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On Sunday, September 13, we’ll all be paying tribute to our parents’ parents in celebration of National Grandparents Day, so don’t forget to pay Grandma and Grandpa a visit, or pick up the phone and call—a text will not suffice! We asked Disney fans to think about what qualities their grandparents have that embody some of their favorite Disney characters, and they had some pretty great stories and details to share:
“My grandpa is like the Mad Hatter—crazy but sometimes makes sense. And my grandma is like Mary Poppins, Mrs. Potts, Widow Tweed in The Fox and the Hound, and the owner of the cats in The Aristocats.”
–Anna M.
“My grandma was Mrs. Potts, because she always served us hot tea and was as sweet as can be and full of wisdom.”
—Holly S.
“My grandparents are very much like Carl and Ellie from Up—simple, yet classic!”
—Jacqueline L.
“My grandparents are Mrs. Potts and Maurice! My grandma is sweet, she loves sweets, and she makes great food! She loves coffee and tea, and even through her cancer she has stayed strong and loving. She is the glue that holds our family love together! She sews amazing things, including every Halloween costume I’ve ever worn. My grandpa is Maurice! He always tinkers, repairs, rebuilds, and builds. He fixes cars, sharpens saws, builds doghouses, fixes VCRs and TVs… the list goes on! For 50 years (on September 25, 2015), they’ve been a dynamic duo of “Doing.” I love them dearly.”
—ZoAnn S.
“My grandparents are similar to Mary Poppins and Bert! They show their love for one another with their eyes. My grandma is always singing and genuinely happy. My grandpa has always been a hard-working man and the happiest man who makes funny faces, funny voices, and cheers you up when you’re down. My grandma is always shaking her head at my grandpa when he tells us something he isn’t supposed to, but he cheers her up in a heartbeat. She flips her frown right upside down because he always knows how to put a smile back on her face. And that is true love.”
—Jenny D.M.
“My grandmother is so much like Madame Adelaide Bonfamille—classy, proper, and loving.”
—Joseph M.
“My grandpa reminds me of Rafiki because he is a wise older gentleman who always reminds me of who I am and what I’m meant to do. My late grandma was the same way, but she was always a little more sassy in the way she’d say it. I’d say she was like Mama Odie. I love them both—I’ve needed a lot of “corrections” and to “dig a little deeper” in my life.”
—Paul M.
Looking to take some of your favorite Disney movies with you, wherever you go? Well, you’re in luck: Disney just announced some big news about Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), its cloud-based digital movie service. Movie lovers now have even more ways to buy and watch their favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars films, whether they’re comfy at home or busy and on-the-go!
Amazon Video joined DMA on Tuesday, September 8, making the service available on several Kindle Fire tablets as well as on Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices. Additionally, Microsoft Movies & TV now offers DMA, providing access via the new DMA app for Microsoft Xbox 360.
That’s not all: With the digital debut of Disney’s live-action hit Cinderella on Tuesday, September 15, DMA launches new apps for several Roku and Android TV devices. (DMA is already available through iTunes, Google Play, and Walmart’s VUDU.)There are a whopping 450 digital releases now available on Disney Movies Anywhere—why not give ’em a looksee? We’ve got our eye on an old fave: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
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 September 22 The Muppets premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. September 26 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD. November 30 It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Tokyo Disney Resort to Debut New Hotel
Tokyo Disney Resort guests will soon have an exciting new place to stay and play! The Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel is currently set to open in 2016 in the Shin-Urayasu area, just outside Tokyo Disney Resort.
Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel will become the fourth Disney hotel to operate in Japan, and its development is based on a brand-new concept: The designs will celebrate the magic and imagination of both Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park in the guest rooms, the lobby, and the courtyards. The hotel will offer a “casual resort” stay, with attractive accommodations and simplified facilities that’ll remind Guests of all their favorite Disney Park experiences and memories. Better start planning those trips to Tokyo now!
Halloween’s on the Horizon at Walt Disney World Resort
Now that Labor Day has come and gone, the next big day on the calendar is—of course—Halloween. And Walt Disney World Resort is gearing up for what’s sure to be its biggest, “bestest” Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ever, from September 15 through November 1!
We’ve already clued you in to Magic Kingdom Park’s brand-new “Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular” show, but there will be plenty of other fresh entertainment offerings throughout the park. And don’t forget your costumes! Trick-or-treating is encouraged, and you might even meet some of your favorite Disney characters—including all Seven Dwarfs (appearing in one place in Fantasyland), Jack and Sally from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the villainous Queen of Hearts!
The good folks over at Disney Parks on YouTube have been giving us an unprecedented look at the upcoming Disney Cruise production Tangled: The Musical, and their latest video is as illuminating as a sky full of lanterns. The show, set to take the stage on the Disney Magic in November, is deep into rehearsals—and this new look behind the scenes introduces us to both director Gordon Greenberg and choreographer Connor Gallagher.
Watch as Gordon and Connor explain some of their ideas for the show and its dance numbers, and check out some exclusive, never-before-seen footage from inside a recent cast rehearsal. You’ll “see the light,” for sure!
“Ferrytale” Wishes Come True on New Dessert Cruise at Walt Disney World
It might just offer the most breathtaking view of the Magic Kingdom Park nighttime fireworks spectacular yet… and it’s now available to you! (Yes, you!) The new Ferrytale Wishes: A Fireworks Dessert Cruise takes Guests on a ferryboat cruise to an exclusive spot on Seven Seas Lagoon, where they’ll enjoy all manner of delicious desserts and drinks while taking in the totally dazzling scenery.
One hour before the “Wishes” Nighttime Spectacular, and offered select nights weekly, the iconic double-stack ferryboat will set sail laden with delectable sweets a-plenty, including “The Grand” key lime tart; pineapple upside-down cake from the chefs at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort; “Main Street” Mickey Balloon Tarts; no-sugar-added Florida mango panna cotta; and a tasty fruit and cheese spread. You can even toast the evening with specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in souvenir glow glasses!
It’s a sweet ending to the day, and it culminates with those “Wishes” overhead—the largest fireworks spectacular ever at Walt Disney World Resort. Tickets are limited, and cost $99 for ages 10 and up, or $69 for children ages 3 to 9. (If sailing on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very-Merry-Christmas Party nights, note that the fireworks display will be different.) For reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/DINE or call 407-WDW-DINE. Here’s to smooth sailing, pals!
