An Inside Look at Disney Television Animation’s 35 Magical Years and a Sneak Peek at its Exciting Future

November 8, 2019November 8, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

Disney Television Animation (TVA) was a huge part of Emily Hart’s childhood. Like so many of us, she grew up watching the Adventures of the Gummi Bears and The Wuzzles. And 16 years ago, she joined TVA, where she currently works as vice president of Original Programming, heading up a team of creative executives who are building an incredible slate of projects coming to a screen near you.

In celebration of TVA’s 35th anniversary this month, we spoke with Hart and several of the talented women who have helped drive the studio’s success over the past decades. Since the Gummi Bears’ auspicious debut, TVA has launched more than 77 shows that run the gamut from original series that have become part of our collective consciousness, such as Kim Possible and Phineas and Ferb; to extensions of beloved stories and characters that first came to life on the big screen, among them Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Tangled, and The Lion Guard—to name just a few.

Lisa Salamone, senior vice president of Production, has been with TVA for 25 of its 35 years. She was a line producer on Gargoyles when she arrived at the studio in 1994, just as TVA was celebrating its 10th anniversary. She now oversees production for all of TVA’s content, which has expanded far beyond its broadcast and cable TV beginnings and also can be found on YouTube, in DisneyNOW, and on Disney+.

“For a lot of us behind the scenes, the really exciting part is seeing the artists’ drawings come to life,” Salamone shares. “It’s an idea, then it’s just a pencil drawing. Then you see it a year later moving on screen with music and everything, and it just comes alive.” TVA still works with the hand-drawn, 2-D animation the studio’s artists grew up loving, along with modern CG animation. Regardless of medium, Salamone points out, “You start from nothing. If you have a design of a chair, you have to design that chair—you don’t just get it out of the prop department.”

“I think all of us pinch ourselves that we get to make cartoons for a living—which is insane and wonderful—and I think everyone kind of has that same sensibility,” Jennifer Trujillo-Andres says. As manager of Casting & Talent Relations, Trujillo-Andres works with the talented actors who lend their voices to TVA projects, helping shepherd them from initial casting to recording sessions to special events like Comic-Con. Her first “pinch-me” moment at TVA came during her first week at the studio, nine years ago, when she unexpectedly met Disney Legend Mark Hamill. She recalls, “He came in and he’s just the most gregarious guy… I was a temp sitting behind the welcome desk greeting him… He had a million things to say to me, and all I could think about the whole time was, I’m talking to Luke Skywalker right now. What is my life?”

When it comes to Disney VIPs, however, Mickey Mouse is in a class by himself. Mila Livitz, senior vice president, Business Affairs—who oversees the team that handles deals, performer agreements, and so many other aspects of the business strategy for TVA content—says that working with the character “reminds you every day of how the Company started, where it got to, and the legacy that you’re part of.” That’s something that sets TVA apart from all other animation studios, Livitz points out. “My daughter thinks I work with Mickey, and the fact that he is still exciting to her in 2019, as it was back when Walt Disney first drew Mickey, that’s very, very cool to be part of,” she says.

The launch of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse marked TVA’s first opportunity to work with Mickey Mouse for the preschool demo. Meredith Roberts, now senior vice president/general manager, TVA, Disney Channels, helped develop and launch the series during her first stint at TVA in her role overseeing creative affairs for the studio. It was a thrill to see the show become a “juggernaut” that helped solidify the Disney Junior brand. “When you help create material that is bigger than the vision you might have had and it captures the hearts of kids around the world, that is pretty special,” she says.

The hit series Phineas and Ferb captured the hearts of many TVA employees who were there at the beginning. Khaki Jones, vice president, Current Series, points to her first Comic-Con with Disney-TVA as her earliest “pinch-me” moment with the studio. She tells D23, “The Phineas and Ferb Platy-BUS in our Disney booth—in the best way possible—pulled all the focus on the show floor. I was delighted to see the fans so delighted!”

Jones and her team serve as the first audience for every element of TVA’s current series. “We get to review all premises, outlines, scripts, storyboards, animatics, designs, music, and mixes for our shows, and talk through them with the executive producers and crews,” she details, confessing, “The job is absolutely as fun as it sounds. It’s hard work, but it’s fun.”

“People come on the campus and it feels like a great place to work because it is. People are happy to be here and it shows,” Roberts says. Employees have the opportunity to take character drawing classes held at TVA, and they come out in full force for the studio’s annual Halloween event and semi-annual art shows. As Roberts describes, “It’s a little bit of work and a little bit of art school. The people who support the animation are some of the brightest in the world and everyone is passionate about what they’re making.”

“We’re always connecting back to Walt,” Hart stresses. TVA recently took a group of the talent from their series on a “field trip” to Walt’s Office on the Studio lot. “You walk into that office and you feel that creative energy,” she says, acknowledging that experiences like this serve as a reminder of what an honor it is to develop and tell new and authentic stories for the Company.

Among the new stories from TVA to debut include The Owl House and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, both for Disney Channel; and the original series Monsters At Work, as well as Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe for Disney+. As the entertainment industry continues to rapidly evolve, TVA will be part of that shift and be what Roberts sees as “the constant within the disruption.”

“I think that how people consume content, when they consume content, where they like to consume content, all will change in 30 years,” she says. “But they’ll still fall in love with our characters and we’ll still be creating characters that they’ll want to spend time with.”

Every Merry Way to Celebrate Christmas 2019 at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and More

November 8, 2019November 8, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Everyone knows there’s snow better way to get into the holiday spirit than by visiting a Disney theme park! And at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, you can experience the most magical time of year with family and friends—and your favorite Disney characters, too! From November 8, 2019, to January 6, 2020, explore the sights, sounds, and flavors during the seasonal celebration. And as an early Christmas present, we’ve wrapped up all the ways you can maximize your visit!

Disneyland Resort

There are endless places to snap an elfie around the resort! Approximately 300 trees are brought in to spruce things up, and nearly 10,000 poinsettias and 10,000 cyclamen are added. New at Disneyland Park is a wintery holiday look around the Partners statue in the Central Plaza at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. The holiday installation is made up of more than 7,500 individual plants, featuring roughly 80 pine trees decorated with more than 150 strands of warm mini lights. Impressively, the festive display also has more than 500 branches of red winterberry and more than 800 red dogwood branches!

Yule also love the Disneyland Christmas tree, which stands 60 feet tall on Main Street, U.S.A., and includes 1,500 Victorian-inspired ornaments and 100 oversize faux candles. The exterior of Main Street, U.S.A., meanwhile, features approximately 220 garlands that measure more than four miles long, adorned with nearly 80 wreaths and 120 bows.

