You can learn a lot of things from the flowers, especially at Epcot! The 23rd annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off today and will be in bloom for 90 days, ending May 30. From Disney-inspired topiaries and outdoor kitchens to the Garden Rocks Concert Series, there’s a lot to see and do this spring! In fact, there’s so much to see, we’ll leaf it to these stunning photos:
Did you love Baymax, Hiro, and their friends—control freak Wasabi, scientist Honey Lemon, fanboy Fred, and no-nonsense Go Go—so much that you’ve found yourself longing for more of their adventures? Disney XD made your wishes come true today with the announcement that an animated television series based on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar®-winning feature film inspired by the Marvel comics, Big Hero 6, will premiere on the network and its platforms in 2017.
The series’ creators and executive producers are Emmy® Award-winning producers Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley—of Kim Possible fame—and they’ll be joined by their Kim Possible colleague Nick Filippi, who serves as executive producer and supervising director. Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series picks up immediately following the events in the feature film, and continues the adventures and friendship of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro and his compassionate, cutting-edge robot Baymax. As the new prodigy at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Hiro now faces daunting academic challenges and the social trials of being the little man on campus. Off campus, the stakes are raised for the high-tech heroes as they must protect their city from an array of scientifically enhanced villains.
San Fransokyo, here we come!
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives March 3 Have a Wild Time with Zootopia March 4 D23 Presents Walt Disney’s Chicago March 18 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Charlie Ridgway March 19 D23’s Very Important Date: 65 Years of Alice in Wonderland—Florida April 8 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Don Iwerks April 9 D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios April 20 D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Portland, Oregon June 8 D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Salt Lake City, Utah Studios March 4 Zootopia opens in theaters. April 15 The Jungle Book opens in theaters. May 6 Captain America: Civil War opens in theaters. May 27 Alice Through the Looking Glass opens in theaters. June 17 Finding Dory opens in theaters. July 1 The BFG opens in theaters. August 12 Pete’s Dragon opens in theaters. November 23 Moana opens in theaters. December 16 Rogue One opens in theaters. |
Parks March 2—May 30 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival April 1-May 1 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival June 16 Shanghai Disney Resort to open Television May 1 Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards airs on Disney Channel from 7–9 p.m. EST |
Can’t wait ’til summer to get another fix of Dory, Marlin, and Nemo? Fear not! A brand-new trailer for Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory just hit the airwaves (courtesy of The Ellen DeGeneres Show)… check it out, above!
Finding Dory reunites Dory with her fishy friends on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And most importantly, where did she learn to speak Whale? Directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL•E) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer, WALL•E), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Modern Family stars Ed O’Neill and Ty Burrell, Kaitlin Olson, Eugene Levy, and Diane Keaton. Look for it to swim into theaters on June 17!
This past Sunday, Hollywood celebrated film’s best and brightest of 2015 when the 88th Academy Awards® were handed out at the Dolby Theatre—and Disney releases received the Oscar® in two categories, with Inside Out taking home the coveted statue for Best Animated Feature!
In honor of Toy Story’s 20th anniversary in late 2015 (where does the time go?), the newest Oscar-winning film from Disney•Pixar was presented its award by the animated stars of that very first Pixar feature—Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Accepting the award were director Pete Docter (who previously won the Best Animated Feature Oscar for Up in 2009) and producer Jonas Rivera. “We are so lucky… because we get to make stuff,” Docter said during his moving speech. “This film is really born from watching our kids grow up, which is not easy. Anyone out there who’s in junior high, high school, working it out, suffering… There are days you’re going to feel sad, you’re going to feel angry, feel scared… That’s nothing you can choose, but you can make stuff. Make films, draw, write—it can make a world of difference.”
The second Oscar for a Disney release went to actor Mark Rylance, who was recognized for his supporting role in the DreamWorks production, Bridge of Spies. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners! See the full list at Oscar.com.
On Tuesday morning, the good folks over at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive revealed what’s to come for Disney Infinity 3.0 in 2016 through the premiere of their brand-new online show, Disney Infinity Next, on YouTube. Some of the highlights include: plans to release four new Play Sets, compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0, in the months to come; the addition of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia; an exciting dive into the development of the upcoming Marvel Play Set, Marvel Battlegrounds, which includes three awesome new characters (Ant-Man, Black Panther, and Vision!); and much, much more.
Check out the full episode at the link above. And stay tuned for more episodes of Disney Infinity Next throughout the year…
It seems like just yesterday that Bindi Irwin took home the coveted Mirrorball trophy (with pro partner Derek Hough) on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars… but in actual fact, it’s already been three full months since Season 21 wrapped—which means another electrifying season is on the horizon! To that end, the full slate of new Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) celebrities will be revealed live on ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) on Tuesday, March 8.
