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The colorful world of Alice in Wonderland came to life in 2010 in a whole new, live-action way—chock-full of all the whimsy and eye-popping visuals that director Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) is known for.
When last we fell down the rabbit hole, our titular golden-haired heroine Alice (Mia Wasikowska) escapes a tedious garden party—and an unwanted proposal of marriage—by following a mysterious white cottontail in a blue waistcoat into what initially appears to be a hole at the base of a tree. She’s confronted by a host of curious characters, including the aforementioned White Rabbit (voice of Michael Sheen) and Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Matt Lucas)—and she’s surprised to learn she’s been lured to this magical realm (Underland) for a purpose: According to wise Absolem the Caterpillar (voice of Alan Rickman), Alice is to defeat the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) by slaying the mystical Jabberwocky, restoring the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) to power in the process.
Alice, as you might imagine, is thoroughly befuddled—and the Cheshire Cat (voice of Stephen Fry) only makes things delightfully worse when he introduces her to the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). The Hatter helps Alice elude capture by allowing himself to be seized instead… only now, Alice is faced with finding a way to slay the Jabberwocky and save her new friend. Not yet realizing Alice’s true purpose, the Red Queen invites the Underland newcomer to the palace; while there, Alice learns of the Vorpal Sword, the only weapon capable of taking down the Jabberwocky. She risks life and limb to acquire the sword and delivers it to the White Queen… Later, just as a war between the Red and White Queen’s armies is about to commence, Alice takes measures into her own hands and fights the Jabberwocky—ultimately beheading it, and allowing the White Queen to send the Red Queen and her equally malicious Knave (Crispin Glover) into exile. Using some of the Jabberwocky’s enchanted purple blood, Alice chooses to return to the real world, and winds up charting her own course of adventure by following her late father’s international trade-shipping footsteps.
So… what makes us so excited for Alice Through the Looking Glass? Directed by James Bobin (Muppets Most Wanted) and executive-produced by Burton, the film will feature the return of Alice (back from sailing the high seas); the Red Queen (can’t have a true fairy-tale adventure without a villain or two); the White Rabbit (who better to act as Alice’s guide?); Absolem (in what would become the late Alan Rickman’s final film); and, of course, the daffy Mad Hatter. But we’ll also meet several intriguing new characters, including the Hatter’s father, Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans, Notting Hill), and even Time (Sacha Baron Cohen)—a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.
Upon Alice’s return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and finds herself in Underland once more… where she learns that poor Hatter has lost his “muchness.” The White Queen sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere—a metallic globe, from inside the chamber of the Grand Clock, that powers time. Returning to the past, Alice meets friends—and enemies—at different points of their lives, all while trying to save the Hatter (and escape the clutches of Time himself) before it’s too late.
You’ve heard of the three R’s—“reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic”—but when it comes to Disney in the classroom, it’s more about the three E’s: entertainment, engagement, and, of course, enchantment. For decades, teachers have used Disney films to open the minds and excite the imaginations of their students. “Educational films will never replace the teacher,” Walt once observed. “The three R’s are basic, but their advancement by means of the motion picture screen will give more people in this world an opportunity to learn. Pictures can make both teaching and learning a pleasure. And educators agree that when a student has begun to learn and like it, half their problem is solved.” Whether in your school or in your living room, you probably have enjoyed a Disney production—and also learned a thing or two along the way, maybe without even knowing it. Disney historian Jim Fanning has come up with seven textbook examples of Disney “edutainment” that has schooled us in any number of subjects.
True-Life Adventures Reveal the World of Nature
Magnificent photography, stirring music, compelling storytelling: These are the hallmarks of Walt Disney’s groundbreaking nature documentaries. Disney photographers scoured the globe, searching for never-before-seen aspects of wildlife, so that secrets of the animal kingdom were presented in a vibrant, you-are-there fashion that made for unique and unforgettable lessons from “nature’s own realm.” From the first short, Seal Island (1948), to the first feature, The Living Desert (1953), and beyond, Walt noted, “We tapped a source of entertainment and education that was highly dramatic and virtually limitless. Every foot of the action was authentic, unstaged and unrehearsed.” Walt Disney’s exceptional animal films have inspired today’s Disneynature movies.
