By D23 Team
With a little bit of pixie dust (and some cheerful elves), we’ve created some special cards just for you to send to someone especially wonderful in your life.
Each e-card is themed to Mickey’s Christmas Carol in honor of its 35th anniversary this year. So, check your list (and do it again) and make sure everyone on it gets a little something special to display atop their fireplace this year.
This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!
By the D23 Team
Just in time for D23’s 10th anniversary, the fan-favorite Official Walt Disney Studios Tours return in 2019 with a wide variety of experiences and most importantly… more tours! The D23 Gold Member-exclusive tours of the historic Studio lot return on four weekends in 2019, and our April tour date will be exclusive to Gold Family Members, sold as a “Family 4-Pack.”
As recently announced at D23’s Destination D, the Official Walt Disney Studios Tours will be offered monthly starting in March! For the first time, these weekday tours will be available to Gold, Gold Family, and General Members. Just like the tours that take place on the select weekends in 2019, Guests are able to take a look inside the Walt Disney Archives and see Walt Disney’s office suite during the tour, which offers fans a unique perspective on historic moments from Disney films, television shows, and theme parks.
In addition, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members won’t want to miss the ultimate Disney Studio opportunity: D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: A Day on the Studio Lot! This event will take place in Spring and Fall 2019 and features one-of-a-kind experiences including a visit to the Ink and Paint Department and lunch in a private dining room at The Rotunda—the executive dining location inside Team Disney Building. The first one will be this March—just in time for the 10- year anniversary!
Keep an eye on D23.com for more information regarding The Official Walt Disney Studios Tours in 2019.
By Beth Deitchman
As 2018 winds to a close, we’re looking Onward—to 2020, when an original new feature from Pixar is slated to open in theaters. Today, Pixar Animation Studios revealed four members of the film’s voice cast, which includes Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy), Tom Holland (Spiderman: Homecoming), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), and Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water).
Onward is directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae, the team behind Monsters University. The film is set in a suburban fantasy world and introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there. “At Pixar we try to create stories that come from some kind of personal truth,” said Scanlon. “This film was inspired by my own relationship with my brother.”
The filmmakers assembled a dream voice cast—theirs and ours—to bring Onward’s key characters to life. Of Pratt, Rae said, “Chris brings equal parts huge heart and fantastic humor to his character.” She also enthused about Spencer, “Octavia can do it all. We’re especially excited about the depth as well as humor that she brings to her character.”
Scanlon had this to say about Tom Holland: “Tom has an infectious charm and sincerity that makes you root for him in every character he plays.” He added, “There is no one funnier than Julia, but she also brings a warmth and loving side to her character.”
Onward is set to open in a theater near you on March 6, 2020.
By Jim Fanning
“All the characters in Peter Pan are in some way touched with magic,” Walt Disney once observed, and this was particularly true of the 1953 classic’s breakout star. He added, “The little fairy Tinker Bell glows like a firefly and leaves a trail of pixie dust behind her as she flits about with the speed of a hummingbird.” Walt well knew that the tiny pixie with the outsized personality would enchant audiences, and for 65 years, this sweet and saucy sprite has done exactly that. In her book-length celebration of the shimmering little fairy, Tinker Bell: An Evolution, author Mindy Johnson stated, “The lasting impact of this pint-sized pixie has proven remarkable—she has captivated the world. Filled with earthly humors and human frailties, she is the sheer embodiment of magic and fantasy… through Walt Disney’s persistent vision, J. M. Barrie’s darling Tinker Bell has become the most recognized and best loved fairy of all time.” To celebrate nearly seven decades of Tinker Bell enchantment, here are 11 sparkling sprinklings of pixie dust sure to have you thinking nothing but happy thoughts about everyone’s favorite fairy.
1. A Pixie Priority
Even though Tinker Bell made her debut when Peter Pan premiered on February 5, 1953, the twinkling little star was in development since 1939, when Walt obtained the screen rights to Barrie’s 1904 stage play. Personality was everything to the master storyteller, so in “tinkering” with the character for the screen his priority was giving the heretofore non-personalized pixie a specific form and design. Over years of Peter Pan development, the search for the ultimate Tinker Bell visualization resulted in more preproduction art than any other Disney character up until that time, with endless experimentation in hair colors and styles, costumes and body types. Much story work was also undertaken for this impish starlet. In a series of undated handwritten notes, Walt envisioned a Never Land party wherein “Peter commands fairies to spread banquet and show in [the Darling children’s] honor—fairies serve meal— put on show with fairy entertainment,” including a “Fairy jazz band” that plays as “Tink dances.” Though this imaginative scene—while predating Disney’s Fairies franchise by decades—did not end up in the completed film, the endlessly imaginative producer was obviously intent on making Tink the center of attention whenever possible.
