a good cry or a good laugh, this week has got you covered! This Wednesday, you can stream all 12 episodes of the Hulu Original series Normal People, based upon the popular novel. The next day, ABC will continue to bring the funny with an all-new episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire featuring three celebrity contestants playing for the charity of their choice. On Friday, Disney+ debuts an original series, Prop Culture, that is sure to tug at every Disney fan’s heartstrings—much like the classic film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, which is being added to the Disney+ that day, too. And on Friday, FX will rebroadcast one of our favorite Marvel movies: Iron Man 2.

Normal People—Wednesday, April 29, on Hulu

Based on Sally Rooney’s New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, the brand-new 12-episode drama series tracks the tender but complicated relationship between Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal) from the end of their school days in a small town in the west of Ireland to their undergraduate years at Trinity College. At first glance, popular Connell and lonely Marianne couldn’t be more different. But when he comes to pick up his mother from her cleaning job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between them—one they are determined to conceal. A year later, they’re both studying in Dublin, where Marianne has embraced a new social world but Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Lenny Abrahamson directs the first six 30-minute episodes and Hettie MacDonald directs the final six; all 12 are available at launch.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire—Thursday, April 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC

black-ish star and To Tell the Truth host Anthony Anderson will continue his streak as he plays for The Anderson Family Foundation. Then, Ike Barinholtz will play for Uplift Family Services and Hannibal Burress will play for Melvina Masterminds—all while host and executive producer Jimmy Kimmel keeps them (and us!) laughing throughout the episode.

Prop Culture—Friday, May 1, on Disney+

This Disney+ Original series is proof that the magic you see onscreen is real. Film historian and prop collector Dan Lanigan will reunite iconic Disney movie props with the filmmakers, actors, and crew who created and used them in some of Disney’s most beloved films. He will recover lost artifacts, visit private collections, and help restore pieces from the Walt Disney Archives to their original glory. All eight episodes will debut on May 1, so you can binge them in one sitting or spread them out at your leisure. Featured films include Mary Poppins; Tron; Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas; Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; Honey, I Shrunk the Kids; The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Who Framed Roger Rabbit; and The Muppet Movie.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey—Friday, May 1, on Disney+

The live-action classic from 1993 is coming to streaming! The adventure begins when the loving owners of three irresistible pets are forced to leave them in the temporary care of a friend who lives hundreds of miles away. Fearing their family might be in trouble, fun-loving American bulldog pup Chance (voice of Michael J. Fox), hilarious Himalayan cat Sassy (voice of Sally Field), and wise old golden retriever Shadow (voice of Don Ameche) decide to head home. On their journey across the beautiful but dangerous Sierra Nevada mountains, they encounter surprises from man, beast, and nature alike. Directed by Duwayne Dunham, the film’s cast includes Robert Hays as Bob, Kim Greist as Laura, Jean Smart as Kate, Veronica Lauren as Hope, Kevin Chevalia as Jamie, and Benj Thall as Peter.

Iron Man 2—Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FX

After unmasking himself as Iron Man, Tony Stark (Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr.) must deal with the adversaries who seek his powers—including business rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) and Russian scientist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who’s constructed a similar warfare suit. The film introduces Scarlett Johansson to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Natasha Romanoff, and the cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rodes, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Director, executive producer and Disney Legend Jon Favreau also reprises his role as Happy Hogan.

What’s in a Name? – Jim Henson

April 27, 2020June 17, 2020

By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives

One of the more unique pieces found in the collections of the Walt Disney Archives represents a rather “out of the box” aspect of our operation… our Guest Book! Since being founded in 1970, we’ve had quite an array of special guests stop by to take a peek at our unrivaled historical collections. For such special occasions, we maintain a Guest Book for our visitors to sign, commemorating their visit. In this treasured volume are notations from such Disney Legends and luminaries as Art Babbitt, Annette Funicello, and even Tom Hanks!