Science Rules! So Says Bill Nye
There’s no question that the go-to Disney science instructor is Bill Nye, “The Science Guy.” On Disney Presents Bill Nye, The Science Guy (a syndicated television show that begin September 10, 1993), the former stand-up comic and a real scientist (Bill graduated from Cornell as a full-fledged scientist with a degree in mechanical engineering), demonstrated scientific principles and theories. “What we’re trying to do is get everybody… excited about science,” he explained, because all of the problems that we have in the world “are fundamentally science problems and the solutions are going to be science solutions—and those solutions are going to come from young people.” Taking a page from Walt Disney, the science guy with trademark bow tie stated of his TV show, “It has to be entertaining first, educational second. That’s all there is to it.”
If You Want to Know the Answers, Jiminy Cricket Has the way
In creating the Mickey Mouse Club for television, Walt wanted an educational element but to give it a lively spirit, he turned to one of his most popular characters: Jiminy Cricket. The chipper cricket made a natural educator, since he had a breezy, lighthearted way of expressing himself. “Jiminy’s going to help us with what we call our ‘factual entertainment,’” Walt explained shortly before the Mickey Mouse Club’s October 3, 1955, debut. “He’ll show the youngsters things about the living world, about health, hygiene, safety, and many other things that concern their well-being.” Jiminy emceed four different series, dealing with biology (“You, The Human Animal”), wildlife (“Nature of Things”), safety (“I’m No Fool”), and just about anything else (“Encyclopedia”).
Goofy Drives You Crazy (But in an Educational Way)
In many of his theatrically released cartoons, good ol’ Goofy showed us “How To” in reverse by goofing up a baseball game, a hockey match, or a dance lesson. Springing off his road rage-y anti-demonstration in Motor Mania (1950), Walt Disney’s lovable expert in ineptitude made a couple of motoring mess-ups movies that became smash hits in driver education classes. “Laugh and Learn with the Goofy-est Drivers of All!” was the tagline for Freewayphobia No. 1 (1965). In order to give the do’s and don’ts (mostly don’ts) of highway driving, the three faces of Goofy are Driverius Timidicus, Motoramus Fidgitus, and Mr. Neglecterus Maximus. Also released in 1965, Goofy’s Freeway Trouble (unofficially Freewayphobia No. 2) stars everyone’s favorite goof-up as Stupidus Ultimas. Under this guise, explained Disney publicity materials, “Goofy essays four roles, generally representing the careless and/or discourteous types any motorist is likely to meet—or sometimes be—on the roaring road.” These Goofy-driven cartoon classics are still employed and enjoyed in how-to-drive classes today.
Donald Duck is a Know-it-All
In addition to Goofy, Walt often turned to another of his animated superstars to set students straight. One of the most popular of all of Donald’s—and Disney’s—didactic films, is Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959). This Academy Award®-nominated featurette shows Donald comically discovering how math is important in art, architecture, and nature, as well as sports. Another ducky “edutainment,” is Donald and the Wheel (1961), which was promoted with the slogan, “Donald Duck Rolls Out the Laughter with Man’s Greatest Invention!” The Sprits of Progress (Senior and Junior) attempt to take Caveman Donald through the history of progress as made possible by the invention of the wheel, but the easily exasperated Duck is finally fed up (especially when faced with the modern day freeway), and Donald squawks, “I’d rather walk!”
It’s a Wonderful World of Color (and Education)
Aside from Walt himself, the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color TV series had several very, well, colorful hosts, who also served as educators. Most famously there was Professor Ludwig Von Drake. This self-proclaimed expert on everything explored, in his own kooky style, such topics as the psychology of color (“An Adventure in Color,” 1961), rocket science (“Inside Outer Space,” 1963) and physical fitness (“In Shape with Von Drake,” 1964). Another educator/host was the Little Ranger, aka J. Audubon Woodlore. Ranger Woodlore leads Huey, Dewey, and Louie (and the audience) on wildlife tours (illustrated by footage from the True-Life Adventures) in such educational episodes as “A Ranger’s Guide to Nature” (1966) and “Nature’s Better Built Homes” (1969). Another entertaining (and very animated) instructor was Moby Duck, who unfortunately appeared in only one episode, “Pacifically Peeking” (1968), a study of life on several South Pacific islands. Prolific voice artist Paul Frees performed the voice of Moby Duck; this Disney Legend was also the voice of Ludwig Von Drake.