Ultron and the Avengers Arrive on Digital HD
The DVD and Blu-ray may not be hitting store shelves until October 8, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring your favorite superheroes home right this very minute. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is now available on Digital HD! Watch it wherever you go (even on a Quinjet) with Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), and look for a special bonus feature called “Connecting the Universe”—exclusively available on DMA.
In case you just can’t wait to get a peek, however, check out a clip from “Connecting the Universe,” above. You’ll feel like you’re inside a S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite office, guaranteed.
Just Around the Corner: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Sure, we recently celebrated Labor Day, and the weather is still pretty warm around the country—but that doesn’t mean we can’t get excited for the upcoming holiday season! (Especially since it means pumpkin flavors everywhere and the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.) So color us jingled with this news: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort returns November 13 through January 6, 2016. The “Merriest” Place on Earth will sparkle brighter than ever this year, as the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration continues to deck the halls with even more dazzle!
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more info on all the treats, merchandise, and entertainment you can expect this holiday season…
The scene: a slightly eccentric, totally fictional suburb near Reno, Nevada. The protagonists: two small-town teenagers—who just happen to be an emotional brined vegetable and a freewheeling salty legume—as they embark on their last year of high school. Their goal: to cram in as much fun and adventure as possible before assuming the inevitable, seriously boring responsibilities of adulthood…
Don’t worry, we here at D23.com aren’t collectively having a strange (albeit highly entertaining) fever dream. We just described the premise of Disney XD’s newest animated series, Pickle and Peanut! The two underdogs (voiced by Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder and 22 Jump Street’s Johnny Pemberton, respectively) spend their free time working at their town’s Mjärt Mart grocery store while simultaneously dreaming up crazy plans to become anything but ordinary. (Have we mentioned they’re also rappers who can drop some super-sick beats?!) Created and executive-produced by Noah Z. Jones (Fish Hooks), and developed and executive-produced by Joel Trussell (Yo Gabba Gabba!), the show uses a whimsical mix of 2-D animation and live-action clips to add to its already-quirky nature.
“We definitely want the laughs, but it’s all built on top of that relationship between the two characters…”
Pickle and Peanut makes its big series debut on Disney XD on Monday, September 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. However, if you’re eager to see what all the funny fuss is about (and trust us, you do), you can check out the premiere episode right now on WATCH Disney XD, Disney XD on Demand, and DisneyXD.com. (Bonus tip: Check out DisneyXD.com and Watch Disney XD for two lively new Pickle and Peanut games involving churning large vats of cheese and shooting customers with tasty “Spoonicorn” cereal.)
D23 was lucky enough to chat with Noah and Joel—the masterminds behind Pickle and Peanut—just as they were gearing up for the show’s launch. Read on for a behind-the-scenes look into what makes the show so unique!
D23: So how did the idea for this series first take shape?
Noah: I’d worked on Fish Hooks, and [Disney] said, “Do you have any more ideas? [laughs] And I’m like, “Yeah! Let me see what I can come up with.” I had these two characters, Pickle and Peanut, kind of sitting around—and you know, almost more than who they are, I knew what kind of show I wanted to work on. So, when they introduced me to Joel very early on, I realized we got along creatively—we had the same point of view, the same work ethic, and sense of humor. And so we wanted to construct the kind of world that allowed us to work on a show that was fun to work on… So that’s why it’s kind of “Lo-Fi”—everything is just a little grittier, a little more “indie-feeling” than other animated productions.
Joel: And by the time I came in, Noah had already established [the characters]… I liked the idea of having a show about a pickle and a peanut, too. But it was way more than that alone. It’s more about, well, these characters could be anything… It was just the vibe of the show, the relationship of these two characters together, just looking to have fun with each other. And sort of being in the time of their life, as teenagers, where you can be a little reckless and careless—and the consequences aren’t so bad. I remember being at that time of my life and having a really good time.
And I think Noah remembered that time too, so we were able to throw stories back and forth… It’s a great time in your life to make mistakes. You can try out new personas or interests; if you want to make a movie with your friends, it just takes an afternoon and like 20 bucks worth of whatever supplies you can throw together. We want that vibe to carry through the show—we don’t want it to feel overproduced or too “slick.”
D23: Can you talk a bit about your decision to use a combo of 2-D animation and live action?
Noah: Truly, we want to keep the audience on their toes [with] every aspect of the show—from the design, to the kind of jokes we’re telling. And visually, that’s why we really like the flavor that the live action stuff brings to the show. Because when we sprinkle it in, that’s a potent flavor. We like when the viewer thinks, “Wait, did I see what I just saw? What’s going on over there?” That’s the reaction we’re trying to get with that.
D23: What about those funny whispered “asides” throughout each episode? Are they scripted?
Noah: To be honest, when we initially did our storyboard for our pilot pitch, our drawings really weren’t that great. [laughs] Our drawings were a little bit scribbly, and a little haphazard, so sometimes we put text on the screen just to remind ourselves exactly what’s going on. Initially, I know there was a scene where Pickle and Peanut get punched into a giant display, and we’re like, “Oh, there’s some [whispers] ‘ACTION, action, action… ’ going on right here.” It would accentuate something, like us saying “This is [whispers] ‘DRAMATIC, dramatic, dramatic… ’. Those statements were just supposed to be, sort of a crutch for us during pitching. But everybody would laugh, so we thought, “What if we carried this on through each episode, just to see what happens?” It’s definitely resonated with a few people. And Joel is Mr. Whispers—all the whispers come from Joel.
Joel: Yep, sure enough…
D23: That’s hilarious! Did you guys have Jon Heder and Johnny Pemberton already in mind for the voices, or was their casting a “happy accident”?
Noah: From the very beginning, those were the two guys we wanted. They really embodied the characters really well, and they’re both really funny.
Joel: And they already knew each other, and had worked together before—so they had a rapport. We felt like those two actors kind of “live” in our space, comically. We wanted to reach out to them initially. We still looked at so many people, you know, just to make sure we had the right thing in mind, but everybody felt really good about what our initial instincts were.
