By Justin Arthur
On February 3, 2019 (get it? 2/3/19?), D23 is declaring it 2319 Day, in honor of one of our favorite Monster’s Inc. moments. So break out the snow cones!
Artist Jerrod Maruyama scared up this incredible image to celebrate the day with us. Check out more of his amazing work at the WonderGround Gallery and at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts!
So, from all of us at D23, happy 2319, Everyone! Put down that paperwork, and share this with all of your googly bears today!
By Karina Schink
From the recent debut of the Tropical Hideaway at Disneyland Resort, to the impending opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on both coasts, you may have noticed that things are changing a bit at some of our favorite Disney Parks.
There are a lot of good eats making delectable debuts. From savory baos to ramen shakers, the chefs have been hard at work to deliver the best of the best to each and every hungry guest. We had the opportunity to talk to four of the chefs making magic behind the scenes at the parks about the newest super addition to Parks menus: bowls!
While these convenient-on-the-go lunches have been popping up all over, Chef de Cuisine at Disneyland Resort Mark Buan told us that the story of how bowls ended up at the parks is really quite simple: “(It) all started with the Cast,” he said. “We have a team of different cultures and something like (the bowls), is something we didn’t have.”
While that may be the scoop on how the bowls themselves came to be, the inspiration in their flavor is also a family affair—a Disney family, that is. Walt Disney World Culinary Director Eddie Thomas told us that he’s sure Disney fans and Park guests will love the bowls (both the current ones, and all the new ones that are soon to debut!) because like anything at Disney, they all started with a story. “Any creation must have a story behind it,” he said, “and that is exactly what we (pursued). There is nothing better than when you combine a great story with a super tasty and cool offering.”
And that great story? It’s a simple (yet scrumptious) tale of taste. What makes these bowls so special is that they are all created with their area in mind. Just as your surroundings transform into the sights and sounds of New Orleans or a small pavilion of Germany, so will your taste buds. Culinary Director John State from Disneyland Resort said he hopes guests are “transported to a unique place with foreign flavors” when they try each bowl.
Culinary Director of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Lenny DeGeorge told us, “The story (of the bowls) is how (their) ingredients fit the theme. At Satu’li Canteen, for example, employees are using Pandora-inspired ingredients.” He also added that each bowl has one goal: “To ignite all of the five basic taste sensations: salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami.”
State emphasizes that while there are so many bowls to choose some (and many will have familiar flavors) there are some extraordinary combinations to sample. “The (mint and yuzu juice compressed) watermelon and tuna combination is extraordinary,” he said. “The sweetness of the watermelon along with the touch of acidity combined with the rich savory tuna—fireworks!”
You may be wondering, what exactly goes into these circular (or sometimes oval, as Mark Buan hinted) vessels? It starts with a base of rice, then a protein, and different toppings that are always fresh, from Togarashi seasoning, pickled cucumbers, and all the veggies you can imagine.
And, that’s really where the limit is—your imagination.
While all the chefs have different favorites (Lenny recommends the Berbere-spiced Pork Ribs with Cilantro Rice from Harambe Market, while Eddie prefers any that feature Latin flavors), there is one thing they all agree on: no matter what combination you create, the outcome will always be the same: delicious.
Bowls are already making their superb debut at the Parks (check out the newest addition at White Water Snacks) with many more are on the way! From the Asian Rice Bowl at Lucky Fortune Cookery, to a Shrimp & Noodle Bowl at Satu’li Canteen*, and more, we certainly can’t wait to taste all the unbelieva-bowl flavors!
*not all bowls may be available yet
By Courtney Potter
See a beloved character in action once again, and find out where you can see a Best Picture nominee for free… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
We’ve got some sheep-rific news to share, especially for fans of the Toy Story franchise (and aren’t we all?): Bo Peep is back! The long-lost friend of Woody, Buzz, and the whole gang has always shared a special connection with Woody… but they haven’t seen each other in years, and Bo has become a bit chipped and faded over time. However, Bo’s strength—and sarcasm—has always contradicted that delicate porcelain exterior, and it turns out she’s a total adventure-seeking free spirit who feels right at home on the road. When she and Woody are reunited under unlikely circumstances in the upcoming Toy Story 4, they realize they’ve grown worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy…
Check out a brief sneak-peek at Bo’s return in the new Toy Story 4 teaser, above!