While Julianne Hough won’t be back in the ballroom as a judge this season, we will see the return of DWTS stalwart Len Goodman—who’ll join Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli at the judges’ table. And don’t worry: Emmy® award winner Tom Bergeron and FOX Sports’ Erin Andrews are back as hosts.
Will your favorite celebs be donning their dancin’ shoes and ball-changing across the stage? Find out when GMA makes the big reveal on March 8… and look for Season 22 of Dancing with the Stars to kick off on Monday, March 21, only on ABC.
There’s a new ride coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure—and it’s set to open just days from now! Radiator Springs’ favorite mechanic, Luigi, is back… only this time, he’s brought a slew of Italian “cousins” with him. Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (which is replacing Luigi’s Flying Tires) finds Luigi and his family from Carsoli participating in some Italian-style “folk dancing”; the ride allows guests to sit in brightly colored convertibles as a wireless computer-controlled communication system guides those cars around the track—and it’s all set to peppy Italian music.
But that’s not all: This ride has a place in Disney history! It’s the first attraction at Disneyland Resort to use a trackless surface, much like Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland and Ratatouille at Disneyland Paris. Catch a sneak peek at the ride (and its amazing trackless technology) in the new video from our friends at the Disneyland Resort, above.
Take a spin with Luigi and family when Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters opens on Monday, March 7! “Ciao!”
Disney Springs—Walt Disney World Resort’s reimagined dining, shopping, and entertainment district—is almost ready to unleash its fun onto all manner of guests. A whopping 30 more high-profile tenants were just announced as setting up shop at Disney Springs in time for Summer ’16, including Anthropologie, Under Armour, kate spade new york, Lucky Brand, Vera Bradley, D-Luxe Burger, and Sephora.
Disney Springs, which was inspired by Florida’s waterfront towns and natural beauty, is finishing up its largest expansion in history. All told, the area will feature more than 150 retail, dining, and entertainment offerings in four distinct “neighborhoods”: The Landing, Marketplace, West Side, and Town Center. Look for new shops and dining venues to open in phases beginning May 15.
While many Disney fans point to Marceline, Missouri as Walt Disney’s hometown, it was actually in Chicago—and in a very special house—that young Walter was born and spent his earliest years. His parents, Elias and Flora, had moved to the windy city in 1890 and later purchased a lot on Tripp Avenue to build a home for their growing family. In 1893, the Disneys moved into their new two-story residence, where, in the upper bedroom, Roy Oliver, Walter Elias, and Ruth were born (in 1893, 1901, and 1903, respectively.)
In 1906, the Disneys sold their house in the city and moved to the countryside of Marceline. In the century that followed, the house at 1249 Tripp (renumbered 2156 Tripp in a 1909 neighborhood restructuring) has changed many hands, with each new owner making his or own mark to the house Flora designed and Elias built. Now its new owners, Dina Benadon and Brent Young, have embarked on an effort to restore the house back to its original state.
Since 2013, The Walt Disney Birthplace project has aimed to not only restore the house, but also research the history of the Disney family for inspiration. “Our dream is that this house becomes a place that inspires creativity,” Benadon told The New York Times. “We want to inspire parents to raise more Walts and Roys.”
On Friday, March 4, 2016, as part of the Walt Disney’s Chicago event, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members and their guests were the first group to step inside and tour the home since the restoration effort began. Although progress was still very much underway, the tour was an inspirational and educational look at Walt’s early life and the passionate team devoted to sharing the Disney family story. Read more about the wonderful event, here.
More than 10 years after High School Musical became a global phenomenon, Disney Channel is getting ready to return to East High one more time with the announcement of High School Musical 4.
A nationwide casting search begins today for the planned Disney Channel Original Movie that will continue the story of the global sensation High School Musical—and introduce new East High Wildcats and their cross-town school rivals, the West High Knights.
Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “High School Musical is part of Disney Channel’s DNA. It embodies all that we stand for. As a way of continuing to embrace that heritage, we’re excited to announce ‘the start of something new’—as we launch a search for a new class of East High Wildcats to star in a fourth installment of the High School Musical franchise.”
DGA Award nominee Jeffrey Hornaday (Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie, Teen Beach 2) is attached to direct and choreograph the movie.
Dan Berendsen (creator/executive producer of Freeform’s Baby Daddy, writer of Disney’s Hannah Montana: The Movie, Disney Channel’s Teen Beach 2 and Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie) and Peter Barsocchini (writer of all three High School Musical movies) are the screenwriters of High School Musical 4. Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush return as the executive producers.
Directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega (also of Disney Channel’s Descendants) High School Musical is remembered fondly by a generation of kids and families and renowned for inspiring viewers to explore and participate in music, dance and theater. The now iconic Disney Channel Original Movie premiered January 20, 2006, delivering 7.7 million Total Viewers in the U.S.—at the time, the highest ratings for any telecast ever on Disney Channel. It broke new ground as the first-ever TV movie soundtrack to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and went on to become the No. 1 album of 2006 as well as the No. 1 soundtrack and No. 1 Kids album of that year.
Its critically acclaimed sequel, High School Musical 2, ranks as the No. 1 cable TV movie of all time (18.6 million viewers for its August 17, 2007 premiere). The High School Musical 2 soundtrack is triple Platinum and its DVD release was the top-selling TV property on DVD for 2007. Walt Disney Pictures debuted High School Musical 3: Senior Year in October 2008. Its premiere weekend box office sales marked the highest debut ever for a musical and for a live-action G-rated film. It grossed more than $250 million at the worldwide box office.
High School Musical received two Emmy® Awards, the Television Critics Association Award, an Imagen Award (recognizing the positive portrayal of Latinos in entertainment media), a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack of the Year, an American Music Award and a Producer’s Guild of America Award. The movies also delivered licensed amateur and professional touring stage productions, a bestselling junior novel, a popular consumer products franchise at mass retailers, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando, and Paris and a sold-out 42-date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America.
A veteran of British TV and film, Scottish actress Amy Manson took a brave new step, so to speak, into American television this season when she was cast in the recurring role of Merida in the hit ABC adventure fantasy series Once Upon a Time. Currently enjoying a mid-season break after appearing in six episodes last fall, Manson, 30, recently talked with entertainment journalist Tim Lammers for D23.com. She discussed the origins of Merida—who, of course, debuted in the 2012 Disney/Pixar Best Animated Feature Oscar® winner, Brave—her work on Once Upon a Time, and when she’ll appear on the show next after Season 5 resumes March 6.
Tim Lammers: During the mid-season break, have you had time to step back and let everything sink in about just how amazing this opportunity has been?
Amy Manson: Maybe when I went home for Christmas to Scotland. It’s one thing to be in your homeland as opposed to trying to re-create a place as your homeland, when you only have yourself, your thoughts, and your memories when you’re filming. Having time with my family in Scotland, and especially with my father—given the events of Merida’s storyline in the show—made me feel grateful. Being home really gave me my first chance to think of everything.
TL: This almost goes without saying, but you must be a big fan of the Disney/Pixar version of Merida in Brave.
AM: I really am! She’s really everything, right up to that Afro and wild, unruly curls. Had that film come out when I was a young girl, it would have had a huge effect on me. She only becomes brave, as the title says, over the fear of losing something in her life and that’s her mother. Merida pulls out all the stops and lets go of her ego, and becomes a determined young lady, and wants to put everything right between her mother and her. I love Pixar in general, anyway, and I love the tender moments when Merida is trying to teach her mom how to catch fish in the river scene.
TL: Merida’s appearance in Once Upon a Time is groundbreaking, of course, because she’s not only the first Pixar character to be named a Disney Princess, but the first Pixar character to be realized in live- action form. That must be incredibly satisfying and humbling to have the opportunity to play her.
AM: Yes it is. Merida’s just put a big spin on the whole archetypal Disney Princess. I think it’s because she just takes matters into her own hands. It’s not that she doesn’t listen, it’s just because she’s quite capable and she fights for what she believes in, mentally and physically, because that’s who she is and grown up seeing. She’s grown up with her father, who made her who she is, which is a capable young lady. Her upbringing is what makes her unique. She wears her heart on her sleeve, because she’s from Scotland, where you do it yourself and don’t need help from anyone else. There’s a mantra we have of ‘being borne of the rugged land’ and you just have to get on with things. I guess her character sticks out, too, in Once Upon a Time because it’s not a fantasy land and it’s not modern day. It’s just a whole, other unique land.
TL: Growing up in Scotland, were the Disney Princesses accessible to you as they are to viewers in the U.S.?
AM: Disney movies certainly were, but I watched things like Bambi. I learned princess and fantasy types of stories from where I grew up. I’m from Aberdeenshire, which is also known as Scotland’s castle country. I spent a lot of holidays with my family touring the castles, stately homes, ruins, and landscapes. Aberdeen has more castles per acre than anywhere else in the UK, so I used my time to explore them since they were on my doorstep and so accessible. You could get lost in the storytelling and ghost stories and go to nightly events at castles and festivals during the day. That’s where I was able to let my mind loose and dream of other worlds and places.