D23: How long does it take to make a typical episode? What’s the process like?
Noah: It takes years! YEARS! [laughs] But seriously, it’s hard to say, start to finish. Like right now, we’re “at the mountaintop,” as we say—because we’re writing outlines for new shows, creating storyboards from those outlines, cutting things together, editing together “animatic” versions of the storyboards. As well as doing design; as well as finishing up the post-production on animation…
Joel: And shooting the live action stuff on top of all that.
Noah: Right! So at any point, we’re probably working on 10 different shows. I would say, from start to finish, for one episode, it probably takes what—like, four months?
Joel: Yeah, at least that. It’s tough to say.
Noah: We show up, we get pointed in a direction, and we just work until someone tells us to stop! [laughs]
D23: Do you have a favorite episode, so far?
Noah: I’m really proud of this first season… “Gramma Jail,” which is part of the first episode—I like that one a lot, because that was just Joel and me sitting in a cubicle, just trying to make each other laugh, you know? I feel like a lot of shows have a hard time finding their voice. We found our voice very early on, and it’s now about retaining that voice; retaining that tone and sense of humor. I think it works best when it’s us working with other people, just trying to make each other laugh.
Joel: “Gramma Jail” is a good one—I feel like just the title alone says so much. [laughs] But we have a lot of surprises in there, coming up in future episodes.
D23: Sounds great! All told, what do you hope audiences take away from this show?
Noah: One of the things I want audiences to take away is, I want that relationship, that friendship between Pickle and Peanut, to feel real and authentic and grounded. And that’s despite all of the chaos and weirdness that we surround them with. It almost doesn’t matter what the story or the plot is, or what’s going on around them; you just see these two guys and you know that they’re on the same wavelength. That relationship feels authentic to me, because those are the kinds of friendships I had at that age.
Joel: At the end of the day, it’s a comedy, right? So we definitely want the laughs, but it’s all built on top of that relationship between the two characters… It’s sort of their safety zone. They have each other, so they’re able to take these risks—because, no matter what they do, they’re gonna have their friendship as support.
Mark those calendars: Pickle and Peanut debuts on Disney XD this Monday, September 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT! Check out a clip from the show, below:
Of course, we know it’s not Friday yet, but we’re opening the gateway to the weekend a little early this week. As all Star Wars and Disney fans know, Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise goes on sale at midnight on Friday, September 4… which simply means that we’re going to stay up a little past our bedtime on Thursday, September 3, to be among the first to get our hands on the newest toys, collectibles, gadgets, and more. But leading up to that, we were glued to our screens—computer, tablet, and mobile—watching the rolling 18-hour global live unboxing event that began in Sydney, Australia and continued on through Asia, Europe, Canada, and South and North America, leading up to retailers around the globe opening their doors at midnight on Friday.
Light Speed to Season Two: Star Wars Rebels Back in October on Disney XD
Brace yourself as the power of the Empire grows, and get ready for the big debut of fan-fave Clone Troopers… Star Wars Rebels Season Two, with all-new episodes, begins Wednesday, October 14, at 9:30 p.m. on Disney XD!
As we catch up with the intrepid crew, the Imperial oppression on Lothal is growing stronger—and the Rebels seek out new allies and resources to sustain their fight against the evil Empire. With the help of Ahsoka Tano, the crew of the Ghost enlists some old friends: ex-Clone Troopers who fought in the Clone Wars. Through dangerous rescue missions, crazy space chases, and amazing Lightsaber duels, the Rebels’ bond will be tested like never before. Check out a sneak peak, above!
And that’s not all: Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season One is now available on Blu-ray and DVD! The collection delivers all 15 action-packed episodes from Season One, plus out-of-this-world, never-before-seen bonus material including cast and crew interviews. Pick one up at your local “trading post” today.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
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 September 22 The Muppets premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. September 26 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD. November 30 It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Unlock a Magical World with New Sofia the First Episodes
Huge news, Sofia the First fans! Sofia’s Aunt Tilly returns to give her a gift that will unlock a secret world and appoints Sofia storykeeper of amazing magical books in Sofia the First: “The Secret Library,” the first episode of a four-part story arc debuting Monday, October 12—at 9 a.m. on Disney Channel, and later at 7 p.m. on Disney Junior. If that weren’t special enough, the episode also features an appearance by fiery Brave heroine Merida! Bonnie Hunt (Cars), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), and Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) all lend their voices to the four-part arc.
Can’t wait ’til October to see what lies in store? Whet your whistle with the new illustrated storybook and e-book Sofia the First: The Secret Library—just released Tuesday, September 1—from Disney Publishing Worldwide, which introduces the tale of how Sofia becomes storykeeper of magical books without endings. (An accompanying app featuring three exclusive stories and play experiences will be released on Thursday, October 8.)
And on Monday, October 5, look for a full-length preview and a fun new game for Sofia the First: “The Secret Library” to debut on WATCHDisneyJunior.com and the WATCH Disney Junior app. Saddle up for adventure!
Derek and Julianne Hough Waltz Through Magic Kingdom Park
Celebrities often seek out a little late-summer Disney magic, just like the rest of us… so it’s no surprise that Dancing with the Stars’ star siblings Derek and Julianne Hough recently spent some time enjoying Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World! As you can see by the photo above, the duo met two enchanting new dance partners—Sleeping Beauty’s Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip—and took them for a spin inside Cinderella Castle. We give ’em perfect 10s across the board…
“Force Friday” Comes to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts
Unless you’ve been living under an Endorian boulder, you know that September 4 is “Force Friday,” a very special 24-hours in which a heaping helping of new Star Wars-themed merchandise will make its way into a toy store (or online retailer) near you… and it’s all the better to help fans gear up for Star Wars: The Force Awakens this December! Naturally, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort don’t want to miss out on all the “Force” fun—so each resort is holding “Force Friday” events on September 4 at 12:01 a.m. (midnight) that include the opportunity to be among the very first to purchase new Star Wars and Star Wars: The Force Awakens-themed merchandise (including Disney Park merchandise exclusives and licensed products). Plus, attendees will also receive an exclusive “Force Friday” Logo Messenger Bag!