An assortment of attractions at Disneyland Park are sporting sensational seasonal makeovers. Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, for example, illuminates nightly with more than 26,000 twinkling LED lights, glistening “icicles” and sparkling snow-capped turrets. it’s a small world Holiday and the surrounding plaza add more than 400,000 twinkling lights: 50,000 on its façade and another 350,000 mini-lights in the hedges, topiaries, and trees. Take a whiff of three new scents—cherry blossom (Asia), cinnamon (South America), and coconut (South Seas), which join the familiar smells of fresh pine and peppermint in Europe. And when guests use the Play Disney Parks mobile app and ride it’s a small world Holiday, they can earn a limited-time digital achievement for the seasonal overlay.

Since September 6, Jack Skellington has taken residency in the Haunted Mansion with frightfully festive touches inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Join him and the deer-ly departed in the Haunted Mansion Holiday ballroom, where a gingerbread house celebrating the original attraction’s 50th anniversary is on display. Baked, built, and decorated in 13 days, it stands nearly 10 feet tall and is made of approximately 30 pounds of gingerbread, three gallons of egg whites, 120 pounds of frosting and icing, 75 pounds of confection’s sugar, 140 pounds of fondant—and more!

Guests may feel Santa-mental when Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the Disney Princesses appear in the A Christmas Fantasy parade, a daily procession with floats, music, and marching toy soldiers. Keep an eye out for Anna, Elsa, and Olaf, who appear in the film Frozen 2 (opening in U.S. theaters on November 22, 2019). Each night, the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular and its magical snowfall finale create unfir-gettable holiday memories for families and friends. The fun extends to Tomorrowland Terrace, where a DJ is spinning at the new Disney Holiday Dance Party.

Pick up some mint condition merch, like the candy cane spirit jersey! Other new items include light-up snowman ears, a holiday plaid Santa hat, a Disney Parks holiday food mini backpack, gingerbread Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse ear headband, and more!

Meanwhile, at Disney California Adventure, a 50-foot Christmas tree lights up the night in Carthay Circle. Naturally, the tree and the surrounding buildings are decorated with vintage-style ornaments in observance of Buena Vista Street’s 1920s California theme.

During the all-new “Mickey’s Happy Holidays,” running twice daily, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Goofy, and Clarabelle get into the spirit by wearing new Festival of Holidays attire! Join your favorite Disney and Pixar characters as they dance along to high-energy music, led by the merry rhythms of the Holiday Toy Drummers. The Country Bears and Pixar characters also sport fun seasonal overlays for the show.

Disney Festival of Holidays features craft stations little ones will love. Everyone in your party will appreciate the delicious fare at Festival Foods Marketplace, with a variety of holiday dishes and beverages that bridge several diverse cultures and family traditions. The Holiday Sunset Concerts features new music this year from The Suffragettes on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights. Phat Cat Swinger returns to play a swinging selection of holiday music with a fun twist nightly from Wednesday through Saturday.

The Three Caballeros host the popular “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party” celebration, featuring folklórico, samba dancers, and live musicians—plus Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their fiesta best! And whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Santa Claus will grace you with his presents at Santa’s Holiday Visit on Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

To ensure you have a haul-y jolly Christmas, race over to Cars Land. The whimsical “Snowcar” greets guests on the road to Radiator Springs, and each Cars character gets a holiday makeover at his or her Route 66 address. Two attractions transform for the haul-idays: Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree becomes Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. With a mix of classic tunes (“Jingle Bells”) and Cars Land originals (“Joy to the Whirl”), you’re in for a musical treat!

The nighttime spectacular “World of Color – Season of Light” fuses cherished holiday music with memorable moments from Disney’s animated films. Dazzling lights, brilliant lasers, and high-definition projections make this a must-see holiday show! Since 2016, “World of Color – Season of Light” has been captivating guests as Mickey Mouse and pals begin to decorate their homes for Christmas. The spectacular features a range of sing-along holiday classics, including “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley (Lilo’s favorite!).

Staying in a ho-ho-hotel? The Disneyland Hotel features beautiful pine trees and holiday florals. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is aptly ornamented with blue, green, and silver décor, like the shells and starfish garland and the underwater-themed Christmas tree. And in the lobby at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, marvel at the 7-foot-tall gingerbread house, which is a replica of the property; it took 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 250 pounds of fondant, one pound of “pixie dust,” and 25 people to construct it!

Walt Disney World Resort

You don’t need to travel to the North Pole to experience the magic of the season! The skies above Magic Kingdom will sparkle to life as visions of fireworks dance in the air during an all-new nighttime show: “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.” Hosted by Minnie Mouse, the holiday extravaganza invites guests to come together in a celebration of heartfelt moments and the magic of Christmas. The show is presented during “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party,” starting at 7 p.m., on the following dates:

November: 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, and 24
December: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, and 22

Magic Kingdom transforms into an enchanting wonderland with dazzling decorations, holiday treats, a shimmering ice castle, and more. During A Frozen Holiday Wish stage show, Queen Elsa uses her magical powers to present a gift to everyone in the kingdom—Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf included—by transforming Cinderella Castle into a shimmering ice palace for the holidays. Additionally, each of the 23 nights of “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” will feature performances of “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas,” and “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration” stage show. It’ll be love at frost sight when guests experience select rides and attractions (including the Jingle Cruise), savor complimentary treats, discover exclusive merchandise, and see the magical “snowfall” on Main Street, U.S.A.

Celebrate the howl-idays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is hosting its biggest holiday season in its two-decade history! With festive new entertainment and holiday décor in every land, you can experience the majesty of nature and seasonal magic. A Christmas tree towers over the park’s entrance; decorated with traditional ornaments and hidden animals, the tree is a prelude to the holiday magic awaiting inside the park.

You will be immersed in a magical scene in the heart of the park on Discovery Island. By day, artisan-sculpted, life-sized animal puppets mingle with villagers who call the island home. But as day turns into night, rooftop luminaries in animal shapes give the village a warm and enchanting glow. Also, as the sun sets, the Tree of Life awakens with a series of wintry tales emerging from within, backed by a familiar and heartwarming holiday musical score—and between awakening moments, the Tree of Life will continue to shimmer and sparkle throughout the evening!

Get into the holiday spirit in DinoLand U.S.A., where Donald Duck and his friends have each added their own colorful holiday touches to their spaces.

Make sure to take in the glowing flowers, lanterns, and more in Anandapur, where residents have decorated the theater district in celebration of Diwali—the festival of lights in India. Harambe in Africa offers an exceptional holiday presentation, fusing Western traditions with the colors and texture of authentic African celebrations. The holiday fun continues at Tusker House Restaurant, where Mickey Mouse and pals spread holiday cheer. Meanwhile, find out-of-this-world fun at Pandora – The World of Avatar. Ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora roll out seasonal cheer with a holiday display at Pongu Pongu, pairing vintage pieces from Earth with handcrafted local items.