TL: When you were cast as Merida for Once Upon a Time, did the expectations of the huge fan base of Merida and Brave weigh heavy on your mind?
AM: It really did, mostly on the first day filming the first scene for the first episode that Jennifer Morrison (The Dark Swan) and I are in. I kept mixing up my lines, but I was told ‘Oh, no, it’s fine! It’s fine!’ It took me about five takes to get things right before I found some momentum. To help, I found myself coming back to such thoughts as, ‘Why am I enjoying this?’ It’s because I love doing the research, being on set and using the language—that’s where I get my kick. What you say determines who you are, especially with Merida. Doing these things helped ease me into playing her.
TL: There are so many things to love about Merida: her spunk, compassion, and skill with the bow and arrow. What character attribute or attributes do you admire most about her?
AM: I love her honesty and her attitude about doing the right thing. She’s just an old soul. Merida’s definitely borne of the land and I just wanted to capture the heart of the Scottish population with her, and that always starts with the land—which makes you who you are. It’s the only thing we can trust in life, since we’re all moving, evolving, and becoming the people that we are. The stability we have is the land, and the land for me is Scotland. She has a ‘never give up’ attitude and she knows there is always somebody else to help. It’s not about her, it’s about helping others. That’s what I love the most about playing her. She’s taught me a heck of a lot in the past year.
TL: I can’t help but think the people of Scotland are very proud of you and your portrayal of Merida.
AM: I really hope so. It’s one of those things, where you first go off in search of a dream and someone gives you an opportunity to act, and after that, you want to go off to America. Now that I’m here, it’s been an absolute blessing to play a Scotswoman for my first role in America. I think that’s how everybody feels back home as well, that I’m able to play a Scot and not have to condense anything, because we’re animated creatures [laughs]. I’m not playing The Dark Swan. I’m not muddled in my head. She has one direction and one goal, to save her brothers, and then she’s on to the next goal.
TL: How proficient were you with the bow and arrow before the series?
AM: I was awful. I think I used the bow upside down the first time I picked it up—I’m not sure what I did [laughs]. But once I started to learn, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I asked for a few days of training before we started filming to learn with an archer. It was about practice and repetition. It was nice to have him on set just to say things like, ‘Your elbow’s too high’ or since you can’t aim your live bow at a cast or crew member, change out the string for a loose one so if I accidentally did pull it, the arrow would just drop to the ground.
TL: If there’s a bow and arrow contest between Merida and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Merida wins every time, right?
AM: (Laughter) Yes! I think those two would be best friends in the real world. But yes, I think Merida wins!
TL: Of course, the mid-season premiere of Once Upon a Time is just around the corner. How soon will we see Merida again?
AM: Funny enough, I just found out today that Merida will return for the season finale. Maybe it will be about planting the seeds for next season. You’re the first person to know! I start shooting in early March.
Happy Leap Year! We get one extra day, every four years, to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the Sun. (Without it, we’d lose almost six hours every year. Crazy, right?) As February 29 rolls around, we wonder just what to do with those extra 24 hours… and that sparked a thought: There’s got to be a way to fill this year’s “bonus time” with a bit of Disney fun! Check out our ideas for a Disney Leap Day—and let us know your ideas on Facebook and Twitter.
Watch The Good Dinosaur
This adorable Disney•Pixar animated film—now available on Blu-Ray® and DVD—is the perfect way to while away the afternoon of your Leap Day… Bonus points if you, like Arlo, have a good, true friend to watch it with.
Sing a “Happy Working Song” While Doing Chores
Now hear us out: Using your extra day to clean your house might not sound so fun. But if you add in a dash of music—like Giselle in 2007’s Enchanted—the work goes by in a snap! (We’d steer clear of recruiting any rats to help tidy up.)
Spend Some Time Doodling—Like Walt
Every so often, we begin to sketch or “doodle” on a napkin or a scrap of paper… it’s a relaxing, almost meditative exercise, and you don’t have to be an “artist” to create something fun!
Make a Disney Recipe
You have 24 extra hours—so why not make a delicious Disney dish? This recipe for New Orleans-style chicken gumbo will have you feeling like Tiana in The Princess and the Frog.