Disneyland Resort’s event will be held inside the World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney District, and Walt Disney World Resort’s will take place at Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney Marketplace. “Red-24, Red-30, follow me!”
Dancing With the Stars: New Season’s Stars Announced!
Dancing With the Stars’ 21st season is just around the corner—and the hit ABC show has been tantalizing us with several competitor “reveals” over the last few weeks. Recently, Disneyland Park was the setting for a particularly memorable reveal, as actors Alexa (Spy Kids) and Carlos PenaVega (Big Time Rush) were announced as the first-ever married couple to compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy!
It was a truly special day for Alexa—not only did she and Carlos make some DWTS history, but it was also her birthday! No better place to spend it than Disneyland Resort, right? Learn more about this Disney-loving couple in the video, above.
Alex (and her partner, Mark Ballas) and Carlos (and his partner, Witney Carson) are joining a cavalcade of celebrities for Season 21—all of whom are eager to don their dancin’ shoes, including:
Army National Guard specialist and hero (recently helping to overpower a terrorist on a French train) Alek Skarlatos, who’s dancing with Lindsay Arnold
Singer Andy Grammer, with partner Allison Holker
Wildlife conservationist and actress Bindi Irwin, dancing with Derek Hough
Award-winning R&B star Chaka Khan, with Keo Motsepe
Actor Gary Busey, dancing with Anna Trebunskaya
Social media star Hayes Grier, partnered with Emma Slater
Reality TV star and singer Kim Zolciak Biermann, dancing with Tony Dovolani
Pop singer Nick Carter, with Sharna Burgess
Celebrity chef Paula Deen, dancing with Louis van Amstel
Singer and reality TV star Tamar Braxton, with Val Chmerkovskiy
Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza, partnered with newly returning pro Karina Smirnoff.
Film Historian and Author J.B. Kaufman (Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic) makes the Dog Days of Summer a little cooler with his look back at the making of the 1949 short Pluto’s Sweater.
Recently, in the course of some other research, I made an interesting Pluto discovery. Pluto’s Sweater (1949), one of dozens of Pluto shorts released during the 1940s, was, I found, unusually well-documented in the Walt Disney Archives and Animation Research Library. By the late ’40s the Pluto production unit was headed by director Charles Nichols, a former animator. Working with his regular staff of artists, Nichols turned out Pluto shorts on schedule as a consistent, reliable product line. The resulting cartoons are not among the celebrated Disney classics; in fact, Disney fans tend to look upon them with little regard (although one of them was nominated for an Academy Award®).
But that very obscurity makes the late-1940s Plutos more interesting in another way. The postwar years are a pivotal period in Disney history, a breathless pause between the turbulence of the war years and a new surge of activity in the 1950s. Walt, restless to try something new, was venturing into live-action production and other unfamiliar territories. Meanwhile, the Shorts units were continuing to crank out one-reel cartoons featuring the familiar Disney characters—perhaps with reduced personal involvement by Walt himself, but aware that they were providing the studio’s bread and butter. Thanks to the wealth of documentation of Pluto’s Sweater, we can gain an insight into the workings of this overlooked branch of the Disney studio during these years.
The story of Pluto’s Sweater was the work of Eric Gurney and Milt Schaffer, two story artists of long experience. During the spring of 1947 they developed their outline: Minnie Mouse knits a sweater for Pluto, to keep him warm outside in cold weather. Pluto, mortified at the sight of the sweater, frantically tries to avoid wearing it, while Figaro enjoys his discomfiture. Forced to go outside in the new garment, Pluto tries to extricate himself from it and, in the process, falls in water. The sweater, now soaking wet, begins to shrink and becomes much too small for Pluto—but is now perfectly suited to Figaro.
By the end of April 1947, unit secretary Dorothy Link could report to production supervisor Ken Peterson that this story had been broken down into scenes and handed out to the animators. Allowing for some turnover, Nichols maintained a consistent crew of animators in the Pluto unit during these years. In casting them for Pluto’s Sweater, he assigned the more “character-driven” scenes—Pluto and Figaro ridiculing the sweater, Pluto’s horror when he realizes the sweater is intended for him, Minnie in tears—to Phil Duncan, while George Nicholas, Hugh Fraser, and George Kreisl took the more action-oriented scenes. Most of Pluto’s outdoor scenes, attempting to free himself from the sweater, were divided between Fraser and Kreisl. Duncan and Nicholas, between them, animated all of Minnie’s and Figaro’s scenes; Nicholas also animated the brief appearance of the gang of dogs who spot Pluto wearing the sweater and laugh at him.
The artists set to work quickly, and within a week’s time, in early May 1947, Nichols was viewing some of their rough pencil animation in sweatbox. He issued sweatbox notes to them, asking for minor changes in their animation. Even at this early stage of production, Nichols focused on details: Duncan was asked to draw Figaro in one scene with his “eyes … about 3/4 closed with just a little of the pupil showing in the final pose”; Nicholas, in animating another scene, was asked to “take out the devilish expression and just have Figaro smiling at the end.” Nichols is sometimes criticized today for the blandness of the cartoons he directed, but in fact, in writing these sweatbox notes, he pushed for stronger action. Critiquing the scene in which Minnie pushes Pluto, in his new sweater, toward the door, director Nichols told animator Nicholas that “This scene should be much more definite,” urging broader, more violent action for both characters.
In animating their scenes, these artists didn’t hesitate to make use of all the resources of the Disney studio. During one of the exterior scenes in this short—scene 43, Pluto attempting to pull the sweater loose with his teeth—the alert Disney fan may spot a brief snippet of action that looks familiar. In the midst of this scene, animator Hugh Fraser cannily borrowed a short passage from the legendary “Flypaper Sequence”—animated by Norm Ferguson nearly fifteen years earlier for the classic short Playful Pluto.
During the spring and early summer of 1947, in between his work on other shorts simultaneously in production, Nichols continued to review the animators’ work on Pluto’s Sweater and to tinker with other details. In mid-May, Dorothy Link sent a detailed two-page memo to editor Hal Burns, enumerating the film’s sound effects. Most of these sounds were drawn from the studio’s extensive library of prerecorded sound effects; but for Pluto’s scenes outdoors, Link noted, “We recorded some running, soft thumps and runs where Pluto is in sweater—accent when he hits ground.”