Actress Annie Potts (Pretty in Pink, Young Sheldon) returns as the voice of Bo Peep. “She is modern, independent, capable, and confident,” Potts recently said of her character. “Bo is written and conceived to be inspiring as she has weathered life’s ups and downs with grace. I aspire to that.” Look for Bo when the film—directed by Josh Cooley (Riley’s First Date)—hits theaters on June 21.
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives February 16, 2018 D23’s Happily Ever After Brunch February 16, 2018 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty on the Lot February 16, 2018 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty at Walt Disney World March 7, 2018 Don’t Miss a Complimentary Advance Screening of Captain Marvel April 5, 2018 Lunch with a Disney Legend–Linda Larkin April 6, 2018 D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The Lion King on Broadway August 23-25, 2019 D23 Expo 2019 Parks January 18-February 25, 2019 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts January 25-February 17, 2019 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure March 1-April 23, 2019 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival March 6-June 3, 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Summer 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort Fall 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort |
Studios March 8, 2019 Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel opens in U.S. theaters March 29, 2019 Dumbo opens in U.S. theaters April 17, 2019 Penguins opens in U.S. theaters May 24, 2019 Aladdin opens in U.S. theaters June 21, 2019 Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters July 19, 2019 The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters August 9, 2019 Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters Television February 15, 2019 Kim Possible premieres on Disney Channel (8–9:32 p.m. EST/PST) February 24, 2019 The Oscars® airs on ABC (8–11 p.m. EST) March 3, 2019 American Idol kicks off second season on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EST) |
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is rakin’ up some truly stellar wins this “awards season”—including Best Ensemble at the recent SAG Awards… and as you know, it’s also up for Best Picture at the upcoming 91st Oscars®! So color us positively breathless regarding the following news: In celebration of Black History Month, Black Panther will return to the big screen (yes!) for a one-week engagement, from February 1 to 7, at 250 participating AMC Theatres locations nationwide. But that’s not all—to ensure that the movie is accessible to everyone, tickets are free for everyone, and there will be two showings per day at each participating theater.
The Walt Disney Company will also give a $1.5 million grant to support UNCF (United Negro College Fund) in furthering its mission to help minority students access and move to and through college. For 75 years, UNCF has been providing scholarships to students in need, and this grant is part of Disney’s longstanding commitment to diverse communities and to expanding the pipeline of talent.
For free tickets to the Black Panther showings—and a list of participating AMC theaters—visit WeTicketIt.com/BlackPanther.
She had a brief sojourn out of the spotlight, but now she’s back—and she’s better than ever. Yes, Maleficent has returned to the Disney’s Festival of Fantasy, which winds its way down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort. See a sneak peek of the float, and read up on what other Sleeping Beauty characters are re-joining the parade, here at D23.com.
Elsewhere at Walt Disney World, the newest mode of transport between several resort hotels and both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot has just kicked off its initial testing phase! Check out this brand-new look at the adorable gondolas in action, thanks to our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, above.
Scheduled to open this fall, Disney Skyliner is a unique, state-of-the-art gondola system that will conveniently connect Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and the proposed Disney’s Riviera Resort (which is now accepting guest reservations for stays beginning December ’19) to all the fun that Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios have to offer.
Several gondolas will be adorned with graphics based on Disney films, attractions, and characters—including Ralph Breaks the Internet; Frozen; Star Wars; The Haunted Mansion; our pals Mickey Mouse (of course), Chip & Dale, and even Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow; and many more!
So if you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort soon, keep your eyes to the skies! You might just see a Disney Skyliner gondola in action…
Now through February 17, Disney California Adventure park is celebrating Lunar New Year—it’s the Year of the Pig, in case you hadn’t heard—with a colorful, multicultural, altogether memorable event. See some of the festive fun in action in the clip above.
Throughout the festivities, guests will experience incredible live entertainment and musical performances, including an enhanced “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession”; lots of fun-filled arts and crafts; beautiful décor; tons of delicious food and drink; and themed merchandise. Even the Three Little Pigs will be joining the jubilee, making a rare DCA appearance! It’s truly an event the whole family can enjoy…
You can find out more at Disneyland.com—and if you attend, do make sure to add your wish for the new year on the beautiful Lucky Wishing Wall over in Paradise Gardens. Here’s to health, happiness, and hope!
