Amazing Disney Movie Posters Designed by Cao Zheng Celebrate Chinese New Year

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Since February 5, we’ve been celebrating the year of the pig through fun at Disney parks—and now the fun is extending to some of the year’s most highly anticipated films. In celebration of the Chinese New Year, artist Cao Zheng has designed a stunning selection of posters for some of the upcoming Disney movies we can’t wait to see. Check out the gallery below to see designs for Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin, Captain Marvel, Dumbo, and The Lion King.

The Walt Disney Archives Embarks on a New Adventure

By Matt Moryc, The Walt Disney Archives

“Adventure is out there!” in the latest exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives at The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. The Archives’ Reading Room has been refreshed to include tropical imports, exotic antiquities, and mysterious discoveries collected from many beloved and daring Disney adventures.

Whether it be rum-loving pirates, whimsical tiki totems, or a chorus of singing birds in an enchanted South Seas locale, projects from throughout Disney’s rich history have produced countless tales of adventure that have endured and inspired audiences for almost a century.

Upon entering the Reading Room, guests are greeted by the famous Redhead Audio-Animatronics® figure from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Just beyond her stand several mighty tiki gods who previously watched over the grounds of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World® Resort. The gods are easily angered, so please be mindful of all your celebratin’!

The adventure continues into a nearby display case filled with 50 years’ worth of merchandise and treasures ranging from Adventureland to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar and beyond.  Elsewhere in the room, various Disney Parks and Resorts locales are represented including Adventurers Club, Tower of Terror, Swiss Family Treehouse, and the original Club 33. The world of live-action comes to thrilling life by way of set decoration and props from The Island at the Top of the World and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Two very special items with ties to Walt Disney are also on display—a script for The Jungle Book (1967) with notes and comments inside from the master showman himself, and a model of a Jungle Cruise boat (the Congo Queen) which was used on-screen by Walt during a 1956 episode of the Disneyland television series.

Employees of The Walt Disney Company may visit the Walt Disney Archives Reading Room during regular weekday hours (9 a.m. — 5 p.m.), and D23 Gold and Gold Family Members can visit the Archives exclusively through The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23.

We recently toured the exhibit on our Facebook page. Check out the video below for the full tour, and view the photo gallery for a closer look at the exhibit.

A Fan Fave Returns to the Screen in the Live-Action Kim Possible

By Beth Deitchman

Kim Possible has always been about friendship. Whether she was saving the world, or simply hanging with her friends at Bueno Nacho, Kim Possible always had Ron Stoppable—her BFF since preschool—by her side, and Ron’s furless friend Rufus, the Naked mole-rat, was always by his. This Friday, February 15 (8 p.m. EST/PST), Kim and Ron embark upon live-action adventures in a brand-new Disney Channel Original Movie, and we’re thrilled that the fan-favorite Rufus is back, too, brought to life through CGI and the incredible talents of Nancy Cartwright, who voiced the character in the original animated series. Rufus is once again a key member of Team Possible, alongside Kim (Sadie Stanley), Ron (Sean Giambrone), new friend Athena (Ciara Wilson), and tech whiz Wade (Issac Ryan Brown).

Kim Possible DCOM

“I was hoping they would give me a call,” says Cartwright, who squeaked her first Rufus squeak back in 2002 when the animated Kim Possible premiered on Disney Channel. The accomplished voice actress took her rodent research seriously. She was fascinated to discover that Naked mole-rats are tunnel dwellers and social animals who live in large communities. They don’t do well out in the sunlight and, Cartwright laughs, “They’re kind of disgusting looking—they look like overcooked hot dogs.” Our friends at Disney Channel also put together a fun look at real-life Naked mole-rats in this video narrated by Giambrone, who plays Rufus’ protector and pal.

Cartwright has created a signature sound for Rufus that’s comprised of “efforts and grunts, and squirts, gurgles, and squeaks.” Rufus typically doesn’t have scripted lines for Cartwright to deliver, so she takes direction from the Naked mole-rat’s emotions in any given scene, which can range from über-excited to super-sad. Historically, however, we’ve heard Rufus utter a select group of Kim Possibly-important words, such as “boo-yah.”