Thanks to the wealth of documentation of Pluto’s Sweater, we can gain an insight into the workings of this overlooked branch of the Disney studio during these years.
By early July, Nichols was satisfied with the animators’ “ruffs.” Now he okayed all the scenes for cleanup, moving from the rough generality of the animators’ original sketches to the polished precision of the “cleaned-up” drawings which would be traced onto cels. Still maintaining his eye for detail, Nichols cautioned the cleanup artists to maintain a consistent appearance for the sweater in the early scenes, making it “look like a ski suit on Pluto—baggy legs with tight cuffs, etc.”
The cleanup animators began to return their finished assignments to Nichols, and now he started the review process over again—this time viewing the cleaned-up pencil scenes and approving them, one by one, to be sent to the inkers. From October 1947 into early 1948, the review continued. As before, Nichols viewed the scenes with a critical eye, approving most of them without comment but occasionally calling for a correction: fixing an unwanted jump in the action here, a registration problem there. By the first week in February 1948, all the scenes had been approved.
Even after this extended, painstaking effort during production, one more hurdle remained. Early in March 1948 the decision was made to cut out a major quantity of Minnie Mouse’s dialogue. Minnie’s lines had been recorded nearly a year earlier and had been part of the soundtrack ever since. The records don’t tell us whether these cuts were called for by Walt himself or by someone else, but for whatever reason, Minnie became much less talkative in the spring of 1948.
Most of these cuts involved off-screen dialogue, and so were relatively simple matters of sound editing. In scene 15, for example, the camera saw Pluto and Figaro attempting to hide under the sofa while Minnie, in another room, called “Oh Pluto, here, boy!” Eliminating her follow-up line, “I have a wonderful surprise for you,” called for no changes in the animation. However, scene 56, a close-up of Minnie reading a book, had originally shown her reading out loud. When this idea was dropped, the scene was retrieved from Ink and Paint so that Phil Duncan could reanimate it, eliminating Minnie’s mouth movement.
With these changes in place, the short was finally completed. The finished scenes went to the camera department in mid-March 1948. After a short round of retakes, the final negative was assembled, and Pluto’s Sweater took its place in the Disney schedule of releases. The studio registered it with a copyright date of 18 May 1948, but, in fact, the official release date was nearly a year later, at the end of April 1949. Today Pluto’s Sweater is little remarked upon—but when we consider how many shorts the studio released during these years, and that each one of them received a similar level of care and attention, we can gain a fresh perspective on this little-remembered chapter of Disney animation history.
An authentic dog star in the Disney galaxy, Pluto has been “best in show” ever since he first sniffed out stardom in 1930. Walt was inspired to create Disney’s top dog by remembering the personable pooches he met while living on the farm in his childhood home of Marceline, Missouri. Ever since Pluto has, as Walt put it, been “working hard and trying, but usually not succeeding, in staying out of trouble.” In celebration of Mickey’s pal Pluto during these dog days of summer, we’ve dug up ten fascinating facts about everyone’s favorite fido.
Pluto’s Debut Was in Duplicate
“Back in the early ’30s, we were doing a story where Mickey Mouse escaped from a chain gang,” Walt Disney explained, referring to The Chain Gang (1930). “We needed a bloodhound. Pluto got the part and turned out so well, we used him twice.” Yes, there were two bloodhounds in what is considered to be Pluto’s first film. These “blood brothers” so pleased Walt that he decided to cast this canine as a fully licensed member for Mickey’s stable—make that kennel—of stars.
Identity Crisis
For one of the world’s most famous dogs, Pluto started out with a dizzying variety of identities. After The Chain Gang, Pluto popped up in his rightful role as household pet in The Picnic (1930)—but he was named Rover and belonged not to Mickey but to Minnie. Finally, in his third film, The Moose Hunt (1931), the hound found a firmly entrenched place as Mickey’s pet. To name the Mouse’s trusty companion, Walt doggedly dug through many mutt-worthy monikers, including Pal and Homer the Hound. Finally, most likely in honor of the headline-grabbing newly discovered planet, and certainly with an eye to alliteration, the imaginative producer decided on Pluto the Pup.
Speak, Pluto, Speak
Pluto is a pantomime character; his animators express the pooch’s personality through pure action. However, audiences actually heard Pluto speak in The Moose Hunt (1931), wherein the pooch actually said, “Kiss me!” to Mickey. This one-off gag was not repeated, as it interfered with personality for the sake of an easy laugh. Another vocal experiment came in Mickey’s Kangaroo (1935), wherein the inner thoughts of the otherwise mute mutt are voiced. Pluto even crooned (with the help of a hidden record player) “You Belong to My Heart” from The Three Caballeros (1945) in Pluto’s Blue Note (1947). But overall, any Pluto dialogue has been mere doggerel, for as veteran Pluto animator Nick Nichols explained, “We’ve generally kept Pluto all dog…. He doesn’t speak, except for a breathy ‘Yeah! Yeah!’ and a panting, raspy kind of laugh.” Disney Legend Pinto Colvig, the original voice of Disney’s other dog star, Goofy, performed most of Pluto’s woofs, yaps, and yelps. Today, another Disney Legend, Bill Farmer, carries on the vocal tradition, speaking for Goofy and barking for Pluto.
“Yet through all these great moments I think I can safely say Pluto hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still the same unaffected, simple-minded mutt he’s always been.”
-Walt Disney
Pluto Thinks it Through
Mickey may have been the first cartoon character to convey personality, but his loyal pet was the original onscreen thinker. Master animator and Disney Legend Norm “Fergy” Ferguson created a milestone in character animation with the famed flypaper sequence Fergy animated for Playful Pluto (1934). (You can see Fergy animate Pluto in the behind-the-scenes feature The Reluctant Dragon, 1941). The unforgettable sequence—Pluto unknowingly sits on a sheet of flypaper leading to a sticky string of hilarious gags as he attempts to figure out what’s wrong and how to free himself, marked one of the first times an animated character appeared to actually be thinking. Disney Legend and master animator Frank Thomas noted, “This was the key to making a believable character—getting the character to think and puzzle out a situation. Pluto was ideal for this.” For this groundbreaking scene, “so much depended on the building up of the situation and the pauses for Pluto to think about the different ways to get rid of the flypaper,” Fergy explained. “Good expressions were necessary… to build the gag or situation to a climax… The animator has to feel the situation himself.” So priceless was the flypaper sequence that Walt had it reshot in color in Beach Picnic (1938).
