Interview: Inside Out Brain Trust Pete Docter

It’s only appropriate that Disney•Pixar’s summer blockbuster Inside Out started with a single, ingenious thought, because it is a movie about the mind, after all. Directed and co-written by Oscar®-winning Up filmmaker Pete Docter, the film largely takes place inside the mind of 11-year-old Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias), who has mixed emotions about her family relocating from their home in Minnesota to San Francisco.

The problem is, the five main emotions in Riley’s brain—Joy (Amy Pohler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling)—have drastically different views of the world, and they’re going to have to find a way to get into sync as Riley crosses the vital threshold of childhood into adolescence.

Movie journalist Tim Lammers conducted an interview with Docter on behalf of D23.com about the film, which is out today on Blu-ray and DVD from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Tim Lammers: Your daughter, Elie, of course, voiced a pivotal role in Up as the young Ellie. Once again, she plays a vital role with Inside Out, but in a different sort of way. How did that happen?

Pete Docter: My daughter was 11 at the time when we started on the project, and I was noticing that she had gone from this very rambunctious little kid to being a little more quiet and reclusive, and I was wondering what was going on in her head.

TL: That’s a great launching point for the film. How did developing it come about?

PD: I’ll go for walks when I get stuck for ideas for films, and I was thinking, ‘I know there are movies that take place in the body, but the mind—and emotions as characters—that could really take advantage of what animation does best: these strong, opinionated, caricatured characters that have strong ideas on how any given situation could be handled. That seems like something we can really do something with.’

Read more of Pete Docter’s interview as well as quotes from producer Jonas Rivera in the gallery below:

Riley’s First Date?—A New Emotion-al Experience

When this summer’s blockbuster Disney•Pixar film Inside Out ended, we weren’t ready to say goodbye to Riley or the voices that live inside her head. Lucky for us, the filmmakers were overcome by Emotions—the ones voiced in the film by Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Bill Hader (Fear), Lewis Black (Anger), and Mindy Kaling (Disgust)—just like we were. Inside Out releases on Blu-ray today with a bonus feature that will give you all the feels: a brand-new short, Riley’s First Date?—which shows us what happens when a boy comes to call for 12-year-old Riley. Riley, her parents, and all of the Emotions find themselves in uncharted territory. Sounds like all the makings for a core memory!

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Riley’s First Date? is directed by Josh Cooley (who is serving as co-director of Toy Story 4, with John Lasseter). When Cooley introduced the short for fans at D23 EXPO 2015, he said, “Riley’s First Date? ventures into the minds of Riley’s parents when a mysterious boy shows up at the front door. Having a daughter myself, it was a lot of fun to mine my own feelings to show this emotional time in a parent’s life.”

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The team at Pixar Animation Studios recently had a lot of fun with another very emotional time in many parents lives right now: the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Our friends at Pixar shared this fun video of the emotions from Inside Out watching the latest trailer for the film. We think it will make you feel tremendous Joy!

Disney twenty-three Journeys to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

To celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney twenty-three unlocks the power of the force to give fans a look behind the making of the newest installment in the Star Wars saga. The issue opens with “guest editor” C-3PO admitting he is unfamiliar with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club (“…although I am very familiar with the R2 series of droid, I am less familiar with the D23 line. Would it be R2-D23?”) and continues with candid interviews with the original Star Wars leads—Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford—looking back (and ahead) at the ongoing strength of these out-of-this-world films.