My favorite signature highlights the intersection of two entertainment giants—Disney and Jim Henson. To help shed a bit of light on the subject, Chief Archivist Emeritus of the Walt Disney Archives Dave Smith remembered crossing paths with his fellow Disney Legend during an impromptu visit:

“As a long-time admirer of Jim Henson, I was delighted to hear that he was going to be at the studio filming Muppet*Vision 3D,” Dave remembers. “During a break in the action when Jim was relaxing, I went over and introduced myself and thanked him for the autographed book he had left for me at the Walt Disney Archives several years earlier. He was most intrigued to hear about our Archives because he had started his own Muppet archives in New York. I found Jim to be an extremely friendly gentleman, passionate about his work, and with a real love for Disney.”

During that earlier visit, Henson signed the Archives’ Guest Book (his signature is pictured below), forever cementing himself amongst the hugely talented cache of individuals whose signatures populate the volume, and provided quite the memento for the Archives staff to marvel at for years to come.

Walt Disney Archives Director Rebecca Cline also remembers seeing the master Muppet magician at work at The Walt Disney Studios around the same time:

“Before joining the Archives staff, I was working with the Home Video team and our offices were located on the studio backlot. One day, we had heard that Jim Henson and the Muppets crew were filming Kermit outside, very near our offices. So, we all went out to watch and, sure enough, there he was––everyone’s favorite frog––riding a bicycle back in the old Town Square set. It was the only time I ever saw Jim in person, and the whole production made quite an impression on me. Shortly after seeing such fun on the backlot we heard that Jim had unfortunately passed away, which was very sad and very shocking because we had just witnessed his genius on full display.”

Even while working on such a studio lot as Disney’s, with all of the history and heritage tied to it, I suppose I’ve always found it interesting that our department’s very own Guest Book is quite the “Disney history book” itself!

With that it’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to stream the Muppets on Disney+ tonight!

How DuckTales’ Composer Made Sure Donald Duck Hit All the Right Notes

April 25, 2020April 25, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Life has always been like a hurricane on DuckTales, and in a brand-new episode of the animated series that just premiered on Disney XD, love has a similarly dramatic effect on Donald Duck. This morning marked Daisy Duck’s DuckTales debut, and it was love at first sight for Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s uncle. While there’s much to love about Donald, from his jaunty sailor’s cap to, shall we say, his tempestuous personality, Daisy first was smitten by his smooth singing voice—and we’re not quacking a joke. It turns out that Donald’s distinctive vocals sound very different to Daisy than they do to us. Take a gander in the clip below:

Donald’s big number, “Hear My Voice,” was performed by Dominic Lewis, who wrote the song’s melody and serves as DuckTales’ composer. Executive producer Matt Youngberg and co-executive producer/story editor Francisco Angones tapped Lewis to serve as Donald’s singing voice so that we might hear our feathered hero the way that Daisy hears him. Lewis tells D23 that it wasn’t a major stretch to find his inner duck and help bring to life the magical moment that Donald and Daisy’s romance takes flight. “I think everybody has a bit of Donald in them—very sweet, but can kind of explode at any point,” he laughs. “I think—and my wife would probably agree—I’m an extremely sensitive person. That aspect of it was very easy to channel… Emotional stuff tends to come way easier to me than more general songs.”

The heartfelt lyrics were penned by Madison Bateman, a staff writer on DuckTales, before Lewis began writing the melody—a departure for the composer, who typically begins his creative process with the music. Youngberg and Angones had already given Lewis a sense of what direction the song should take, but after he received the lyrics, Lewis recalls, “Just reading the words, I could hear the rhythms just come straight off the page.”

The Three Caballeros play an important role in the episode, titled “Louie’s Eleven,” as the trio hopes to impress Duckburg’s most popular tastemaker, Emma Glamour—voiced by Bebe Neuwirth—and make it on to her coveted “it list.” Louie plans an elaborate break-in to move the Three Caballeros past the many obstacles that stand between them and Emma Glamour—one of which happens to be her no-nonsense party planner, Daisy.

It was a given, Lewis explains, that “Hear My Voice” feel like a song the Three Caballeros would perform but also have a modern vibe. He recalls, “We brainstormed the idea and [decided on] something that was very moving and started out as a ballad, but is also true to today’s reggaetón or Latin-influenced music.” The song is also reminiscent of some of the great Disney standards, and that’s by design, Lewis shares, noting, “It had to have that Disney sparkle to it.”

