Heroines of the Disney Galaxies Team Up at D23 Expo

August 25, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Some of the most powerful women in entertainment joined forces today at D23 Expo 2019 for Heroines of the Disney Galaxies – Presented by BoxLunch. Hosted by Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, and creator of the Her Universe fashion company and lifestyle brand, and live-streamed for D23 Members, the panel featured guests Sana Amanat, Vice President of Content & Character Development, Marvel; Ally Maki, who plays Mina Hess in Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger and voiced Giggle McDimples in Toy Story 4; Christy Carlson Romano, who voiced the title character in Kim Possible and voices Trina in Big Hero 6: The Series; and Genesis Rodriguez, who reprises her voice role as Honey Lemon from the film Big Hero 6 in the animated series.

Celebrating some of the most inspiring and empowered heroines from the worlds of Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, Eckstein began the conversation by introducing Amy Hansen, who was born with two particularly rare genetic disorders that caused the bone in her right femur to fracture several years ago. Following emergency surgery, Hansen was outfitted with a titanium rod in her leg. While in the hospital and having to learn how to walk again, she turned to Ahsoka for inspiration—and later earned the nickname “Titanium Amy” when she competed in her first Run Disney 5K race. Asked to share some words of wisdom, Hansen said, “You really don’t have to look far. The Force is always inside you… Focus on the things that make you unique, and remember: You’re tougher than you look.” After shedding a few tears, an emotional Eckstein brought her centerstage and said, “I am so inspired by you. You are a real-life Ahsoka Tano to me.”

The discussion then turned to the “trailblazing” heroine Kim Possible, who at the time was an outlier in the male-dominated genre. “I did not realize how groundbreaking it was going to be, but I think that’s what made it so special,” Carlson Romano recalled. “Gender wasn’t a topic.” The writers were often inspired by the actress, known for her work on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, and would ask her input on how to make her relatable. One of Kim Possible’s most iconic phrases—“What’s the sitch?”—came from the star herself, to which an amazed Eckstein said, “I say that all the time!”

Amanat, who arrived with an exclusive first look at a scene from Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands (premiering August 28), spoke to the importance of inclusive storytelling. As the co-creator of Marvel’s first Muslim female Super Hero, Ms. Marvel, Amanat said she is especially excited to see the character come to life in her own live-action series for Disney+ (first announced at D23 Expo). “Storytelling is the best form of education,” she said. “It’s the best way to get to know one another in an intimate way.” Eckstein then congratulated her on the series, saying, “That is the epitome of breaking down barriers.”

Maki said she is drawn to roles that portray women, and their interactions with each other, in a positive light. “I wish I had this sense of self-worth and confidence when I was 12, 13, 14 years old,” she said. “Because when I see girls dressing up as Giggle McDimples and they’re in a cop uniform, that means everything to me. It’s everything that I wanted when I was that age. So, it’s very powerful to see these things.” Rodriguez shared that sentiment, recalling how meaningful it is to know that female fans want to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) because of characters like Honey Lemon. “She doesn’t have to compromise her bubbly pink nature to be intelligent. She just is. She is bubbly, she is over the top and happy—and she’s smart.” By contrast, Go-Go Tomago, voiced by Jamie Chung, “is more reserved, but she is also smart,” she added. “There is no definition of how you can be intelligent.”

Disney Movie Rewards’ New Name and App Revealed During D23 Expo Weekend

August 25, 2019

By Zach Johnson

Fans flocked to Anaheim, California, ready to be delighted and surprised, and Disney Movie Rewards delivered during D23 Expo weekend, when it announced its new name and program: Disney Movie Insiders! The news was revealed during a special member celebration at Disney California Adventure park. On September 26, 2019, Disney Movie Insiders will unite new fans and super fans in one place. The special announcement teased a few of the new program’s features, as well as a new mobile app, and promised a lot more to come.

Since 2006, Disney Movie Rewards has delighted fans of Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Star Wars movies with great rewards and one-of-a-kind experiences, like touring The Walt Disney Studios lot and Walt Disney’s Office. Now, Disney is reimagining the Disney Movie Rewards program to provide more personalized and engaging experiences and evolve its interactions with members. Disney Movie Insiders members will be able to watch trailers and special content for upcoming movies, buy movie tickets directly, earn and redeem points for amazing rewards in new and unique ways, receive access to exclusive perks and sweepstakes, and play interactive experiences on the mobile app.

For more information and updates, visit Disney Movie Rewards, available in the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada (excluding Quebec) for those 13 years and older at the time of enrollment.

On with the Show! Disney on Broadway Takes to the D23 Expo Stage

August 24, 2019September 4, 2019

By Courtney Potter

Disney on Broadway has brought fan-favorite stories to life on stages around the world—and for one night only, most of those incredible stories (and a company of talented performers!) took over the Hall D23 stage at D23 Expo 2019 for Disney on Broadway: A 25th Anniversary Celebration!

An amazing six-piece band, led by Broadway conductor and orchestrator Jim Abbott, kicked off the party with the familiar strains of one of the most sing-along-able songs in the modern Broadway canon… the inimitable “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. And playing the part of Lumiere (imploring the enraptured crowd to “try the grey stuff”) was our host—Gavin Lee, the Tony® Award-nominated actor who originated the role of Bert in both the West End and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins! Eventually joining him on stage were a cadre of fantastic Disney on Broadway alums: Ashley Brown (Gavin’s Broadway costar in Mary Poppins; Beauty and the Beast; On The Record), Heidi Blickenstaff (Freaky Friday; The Little Mermaid), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King).