Director J.J. Abrams—whose long-standing history with Disney goes back to the TV show Felicity—sits down for a revealing Q&A, and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy talks about inheriting one of the most beloved franchises of all time. Plus, Imagineer Scott Trowbridge gives fans a peek at what’s in store for guests at the parks, following Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger’s announcement at D23 EXPO 2015 of Star Wars-themed lands coming to Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

And the Star Wars adventures continue. Also included in the publication, available exclusively to D23 Gold Members:

  • Stories behind the movie poster artwork for all seven films
  • An exclusive interview with Star Wars Rebels executive producer Dave Filoni, who talks about his first, nerve-wracking meeting with George Lucas
  • The incredible collectibles—past and future—that allow guests to bring the movies into their homes, including the story of the groundbreaking BB-8 toy
  • A salute to George Lucas by Star Wars authority Steve Sansweet

Plus, there’s plenty of Disney magic in the winter issue of Disney twenty-three including:

  • The story of how the new Disney•Pixar film The Good Dinosaur came to rule the Earth
  • A look back at the creation of Fantasia, as it celebrates its 75th anniversary
  • How The Finest Hours went from an unbelievable true story to a gripping new film
  • Regular features including A Walk with Walt, D Society, and Ask Dave

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 mid-November.

All Aboard with Mickey: Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip

By Jim Fanning

On November 1, 1940, Mickey Mouse first sported a straw hat, twirled a cane and whistled a happy traveling tune as he waited at the Burbank, California train depot (presumably not far from the newly opened Walt Disney Studios on Buena Vista Street in that same city) to start a jaunty train journey to Pomona in Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip. This classic short continues to entertain today with its surefooted mix of slapstick action, comedic antics, merry music, and masterful personality animation straight from the Disney golden age. In this animated gem, Mickey’s plans for a quick getaway (Pomona is about 40 miles from Burbank) with his pal Pluto are derailed when they discover that no dogs are allowed on the train—but tricky Mickey doesn’t let that stop him from boarding the train anyway. What follows is a hilarious game of cat (Pete in one of his intimidating authority figure roles as the brutish conductor) and mouse (you-know-who). Pete chases Mickey and Pluto throughout the train, and ever-resourceful Mickey adopts a number of disguises to elude the pursuing Pete.

The animators who created this cartoon classic included Dick Lundy (credited with the first animation of Donald Duck), Ken Muse, Ed Love, Marvin Woodward and Nick Nichols, who went on to become the primary director of the Pluto cartoons. Leigh Harline, fresh off his Oscar®-winning scoring of Pinocchio, also released in 1940, composed the music. Cues included “Trains on Time,” “Pluto Plays Follow the Leader,” “Watchful Villain,” and, of course, “Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip.” (The cut-off word “GERONOM” on the side of the train is an oft-overlooked nod to the film’s director, Disney animation stalwart Clyde Geronimi.)

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Even though it’s set aboard a train, this is an everyday “domestic” story that balances out the other two Mickey Mouse shorts released in 1940: Tugboat Mickey (an adventurous team-up with Donald Duck and Goofy) and Pluto’s Dream House (a fantasy). Whatever the story team’s motivation in cooking up the plotline, they actually regarded it as something outlandish. “The director and crew on the [short] considered the plot ‘a lovely thought—but not at all practical,’ to use the philosophical words of Jiminy Cricket,” according to the Disney Publicity Department. “‘But who wants a practical plot in a cartoon anyway,’ the Disney gang said. ‘No cartoon plot is supposed to be true-to-life.’ And so the picture went on. On one of the last days of ‘shooting,’ the director walked in with a strange look on his face. In his hand he carried a newspaper clipping. Yes, it was about a man who was thrown off a train when the conductor discovered he was carrying his dog aboard!”

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Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip was only the fourth Mickey Mouse cartoon to feature the beloved icon with his newly designed eyes-with-pupils. (That major alteration in the character’s countenance was actually introduced in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice but that production was not seen until Fantasia was released on November 13, 1940, 12 days after the debut of Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip.) And it was the last of his cartoons to be produced before Mr. Mouse’s short-lived redesign (including more realistic ears that worked in perspective) that began with The Little Whirlwind (1941).