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Across the stunning 10-game saga of Kingdom Hearts, when you play as Sora, there are always two familiar faces by your side: Goofy and Donald. That’s right—your epic journey through the worlds of Disney is aided by none other than two classic, comic Disney characters. They join plucky, young Sora again in Kingdom Hearts III, out now for Xbox One and PS4, the latest installment in the Kingdom Hearts story.
Goofy (voiced by Bill Farmer) is the captain of the knights at King Mickey’s royal court, and uses his trusty shield as the main line of defense while taking on a rogue’s gallery of villains.
Donald (voiced by Tony Anselmo) is the royal magician to King Mickey, fighting with a staff and providing magical assistance during battle, including restoring health… if he feels like it.
Having been with the game from the start—and voicing the classic characters for even longer—Farmer and Anselmo take a look back with us and share their memories from voicing Goofy and Donald during the epic saga of Kingdom Hearts.
D23: How is recording for a video game different than doing voice work for movies and shorts?
Bill Farmer (BF): There are typically many, many more lines of dialogue involved with a video game than with a movie or TV series, so I knew that I would be busy with a lot of work.
Tony Anselmo (TA): While there may be more dialogue to record in a game than in a short, the dialogue for our characters must be written, performed, recorded, and mixed, with the same consistency and character integrity as in any other Disney product.
D23: Do you have a favorite memory from working on Kingdom Hearts through the years?
BF: Two things. One, Kingdom Hearts was first produced in Japanese, and so I heard the Japanese actor’s voice in my headphones while I provided the English translation. It’s somewhat of a challenge, but it’s a lot of fun to contribute to such a new and inventive project. Secondly, we do not record in a distinct front-to-back linear fashion, so figuring out the story and how to voice a particular scene was a fun challenge.
TA: I have to say working with my old pal Bill Farmer is never short on laughs.
D23: Do you have a favorite thing about the Kingdom Hearts version of your character?
BF: Seeing how Goofy changes from world to world was my favorite thing.
TA: I’m proud of Donald’s sense of adventure, courage, and heroism.
D23: What is your favorite interaction with fans of Kingdom Hearts?
BF: The fans are so involved, and so knowledgeable about the game that it thrills me to know that I am helping to provide something that so many people enjoy.
TA: I’m always impressed by how big a part of their lives Kingdom Hearts is and how dedicated they are.
D23: Did you ever expect Kingdom Hearts to become such a huge phenomenon?
BF: From the look of the game and the story, I knew that it would be a hit, but I had no idea that it would be so massively popular. It was a wonderful surprise.
TA: We never know at the time. We hope our audience will be entertained, and it’s always rewarding when they are.
D23: Is there something exciting or new in Kingdom Hearts III that fans should look forward to?
BF: I certainly hope so, but I’m usually the last to know, so just keep your ears open. I’m sure there is something great just around the corner.
TA: Even more spectacular animation, color, design, and characters than before.
D23: Throughout the different games, your character travels to different worlds and often takes on fun new designs and costumes to match the worlds. Could you name three of your favorite designs of your character?
BF: There are so many to choose from, but I guess my favorites are Halloweentown, Monsters, Inc., and Timeless River.
TA: I must admit, I laughed pretty hard when I saw Donald in his Monster design.
D23: What is something you hope fans take away from playing the Kingdom Hearts games?
BF: I just hope they have as much fun playing the game as we had making it!
TA: If they are entertained, have fun, and come back again for this new game, we couldn’t ask for more.
D23: We are coming to the end of a very long saga with Kingdom Hearts III. How does it feel to say goodbye to this beloved franchise?
BF: Like all projects with Goofy, it is sad when the journey ends, but knowing that it will entertain people for years to come makes it all worthwhile.
TA: They asked me that question after we finished the first game. I doubt anything this popular could end any sooner than its audience wants it to.
Kingdom Hearts III is available now for Xbox One and PS4.
By Jocelyn Buhlman
In 1959, we fell under the spell of Sleeping Beauty, the gorgeously animated Disney film known for its unique style inspired by illuminated manuscripts. From the lush backgrounds to the enchanting character designs, the art from this Disney animated classic is unforgettable. To celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s milestone anniversary, check out some of the stunning concept art from the film, courtesy of our friends at the Disney Animation Research Library.