Have a Disney Movie Marathon
This one’s a no-brainer: There are so many Disney (and Disney•Pixar, and Marvel, and Lucasfilm…) films available to enjoy—online at Disney Movies Anywhere or on Blu-ray®/DVD—that you could fill all 24 of your extra hours! We dare ya…
“7 a.m., usual lineup…”
Truth be told, you might be tempted to spend your day as you normally do—like Rapunzel in 2010’s Tangled. But resist that “same ol’ thing” urge and fill your day with things you might not normally have time to enjoy.
Walk Around a Disney Park
Free day? Why not take a stroll through a Disney Park? We’ve already measured some “magical miles” at several Disney Parks and Resorts around the world; add to those daily 10,000 steps while reveling in some Disney magic!
Create a Disney Craft
Keep busy during your bonus day with some Disney-related craft projects—like this Princess Paper Craft that leaves you with adorable paper dolls of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Snow White.
Learn to Draw a Disney Character
Who better to teach you how to draw a Disney animated character than one of Disney’s very own animators? Let Byron Howard guide you through some Leap Day drawing lessons! Perfect for the fledgling Walt Disneys in your life…
Plan a 2016 Disney Vacation
The year is still young—why not spend some time during your extra day by planning a sure-to-be-amazing Disney trip? There is so much to see and do, you might find you’ve spent a whole afternoon drafting up an itinerary. Start your research at DisneyParks.com or AdventuresByDisney.com.
Happy Leap Day from D23!
With the Academy Awards® just a few days away, we asked D23 fans on Facebook and Twitter to pick their Disney favorites from our Oscar® ballot and the results are in.
The winners are…
Best Mode of Travel:
Car—The Absent-Minded Professor
Black Pearl—Pirates of the Caribbean
WINNER—Balloons—Up
Umbrella—Mary Poppins
Best Character in a Disney Short:
WINNER—Winston—Feast
Sanjay—Sanjay’s Super Team
Geri—Geri’s Game
Susie—Susie, the Little Blue Coupe
Best Food in a Disney Movie:
Grey Stuff—Beauty and the Beast
Tony’s Spaghetti—Lady and the Tramp
WINNER—Ratatouille—Ratatouille
Tiana’s Gumbo—The Princess and the Frog
Best Technical Excellence:
Light cycles—Tron
WINNER—BB-8—Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Wall•E—Wall•E
Jarvis—Iron Man
Best Supporting Character:
Fairy Godmother—Cinderella
WINNER—Philoctetes (Phil)—Hercules
Mama Odie—The Princess and the Frog
Bagheera—The Jungle Book
Best Act of Magic:
Three Fairies enchant Prince Phillip’s sword to defeat Maleficent—Sleeping Beauty
Blue Fairy turns Pinocchio from a puppet to a real boy—Pinocchio
Eglantine Price uses Substitutiary Locomotion—Bedknobs and Broomsticks
WINNER—Fairy Godmother creates Cinderella’s carriage—Cinderella
Best Song by a Disney Villain:
Friends on the Other Side—Dr. Facilier
Hellfire—Frollo
Be Prepared—Scar
WINNER—Poor Unfortunate Souls—Ursula
Catch the Oscars® this Sunday, February 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on ABC! Missed out on voting? Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more Disney fun!
The spotlight won't only be shining on Pixar director Pete Docter and his Best Animated Feature nominee Inside Out at the 88th Academy Awards® Sunday night on ABC. Two other Pixar veterans—director Sanjay Patel and producer Nicole Paradis Grindle—will also be at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, representing the animation studio as their film Sanjay's Super Team vies for the Oscar® for Best Animated Short.
Based on Patel's real-life experiences, the seven-minute film follows young Sanjay, an Indian-American boy whose love of comic books, super hero cartoons, and action figures distracts him from actively participating in his father's daily meditation rituals. But when Sanjay daydreams of a lively battle between three Hindu deities-turned-super heroes and a frightening monster during a prayer session, the boy begins to look at his father's teachings from a different perspective.
Sanjay's Super Team is featured on The Good Dinosaur Blu-ray and DVD, new this week from Walt Disney Home Entertainment, and online at DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com. Movie journalist Tim Lammers talked with Patel and Paradis Grindle about the film and its Oscar nomination for D23.com.
Tim Lammers: Has the idea of being nominated for an Oscar sunk in for either one of you yet?
Sanjay Patel: The weight of it didn't hit me initially, but bit by bit, as so many people have been excited about the film being nominated, it's really added up to how exciting the ceremonies will be. It's pretty special.
Nicole Paradis Grindle: It does feel unreal. It's like I've been having an out-of-body experience during many of the events surrounding the Oscars.
TL: It seems that a lot of projects made at Pixar turn to Oscar gold. Is it a competitive environment there? And not necessarily in a head-to-head, film-project-against-film-project sort of way, but in a way to challenge yourself to deliver something people haven't seen before?