Because of the short’s railway setting, we can assume that train-enthusiast Walt had a particular affection for this short. And though it’s not exactly hard evidence of the great showman’s specific interest in this cartoon, the only known footage of Walt performing Mickey’s voice is for dialog recorded for this short. The reason behind the existence of this film is lost to history but this invaluable footage shows Walt happily performing Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip lines along with Billy Bletcher, who is voicing Pete. (The footage of longtime voice artist Bletcher, who was also the voice of the Big Bad Wolf, is of course even more rare than that of Walt’s.) Between the classic cartoon itself and this priceless film of Walt Disney, Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip continues to deliver, right on time every time, after 75 years of train-travel-with-Mickey fun.

Watch the Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip classic short over at Disney.com.

Play the Online Game Monstober Zap!

For some interactive Halloween fun, play Disney Channel Monstober Zap! Protect your favorite Disney Channel characters from getting spooked in this classic arcade game!

CLICK HERE TO PLAY FULL SCREEN. (best for mobile and tablet devices)

Enjoy more games at Disney.com.

Watch new episodes on Disney Channel!

Haunting Imagery from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

It’s that spooky time of year again, with Halloween just in sight like a full moon peaking out from a foggy night sky. To help set the mood, we dug up production and concept images—some frighteningly rare—from the Disney classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The film, narrated by the famous crooner Bing Crosby, is the animated adaptation of Washington Irving’s story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It follows the gangly schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, who has a strong belief in superstitions. On Halloween night, after being spooked by a tale of the Headless Horseman, Ichabod’s lonely ride home becomes increasingly frightening until it culminates with a ghastly encounter at the bridge with the terrifying phantom and leaves Ichabod mysteriously missing the next morning.

We hope you enjoy the haunting imagery, and on Halloween night, if you come across any bridges, be sure to keep a watchful eye out for a dark headless figure riding a ghostly steed…

Zootopia’s Voice Cast Revealed—Plus More in News Briefs

Big Zootopia Voice Cast News!

We have to wait just a couple more months for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next big adventure, Zootopia—but today’s exciting news is sure to tide us over! Joining previously announced voice cast members Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), and Grammy® winner Shakira are a slew of most excellent additions including Oscar® winners Octavia Spencer (The Help) and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash); Luther star Idris Elba; comedy legend Tommy Chong; Alan Tudyk (Firefly), providing a voice for his fourth Disney animated film; Marcel the Shell creator Jenny Slate; and character-actors-extraordinaire Bonnie Hunt (Cars) and Don Lake (Best in Show).

Directed by Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), Zootopia takes place in a modern mammal metropolis—where animals from every environment live together. It’s a place where, no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie cop Judy Hopps (voice of Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with fast-talking, scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (voice of Bateman) to solve the mystery. Look for Zootopia in theaters this March!

Mark your calendar with upcoming Disney events

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2015
D23 Member VIP Nights at The Lion King
November 6
VIP Studio Experience with Disney Legend Andreas Deja
November 7
D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives
November 14
Pinocchio: 75 Years of a Disney Classic
November 14
Mickey’s of Glendale Orlando Shopping Event
December 4
Light Up the Season with D23
December 13
Holiday Gingerbread House Building Workshop
Studios
November 25
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters.
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.
 Parks
September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 25, 28, 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015 at Disneyland
September 25-November 16
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
Television
November 30
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The Oscars

Chris Rock Returns to The Oscars® on ABC

The 88th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 28, 2016, on ABC—and comedian/actor/all-around hilarious fellow Chris Rock will be back as host. Rock previously hosted the Oscars back in 2005.

Known around the world for his groundbreaking stand-up comedy, Rock has won four Emmy® Awards for his comedy series and specials, and has enjoyed success as an actor, writer, producer, and director for film, stage, and television; in fact, he recently directed Amy Schumer’s critically acclaimed comedy special Live at the Apollo for HBO.