Joyous traditions from across the globe are at the heart of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. From November 29 through December 30, merry-makers will be immersed in a world of holiday décor and entertainment, themed merchandise, festive cuisine, and costumed storytellers in many of the 11 World Showcase nations.

As always, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will greet guests at The American Adventure pavilion. Epcot’s grandest holiday tradition, Candlelight Processional, will again feature a celebrity narrator retelling the Christmas story, backed by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. Performances run three times nightly at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. The narrators include Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen (November 29-December 1), Neil Patrick Harris (December 2-5), Disney Legend Whoopi Goldberg (December 6-7), Isabella Rossellini (December 8-10), Chita Rivera (December 11-12), Gary Sinise (December 13-15), Pat Sajak (December 16-18), Warwick Davis (December 19-21), Steven Curtis Chapman (December 22-24), Edward James Olmos (December 25-26), Marlee Matlin (December 27-28), and Lisa Ling (December 29-30).

Holiday Kitchens sprinkled throughout World Showcase serve tasty treats inspired by treasured holiday recipes from across the globe. World Showcase pavilions come alive with the sights and sounds of special entertainment celebrating each country’s holiday heritage. Epcot guests also can do their holiday shopping around the World Showcase pavilions, which are stocked with fragrances, jewelry, toys, stocking stuffers, and more.

Chip ‘n’ Dale are gathering ornaments for their Christmas tree, and you’re invited to join in on the fun! To be part of Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree Scavenger Hunt, you must purchase a map and stickers from select merchandise locations, then scout World Showcase locations looking for the famous chipmunks and their ornaments. Completed maps must then be returned for a special festive surprise, courtesy of the dynamic duo!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has all the razzle and dazzle you would expect! For example, the Hollywood Tower Hotel comes to holly-jolly life with colorful projections for Sunset Seasons Greetings. Boasting laser effects and falling “snow,” the celebration includes stories, songs, and holiday cheer, brought to you by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, the Muppets, and more beloved characters. Holiday touches and festive décor throughout the park include seasonal fun inside Toy Story Land, as well as greetings from Santa or Goofy in his holiday best. As a curtain-closer, Olaf performs a special holiday finale in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along.

The nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” invites you to experience the joy, excitement, and music of the season as it raises holiday spirit to awe-inspiring new heights! Watch in wonder as buildings and rooftops come to life showcasing scenes from Beauty and the Beast, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Pluto’s Christmas Tree, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and more. The spectacular combines music, fireworks, special effects and state-of-the-art projections to create a one-of-a-kind holiday experience at the Chinese Theatre. This spectacular evening event builds to a festive finale that must be seen—and heard—to be believed! To sweeten the experience, you can also make reservations for the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Holiday Dessert Party at Echo Lake.

The Disney Springs retail, dining, and entertainment district is the perfect place to make a holiday list and check it twice! Live entertainment includes toy soldier stilt walkers and carolers in holiday attire. Stroll through the Christmas Tree Trail and you won’t be-leaf how beautiful the custom-decorated holiday trees are, with each dedicated to a popular Disney theme featuring Disney characters. You’re also invited to join Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt to help discover where the mischievous Experiment 626 has been hiding out!

Hotels across Walt Disney World Resort will be decked out for the holidays, of course. A life-size holiday gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is offering an assortment of Christmas treats, including—you guessed it!—gingerbread. Disney’s Beach Club Resort boasts a life-size, edible carousel as a holiday tradition, while a holiday village with a miniature train takes center stage at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Disney Cruise Line

Unwrap a holiday voyage for the whole family with a cruise aboard the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, or Disney Fantasy—all decked out with holiday cheer!

Starting in early November, Disney Cruise Line adds sparkle to each ship during Very Merrytime Cruises, with Christmas feasts, “snow flurries,” and more. One of the special stem-to-stern holiday events is the fan-favorite “Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic.” Located in the atrium lobby on the first night of the cruise, several Disney characters lead holiday carols and the lighting of the glittering, three-deck-tall Christmas tree. The atrium lobby also plays host to “Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball,” where Disney cruisers welcome the guests of honor, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, with a grand celebration featuring Broadway-style entertainment, more Disney characters, and classic holiday tunes. The evening of enchantment is made complete when royal sisters Anna and Elsa join the party and cause a flurry of Frozen fun when a magical “snowfall” overtakes the atrium.

Dickens-inspired carolers carry the spirit of the holidays throughout the ship while singing holiday classics—sometimes with the help of Disney friends! At the end of the cruise, children have the opportunity to join them onstage for a special farewell show.

Additional family activities including building gingerbread houses and meeting Santa Claus. “Story Time with Mrs. Claus” is a special time for her to read famous Christmas stories from her rocking chair near the tree. Youth holiday crafts include decorating stockings, and gingerbread, making holiday cards and creating holiday animation cels.

When your ship stops at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, during the holiday season, the celebration continues with “snow flurries,” a decked-out Christmas tree, additional Disney character meet-and-greets, and holiday island music!

On Christmas morning at the atrium lobby tree, Santa Claus and his helpers will have a surprise for all the kids, and guests will delight in a special musical performance from the children. A traditional Christmas dinner will be served that night in the dining rooms. Christmas services will be held on Christmas Day with a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Hanukkah services will be held for eight days, beginning on the 25th day of Kislev.

A special holiday edition of the cheerful farewell celebration on the final night of the cruise will, of course, feature beloved Disney characters and the ship’s crew in an engaging musical finale—led by Mickey Mouse!

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

As the song goes, “Mele Kalikimaka” is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day! As you might expect, special Hawaiian-inspired holiday décor adorns the entire resort. Throughout the season, snowbirds can watch Christmas carolers perform holiday songs in the Maka‘ala Lobby and Waikolohe Valley, and starting December 1, Disney characters will appear in their best holiday attire for pictures and jolly greetings.

Children will also have a fun with Santa Goofy during Keiki Holiday Cookie Decorating at Aunty’s Beach House! On select nights, gather your love ones and enjoy ‘Ohana Disney Movie Nights. Take a comfy seat on the Hālāwai Lawn and watch family-friendly holiday flicks under the stars. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa will announce dates for these activities soon!

For those lucky enough to stay at the resort on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will be greeting guests at Aunty’s Beach House—meaning this will be anything but a blue Christmas! And here’s some sweet news: Guests will also be offered complimentary hot cocoa and a selection of holiday cookies on December 24. The next day, enjoy the Christmas KA WAʻA Lūʻau. Experience an exhilarating and enchanting journey through Hawaiian history and discover its deep cultural roots in canoe exploration, which brought the first ancient explorers to the shores of Ko Olina!