By Courtney Potter
See what Disney films delighted Academy voters, and find out how you can celebrate International Women’s Day with Disney on Broadway… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Earlier this week, the nominations for the 91st Oscars® were announced, and we were joyfully agog over Disney’s amazing 17 noms—including Marvel Studios’ Black Panther for Best Picture! Check out all the nominations right here at D23.com… and make sure to mark your calendar for the Oscars, airing live on Sunday, February 24, only on ABC.
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives January 25, 2018 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Dave Smith January 26, 2018 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—D23 Gold Member Exclusive February 16, 2018 D23’s Happily Ever After Brunch February 16, 2018 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty on the Lot February 16, 2018 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty at Walt Disney World March 7, 2018 Don’t Miss a Complimentary Advance Screening of Captain Marvel April 5, 2018 Lunch with a Disney Legend–Linda Larkin April 6, 2018 D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The Lion King on Broadway August 23-25, 2019 D23 Expo 2019 Parks January 18-February 25, 2019 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts January 25-February 17, 2019 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure March 1-April 23, 2019 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival March 6-June 3, 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Summer 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort Fall 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort |
Studios March 8, 2019 Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel opens in U.S. theaters March 29, 2019 Dumbo opens in U.S. theaters April 19, 2019 Penguins opens in U.S. theaters May 24, 2019 Aladdin opens in U.S. theaters June 21, 2019 Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters July 19, 2019 The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters August 9, 2019 Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters Television February 15, 2019 Kim Possible premieres on Disney Channel (8–9:32 p.m. EST/PST) February 24, 2019 The Oscars® airs on ABC (8–11 p.m. EST) March 3, 2019 American Idol kicks off second season on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EST) |
In honor of International Women’s Day, our pals over at Disney on Broadway have announced their 2nd annual “Women’s Day on Broadway: Inspiring Changemakers.” Following its launch in 2018, “Women’s Day on Broadway” aims to engage attendees—of all genders and backgrounds, of course!—in a day of open, honest, and memorable dialogue about gender equality in the theatre industry and beyond.
This year’s event will focus on changemakers driving progress within the theatre and entertainment industry, highlighting ways each and every person can become an agent of change. Panel conversations—as well as a variety of speakers and presentations—will be announced as the day approaches.
“Women’s Day on Broadway” will be held on Tuesday, March 12, at the St. James Theatre—home of Disney on Broadway’s hit musical Frozen. For more info, or to reserve your free general admission seat, visit the brand-new home for “Women’s Day on Broadway”: womenofbroadway.com.
Zootopia favorites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (and all their pals) will soon have a new place to call “home”—an incredible Shanghai Disneyland expansion based on the film! Read up on what guests can expect from the eighth themed land at the world’s newest Disney park here at D23.com.
Imagine: Your name is Andy (or some variant thereof)—and one day, you get a call from Disney asking if you’d like to take part in a very cool after-hours event inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. You’d say yes in a heartbeat, right? (We absolutely would! Sadly, our name isn’t Andy.) So it’s no surprise that 50 different people with variations on the name Andy recently celebrated all the imagination and creativity found at Toy Story Land during a very special “Andy Night”!
The group of guests—all of whom have a flair for being imaginative themselves—included a student named Andi; a concept designer named Andrew; Internet personality Andre Meadows; and even popular actress Andrea Barber (Fuller House). Catch a glimpse of all the fun they had via the video—directed by Grammy® nominee Andy Hines—above.
D23 recently had the good fortune to chat with performers Josh Strickland and Kevin Massey, both of whom have swung and sung on Broadway and on international tours in Disney’s Tarzan as the title role… and both of whom are taking part in the Broadway Concert Series during the Epcot International Festival of the Arts—currently delighting guests at Walt Disney World Resort. See what they had to say right here.
It’s slated to be the 15th property in Disney Vacation Club’s assemblage of captivating holdings, and you can now reserve yourself a room! Yes, Disney’s all-new Riviera Resort is now accepting guest reservations for stays beginning in December 2019. (That’s only 11 months from now!)