There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrowland Disney Junior’s Miles from Tomorrowland, which will soon debut its second season on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, brings the newest generation of Disney fans “a mix of science fact and science fiction,” as described by the series’ creator and executive producer, Sascha Paladino. The series follows the outer space adventures of young Miles Callisto and his family as they work together to help connect the galaxy on behalf of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Miles’ mom, Phoebe, is the commander of their ship, with Leo, Miles’ dad, by her side, along with Miles’ big sister, Loretta—a girl who wields computer code like it’s a superpower any kid could learn to use. In the series’ inaugural season, young viewers—and likely their parents—gained greater understanding of sophisticated scientific concepts like gas giants, infrared, and spaghettification, a real term that almost seems to have been coined with Miles from Tomorrowland in mind. (It refers to the vertical stretching and horizontal compression of objects into long, thin noodle-like shapes, like in a black hole.) Randii Wessen of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who serves as one of the series’ technical advisors, says, “We’re not trying to make an educational show. We’re trying to make an entertaining show that educates.”
To know ’em is to love ’em… Disney’s Tsum Tsum—round plush toys of varying sizes that feature faces of popular Disney characters—have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, and for good reason. They’re soft and cuddly; they’re terrifically adorable; and they’re totally collectible. Available plush pals run the gamut from classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh to Star Wars’ Yoda and Marvel’s Hulk.
On the first and third Tuesday of every month, new Tsum Tsum debut both at Disney Stores nationwide and at DisneyStore.com. But now there’s another day to look forward to: “Must Must Thursday”! Starting May 12, Disney.com is debuting a brand-new video series all about your favorite Tsum Tsum, called Tsum Tsum Kingdom.
Ever wanted to see Tsum in their “natural habitat”? These live-action shorts, inspired by documentary films like Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom and Bears, follow Tsum Tsum as they trek through the adventures of everyday life. In this first video, featuring all your favorite Tsum Tsum “Classics,” a Tsum finds himself covered in catnip—and must escape from the furry paws of the house cat (with the help of his fellow Tsum, of course!) before it’s too late.
Stay tuned for more videos in the weeks to come! You’ll see Tsum discussing the day’s events around the office water cooler, embarking on daring missions by the pool, and even trying out new forms of transportation.
We are just a little more than one month away from the grand opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort! Today, D23 continues the ultimate countdown to June 16 with an inside look at another land created especially for Shanghai Disneyland—one that celebrates the joy of imagination and the wonders of nature: Gardens of Imagination.
Located at the center of the park, where the traditional “hub” is at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, Gardens of Imagination contains seven individual gardens with themes of family, friendship, and fun: Garden of the Twelve Friends, Melody Garden, Romance Garden, Woodland Garden, Garden of the Magic Feather, Fantasia Garden, and Storybook Castle Garden. Each beautiful area is filled with engaging activities, floral and woodland displays, and playful photo opportunities. At night, each of the gardens has a cascade of twinkling lights– as if Tinker Bell and her fairy friends are sprinkling enchanted pixie dust throughout the land. Charming bridges and trails form crossroads to other lands of the park, making this land a central gathering place to meet friends and family.
One of the most distinct destinations is the Garden of the Twelve Friends, starring Disney and Disney•Pixar characters in Chinese Zodiac style. This whimsical garden features 12 larger-than-life mosaic murals, each depicting a favorite character representative of a Chinese zodiac animal symbol.
Speaking of beloved Disney characters, a circus has come to the garden, bringing Dumbo the Flying Elephant to guests at Shanghai Disneyland! Sixteen elephant vehicles carry guests through the air and offer a magical sky-high view of the theme park. Fans will be thrilled to see this classic attraction in a brand new Disney park, and for the first time ever, outside Fantasyland.