Kim Possible

It’s been a highlight for Cartwright, also known for her many roles on The Simpsons and as Chuckie Finster from Rugrats, to lend her voice to Rufus. When she meets fans and reveals herself to be the person behind the mole-rat, she shares, “I’m not sure who likes it more—them or me, because I love the effect [demonstrating the voice] has on people. And it’s kind of surprising that I’m like five feet tall, I’ve got children of my own, I’m a grandma, and these sounds come out of this little package here. I think it’s fun for everyone.”

The cast of the live-action Kim Possible had to wait to “meet” Rufus until the movie’s visual effects experts worked their movie magic. On set, explains Ciara Wilson, who plays Athena (the newest member of Team Possible), “We would just be looking at Sean’s shoulder, or have an eyeline on his hand or a little figurine that didn’t look that much like Rufus at all.” She was thrilled to finally see Rufus on screen in the DCOM. “I am super, super-impressed. He is adorably ugly, which is exactly what Rufus is.”

Kim Possible DCOM

Giambrone was thrilled with the final on-screen result, and he expects fans to have a similar reaction. “The first time I saw him [on film] it was like true love,” he tells D23. “I knew that was exactly what he should look like and it just felt like I was reunited with a buddy, seeing the movie with Rufus in it.” He expects Rufus to continue to have a huge following among Kim Possible fans. Giambrone emphasizes, “He’s very charismatic!”

Tune in this Friday, February 15, on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW, to see Rufus meet Ron and Kim on-screen for the first time. It’ll be “boo-yahs” all around!

We’re Obsessed with the Totally ’90s Captain Marvel Website

By Jim Frye

Grab your inline skates, your flannels, and your Walkman radios and get ready to take a trip back to the ’90s of every Gen-Xer’s dream in Marvel Studios’ newest epic adventure Captain Marvel. Fans got their first ’90s-tastic taste with the initial trailer that showed Brie Larson’s title character crashing through the roof of a Blockbuster video store, and it just gets better from there!

“We kind of seized on the idea of setting it in the ’90s as a way to let the character carve out her own space in the cinematic universe and give her a lot of thematic weight and significance to the universe,” says Jonathan Scwhartz, executive producer. “It’s more or less this adventure that’s going to inspire a lot of what we see in the MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe]. And then also just the idea of the ’90s as a period—which is something I don’t think we’ve been able to explore a lot. So being able to play in that sandbox is exciting.”

Included as part of that sandbox is the brand-new Captain Marvel website, which launched this past week with all the bells, whistles, and rainbow-colored titles and background graphics you’d expect from the once-burgeoning new technology called “the Internet” during the last decade of the 20th century.

A quick visit to the Captain Marvel site reveals all the terrible (but awesome) design styles of ’90s-era websites. For example, the “homepage” features amateurish cut-out photos, a spinning email symbol, small clip-art space ships that float up and down the page, and gray boxes with linked text such as “Info,” “Multimedia,” “Guestbook,” and “Play the Game.” Of course, let’s not forget the “Get Tickets” box, featuring the continuously spinning movie ticket graphics. Here are some pages from that site.

Captain Marvel website

Captain Marvel website

Captain Marvel website

As you scroll (Skrull?) down the page, make sure to not miss the “Skrull or Human” game. Test your knowledge and see if you can tell the difference between ordinary human beings and the shape-shifting bad guys from outer space. Also, you’ll notice the lady from the train in the trailer—the one who Captain Marvel punched in the face. She keeps popping up all over the site. Click on her face and you’ll deliver another big punch. You’ll have fun exploring the galleries, trailers (framed inside old-school video players), three-dimensional motion titles, and a top-secret gif of Nick Fury petting the cat.

Captain Marvel website

Click on down memory lane, and while you’re there, grab your tickets for Captain Marvel. She arrives March 8, 2019. But please—leave your pagers at home.