2. Does This Ring a Bell?
Walt determined that Tink would “speak through the sound of bells,” as had traditionally been done on stage. To get every bit of expressiveness and personality out of the silvery notes, the great showman turned to Disney Legend Jimmy Macdonald. The Disney Studio’s maestro of sound effects met one of his greatest challenges as he carefully selected exactly the right bells from his extensive sound-effects library. Still, Walt felt an extra special touch was needed, so he signed on master bell musicians Bernard and Dorothy Mason who, under Macdonald’s supervision, used their own equipment to create a “vocabulary” for Tinker Bell’s dialogue.
3. Pure Pantomime
Walt assigned Disney Legend Marc Davis as Tink’s supervising animator, and the creativity of this member of Walt’s elite animation team, the Nine Old Men, soared in designing and animating the high-flying pixie. Since Tink only spoke with bell sounds, every thought and emotion of the feisty fairy are expressed through action. “She’s a pure pantomime character,” Davis noted, “which in itself I think was very interesting—that she didn’t talk, but you know what she’s thinking.”
4. Miss Bell’s Body Language
For inspiration in creating Tink’s onscreen performance, Davis turned to dancer/actress Margaret Kerry to pantomime the pixie’s actions with oversized props on an otherwise empty soundstage. “There was no one for me to react to… I had to conjure up everything,” Kerry said. The author of a recently published memoir entitled Tinker Bell Talks, Kerry described her pixie counterpart as being like “a 13-year-old who is just learning about what the world is. So everything is new and fresh and childlike to her. The pouting and anger were fun to do!” Davis said of the live-action model’s reference performance: “She was a tremendous help in allowing us to rough out the action.”
5. The Fairy’s Face
If Kerry delivered the body language that inspired Tink’s behavior then Ginni Mack provided a particular inspiration for Tink’s pixieish countenance. Among the most skilled of the painters in Disney’s legendary Ink & Paint Department, Mack was a well-regarded Paint Lab artisan when Marc Davis chose her as inspiration for Tink’s face. Her twinkly eyes and elfin face, as well as her signature blonde hair—most often tied in a bun with bangs swept to the side—were a major influence on Tink’s sprightly style.
6. Little Star, Big Screen Debut
It was long believed that Disney’s production of Peter Pan was the first to portray Tinker Bell as a human figure, but Virginia Brown Faire had portrayed her in the 1924 silent film version. However, she was seen in only a few fleeting close-ups, appearing throughout the remainder of the film as the traditional spot of light. In producing his screen version of the classic play, Walt noted, “On stage, Tinker Bell has always been represented by the flash of a spotlight, but we [through the art of animation] can make her glow like a firefly as she darts through space.” When Variety reviewed the brand-new animated feature on January 14, 1953, the critic opined presciently, “The picture also brings to life, for the first time, the character of Tinker Bell, that gold dust-sprinkling sprite of Never Land who, in her decidedly feminine nature as depicted by Disney artists, is certain to capture audience fancy as much, probably more, than any of the Barrie characters.”
7. Tink TV
The very next year, Walt drew on her newly established star power by casting her to open his groundbreaking Disneyland television series. Debuting in 1954, this primetime hour enlisted animation by Disney Legend Les Clark—one of Tink’s Peter Pan animators—to showcase Tink magically introducing the TV series’ four realms. Tink also flew into the episodes themselves occasionally, never more memorably than when Walt asked Tink to whisk viewers to Disneyland Park in the 1958 installment, “An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom.” The moment from this episode when Walt rose off the ground after Tinker Bell mischievously sprinkled him with pixie dust was memorably recreated in Saving Mr. Banks (2013), with Tom Hanks as Walt—and Tink as herself.
8. Tinker Bell in Comic Books
In addition to paying a visit to Pixieland in the deluxe Peter Pan Treasure Chest comic book in 1952 (before Peter Pan was even in theaters) and hosting the giant-sized Disneyland, U.S.A comic book in 1960, Tinker Bell winged her way onto the pages of her very own comic book in 1958. Preeminent Disney comic book artist Al Hubbard illustrated Adventures of Tinker Bell and the New Adventures of Tinker Bell. Some of the lighthearted stories featured within showed Tink interacting with other fantasy folk, such as elves and gnomes.
9. Pages and Pages of Pixies
The popularity of this iridescent imp has only increased over the decades. In 2005 Disney Publishing announced that Tinker Bell would headline a new franchise, Disney Fairies. Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, the first novel in a trilogy written by Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine, was published in 45 countries and 32 languages and became a New York Times bestseller.