Following the opener (and thunderous applause), Lee welcomed the crowd: “We are here this afternoon,” he exclaimed, “to celebrate a pretty amazing milestone—25 years of Disney on Broadway! Now, us humble stage actors are here, [and we] are just so proud and privileged to have been a part of Disney’s incomparable legacy of live theater. And we’re also very excited to be up here, reunited—with you—getting to sing the songs that have made Disney musicals soar on the Great White Way and around the world.” After introducing the cast, Lee continued, “Walt Disney famously said, ‘It all started with a mouse. But for Disney on Broadway, it all started with… the Beast.’” And so continued several more delightful numbers from the first-ever Disney stage musical, which premiered at New York City’s Palace Theatre in 1994: the title song, sung by Blickenstaff and Strickland, and Belle’s beautiful ballad “A Change in Me” (written for the stage musical when R&B star Toni Braxton played the role in 1998 and included in the show ever since) sung by Brown. After a rapturous standing ovation (there were many throughout the afternoon), Lee reminded the crowd that Brown’s first Broadway show wasn’t Mary Poppins… she was actually Broadway’s 15th Belle!

White then helped segue into Disney’s next beast-ly Broadway hit: The Lion King, with songs from Disney Legends Elton John and Tim Rice and wonderfully creative direction by Disney Legend Julie Taymor, which debuted at the New Amsterdam Theatre in 1997. Lee prodded White for the number of times he’s trod to the boards as King Mufasa; incredibly, he has portrayed Simba’s father a whopping 4,308 times! And Simmons has—between the Broadway production, tours, and the production in Las Vegas—played Nala in The Lion King for nine whole years! She attributed her incredible stamina to having been a Collegiate Division I track and field athlete… no wonder she could perform in such an energetic show for almost a full decade. A medley of tunes followed: “Hakuna Matata” by White (getting to channel a certain warthog instead of a lion) and Strickland; “Shadowland” from Simmons and company; “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” sung by Strickland and Brown; and Mufasa’s dramatic “They Live in You” from White.

Lee then regaled the crowd with some background on Disney’s Aida—also written by John and Rice, who began work on this pop-, rock-, and gospel-infused retelling of the classic opera right after the success of their Lion King. One of the numbers, the high-energy “My Strongest Suit,” is sung by the materialistic princess Amneris in honor of her incredible closet of clothing… but Strickland loves the song so much, he decided to put his own spin on it! He then took the stage (with back-up vocals provided by Brown, Simmons, and Blickenstaff) and belted his way through the super-fun tune—followed by Simmons’ dramatic version of Aida’s ballad “Easy as Life.”

Strickland told Lee about his journey onto the Broadway stage as the original Tarzan; a small-town Southerner, he suddenly found himself in front of the musical’s songwriter, Grammy^Ò Award winner and Disney Legend Phil Collins, and all the Disney on Broadway producers wearing only an “itty bitty loincloth.” Happily, he got the role—and he regaled the audience with one of the show’s signature tunes, “Stranger Like Me,” followed by the original 1999 film’s Oscar^®-winning song, “You’ll Be in My Heart,” from Strickland and Blickenstaff.

Next was the show that brought Lee to the Disney on Broadway family—2004’s Mary Poppins! Lee originated the role of Bert in the Cameron Mackintosh-produced stage version of the P.L. Travers classic on the West End in London, and was then asked to join Brown (as the “practically perfect” nanny) in the original Broadway company. Reuniting as these two characters for the first time in eight years, Lee and Brown brought the house down with a medley of some legendary Poppins tunes: “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “Jolly Holiday,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Step in Time” (complete with an amazing tap solo from Lee), a beautiful rendition of Walt Disney’s favorite song, “Feed the Birds,” and the high-energy “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”—with Lee demonstrating some of Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear’s letter-tastic choreography.

Lee and cast then previewed the latest Disney musical, being created with the Public Theatre in New York City; professional actors, alongside more than 100 community members from all five NYC boroughs, will soon be seen in a brand-new stage adaptation of Disney’s Hercules—opening August 31 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park! The gospel-flavored “A Star is Born” was followed by a unique duet of “Go the Distance” from White and Strickland, and Simmons and the cast belting “Zero to Hero” to the rafters.

Blickenstaff then discussed her very first Disney on Broadway musical; it was The Little Mermaid, but it wasn’t the role of Ursula—at least not initially. No, Blickenstaff played Carlotta, Prince Eric’s maid—a role that was eventually written out of the show! Good thing she was later promoted to Ursula status, and her version of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” proved her iconic-villain mettle. Lee then took the stage again as silly seagull Scuttle, singing the hilarious “Positoovity” (yes, the misspelling’s on purpose), which included yet another amazing tap solo. And White and the cast followed by bringing the party to Hall D23 with “Under the Sea”!

After explaining the true story behind Disney on Broadway’s hit musical Newsies—the Newsboy Strike of 1899—Lee joined the whole cast for “Carrying the Banner,” followed by Brown, Blickenstaff, and Simmons performing a trio version of “Watch What Happens” (sung by cub reporter Katherine Plumber about her hopes to help the newsboys’ cause), and then Strickland took the stage for Jack Kelly’s fan-favorite ballad “Santa Fe”… which received yet another standing ovation.

Next, White and Simmons finally got to share the stage (Nala and Mufasa never do in The Lion King) by taking on the beloved ballad “A Whole New World” from Disney on Broadway’s Aladdin—currently delighting audiences at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The rest of the cast joined them for a rollicking rendition of a new song written by Alan Menken and Chad Beguelin for the stage version: “Somebody’s Got Your Back.”

Of everyone on stage, only Blickenstaff has the distinction of both starring in the recent stage version of Freaky Friday—based on Mary Rodgers’ 1972 book of the same name (and subsequent 1976 and 2003 film versions)—as well as the Disney Channel Original Movie version, alongside Cozi Zuehlsdorff. Blickenstaff sang the show’s big “11 o’clock” number, “No More Fear”; it’s a tune she doesn’t normally get to perform, even though it’s technically her character who does. It’s just that the show’s body swap has happened, and the song is coming out of the daughter’s mouth!

All good things must come to an end, including this incredible show. Lee bid everyone a fond farewell on behalf of the cast and band, and then joined the troupe to perform one final song. Fittingly, it was a now-iconic tune from Disney on Broadway’s most recent hit, “Let it Go” from Frozen! One thing’s for certain: This afternoon’s crowd at Hall D23 will never let go of the memory of such a captivating performance. Cheers to 25 more years of Disney on Broadway fun!