Fantasia Carousel is a fresh take on a classic attraction “plussed” for the Gardens of Imagination. Featuring characters and symphonic music from the groundbreaking Disney film Fantasia, this grand carousel features 62 magnificent flying horses and two chariots all created by Chinese artists. It is the first carousel in a Disney theme park to feature classical music and multihued, winged horses, distinctly different from traditional medieval-style horses.
The Gardens of Imagination are also the perfect place to meet Disney friends, like Mickey Mouse, who guests may greet at the end of a visit to an enchanted gallery exhibit. Super-heroes-in-training can also be on the lookout for Captain America and Spider-Man inside Marvel Universe.
Iconic Disney Princesses celebrate their songs and stories in a beautiful performance at Enchanted Storybook Castle during Golden Fairytale Fanfare. This musical stage spectacular features Snow White, Anna, Elsa, Ariel, and Merida as they welcome guests to be part of the fun, romance, joy, and adventure of “happily ever after.”
Traveling along the longest parade route in a Disney park, Mickey’s Storybook Express is a dazzling daytime parade that transports fantasy, romance, music, and merriment throughout several lands of Shanghai Disneyland. A line of themed “train cars,” led by a whimsical locomotive, features a colorful cast of performers, as well as its own exciting musical soundtrack!
Once the sun has set, the majestic Enchanted Storybook Castle transforms with Disney magic as it lights up the night with stunning special effects during Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light! During the spectacular, Mickey Mouse shares the magic of dreams and the power of imagination by summoning breathtaking projections, lasers, fountains, and fireworks—awakening the dreamer inside every guest at Shanghai Disneyland.
Also unique to Shanghai Disneyland is the timeless Wandering Moon Teahouse. This beautifully detailed restaurant honors the restless, creative spirit of China’s wandering poets, as well as the diverse and beautiful landscapes that inspired them. This teahouse recreates authentic Chinese architecture, with symbols from the mountains, ocean, desert, forest, and rivers.
With attractions, unique restaurants, character experiences and spectacular spectaculars, Gardens of Imagination is the first land inside a Disney park designed as a garden and tailored to the Chinese people’s love of gardens.
Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks as D23 continues the ultimate countdown to the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort, including an in-depth look at the 12 characters selected for the Garden of Twelve Friends!
With time flying by until the release of Alice Through the Looking Glass—May 27, to be exact—we got to thinking about how much we love that Alice is such a strong-willed and empowered heroine. So when we got some time to talk to director James Bobin—best known to Disney fans for directing The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted—we asked him to reveal his five favorite feisty females from Disney films.
Mary Poppins—“She’s got that twinkle in her eye all the time, that all-knowing and all-seeing look. She’s understated and modest, the perfect nanny, magical but also firm and never indulgent with children. She’s just honest, and that’s what you want to see.”
Mulan—“She’s so strong, such a brilliant character. My daughter grew up loving Mulan maybe more than any other character. That’s because she’s brave, smart, and strong. Kind of like that girl from Underland.”
Miss Bianca, The Rescuers—“This was Eva Gabor’s character and the brains of the two main mice in the story. She was very cool, smart, and elegant. I love that she was clever in ways the other mice weren’t. My kids loved this mom and how she was always willing to take time to work things out.”
Rapunzel, Tangled—“She was another good example for young girls, like Mulan. Very modern and very confident, someone who could really take care of herself.”
Alice, Alice in Wonderland —“How can I not include her? Lewis Carroll’s great intention in creating Alice was to show that women had great potential. They had bravery and were the equal to men in every possible way. They weren’t going to just sit and watch the world go by their front window as they just sat there embroidering. They wanted to get out and take charge just like men.”
On June 16, Disney will officially open Shanghai Disney Resort, and Disney twenty-three is giving fans an advance peek at this breathtaking one-of-a-kind destination. From its opening pages, with a welcome from Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, to the back cover, featuring a map of the park—in Chinese—the issue is packed with exciting details about this new resort that celebrates everything guests love about Disney, while honoring China’s distinct cultural heritage.