10. Tink Talks
With Tinker Bell (2008), the first of a series of direct-to-DVD featuring the Disney Fairies, Peter Pan’s pixie pal was top-billed at last. There was no question about Tink talking in these CG films, so the perfect voice had to be found for this beloved character. “We knew that this character was curious,” explained Peggy Holmes, director of two of the Tinker Bell movies. “That she’s fun. She’s feisty. She’s super-loyal to Peter. Not to mention able to get angry. So we needed to find an actress that could portray that range of emotions. And Mae Whitman—thankfully—had that range.” For her part, Whitman enthused, “I love playing Tinker Bell. She’s great. So smart and independent and funny. I’m so happy and excited that I get to play someone like her. She’s a great role model.”
11. Tinker Bell Superstar
Tinker Bell’s undeniable star power was cemented when Tink’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard on September 21, 2010. Following in the footsteps of such Disney characters as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, the iconic imp was the recipient of the 2,418th star. A bona fide legend of screen, television and the printed page, Tinker Bell is simply irresistible. As Walt said in 1953 as he introduced his shining little sprite, “I believe you’re going to like Tinker Bell… we fell in love with her.”
By D23 Team
Ever since news broke about The Mandalorian, the first-ever Star Wars live-action series, we’ve been waiting with bated breath to hear more updates about this highly anticipated series. Today, our excitement has jumped to lightspeed with Lucasfilm’s announcement of a star-studded cast joining the Star Wars universe.
Pedro Pascal (Narcos) has been cast in the title role as a lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. He is joined by Gina Carano (Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Emily Swallow (Supernatural), Carl Weathers (Predator), Omid Abtahi (American Gods), Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man) and Nick Nolte (Affliction).
“We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to,” says Executive Producer Jon Favreau.
Currently in production, The Mandalorian is written and executive produced by Jon Favreau, with Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) directing the first episode and serving as executive producer alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Additional episodic directors include Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).
The series will be exclusive to Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is set to launch in the U.S in late 2019.
Stay tuned to StarWars.com for updates.
By Beth Deitchman
Attention, Disneyland explorers! A new destination will open soon in Adventureland, and the Disney Parks Blog has shared some tantalizing photos of The Tropical Hideaway that have us already dreaming of Dole Whip, bao buns, and breezy respites along the Jungle River.
The exotic marketplace will be open day and night for travelers who are looking for a place to cool off and sit a spell on a warm afternoon; or enjoy the sights and sounds of the tropics in the flickering torch-lit evenings.
There will be two paths in and out of The Tropical Hideaway, which can be reached across its main bridge, through Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, or by way of “Skipper’s Walk,” a path that leads from the Jungle Cruise loading dock.
The Tropical Hideaway is a perfect conversation spot where you can catch up with friends and reflect on your Disneyland adventures—but be sure to pay a visit to a new feathered friend. If you’ve been wondering whatever happened to Rosita, you’ll find her at The Tropical Hideaway, making small talk with visitors while she waits on the dock for her boat to arrive. And Rosita isn’t the only wildlife to be found in the Hideaway. Look closely and you’ll discover small birdhouses belonging to the stars of the Enchanted Tiki Room dotting the roofline.
Stay tuned for more details about this amazing new destination to explore. We’re getting our passports ready and preparing to depart for this new and exotic marketplace as soon as it’s ready to welcome travelers.
By Beth Deitchman
Disney’s animated classic Cinderella has a new fairytale ending that embodies “ever after” in the most literal sense. The beloved feature is one of 25 films that have been added to the National Film Registry, a prestigious list of films that are determined to be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and recommended for preservation. Cinderella joins such iconic Walt Disney Animation Studios films as Steamboat Willie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Fantasia, to name just a few, in receiving this honor that has now been given to only 750 film titles.
Since its 1950 release, the film—inspired by the fairy tale by Charles Perrault—has become part of our collective vernacular, allowing underdog sports teams to live out their own “Cinderella story” as they achieve unexpected success, and—on the other side of the coin—often giving stepmothers an unjustified bad rap. But for many of the artists working today at Disney Animation, the film is a touchstone that played an important role in both the Studio’s history and their own.
When Cinderella began production after World War II, it had been some time since the Disney Studio had a successful feature. “[Cinderella] was something the Studio needed. They needed to get back on their feet, get back in the game of feature animation that they basically started,” explains legendary animator Mark Henn, who joined Disney in 1980 and who worked alongside many of Cinderella’s filmmakers, which included Walt’s famed “Nine Old Men.” “The first time I saw Cinderella was in a little theater in the town where my dad grew up. I was just mesmerized—I loved to draw all the time as a kid and this was just amazing to me,” he recalls.