We’d like to extend a special thanks to Yamaha Corporation of America for providing the gorgeous piano used to accompany the talented Disney on Broadway performers.

Marvel Comics Celebrates 80th Anniversary at D23 Expo

August 24, 2019

By Jim Frye

It’s Marvel Comics’ birthday party, but all the guests are the ones who got the gifts!

Super Heroes, Barbarians, Dinosaurs, and a very famous punch to the face of Hitler (go, Captain America!)—this panel had it all as Marvel Comics packed 1,600 eager fans into Stage 28 at D23 Expo to celebrate 80 epic years of publication. And to top it all off, each of those fans walked out with a special advance copy of Marvel #1000, the nearly 100-page anniversary issue that featured the work of 80 different creative teams to produce one of the most ambitious publications in the history of Marvel—or any other comic book company.

Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort took the attendees through eight decades of Marvel Comics history, highlighting the highs, the lows, and all the craziness in between. Here are eight of our top moments as revealed during today’s giant birthday panel!

Back in 1939, Timely Comics (later named Marvel), published its very first comic book, which featured individual stories with the Human Torch, the Angel, Submariner, and the Masked Raider.
The very first “Super Hero mash-up,” when more than one Super Hero was featured in a story, occurred in Marvel Mystery Comics #9, featuring Human Torch and Submariner.
During the ’40s and ’50s, several of Marvel’s Super Hero titles waned in popularity as Monster and Sci-Fi stories took their place. But no characters are ever truly forgotten in the Marvel Universe, as many of these early Heroes (such as Captain America and Human Torch) later returned to become fan favorites for decades to come.
The ’60s, though, saw the return of Super Heroes under the creative direction of some titans of the industry—Steve Ditko and Disney Legends Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. They created a new way of telling stories that revolutionized Marvel—and the industry. They gave depth to their characters. Instead of treating them as simply Super Heroes, they created stories about everyday people who just so happened to have super powers. “You’re not really reading about Spider-Man,” said Brevoort. “You’re reading about Peter Parker, who from time to time happens to pull on a costume.” Cebulski agreed, saying, “We’re still telling stories about Peter Parker, Steve Rogers, and Bruce Banner.” Today, Marvel says they’re telling stories about “The World Outside Your Window.”
Spider-Man was first introduced in Amazing Fantasy #15. Ironically, the book originally got canceled, but when Marvel reviewed the sales numbers, they quickly gave Spidey his very own book, which has continued ever since.
Just announced! Marvel is starting a new podcast in partnership with Sirius and Pandora that will highlight the music popular during each decade of the past 80 years. It’s meant to provide readers with a fun, easy companion to the Marvel #1000 It hits store shelves next week!
The ’90s saw massive growth from Marvel’s books: Spider-Man’s return sold 2.5 million copies. X-Force sold 5 million. And the return of the X-Men—which had previously been canceled because of low sales—sold a jaw-dropping 8.2 million issues, which still stands as the industry record to this day.
Not content to rest on its laurels, Marvel has something big planned for the end of this year. Coming the last week of December, Marvel is publishing another whopper of a story. Called Incoming, this massive 96-page book will set the course for 2020.

BONUS: Oh, and how’s this for a bonus—to celebrate its 80th birthday, for the first time ever Marvel Comics featured Mickey Mouse on a cover with its most famous Super Heroes as an exclusive D23 variant cover—available only to those attending today’s huge birthday panel.

“The Musical Journey of Aladdin” is a Wish Come True

August 24, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

Tonight, the D23 Expo Arena was seemingly transformed into a veritable Cave of Wonders, as Scott Weinger and Disney Legend Linda Larkin—voices of Aladdin and Jasmine in the 1992 animated classic—led Disney fans on “The Musical Journey of Aladdin.”

The one-of-a-kind event brought a host of Aladdins to the stage, as Weinger was joined by Brad Kane, who lent his spectacular singing voice to the title role. Clinton Greenspan, who performs the role nightly on Aladdin’s national tour—and who will take on the role on Broadway in just two weeks also joined the presentation—along with a very special surprise guest: Mena Massoud, who played the street rat in the live-action Aladdin that opened in theaters earlier this year.

Weinger and Kane have been with Aladdin the longest, and both reminisced about their auditions, singing “Proud of Your Boy,” a song that ultimately was cut from the film, but has become a powerful part of Aladdin on Broadway. Weinger joked that he “still has a chip on my shoulder” about not having the opportunity to do his own singing in the movie, and he shared a video of a “singing lesson” he recently had with Disney Legend Alan Menken, who guided him through a rendition of “Proud of Your Boy.” (We think he might just be a diamond in the rough.)

Among the other treasures from tonight’s presentation were behind-the-scenes clips from the original recording sessions, of Brad Kane learning a musical phrase from Menken, and of Linda Larkin bringing Jasmine to life. “When I see that girl, I see someone who didn’t know what this was all going to be,” Larkin said.

The musical highlights of the presentation included a stunning performance of “To Be Free” by Deedee Magno Hall, who played Jasmine in the first-ever stage production of Aladdin in Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular at Disney California Adventure; and a show-stopping rendition of “Speechless” from the live-action Aladdin by Lillias White, best known to Disney fans as the voice of the head Muse in Hercules.

Summoned by a magic lamp, Mena Massoud appeared on the D23 Expo Arena stage to share stories about filming the live-action blockbuster. He also brought some special treats for the Disney fans in attendance, in the form of a never-before-seen sequence, “Desert Moon,” which features Massoud and Naomi Scott singing together, even as they were “worlds apart,” according to Massoud, as he was in Jordan while Scott filmed her part in London. He also brought a hilarious blooper reel with him.

Via video message, Will Smith introduced “the genie behind the genie,” choreographer Jamal Sims. With a little help from his assistant, Nicky Anderson—and a troupe of dancers clad in vibrant track suits—Sims gave us a sense of how a lavish dancer number like “Friend Like Me” is put together… before it turns into a massive dance number filmed over the course of more than a week.