The issue, exclusively for D23 Gold Members, provides a detailed look at how Shanghai Disney Resort was built from concept to concrete, including fascinating insights into the partnership between Walt Disney Imagineers and the incredibly talented artisans of mainland China. Readers will be able to explore all the exclusive attractions opening at the park including Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, which recreates moments from beloved Disney animated films as riders travel along the waterways of Fantasyland and under the Enchanted Storybook Castle—the largest castle in any Disney park. The thrilling adrenaline rush of TRON Lightcycle Power Run puts guests in the driver’s seat of a high-tech race, and the high seas adventures of Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure boasts some of the most advanced technologies of any Disney attraction.
More than 30 pages of exclusive interviews and vibrant photography come together to highlight this jewel in the Disney Parks crown, from all-new shows, experiences, merchandise, and dining options to a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the creation of the resort.
Plus, Disney twenty-three turns up the heat with its annual summer movie preview. Highlights include exclusive interviews with Ellen DeGeneres discussing the upcoming Finding Dory as well as her first trip to Disneyland, Bryce Dallas Howard talking about the reimagining of Pete’s Dragon, and Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg revealing details about his Disney directorial debut, The BFG.
Also included in the summer issue of Disney twenty-three is a look at how The Reluctant Dragon, celebrating its 75th anniversary, was able to give audiences a peek at the making of Disney animated films, while paving the way for the Disney Studio’s respected documentary films.
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 late May. Not a Gold Member? Join today!
This fall, learn the inspiring true story of young Ugandan chess luminary Phiona Mutesi when Disney’s Queen of Katwe premieres in theaters nationwide! To whet your whistle, check out the brand-new trailer for the film—directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding)—above.
Ten-year-old Phiona (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) is selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda when she’s introduced to the game of chess, and her life changes in an instant. As a result of the support she receives from her coach (David Oyelowo, Selma) and her community—and despite the initial reluctance of her mother Harriet (Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o)—Phiona is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.
Based on the book by Tim Crothers, Queen of Katwe hits the big screen on September 23.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
Parks March 2—May 30 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival June 16 Shanghai Disney Resort to open June 17 Soarin’ Around the World Debuts at Disney California Adventure and at Epcot September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30 and October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29 and December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort Television May 27 100th DCOM Celebration Kicks Off on Disney Channel at 10 a.m. June 24 Adventures in Babysitting Premieres on Disney Channel at 8 p.m. EDT
Holiday Hoopla A-Plenty at Walt Disney World in 2016!
It’s not quite summer yet—we’ll officially enter the season of pool parties and BBQs on June 20—but we’re already looking forward to the holiday fun that’s coming to Walt Disney World later this year. There’s so much to see and do… including a brand-new Christmas show!
This year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park is returning for 29 nights of spine-tingling delight! And fans of the Sanderson Sisters should take note: Last year’s hit new show, Hocus PocusVillain Spelltacular, is indeed returning to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage. The fun starts on September 2!
Later this year, look for Magic Kingdom Park to get merrier than ever! The same team that brought the Sandersons back for All Hallows Eve is now hard at work on another new show, this time for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The all-new production, “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” finds Mickey and his pals inviting some of their friends over for an unforgettable Christmas party! Look for Woody and Jessie from Toy Story, and Fantasyland friends such as Peter Pan and Snow White, in a spectacle filled with both classic and contemporary holiday music. The show will be presented on nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is offered, November 7 through December 22.
Tickets for both nighttime events are on sale now, so get ‘em while the gettin’ is good! For more info, head over to Disneyworld.com.
Celebrate Alice Through the Looking Glass with New Pink Music Video
We’re tantalizingly close to the premiere of Alice Through the Looking Glass, the further adventures of our golden-haired heroine (Mia Wasikowska), her mad-as-a-Hatter friend (Johnny Depp), and a deliciously evil queen (Helena Bonham Carter). But before the film, directed by James Bobin (Muppets Most Wanted) and written by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast) falls through the looking glass of your local movie house, take a gander at the brand-new music video for “Just Like Fire,” written and performed by Grammy® winner Pink! It’s a family affair; the clip also stars Pink’s husband, motocross champion Carey Hart, and their daughter Willow.