NPG: It's not so competitive, but we're working in an environment dedicated to excellence, and the people that we work with are incredibly talented—especially Sanjay, because this story came from his heart.
TL: Because the story is so personal, Sanjay, did that add any extra pressure to deliver?
SP: Yes, but in terms of the spirit and environment of the studio, as soon as people got a whiff of the story, everybody was so supportive. In many ways, if people can smell what's special and unique about a project, they can get really get fired up about it.
TL: Nicole, from what I understand, this idea went through (Pixar and Disney Chief Creative Officer) John Lasseter in 2012 before you joined the project as a producer. What do you recall of your initial reaction to Sanjay's idea? I can't help but think you were floored by it.
SP: [Huge laughter… ]
TL: Did Nicole literally pass out and fall on the floor, Sanjay?
SP: Tim, you should have seen what she saw initially [laughter].
NPG: It was pretty crazy and intimidating. My first impression was, 'This is going to be really cool,' and second I thought, 'I don't know how we're going to make this [laughter].’ It was a very big idea, and I knew my job was going to be to contain it somewhat without losing the brilliance.
TL: Sanjay, this is such of an introspective piece. Now that you've seen the film through viewers’ eyes and experienced their reactions to it, is there anything that you've learned about yourself that you didn't realize before?
SP: There's been a lot going on in my mind because of all the attention that the film is getting. One of the things that I've been reflecting on is how I used to tell myself, ‘I'm not ready for things. Things aren't safe for me to explore.’ But in fact, I was ready, probably years ago, but I held myself back. It wasn't because people were stopping me from opportunities, it was my own lack of self-esteem and readiness and fear of putting myself out there. Now that I have, it's been so rewarding and confirming to have so many people react so positively to the film. It makes me feel like, ‘Yeah, there is something that I have to express that is valuable.’ The best part about it is that I'm working at Pixar and have this great team behind me to not only express things, but to do it in an entertaining way.
TL: I love how Sajay's Super Team opens with the words, ‘Based on a True Story – Mostly.’ Was young Sanjay's fantastical vision of the Hindu gods based on your imagination from childhood, or is the fantasy sequence something you came up with as an adult?
SP: In terms of the boy’s daydream, that is something that we absolutely crafted to tell the story. When I was a little kid, I used to sit next to my father—just as we depicted in the short—but I wasn't thinking about my parents’ Gods. I wanted nothing to do with them. I would stare into the carpet and daydream, and if you stare long enough, you start seeing imagery. The initial spark of the film was based on me spacing out, but also noticing that my father would literally place money next to the idols. This is true to my life experience: I would notice the money there, but wondered why I didn't get an allowance. I told John Lasseter that in order for me to worship the Gods I love, was to bit by bit, little by little, steal from my father’s gods so that I could buy the comic books and toys that I love. That was the initial germ of the concept, and I also told John jokingly that the karmic irony, 30 years later, is here I am, completely falling in love with the mythology and have dedicated so much of my life to it. I'm paying off my karmic debt by doing this.
TL: And to continue the real-life story, you're the one in the father role now, with a young son who I understand loves Mickey Mouse.
SP: [Laughs] And I love Mickey Mouse. I love watching those old, classic Disney Treasures with him. That's my favorite thing to do, reliving the entire medium that I went to school for, and now seeing it through a child’s point of view. It’s been a gift.
TL: Back to the Oscars. Now I know you’re both professionals, but we’re all allowed to be starstruck once in a while. Is there anyone you’ll be thrilled to meet at the Oscars? Or have you met them already at the Oscars luncheon?
NPG: I can say that I've met (Mad Max: Fury Road director) George Miller, and I was starstruck by him. I love the work he’s done, which is sort of a crossover. He uses comic book/animator sensibilities in live-action style.
SP: I was really excited to meet (fellow nominee) Don Hertzfeldt, who created the beautiful short World of Tomorrow. I know he’s pretty reclusive, so it was pretty nice to sit down and talk with him and put a face behind the film that we're nominated with. That was a pleasure.
TL: No matter the outcome at the Oscars Sunday, there has to be part of both of you that feel you've already won in a sense, having this glorious opportunity to not only do the work, but do the work at Pixar.
SP: I feel that way, big time. Big, big, big time.
NPG: I have to add, having a platform like Pixar for this story has been really gratifying and exciting.
This Sunday night, the biggest names in Hollywood will come out for The Oscars® and movie fans—not to mention Disney fans—will be watching to see which films and nominees take home the iconic statue. But the fun really starts hours before, when the stars begin to arrive on the red carpet and we see this year’s buzzworthy fashions—the latest statements in sartorial splendor.