Pluto’s Forgotten Family
A romantic at heart, Pluto is most often portrayed as a bowser bachelor, falling for such canine cuties as Fifi the Pekinese or Dinah the dachshund. But Pluto’s Quin-Puplets (1937)—the first animated short officially starring Pluto—was cleverly created in the wake of the 1930s craze kicked up by the celebrated Dionne quintuplets: Pluto and Fifi are seen as “Mr. And Mrs. Pluto,” the parents of five mischievous mini-Plutos. Pluto was also seen as the doggie daddy of a pup who followed in his pop’s paw prints in Pluto, Junior (1942), while even more of this fido’s family was revealed with a little guy named K.B. in Pluto’s Kid Brother (1946).
“We’ve generally kept Pluto all dog…. He doesn’t speak, except for a breathy ‘Yeah! Yeah!’ and a panting, raspy kind of laugh.”
-Nick Nichols
Prolific Pup
The fun-loving fido starred in 48 official cartoons of his own, but Pluto is in a good number of Mickey Mouse cartoons in which the scene-stealing hound is actually the star, including Pluto’s Party (1952) and The Simple Things (1953). Additionally, Walt made pairing Pluto up with Donald Duck a pet project as he felt that Pluto’s pet’s-eye POV worked well with Donald’s bombastic temper. The first Duck-and-dog show was the aptly titled Donald and Pluto (1936), with other examples being Donald’s Dog Laundry (1940) and The Eyes Have It (1945). And the sometimes-foolhardy hound was the one and only member of Mickey’s gang to star in his very own Silly Symphony cartoon, Mother Pluto (1936).
Comic Book Canine
Pluto is a worldwide favorite in the comics. Aside from eagerly popping up in the Mickey Mouse comic strip from 1931 on, Pluto the Pup was showcased in the Silly Symphony Sunday comic page beginning in 1939. (In a meta moment for the lovable mutt, Pluto peruses his own Sunday comic page in A Gentleman’s Gentleman, 1941). The first Disney comic publication to feature original material just happened to star our pioneering pooch: Pluto Saves the Ship was originally printed in 1942, co-written by comic book maestro and Disney Legend Carl Barks. Always a good boy, Pluto was rewarded with his own comic book starting in 1952, including such elaborate graphic novels as Pluto Joins The Circus (October 1961), a 30-page epic drawn by Mickey-and-Pluto master Paul Murry. These panel-by-panel exploits of the accident-prone pup have been published all over the world in a multitude of languages, including Italian, German, Swedish, and Greek.
Hound Hero
Pluto suited up for service along with the rest of Mickey’s gang during World War II. Private Pluto (1943) finds the people-pleasing pooch guarding a pillbox that two pesky chipmunks (proto-Chip ‘n’ Dale) are using for acorn storage, while in The Army Mascot (1942), Pluto replaces Gunther Goat as Camp Drafty’s mascot, and in Canine Patrol (1945), Pluto was a member of the US Coast Guard Patrol. “But,” said Walt Disney, “I believe Pluto’s proudest moment really came during [World War II] when our fighting forces in every sector of the world began to shower in requests for Pluto to pose for their battle insignia.” The patriotic pup appeared on approximately 45 Disney-designed military insignia for those outfits “who chose Pluto as their official mascot.”
Pluto Wins a Coveted Canine Award (And an Oscar® Too)
In 1942, Walt Disney said, Pluto “was presented with the Tailwagger’s own Academy Award®, the Boscar, for being the most promising dog actor of the year, a supreme honor for achievement in dog circles. His fellow artists in the human acting profession made it a grand slam when they awarded this same Boscar-winning movie the motion picture Academy Award for the year.” The great showman (and dog-lover) refers to Lend A Paw, which indeed won the Oscar for Best Cartoon. The opening titles carry a unique and man’s-best-friend-worthy inscription: “This picture is dedicated to the Tailwagger Foundation in recognition of its work in lending a paw to man’s animal friends.” The Tailwaggers Foundation funds qualified nonprofit organizations that aid sick animals to which Walt Disney was a generous donor—a fact that undoubtedly made Pluto’s tail wag, indeed.
Pluto, Television Star
Early in the run of his weekly TV anthology series—in fact, it was the sixth episode of Disneyland—Walt presented “A Story of Dogs,” featuring a tribute to his first dog star. This was only the start of Mickey’s best pal on the small screen. The first Mousekartoon showcased on the Mickey MouseClub television series, on October 3, 1955, was Pueblo Pluto (1949). Today, Pluto joins in the problem-solving fun in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney Jr. and everyone’s playful pal has shone in such cartoons as “Dog Show” and “Doggone Biscuits” on Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning series, Mickey Mouse. But wherever Pluto bow-wows his dog-loving fans—in movies, television, video, and computer games or on the printed page, it’s as Walt himself said of the lovable mutt: “Yet through all these great moments I think I can safely say Pluto hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still the same unaffected, simple-minded mutt he’s always been.”
Join the Dark Side with New Star Wars Half Marathon at Walt Disney World
Break out those Lightsabers and lace up those sneakers: After the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend delighted runners at Disneyland Resort this past January, runDisney is bringing the intergalactic fun to the East Coast for the first time! Star Wars Half Marathon—The Dark Side will blast off at Walt Disney World from April 14–17, 2016. Events are set to include a 5K, 10K, kids races, and half marathon—all channeling the infamous dark side of the Force. (There’s even special recognition for completing both the 10K and half marathon, called the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge.) Runners brave enough to join the Galactic Empire will enjoy a true Star Wars experience throughout the weekend, including Dark Side-inspired medals and merchandise.