Like what you see (and hear)? The single is available at iTunes and Amazon Music now. And follow along with Alice’s exploits when Alice Through the Looking Glass debuts on May 27!
Oxford-educated Henry Jackman has scored the music for a number of films, including X-Men: First Class and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Trained in classical music then plying his trade in the electronic music world, he eventually “bumped into” famed film composer Hans Zimmer, who said he should be doing film music. So he made the move. D23 talked to Jackman about his score for Marvel’s newest blockbuster, Captain America: Civil War.
D23: What was the difference between the scores of Captain America:Winter Soldier and Captain America:Civil War? Jackman: On Winter Soldier, we were more focused on making a contemporary score because Captain America was dragged out of his nostalgic, patriotic past into a confusing modern world that he didn’t understand. And the Winter Soldier was a very mechanized, barbaric entity, hence the sound for that score. The score for Civil War is much more symphonic and a lot more orchestral. If you listen to the Winter Soldier suite, there’s hardly a trace of melody or harmony or use of orchestra, because he’s a sort of ferocious, contorted human stuck inside a mechanized suit and he hardly has any of his own personality. He’s a sort of tortured soul who doesn’t even know himself. Captain America: Civil War is different.
D23: What was the feeling you were trying to convey with the villain Zemo’s theme? Jackman: Very often in superhero films, there’s a grand villain and it leads to some inevitable clash between the heroes and some grand creature that needs dispatching. What I thought was so good about this film is that it features a more subtle type of villain. Zemo is a sort of an emotionally distressed nihilist who’s very scheming and very clever. I had the chance to write an emotionally twisted and sort of harmonically wayward piece of music for Zemo.
D23: What about the piece called “The New Recruit”? (Spider-Man) It seems very low-key and beautiful. Jackman: One of the teasing things about this film is that Spider-Man doesn’t come smashing in as a full-blown figure. Our introduction to him is actually very gentle—instead of seeing the super-hero to start with, you see the character of Peter Parker. And you see Tony Stark being a sort of super-hero uncle to this up-and-coming, somewhat confused, slightly tender—there’s a tenderness to Peter Parker. It’s an emotional, bonding type of moment, so for that first cue of “New Recruit,” you just get the beginnings of the motif for Spider-Man, and just toward the end of that scene you get the seed of his heroism. And later on in some of the action sequences, when he’s now in full flight, you get a full-blown version of his journey.
D23: Please describe the score for the battle between the super-heroes at the airport. Jackman: When all the super-heroes are fighting each other at the airport you can afford to be grander and more symphonic—it’s a mighty clash of these super-heroes. So you’re able to pull more on the grand symphonic tradition, which is appropriate to elevate that scene. There’s a little smattering of electronic stuff here and there but it’s much more focused on the symphony orchestra. If you added all the players (musicians), there were probably more than 130 players. There’s an epic moment in the track “Civil War” where they really do slam into each other after they sort of rush toward each other and then finally meet head-on.
D23: The final scenes with Iron Man and Cap toward the end of the film were particularly intense. What was your intention with the music there? Jackman: That’s such a traumatic and emotionally strident narrative thread, the run through the end is pretty traumatic—these epic battles between Iron Man and Captain America and Winter Soldier. It’s the ultimate split, and things have gone horribly wrong. It’s a really important scene. The music swells to this sort of heroic finale and it’s a suggestion of good things to come.
Since starting his “Ask Dave” question-and-answer column in the early 1980s, Disney Legend and Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith has answered thousands of burning questions from Disney fans all over the world. In 2012, a collection of these answers was published in a book—Disney Trivia from the Vault—and just this month, the all-new release Disney Facts Revealed: Answers to Fans’ Curious Questions sheds light on even more fascinating Disney facts.
D23 sat down with Dave to learn all about the new book, which puts your—the Disney fan’s—curiosities in the spotlight. Here’s what we learned!
D23: We’re excited about your new book! How does Disney Facts Revealed differ from a traditional Disney trivia book? Dave Smith: Thank you! Well, it is not designed as an ordinary trivia book, in which you read through a list of facts prepared by the author. Instead, readers can explore questions submitted to me by Disney fans and learn some interesting information in the answers. The questions are organized into subjects, like Walt Disney, animated features, animated shorts, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, television, and so forth. One can turn to any page and discover intriguing facts.