This all-new resort will immerse guests in the grandeur and enchantment of the European Riviera, bringing the elegance of a modern European retreat and blending it with a touch of old-world glamour—plus lots of Disney charm. It’s slated to offer approximately 300 family-friendly vacation homes, including deluxe studios; one- and two-bedroom villas; and grand villas that sleep up to 12 guests each. Guests will be able to dine at the resort’s rooftop restaurant, Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera (fun fact: Topolino is the Italian name for Mickey Mouse), or at the Le Petit Café with its freshly brewed coffees and other treats. Plus, guests will be able to access the brand-new Disney Skyliner gondola system to travel from the resort to both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
To learn more (or to make your own reservation), visit DisneysRivieraResort.com—and keep your eyes peeled for more info as it becomes available… Ciao!
By Courtney Potter
She’s baaaack! Our friends at Disney Parks Blog just announced a Walt Disney World Resort return we’ve all been waiting for—Maleficent is appearing once again in Magic Kingdom park’s Disney’s Festival of Fantasy parade! Take a peek via the brand-new teaser video, below.
While the float still has her signature “Steampunk” style and her dragon-tastic toothy grin, this Maleficent will have a refreshed look and enhanced features to keep her “in check.” Also making their return to the parade are Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Phillip; the Fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather; and the mischievous “Ravens” who fly around Maleficent just waiting to do her bidding.
Disney’s Festival of Fantasy parade is part of a new generation of parades for Disney Parks featuring truly unique, never-before-used technology on eye-popping floats—all adorned with Disney characters from more than a dozen fairy tales. Set to an all-new musical score, the dazzling parade floats soar up to three stories tall with spirited performers in colorful costumes crafted at an incredible 10 different design houses across the country.
So if you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort soon, do be sure to make your re-acquaintance with Maleficent as she dazzles her way down that legendary Main Street, U.S.A., thoroughfare…
By Beth Deitchman
“When I was your age…” What kid hasn’t heard those words come out of a parent’s mouth? And what mother or father hasn’t uttered them? Disney Channel’s brand-new comedy Sydney to the Max follows middle schooler Sydney Reynolds as she faces the challenges of life as a modern tween, growing up in the house that her dad, Max, was raised in—with hip grandma Judy along to offer support, as well. Through flashback sequences that take us back to the 1990s—and a very different stage in Judy and Max’s lives—the series reminds viewers that the times and trends may change, but the basic struggles tweens face are eternal.
We recently went back to the ’90s—and just across town to the Hollywood set of Sydney to the Max—to speak with the cast of the heartwarming new series premiering Friday, January 25 (8:30 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel, in the Disney NOW app and Disney Channel VOD. They gave us some inside scoop that will maximize your enjoyment when you tune in tomorrow night.
Santa Cruz native Ruth Righi stars as Sydney, and her on-screen best friend, Olive, is played by Ava Kolker, who Disney Channel fans will remember from Girl Meets World. It’s no stretch for the two to play BFFs; the young actors met early in the Sydney to the Max audition process and have become the closest of friends. Righi says of their on-screen alter egos, “Olive and Sydney go through so much together—whatever experiences or issues that one of the characters is facing, the other will be right there with them.”
Actors Jackson Dollinger (Young Max) and Christian J. Simon (who plays, Leo, Max’s best friend) spend their on-set time in the 1990s—and they’re having a blast diving into the recent past. “The clothes are a little different,” Simon says diplomatically, likely in reference to the “Hammer pants” he wears in an early episode. While Sydney and Olive have the modern convenience of cellphones and devices, young Max and Leo venture out to an arcade to experience the latest technology of their era, and the difference is not lost on the young actors. “The arcade games are really pixelated compared to now,” Dollinger observes.
Jackson’s modern-day counterpart, actor Ian Reed Kesler (Suits), appears only in the present-day sequences, as Sydney’s single dad. “We tag team,” he says of Dollinger and the character they each play in parallel eras. For Kesler, who did, indeed, grow up in the ’90s, the nostalgia-filled episodes are truly special. “Every time we get a script there’s something that jumps out that I think, oh my gosh, I remember that.” Dollinger may not share Kesler’s frames of reference but he and Kesler laugh at the memory of the young actor figuring out on-set how to use a now-antiquated pay phone.
Judy—single mom in the ’90s, fun-loving grandma in 2019—is played by actress and comedienne Caroline Rhea, the only member of the cast who moves from era to era. A strict mom to young Max, Judy is both sidekick and maternal figure to her granddaughter. “She’s already done all of the heavy lifting and she knows that Sydney is in really good hands with her dad,” Rhea says of Judy.