You Can’t Miss the Marvel and Disney Movie Sneak Peeks in the Spring 2019 Issue of Disney twenty-three

By D23 Team

This March, Marvel Studios’ epic new adventure Captain Marvel flies into theaters, and Disney twenty-three was on set during production. This groundbreaking new movie explores the origin story of Carol Danvers, and stars Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson give us the behind-the-scenes details about making the film, plus the charming story of how they have become good friends. Can’t get enough of Captain Marvel? Every copy of Disney twenty-three, which is delivered to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will include an exclusive poster highlighting 10 amazing characters moviegoers will meet when the film opens in March.

Captain Marvel

Avengers: Endgame

The Marvel sneak peeks don’t stop there! Fans have been waiting with bated breath for any details on Avengers: Endgame, and D23 has the scoop from directors Anthony and Joe Russo themselves on what fans can expect in the follow-up to last year’s smash hit, Avengers: Infinity War. Marvel Studios’ executive vice president of production, Victoria Alonso, opens the doors to her impressive office. Author Lorraine Cink gives a preview of some of the 65 powerful women celebrated in her colorful and very funny new book, Marvel Powers of a Girl. And fans will shrink down to explore the new attraction Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!, a pulse-quickening adventure that will have the titular heroes—and guests at Hong Kong Disneyland—facing off against the powers of the wicked agents of Hydra.

Dumbo

Also this March, Tim Burton reimagines Dumbo with a dazzling, live-action tale that opens up the magical world of the animated classic in thrilling ways. In exclusive interviews, Burton and stars Colin Farrell and Danny DeVito reveal what it took to bring this enchanting tale to life—and we finally find out what happens after the title character’s famous first flight.

And in celebration of D23’s 10th anniversary, the back cover of the publication features a “10 FAN-tastic Years” patch, exclusively for D23 Gold Members.

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

  • We get the sitch from the stars of Disney Channel’s Kim Possible live-action movie on accomplishing their Vancouver “bucket list” and celebrating the original animated series
  • A fond look back at Walt Disney World Resort’s Dumbo’s Circus Parade
  • Disneynature’s icebreaking new feature, Penguins, which follows a first-time father’s hilarious and heartfelt adventures
  • Raven-Symoné reflects on the totally stellar 20th anniversary of Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
  • An exploration of Walt Disney’s revolutionary Alice Comedies, which blended animation and live-action in innovative new ways
  • Every big Disney Parks announcement from D23’s Destination D event—from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news to a first look at the Disney Skyliner
  • Regular features including By the Numbers, Character Analysis, D Society, and Ask Dave

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

Don’t Miss These Enchanting New Trailers—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Catch a sneak peek at Disney’s upcoming Dumbo and Aladdin, and see the latest adorable short from Pixar Animation Studios… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

New Dumbo Trailer Delights and New Aladdin Trailer Mesmerizes…

There is a plethora of fantabulous Disney fun coming soon to a movie screen near you—including the much-anticipated, Tim Burton-helmed Dumbo, which soars into theaters next month. Just this past weekend, we were all gifted with another peek into little Dumbo’s world…

Here’s a bit more about what we can expect: Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback—attracting entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his new spectacular, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming aerial artist named Colette (Eva Green)—but eventually, Holt realizes that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is chock full of dark secrets.

Look for Dumbo to reach new heights this March 29!

Not to be outdone, the all-new live action retelling of Disney’s Aladdin—set to take flight this summer—revealed a brand-new trailer this past weekend as well… in which we get our first look at Will Smith as the azure-hued Genie. Also starring Mena Massoud as the charming street rat Aladdin; Naomi Scott as the courageous Princess Jasmine; and Marwan Kenzari as the evil vizier Jafar, Aladdin (directed by Guy Ritchie) will kick off its magic carpet ride on May 24.