As a rule, Disney characters clean up pretty well—and often undergo dramatic and (sometimes) magical transformations over the course of their heroes’ journeys. Their inner beauty is always there from the start, of course, and their new, red carpet-worthy looks go beyond a gorgeous gown or a dapper suit to embody the qualities that make them such inspiring figures.
Here are some of our favorite examples of Disney characters whose red carpet looks go way beyond the question, “Who are they wearing?”
Elizabeth Swann—Pirates of the Caribbean
When we meet Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean, she’s about as refined and as ladylike as a governor’s daughter is expected to be—but Elizabeth proves immediately that she’s prone to the unexpected. Her final appearance in the Pirates series—Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is in super-secret production now for release in 2017—has the proper English girl fully transformed into full pirate regalia. Elizabeth might not walk the Oscar red carpet in a traditional gown, but she won’t be walking a plank, fashionably speaking. Her confidence and independence will turn heads, along with her ruffly blouse and boots.
Rapunzel—Tangled
After years spent in the tower, where she’d brush and brush and brush and brush that long blonde hair, Rapunzel ends up with a brunette pixie cut when Flynn Rider cuts it, to set his true love free from Mother Gothel’s control. It’s quite the dramatic makeover, and the simplicity of style might cause some fashionistas to think of it as a makeunder. But we see it as a testament to Rapunzel’s daring and adventurous spirit, which Flynn also recognized and knew had to be free of that tiny tower room. Short hair, don’t care!
Cinderella—Cinderella (2015)
Who is she wearing? Why, a fabulous vintage number that’s been updated with the help of a Fairy Godmother who was so moved by Cinderella’s courage and kindness that it took little more than a sprinkling of pixie dust to turn Cinderella’s mother’s tattered (Thanks to the Stepsisters!) dress into a stunner that would be the talk of any red carpet. Though not yet a princess when Cinderella arrives at the ball in the dress, her inner goodness even manages to outshine even that fabulous gown—because we know that Prince Kit was smitten when he first encountered her, wearing rags in the woods.
The Incredibles—The Incredibles
It’s not necessarily enough to simply be a superhero—you have to feel like a superhero, and that just might mean wearing the right suit. Edna Mode takes on the challenge of designing a supersuit that provides exactly the boost that each member of the Incredible family needs—from Bob down to Baby Jack Jack. They always had the power, but their suits allow them to show that unity and strength to the world. Hmm… Super suits just might be all the rage on next year’s Oscar red carpet.
Bert—Mary Poppins
Chimney sweeps spend a lot of time covered in ash. And sidewalk painters are a messy bunch as well. But Bert proves that he can clean up for a Jolly Holiday—or a red carpet awards ceremony?—without so much as a speck of coal dust on his spotless white gloves. Bert is a charismatic charmer who knows how to dress for any occasion, and can move among any crowd of people—from fellow chimney sweeps to upper-crust English society, and presumably, the Hollywood elite.
Aladdin—Aladdin
A street rat when we meet him, Aladdin is the quintessential “diamond in the rough” but oh, how he shines when Genie uses his magic to turn the humble urchin into the “fabulous he,” Prince Ali. Aladdin longs for people to see him for who he truly is, and his noble heart, his dashing spirit of adventure, and his inherent goodness are on display in his royal re-imagining, even more so than his white suit and turban—which, we think you’ll agree, contrasts nicely with a scarlet red carpet.
Tiana—Princess and the Frog
It’s not that Tiana isn’t beautiful as frog. She is—eyes as bright as those just can’t be dimmed. And she makes an especially lovely amphibious bride. But when Tiana is returned to human form—after bestowing a frog-princess kiss upon Prince Naveen—she has truly come into her own. Tiana’s own effortless style is on display—instead of Charlotte’s hand-me-downs—whether she’s in the kitchen of her own restaurant or cutting up a rug on the dance floor. She’s way beyond “almost there” on the way to making her dreams come true—her course is set for even happier ever after.
Ariel—The Little Mermaid
Some folks like to say that “father knows best,” but at a certain point a princess has to stand on her own two feet (even if those feet are initially fins!) and commit to what she really believes in. Ariel makes the transformation from mermaid to human look (relatively) easy, precisely because she’s always been so sure of where she really belongs.
Mulan—Mulan
During Mulan’s arduous training to become a warrior, Li Shang sings “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” Well… not exactly—Mulan can only keep her true identity concealed for so long, but she shows everyone that she’s complex and driven and that there’s so much to her—or any girl—than meets the eye. A demure young girl when first introduced, Mulan emerges as a tougher, stronger, and more courageous young woman than she or anyone else ever believed possible.