5 Ways Disney Junior’s New The Rocketeer Series Was Inspired by the 1991 Film

November 8, 2019November 7, 2019

By Jim Frye

In 1991, Billy Campbell strapped on a rocket pack and launched himself into cinematic history in Walt Disney Pictures’ high-flying adventure film The Rocketeer, based on Dave Stevens’ comic-book hero. Nearly 25 years later, that fabled rocket pack and art deco-styled helmet return in the brand-new series The Rocketeer, debuting Friday, November 8, on Disney Channel (11 a.m. EDT), Disney Junior (5 p.m. EDT) and DisneyNOW. The series stars Kitana Turnbull (A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Kit, and Billy Campbell and Kathy Najimy as her parents, Dave and Sareena Secord.

Set in the small town of Hughesville, each episode features two 11-minute stories that follow Kit on rocket-powered adventures with her best friend, Tesh, who serves as Ground Control when Kit takes to the skies and is also the inventor of the hi-tech gadgets and upgrades for her rocket pack; and Kit’s grandfather, Ambrose Secord, who works at the Hughesville Airport and serves as her mechanic.

Executive Producer Nicole Dubuc grew up loving animation and is a prolific writer and creator, having worked on such series as My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Young Justice, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars Forces of Destiny, along with Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy, a series she helped create. Here, she tells us how the new series builds on the original movie. “There are a lot of Easter eggs from the original source material,” she says. “We had the whole crew watch the movie.”

1. THE SECORD FAMILY IS BACK. In the original film, Billy Campbell plays Cliff Secord, the hero who uses the rocket pack to save the day. “It’s about how anybody can be a hero if they have the drive to be one,” says Dubuc. “We lean into that with Kit Secord, and from that last name you already know she’s gonna be part of the Secord family, and that’s a tie-in to the original Rocketeer.

2. PEEVY IS BACK! (KINDA). Peevy, played by Alan Arkin, was the mechanic and “grounded” character who gave Cliff good advice in the 1991 film. In the new series, Kit mysteriously inherits the Rocketeer helmet on her birthday, and goes to her grandfather who works at the airfield. “He’s kind of like our Peevy [Alan Arkin] character,” says Dubuc. “He kind of becomes who Peevy was—he’s always giving her good advice, he’s fixing up the rocket pack, and he’s the one who says, ‘Well, whoever brought me this helmet I’m supposed to give this package to,’ and it turns out to be the rocket pack.” As Kit learns the ropes of becoming a flying superhero, Grandpa Ambrose and best friend Tesh help with her training.

3. THERE’S STILL A TOUCH OF ART DECO. One of the most striking aspects of the film—and of its iconic poster—is its art deco style. According to Dubuc, “We’ve adopted a style we call ‘steam pop.’ It’s like steam punk, but softened for pre-school. We’ve gone a little bit with the art deco style. We love the original style and wanted to nod to that in our show.”

4. THE ORIGINAL ROCKETEER CREATOR IS HONORED. Although the Rocketeer was designed in classic 1930s-era pulp fiction style, the actual character was created by Dave Stevens and debuted in comic books in 1982. Kit’s father in the series, voiced by Billy Campbell, is named Dave, as an homage to Dave Stevens.

5. THE FAMOUS BULLDOG CAFÉ IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Another new character who is along for the ride is Kit’s loyal bulldog, Butch, which, of course, calls to mind the Bulldog Café, a prominent setting in the original film. Dubuc says, “In keeping with the Bulldog café from the film, we decided that the Secord family owns the restaurant, and that Kit’s mom [played by Kathy Namijy] is the chef and owner.”

Disney and Pixar Have Plenty of Soul—Plus More in News Briefs

November 7, 2019November 21, 2019

By Courtney Potter

Get ready to follow jazz musician Joe Gardner on an incredible journey, and go inside the world of Frozen 2 in a whole new way… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

**Disney and Pixar’s Soul: Introducing Joe Gardner…**

You heard about it at D23 Expo 2019, and now we have our first look at Disney and Pixar’s upcoming Soul, set for release June 19, 2020. Take a gander at the tunefully gorgeous new teaser trailer, above.

Directed by two-time Academy Award^®-winner Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers, and produced by Academy Award-nominee Dana Murray, Soul introduces audiences to Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx), a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. But just when he thinks his dream may be within reach, a single unexpected step sends Joe to a fantastical place—where he’s forced to think again about what it truly means to have soul. That’s where he meets and ultimately teams up with 22 (voice of Tina Fey), a soul who doesn’t think life on Earth is all it’s cracked up to be. Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, and Daveed Diggs round out the voice cast.

Stay tuned for more info about Disney and Pixar’s Soul—which will also feature new music by jazz great Jon Batiste and a score by Oscar^® winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network)—as it becomes available…

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
November 11, 2019
Advance Screening of Lady and the Tramp at ArcLight Pasadena
November 14, 2019
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experiences: A Day at the Studio Lot
November 16, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Up at Walt Disney World
November 18, 2019
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Animation Studios
November 23, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Up on the Lot
January 17, 2020
Get VIP Tickets to Disney’s Frozen The Hit Broadway Musical
January 31, 2020
Disney’s Aladdin the Hit Broadway Musical VIP Tickets
August 9, 2020
Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise Presented by D23
Parks
August 29—November 23, 2019
2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24;
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 2019
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom park
November 29—December 30, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
December 5, 2019
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
January 17, 2020
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disneyland park
January 17—February 9, 2020
Lunar New Year returns to Disney California Adventure park
February 28—April 21, 2020
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns to the Disneyland Resort
March 4—June 1, 2020
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort

Studios
November 22, 2019
Frozen 2 opens in U.S. theaters
December 20, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in U.S. theaters
March 6, 2020
Onward opens in U.S. theaters
March 27, 2020
Mulan opens in U.S. theaters
May 29, 2020
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
November 8, 2019
High School Musical: The Series airs on ABC, Disney Channel, and Freeform (8 p.m. EST)
November 8, 2019
The Rocketeer premieres on Disney Channel (11 a.m. EDT), Disney Junior (5 p.m. EDT), and DisneyNOW
November 16, 2019
Big City Greens Kicks Off Season Two on Disney Channel (9:30 a.m. EST/PST)

**Go Inside the World of Frozen 2 with New Myth: A Frozen Tale VR Short**

With Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2 just around the corner, we’re learning about a cool new way to experience Anna and Elsa’s world in an incredible, immersive style: Myth: A Frozen Tale, which debuted at the film’s world premiere this week at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, is a groundbreaking new VR short using the latest advances in VR technology, an original music score, and stylized art direction to deliver a unique virtual and visceral experience.

