By D23 Team
Whether you want to fly with Baloo or “woo-oo” with the DuckTales crew, add a little Disney Afternoon magic to your favorite photos.
This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!
From Comics to the Screen: How Scrooge McDuck Started His Tales
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Long before we were gathering in front of our television sets to see the hurricane of life in Duckburg, Disney fans would run to comic stores to read about the adventures of their fine feathered friends in the pages of Carl Barks’ iconic Donald Duck comics. While his stories didn’t bear the name DuckTales, over time they evolved into the tales of derring-do and bad and good luck tales that might seem familiar to fans of the Disney Afternoon classic. It all started with the creation of a certain rich uncle…
Inspiration from Classic Origins
The now-famous center of all DuckTales adventures, Scrooge McDuck, found his origins in a classic story. While brainstorming ideas for a Christmas story for his Donald Duck comics, Barks looked to beloved Christmas tales for inspiration. He explains, “I began to think of the great Dickens Christmas story about Scrooge. Somehow it is the classic of all Christmas stories. Now, I was just thief enough to steal some of the idea and have a rich uncle for Donald.”
Barks’ story, “Christmas on Bear Mountain,” featured a miserly Scrooge to play opposite Donald, looking and acting very differently than how present-day fans remember. When Scrooge is introduced he is brooding alone in his massive estate, thinking about how much he hates Christmas, proclaiming in his thoughts, “Everybody hates me, and I hate everybody!” Clearly, this rich, old duck has a lot of growing to do!
Rich with Popularity
Scrooge’s path as Donald’s bitter opposite soon took a turn when Barks saw potential in one of McDuck’s unique character traits: his wealth. Barks explains that, “[It] generated so many gag situations he was soon upstaging Donald in plot interest. He became popular because the size of his fortune was so ridiculous it didn’t offend readers, the stuff only brought him troubles and troubles.” Fans were entertained by the prospect of this rich uncle of Donald’s having to face all sorts of calamities due to his riches, and soon Scrooge was no longer simply a miserly old man living in his empty manor. In Walt Disney’s Comics (1948), Donald describes Scrooge as “the richest old coot in the world”—a bold title, but one that makes Scrooge the icon he is today.
The Beginnings of an Adventurer
It wasn’t just the riches that captured fans’ hearts—it was the trials and tribulations that came with maintaining such a large fortune. That meant that the old miser brooding around his manor had to actually get up and leave the house. Barks describes the change as, “I made him too old and decrepit. I discovered later on that I was going to have to make him more active; I couldn’t have an old guy like that out doing the things that I had to have him do.” The change made all the difference: Scrooge McDuck, the daring adventurer, was now fully in action.
A Familiar Scrooge
It wasn’t until another Christmas tale that we saw the true Scrooge emerge. Christmas Parade No. 1 features a cane-carrying Scrooge, but the cane is more of an accessory than an assistance, as he’s spry and more worried about showing off his piles and piles of money. When pressured by Donald to purchase a steam shovel, he exclaims, “If I could afford a steam shovel, I’d have one in here shoveling the money out of my way!”
In fact, in the comic itself, Scrooge expresses exactly why fans loved him so: “What’s the use of having eleven octillion dollars if I don’t make a big noise about it?” Little did he know how much of a big noise he would soon be making.
Building a Better Duck Tale
So, by now we have the groundwork for DuckTales falling into place: Donald and his nephews, a spry Uncle Scrooge ready to defend his piles of money, and the potential for endless adventures. Now all that’s missing is a couple of key elements, but those were soon to arrive. Barks explains, “I just gradually made him richer and richer, and then I had to develop a place where he could store the money, and all the time there were the Beagle Boys trying to steal it from him. Those things just grew like building brick walls: You just lay one brick on top of another, and finally you’ve got the whole thing built.” Soon, Barks had built all of Duckburg, from Scrooge’s massive money bin to a cast of dastardly villains trying to break into it.