It’s amazing how many questions you’ve received from your “Ask Dave” column. How did that start out?
Around the time Disney Channel began broadcasting, I was asked if I could write a question-and-answer column for the Disney Channel Magazine, which was an elaborate publication that went along with the Channel. The column wasn’t called “Ask Dave” then—it was called “Exploring the Archives,” and later simply “Archives”—but it’s exactly the same column. For the first few months, I had to make up the questions myself, because nobody knew about it yet! But that didn’t last long. Pretty soon there was a steady stream of questions coming in, and that’s continued to this day.
Where else could fans “Ask Dave”?
When Disney Magazine began in the 1990s, the column moved there under the new title “Ask Dave.” I was always so proud when people came up to me saying that my column was the first section they turned to when they got their magazine. After Disney Magazine ended in 2005, it moved to the online “Disney Insider,” and most recently, the D23 website, where fans can still submit questions today. Disney Fan magazine in Japan recently picked up the idea of “Ask Dave.” The questions I receive from them are very different from the ones I get from American readers; they ask more about my opinion as to what I feel about something, or they ask broad questions about the significance of things that the Disney Company has done.
A lot of Disney fans ask, “Does Dave Smith know the answer to every Disney question?”
As we’ve said in the Archives, we don’t know the answer to everything, but we know where to look for it! By now, I’ve built up 46 years of Disney experience, and so I’ve learned a lot and remember a lot. So there are many questions I can answer pretty quickly off the top of my head. But others get a little more detailed and require research. The first place I usually look is my personal library of Disney books here at home. But I usually need to schedule a day to research more difficult questions in the Archives, where nearly every collection has been used to answer an “Ask Dave” question at some point.
What have been some of the hardest questions to answer?
The hardest questions are usually the ones that start with the word “why.” Like, “Why did Walt make such and such movie?” or “Why did he hire such and such actor?” It’s just not the type of answer that’s easily findable. In fact, there are a lot of questions we can’t answer because the information simply wasn’t documented.
This vintage photo shows Dave Smith performing research in the Archives, back when it was located in the Roy O. Disney Building on the Disney Studio lot.
We bet you’ve also received some pretty unusual questions over the years…
Oh, there are hundreds of examples of that. But that’s what makes a question-and-answer column so interesting, because you’ll get questions nobody’s asked before. I remember being asked, “How much does Walt Disney World weigh?” and “What is the genus and species of Jiminy Cricket?” And for some of these, there’s just no answer. But it’s fun to do a bit of detective work and try to solve a puzzle, and if I’m lucky, I can find an answer. And it just gives you such great satisfaction that you’re able to find something you didn’t know could be found in the Archives. So that’s something that’s been very gratifying to me through the years.
How did you decide to put your “Ask Dave” questions into book form?
From the beginning, the “Ask Dave” column was popular, and by the time the 2000s started, I realized there was such a bank of questions that could make an interesting book. I started thinking a book would give people a chance to look back at some of the intriguing questions I’ve received over the years and read my answers, and Disney Editions agreed. That’s how Disney Trivia from the Vault was published in 2012. And after a year or so, with that book being fairly popular, I told the publishers it would be possible to do a second volume, which eventually got the green light. So now, the follow-up book, Disney Facts Revealed, contains another 1,000 questions, which primarily date from 2010 to 2014.
Aside from the 1,000 new questions, what differentiates Disney Facts Revealed from Disney Trivia from the Vault?
Because of space considerations, some of the categories originally planned for Disney Trivia from the Vault had to be eliminated. So for the new book, I finally got the chance to include those categories, which are Merchandise and Collectibles, Miscellaneous, Music, and Walt Disney Imagineering. So while many of the questions in Disney Facts Revealed are from the period after 2010, there’s also a number of them that go all the way back to the Disney Channel Magazine era because they come from categories that were cut from the first book.
Over time, have you noticed any interesting changes in the questions submitted to you?