“The idea for Myth: A Frozen Tale came from a personal place for me,” director Jeff Gipson (who helmed Disney’s first-ever VR short, Cycles, in 2018) recently said, “and was inspired by my family’s tradition of telling bedtime stories. This led me to start thinking about what the world of Frozen and some of the film’s new elemental characters would look like in VR. Myth: A Frozen Tale is set in a forest outside of Arendelle as a family sits down for a bedtime story. As the mother reads, the audience is transported to a mystical and enchanted forest where the elemental spirits come to life and the myths of their past and future is revealed. With breathtaking production design by Brittney Lee, and a brilliant musical score by Joseph Trapanese, this film follows in the Fantasia legacy of using imagery and music together in an experimental way, using the latest advances in virtual reality to achieve that.”

Look for announcements on how you can experience Myth: A Frozen Tale in the near future…

Disney Festival of Holidays Jingles All the Way to Disney California Adventure

Now that All Hallows Eve has come and gone, it’s about that time… time for all things holiday! (And all things Disney+, naturally—debuting next week!) In just a few days’ time, the Disneyland Resort will be resplendent with festive fun around every corner. Disney California Adventure park will once again welcome the Disney Festival of Holidays; inspired by the vibrant cultural diversity of Southern California, this colorful celebration brings the holiday season to life with music and dance performances; the amazing Festival Foods Marketplace; unique crafts; and plenty of beloved Disney characters who invite you to delight in the spirit of the holidays. It’ll truly warm those heart cockles like never before!

New this year is “Mickey’s Happy Holidays”; this fresh and fun character celebration will delight guests twice a day with high-energy holiday music (featuring the very merry Holiday Toy Drummers) and a slew of Disney and Pixar favorites, including our pal Mickey Mouse! Look for the party at the Paradise Gardens Park Obelisk and in Carthay Circle.

But that’s not all: The Holiday Sunset Concerts on the Palisades Stage will feature several new bands—including The Suffragettes, a cover band that’ll rock the holidays with their own take on chart-topping hits, as well as Phat Cat Swinger, the West Coast’s “Little-Big Band” that offers a swingin’ selection of irresistible holiday tunes. They’ll be joined by returning favorites including Mosher Kosher, Blue13 Dance Company, The Sound, and the Grammy^® Award-winning Mariachi Divas. And make sure to visit Santa Claus over at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail!

Disney Festival of Holidays kicks off at Disney California Adventure park this Friday, November 8.

… And Then There’s the Disney Festival of Holidays Food!

One simply cannot discuss Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure park without a peek at all the delicious food and drink available all season long. From the Festival Foods Marketplace to other quick-service carts around the park, there’s a sweet or savory somethin’ for everyone! Take a gander at what’ll be tickling your taste buds beginning this week by clicking here.

**We Love This Avengers: Endgame/Disney+ News 3000**

We’ve already alluded to Disney+’s super-insanely anticipated launch on next Tuesday, November 12—and just this week, we received some truly stellar Marvel-related news: Avengers: Endgame will be available on the streaming service on Day One!

The highest-grossing film of all time (amazing, right?) will join other previously announced Marvel titles on Disney+, including Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, and many more!

Avengers: Endgame caps off an unprecedented 11-year cinematic journey that spans 22 individual movies with one epic conclusion. The Infinity Saga sees some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes go up against Thanos in an effort to stop him once and for all and reverse the events of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War.

If you’re ready to feel all those feels again, make sure to add it to your Disney+ queue!

Coming Soon: Meet Mickey Mouse at Epcot in a Whole New Way!

If you’ve been reading News Briefs with any regularity (and thank you, if so!), you know that Epcot has just kicked off an incredible multi-year transformation, just in time for Walt Disney World Resort’s upcoming 50th anniversary. As part of that transformation, Mickey Mouse will soon be making some Epcot appearances in a whole new way…

As part of the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, inside the Imagination! pavilion, Mickey will be greeting his friends—and celebrating his hilarious on-screen antics—just inside the pavilion’s entrance.

Mickey’s colorful imagination has led to an amazing career in the movies, featuring roles in literally dozens of short films—including Get A Horse! (a personal fave), which you’ll be able to enjoy as part of the festival. Look for Mickey to arrive at the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival in early 2020!

ICYMI: Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” is Just Around the Corner…

We love turning on our TV (or mobile device; it is 2019, after all) and not experiencing one ounce of worry that we’ll find something entertaining to watch. Case in point? Any day during Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas”… Movies and specials galore, and even a few brand-new holiday-themed episodes of your Freeform favorites! In case you missed our rundown of this year’s “25 days of Christmas” schedule, check it out by clicking here.

Bright Lights, Big City Greens – Everything You Need to Know About Season Two

November 7, 2019November 6, 2019

By Savannah Salazar

We’ve seen the Green family get wrapped up in a lot of hilarious shenanigans and adventures, but that was just the beginning. With their Gramma Alice and their mom and dad, Nancy and Bill, 10-year-old Cricket Green and his sister Tilly continue to navigate life in the bustling city with heartwarming zest. Created by comic book creators and brothers Chris and Shane Houghton, the animated comedy series Big City Greens centers on the heart of the show, the core Green family, but season two aims to expand their world and relationships a little further.

Ahead of the Big City Greens season premiere on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW on November 16 (9:30 a.m. EST/PST), we spoke with Shane and Chris about what’s next for Cricket Green and the gang, their holiday special, and why taking risks is ultimately pretty good.

In season two, the city gets a little bigger.
“We continue to expand the world because in season one we spent a lot of time with just the core Greens, so in season two we really deep dive into some of the characters,” Chris said. Remy and Andromeda—Cricket and Tilly’s best friends, respectively— and Gloria are a handful of characters who will return with expanded roles. Even the cocky Chip Whistler comes back as “an even bigger and badder bad guy,” Chris teased. There is also a new character named Gregly (voiced by Tim Robinson), who Shane describes as “an angry, spiteful child that no one wants to hang out with.”

The guest stars of Big City Greens give it their all.
The first season of Big City Greens saw incredible guest stars, from actors Jon Hamm and Raven-Symoné to The Muppets’ Fozzie Bear, and season two follows suit with Christopher Lloyd, Lucy Lawless, Alfred Molina, and Jameela Jamil, just to name a few! In fact, NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns guest stars on a future episode giving an all-star voice performance. “We had two roles for two basketball players and needed someone who could come in and do two different voices,” Shane said. “And Karl-Anthony Towns was so down to do this. He came in with two drastically different voices that turned out great and were so funny.”

Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness also makes a guest appearance in a role he was born to play: Confident Stylist. Well, maybe not born to play, but the role was specifically written with him in mind, said Shane. Chris chimed in, sharing, “It was a bit of a swing on our part, but I think those big swings make a difference. It’s been so cool to have these folks who’ve been on high-profile projects come in [for Big City Greens] and give it their all.”

One guest star inspired a new storyline for their character.
Then there is Gwendolyn Zapp—the show’s version of a rich tech mogul. Voiced by Cheri Oteri of Saturday Night Live fame, Zapp is introduced in the very first episode of the season, “Car Troubles.” Shane describes the character as “a little kooky, with big dreams”—and his brother Chris jokes that Zapp “is absolutely insane!”