To differentiate between the two races, Disneyland Resort will now embrace the light side of the Force (with a 5K, 10K, kids races, half marathon, and their own Star Wars Rebel Challenge). Plus, by participating in both Star Wars Half Marathon events, runners can earn the inaugural Kessel Run Challenge medal—which, Star Wars fans know, is the ultimate test of skill. (Can you complete it in 12 parsecs? As Yoda is fond of saying, “Do or do not. There is no try.”)
Registration for the East Coast event opens on September 22, 2015, at 12 noon ET.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
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 September 22 The Muppets premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. September 26 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD. November 30 It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Three New Co-Hosts Will Take Time to Enjoy The View
When The View returns to ABC for its 19th season on Tuesday, September 8, there’ll be three more chairs at the roundtable! Recent Dancing With the Stars competitor Candace Cameron-Bure (Full House) and Good Morning America Weekend co-anchor Paula Faris will join moderator Whoopi Goldberg and previously announced co-hosts Raven-Symoné and Michelle Collins. But that’s not all: Original TheView co-host and comedian Joy Behar, who left the show in 2013, will team up with the panel once again!
This fall, The View will air live five days a week—and the ladies will also welcome a brand-new team of contributors on politics, style, food, culture, beauty, and wellness. Former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd, Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, style expert Stacy London, political analyst Ana Navarro, and former model Molly Sims will all make regular appearances on the show. Get ready for more opinions, more points of view, and more “Hot Topics” than ever before!
Enjoy the Jungle Cruise in a Whole New Way at Magic Kingdom Park
All you Jungle Cruise fans (and really, who amongst us isn’t?) may have already heard this awesome news out of the recent D23 EXPO 2015, but it bears repeating: a brand-new Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant is coming to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World! The Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen, located inside Adventureland, will give guests the chance to sample “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” in one of several unique dining rooms—including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
Staffed by Jungle Cruise Skippers, the Canteen is set to open to the public in late 2015. No word on whether the décor will include the amazing “back side of water”…
Star Wars Rebels Brings a Dash of the Force to New York Comic Con
Going to New York Comic Con on Thursday, October 8? You’re in luck! Visitors will get an exclusive sneak peek of what’s to come in the second season of Star Wars Rebels with a panel featuring some very special guests—plus a preview screening of new episodes from the series.
The Star Wars Rebels panel will take place on the Empire Stage from 1:30–2:30 p.m. and will be followed by an exclusive screening of two new episodes later on the same stage (from 5:30–6:30 p.m.). These all-new episodes will feature the series debut of Captain Rex, Captain Gregor, and Commander Wolffe—three characters from the previous Star Wars animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. They join another fan favorite from The Clone Wars—Ahsoka Tano—who made her Star Wars Rebels debut in the final episode of Season 1. Look for the new season of Star Wars Rebels this fall on Disney XD!
Walt Disney RecordsThe Legacy Collection: Final Four Releases
Walt Disney Records has announced the final four installments that complete their coveted The Legacy Collection series. Lady and the Tramp, Pocahontas, The Aristocats, and Disneyland wrap up the 12-set series that launched with The Lion King back in June 2014.
Each CD cover and booklet features newly created artwork from Lorelay Bove, a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios (Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled) who was recently named one of “10 Animators to Watch” by Variety.
Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection is a Disney music lover’s dream; each CD contains beloved original soundtracks plus valuable documentary content that tells the story behind the music. Where else can you find gems like Richard and Robert Sherman’s demos from The Aristocats or a cut Alan Menken/Stephen Schwartz song from Pocahontas? Walt Disney RecordsThe Legacy Collection is available now from www.disneymusicemporium.com.
New Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Trailer for Star Wars Twilight of the Republic
It debuted for the lucky folks at D23 EXPO 2015—but now it’s online for the whole wide world to enjoy! On August 19, Disney Interactive released the new trailer for Star Wars Twilight of the Republic, one of three Star Wars Play Sets to be released for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, which launches in North America on Sunday, August 30.
The Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set will be included in the game’s Starter Pack and lets players embark on an intergalactic adventure with Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his trusty Padawan Ahsoka Tano to uncover hidden plots, defeat villains, and bring peace back to the galaxy. Featuring an original story set in the Episodes I–III trilogy timeline, players will travel through four iconic locations; use the Force and Lightsabers in epic battles; and master their combat skills.
Look for two more Play Sets—Star Wars Rise Against the Empire, following the classic trilogy, and one based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens—later this year.
These “Dog Days of Summer” have inspired us to think about some of our favorite Disney dogs—whether live-action (The Shaggy Dog), animated (Pluto), or even Audio-Animatronic® (we love that pup holding the prison keys in his mouth inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland!). Disney’s latest captivating canine is Winston, the star of the Walt Disney Animation Studios short Feast. The Academy Award® -winning film depicts the relationship between a voracious, lovable Boston terrier puppy and the largely unseen young man who loves (and feeds) him.
According to Feast director Patrick Osborne, Winston’s eating exploits were influenced by the idea behind video compilation apps; one of Patrick’s early “one-second-a-day” videos was all about his dinner, each evening throughout 2012. “You could just see so much life and interest,” Patrick told Disney twenty-three magazine in 2014. “There was all this context. You could tell if it was a date or a family meal.” He’d actually started sketching ideas for telling tales through food back in 2006; “The idea that you could tell a life story through a couple different dinners had been sitting in my head for a long time,” he explained.
The visuals for the film were a mix of hand-drawn 2-D artwork and 3-D animation, which gave Patrick—a first-time director—the chance to try out new technology. He and his team brought in food stylists “to see what they do to make it look so delicious.” Feast production designer Jeff Turley told Disney twenty-three, “You want to tell as much story as you can in as little time as possible, and the only way to do that is to strip things down. Our style celebrates what is the iconic part of a certain thing.”
And that includes the dog himself! Brian Scott, the film’s head of animation, recently told the capacity crowd at “The Shorts of Walt Disney Animations Studios” panel at D23 EXPO 2015 that their team brought in several Boston terriers (owned by story artist Raymond Persi) to not only observe their behavior, but also “to capture their performance and get it up on the screen.” Check out a clip of the puppies’ exploits, below!
Wanna take Winston home? Pick up WDAS’ new “Short Films Collection,” which includes Feast, Frozen Fever, Get A Horse!, Paperman, and six more award-winning and fan-favorite animated shorts. The compilation DVD, digital HD, and Blu-ray is on sale now!