As I say in my introduction to Disney Facts Revealed, the questions have gotten a lot harder because of the popularity of the Internet. If someone needs to know the names of the Seven Dwarfs, the answer can easily be found there. So the questions I’m being sent now are much more difficult. And I’m finding that some of these questions have been asked on the Internet for years, and nobody could find an answer, so they’re finally trying me. That usually means I won’t be able to find an answer either, but sometimes I’m able to dig something up that people have been waiting for for a long time.
Have you ever met someone at a book signing who wrote in to the “Ask Dave” column?
That’s happened several times, where someone would say, “I wrote you a question many years ago when I was a little kid!” And I’d open the book and there’s their question with their name on it! The column has been around for so long that it’s better known than I am in many cases. People have heard of “Ask Dave,” but they may not know who Dave Smith is. Book signings are always fun because they give me a chance to meet some of the people who have been reading my column for all these years, and it’s very gratifying when they tell me how much they’ve enjoyed it.
For years, your column has been associated with a caricature of you. Can you tell us about it?
It was drawn by Peter Emslie, a great caricaturist, years before we ever met. He had seen me on a TV interview and drew it from that. And a number of years later, I met him when he was working for the Canadian branch of the Disney company and visited the Archives. I’ve always had a fond place in my heart for that caricature. Imagineer Sam McKim also did one of me that I’ve always enjoyed.
What would you like to say to the fans out there who’ve “asked Dave?”
As I write in my acknowledgments for both books, I thank all of the Disney fans who took the time to write in their questions. There would be no “Ask Dave” column or books if Disney fans hadn’t asked their questions. And the wide variety of questions—plus the interesting subjects that come up in these questions—is what makes the book interesting!
Disney Facts Revealed: Answers to Fans’ Curious Questions, published by Disney Editions, is now available in bookstores everywhere. Click here to ask Dave your burning Disney question!
We may be biased, but we think The Princess and the Frog combined all of the right ingredients for an animated Disney classic: stunning animation, catchy tunes, and, of course, legendary Disney storytelling. Not to mention, we toad-ally love Princess Tiana! She’s hard working, determined, and has a heart of gold.
Tiana always helps us remember that “all of your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them,” as Walt Disney once said. Here are five times Princess Tiana inspired us to follow our dreams.
Double Duty
As her parents taught her, you can wish all you want, but you have to put in the work to make those wishes come true—and boy, did Tiana work hard! After finishing a night shift at Cal’s, Tiana swapped her aprons and headed in for a morning shift at Duke’s. Sacrificing everything from a full night’s sleep to a fun night out with friends, Tiana’s work ethic is certainly admirable.
No-Sweat Sweets
Tiana’s friend Charlotte is in desperate need of a sweet treat for her masquerade ball and begs Tiana to whip up 500 of her “man-catching” beignets. A big batch of beignets is a daunting task in itself, but to make matters more difficult, Charlotte’s ball is only a few hours away! Even after two shifts at the restaurant, Tiana never hesitates to help out her friend—and luckily, her delicious desserts were rewarded with an extremely generous amount of dough.
Almost there…
Once Tiana combines her savings with the money earned from Charlotte, she’s able to strike a deal with the Fenner Brothers for a building to house her restaurant. While the space is a little rough around the edges, Tiana is confident she can make her dream restaurant come to life—and she’s almost there! Unfortunately, Tiana is outbid, and then the story gets a little froggy…
Two Many Cooks in the Kitchen
After the masquerade ball, we find Tiana in a sticky situation with the sheltered and somewhat spoiled Prince Naveen, the complete opposite of our scrappy and stubborn heroine. Their differences become increasingly evident as the two go on down the bayou—but, being the kind-hearted amphibian that she is, Tiana uses her superb skills to teach Naveen how to cook. By learning how to work together, Naveen and Tiana also learn to care for one another in a very special way, which leads to…
Hoppily Ever After
After years of cooking, serving, and wishing, Tiana finally got what she wanted—and what she needed, too! Along with a loving husband, Tiana gained a new business partner as she finally opened her restaurant along the bayou. Tiana’s journey proves that a dash of dedication, a pinch of passion and a zest for life (and love!) can bring your dreams to life. Blue skies and sunshine, guaranteed!