Tales Still to be Told
Undoubtedly, there would be no DuckTales without Carl Barks. When Barks was honored as a Disney Legend, Roy Disney declared, “Carl’s name is synonymous with Disney’s Ducks, and today his stories live on as the basis for the DuckTales series.” From the original comic tales of Scrooge McDuck, to the brand-new DuckTales series on Disney XD, the spirit of Carl Barks’ storytelling lives on.
#DreamBigPrincess Campaign Kicks Off—Plus More in News Briefs
By Courtney Potter
Disney partners with Girl Up to empower and inspire, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios previews new fun to come… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Disney’s #DreamBigPrincess Photo Campaign Launches Around the Globe
Disney’s “Dream Big, Princess,” an initiative launched in 2016, aims to tap into the power of Disney Princess stories to inspire kids around the world. And this year—starting this week, in fact—Disney is launching a global photo campaign in support of all that magic. Find out more about this campaign here.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives August 18, 2017 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Wayne Jackson August 19, 2017 D23’s Disney Afternoon on the Lot August 31, 2017 Stand Out During A Goofy Movie at the El Capitan Theatre September 9, 2017 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23 October 1, 2017 D23’s Fanniversary Celebrates 35 Years of Epcot October 1, 2017 A Progressive Dinner Celebrating 35 Years of Epcot October 3, 2017 D23’s Sip and Stroll November 18, 2017 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23 Parks August 25 and 29, September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, and 29; October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, and 31; November 1 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park August 31-November 13, 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival September 15–October 31, 2017 Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort September 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31 Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Park 2019 Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World |
Studios November 3, 2017 Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters November 22, 2017 Coco opens in theaters December 15, 2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters Television August 19, 2017 Marvel’s Spider-Man debuts on Disney XD (7–8 a.m. ET) September 23, 2017 DuckTales Series debuts with two new episodes (7 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT) |
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land Models at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
There are several amazing new lands and attractions being created for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort—and very soon, you’ll be able to get a close-up look at models and concept art revealing some of the fun to come…
The One Man’s Dream attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is being reimagined as we speak (err, type) into Walt Disney Presents—which will continue to showcase items from Disney’s history… but it’ll also act as a “preview center” of sorts. And the best news? Starting in mid-September, guests visiting Walt Disney Presents will be able to view ride vehicle maquettes, concept art, and a crazy-cool never-before-seen model of Toy Story Land (set to open in Summer 2018).
Plus, a portion of the fantastic Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge model seen recently at D23 Expo 2017 will be on display, as well as concept art for a brand-new attraction called Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. So make sure to take a peek into the future the next time you’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Frozen on Broadway: Tickets On Sale Now!
Do you want to build a snowman… in New York City, at the St. James Theatre? Then make sure to purchase your tickets post haste for Disney’s new Broadway musical Frozen! Read up on how to buy both single and group tickets—and get a look at the show’s brand-new (and very fabulous) official artwork—right here.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Stars Love Mission: BREAKOUT!
We’ve fallen pretty madly in love with Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: BREAKOUT! here at D23… we even have a whole rundown of some of the fun “Easter eggs” you can find throughout the attraction. So we’re particularly enthused to see that cast members of both Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as well as director James Gunn, love it as much as we do!
Check out this adorable new video, above, from our friends over at the Disneyland Resort—and hear from faves including Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, and Star-Lord himself, Chris Pratt.
Sigourney Weaver’s Next Killer Role for Disney
By Jeffrey Epstein
Sigourney Weaver is immersed in Disney. She has voiced roles in Finding Dory and WALL•E. She’s narrated the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World. And her father, Pat Weaver, even worked on the development of Epcot. On August 18, she takes on a new, somewhat less-friendly role as the nemesis to Marvel’s The Defenders when the show premieres on Netflix. We had a chance to catch up with the three-time Academy Award® nominee while she was exploring Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Having starred in AVATAR, what do you think of Pandora?