Renowned animator, Disney Legend, and The Walt Disney Company’s longest-serving employee, Burny Mattinson, began his career at Disney in 1953, just three years after Cinderella was released. Mattinson first saw the film in its initial run at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre and from the beginning, he loved the film’s simple message and story of a poor girl who was downtrodden by her stepmother and sisters. “But goodness overcame all of that. She got her wish, what she wanted to be—more than she wanted to be, really,” Mattinson shares.
“There’s a simplicity to it, but within that simplicity there’s an elegance,” says Henn of Cinderella. The movie was a gamble—made faster than the typical Disney feature of its era—and it was to be made for a price. But at the same time, Cinderella had to maintain the standard that Walt expected for Disney animated films, and from the character designs and the animation style to the film’s memorable music—which includes songs such as “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” and “So This Is Love”—Henn notes, “Everything just came together.”
Ron Clements—half of the legendary team that gave us The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Moana (alongside John Musker)—revealed to D23 that Cinderella is the first Disney movie he ever saw, at age 2; he saw it again when it was re-released several years later. Little did he know then that he would one day be mentored by Frank Thomas, who created the film’s menacing, malevolent stepmother. “She’s a really effective villain. No magic, no power—just attitude, really,” says Clements. “Frank was such a great actor and there’s a very sculptural quality to the animation, so you can really see there’s a way he handled the stepmother that’s very strong and pretty scary and frightening.”
The distinct fingerprints of Walt’s “Nine Old Men” can be found throughout the film. In contrast to Thomas’ iconic villainess, who was steeped in reality, Ward Kimball’s mischievous cat Lucifer is a comical cartoon foil for Cinderella’s mouse friends. Ollie Johnston took Cinderella’s stepsisters in a humorous direction, while Marc Davis and Eric Larson both used pencil and paper to envision a title character that audiences—and a prince—would fall in love with. Each artist brought his own nuances to his drawings, though it was Marc Davis who animated what is said to be Walt’s favorite scene in the movie: the moment when Cinderella is given her ball gown by the Fairy Godmother and transforms into the princess she is truly meant to be.
Clements can see Cinderella’s impact on the stories and heroines he has helped to create at Disney. As a young moviegoer, he was heartbroken for Cinderella when her stepsisters tore apart the dress that the mice have finished for her. That scene, he says, “stays with you a lot, and probably had some influence on The Little Mermaid, [in the scene] where Triton destroys Ariel’s grotto. I see a connection there.”
Both Henn and Mattinson have high praise for Cinderella’s storytelling, singling out the third-act plot twist in which Cinderella reveals that she has the second glass slipper. “You don’t see it coming! It was so well done,” Mattinson remembers. “You get a lump in your throat and you’re jumping up and down like the mice,” adds Henn, who believes that Cinderella, his first introduction to Disney animation, is the reason why he is still with the Studio to this day.
A favorite scene for Clements is the sequence where Cinderella scrubs the floors, singing as she goes, and the audience sees her reflection in the bubbles. “In my mind, when I think of what’s special about Disney, what does Disney do that nobody else would do? The way that’s done, there’s something just very unique and magical about that, finding a way to do a song that’s so inventive and sort of beautiful,” he shares. “At that point [Disney Animation] was still relatively new and still being created film by film. But [Cinderella] is an archetypal film in terms of that. It really helps set that feeling of what Disney is and what that archetypal Disney represents.”
Our friends at Disney Parks Blog just announced some news. Take a look at what’s coming to Disney parks all around the world:
By Scot Drake
There was an idea. To bring together a group of remarkable people, to see if they could become something more. It was called the Avengers Initiative.
That original idea has now evolved into a brand-new global Avengers Initiative. One that brings us—the next generation of remarkable people—together. To find our power and become something more. To see if we can work alongside the Avengers so we may all become stronger together.
The Stark Expo in Hong Kong was to be a first step: A world exposition whose theme of ‘A Better Tomorrow Today,’ was meant to inspire and motivate through technological innovation. However, shortly after it opened, the Expo was attacked by the forces of Hydra. When even more powerful forces threatened the entire planet, the Avengers realized that the Earth needs more heroes.
So today, to better defend the planet, the Avengers are setting up new Headquarters and technology sharing exchanges around the globe to empower and inspire all potential recruits willing to step up and become heroes.
