5 Irresistible Moments from the Incredibles 2 Press Conference

June 14, 2018

By Courtney Potter

Ready to get incredible? In advance of Incredibles 2’s June 15 release, D23 heard some memorable behind-the-scenes tidbits from filmmakers and cast.

In Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2, Helen Parr (voice of Holly Hunter), otherwise known as Elastigirl, is called upon to help bring Supers back, while husband Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson)—aka Mr. Incredible— navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home. But when a brilliant new villain hatches a dangerous plot that only the Incredibles can overcome, they’ve gotta do it… together! Just a few days ago, D23 made our own return trip to Municiberg—actually, it was the film’s press conference in Los Angeles, California—to hear some behind-the-scenes tidbits from the filmmakers and stars themselves!

Director Brad Bird and producers John Walker and Nicole Grindle gathered members of the film’s voice cast—including Nelson, Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson (Lucius Best/Frozone), Sarah Vowell (Violet), Sophia Bush (Voyd), Bob Odenkirk (Winston Deavor), and Catherine Keener (Evelyn Deavor)—to share stories from the making of the film and why it’s so, well, incredible.

Here are five of the most irresistible moments:

Director Brad Bird on why they set Incredibles 2 immediately after the events of 2004’s The Incredibles…

“I just thought it was kind of bold and weird,” explains Bird. “Because I think people take the time that passes very literally. And they think that linearly, the characters should have aged. But if they age, their superpowers don’t reflect the part of life that they’re in and their role in the family… I realized that what excited me about the idea [of The Incredibles] in the first place was not the Supers. It was that it was about the family dynamic, and people’s roles in different parts of their lives. And Supers—[that] genre is like a twist of lemon that you squeeze on top. It’s not what the movie is about… Families are a continent of fresh opportunities, because they’re so universal.”

Craig T. Nelson on finding out Bob Parr’s “mission” in the film …

“I found out that I’m going to be helping save the family, and Bob is going to learn how to be a better dad and he’s going to learn about these kids,” Nelson says. “And then the process started when we were recording. It was just so much fun. The stuff I did with Violet and Jack-Jack and that whole discovery. And then Dash. And then having to deal with Elastigirl out there doing what I want to do, and being able to give her the encouragement, let her know that everything is OK. It was just a lot of fun. I’m so honored to be a part of it.”

Holly Hunter on working with Brad Bird, and character discoveries…

“[Brad] is the screenplay,” says Hunter. “He was my walking encyclopedia. He was my instruction manual. It was a while before I truly realized what I was really going to get to do in the movie. And I was really thrilled. But it was like a retroactive thrill, because [it was] over a period of months before I started gleefully singing during our recording sessions about how great my part was. But to me, it was just really fun. And I don’t think that this is a message movie in any way… [the current climate] happens to be serendipitously reflected in this particular movie [with Elastigirl’s journey]. But at the same time, it’s character revelation—period. Everybody is having revelations, including Jack-Jack. All the characters are revelations to the audience and to themselves. So I’m no exception, as Elastigirl.”

Sarah Vowell telling Holly Hunter about her favorite scene in Incredibles 2…

“I like that one scene with [Helen and Bob], early on in the film, where you go outside to talk because you’re both out of a job,” Vowell explains. “And it happens to everyone. Your house just got like blown up by a super villain. And you’re like, ‘Where are we going to live? What are we going to do for money?’ And there is shared love there. But also just that shared worry that is a really grown-up, affecting, beautiful scene between the two of you.”

Bob Odenkirk on seeing Incredibles 2 for the first time…

“I loved it,” Odenkirk admits. “I’ve been knocked out by the visuals in this film. And I’d only seen little moments from it in the course of recording. So to see it in big beautiful color on the giant screen, I knew it was going to be amazing—and it is beyond all expectations. I feel like somehow there’s new technology that [the filmmakers] aren’t telling us about! Because it’s got such richness and depth that was a great treat… I’m amazed at Brad’s talent as a writer and director and orchestrator of story. There’s like five movies in this movie—and they all work together to throw each other into relief and make each other better.”