Mark your calendars for Chris Rock and the 88th Academy Awards, live from the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, on February 28.

sheriff callie's wild west

Sheriff Callie’s Wild West Gallops Back to Disney Channel This November

“Leapin’ lassos!” She’s back, y’all: Season Two of Disney Junior’s animated Western series Sheriff Callie’s Wild West—starring Mandy Moore as the voice of Sheriff Callie—debuts this Sunday, November 1, at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel! The all-star guest voice cast includes comedian Keegan-Michael Key (Tomorrowland) as a card shark rooster named Phineas Foolery; music legends Iggy Pop and Henry Rollins as the Silverado Brothers, a pair of skating ermine silver thieves; and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Chris Isaak as singing horse bandit Johnny Strum. Plus, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea reprises his role as the Milk Bandit, a wildcat set on stealing all of the milk in Nice and Friendly Corners.

In the season premiere, titled “The Good, The Bad & the Yo-Yo / Boots or Consequences,” a yo-yo twirling bandit comes to town and learns an important lesson about forgiveness; later, Callie imparts some words of wisdom to Toby (voice of Jessica DiCicco, Gravity Falls) about returning things to their rightful owners. Sheriff Callie’s Wild West also stars Lucas Grabeel (Switched at Birth) and Mo Collins (Parks and Recreation).

New Jessica Jones Trailer: Open for Business

Private investigator Jessica Jones is just trying to make a living, after a failed attempt at and a tragic ending to—well—being a super hero. Her Alias Investigations office is now open for business in a brand-new trailer for Marvel’s Jessica Jones, above. The Netflix series premieres on Friday, November 20.
Jessica Jones stars Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), Mike Colter (The Good Wife), Rachael Taylor (Grey’s Anatomy), and David Tennant (Doctor Who).

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Disney and Make-A-Wish Celebrate 100,000 Wishes

As Cinderella said, a dream is a wish your heart makes—and the Make-A-Wish Foundation has made dreams come true for countless children around the United States since 1980. Last week, Make-A-Wish held their annual Evening of Excellence awards ceremony at Disneyland Park in Anaheim and celebrated its whopping 100,000th Disney wish—marking a historic milestone in the organization’s 35-year relationship with The Walt Disney Company.

Additionally, during the ceremony—emceed by Girl Meets World star Ben Savage—Disney was honored by Make-A-Wish with two prestigious awards. Chris Connelly, host of ESPN’s My Wish series (highlighting athletes and their wish-fulfillment activities), accepted the Douglas Kiker Award on behalf of the network; the honor recognizes individuals and media organizations in entertainment for their extraordinary efforts to bring Make-A-Wish stories to the public. Plus, Disney Channel received the Chris Greicius Celebrity award, which praises its dedication to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Nearly 8,000 Disney wishes are granted every single year, including experiences at Disney Parks, trips on Disney Cruise Line, and visits to TV and movie sets.

Disney Gif

Disney Gif: Now on Android

Android users of the world, rejoice! Disney Interactive has released an Android version of Disney Gif—an app that lets users send gifs and emojis of their favorite stories and characters via text, email, and other messaging and social platforms. Featuring content from Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney•Pixar, ABC, and Disney Parks, the app truly has a little something for everyone! More than 1,000 gifs are now live, and many more are added regularly (so keep an eye out for new additions in the app’s “featured” section).

That’s not all: In honor of Halloween, Disney Gif is serving up some special spooky moments, including gifs of your favorite Disney villains! Some are live now, and more treats will be added throughout the week.

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Play Ball! Latin Baseball Festival at Walt Disney World

The World Series is already starting here in the States, but there’s amazing baseball still to come in late November—provided you’re in and around the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando (and who doesn’t want to be?). The Latin Baseball Festival, featuring two Robert Clemente Professional Baseball League teams from our neighbors in Puerto Rico, is set to be much more than just a three-game series (at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex) from November 20 to 22; it’ll truly be a multi-cultural affair!