Beast—Beauty and the Beast
For a beast, the Beast is surprisingly refined—and could easily hold his own on the red carpet, at least sartorially speaking, alongside George Clooney or Brad Pitt. He’s certainly rough around the edges, but he knows how to dress for a formal occasion! It’s clear to Belle, probably even before it’s clear to us, that there’s a kind and thoughtful man deep inside—a kindred spirit for her. When Beast is returned to his human form at story’s end, those qualities that were there all along are simply allowed to come to the surface.
To see another tale as old as time—how some of your favorite Hollywood stars go from designer rags to riches for this year’s Academy Awards—tune in this Sunday, February 28, for The Oscars, beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC.
Ginnifer Goodwin is an animal. We mean, she voices an animal in the new Walt Disney Animation Studios film Zootopia. As Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on the Zootopia police force, Goodwin is determined to make her mark—something Goodwin (a D23 Charter Member!) has been doing since she stepped into the enchanted world of Once Upon a Time as Snow White. In the Spring 2016 issue of Disney twenty-three, we sat down and spoke with the actress, married to Josh Dallas (Once Upon a Time’s Prince Charming) and soon-to-be mother of two (their second son is due later this spring). Here, in this D23 Member-exclusive web extra, we talk more about the movie, D23, and the chances of Judy showing up in Storybrooke.
There’s a moment in the film where Judy thinks about throwing in the towel. As an actor in Hollywood, did you ever have a moment like that?
Ginnifer Goodwin (GG): Oh, a million. But I think Judy and I are very much alike in that we have never taken our rejections personally, which, I think, is why we’ve both been successful in our chosen field. You know, Judy’s rejection was by “the man,” and she never thought of it, in my opinion, as her being inadequate. It was that there was just so much up against her. But instead, it just inspired her to step up—her inspiration reignited.
So there was never a moment where you said “I’m packing up and moving back East”?
GG: No. I’ve gone broke a couple of times, and that was kind of scary. I remember one of the times I went broke because I refused to take anything in which I didn’t believe. It’s not that I was saying no to all the things that were being thrown at me, but I just was really holding on to my dream of doing a certain quality of work. So there were some really huge dry spells. I remember calling my mother at one point, and I just said, “I don’t have any money, so I don’t know how to stay here.” And she said, “Well, you have a lot of friends, and they all have couches. And you might have to sleep on a couple of those couches, but you are going to make this work.” And, like, that’s all it took for me to keep at it.
What do you think the overall message of Zootopia is?
GG: I feel like there are a couple of underlying and very profound themes. But I love that Judy believes that anyone can be anything. It’s not about the things you’re born with. It’s what you make of your life. She puts it far more succinctly but, in general, that’s what I would say it’s about for me.
How does it make you feel to know there’s going to be tons of Judy merchandise out there?
GG: I mean I can’t wait to buy everything. My poor sons are going to be bunnified. Like, everything in their life is going to be Judy Hopps! But I’m blown away. We were sent the Once Upon a Time “Pop” dolls, and there’s the Once Upon a Time Barbie-esque dolls. We gave some of them to family for a stocking stuffer, and my sister just took me by the shoulder, and she was like, “You realize you’re a doll?” It does not feel commonplace. Like, I recognize that it’s bananas.
What did you enjoy about D23 overall?
GG: Oh, my gosh. Well, first of all, I need to tell you that my son is obsessed with the magazine, and he goes through and identifies the characters, which kind of blows my mind because he’s never seen anything on a screen before. He just knows from us going to the park and reading books and things. [I was a member] before I was involved with anything Disney professionally. I loved doing things like going to the Arclight. [Editor’s Note: In 2010, D23 partnered with Arclight Cinemas in Southern California to screen Disney movies.] I won one of the trivia contests there! D23 is a club of celebration of my favorite subject matter.
Have you had a chat with the Once Upon a Time producers about getting Judy onto the show?
GG: [Laughs] I don’t know how we would do that. I also think that I would have problems if I wasn’t asked to play her! Like, if suddenly Judy was cast I don’t know what I would do.
Maybe it could be a real bunny like in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland?
GG: Right. Fair enough. If she had a voice, I hope I’d be cast as her voice.
Mary Margaret would be, “You sound a lot like me!”
GG: Yeah, right? People keep asking me what kind of voice I do [for Judy]. I’m like, “I don’t do voices.” I don’t even know what that means. They all just sound like me. All my characters just sound like me.