Of course, the best was saved for last, as Grammy® winning singer Regina Belle took the stage to discuss “A Whole New World,” revealing that when she recorded the song back in 1992, she had bronchitis and a 102-degree fever—a testament to her incredible talent. She was joined by Broadway performer Norm Lewis for a powerful rendition of the song’s signature anthem to close the show.

The panel was one of those amazing events that only happen at the D23 Expo, but you can see at least some of these unbelievable sights and experience the same indescribable feelings for yourself by bringing Disney’s Aladdin home on Digital this Tuesday on Blu-ray on September 10.

D23 Expo’s Spirited Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary Celebration

August 24, 2019

By Jim Frye

Shhhh. In the quiet of night and under a pale-white moon, if you listen closely outside the gates of the grand, stately mansion in New Orleans Square on the banks of Disneyland’s Rivers of America, you might just hear some “goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween” throwing a party. Of course, they’re always throwing a party inside Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion—a swinging wake, to be exact—but things are getting really spirited this year in honor of the 50th anniversary of the much-loved attraction. To celebrate, D23 Expo materialized a roster of guests (from the world of the living!) to relive and remember some of their best memories from these 50 years of Happy Haunts!

Kevin Lively, story editor for Imagineering, hosted the event, along with a panel of guests including Daniel Joseph, a senior special effects and illusion designer for Walt Disney Imagineering (an “Illusioneer”); and Kelsey McCullough, granddaughter of Disney Legend X Atencio. Fans were also treated to appearances by Sally Slater—the longtime tightrope-walking resident of the Mansion—and Uncle Deadly, the suave, sinister-appearing Muppet who loves all things macabre.

The event started with a video montage of Imagineers explaining their love for the Haunted Mansion and what sparked them to the idea of wanting to be Imagineers. Another video featured two Jungle Cruise captains taking us on a comical tour of the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise-style—which means full of corny jokes and cringe-worthy puns. Loved it!

Joseph discussed the at-the-time revolutionary special effects that helped make Haunted Mansion such a hit. “For me, the Haunted Mansion was a really big deal,” Daniel said. “I made haunted houses in my basement as a kid. I loved magic and the history of magic. I was 8. My parents just stayed out of the basement.”

One of the highlights of the panel was hearing Kelsey McCullough share memories of her “Papa,” X Atencio. “Growing up, Haunted Mansion had a soft spot in my heart,” she said. “It was mandatory to always ride Papa’s rides—Haunted Mansion and Pirates. Those rides had so much of his personality in them—charming, witty, and full of irreverent humor. His house was a mini Disneyland. The stories became a part of him. He had a Haunted Mansion tombstone in the backyard planted behind the diving board. And he drank rum and tonic every day—the Pirate drink.”

The panel finished with a real treat! McCullough, along with special guests Sally Slater and Uncle Deadly, read through X Atencio’s never-before-released July 19, 1968, draft of the Haunted Mansion script. Although changes and revisions turned it into what it has become today, it was almost like stepping back in time to hear what Atencio originally penned. Almost like listening to “ghosts of the past.” 50 years in the past, to be exact.

It was the perfect ending to the panel. Here’s hoping that we’ll have “grim, grinning ghosts” socializing and creating memories and welcoming foolish mortals for years to come.

5 Questions Answered About One Day at Disney

August 24, 2019August 28, 2019

By Bruce C. Steele, author of One Day at Disney

What’s it like to be one of just 76 people—from more than 200,000 cast members worldwide—selected to represent The Walt Disney Company?

“I didn’t really understand what I was getting myself into,” said Lucasfilm’s Este Meza as part of the One Day at Disney panel Saturday at D23 Expo. “It wasn’t until I got here that I realized this is a really, really big deal.”

For the panel, six of The Walt Disney Company’s star cast members came together to talk about being included in the One Day at Disney book and video project. The panel was moderated by two of One Day’s guiding forces: Jeffrey Epstein, director, Corporate Communications, and Wendy Lefkon, director, Disney Editions.

Lefkon said she had been working on the project for five years, “with a lot of stops and a lot of starts.” But along the way she had support from the top: The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, she said, “spearheaded this whole thing for us, and we couldn’t ask for anyone more supportive.” Iger was eager to highlight the stories of individual Disney cast members, she added.

One Day at Disney showcases the talented people who bring to life Disney’s storytelling and guest experiences. The project is a collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney+, Disney’s new streaming service, and includes a 224-page coffee table book, a documentary feature, both arriving December 3, and a 50-episode series of documentary shorts.

In addition to Meza, Lucasfilm’s senior events manager, the D23 Expo panel included ABC7 helicopter reporter Chris Cristi, Walt Disney Imagineering construction manager Kristina Dewberry, legendary Disney animator Eric Goldberg, Golden Oak Ranch senior manager Steve Sligh, and long-running Radio Disney Network talent Candice Valdez. All shared their experiences opening up their workspaces to the One Day at Disney team.

In explaining how the project came together and what it was like to participate, the panel answered some intriguing questions:

How were the participants selected? Epstein and Lefkon brainstormed for “weeks and weeks,” Epstein said, discussing what jobs to focus on and learning about jobs they didn’t previously know existed in the Company. Because the project was photo-centric, “One of our parameters was finding people doing things that look really interesting as well as sound really interesting,” Lefkon said. Eventually the team set up 76 photo shoots in 21 cities across three continents to take place in one 24-hour period.

Dewberry noted other priorities, as well. “It shows how really important diversity and inclusion are to the Company to include a female construction manager,” she said.

How was the “one day” picked? Epstein said the team focused on a date after Christmas, so the images would not be anchored to a particular holiday. Considering dates in February, the team learned about a press junket scheduled on February 21 for the film Captain Marvel, thus allowing One Day to include Brie Larson as a participant. “We actually used the junket day for Captain Marvel as our anchor day,” Epstein said.

What was the photo shoot day like? For Dewberry, being followed around by a photo crew while supervising construction work on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland was “kind of cool,” in part because the photos would honor not just her but the “crazy symphony of amazingness,” that constituted the Star Wars project. She got to stand in for “all the hundreds of people who were there making this magical place.”