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

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
March 10, 2018
D23’s 10-Year FAN-niversary Celebration at The Walt Disney Studios
March 11, 2018
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experiences: A Day at the Studio Lot
March 18, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
April 5, 2018
Lunch with a Disney Legend–Linda Larkin
April 6, 2018
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The Lion King on Broadway
April 6, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – GOLD FAMILY EXCLUSIVE
April 15, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
May 6, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
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
April 26, 2019
Avengers: Endgame 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)

Pixar’s Latest Animated Short is Ridiculously Adorable

There’s a new short out, created for Pixar Animation Studios’ cool SparkShorts program—and it’s sure to put a smile on your face! Directed by Brian Larsen and produced by David Lally, Smash and Grab tells the story of two über-cute robots who dream of escaping their exhausting day jobs. Check out the short, and get some behind-the-scenes scoop, right here at D23.com.

skyliner

Flying High: Disney Skyliner Gondolas Complete First Test Run

The opportunity to take to the skies in order to travel from several Walt Disney World Resort hotels to both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot grows ever closer… Just this week, the Disney Skyliner system hit another incredible milestone when the first gondolas completed a successful test run back and forth between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Walt Disney Imagineering associate project manager Steve Pratt recently told our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog that there’ll be more gondolas added soon—as well as “cycling” on the line—as teams continue testing and training. Congrats to everyone involved!

This state-of-the-art gondola system will begin transporting guests at the Walt Disney World Resort beginning later this fall.

news briefs 2/12

A Delightful Deluge of Breaking Disney Channel News!

We can’t believe how much there is to look forward to from Disney Channel in the near future… First off, they’ve just announced that ZOMBIES 2—the highly anticipated sequel to 2018’s ZOMBIES—will begin production shortly. Stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim will be reprising their roles as Addison and Zed, respectively, and the Disney Channel Original Movie will pick up as the couple—after a groundbreaking semester at Seabrook High—continues to steer both the school and their community toward unity. But the arrival of a group of mysterious werewolves threatens to shake up the newfound peace… and causes a rift in Zed and Addison’s budding romance. Look for more news on ZOMBIES 2 as it becomes available.

But that’s not all: The final season of Star vs. The Forces of Evil is set to kick off on Sunday, March 10, at 8 a.m. EST/PST on Disney Channel and Disney XD—and it’ll feature a host of celebrity guest stars, including Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker and Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez (Desus & Mero), and Danielle Fishel (Girl Meets World). Following the season premiere, new episodes will premiere on Sundays throughout the spring on Disney Channel.

Mark those calendars and get ready for some galactic and zombie-fied fun!

Marvel Rising – Young Storytellers Create Magic

Last year, the fine folks over at Marvel partnered with a nonprofit group called Young Storytellers to give middle school students the chance to write—with mentorship from a Disney employee—their very own stories based on Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors… and boy, were the results amazing! In the clip above, check out how Young Storyteller Corryn used Marvel fan-faves Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel, Quake, and super villain Exile to explain the ins and outs of friendship.

Working with their Disney mentors, each Young Storyteller wrote a three- to five- page script using characters from Marvel Rising; narrated by actress Skai Jackson, the stories were then performed by a memorable cast of Marvel Rising and Marvel Animation voice actors, including Chloe Bennet, Roger Craig-Smith, Kathreen Khavari, Kamil McFadden, Melanie Minichino, and Milana Vayntrub.

The first episode, featuring Young Storyteller Ruby’s “America’s Backstory,” debuted online last week. Keep your eyes peeled for more new episodes, premiering each week for seven weeks—they’re sure to be just as entertaining!

dca food & wine

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Expands to 54 Days

It’ll soon be one of our favorite times of the year… the time when Disney California Adventure park is positively replete with even more delicious food and beverage than normal! Yes, this spring, the ever-so-popular Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns to the Disneyland Resort—and for this go ‘round, the festival runs for a whopping 54 days, from March 1 to April 23.

Guests of all ages can discover the beauty and celebrate the bounty of California with unforgettable cuisine, beverages, and entertainment during the event—which will feature 14 different Festival Marketplaces, each with a different menu inspired by fresh, California-grown ingredients. (Attendees may choose to purchase the Sip and Savor Pass to get the best value as they “taste” their way through those Festival Marketplaces and other participating locations.) Plus, the Backlot Stage in Hollywood Land will offer up culinary demonstrations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays—as well as fun for those smaller chefs in your life during the “Junior Chef” experience with Chef Goofy. And let’s not forget the Festival’s signature events, this year including an appearance by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Find out more about the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival—and make reservations for signature events—at Disneyland.com/FoodandWine.

dcl

Disney Cruise Line to Offer Special Three-Night Cruise This August

Searching for a quick cruise that still offers you all the incredible fun of Disney on the high seas? Then look no further than Disney Cruise Line’s August 2019 three-night cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy—which will be sailing out of Port Canaveral to both Castaway Cay and Nassau, Bahamas.