Composing for DuckTales is a musical duck blur in the best possible sense, explains Lewis, whose credits include The Man in the High Castle and Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer. “That’s why I love this show. Every single episode I have to pull from a different genre and mix genres,” he notes. “Louie’s Eleven” features a particularly wide range of musical styles. “I got to do that kind of caper-y Ocean’s Eleven-type stuff—’heist-y,’ kind of cool, jazz-influenced and hip hop-influenced stuff for the mission. Then you’ve got the kind of source music for the party—the house music in the background. You’ve got ‘Hear My Voice’ and you’ve also got the kind of Vegas-inspired [music that accompanies an amazing show of talent from Dewey],” Lewis details. This variety constantly inspires Lewis, who is able to draw upon infinite influences and instrumentations to compose a score that accompanies the ducks to the desert, the jungle, or anywhere the animators can imagine. “It’s great,” he emphasizes. “I can pull from my favorite classical composers, I can pull from my favorite pop artists or hip hop for everything. It’s just a really great smorgasbord of stuff.”

Of course, the job is even more satisfying for Lewis because he’s a lifelong DuckTales fan. He and the Disney Television Animation music team had been looking for the perfect opportunity to collaborate when DuckTales came along. “That’s my childhood—it’s who I am,” Lewis shares, and he signed on immediately. “That’s what’s great about the show: Every single person who works on the show does it because they were so in love with it as a child and they want to make the best show they can.”

As he sets out to compose for each episode, Lewis says it’s easy to get his creative ducks in a row and begin scoring. “As soon as you get into the episode you’re like, ‘OK, I’m in,’” he says, crediting the writers and animators, led by Youngberg and Angones, for the amazing content from which he draws so much inspiration. He shares, “If I’m honest, I think if I had a dial, my home dial, that ‘zero’ would be set at DuckTales. I think that’s where I’m set. That’s where I’ve been programmed.”

Get the Scoop on Secret Society of Second-Born Royals—Plus More in News Briefs

April 24, 2020

By Courtney Potter

First Look at Disney+’s New Secret Society of Second-Born Royals

You read about it last year, right here at D23.com—and now, its premiere is drawing ever closer… Just this week, Disney+ revealed a first look at its much-anticipated new film, Secret Society of Second-Born Royals.

Produced by Disney Channel, the film follows Sam (Peyton Elizabeth Lee, formerly of Andi Mack), a teenage royal rebel second in line to the throne of the kingdom of Illyria. Just as Sam’s disinterest in the royal way of life is at an all-time high, she discovers she has super-human abilities and is invited to join a secret society of similar extraordinary second-born royals charged with keeping the world safe. With guidance from their Secret Society instructor, James (Skylar Astin), Sam and a new class of royal recruits must first learn to harness their new powers at a top-secret training camp before they can save the world.

Also starring Olivia Deeble as Roxana, Niles Fitch as Tuma, Faly Rakotohavana as Matteo, Isabella Blake Thomas as January, Élodie Yung as Queen Catherine, Ashley Liao as Eleanor, Noah Lomax as Mike, and Greg Bryk as Inmate 34, Secret Society of Second-Born Royals will begin streaming on Disney+ this summer!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

We’re all looking for a few new things to watch right now—and D23, as always, has you covered with a few of this weekend’s top choices from around the worlds of Disney. If you’re looking for some real-life hilarity, check out the whopping nine season’s worth of America’s Funniest Home Videos coming to Disney+… and don’t forget a brand-new episode of ABC’s American Idol on Sunday! Read our rundown by clicking here.

Ryan Seacrest Offers Glimpse Into First-Ever Remote American Idol Episode!

Speaking of American Idol, earlier this week, host Ryan Seacrest revealed that he’d kept the original judges’ desk—y’know, the iconic one that Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell sat behind in the early seasons of the show’s first iteration—in storage in his garage… never knowing that it might come in handy again. And come in handy it has, as the ABC series reaches audiences in an all-new way!

Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, as well as host Seacrest and in-house mentor Bobby Bones, will all participate in Sunday’s all-new episode from different locations—as will the Top 20 contestants. You won’t want to miss the excitement as the remaining Idol hopefuls continue their journeys remotely, filming their performances on iPhones… singing their hearts out for a chance to win America’s vote and, ultimately, the coveted season three crown!