For Cristi, in the ABC7 news helicopter, flying over a rare Los Angeles snow, everything went smoothly—until the airborne news team noticed smoke that appeared to be coming from Golden Oak Ranch, the Disney filming location in Santa Clarita where Sligh is general manager.

After sounding the alarm and heading in to cover what might have been a breaking news story, Cristi learned from Sligh that the smoke was just part of a film project that was shooting at the ranch. No story, no disaster.

Maybe it was the snow that put people on edge, Sligh suggested. “It never snows at Santa Clarita except when there’s a One Day at Disney shoot.”

Why is the project important? Goldberg sees One Day at Disney as both an example of The Walt Disney Company’s team spirit and also a celebration of it. “We’re bringing smiles to a lot of people and a lot of that comes from the spirit of collaboration,” he said.

Cristi added, “As exciting as my job is—and we have some of the best jobs in the world on this stage—it doesn’t happen by itself.” Representing the dozens of ABC7 cast members who help him get the news to viewers, from the pilot to the transmission technicians on the ground, “is very, very humbling,” he said.

It also provides Disney fans a long-awaited glimpse behind the scenes. People “light up when they hear you work for Disney,” Valdez said, and everyone wants to know what it’s like to work there.

What’s missing? One day is not all days, panelists agreed. “Every day is different for me, and I love that,” Dewberry said. “I get to work with amazing teams on really cool things, and no day is the same.”

Also not shown: All the fascinating job participants held earlier in their careers, from Goldberg’s work as the lead animator on Genie in the original Aladdin to Chris Cristi’s summer job when he was in college in Florida. “I actually started my career with Disney at Walt Disney World,” he said. “I worked as a Monorail pilot for a whole summer. And at that point in my career, I thought that was the most exciting job in the world.”

The One Day at Disney book is available for pre-order at D23 Expo and will be open to all fans to order on August 25 at Disney.com. The Disney+ series begins December 3 with the feature-length documentary.

12 Fantastic Live-Action and Animated Films Showcased at D23 Expo 2019

August 24, 2019

By Beth Deitchman

“You’re not just fans, you’re family. And there are 7,000 of you in this audience today. It’s because of you that we keep working so hard to make great films—and we love the D23 Expo because it’s where we can share them with you first,” said Alan Horn, co-chairman and chief creative officer, The Walt Disney Studios, as he kicked off an unforgettable morning in Hall D23 at D23 Expo 2019.

Horn was joined by creative leaders from across The Walt Disney Studios to take fans inside Disney’s upcoming slate. From Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Frozen 2, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to The Eternals, Onward, and Jungle Cruise—to name just a handful of the films spotlighted today—there is so much movie magic coming to a big screen near you in the coming months and years. Here are the films we can’t wait to see:

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Horn welcomed Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy—whom he described as “our Yoda”—and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker director/writer/producer J.J. Abrams to the Hall D23 stage to celebrate the end of a saga that began 40 years ago. They were soon joined by nine stars from the film—returning cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, and Billy Dee Williams, and newcomers to the galaxy far, far away, Naomi Ackie and Keri Russell.

“We have genuinely become a family over these last few years. We’re done making these movies, and it’s crazy to think in a few short months The Rise of Skywalker will be in theaters. We had the best time,” said Rey herself, Daisy Ridley.

Neither Ackie nor Russell could reveal much about the tremendously anticipated film. “The main thing is my son actually thinks I’m cool now,” Russell shared, and she did reveal this description of her character, Zorri: “She’s very cool and a little bit shady.”

Returning to the Millennium Falcon for one last adventure, actor Billy Dee Williams told fans, “Lando has never left me, and being here all these years, these 40 years, is a very special experience for me.”

Anthony Daniels, who plays our favorite protocol droid shared, “It’s kind of hard for me to understand that this story is ending—but what an ending!”

“The character of Leia is the heart of the story,” said Abrams, who came on to the film after the passing of Disney Legend Carrie Fisher. Fans will see Leia in The Rise of Skywalker through new footage that had been shot for Episode VII that has never been seen before, and Abrams shared a surprising story that made Fisher’s involvement in the new film seem inevitable. The director recalls reading the dedication of the final book Fisher wrote, The Princess Diarist, in which the actress and talented writer thanked Abrams for “putting up with her” twice. In fact, he had only worked with Fisher once… until now. Today fans got to see a look back at the incredible legacy of Star Wars storytelling—with an exclusive sneak peek at what will no doubt be an amazing conclusion to the Skywalker saga (along with a brand-new poster). Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in U.S. theaters on December 20, 2019.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige then strode on to the Expo stage where he was greeted warmly by his fellow D23 Members. “My kids are here for the first time, trying to figure out what Dad does for a living. And what Dad does for a living is come to D23 and bring cool stuff.”

Black Panther 2
Ryan Coogler—director and co-writer of the only Marvel Studios film to be nominated for an Oscar® for Best Picture—joined Feige to reveal that a sequel to Black Panther is officially in the works. Scanning a treatment, Feige and Coogler agreed that it was too early to share a title… or the opening scene… or a description of the film’s villain. But what could they share? A release date! Mark May 6, 2022 on your calendar.

The Eternals
“We’ve pulled back the cosmic curtain on the MCU in ways you can’t imagine,” Feige said, before he brought the cast of Marvel Studios’ The Eternals to the stage: Richard Madden, who portrays the all-powerful Ikaris; Kumail Nanjiani, who plays cosmic-powered Kingo; Lauren Ridloff, who portrays the super-fast Makkari, the first deaf hero in the MCU; Brian Tyree Henry, who plays the intelligent inventor Phastos; Salma Hayek, who plays the wise and spiritual leader Ajak; Lia McHugh, who portrays the eternally young, old-soul Sprite; Don Lee, who plays the powerful Gilgamesh; and Angelina Jolie, who stars as the fierce warrior Thena. In addition to revealing concept art images of each character, Feige announced three additional cast members: the humankind-loving Sersi, to be played by Gemma Chan; aloof loner Druig, to be played by Barry Keoghan; and non-Eternal Dane Whitman, who, Feige confirmed, will be played by Kit Harington. Chloé Zhao directs the film, which opens in U.S. theaters on November 6, 2020.