Oteri’s character was originally slated for only one episode, but the brothers agreed she was too good to let go. “She absolutely kills us every time she’s in the booth… and was just too funny, so we had to bring her back,” Chris said. “Now, Gwendolyn Zapp has become a big part of season two.”

Get ready for a Big City Greens holiday special complete with seven original songs.
It’s almost a rite of passage for a hit show to debut its own Christmas special, and now, Big City Greens will have its very own “Green Christmas,” which is fittingly the title of the episode as well. As big musical theater fans—both Chris and Shane did musical theater all throughout high school—the brothers and Big City Greens composer Joachim Horsley made sure the seven original songs were crafted just right.

“Normally, the score for Big City Greens is digitally created, but for this, we got to go to Capitol Records and Chris and I got to sit in with a full, live orchestra playing the score,” Shane adds. “It was a truly magical and mind-blowing experience. We’re so proud of how the holiday special turned out.”

When it comes to their upcoming CG-animated episode, it’s game on.
In another first for the series, Big City Greens will debut a video game-themed episode with CG animation. Normally the show is animated in 2-D, but when it comes to Big City Greens, the brothers gravitate to challenging and unusual concepts like moths to a flame. “Whether it’s weird creatively or risky, if we come up with an idea, and it scares us, we usually get excited by it,” Chris shared.

For the CG-animated episode, the crew collaborated with an outside studio to produce this uniquely weird-looking episode, which Chris said is exactly what they were going for. “I think we pulled it off?” Chris questions, jokingly. “I think so,” Shane answers, with a laugh. “It’s a challenge to do something outside of the normal pipeline, but it’s really fun.”

Watch an exclusive clip from the season premiere, below, and tune in for the latest adventures of Cricket, Tilly, and the Big City Greens gang on Saturday, November 16 (9:30 a.m. EST/PST) on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW.

The Ultimate Foodie Guide to Disney Festival of Holidays 2019

November 6, 2019

By Zach Johnson

We’re making our list and checking it twice—our list of must-try menu items at Disney Festival of Holidays, that is! On November 8, the affair returns to Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort with music, dance, and diverse cultural events. Tastiest of all are the Festival Foods Marketplaces, which are filled with holiday cheer!

Disney Festival of Holidays is inspired by Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. The joyful celebration runs through January 6, 2020. New this year is “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” character celebration, where guests can dance and sing along with Mickey and pals to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers.

As our gift to you, we’ve created the ultimate foodie guide with everything you need to know about this year’s marketplaces and additional locations with festival-inspired fare. Pick up a Disney Festival of Holidays Tasting Passport at any of the marketplaces to guide you on your holiday journey. As you visit each marketplace, get your passport stamped. When you’ve filled your passport, you’ll receive a special completion stamp!

After taking a look at this year’s menu, we can say with certainty that this is going to be a wine-derful holiday season, as there are delectable dishes and dozens of top shelf drinks to enjoy! Without further ado, enjoy our Disney Festival of Holidays foodie guide:

Holiday Duets Marketplace

Braised Pork Belly Adobo – with garlic fried rice
Shrimp & Grits – with andouille sausage
Mickey & Minnie Cookies
Cranberry Sangria
Churro Toffee Cold Brew (non-alcoholic)

Brews & Bites Marketplace

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, American Light Lager
Cerveza Rrëy, Kölsch
SLO Brew, Cali-Squeeze, Blood Orange Hefeweizen
Two Pitcher’s Brewing, Nordic Jam, Berry Lager
The Bruery Or Xata, Horchata Blonde
Einstök Beer Company, Arctic Pale Ale
Lost Winds Brewing Company, Reddy or Not, Amber Ale
Alaskan Brewing, Winter, English Olde Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Celebration, IPA
Saint Archer Brewing Company, Mosaic, Double IPA
Karl Strauss^® Brewing Company, 10 Beers for Breakfast, Maple Stout
Festive Progressive Beer Flight – Rrëy Kölsch, Einstök Arctic Pale Ale, Alaskan Winter English Olde Ale, and Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA
Flavors of the Season Beer Flight – SLO Brew Cali-Squeeze Hefeweizen, Two Pitcher’s Nordic Jam Lager, The Bruery Or Xata Blonde, and Karl Strauss 10 Beers for Breakfast Stout
Chorizo Fundido – served with house-made tortilla chips

Winter Sliderland Marketplace

Fried Turkey Slider – with cranberry slaw
Beef Pot Roast – served on a potato roll with horseradish cream
Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail
Warm Peppermint Chocolate Float (non-alcoholic)

Grandma’s Recipes Marketplace

Shepherd’s Upside-down Pie (plant-based)
Curried Cauliflower & Chicken – with black garlic
Crimson Pear Cocktail
Modelo Negro, Dark Lager
Navidad Punch (non-alcoholic)

A Twist on Tradition Marketplace

Reimagined Beef Wellington
Reuben Potato Tots with Russian Dressing and Rye Toast
Vanilla Pear Mule
Skyside, Cabernet Sauvignon

Making Spirits Bright Marketplace

Caramelized Apple Cake – With Crème Anglaise and Salted Caramel Sauce
Hot Cocoa Marshmallow Macaron (gluten-friendly)
Grgich Hill Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
William Hill Estate, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
Gérard Bertrand Côte Des Roses, Rosé, France
Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi
Louis Latour, Pinot Noir, Bourgogne
Austin Hope, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Apple Mimosa
Pomegranate Mimosa
Cran-Blackberry Mimosa
Chandon, Sparkling Wine
White Wine Flight
Red Wine Flight
Mimosa Flight

Favorite Things Marketplace

Glazed Ham Shanks – with honey crumble
Holiday Stuffing Mac & Cheese
Gingerbread Mickey Cookie
Warm Bourbon Cider
S’mores Frozen Chocolate Milk (non-alcoholic)
Bell’s Brewery, Lager of the Lakes, Czech-style Pilsner
Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc, Witbier
Modern Times Beer, Space Ways, Hazy IPA
Legends Brewery, Cookies Galore Beer, Chocolate Cookie Milk Stout
Stone Brewing, 2014 Imperial Russian Stout
Beer Flight – Bell’s Brewery Lager of the Lakes, Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc, Modern Times Beer Space Ways, and Legends Brewery Cookies Galore

Merry Mashups Marketplace

Turkey & Stuffing Tamale – with cranberry relish
Pork al Pastor Naan Taco – with pineapple pico de gallo and cilantro-lime crema
Churros Yule Log
House-made Horchata
Habanero Hibiscus Margarita
Non-Alcoholic House-made Horchata

Bon appétit, D23 Members! For more information on Disney Festival of Holidays, as well as the holiday season at Disneyland Resort, visit the Disneyland Resort website.