Don’t miss Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2, in U.S. theaters June 15!

Kelly Clarkson to Receive “Icon” Award at 2018 RDMA

June 14, 2018December 14, 2018

She won the inaugural season of American Idol, she’s a Grammy® winner, and she’s been honored at the American Music Awards. And today, Radio Disney announced that global superstar Kelly Clarkson will add a new accolade to her impressive career: Clarkson will receive the “Icon” Award at this year’s Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA) and will also perform a medley of her hit songs during the special event.

The 2018 RDMA takes place Friday, June 22, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California, with a special broadcast of the event airing on Saturday, June 23 (8–10 p.m. EDT/PDT) on Disney Channel, as well as Disney-branded platforms that include Radio Disney, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app, and Disney.com/RDMA.

The “Icon” Award recognizes an artist whose career transcends popular culture and whose music is beloved by generations of Radio Disney fans. When Clarkson made her debut on American Idol in 2002, she instantly captured fans’ hearts. Her first single, “A Moment Like This,” was an instant hit and she has continued to dominate the music charts with blockbuster songs “Since U Been Gone,” “Catch My Breath,” and “Breakaway” (which Disney fans will, of course, remember from the Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement soundtrack). The multiplatinum artist has also dominated the Radio Disney charts, with her current singles, “Heat” and “Love So Soft” having spent a combined 19 weeks on the Radio Disney Top 30 chart.

This year’s RDMA will also include a performance by this year’s American Idol winner, Maddie Poppe, as well as a stellar lineup of artists that includes Carrie Underwood with Ludacris, Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Marshmello, and Echosmith. Among the Disney Channel and Freeform stars who will be on hand to present the coveted “ARDY” trophies are stars from Disney Channel’s Andi Mack; Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph of Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, which airs on Freeform; Hollywood Records recording artist Sabrina Carpenter; Radio Disney’s “NBT,” JAGMAC; and Hollywood Records group In Real Life, winners of ABC’s Boy Band.

Stay tuned to D23 for more RDMA news and surprises as the event draws near! Don’t forget that D23 Members get 10% off RDMA tickets!

11 Curious Facts to Celebrate 60 Years of Disneyland’s Alice in Wonderland

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018

By Justin Arthur

On June 14, Disneyland’s Alice in Wonderland attraction celebrates 60 years of being a one-of-kind! To this day, no other Disney theme park in the world has an attraction like it. Follow us down the rabbit hole, and discover 11 fantastical facts to celebrate this milestone un-unbirthday!

1. The weird and wonderful world of Wonderland has inspired Imagineers to create many terrific attractions over the years. Concepts for multiple attractions inspired by the 1951 animated feature Alice in Wonderland date to before Disneyland even opened. In 1954, Imagineers considered a companion attraction to the Mad Tea Party that would have been a fun house-style walkthrough attraction full of gags inspired by the film.

2. Many of the talented men and women that Walt recruited to work on Disneyland came from the Disney Studios itself. As a result, much of the incredible team that worked on the animated Alice in Wonderland ended up working on the attraction. Future Imagineers (and future Disney Legends!) who worked on the original film included Ken Anderson, Mary Blair, Claude Coats, and John Hench.

3. Disney Legend Mary Blair’s masterful concept work and use of color were on full display in the original animated film. Imagineers working on the 1984 restoration of the Disneyland attraction were so inspired by her work that they precisely color matched the singing flowers in the attraction to the film’s original animation cels.

4. Fellow Animators-turned-Imagineers Claude Coats and Ken Anderson were recruited to paint many fantastical scenic backdrops for 1955 Fantasyland dark rides like Snow White’s Adventures, Peter Pan’s Flight and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Said Coats on his transition from cel-sized to full-sized backgrounds, “I went from a 12-inch-high format to sets that were 18-feet-high!” These attractions were some of the first “dark rides” to employ elaborate black light painting techniques. The duo applied lessons they learned from those attractions, and took Alice in Wonderland to a whole new, zanier level when it opened in 1958.