Black Widow
We’re thrilled that our next big-screen foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe—and the launch of Phase Four—marks the return of Scarlett Johansson to the role of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow; David Harbour, who plays Alexei the Red Guardian; and Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena, appeared in a special greeting, just for fans in Hall D23. As if that weren’t enough, Feige shared an exclusive look at the new film… taking fans to Budapest for a truly unique family reunion.

Jungle Cruise
Taking the stage to present Disney’s upcoming live-action releases, Sean Bailey, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, told fans, “We have gone deep into the jungles to find the inspiration for one of our next big adventures—in fact, we’ve gone all the way to the back side of water.”

One of the biggest movie stars of the moment made the biggest entrance of the morning, as Dwayne Johnson sailed into Hall D23 on a Jungle Cruise boat. “We wanted to make a movie that was big, that was epic, that had romance, big comedy, big action, but—most importantly—it’s got me,” Johnson said, and he surprised fans with a “trailer” for Jungle Cruise showing off his character, riverboat captain Frank Wolff.

Of course, Johnson has a talented and very beloved co-star in the Jungle Cruise, and Emily Blunt, who plays Dr. Lily Houghton—motored onto the Expo stage via classic car, to present her own “trailer” with her character front and center. Bailey laughingly informed both stars that neither trailer was official—we’ll have to stay tuned for a new look at the film.

“We are keenly aware of the responsibility we have for such a beloved property, and that property is Jungle Cruise, the ride,” Johnson assured fans, acknowledging how beloved the attraction has been for generations. Johnson and Blunt promised fans they’re in store for “the adventure of a lifetime.” Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Disney’s Jungle Cruise hits U.S. theaters on July 24, 2020.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Get ready for “wicked fun,” when Maleficent: Mistress of Evil arrives in U.S. theaters on October 18, 2019. Angelina Jolie, who stars in the title role, shared that she loved the character she first embodied in the 2014 film and responded to the themes that, despite the dramatic differences between Aurora and Maleficent, they can still be a family. In the new film, Maleficent, portrayed by Jolie, and her goddaughter Aurora, played by Elle Fanning, begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and new dark forces at play. “We really pose the question and fight for the belief that what is different makes you stronger,” Jolie shared today. “And what is family and what defines family is what you believe in and how you love and what you stand for—it’s not just blood, and it’s not because you’re the same.”

Jolie and Bailey were joined by Fanning; Michelle Pfeiffer, who plays Prince Phillip’s mother, Queen Ingrith; and Chiwetel Ejiofor, who stars as Connal, a leader of the dark fey who becomes Maleficent’s ally. Fanning filmed the first Maleficent when she was 14, and now the actress, like Aurora, has grown. “Now I’m 21. I feel exactly like Aurora,” Fanning said. “I have grown as a young woman, and getting to revisit her at this special time in her life and experiencing the things that I myself am experiencing now is really extremely special. The cast unveiled an exclusive clip from the film, which is directed by Joachim Rønning, who co-helmed 2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Mulan
In Disney’s Mulan, the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders. So, the eldest daughter of an honored but ailing warrior masquerades as a man, transforming into a heroic warrior to ultimately earn her the respect of a grateful nation and a proud father.

“What drew me to this project was Mulan herself. Her journey from village girl to male soldier to warrior to hero, I think represents all of us. And the story is as relevant and inspiring today as it was when it was first written over 1,500 years ago,” said Niki Caro, director of Mulan. Caro shared several minutes of footage from the upcoming live-action reimagining of the 1998 classic film—which features explosive action sequences, breathtaking costumes, and so much more. The film opens on March 27, 2020.

Cruella
Alas, Cruella star Emma Stone was not spotted in Anaheim, California, today, but she sent a special greeting from the film’s London-based set, where production has just gotten underway. Bailey offered a first look at Stone as Cruella, sharing an image of the actress in full costume with Cruella’s signature black-and-white-hair. Emma Thompson also stars in the movie—along with some four-legged canine co-stars, one of whom joined Stone for her special message to Disney fans. Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, The Finest Hours) brings a fresh, 1970s, punk-rock approach to Cruella, which opens on May 28, 2021.

Moving “onward” to Pixar Animation Studios, Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter made his first Expo appearance since taking the helm of the Emeryville-based studio—a studio he joined in 1990. “We are the luckiest people on earth up at Pixar. We get to do what we love—we love animation—we get to make very personal films, and to have them so well-accepted by the world is just amazing,” Docter said. Two original films are coming from Pixar in 2020, and Docter said, “Sequel or original, the most important thing for us at Pixar is making films that speak to everyone.”

Soul
Docter is director of Soul, a film that journeys from the streets of New York City to the never-before-seen cosmic realms and “The You Seminar,” the fantastical place where we all discover our unique personalities. According to Docter, the film asks the ultimate questions: Why am I here? Where did I come from? What am I here for? The film’s producer, Dana Murray, co-director/writer Kemp Powers, and writer Mike Jones joined Docter on stage to share a sneak peek of the film. They revealed that globally renowned musician Jon Batiste is writing original jazz music for the film, and Oscar® winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network), from Nine Inch Nails, will compose an original score that will drift between the real and soul worlds.

The filmmakers also introduced Disney fans to the voice cast of the intriguing—not to mention stunning—new film. Jamie Foxx stars as Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz; while Tina Fey is 22, a soul-in-training who has an unexpected encounter with Joe when he accidentally finds his way to the “The You Seminar”—where, the filmmakers revealed, she has spent a very, very long time. Together, they embark upon finding a way to get Joe back to Earth, making him think again about what it truly means to have soul. Rounding out the cast—and joining Foxx and Fey today—are Ahmir Questlove Thompson as Curly; Phylicia Rashad as Libba; and Daveed Diggs as Paul. Disney and Pixar’s Soul opens in U.S. theaters on June 19, 2020.