It’s the only three-night offering from DCL all year long… and it’s the perfect end-of-summer escape for you and your family and friends. The Disney Fantasy has several unique experiences not offered on any other DCL ship; it’s the only vessel in the entire fleet on which you can view the phenomenal Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular and Disney Wishes shows, as well as Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Party at Sea celebration, while onboard. Plus, it’s the only vessel to feature an adults-only entertainment destination called Europa, which includes three exclusive venues: Ooh La La (for drinks and conversation), The Tube (to dance the night away), and the romantic La Piazza.

Do check out DisneyCruise.com to find out more about this incredible three-night Bahamian itinerary on the Disney Fantasy. Maybe we’ll see you onboard?

Captain Marvel’s Paw-Some Pal

By Jim Frye

With just weeks to go before Marvel Studios’ next big-screen adventure, Captain Marvel, drops into theaters (and through the roof of a Blockbuster video store), there’s one purr-ticular character in the film that fans just can’t wait to meet—that adorable cat!

“We have an awesome cat in this movie named Goose,” says executive producer Jonathan Schwartz. The name “Goose” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the classic action flick Top Gun, which featured the fighter pilot buddies Maverick and Goose. And considering Captain Marvel features fighter pilot friends Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), the name fits perfectly.

Captain Marvel Goose

The adorable orange tabby made his semi-stealth debut on the first poster for Captain Marvel, where, alongside Larson’s title character, eagle-eyed viewers were quick to point out his barely discernable tail and backside in the shadows. Next, Goose charmed a young Nick Fury at the “tail”-end of the second Captain Marvel trailer, causing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to kneel down and pet him, proclaiming, “Aren’t you just the cutest thing?!” And in a move that delighted viewers the world over, the fan-fave feline was honored with his very own character poster! (shown above)

THOSE DARN CATS
“Goose is played by a team of four cats who all have their own specialty,” says Schwartz. “There’s Reggie, there’s Archie, there’s Rizzo, and there’s Gonzo. They’re an A-team of cats who can all do one trick—because you can’t teach cats to do that much.”

Ain’t that the truth!

Captain Marvel Goose

Schwartz continues, “I learned all about cats during the course of this movie. One of them is the face cat, a pretty cat—that’s Reggie. One of them is the holding cat, who only can be held. One of them is the nuzzling cat who will walk up to your leg and nuzzle it. And one of them is the cat who will paw you.”

He takes a pause (paws), then adds, “If you told me before this movie started that I would be auditioning cats, I would not have believed you.”

There’s one actor, though, who was excited about the cats—Gemma Chan, who plays Minn-Erva in the film. “I got to work with the cats!” she says, grinning from ear-to-ear. “I got to hold one of the cats (the ‘holding’ cat). They’re so well-trained—they’re amazing. There were actually two that I worked with. It was great—and I didn’t get scratched!”

Of course, in true Marvel fashion, there might be more to Goose than what meets the eye. Just ask Lashana Lynch. “It’s a cat, but a mysterious cat,” she says. “And although I don’t hold the cat, I’m around it a lot. The cat does things that we didn’t expect for it to do and it’s very surprising.”

To find out exactly what she means—and to meet, perhaps, the cutest new member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—we’ll have to wait until Captain Marvel lets the cat out of the bag on March 8.

Smash and Grab Are the Cutest Robots Since WALL•E and Eve

By Zach Johnson

Smash and Grab is, as its title suggests, a total smash.

Pixar Animation Studios’ SparkShorts series continues today with a new entry from director Brian Larsen and producer David Lally. The short, part of an experimental storytelling initiative within the studio, tells the story of two robots who dream of leaving their demanding day jobs behind. Everything changes when Smash (the robot with the hammer arm) sees an opportunity to escape the engine room and lead Grab (the robot with the hands) to freedom. As Lally asks in a behind-the-scenes video, “When those two robots want to do something other than what they’re designed to do, how far are they willing to go to do that—especially for each other?”