American Idol goes remote this Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT, only on ABC.

Brand-New Trailer for Disney+ Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian

Ready to go behind the scenes of one of Disney+’s most beloved new series? Check out the brand-new trailer for Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, above!

In Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, executive producer and Disney Legend Jon Favreau invites the cast and crew to share an unprecedented look at the making of the series, which quickly became a pop culture phenomenon after premiering in November 2019. The eight-episode documentary series offers unprecedented access to the first season of The Mandalorian; each chapter explores a different facet of the first live-action Star Wars TV show through interviews, never-before-seen footage, and roundtable conversations hosted by Favreau.

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian debuts, appropriately enough, on Monday, May 4 (Star Wars Day)—with new episodes streaming on Fridays thereafter… only on Disney+!

Disney Theatrical Productions Unlocks The Lion King Experience for Free

Are you ready to join the “Circle of Life” like never before? Our pals at Disney Theatrical Productions are now offering a free, virtually accessible version of The Lion King Experience, a unique arts education program that provides students and educators an immersive introduction to theatre-making by way of the Broadway production of The Lion King. The web-based, multimedia curriculum was originally designed to be facilitated in a classroom by an instructor as an enhancement for schools producing KIDS and JR. adaptations of The Lion King—but with new step-by-step instructions, students can explore the full experience at home.

After three years in development, The Lion King Experience launched in 2015, marking the first time any long-running hit musical released a specially created version for students while the original show is still playing on Broadway. The program grants accredited elementary and middle schools the opportunity to produce shortened, age-appropriate KIDS and JR. adaptations of The Lion King, which together with the curriculum, comprises The Lion King Experience. The now-unlocked materials contain all of the tools needed for The Lion King Experience’s experiential theatre curriculum (an 11-session course for students aged 8-11, and an 18-session course for students aged 12-15), including video instruction, at-home learning instructions, student materials, and so much more. The at-home learning instructions are available on the homepage, and all sessions will be unlocked for students and teachers.

For more information, “Be Prepared” and head over to LionKingExperience.com!

Zebra Foal Joins Kilimanjaro Safaris Savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

We have to admit, there really isn’t anything more delightful than some good ol’ fashioned “cute baby animal” footage… and the good folks over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom have come through this week with a brand-new clip featuring the Hartmann’s mountain zebra foal born earlier this month.

Venturing onto the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna for the first time, foal Asha was joined by her mother Heidi. Asha means “hope” in Sanskrit and “life” in Swahili—a name chosen after being voted on by Walt Disney World cast members! Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks, recently explained the change in procedure in a blog post: “While we normally reserve the naming of a new baby for the cast members on our animal care team,” he explained, “we decided to ask all Walt Disney World cast members to help us choose this little one’s name as a special opportunity for all our cast to be part of a beautiful moment in this challenging time in the world.”

See adorable Asha and proud mama Heidi in action in the video, above!

Have an Incredible Time “On Board” the Incredicoaster!

The folks over at #DisneyMagicMoments are taking us on another epic adventure, albeit virtually, with a new first-person attraction video—this time featuring the truly incredible Incredicoaster at Pixar Pier, inside Disney California Adventure park.

For those unfamiliar, the attraction tells the story of the inaugural launch of a new coaster dedicated to the Parr family in gratitude for their heroic efforts and incredible deeds. But when baby Jack-Jack is left with the inimitable Edna Mode as his babysitter, shenanigans ensue—and Jack-Jack creates chaos along the track while his Incredible family sprints into action to save the day.

So don your best hero gear, buckle up, and join the fun! You may just learn some incredibly interesting Incredicoaster factoids along the way…

Revisiting Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures: The Vanishing Prairie

April 23, 2020

By Dave Smith

In helping to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney Archives, the Archives staff wanted to dig deep into their vaults to share an enlightening historical article with Disney fans. The following is an essay that Disney Legend, and Walt Disney Archives founder, Dave Smith wrote for a screening series hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2005. It is presented here in honor of Earth Week, and the legacy of nature filmmaking pioneered by Walt Disney more than 70 years ago.