Onward
Director Dan Scanlon shared that the new film Onward is based on his personal experience growing up. “My brother and I lost our father at a young age, and I’ve always wondered who my dad was and how I was like him. Those questions became a roadmap for this film,” he explained. The film stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot. Barley is super-confident… Ian is less so. The brothers embark on an extraordinary twist, with Barley’s beloved van “Guinevere” serving as “a mighty steed,” as they set out to discover if there is still a little magic left in the world.

Holland and Pratt took the Hall D23 stage to thunderous applause. “The last time we were here we were like ‘space buddies,’ fighting on Titan, and now we’re ‘elf buddies’ fighting in L.A.,” Holland joked.

Emmy® winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who previously voiced Princess Atta in the Pixar film a bug’s life) voices their mom. “It was really fun to play an elf mom of these two bozos here,” Louis-Dreyfus laughed, before introducing an eight-minute clip from the film. The audience also received an exclusive poster for the film, which opens in U.S. theaters on March 6, 2020.

Jennifer Lee is no stranger to D23 Expo, but today marked her first Hall D23 appearance as Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer. Lee shared that, as a child, “Disney spoke to me like nothing else. I felt transported. I felt somehow understood and definitely like anything was possible, so Disney gave me the courage to tell the stories that were in my head.” Those stories led Lee to Walt Disney Animation Studios, where she said, “For nearly a decade, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the most incredible artists and technicians in the world. And like me, they came to Disney because they were inspired and they wanted to help create the animated films of the future: adventures in completely original, fantastical worlds; stories from around the globe; and the next generation of musicals.”

Raya and the Last Dragon
Lee was joined by directors Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins (Big Hero 6, Frozen), producer Osnat Shurer (Moana), and writer Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians) to introduce the fantasy-action-adventure Raya and the Last Dragon. The film tells the story of Raya, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra, who teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world. Lin, a lifelong Disney fan who was born and raised in Southeast Asia, said, “Disney was a magical, transporting presence in my life.” She grew up watching Disney animated films, but noted, “When my cousins and I were not watching Disney movies—on VHS—we lived for Hong Kong action movies, where young girls could still put the beatdown on bad guys. So this movie is a combination of both those genres which I love—which all of us love.”

The Hall D23 audience met two newly announced members of the voice cast: Awkwafina, who will voice Sisu, the Last Dragon; and Cassie Steele, who voices the lead character. Raya meets Sisu when she is in human form, when she is “not the dragon hero Raya is looking for,” Steele points out. Fans were treated to an exclusive, three-minute piece from the dazzling film, which explores themes of community and hope and is inspired by the beautiful and diverse cultures of Southeast Asia. Raya and the Last Dragon opens in U.S. theaters on November 25, 2020.

Frozen 2
Jennifer Lee welcomed to the stage fellow Frozen 2 director Chris Buck, whom she referred to as her “mentor.” The two previously partnered to direct Frozen and admitted that there were burning questions that they still wanted to answer for fans, such as: Why does Elsa have powers? Why was Anna born the way that she was? They also wondered about Elsa and Anna’s parents. Where were they really going when their ship went down? Together, with Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, they realized they still had more story to tell. And according to Buck, together, Frozen and Frozen 2 form one complete story.

Though Lee and Buck wouldn’t reveal the mysteries of the past, they did reveal two new characters we’ll meet in Frozen 2, and introduced the actors who will play them. Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) will play Queen Iduna (and fans were treated to clip in which she sings a beautiful lullaby to young Anna and Elsa); and Sterling K. Brown will voice Lieutenant Mattias, who leads a group of soldiers who have been trapped in an enchanted forest for more than 30 years. “I came to D23 Expo because I heard they show parts of the film here!” said Brown, who saw his character for the first time today along with Expo attendees—and he was all of us when he leapt for joy. The filmmakers also treated fans to a sequence from the movie that showcased Elsa’s yearning for answers about the past, culminating in another song, “Into the Unknown.”

The film’s stars, Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad, appeared on the Hall D23 stage to cap a spectacular morning with a performance of the new song “Some Things Never Change” from the film, which opens on November 22, 2019—making for a finale that was truly worth melting for.

Marvel’s Moon Girl to Launch on Disney Channel

August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

By Bruce Steele

Disney Channel will soon have a new smartest character when Marvel’s Moon Girl lands on the network. Executive producer Laurence Fishburne announced the new original animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Saturday at the Disney Television Animation panel at D23 Expo 2019.

The show is based on the hit Marvel comic books, first published in 2016. “When I read the books, I fell in love with them,” said Fishburne, who is part of the executive producer team with his and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (ABC’s black-ish), Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment, and Steve Loter (of Disney’s Kim Possible).

“We’re really excited about it,” Fishburne said. “We’ve been working on it for a long time.” The show doesn’t yet have a debut date, but it’s “coming soon to the Disney Channel,” he said, adding, “or as I like to say, ‘soon-ish.’”

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her sidekick, Devil Dinosaur, a 10-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex she accidentally transported to modern New York City, where Lunella lives on the Lower East Side.

The announcement was big news at a panel already featuring the world’s smartest amphibian, Kermit the Frog, who for the first time got to mingle with some up-and-coming frog stars from Disney Channel’s new hit series Amphibia.

“For years I’ve just been your typical singing, dancing, talking frog,” Kermit said, “so it was great to be asked to do something different.”

Kermit introduced the creators and voice casts for both Amphibia and another popular Disney Channel animated series Big City Greens. “That’s a show with ‘green’ in the title. Why wasn’t I cast on that show?” Kermit asked.

Big City Greens was represented on the panel by Chris Houghton, who created the show with his brother Shane and also voices the main character, Cricket Green. Shane Houghton and four voice actors were also on hand. Amphibia brought four cast members as well as creator Matt Braly and story editor Jack Ferraiolo.

The creative teams teased new storylines for each show’s second season and led the audience in drawing exercises to create characters from the shows.

Braly shared exclusive concept art for Season 2 of Amphibia, depicting the Plantar frog family in their slug-drawn cart heading for a rocky new landscape surrounding an active volcano. The frogs and their human guest—Anne, the show’s main character, who has been magically transported into this world of talking frogs—will be “hitting the road,” Ferraiolo said, “as they try to find a way to find Anne’s friends and get her back home.”