5. A key background artist on the animated film, Claude Coats’ journey to Wonderland came full circle when he served as Show Designer for Disneyland’s 1958 Alice in Wonderland attraction—of which he had full responsibility for show design and layout. Claude originally sketched ride vehicles made of the film’s iconic playing cards, but Walt Disney suggested the film’s Caterpillar as a means of conveyance. Ultimately, Coats would design the vehicle and Imagineer Blaine Gibson sculpted it into three dimensions.

6. Alice in Wonderland was Disneyland’s (and Disney’s!) first two-level ride-through attraction. Due to the spatial constraints of the original Fantasyland, the majority of the attraction actually takes place on the second floor, right above of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!

7. The 1958 version of Alice in Wonderland was limited to the technology of the time—primarily flat cut-outs of characters, and simple gags. As part of the “New Fantasyland” of the 1980s, the attraction reopened in 1984 with 24 fully dimensional figures. Said 1984 show designer David Mumford, “We tried to give the color and the mood of the film center stage.” Also for the first time, guests encountered Alice, the smoke-ring-blowing Caterpillar, and the Queen of Hearts inside the attraction itself. The Audio-Animatronics^® Alice they encountered was originally from the 1971 Walt Disney World^® attraction, Mickey Mouse Revue.

8. Before the 1984 refurbishment of the attraction, the towering yellow mushroom that looms over the attraction’s load area was a ticket booth, selling the “D” coupons required for a ride on Alice in Wonderland. If you look closely from atop the leaves of the ride, you can spot six small shoes atop the mushroom, supposedly left behind when the Caterpillar turned into a butterfly.

9. The “bang” of a finale wasn’t always there. Until 1984, Guests descended the oversized leaves and made a “u-turn” back into the load area. Imagineer Tony Baxter, who oversaw the revitalization, thought the ride deserved a dramatic finale and moved the Mad Tea Party to a brand new space just before the end—creating room for the Queen of Hearts and her army of cards upstairs!

10. Over the years, Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Alice in the 1951 film, and Wendy in Peter Pan (1953), has reprised her role as Alice for various incarnations of the attraction.

11. In 2014, Alice in Wonderland received a vibrant new upgrade, seamlessly integrating state-of-the-art technology, and making the classic attraction shine like never before. Sixty years later, this madcap adventure to Wonderland has never looked better!

Inspiring Words of Wisdom from Disney Dads

June 14, 2018June 13, 2018

By Megan Deppe

From Zeus to Goofy to Fa Zhou in Mulan, the fathers in Disney films are never short on advice. Which makes sense, since some of the best advice you will ever receive comes from your father. So for this Father’s Day, we rounded up some of the best words of wisdom from some of our favorite Disney dads. We hope you appreciate these sentiments as much as we do.

1. “You’re my son, Max. No matter how big you get… …you’ll always be my son.” – Goofy, A Goofy Movie (1995)
As we grow up, it’s easy to sometimes feel smothered by our parents or that we’ve outgrown them—Max certainly thinks feels this way when his dad, Goofy, drags him on a road trip when Max would rather be with his friends. But Goofy soon reminds him that no matter how old or big Max gets, he’ll always be his son, and will love him no matter what.

2. “Just promise your daddy one thing. That you’ll never, ever, lose sight of what’s really important.” Tiana’s dad, James, The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Tiana gave up quite a bit in her life in order to chase her dream of owning her own restaurant, partially to honor her father who had the same dream but never achieved it. She soon realizes, however, that while her dad didn’t always get what he wanted, he always had what he needed. It reminds her to appreciate the important things in her life, such as her friends and her family.

3. “You’re mad, bonkers, off your head. But I’ll tell you a secret—all the best people are.” Alice’s father, Charles Kingsleigh, Alice in Wonderland (2010)
When Alice wanted to tell people about her trip to Wonderland, she worried they’d think she was crazy. Her father, though, assured her that what some people would call crazy, others might consider genius. He himself was finding profitable trading routes all over the world even though everyone told him it couldn’t be done. Charles encourages his daughter to stay true to herself, no matter what anyone else might say.