Take a look at a bunch of great Winston visual development images.
Music’s Hottest Stars Shine on We Love Disney Compilation Album
Ever wondered what it might be like to hear today’s biggest music stars take on your favorite Disney tunes? Well, wonder no more: Verve Records and Walt Disney Records have announced the 12 artists who are included on the upcoming compilation album We Love Disney, hitting store shelves (virtual and otherwise) on October 30! The album features the biggest artists from the worlds of pop, rock, R&B, and country delivering totally unique versions of classic Disney songs.
Produced by multi-platinum, 16-time Grammy® Award-winning producer and Verve Music Group Chairman David Foster, the album includes British chart-topper Jessie J’s version of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid; R&B sensation Jason Derulo with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King; Ariana Grande’s take on “Zero to Hero” from Hercules; No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani on “The Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie; and much, much more!
We Love Disney will be released in several configurations, including a digital album, a standard CD, a Deluxe CD, on Deluxe Vinyl, and as a very cool picture-disc set—and it’s already available for pre-order from www.welovedisneymusic.com.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
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 September 22 The Muppets premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. September 26 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD. November 30 It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Rocket Raccoon Meets Groot in New Guardians of the Galaxy Animated Shorts
Every superhero has an “origin story”—even furry ones with a hilariously surly attitude. In advance of their new Guardians of the Galaxy animated series (debuting on Disney XD on September 26 at 9:30 p.m.), Marvel brings us two new animated shorts that follow Rocket Raccoon and his auspicious first meeting with lovable tree-person Groot.
Stolen from his raccoon family, Rocket’s journey begins with a series of experiments to turn him into the ultimate killing machine. But there’s no way he’ll let someone else determine his fate! Check out Part 1, above—and keep an eye out towards the video’s conclusion for the link to Part 2.
Disney Launches “A Million Words of Kindness” Campaign
In celebration of the Digital HD and Blu-ray release of Disney’s Cinderella on September 15, Walt Disney Studios is proud to announce the launch of their “A Million Words of Kindness” Campaign. Inspired by the spirit of Cinderella, this online initiative invites fans everywhere to pledge their commitment to be courageous and kind in the hopes of achieving “A Million Words of Kindness” in time for World Kindness Day on November 13!
To join the campaign, fans are invited to visit www.cinderellakindness.com, where they can submit their own words to help make the world a thoughtful, more compassionate place. As Ella’s mother once told her, “Where there is kindness, there is goodness; and where there is goodness, there is magic.”
23 Coolest Moments at D23 EXPO 2015
Unless you were scaling a far-flung mountain, aboard the nearest deep-water submarine, or otherwise completely engaged this weekend, you probably know we here at D23 just wrapped our epic three-day D23 EXPO 2015! Relive the magic by taking a spin through our rundown of the 23 coolest moments from the weekend… including several Johnny Depp sightings and the announcement of an amazing Star Wars-themed land coming to both Disneyland Park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. We’ll join you in reminiscing once we’re done looking through our collection of fantastic Disney Visa Trading Card Quest trading cards…
WATCH Disney Apps Come to Xbox 360
Gamers, rejoice! Disney|ABC Television Group’s groundbreaking WATCH Disney apps (WATCH Disney Channel, WATCH Disney XD, and WATCH Disney Junior) are now live on Xbox 360, marking their gaming console debut. Using WATCH Disney, Xbox 360 fans can now access full episodes of all their favorite Disney shows on demand, for free!
Viewers who sign in with a participating pay-TV provider can also watch a live 24-hour feed of the respective networks (nifty, right?) and access exclusive programming events like the recent world premieres of Disney’s Descendants and Teen Beach 2 on WATCH Disney Channel, as well as new Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy shorts and full episodes of Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything and Star Wars Rebels on WATCH Disney XD. Fire up that Xbox 360 and check it out today!
Disney Parks’ Twenty Eight & Main Menswear Collection Debuts
Twenty Eight & Main, a new apparel and accessories line for those “distinguished gentlemen” in your life who love Disney, has announced their first few items—and they’ll be available at the Disney Parks online store from Friday, August 28, through Thursday, September 3. The special limited-time-only sale includes three unique T-shirts along with three wooden signs that feature similar graphics.
The casual-yet-classy T-shirts and 18-inch-by-24-inch signs have clever Disney-related designs and other fun touches. To order, visit www.DisneyStore.com/28&Main starting August 28; the T-shirts will ship in four to six weeks, while the signs will ship in approximately 12–14 days. (Note to selves: These would make great holiday gifts!)
Tiny Hamster Does Walt Disney World in Cutest Way Possible
Tiny Hamster—the adorable rodent who first came to the Internet’s attention with his viral YouTube hit “Tiny Hamster Eats Tiny Burritos”—just took his biggest fieldtrip yet! In his latest video, “Tiny Hamster’s Best Day Ever at Walt Disney World,” the little guy gets Mickey Mouse’s (very small) autograph; eats the world’s tiniest churro; takes a spin on hamster-size teacup at the Mad Tea Party attraction; and ends his day by enjoying a Walt Disney World fireworks spectacular.
Follow Tiny Hamster’s delightfully diminutive Disney exploits in this HelloDenizen video, above.
Disney Parks Come to Life with Attractionistas Doll Collection
Bring home memories of your favorite Disney Park attraction in a whole new way! The first four dolls of the Disney Attractionistas collection have been released at both stateside Disney Parks. These 12-inch fashion dolls come with detailed clothing, a special animal sidekick, and a fun Disney-inspired story on the back of the packaging.
The Attractionistas were inspired by classic Disney attractions including the Mad Tea Party (Maddie), Space Mountain (Celeste), The Haunted Mansion (Gracey), and Pirates of the Caribbean (Pearl)—and they’ll be carried in select merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as on the Disney Parks online store. A big bonus for Florida fans: Look for a special Attractionistas party this Friday, August 21, at Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney Marketplace! From 5–6 p.m., Disney Design Group artists Mike Sullivan and Dave Keefer—who created the dolls’ designs and packaging (respectfully)—will be meeting with guests and signing their work. See you there?