The series films on two structurally identical sets, each dressed to reflect the appropriate era. The appliances and furnishings are unique to each, and Rhea theorizes, “[Judy’s house] had a good renovation. Probably Judy watched a lot of HGTV, then she probably did it all herself, too.”
The series’ multigenerational cast believes that Sydney to the Max will be enjoyed by entire families, and might just create the opportunity for kids to see their parents in a whole new light. “Hopefully kids, when they see it, will every once in a while, go, Wow, I didn’t even think about the fact that my parents probably went through the same thing that I’m going through now,” Kesler shares. “It might have been a different time period, might have been a little different circumstance. But, in reality, they were all kids, too, and I think that’s something that this show says and that’s a huge benefit.”
By Jim Fanning
Released on January 29, 1959, Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is celebrating 60 years of timeless characters, magnificent music of the classical kind, and dazzling animated artistry. One of the most elaborate animated features ever produced, this enchanting epic tells the spellbinding tale of a lovely princess cursed by an evil fairy to fall into a sleep that can only be broken by love’s first kiss from a handsome prince. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of this treasured classic, awaken to these 11 entrancing facts about this treasured Disney classic.
1. Once Upon a Fairy Tale
“From the time I started making motion pictures,” Walt Disney once said, “I dreamed of bringing Sleeping Beauty to life through the medium of animation.” Disney registered Sleeping Beauty as a planned production title on January 19, 1950, perhaps in anticipation of the success of Cinderella, which was to be released that February. Walt envisioned Sleeping Beauty, based on the 17th century version of the famous tale by Charles Perrault, as the ultimate in the art of Disney animation.
2. Wondrous to See: The Art of Eyvind Earle
Determined to make this new film a Disney animated feature like no other, Walt assigned stylist Eyvind Earle as production designer. Creating a stylized approach that was a radical departure from previous Disney animated features, Earle combined Gothic French, Italian, and pre-Renaissance influences with his own abstract style of realism to create the formalized elegance and stylish design seen in Sleeping Beauty. To create the sumptuously stylized panoramas for this widescreen spectacle, Earle painted dozens of backgrounds in his distinctive style, some of them 15 feet long. Animation artist Tom Oreb skillfully incorporated the strong horizontal and vertical planes of the backgrounds into the character design, so that they had the Earle flair.
3. Hail to the Princess Aurora
With the gift of beauty bestowed on her by the Good Fairies, it was essential that Princess Aurora be a truly lovely sleeping beauty. Animator and designer Marc Davis explained, “We had decided to do Sleeping Beauty as what Walt called a ‘moving illustration’ so … we stylized the drawing of Briar Rose.” The willowy delicacy of newly minted movie star Audrey Hepburn influenced the early Oreb designs of Briar Rose, Aurora’s peasant persona during her stay in the woods. To further marry Briar Rose to her stylized settings, Oreb drew vertical lines into the folds of her peasant garb and graphically integrated two-dimensional swirls into Briar Rose’s long golden hair.
4. An Animator Fit for a Princess: Marc Davis
The perfect choice to oversee Briar Rose, Marc Davis was the final word on animated princesses at Disney. “I didn’t come to the Studio to do female characters,” Davis recalled, “but because of my early work with Grim Natwick on [the character of] Snow White, I ended up doing several of them.” Marc had been a directing animator for the character of Cinderella, so his was to be the guiding hand in infusing this new Disney with graciousness life. Walt explained that the animators “used living models more carefully than ever before, in order to give the artists inspiration, to help them shape the anatomy of movement and expression of the cartoon figures,” but Davis was careful to point out that the live-action footage of Briar Rose was only for reference and was never traced.
5. Every Frame a Work of Art
Sequence director Eric Larson recalled the conscious effort to strive for Sleeping Beauty perfection. “Walt told me after one story meeting that he didn’t care how long it took, but to do it right,” he said. Walt challenged the more than 300 Sleeping Beauty artists and technicians to make each frame an independent work of art. Because of the intricate stylization of the characters, the assistant animators had to work carefully with exacting specifications, even down to the exact thickness of the pencil lines. In the case of the carefully designed Briar Rose, it took one full day to create one cleaned-up animation drawing. For the jewel-like colors selected by Eyvind Earle, the Disney Paint Lab developed new hues using additives that gave the pigments a glow on the screen unseen in any animated film that had come before.