I didn’t realize it would truly put you in the world that we spent such a long time imagining. The incredible detail between the sounds and the colors and the drumming—it’s impeccable. The movie is so seamless as an experience, I didn’t think that would be possible for a theme park. But this is going to change the game. It’s so immersive. And the ride—I went on Flight of Passage twice because I couldn’t believe it the first time. After screaming and laughing and whooping, by the end I was crying because it was so beautiful. It’s extraordinary. I can imagine moving to Orlando to come into this place every day.
But this isn’t your first time to Walt Disney World…
I did the Candlelight Processional for three nights a few years ago. My entire family came down. We had everyone from an 8-month-old to a 70-year-old, and we had the best time.
Do you have a park favorite?
I love Epcot. My father worked on Epcot—Pat Weaver. He was involved with the very beginning plans. He was going down to Florida in the early days. He was always living in the future, so it was a natural thing for them to ask him what he thought should be in the park.
You were the voice of the computer in WALL•E. You were the voice of the aquarium in Finding Dory. What is it about your disembodied voice that is so appealing to Disney?
[Laughs] I don’t know! I don’t know why Andrew Stanton, who is such a wonderful director, wanted my obnoxious voice in both of these films. For Finding Dory, he really didn’t know if he was going to use it that much. But it always cracked him up that it was my voice because I do all these programs. So they put it in as a temp thing, and then they just kept it. Now kids come up to me and say, “Are you the voice in Finding Dory?” And I say, “Yes, I am.”
Marvel’s The Defenders is coming up. What can you tell us about your character, Alexandra?
I really admire her. I’ll tell you what my friend Alan Rickman said, because he played a lot of “villains.” He said, “I don’t play villains. I play very interesting people.”
10 Reasons Why High School Musical 2 Still Puts the Music in Us More Than 10 Years Later
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Do you remember where you were when the much-anticipated sequel to Disney Channel’s smash hit High School Musical 2 first premiered? From the opening of “What Time is It?” and its chant of “summer… summer… summer…” to the pool party finale, High School Musical 2 defined summer for generations to come as a time of fun in the sun, as well as a time to figure out what we want from ourselves and our future. Ten years later, this classic sequel still feels as fresh as the day we watched the East High Wildcats first burst from their classroom doors to answer the eternal question: What time is it? Well, it’s time for us to tell you exactly why we are still obsessively watching this ode to summer fun and teenage angst after over 10 fabulous years.
1. It Marks the Return of Our Favorite Wildcats
The original High School Musical taught us that we don’t always need to stick to the status quo, and that our differences are what make us great. We couldn’t help but become invested in Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor, and all the rest of the East High Wildcats after they overcame the social pressures of high school to follow their dreams and learn to understand each other better. Who wouldn’t be excited to see what they do next?
2. The Costumes
From Sharpay’s dazzling pink dress to Gabriella’s iconic red swimsuit, we were living for the fashion this movie delivered. It brought summer cool to a new level and our dreams of summer vacation now involve sparkly swimsuits, floral bathing caps, and the biggest sunglasses we can find.
3. We Finally Saw Troy and Gabriella’s First Kiss!
We’ve waited TWO! WHOLE! MOVIES! for Disney Channel’s most iconic couple to finally lock lips and we couldn’t be happier to see East High’s resident lovebirds finally get their happy moment after so much drama (and tearful breakup songs). They started out as the basketball star and the genius whiz kid, but we know they are so much more—and we can only hope we find a love as magical as theirs some day.
4. The Relatable High School Stress
Sometimes as teenagers, we feel like no one understands us. We’re trying to figure out our futures and we aren’t even real adults yet! Applying for college can be so stressful, and sometimes we feel like we can’t even survive it, but then we tune into High School Musical 2 and see the East High Wildcats have the same problems. Who can’t relate to Troy as he struggles to get into the college of his dreams? It can feel so much like our entire future is weighing on our shoulders, that we may just want to run out onto a golf course and sing about how frustrated we are! Well, it’s a good thing that High School Musical 2 has an exact musical number to describe that feeling. Did High School Musical 2 help us survive the chaos of being a teenager? You can bet on it.