4. “Amelia, courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment… …that something else is more important than fear.” Philippe Renaldi, The Princess Diaries (2001)
While weighing whether or not to accept her role as princess of Genovia, Mia almost lets her fear of public speaking convince her to flee. She then finds a letter from her father that reminds her that being afraid is not a bad thing, just as long as you do not let it control you. She takes her father’s advice and gladly accepts her new role.

5. “For a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” Zeus, Hercules (1997)
As much as Zeus wanted his son to return to Mount Olympus, he knew that Hercules had to learn what being a hero truly means. It’s not about how strong you are or how many monsters you defeat, but rather, it’s about doing those things for the right reasons and caring about the people you help. Once Hercules learned that lesson, he emerged as a true hero.

6. “Sometimes you got to get through your fear to see the beauty on the other side.” Poppa, The Good Dinosaur (2015)
Arlo the dinosaur was afraid of pretty much everything in his life, which kept him from really living it. Poppa, though, did his best to teach Arlo that his fear was keeping him from really seeing the beautiful things in the world. Arlo needed to realize that if he could just push through his fear and do something bigger than himself, he would have a life truly worth living.

7. “The greatest gift in honor…is having you for a daughter.” Fa Zhou, Mulan (1998)
Mulan joined the army not because she wanted to fight, but because she wanted to protect her father and make him proud of her. It’s something anyone can understand—wanting your father to be proud of you. After Mulan returned home as a decorated war hero, though, her assured her that it didn’t matter if she was China’s hero or if she’d been sent home in disgrace—she was his daughter, and that was all he needed as an honor in his life.

Kingdom Hearts 3 and The Rocketeer—Plus More in News Briefs

June 13, 2018November 8, 2018

By Courtney Potter

The highly anticipated game gets a new trailer, and Disney Junior’s upcoming animated series releases a first image… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Kingdom Hearts 3: New Trailer and Official Release Date!

This week, gaming fans are gathering at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the annual E3 Expo—the world’s premiere event for computer and video games and all their related products. And the whole shebang kicked off with a Disney-related announcement…

During the big Microsoft Xbox E3 2018 briefing (and then continuing with game developer Square Enix’s event) on Monday, June 11, the much-anticipated Kingdom Hearts 3 revealed a brand-new trailer! Check it out, above—and you’ll see that the game’s characters (Sora, Donald, and Goofy) are heading to several brand-new worlds from hit Disney animated films, including Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph, and Hercules. Plus, you can catch Sora’s new Keyblade’s transformations as he battles against the Heartless.

Additionally, the game confirmed what fans have been waiting for—a January 29, 2019, release date on Xbox One and Sony PlayStation® 4. That means we’ve got about six months to prepare for the fun… and we cannot wait!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
June 14, 2018
Enjoy Complimentary Tickets to a Special Screening of Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2
June 23, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Robin Hood on the Lot
June 24, 2018
D23’s Incredible Mixer in Altamonte Springs, Florida
June 24, 2018
D23 Celebrates the Opening of Pixar Pier/a>
June 29, 2018
Lunch with Disney Legend: Burny Mattinson
June 30, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Robin Hood at Walt Disney World
July 13, 2018
D23 Member Mixer—Seattle
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
June 23, 2018
Pixar Pier opens at Disney California Adventure
June 30, 2018
Toy Story Land opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
August 17, 24, 28, 31
September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September 7-October 31, 2018
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
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
June 15, 2018
Incredibles 2 opens in U.S. theaters
July 6, 2018
Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp opens in U.S. theaters opens in U.S. theaters
August 3, 2018
Disney’s Christopher Robin opens in U.S. theaters
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
December 19, 2018
Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters
Television
June 18, 2018
Big City Greens premieres on Disney Channel (9:30 a.m. ET/PT)

First Look at Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer

Fans of Disney’s 1991 adventure The Rocketeer (hey, that’s us!), take heed: We have a very special first look at Disney Junior’s highly anticipated animated series of the same name. Just this week, at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Nancy Kanter (Executive Vice President, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide) showed those in attendance the intriguing image above… and now you get to see it too!