Frozen 2’s Hidden Gems Showcase Filmmakers’ Attention to Detail

November 5, 2019

By William Keck

The autumn season in which Frozen 2 takes place signals change and maturation, not only in the passage of time but also in the increasingly complex life experiences of Elsa and Anna. Like us all, the royal sisters are coming to learn that becoming adults comes with its fair—and often unfair—share of challenges. And the adults who make up the film’s creative team worked overtime in their attention to details so minute most of us will probably never even notice them.

For instance, as part of their further exploration into Elsa’s, Anna’s, and Kristoff’s evolving personas, the filmmakers took part in a four-hour psychological personality test. Writer/director Jennifer Lee assumed the roles of the sisters and fellow director Chris Buck did the test for Kristoff, both addressing a series of questions posed by an actual psychologist. The questions addressed a variety of random topics—everything from favorite pets to innermost fears, helping Lee and Buck to refamiliarize themselves with their characters and get inside their heads. (One revelation, says Lee, was that Kristoff has some issues being the “third wheel” in the close Anna/Elsa dynamic.)

As filmmakers explored the two characters, one thing became clear: that Anna was and always has been a true “fairy-tale” character—optimistic and human, whereas Elsa was a “mythic” character, having the weight of the world on her shoulders and capable of powers most humans don’t possess

“Unbeknownst to us, we were doing two movies in the first film—a mythic story and a fairy tale,” says Buck, with Lee adding, “When we identified myth versus fairy-tale traits in both women, it opened things up and allowed us to step back into who they really are.”

The visual development artists also worked overtime to contribute personalized finishing touches to both princesses, with snowflake symbolism continuing to inspire Elsa’s wardrobe. “We included snowflakes on all the epaulets of Elsa’s travel coat,” says Lee, who is particularly pleased with Elsa’s “ice illusion” neckline and the “peekaboo” opening in the back of Elsa’s dress (“the cold doesn’t bother her anyway”).

Eagle-eyed filmgoers may want to take in repeated viewings to discover symbols revealed during Elsa’s big “Into the Unknown” sequence that are also carved into giant monoliths (reminiscent of England’s Stonehenge) located at the entrance to the Enchanted Forrest. “These symbols are woven into the clothing of different characters and are meant to lead you on a journey throughout the movie,” Lee explains.

So attentive to detail are these visual artists that all of the characters—both female and male—have lining inside the fabrics of their clothes. Elsa’s is violet, whereas Anna’s is magenta to match her shoes.

Visual development artist Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay, who worked on Moana, oversaw Anna’s look and equates her work to the “embroidery” costumers do to actual fabric in live-action films. “We make it by thread as if we were actually making it in real life,” she says. “We even added a piece of embroidery with the Arendelle icon to one of Anna’s costumes that can only be seen if her hair blows in the wind. I don’t think anyone will ever see it but it’s a nice detail I had to add.”

There are additional Easter eggs to keep an eye out for. A Norwegian Fjord horse on a nightstand adjacent to Elsa’s bed is included as a tease of the Nokk water horse Elsa will face off with later in the film. The horse is actually modeled after an actual treasured keepsake of art director David Womersley, who himself is an Easter egg. His likeness is in the face of one of two carved wooden men holding hammers above an Arendelle village door. The other? Production designer Mike Giaimo.

And here’s an extra bonus Jennifer Lee offers D23 fans: Near the end of the film, some familiar characters from the first Frozen film will show up “in their own way.”

What’s Your Incredibles Super Power? Take Our Quiz to Find Out!

November 5, 2019September 14, 2023

By Courtney Potter

Can you believe it’s been a full 16 years since we first met the Parr family—otherwise known as The Incredibles—and all their super pals in Disney and Pixar’s action-packed animated hit? Naturally, that means it’s a most excellent time to celebrate all things Incredible… so we’ve come up with a handy-dandy quiz to find out what your super power might be. Ready to save the day alongside Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and their super kids? (And don’t forget: Being “super” doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable… there may be a fabulous super-frock, designed by the one and only Edna Mode, in your future!)

Favorite color?

Purple

Red

Green

Blue

Orange

What’s your favorite breakfast food?

Cereal

Bacon and eggs

Granola

Pancakes

Favorite mode of transportation?

I’ll walk—alone, preferably.

Sports car

Motorcycle

All I need is a good pair of running shoes!

I don’t need one… yet.

What’s one word to describe you?

Mysterious

Confident

Brave

Energetic

Youthful

In your day-to-day life, how do you usually get out of a sticky situation?

I evade it until it goes away.

I try to reason with whoever’s causing the trouble.

I rally the troops and dive head-first into the problem.

I crack a few jokes to diffuse the tension.

I’m not sure… I am a sticky situation!

Favorite Marvel movie?

Doctor Strange

Thor: Ragnorak

Captain Marvel

Guardians of the Galaxy

Ant-Man and The Wasp

Pick a dream job…

Electrical engineer at NASA

President of a university

Stunt pilot

Medal-winning Olympian

I can’t pick just one!

You’ve Got Invisibility!

From the outside, like Violet Parr, you might be a “shrinking violet”—preferring to fade away from the spotlight. But underneath that enigmatic exterior is someone who’s always willing to lend a helping hand… as well as a keen intellect. Just don’t get too embarrassed the next time your parents say something weird in front of your friends.

You’ve Got Super Strength!

Much like Bob Parr, patriarch of the Parr clan and the inimitable Mr. Incredible, you have amazing super strength; you’re always ready and willing to fight off the toughest of supervillains! But it’s not just your strength and stamina that get you by… You’ve got a good heart, and will often try to appeal to someone’s benevolent nature.

You’ve Got Super Stretch!

If you’re anything like Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl, this particular power can come in real handy; whether you’re fighting crime or running a busy household, you’ll never stretch yourself too thin… All that and a kindhearted nature make you a well-rounded Super—who looks great in a jumpsuit, to boot!

You’ve Got Super Speed!

Like Dash Parr, eldest son of the Parr clan, you probably have a fair amount of kinetic energy that’s just waiting to be unleashed! (Not to mention the ability to get anywhere in minutes flat.) If you channel it right—and we know you can—you’ll wind up a truly integral part of any “super” group you belong to… just don’t pull too many more pranks on those unsuspecting teachers, OK?

You Have All the Super Powers!

You’ve won the proverbial lottery when it comes to powers, just like adorable baby Jack-Jack. Shooting lasers from your eyes? Check. Duplicating yourself? Naturally. Spontaneously morph into flame? No doubt! But make sure to use those powers for good, OK? We wouldn’t want Syndrome recruiting you for some nefarious purposes…

10 20th Century Fox Films You Need to Stream on Disney+

November 5, 2019November 25, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman and Savannah Salazar

With the launch of Disney+ just around the corner, Disney fans are busy planning out exactly what they will watch first—and there’s a lot to choose from! Check out the full list here.