In California and Paris, Tony Stark is retrofitting two of his father’s Stark Industries sites into new hubs for training and innovation. Through partnerships with S.H.I.E.L.D., Pym Technologies, Masters of the Mystic Arts, and the new Worldwide Engineering Brigade, The Avengers and their allies will forge new global campuses to champion the next generation of heroes. Who’s ready to answer the call?
As the creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering’s Global Marvel Portfolio, my team and I are collaborating closely with our partners across Studios and Entertainment to create exciting experiences and attractions where you can join your favorite Super Heroes at Disney Parks and Resorts. Together, we are expanding this epic story universe in a way that, for the first time ever, will allow you to take on an active role alongside these Super Heroes.
These interconnected stories are coming to life at our Disney Parks. In Hong Kong Disneyland, guests have already started battling the forces of Hydra in the Iron Man Experience. Beginning in March 2019, they will join Ant-Man and Wasp in a fight against Arnim Zola and his army of evil Hydra Swarm-bots in the all-new interactive attraction, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! In Disney California Adventure, guests have been helping the Guardians escape the Collector’s Fortress in Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! And soon, in both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Paris, guests will encounter the heroes in new and exciting ways, from the mystic arts of Doctor Strange to the gravity defying feats of Spider-Man. Guests will also experience the latest in Pym Technology with Ant-Man and Wasp and be wowed as Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Captain America, and more leap into action on a moment’s notice.
Get ready to assemble alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to protect the world! Recruitment begins soon!
What You Will Need:
Kids, have an adult help you with the scissors.
How to Make the Boxes:
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Every year, Disney fans eagerly await the chance to see their favorite parks transformed into gorgeous displays of holiday magic, and this year is no different! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite seasonal sights to see from Disney parks all over the world, from dazzling Christmas trees to captivating castles. Take a look at what’s filling our hearts with holiday joy this season.
Snow-Capped Castles All Over the World
It’s the first thing you see when you enter many of Disney’s parks around the globe: A fairytale castle standing tall over some of the most magical places on earth. These iconic castles are beacons of holiday magic during this time of year, from Disneyland’s icicle-clad Sleeping Beauty Castle, which becomes a glowing spectacle at night, to Shanghai Disney Resort’s Enchanted Storybook Castle that sets the stage for a gorgeous tree lighting ceremony.
Tokyo Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary Christmas Tree
Right in front of Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland stands a gorgeous Christmas tree, but this year it’s celebrating more than just the spirit of the season—emblazoned with Tokyo Disneyland’s 35th anniversary logo, the tree helps ring in the close of a magical year of celebration at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Season’s Speedings from Cars Land
Disney California Adventure’s fan-favorite land puts the “car” in “carols” every year when the residents of Radiator Springs spruce up their town with decorations that you auto see to believe! From a towering tire Christmas tree to snowflakes made of wrenches, your road trip isn’t complete without a stop in this Route 66-inspired town filled with holiday spirit.
Mickey and Friends Wintertime Ball at Hong Kong Disneyland
What better way to celebrate the season than at a wintertime party with all of your friends? Hong Kong Disneyland looks postcard-perfect when Mickey, Minnie, Duffy, ShellieMay, Cookie, and more friends—dressed in their seasonal best—gather together in front of the park’s gorgeous Christmas tree to celebrate this special time of year in a 20-minute musical extravaganza that is one-of-a-kind.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Biggest Little Celebration
They may be the size of a toy, but that doesn’t mean that Woody and friends don’t celebrate the holidays in a big way! The Toy Story crew has put up all their decorations, so you can enjoy a giant cranberry-and-popcorn garland, a 10-foot-tall sugar cookie in the shape of Hamm, and even ornaments inspired by the green aliens! With Buzz, Woody, and Jessie dressed in their holiday finest, you’ve got a friend in Toy Story Land this holiday season.
it’s a small world Holiday, a Timeless Classic
When you imagine Christmas at Disneyland, what fills your senses? The smells of gingerbread beignets? The fuzzy softness of your holiday ear headband? When it comes to the sights and sounds of Disneyland’s holiday season, this attraction fills our hearts with cheer right away—one look at the glowing lights of it’s a small world Holiday and we know it’s the most magical time of year. Whether you’re riding on the attraction or watching the special projection show, it’s a small world Holiday is a beautiful part of Disneyland’s holiday tradition.
Walt Disney Studios Park’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror turns Goofy
Goofy’s Incredible Christmas, a seasonal nighttime spectacular, turns Disneyland Paris’ spooky sight into a festive celebration! Using breathtaking special effects and mapping projection technology, the Hollywood Tower Hotel turns into the perfect backdrop for Goofy’s seasonal surprise for Mickey! Why not drop in and join the fun?