6. Is She Not Most Wondrous Fair? Mary Costa
Although Briar Rose/Princess Aurora appears for fewer than 18 minutes in the film, her scenes are unforgettable, due in no small part to voice artist Mary Costa. Walt had been seeking the ideal ethereal voice for his newest princess for three years when Costa sang at a party in an impromptu performance. As a result, the young singer found herself auditioning for the part of Princess Aurora. Walt personally cast Costa, although she didn’t actually meet the famed producer in person for two years. “He didn’t want to be influenced by my facial expressions and movements, he only wanted to hear my voice,” she explained. After voicing Aurora, Mary became an acclaimed opera singer, performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and at opera houses around the world. “But Sleeping Beauty is the thing I’m most proud of in my entire career,” she has said. “It’s a beautiful film to be associated with, and I was thrilled to be able to do it.”
7. The Mistress of All Evil: Maleficent
In an unusual design role, Davis not only was the directing animator of the royally beautiful Briar Rose, he was also the artistic force behind the epitome of evil, Maleficent. Inspired by a religious painting from a Czechoslovakian art book, Davis artistically experimented with flamelike shapes and patterns of triangular color (as seen here in Davis’s concept art). Basing Maleficent’s headdress on goat horns and the material framing her face on bat wings, the artist gave her flowing garment a reptilian quality, foreshadowing the dragon into which the Evil Fairy will later transform herself.
8. Dream Prince: Prince Phillip
“If there’s anything that’s really tough to animate, it’s the male hero,” admitted Walt. “It’s hard to make him interesting and not have him come out looking like Dick Tracy and Buck Rogers.” He instructed his artists to “make the characters as real as possible, near flesh-and-blood,” and this was especially important for Prince Phillip, as he had such a large role to play. The masterful animation of Phillip resulted in a prince who is not only valiant but also likable with good-hearted humor. “That was done by Milt Kahl,” noted Marc Davis of his fellow animator, acclaimed for expertly bringing to life difficult-to-animate human figures. “The expressions and things that work there—I’ve always been very pleased with that.”
9. Their Magic Can Only Be Used to Bring Happiness: The Three Good Fairies
Knowing that the success of the story depended on Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather and their efforts to shield Aurora from Maleficent’s curse, Walt appointed two “fairy godfathers” to the characters—Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston—to bring the trio of good-hearted do-gooders to life. Thomas and Johnston studied old ladies at wedding receptions and shopping at grocery stores, while stylist Don DaGradi found the key to the characters’ movements by observing that many older ladies wore their hats flat on top of their heads and toddled along briskly wherever they went. The result: three sparkling personalities who have been endearing themselves to audiences for six decades.
10. The Gift of Song: The Music
According to sequence director Woolie Reitherman, “Walt wanted to match the eloquence of the music with the same visual perfection”—and he found the ideal musical score in the Sleeping Beauty Ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1890. In order to adapt the exquisite Tchaikovsky melodies for use in the animated story, composer George Bruns searched through the ballet’s score note by note for just the right themes for each scene in the film and for each of the songs. “It would have been much easier to write an original score,” stated Bruns. “But it is rich in melody, as much of Tchaikovsky is, and it was a matter of choosing which melodies to use.” Conducting the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, George Bruns recorded the enchanting music from September 8 through November 25, 1958, in Germany, where the best state-of-the-art six channel stereo equipment was available. The exquisite score was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Music (Scoring Musical Picture).
11. I Just Love Happy Endings: Release
Sleeping Beauty played only in carefully selected movie theatres specially equipped to project the film in widescreen Technirama 70 and six-track-stereo sound. It has since become one of the most artistically acclaimed features ever produced. “Sleeping Beauty is the most beautiful film we have ever made,“ said Walt in 1959. “It has been a definite challenge but thanks to our talented staff of artists and technicians, it has been met. They have now developed the process of animation to the point where it can truly be called ‘the art of enlivened, moving painting.’”
By Charles Solomon
The amazing artwork of Sleeping Beauty has now become iconic for its unique detail and shape, but how did the stunning designs of this animated classic come to be?