“Getting transported into a world of frogs sounds right up my lily pad,” quipped Kermit.

The second season of Big City Greens, which begins in September, will include the show’s first Christmas episode. “It’s a half-hour special that is also a musical with six new songs,” Chris Houghton said. “I’m very happy and proud of it, and I can’t wait for you guys to see it.”

In general, he added, during Season Two, “things get really weird and fun.” A number of notable guest stars can be expected to visit with the Green family—a farming clan who have moved to Big City to live with their caustic Gramma—but, “I can’t say any celebrity names,” he said.

To briefly unite the two Disney Television Animation shows, Shane Houghton wrote a short script in which the Green family wanders into Amphibia and everyone wants to eat everyone else. The laugh-filled mini-play gave all the voice actors a chance to shine in character.

“I’ve never had all four voice cast members together,” Braly said of the Amphibia team, “so this panel is very special to me.”

The panel also featured a preview of a new series of Disney Television Animation shorts titled Random Rings, in which characters from Disney Channel shows telephone unsuspecting real people, whose conversations then become hilarious short cartoons. The Big City Greens-inspired first episode, which showed at the panel and is now available on YouTube, is titled “Cricket Calls a Karate School.” Additional episodes will follow soon.

In addition to the Houghtons, Big City Greens was represented on the panel by veteran actor Bob Joles, who plays dad Bill Green; Marieve Herington, who voices Cricket’s slightly spacey sister, Tilly; and Artemis Pebdani, who plays Gramma, giving the young actress “a chance for my old lady inner child to come out,” she said.

Also among the acting talent on the panel was Disney Legend Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy for more than 30 years, who portrays Hop Pop Plantar, dad of the frog family on Amphibia. Also participating were teen actor Justin Felbinger, who plays Hop Pop’s son, Sprig; Amanda Leighton, who’s Sprig’s little sister, Polly, a prim purple tadpole with a fetching yellow bow; and series star Brenda Song, who plays human Anne Boonchuy, a Thai-American teen trapped on the magical frog island.

Asked about the inspiration for Amphibia, Ferraiolo said simply, “Nature Is horrifying. We really wanted to get inspiration from what you would find in a swamp.”

7 Cool Moments From The Simpsons! Panel at D23 Expo 2019

August 24, 2019November 8, 2019

By Jim Frye

Bart Simpson finally has his Mickey ears! The long-running Simpsons TV series joined the Disney family this year, so it was a natural fit for the first family of TV animation to show up at D23 Expo 2019.

Creator Matt Groening, executive producer Al Jean, supervising director Mike B. Anderson, writer Matt Selman, and stars Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith took the stage, shared exclusive clips, and answered fan questions.

1. Matt Groening’s father—who was a cartoonist named Homer, believe it or not—discouraged young Matt from ever going into animation. “Our family vacation trip was to go to Disneyland,” Matt said. “I remember that I really wanted my dad to work for Disney. He gave me this advice about working in animation: ‘Don’t do it, but if you do, get other people to do the hard work.’”

2. One of the most popular staples of the beloved series is the opening credit sequence, which finds the family arriving on the couch each week in a different madcap manner. What fans may not know, however, is that Groening got the inspiration for that sequence from something we all know and love. “It’s from the beginning of the Mickey Mouse Club in the ’50s,” he said. “Each week ended with Donald banging on a gong, and the gong gag changed from episode to episode. I thought to myself, ‘If I ever get my own show, I’ll do my own Donald gag like that.’”

3. Disney jokes—or should we say, jokes aimed lightheartedly at Disney—have always been part of The Simpsons, and during the D23 Expo panel, they didn’t shy away from those jokes, but rather, offered a montage of some of the best. It included Homer eating one of the fish in an “Under the Sea” The Little Mermaid sequence and a Snow White parody where one of the Seven Dwarfs says, “Well, at least we don’t work for Disney!” The montage also featured the Simpsons’ characters poking fun at The Jungle Book, Fantasia, and Mary Poppins (poor Mary had an unfortunate accident with a passenger jet flying overhead!). But it’s all in good humor. The creators and voice cast were thrilled to be part of the Disney family—and especially the new Disney+ streaming service, which will feature episodes of The Simpsons.

4. Yeardley Smith says that Lisa Simpson changed her life: “I’ve loved my character,” she said. “Getting to know someone for your entire life, she lives inside of me, and when this show ends it will be like someone I love has moved away and is never coming back. She’s just extraordinary… one of the best, most complex, interesting characters ever written for the small or big screen.”

5. One of the things that Groening loved about Mickey Mouse was his simple, elegant design. “He’s a great icon. He has two ears, but when he turns his head in silhouette, he still has two ears,” said Matt. “I tried to design the Simpson characters like that, so they’d be identifiable in silhouette. They’re all kinda unique, and I love it.”

6. This year’s Halloween-themed “Treehouse of Horror” episode—an annual tradition for the series—will get a little extra heft this year. Selman says he’s super excited because this year Halloween takes a bite out of Thanksgiving. “We have a fantastic treehouse this year,” he said. “It’s episode 666… considering that the real world is so scary sometimes, some of the frights and thrills spill over into Thanksgiving. So this year, we’ll have a Thanksgiving of Horror!” He then treated fans in the D23 Arena to an advance screening of one of the segments for this year’s “Treehouse of Horror” episode, themed to the popular Stranger Things series, where Milhouse gets trapped in the Upside Down. His only hope? Lisa, of course, who shaves her head (aka Eleven) and tries her best to save him from monsters and other terrors!

7. The voice of Minnie Mouse, Disney Legend Russi Taylor—who recently passed away—also voiced several characters on The Simpsons. She voiced the characters Martin Prince, Üter, Terri, and Sherri. Longtime fans will also remember her as the original DuckTales protagonists Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby, Gonzo on The Muppet Babies and more. “Russie, cheers to you,” said Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson. “Heaven is a bit more giggly.” In tribute to Taylor, Groening gave away a Minnie Mouse drawing to one lucky fan.

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