Before each game at Champion Stadium between the Cangrejeros de Santurce and the Indios de Mayaguez, there’ll be a delightful “festival” atmosphere inside (and outside) the ballpark—filled with Latin-inspired entertainment and activities including fabulous music, food, beverages, and vendors, as well as a post-game jam after the Saturday, November 21, game.

This is the first time Roberto Clemente League teams are playing regular-season games within the continental United States—so get your tickets while you still can! Head over to LatinBaseballFestival.com for more information.

The Legend of Disneyland’s Halloween Tree

If you’ve ever visited Disneyland Park, you may have noticed the tall tree in front of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland… a stately oak reaching up to the sky while keeping watch over the passers-by below. Every Halloween since 2007, this tree gets a very special makeover—and it’s all because of one of America’s most prolific (and celebrated) writers.

“I’m glad I’m going to be a permanent part of the spirit of Halloween at Disneyland.”

Ray Bradbury, the famed author behind classic novels like Fahrenheit 451, has a long history with The Walt Disney Company. In fact, his deep-rooted fascination with Halloween began as a child after watching a Disney cartoon: the 1929 Silly Symphony short The Skeleton Dance. Decades later, in 1964, Bradbury and Walt Disney met and became friends and collaborators, joining forces on several projects at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, including Spaceship Earth at Epcot. Bradbury also wrote the screenplays for two Disney films based on his work: Something Wicked This Way Comes in 1983 and The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit in 1999.

The author celebrated his love of Halloween with his 1972 novel The Halloween Tree, which chronicles the adventures of a group of trick-or-treaters who learn about the origins of the holiday while searching for a missing friend. For years, Bradbury dreamt of having a Halloween tree at Disneyland—and on All Hallows Eve 2007, the 35th anniversary of the novel, that wish came true! The Frontierland oak was given a glimmering makeover, complete with twinkling orange lights and hand-painted jack-o’-lanterns hanging from its branches. “I belong here in Disneyland,” said Bradbury at the tree’s dedication ceremony, “ever since I came here 50 years ago. I’m glad I’m going to be a permanent part of the spirit of Halloween at Disneyland.” A plaque at the base of the tree commemorates the night’s celebration.

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Brad Kaye, Creative Entertainment art director at Disneyland Resort, helped decorate that very first Halloween Tree. “As a fan of [Bradbury’s] books, it was really an honor,” he explained recently. “For the first year, [Walt Disney Imagineers] Tony Baxter, Kim Irvine, and I sat in front of the Golden Horseshoe late one night and ‘magic-markered’ all the pumpkins. In the years following, park enhancement has done a wonderful job of keeping it up in all its Halloween glory.” Additionally, versions of the Halloween Tree can now be seen during the Halloween season on all four Disney Cruise Line ships.

Bradbury visited the tree his several more times before his passing in 2012. Today, the Halloween Tree delights Disneyland guests of all ages as part of the park’s Halloween Time décor, and honors Bradbury’s illustrious contributions to The Walt Disney Company.

Pumpkin Kings: Cool Disney Carvings by Fans

D23 Members are a truly creative bunch—and at Halloween, imaginations get especially “spooktacular.” So we asked to see your best Disney-inspired pumpkins… and boy, did you deliver like Jack Skellington on Halloween night! Here are some of those frightfully fun Disney pumpkin carvings, made by fans from around the country. Trick or treat!

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Ellie from Huber Heights, Ohio, brought a Frozen chill to her incredibly detailed Olaf the snowman pumpkin, and takes us “under the sea” with her homage to The Little Mermaid’s Ariel.

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Everyone hail the Pumpkin King! Destiny in Salt Lake City, Utah, went for a true Halloween(town) theme with her smiling Jack Skellington pumpkin.

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Destiny from Portland, Oregon, crafted these Mickey and Minnie Mouse carvings. A lovely All Hallows Eve tribute to two animated legends… bet they look especially good lit up at night!