To take their concept from script to screen, Larsen and Lally restructured their workflow and began experimenting with motion capture animation much earlier in the process. “We had animators actually in the suits so they could physicalize the characters,” Larsen explains, with Lally noting that team members readily embraced “the scrappy nature” of making an animated short film. “It was just so inspiring for me,” adds Larsen. “All of these people really collaborating and creating a new pipeline—a new way of working. I loved just making that story come to life.”

The YouTube premiere of Smash and Grab arrives a week after the debut of Purl, directed by Kristen Lester and produced by Gillian Libbert-Duncan. Both of these Pixar Animation Studios SparkShorts shorts recently made their big-screen debut at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre, with Kitbull, from director Rosana Sullivan and producer Kathryn Hendrickson, hitting YouTube February 18.

Other SparkShorts (Float, Loop, and Wind) will be available on Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, set to launch in the U.S. later this year.

Remembering Ron Miller

Ron W. Miller, Walt Disney’s son-in-law and the husband of Diane Disney, passed away February 9, 2019, in Napa, California. He was 85.

Miller was 21 and a member of the USC Trojans football team when he was introduced to then-20-year-old Diane Disney on a blind date. They were married in Santa Barbara on May 9, 1954. Ron served in the Army and played football for the Los Angeles Rams before his father-in-law recruited him to work at The Walt Disney Studios in 1957. Miller’s first job was serving as second assistant on Old Yeller (1957). Eventually, as CEO, Miller pushed the Company to expand and explore, creating Walt Disney Home Video, Touchstone Pictures, and The Disney Channel.

“Everyone at The Walt Disney Company is deeply saddened by the passing of Ron Miller,” said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “His life and legacy are inextricably linked with our Company and the Disney family because he was such a vital part of both, as our CEO and Walt’s son-in-law. Few people had Ron’s understanding of our history, or a deeper appreciation and respect for our Company, and he shared it generously with anyone who wanted to know more. I was fortunate to have known him, and even luckier to have called him a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

During Miller’s time at Disney, he pushed technological innovation, including computer animation, championing such innovative films as Tron (1982).

Miller, Diane, and Diane’s mother, Lillian, established Silverado Vineyards in 1981, four years after they purchased the property. This place, near the small town of Yountville, California, became Ron and Diane’s permanent residence.

He served on the Board of Directors at The Walt Disney Family Museum since its opening in 2009 and became president in November 2013.

In 2014, D23 joined Miller for a dedication of a bench in honor of his late wife, Diane Disney Miller, at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. In attendance at the ceremony were his family, along with Disney Legends Tony Baxter and Bob Gurr.

Miller is survived by his children Christopher Miller, Joanna Miller, Tamara Diane Miller, Jennifer Goff, Walter Elias Disney Miller, Ronald Miller, and Patrick Miller; grandchildren Annabelle Rey, Nicholas Runeare, Ryan Scheer, Danielle Durham, Sam Goff, Lily Goff, Charlotte Goff, Sebastian Runeare, Haley Scheer, Reilly Miller, Madeline Goff, William Miller, and Elias Miller; and great-grandchildren Stella Durham, Finley Scheer, and Evelyn and Mason Goff.

Donations may be made to the memorial fund that The Walt Disney Family Museum has established in honor of Ron and Diane Disney Miller. Donations will support the museum’s ongoing education efforts. Donations and cards can also be sent to the family through The Walt Disney Family Museum, ATTN: Director’s Office; 104 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94129.

Services will be private, and the museum has not yet planned a public commemoration.

Take Matters into Your Own Tentacles with Our Wonderfully Wicked Photo Frames

By D23 Team

Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it? Well, we’re sorry to say, we haven’t made it any easier. Here, within the reach of your very own tentacles, are eight photo frames to make your favorite photos transform! Just like Ariel, this fin-tastic choice is all up to you! Now, go forth and select your frame and watch as the transformation begins…Beluga sevruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea!

If you want a chance to add whozits and whatzits galore to your collection, enter in our Villaintine Sweepstakes here!

This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!