Probably one of the best known and most highly regarded of Walt Disney’s series of True-Life Adventures was The Vanishing Prairie. It was the second feature-length film in the series, coming a mere nine months after the release of The Living Desert, and thus being only the second feature released by Disney’s fledgling Buena Vista Distribution Company. Disney had established Buena Vista when RKO, who had been handling the distribution of Disney films, balked at releasing a feature-length nature documentary. With the new distribution set-up in place, Walt Disney now had more control over the types of films that he wanted to make.

Work on what would become The Vanishing Prairie actually began in early 1951, with the opening of story number 1815 at the Disney Studio. The film was tentatively titled Bighorn Sheep, and was to be filmed by Herb Crisler and directed by Jim Algar. At the time, it was merely thought of as one of the two-reel featurettes for the series. Over the next year, several more story numbers were established—1820 (Prairie Story), 1821 (Cat Family), and 1829 (Field Trip—Armadillo). Even before the success of The Living Desert in 1953, Walt Disney realized that feature length was the way to go with the True-Lifes. Theaters, naturally, paid higher rentals for a feature than they did for a featurette. So, in May 1953 he decided to combine these various stories into a feature with the working title of The Prairie Story. The title became The Vanishing Prairie by September.

The writers, Jim Algar, Winston Hibler, and Ted Sears, decided to cover the wildlife in the vast area from the Mississippi to the Rockies, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the plains of Canada, following through the seasons of the year from spring to winter. The film relates the story of the American prairie, whose birds and animals were brought to the verge of extinction, and yet managed to continue their fight for survival. It is the story of the pronghorn antelope, the migratory birds, the prairie dog, the bighorn sheep, the mountain lion, the buffalo, the prairie chicken, the sage grouse, and other creatures who once made the prairie their home. Walt Disney wrote, “The incredibly vast herds and flocks swept aside in that incredible passion for a piece of virgin American soil have dwindled to small groups. Yet remnant herds, as wild as ever their kindred were, still roam the open range, protected by sanctuaries and preserves.”

A dozen different nature photographers would eventually be credited with the striking footage that was compiled into the film. Notably, Tom McHugh, Jim Simon, and Warren Garst were sent to Crow Indian land in Montana to photograph the largest remaining herd of buffalo (over 1,500 head). Murl Deusing captured migratory wildlife mistaking ice for open water. N. Paul Kenworthy Jr. created a cutaway of a prairie dog home. Dick Borden specialized in high-speed photography and caught slow-motion studies of Canadian geese alighting on water. Herb Crisler and Cleveland Grant climbed high into the Rockies to find the bighorn sheep. And, in one of the most dramatic shots, Lloyd Beebe and Jim Simon were able to film a scene where a cougar makes a complete circle around a hiding fawn without seeing it. Other photographers were Stuart V. Jewell, Bert Harwell, and Olin Sewall Pettingill Jr. As with other films in the series, the footage was shot in 16mm Kodachrome, and then blown up to 35mm by special effects wizard Ub Iwerks. Iwerks also doubled in smoke, rain, and sky where needed.

According to photographer McHugh, Walt Disney wanted drama, emotion, humor, and struggles in his film. In order to capture striking buffalo footage, McHugh donned a buffalo robe and was thus able, with a hand-held camera, to sneak up on the grazing buffalo, “which seemed to regard him as some odd-shaped member of their own race and tolerated him accordingly.” 16-power telephoto lenses were often used to get intimate close-ups. Since it was not possible to have the animals do what the photographers wanted them to do, one would often find a photographer taking days to get just one usable shot. Film was cheap; eventually 70 times more film was shot than could be used.

Erwin Verity acted as production manager, and the film was put together by director Jim Algar, associate producer Ben Sharpsteen, and editor Lloyd Richardson, with overall supervision by Walt Disney. The film’s budget was only $382,600. As the film was progressing, non-critical reaction screenings were held in November 1953 and May 1954, with high praise from all who saw the footage. A 43-piece orchestra recorded the score by Paul J. Smith in five sessions between March 21 and May 13, 1954, on Stage A at the Disney Studio. Technicolor released the color negative to Disney in April 1954, negative cutting was completed in July, and the film was released on August 16, 1954 (along with a reissue of Willie, the Operatic Whale, that had first appeared in Make Mine Music eight years previously). The Vanishing Prairie was reissued in 1964 and 1971, and released on video in 1985 and 1995.