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OooOOOooh! EmiLee from (Disneyland Resort-adjacent) Anaheim, California, brought a little Toy Story fun to her Halloween decorations this year with an Alien-inspired pumpkin.

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Nothing like seeing this smiling face staring at you in the dark! Justin in Pensacola, Florida, brings Alice in Wonderland’s Cheshire Cat to enigmatic life with this Halloween pumpkin.

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Kelli from Phoenix, Arizona, lets the good times roll with her intricate pumpkin featuring Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.

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Animated characters get the carving treatment from Lisa in San Bernadino, California—pixelated videogame hero Wreck-it Ralph, and Ariel from The Little Mermaid (complete with realistic-looking water).

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Meredith from Montgomery, Alabama, brought big Disney magic to her pumpkins. Check out her two elaborate Fantasia-themed carvings: Sorcerer Mickey and devilish Chernabog!

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It’s a fairy-tale happy ending for Nate in West Dundee, Illionois, as his Cinderella and Prince Charming pumpkin “carriage” rides off into the Halloween sunset.

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No Disney-on-Halloween celebration is complete without the Hitchhiking Ghosts from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion attraction! Thanks to Rachael in Studio City, California, for giving them a lift.

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Avengers are sure to assemble at Robin’s doorstep in Anthem, Arizona, to take a look at her Marvel-inspired pumpkin.

New Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: New Trailer, New Excitement!

Can you feel it? The buzz is building! We’re just about two months away from the official release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Disney and Lucasfilm celebrated by premiering a brand-new trailer during this week’s Monday Night Football game on ESPN. Just in case you couldn’t tune in, check out the trailer—linked above—post haste!

Need a bit more amazing news to satisfy that ever-growing Star Wars hunger? (Don’t worry, we totally get it.) Well, here it is: Tickets for the film just went on sale, for showings across the globe! Get ’em while they’re hot! And if that isn’t galactic enough, many theaters in the U.S. and Canada are holding all-day Star Wars marathons on December 17, leading up to The Force Awakens’ premiere at midnight on December 18. Find out where Droids and Jedis alike can watch all seven Star Wars episodes by rocketing over to visit our friends at StarWars.com.

Mark your calendar with upcoming Disney events

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2015
D23 Member VIP Nights at The Lion King
October 25
Haunted Gingerbread House Building Workshop
November 6
VIP Studio Experience with Disney Legend Andreas Deja
November 7
D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives
November 14
Pinocchio: 75 Years of a Disney Classic
November 14
Mickey’s of Glendale Orlando Shopping Event
December 4
Light Up the Season with D23
December 13
Holiday Gingerbread House Building Workshop
Studios
November 25
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters.
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.
 Parks
September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 25, 28, 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015 at Disneyland
September 25-November 16
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
Television
November 30
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Celebrating Friendship with The Good Dinosaur

Woody and Buzz… Joy and Sadness… Carl and Russell… Disney•Pixar has brought us some truly iconic friendships over the last 20 years. And there’s a new duo on the horizon: Arlo the Apatosaurus and his human BFF, Spot, from The Good Dinosaur.

Disney•Pixar celebrates two decades of animated allies with this new The Good Dinosaur featurette, above. It’s a friendship born of an intriguing idea: What if an asteroid never hit Earth, and dinosaurs never became extinct? We’ll see more of Arlo and Spot’s life-changing friendship when The Good Dinosaur hits theaters this Thanksgiving.

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Disney’s Descendants Meet & Greet Fans at Disneyland Resort

Hot on the heels of the announcement that Disney’s Descendants sequel is in the pipeline, much of the cast—as well as director Kenny Ortega—took Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort by good-versus-evil storm for a colorful fan celebration on Saturday, October 17.