Inspired by Dave Stevens’ popular comic book series, Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer follows Kit, a young girl who receives a surprise package on her birthday revealing she’s next in line to become the Rocketeer, a legendary superhero who has the ability to fly with the help of a rocket-powered jet pack. Armed with her cool new gear and secret identity, Kit is ready to take flight and save the day with her gadget-minded best friend, Tesh, and airplane mechanic uncle, Ambrose, who join in on her epic adventures. The series is executive-produced by Nicole Dubuc (Transformers: Rescue Bots) and is slated to debut in 2019.

Here’s a Sneak Peek at the New Play Disney Parks App

Visiting a Disney Park soon and looking for something fun to fill the time whilst waiting to check out your favorite attraction? Never fear—you’ll soon have a fabulous new app to keep you company! The all-new Play Disney Parks App is now available for pre-order, from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

The Play Disney Parks app will allow guests to play with family and friends while waiting in line for some favorite attractions. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from activities that interact with select attraction queues to games that bring favorite Disney stories to life in immersive new ways. Guests can also earn and share digital collectibles when they receive themed achievements, earned for experiences both in the app and across the Disney parks. And with the Disney trivia feature, pals can band together to see if they have what it takes to become Disney “trivia masters,” discovering unique facts about their favorite parks.

Look for more information on Play Disney Parks as we get closer to its summer launch…

New Treasures Inside Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Park

Recent guests at Disneyland park may have noticed that the beloved attraction Pirates of the Caribbean was in the midst of refurbishment. Good news, though: It’s back, better than ever, and ready for summer!

A new scene—familiar to guests who’ve visited the attraction Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Paris—has been added… and it’s there you’ll find that swashbuckling buccaneer Redd having “switched sides,” becoming a pirate who’s set on pillaging the town’s rum supply. But that’s not all; an entirely original bit of magic has been cooked up by the folks at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI).

Get a peek at everything that’s fresh inside Pirates via this great new video (featuring WDI Art Director Kim Irvine) from our pals at the Disneyland Resort, above.

Get Incredible with Paint the Night at Disney California Adventure

Speaking of “new experiences at Disneyland Resort,” here’s another one you can’t miss! Staring June 23, a brand-new float inspired by The Incredibles and Incredibles 2 will be joining the shimmering Paint the Night parade, which is currently dazzling Disney California Adventure park as part of the limited-time Pixar Fest celebration. Read more about it right here at D23.com.

Fancy Nancy To Return for Second Season on Disney Junior

Ready to get fancy? A second season of Disney Junior’s Fancy Nancy—based on the New York Times bestselling book series—has been ordered… with the series premiere still a month away!

The animated family comedy follows six-year-old Nancy, a high-spirited young lady whose zest and enthusiasm for all that is exquisite (including language, nature, art, and even color) transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The voice cast includes Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother) and Rob Riggle (The Daily Show) as Nancy’s parents, Claire and Doug; Mia Sinclair Jenness (Broadway’s Matilda) as Nancy; and Spencer Moss (Chicago P.D.) as sister JoJo—plus amazing recurring guest voice cast members Christine Baranski (The Good Life), George Wendt (Cheers), Kal Penn (Designated Survivor), and Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), among others.

Excited to experience what the magnificent world has to offer, Nancy uses ingenuity and resourcefulness to exemplify that even if life doesn’t always go as planned, it’s important to make the most of each day and encourage others to do the same. Look for Fancy Nancy beginning Friday, July 13, on Disney Junior, the DisneyNOW app, and Disney Junior VOD.

Marvel Summer of Super Heroes Debuting at Disneyland Paris

If you’re traveling “across the pond” this summer, look for something new and “Marvel-ous” at Disneyland Paris, as part of the resort’s big 25th anniversary celebration. Favorite Marvel characters—including Black Panther, Iron Man, Thor, and Black Widow—are now appearing across the park as part of the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes! Find out more here.

The New Live Action Dumbo Teaser Trailer Soars to New Heights

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

In March 2019, a beloved story will take flight again. This morning, the brand-new teaser trailer for Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, gave us our first sneak peek into the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished, and dreams take flight.