5. The Hats Get Us Ahead of the Game
Allegedly, Ryan and Kelsey wear 13 hats in the film between them, but you can’t forget about Chad’s foray into the world of baseball—and baseball caps! When it’s hot out, you gotta protect your head in a stylish fashion, so you might as well go all-out in true Wildcat style.
6. We Voted!
We’ve all dreamed of being among the cool kids at East High, but while we may never hang out with Troy, Gabriella, and the rest, we still had a chance to impact the lives of our favorite Wildcats. Did you vote on what sandwich Troy and Gabriella would enjoy at their golf course picnic (peanut butter and jelly, btw)? Did you help pick out the “I majored in vacation” T-shirt for Chad’s goofy clothing collection? Did you vote to have a certain Hannah Montana star make a brief cameo during the “All for One” finale? If so, then you helped make part of the magic of High School Musical 2, and each little element of the movie that you voted on is like a little wave from the big screen to remind the rest of us that we really are all in this together.
7. Summer Vacation Fun
How many times have you wished you could recreate the opening of “What Time Is It” and dance through your school’s hallways singing about the awesome summer you’re gonna have? High School Musical 2 gave us not only the anthem of every student about to start summer break everywhere, but it reminded us that even if school stress follows us into the summer, as long as we have people we rely on and care about by our sides, we can do anything!
8. It Is the Music in Us
Just like its predecessor, High School Musical 2 gives us a soundtrack of songs to define the experiences of teenagers everywhere. Whether you need to explain to the world how to be fabulous (Hint: It involves ice tea imported from England and towels imported from Turkey) or if you need to give your friends a pep talk to get through a tough summer job, there’s a song on this soundtrack for you. From the silly to the heartfelt, we can’t help but sing along to every moment of High School Musical 2 and appreciate that when we hear our favorite song, we do know that we belong, thanks to this classic Disney Channel Original Movie.
9. We Have to Keep Our Ears Open
Do you have every single High School Musical song memorized? Could you recognize the song anywhere? Well, then you probably know that Troy reminds himself that his head is in the game but his heart is in the song whenever his phone rings—because his ringtone is “Getcha Head in the Game” from the original High School Musical!
10. The Friendships that Last Forever
The East High Wildcats go through a lot of drama, whether they’re juggling an academic decathlon and basketball tournament that are scheduled on the same day as the musical auditions, or they’re working together at a country club that just wants them to quit. But if you think that these tenacious teenagers are gonna give up that easily, you’ve got another thing coming. In High School Musical 2, friendships are constantly put to the test when the stakes are as high as college applications and building job experience. But no matter the trials and tribulations, the East High Wildcats are always a song away from working it out—and it reminds us that even though we can’t always break out into song to solve our problems, we can still overcome what troubles us if we focus on what’s important. And yeah, sometimes we do need to sing about it to remember, but in the end, just like in the movie, we remember that it’s not about the future and it’s not about the past—it’s about making every single day last!
See the Light in a Brand-New Way at This Tangled Experience in Tokyo
By Beth Deitchman
From high up in her tower, Rapunzel would gaze at the floating lanterns she’d see released every year on her birthday, unaware they were launched with the hope of lighting her way home. From the moment we first watched Walt Disney Animation Studios’ feature Tangled in 2010, we felt her longing—along with a bit of our own, too. It was Rapunzel’s dream to see the lanterns up close, and now Disney fans in Tokyo have the opportunity to experience the floating lanterns for themselves, up-close-and-personal in an innovative new way!
As part of an ongoing exhibition that celebrates Disney animation at Miraikan—The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, presented by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library (ARL), guests can step into the story like never before. Walt Disney Animation Studios Tangled Experience powered by teamLab is an interactive installation that lets you see the light… and the light sees you, too! The lanterns—seemingly thousands of them—are intended to symbolize love and caring for someone important. When visitors stop in front of the lights, they shine brighter and the glow spreads to other nearby lanterns. Watch this video from our friends at Disney Japan to see how magical this experience truly is.