Disney’s Descendants stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, and Sofia Carson joined Kenny at the Downtown Disney stage for Q&As and several dance-and-sing-alongs (including a tutorial for the film’s popular pop single, “Rotten to the Core”). Fans were asked to dress up in their Isle of the Lost or Auradon-inspired best, and several Descendants devotees were even invited up on stage for photos with the cast.

Look for the sequel to Disney’s Descendants on Disney Channel in 2017!

Catch a First Look at The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

“It is time!” Ready to meet brave (and adorable) Kion? The second son of Simba and Nala, and his mighty crew of animal pals, star in this brand-new trailer (above) for The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar—a television movie event premiering Sunday, November 22 at 7 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Join Kion as he takes on the leadership of the Lion Guard and assembles the best and the brightest—who happen to be his closest friends—to help maintain the Pride Lands and keep the “Circle of Life” intact. But Kion himself must learn the power of his roar before a genuine and lasting peace can unfold…

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Star Wars: Force for Change Joins Forces with Target

Star Wars: Force For Change is the global charitable initiative that harnesses the strength of Star Wars and its fandom to make a positive impact around the world. And there’s big news in the initiative’s universe: Next year, Target will join Disney and Star Wars: Force for Change to recruit more schools for the UNICEF Kid Power program, which promotes activity through fun competition. Cool fitness bands sync with the free Kid Power companion app—and by going on missions through the app, users learn about new cultures and earn points for completing challenges. The best part? Those points unlock food packets that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children around the globe.

As part of the partnership with Target, schools will receive Kid Power bands for their students, classroom tablets for syncing and tracking progress, and standards-based curriculum and content on malnutrition and global citizenship for keeping students engaged and inspired! Ultimately, the program hopes to save lives abroad while also encouraging American kids to become more active.

Want one of your own? Target is now the exclusive retailer of the Kid Power bands, and they’ll be available for pre-order at Target.com on November 29. “Do good, you can!”

Sanjay’s Super Team: First Clip

A new Disney•Pixar film means a new Pixar Animation Studios short! (It’s double the fun, right?) In Sanjay’s Super Team, artist Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop culture comes into conflict with his father’s traditions. Sanjay is transfixed by the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. Boredom (and reluctance) quickly turns into an awe-inspiring adventure as Sanjay embarks on a journey he never imagined.

Get a sneak peek into Sanjay’s world with this debut clip, above. And look for Sanjay and all his epic exploits when Sanjay’s Super Team debuts with The Good Dinosaur on November 25.

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Spider-Man Arrives at Disneyland Park This November

Our spidey sense is positively a-tingle with the news that Spider-Man will be making his Disneyland Resort debut at a heroic new character greeting location inside Super Hero HQ—the West Coast home base of some of the greatest heroes in the universe! Located in the Tomorrowland Expo Center at Disneyland Park, Super Hero HQ is the place to go to meet your favorite super heroes… and maybe discover the super hero in yourself. You can tour Treasures of Asgard; virtually suit up as Iron Man and check out the Hall of Armor at Iron Man Tech (presented by Stark Industries, of course); play some of the latest games in the Game Center; and even pick up some Super Hero gear to take with you on your journey home.

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man when Super Hero HQ opens on November 16!

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New Narrators Bring Holiday Sparkle to 2015 Candlelight Processional

Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional, held every holiday season at Epcot, is a fan favorite; part of the park’s Holidays Around the World celebration, stars from stage and screen join the Walt Disney World Orchestra and an amazing massed choir to present a dramatic re-telling of the Christmas story. This year’s event runs from November 27 through December 30—and Epcot just announced the full roster of narrators for 2015.

Joining previously announced luminaries like Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris (both repeat Candlelight participants) are Grey’s Anatomy star Chandra Wilson, former The View cohost Meredith Vieira, Lost alum Daniel Dae Kim, Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer, and recording artist Amy Grant.

For more info on Holidays Around the World at Epcot, and the Candlelight Processional (including how to make reservations for a delightful Processional dinner package), head over to DisneyWorld.com/holidays.