Starring Danny DeVito as circus owner Max Medici, the movie follows Medici as he enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. Of course, as silly as the adorable elephant may seem, we know what show-stopping talents young Dumbo is hiding. With Dumbo’s high-flying skills giving the circus new life and attention, persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo gets his chance to soar alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

Watch the brand-new teaser now, set to the classic Disney song Baby Mine, and mark your calendars for March 2019!

Marvel Summer of Super Heroes Launches at Disneyland Paris

June 13, 2018

By Jim Frye

It’s an event of truly heroic proportions!

Now through September 30, 2018, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, and the rest of the super-powered team is assembling at Disneyland Paris for Marvel Summer of Super Heroes, an epic grand finale to the resort’s 25^th anniversary celebration. It’s a unique season of events, special shows, and interactive experiences featuring earth’s mightiest—and most popular—heroes. Here’s what guests will find:

Stark Expo presents: Energy for Tomorrow!
In front of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, Tony Stark invites guests to witness the latest version of his Arc Reactor. It produces green energy, and is a target for Loki, Thor’s mischievous half-brother. Luckily, Black Widow, Spider-Man, and the god of thunder himself show up to foil Loki’s plans in a show that is as action-packed as it is offbeat.

Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Dance-Off
Cool tunes and groovy moves are central to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, brings his love for both to Disneyland Paris. The Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Dance-Off features Peter Quill and Gamora saving the world with dance—and the help of guests—several times daily.

Marvel: Super Heroes United
This live stage show sees Iron Man and Captain America face off against each other before joining together with Spider-Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, and the other heroes to battle the fearsome Thanos.

Heroic Encounter: Captain America
Steve Rogers dons the Captain America costume to give guests the opportunity to shake hands with the very first Avenger.

The celebration kicked off with visits from Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards, Coronation Street’s Lucy Fallon, Samia Longchambon, and Tina O’Brien, and Scottish singer Tallia Storm.

Summer of Heroes — Lucy Fallon, Tina O’Brien, and Samia Longchambon enjoy Heroic Encounter: Captain America.

The Surprising Scoop About Disney Channel’s Big City Greens

June 12, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

Cricket Green and his sister, Tilly, grew up racing around on their tractor; embarking on wild adventures in the country; and spending time with their dad, Bill. But they’ve never experienced anything as exciting as life in a bustling metropolis, where they’ve just come to live with their Gramma Alice, a force to be reckoned with as well as the most affectionate grandmother you’re likely to meet. The siblings’ adjustment to their new surroundings is at the heart of the new animated comedy Big City Greens, from comic book creators and brothers Chris and Shane Houghton, which debuts on Disney Channel on Monday, June 18 (9:30 a.m. EDT/PDT), as well as on DisneyNOW and Disney Channel VOD.

Disney Channel recently announced that a second season of the series is already in the works, a testament, no doubt, to the Houghtons’ determination to create a series with real characters, genuine emotion, and a premise that Disney fans of all ages will relate to. We spoke with Shane and his younger brother, Chris, about putting heart, soul, and even their own childhood into Big City Greens.

The Muppets are a major influence on Big City Greens.
“We wanted the look of the show to really represent the fish-out-of-water aspect of the Greens moving to the big city,” Chris says. The Greens, with their signature bright yellow hue, stand out amongst the other city dwellers, who are a rainbow of greens, blues, purples, and more. “There’s something so charming about that Jim Henson design,” Shane emphasizes, and Chris notes that the Muppets’ impact goes beyond Big City Greens’ production design. “There are humor and clear, lovable characters and really unique relationships between them,” says Chris of the similarities between the Muppets and their new series.

The premise of Big City Greens was inspired by the “big city” Houghtons.
Chris and Shane Houghton grew up in the rural community of St. Johns, Michigan, and didn’t venture very far from their small town until they left for college. “That was a big, eye-opening experience, and it was kind of a lonely and strange time, but also exciting and full of change,” older brother Shane recalls. Chris made the big move several years later, camping out on his brother’s living room floor for a few weeks while he got situated. “We wanted to explore what that felt like through the Green family. They at least have each other, but everything else is brand new.”