While you’re making your future movie night plans, consider exploring a new part of the Disney catalogue—these classic movies from 20th Century Fox! Disney+ will feature many films from 20th Century Fox’s decades of movie magic, and we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorites that we think you should add to your must-watch list.

1. Avatar (2009)
Disney fans are already familiar with space adventures, strange languages, and cool aliens—in fact, if you’ve been to Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom you’ve had the chance to experience the world of the Na’vi for yourself! Now you can stream the film that started it all. James Cameron’s groundbreaking and Academy Award®-winning film held the title of highest grossing movie of all time for 10 years (at least until a certain set of heroes saved the day back in April!).

2. Thumbelina (1994)
Animated adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales featuring the vocal talents of Jodi Benson are already a big hit with Disney fans, so you’ll definitely want to make Thumbelina a “part of your world.” Featuring a toe-tapping soundtrack helmed by Barry Manilow, Thumbelina is the big story of a small girl trying to make her way back home—and a story that you can’t help but want to stream again and again!

3. Home Alone (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Home Alone 3 (1997)
The classic film and two of its sequels will be available for streaming at launch—just in time for your holiday movie marathons. Three tales of kids left to fend for themselves (with often ingenious solutions) have become a key part of the pop-culture lexicon, so whether you’re watching the films for the first time or introducing the films to your friends and family, you just might catch yourself wishing everyone, “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals,” this holiday season.

4. Flicka (2006)
Disney fans are no strangers to heartwarming tales of human-animal friendships, so Flicka is a natural fit in future movie night rosters. This charming tale of a girl and her horse who work to beat the odds will make you laugh, cry, and hug the important animals in your life.

5. The Sound of Music (1965)
If you haven’t seen this Academy Award-winning film starring Disney favorite Julie Andrews, mark your calendar for November 12 because this is required watching. This tale of a nun-turned-governess who brings music into the life of a widower and his seven children has won the hearts of viewers for more than 50 years. The songs are classic, the performances memorable, and the story will put a smile on your face. Find out why the American Film Institute named this film the fourth greatest movie musical of all time—or rewatch this classic for an instant pick-me-up. (And be prepared to be humming “Do-Re-Mi” for the rest of the week!)

6. Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
If you’ve ever been on Tokyo DisneySea’s fan-favorite attraction Journey to the Center of the Earth, then you know what wonders are in store when you explore the Earth’s core. This fun adaptation of the classic Jules Verne novel will thrill sci-fi fans with a story full of action, adventure, and (what else?) dinosaurs.

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Just in time for Christmas, you can stream Miracle on 34th Street on Disney+ starting at launch—so now, more than ever, is the time to watch or revisit this timeless holiday classic. Do you believe in Santa Claus? When a man named Kris Kringle starts playing Santa Claus at the Macy’s store on 34th street, Doris Walker starts to ask herself that question. Find out for yourself if he’s telling the truth—and why this film is a holiday season must-watch!

8. Never Been Kissed (1999)
Call up your friends and start planning a night-in with this ’90’s throwback. This charming romantic comedy, starring Drew Barrymore, follows reporter Josie Geller as she goes undercover at her former high school. Covering the good, the bad, and the downright awkward moments of high school, Never Been Kissed is ultimately too sweet to resist.

9. The Sandlot (1993)
Batter up and get ready to add The Sandlot to your queue! This classic film truly needs no introduction but for those uninitiated (you’re killing us!), The Sandlot follows the adventures of a group of baseball playing friends during the summer of 1962. From playing baseball and going to the carnival with your friends, to an encounter with the Beast (no, not that Beast!), this movie is all about having fun—and that’s exactly what you’ll have watching The Sandlot.

10. Millions (2005)
What would you do if you found a bag of money? This idea becomes a reality for two young kids—Damian and Anthony—when they come across a rich sum in this hilarious film. Whether you’re watching it for the first (or millionth) time, it’s a heartwarming must-watch.

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming!

The Winter Issue of Disney twenty-three Ventures Into the Unknown with Exclusive Look at Frozen 2

November 5, 2019November 5, 2019

By D23 Team

Why does Elsa have powers? And why doesn’t Anna?

These burning questions will be answered in Frozen 2—Walt Disney Animation Studios’ eagerly anticipated follow-up to its beloved 2013 film—when it opens in theaters on November 22. Ahead of that, the film’s writer/director Jennifer Lee and stars Kristen Bell (voice of Anna) and Josh Gad (voice of Olaf) share a peek at the incredible journey all of the characters must take to save the kingdom of Arendelle in the latest issue of Disney twenty-three. The issue’s gorgeous wrap-around cover, created exclusively for D23, will give you chills in the best possible way.

Of course, there’s another must-see movie marked on our calendar and that’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the 42-years-in-the-making thrilling climax to the Skywalker Saga. Star John Boyega and director J.J. Abrams talked to Disney twenty-three about reaching the cinematic apex to the nine-film saga, and Boyega revealed some inside scoop from the production. Among the tasty tidbits he shared was the bill of fare for the final on-set meal Boyega and fellow cast members Daisy Ridley and Naomi Ackie enjoyed together: “burgers and donuts.”

Plus, the creative team behind Disney+’s Forky Asks a Question sporks to the occasion and discusses bringing the hysterically frustrating character to the streaming service in a new collection of 10 shorts. They also reveal some of the big-name comedy stars lending their voices to the show, including Carol Burnett, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Betty White (who play the hilariously named Chairol Burnett, Melephant Brooks, Carl Reinosceros, and Bitey White, respectively).

Also included in the Winter issue of Disney twenty-three:

The author of One Day at Disney reveals the stories behind some of his favorite interviews in the dazzling new book
Lea Michele takes a Hawaiian holiday for the new ABC movie Same Time, Next Christmas
A look at the new Disney+ series The Imagineering Story from award-winning documentarian Leslie Iwerks
Stars Billy Campbell and Kathy Najimy preview the new animated series The Rocketeer
The stars and creative team behind Togo—about a man, a dog, and an unbelievable adventure—talk about the real-life inspiration for the new Disney+ film
Kristen Bell enjoys an Encore!, her delightful unscripted series that reunites the casts of high school musicals for one more unforgettable performance
Stunning concept art from beloved films celebrating milestone anniversaries, including Cinderella, Fantasia, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
The cast of the new Frozen on Broadway national tour takes a bow
A peek at all of the incredible Star Wars content and experiences on the way
Every exciting announcement from D23 Expo 2019
From the Desk Of: Disney store’s Jonathan Storey
Regular features including By the Numbers, Character Analysis, D Society, and Ask Dave

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in mid-November.

Not a Gold Member? Click here to join or to upgrade now.