Artist collective teamLab, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the ARL collaborated for the Tangled Experience, which is part of the exhibition The Art of Disney—The Magic of Animation, the first of its kind in Japan. The exhibition celebrates Disney’s rich history of animation and spans nearly 90 years, from Steamboat Willie to the 2016 feature Moana. It consists of approximately 500 works of original art, sketches, and concept art that has been selected by our friends at the ARL.
Both Walt Disney Animation Studios Tangled Experience powered by teamLab and The Art of Disney—The Magic of Animation continue through September 24, 2017, so book a flight to see the light. Tokyo is where you’re meant to be for this immersive special event.
The Art of Disney—The Magic of Animation is organized by Miraikan—The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Nippon Television Network Corporation, The Yomiuri Shimbun, and WOWOW INC.
Disney’s #DreamBigPrincess Photo Campaign Launches Around the Globe
By Courtney Potter
Disney’s “Dream Big, Princess,” an initiative launched in 2016, aims to tap into the power of Disney Princess stories to inspire kids around the world. And this year—starting today, in fact—Disney is launching a global photo campaign in support of all that magic.
Nineteen first-rate female photographers from 15 different countries have created a series of empowering images showcasing real-world girls and women—and the pics are ready to be shared on social media to help raise funds for Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s program supporting adolescent girls’ leadership and empowerment. With subjects including the youngest-ever speaker at the U.N.; a gold-medal-winning Chinese Paralympian; the founder of the first female cycling team in Bamiyan, Afghanistan; a teenage author of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) coding book for kids; and a young surf champion from Brazil, the project will shine a spotlight on some truly amazing and diverse stories to connect with kids and families around the world.
But that’s not all! From now through October 11, through a collaboration with Girl Up, Disney Worldwide Services will donate $1 for any public social-media post of a photo using the hashtag #DreamBigPrincess, or a like of such a post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Ready to dream big yourself? Support the campaign, and learn more, by visiting the Disney Princess Facebook page.
Which Disney Afternoon Character Are You?
By D23 Team
Anyone who grew up waiting for their favorite Disney Afternoon show to air on TV has probably had a dream or two of becoming one of those cartoon heroes themselves. It’s why shows like DuckTales, Goof Troop, and Darkwing Duck are so well-loved: We can’t help but admire the brave, clever, and oh-so-silly characters who gave us new adventures to enjoy day after day. Well, it’s time to make your daydreams of animated adventures a reality—now you can find out exactly which of your TV heroes you are most like:
This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!
Tickets for Disney’s New Broadway Musical Frozen On Sale Monday August 14
By D23 Team
On with the snow! Tickets for Disney’s new Broadway musical Frozen go on sale this Monday, August 14, at 10 a.m. ET. Single tickets will be available for purchase at FrozenTheMusical.com or by calling the Disney on Broadway hotline at (866) 870-2717. Group tickets for 20 or more will be available at DisneyTheatricalSales.com or by calling (800) 439-9000.
The St. James Theatre box office will open Monday, November 13, 2017.
Following an out-of-town tryout at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts beginning next week and continuing through October 1, Frozen will join Disney hits Aladdin and The Lion King on Broadway, beginning performances at the St. James Theatre on Thursday, February 22, 2018, and opening mid-March 2018.
For information on the Denver engagement visit DenverCenter.org.
Today Disney Theatrical Productions also shared its official artwork for Frozen. Look closely and you’ll see some familiar silhouettes hidden within the “frozen fractal.” London artist Olly Moss, who created the design for the Broadway advertising agency Serino/Coyne, told The New York Times, “A lot of audiences enjoy a secondary reveal. It’s almost like a magic trick.”
Celebrate 75 Years of Bambi with Stunning Concept Art from the ARL
By D23 Team
The animated classic Bambi celebrates its 75th anniversary on August 13, 2017. In the Summer 2017 issue of Disney twenty-three, we shared some of the stunning concept art created for the film. Now, thanks to the Animation Research Library, we have even more of the beautiful, hand-created concept art for this classic film. Browse through our gallery to feel positively twitterpated by the meticulously created scenes of nature.