The series’ characters are based on true-life characters the Houghton brothers grew up with.
There’s a lot of Chris Houghton in Cricket, the series’ protagonist. “There’s a third Houghton brother,” Chris explains, “and we were always getting into trouble—so a lot of that trouble-making, free-spirited childhood is embodied in Cricket. We try to bring a great, boisterous carefree energy to him. He’s a bit of a rapscallion.”

Cricket’s father, Bill, and sister, Tilly—a passionate advocate for animals—have their roots in the Houghtons’ real-life family members and neighbors from St. Johns. There is, indeed, a real Gramma Alice, who Chris describes as “a cantankerous, sweet-and-sour grandma who could whip back and forth between being the most terrifying grandmother you’ve ever met and a very, very sweet grandmother.”

Big names are in the Big City Greens guest voice cast.
Though Big City Greens is a brand-new show, its guest voice cast is filled with huge stars. Emmy® Award-winner Jon Hamm (Mad Men) voices store manager Louis; Emmy Award-nominated Raven-Symoné (Raven’s Home) is set to play news reporter Maria Media; Grammy® Award-nominated Busta Rhymes lends his voice to a wise fish; Danny Trejo (Spy Kids) guests as bodyguard Vasquez; and Academy Award® winner Jim Rash (The Descendants, Community) is waiter Ted, to name just some of the talented voice actors. Chris stresses, “It was a huge vote of confidence for us and the show to have these really talented, funny folks that we all look up to respond to the material of the show.”

Shane and Chris want Big City Greens to be a series that anyone can jump into at any time.
Shane tells D23, “Coming from comic books, we would walk into a comic shop and see, for example, Spider-Man No. 527, and we would ask ourselves, ‘Can I start here? Can I open this up and understand what’s going on? And a lot of times, the answer is no.’” Chris and Shane purposefully structured their hit comic book series, Reed Gunther, so that each issue could stand on its own as a complete story, and that’s what they want audiences to experience with Big City Greens. “We want the show to be two parts funny and one part heart,” says Shane, a lifelong Pixar fan who says that Toy Story changed his life. “Those movies are so funny and so sweet, and I don’t ever want to make anything that doesn’t resonate with somebody on an emotional level.”

An Incredible New Float is Coming to the Paint the Night Parade

June 11, 2018August 6, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

The Paint the Night parade made its dazzling return to Disneyland Resort this summer when the fan-favorite lit up Disney California Adventure as part of the limited-time Pixar Fest celebration. This parade has delighted fans since its debut during Disneyland’s 60th anniversary in 2016, and now it is about to glow a little brighter.

On June 23, a brand-new float will make its super debut—inspired by Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles and Incredibles 2. The Parr family and their pal Frozone will be saving the day—or should we say night— with high-tech, pop-art effects.

Guest will enjoy the float featuring a riveting battle against The Underminer, in a sequence set in between the events of The Incredibles and Incredibles 2. Special effects in the float include:

A special, custom-built persistence-of-vision (POV) globe to depict Violet Parr using her super powers to surround herself with a “force field.” This is the first and largest POV globe ever to be installed on a Disney parade float.
An innovative system of 64 individually lit frames, to depict Dash’s super-human speed, captured through flashes as he races in circles around the float.
Brand-new super suits for Mr. Incredible and Mrs. Incredible, along with their pal Frozone. The suits have been installed and wired by hand and are fully programmable to be in sync with the music and the float lighting.

This super float joins Paint the Night this summer during Pixar Fest, the limited-time celebration happening now through September 3. Pixar Pier will also welcome guests at Disney California Adventure park beginning June 23.

You’ve Got a Friend in These Matching Disney Best Friend Phone Wallpapers

June 8, 2018August 2, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

On days for celebrating your most cherished and magical friendships, you can celebrate with your closest pal in so many ways—wear matching outfits, visit a Disney park, enjoy a movie together—and we’ve just come up with one more way to honor your friendship. Download any of these Disney best friend wallpapers below, so you can match with your bestie no matter where you are or what day it is! Find the pair of Disney pals that matches you and your buddy the best, and enjoy this special day of celebrating friendship!

Click here to download.