Some critics condemned Disney for using some staged shots, though the photographers were quick to defend their actions. In Chicago, the censors ordered deletion of a shot (by Jim Simon and Tom McHugh) showing a buffalo calf from the moment of birth. But other than that, the film was glowingly received by critics. As Walt Disney summed it up, “Our naturalist cameramen found and assembled an eloquent reminder of a past day in human and natural history in the animal personalities of a not-yet-completely vanished prairie.”

The Vanishing Prairie is now streaming on Disney+

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

April 23, 2020April 22, 2020

By Savannah Salazar

This weekend is full of adventure!—and you don’t even need to leave your couch. Starting Friday, you can stream The Olympic Elk, a riveting True-Life Adventure film on Disney+ as you celebrate Earth week. And, the very next day, you and your family can surf over to Freeform to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Finally, on Sunday, catch the season finale of National Geographic’s Secrets of the Zoo! You can watch all these and more this weekend, so plan some time for adventure with this handy guide:

The Olympic Elk—Friday, April 24, on Disney+
Keep the Earth Day celebrations going with a documentary from Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventure series. Originally released in 1952, The Olympic Elk follows the lives of elk in the Olympia Peninsula as they battle for supremacy of their herd. Directed by James Algar, you can check out this film when it arrives on Disney+ Friday.

America’s Funniest Home Videos (Seasons 12-19, 23)—Friday, April 24, on Disney+
Need a laugh? Well, turn on America’s Funniest Home Videos this weekend. From cute animal videos to pranks gone wrong, this series is sure to bring a smile to your face. Each episode brings a variety of hilarious situations submitted by people around the world as the studio audience determines which video is the most laugh-out-loud funny.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl—Saturday, April 25, at 10 a.m. ET, on Freeform
Spend your morning on the high seas as Freeform airs this iconic film, inspired by the classic Disneyland attraction. Follow the roguish Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he seeks to recapture his precious ship, the Black Pearl, after his nemesis Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) steals it along with the Governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). Swann’s childhood friend Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) joins Sparrow in this wildly exciting adventure.

American Idol—Sunday, April 26, at 8 p.m. ET, on ABC
The Top 20 will soon be whittled down to the Top 10 as American Idol returns remotely for the first time. Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, along with host Ryan Seacrest, in-house mentor Bobby Bones, and the Top 20 contestants will participate from different locations. Filming their performances, the Top 20 will sing their hearts out for a chance for the season three crown.

Secrets of the Zoo—Sunday, April 26, at 9 p.m. ET, on Nat Geo WILD
“Cheetah Play Date” marks the season finale of Nat Geo’s Secrets of the Zoo. After a season of wild encounters, the team at the Columbus Zoo take care of a “Golden Girl” mandrill named Eebi, a laser-fast cheetah named Kesi and two grumpy Pallas’s cats.

Cinematic Surroundings: Walt Disney’s Love of the Natural World

April 22, 2020June 4, 2020

By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives

“The wonders of nature are endless. Sometimes we can recognize ourselves in animals, that’s what makes them so interesting.” – Walt Disney

Starting in 1948 with the first of the True-Life Adventures films, Seal Island, Walt Disney set out to expand further upon his previous projects that tackled the natural world—projects like the Silly Symphony series, Fantasia, Bambi, and others. In order to bring the documentary wonders of nature to the big screen for the first time, he knew that he would have to weave together the powers of education, artistry, and storytelling to craft a tapestry worthy of Mother Nature’s engaging name.

The inherent power of these images is something that made the True-Life Adventures films stand out right from the beginning. As Walt recalled in a 1952 publicity program: “…we have found that nature not only offers to the motion picture camera the world’s most fascinating thespians, but also provides a stage extending from the equatorial to the polar regions.”

archives cinematic surroundings — This behind-the-scenes look at the iconic globe featured in the series’ opening titles might further reinforce this very thought from Walt—pointing out (even if subtly) that the beauty of nature is universal in appeal, no matter where we are on that spinning spaceship we call Earth.