The day Walt Disney put the first scenes from Sleeping Beauty into production, he told sequence director Eric Larson, “What we want out of this is a moving illustration. I don’t care how long it takes.” He actually meant something more specific: A moving illustration designed by painter Eyvind Earle. In one meeting, he said, “For years and years I have been hiring artists like Mary Blair to design the styling of a feature, and by the time the picture is finished, there is hardly a trace of the original styling left. This time Eyvind Earle is styling Sleeping Beauty, and that’s the way it’s going to be!”
Once Upon A Dream Come True
For Earle, receiving such an important assignment from Walt fulfilled a lifelong dream. In 1934, when he was 18, he applied for a job at the old Disney Studio on Hyperion Avenue and was rejected. He applied again the next week and was rejected again—a process that continued nonstop for three years. After serving in the military, attending classes, painting portraits, and designing Christmas cards, he applied yet again in 1951—and was hired as a background painter.
Visits to Continental museums exposed Earle to pre-Renaissance Northern European art that would influence his personal style: the artists Dürer, Van Eyck, Breughel, as well as Gothic art, medieval tapestries, and illuminated manuscripts. These artists didn’t follow the rules of perspective developed by the Italian Renaissance painters: They saw the world differently and depicted it differently.
An Illuminated Inspiration
A key influence on Earle and Sleeping Beauty was the illuminated manuscript the Très Riches Heures de Jean, Duc de Berri, an opulent Book of Hours (a devotional volume that included Psalms, prayers, and a calendar of Church feasts) begun by Herman and Jean Limbourg around 1413. From it, Earle took the key colors for the film: The lapis lazuli blue of the knight’s banners, the yellow-green of Maleficent’s flames, the shell pink and paler blue of Aurora’s gown.
Earle paired these historic influences with a second artistic vision: The modern painting of the early 20th century as interpreted by the artists of the innovative UPA animation studio. The UPA designers and animators looked to Matisse, Cezanne, Klee, Modigliani, and Picasso. The characters and backgrounds in their films were flat, boldly colored and stylized. The innovative look of their cartoons won praise from highbrow art critics who had rarely acknowledged the existence of animation—and pleased audiences around the world.
The Struggle of Stylization
Earle’s fusion of medieval and modern bore little resemblance to the European storybook look of Snow White and Pinocchio—and not everyone at the Studio embraced Earle’s vision. Some of the artists complained the designs were too busy.
The Studio’s top draftsmen, Marc Davis (who animated Princess Aurora and Maleficent) and Milt Kahl (who drew Prince Philip), seem to have enjoyed the challenge. Decades later, animators regard their work with awe: Glen Keane studied how Davis handled the art nouveau curls of Aurora’s hair when he began work on the title character in Pocahontas.
Ron Dias, who worked as a clean-up artist on Aurora and Maleficent, felt Earle was misunderstood by his co-workers. “I got to know and love Eyvind Earle because he spent so much time with me, he was wonderful to me. He was a mentor,” Dias says. “I used to go up to his office and look at what he was doing. He used to let me stand next to him and watch him paint. We would chat and became close friends.”
Hail to the Princess Aurora
60 years after its premiere, Sleeping Beauty stands as a landmark in animation history for its singular designs and animation. The new generation of artists working at Disney, Pixar, and other studios cite Sleeping Beauty as an influence and an inspiration. Oscar®-winning Pixar director Pete Docter says, “Eyvind Earle made great choices in the backgrounds. Most of the photos I took of the South American jungle for Up are just a mess. You can’t really tell what’s foreground and what’s background. Something we referenced from Earle’s work is how light defines where detail is. Where a streak of light crosses a tree, you’ll suddenly see this ornate bark; further up, where the trunk is in shadow, there’s less detail.”
Mike Giaimo, the art director of Disney’s Frozen, explains, “I cut my artistic teeth on Eyvind Earle, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Walt Peregoy, and Mary Blair, and the kind of color relationships they used. I call the palette in Frozen ‘jewel-like,’ and there is certainly an Earle connection: The colors are deep, rich, analogous. They don’t stray far away from each other; it’s their relationship and how they vibrate. I like hints of vibration that titillate the eye.”
Disney’s retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale is now beloved by fans around the world. Chicago Reader critic Dave Kehr praised it as “the masterpiece of the Disney Studios’ postwar style.”
This article originally appeared in a slightly different form in the Summer 2014 edition of Disney twenty-three and was modified for D23.com.