As Walt foresaw, there was a unique place for this type of offering amongst Hollywood fare at the time, and the first installment of his series received rapt applause. Thanks to that early success, the studio’s nature documentary ambitions continued to grow, and Company projects diversified in ways that can still be enjoyed and experienced today.

Not only did additional films and television shows about the natural wonders of the world follow in the ensuing years, but experiences woven into groundbreaking theme park projects—such as the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland—further sought to bring elements of our wild, beautiful surroundings into the spotlight. At one point, early in the development of the park, the master showman considered using live animals for his river-hopping, boat-led trek—an idea that proved infeasible, given the attraction’s operation, footprint and the natural behaviors of wild animals. With the creation of these experiences, however, Walt further bridged the gap between in-theater and in-the-wild cinematic experiences, all in the name of preserving the wilds around us.

While Walt wouldn’t achieve the full live-animal experience with the Jungle Cruise that he had initially envisioned, the concept and foundations were certainly laid for the Company to continue to build upon the idea into the future. Just as those early film and theme park examples were impressive and groundbreaking, so, too, do we have current projects to highlight the remarkable legacy that connects entertainment and education with the beauty and grandeur of Mother Nature—today’s Disneynature film series, the global efforts of the Disney Conservation Fund, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Both are prime examples of building upon a creative legacy laid by Walt and the Disney studio more than 70 years ago.

Plant-Based Cookie Fries Recipe from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020

The plant-based cookie fries are a unique and yummy treat to serve at the end of any meal. Similar to biscotti, these chocolate chip cookie sticks can be accompanied by several plant-based dipping sauces: marshmallow cream, chocolate, and strawberry. This recipe makes 32 cookie fries and is the perfect serving size for a small gathering of friends or a family dinner.

Makes 32 cookie fries

INGREDIENTS

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/2 cup plus one tablespoon plant-based margarine, softened
7 tablespoons warm water
5 tablespoons liquid egg substitute
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

Combine flour, powdered sugar, and plant-based margarine in bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until smooth.
In small bowl, combine warm water and egg substitute. Add egg substitute and molasses to mixer. Mix on medium speed until smooth.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Place in an 8 x 8-inch pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Cut into 32 strips that are 1/4-inch wide and 4 inches long. Place 16 strips on each baking sheet.
Bake for 20–22 minutes, until crunchy.

Cook’s Note: Plant-based egg substitutes vary by brand and may absorb different amounts of flour and sugar. If the dough is too sticky, add 1 additional tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until it resembles the texture of traditional cookie dough. Fold in chocolate chips, chill, and bake as directed.

MORE PLANT-BASED RECIPES:

Quinoa Salad from Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Maple-Bourbon Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apple Butter from The Turf Club Bar & Grill Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Quinoa Salad from Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

1 cup red quinoa
1/2 cup white quinoa
3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup chopped mint
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Combine water and quinoa in medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.
Cool quinoa in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Place cooled quinoa in large mixing bowl. Add raisins, dried apricots, chopped red onion, cucumber, mint, lemon juice, and olive oil and stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

MORE PLANT-BASED RECIPES:

Plant-Based Cookie Fries Recipe from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Maple-Bourbon Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apple Butter from The Turf Club Bar & Grill Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020

Serves 4-6

APPLE BUTTER
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tart apples, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon clove
1/2 teaspoon allspice

MAPLE-BOURBON GLAZE
1 cup bourbon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprout, cut in half
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups maple-bourbon glaze

FOR APPLE BUTTER:

Combine water, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat.
Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Add apples, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes, until apples are soft.
Stir in cinnamon, cloves, and allspice and remove from heat. Use potato masher or stick blender to reach desired consistency.
Transfer to medium bowl, and refrigerate for 24 hours.

FOR MAPLE-BOURBON GLAZE:

Bring bourbon to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 7 minutes, until reduced by half.
Stir in sugar and mix until dissolved. Add maple syrup, and increase heat to medium. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Set aside until ready to use.

FOR BRUSSELS SPROUTS:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Combine Brussels sprouts, red onion, oil, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Place on a baking pan, and roast for 25 minutes.
Remove from oven. Coat Brussels sprouts with maple bourbon glaze. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Serve with apple butter.

MORE PLANT-BASED RECIPES:

Quinoa Salad from Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Plant-Based Cookie Fries Recipe from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop