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Over the past 10 years, Disney Channel has provided thousands of hours of content to many generations of viewers in Hong Kong.
In celebration of this special milestone and the festive holiday season, Disney Channel Hong Kong is inviting fans and families to a month-long party at a popular local shopping mall featuring six of the most beloved Disney franchises, including Mickey Mouse, Sofia the First, Phineas and Ferb, Toy Story, Cars and Stitch in a 10,000-square-foot space.
In addition to a variety of interactive activities designed to connect with fans, there is also a timeline tunnel that showcases Disney Channel’s key milestones over the decade, and a special pop-up store featuring a wide range of new and exclusive products, including limited-edition 10th anniversary items.
ABC’s Holiday Lineup Makes Staying Home for the Holidays More Festive
So many big announcements were made this week. Toy Story 4—it’s happening! So is Strange Magic! Star Wars: Episode VII—it has a name! Alas, we’re going to have to wait until 2017 to see the next chapter of Woody, Buzz, and the gang’s adventures and it’s almost a year until the Force—officially—awakens. (Read more about this news below!) But in the meantime, there’s a new issue of Disney twenty-three coming to your mailbox in just a few weeks and ABC announced their Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s special programming for the holiday season. Here are just a few of the highlights that we’ll be staying in to watch:
One of our newer favorite holiday traditions, Disney Prep & Landing airs Friday, November 28, at 8 p.m. Wayne and Lanny, the beloved elves from the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ special, are also front and center in the sequel, Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice, which airs immediately following, at 8:30.
To tide us over until Toy Story 4, Pixar Animation Studios is premiering a second new TV special, Toy Story That Time Forgot, Tuesday, December 2 at 8 p.m. You can learn more about this special and the new toys in town in the Winter 2014 issue of Disney twenty-three.
Looking for decorating inspiration—times ten? The Great Christmas Light Fight returns to ABC for its second season on Monday, December 8, at 8 p.m. There are six one-hour episodes, culminating with the season finale Monday, December 22.
On Tuesday, December 16, at 9 p.m., America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Spectacular will be celebrating the holidays from the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland Resort.
After our presents are opened, we’re going to spend Christmas morning (December 25) watching the Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration (10 a.m.–12 p.m.), now in its 31st year. Besides all of our favorite Disney characters, we’ll be tuning in for Santa Claus, the top musical guests, and some extra-special Frozen fun.
And, of course, Disney fans will welcome in 2015 with Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest on December 31. There’ll be more than 38 performances and five-and-a-half hours of music—including Taylor Swift!
Be sure to check your local listings—and D23.com—for more holiday highlights that you won’t want to miss.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
D23 and Walt Disney Archives November 11 The Hunchback of Notre Dame VIP Experience November 15
An Afternoon Under the Sea: Celebrating 25 Years of The Little Mermaid November 22-23 Destination D: Attraction Rewind at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World Fall 2014-2015 D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour Through January 4, 2015 Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago August 14-16, 2015 D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California Television December 1–25 ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas” December 2 Toy Story That Time Forgot premieres on ABC at 8 p.m. ET January 6 Marvel’sAgent Carter premieres on ABC at 9 p.m. ET
Parks November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, and 30; and December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties at Magic Kingdom Park Studios December 25 Into the Woods opens in theaters. February 20, 2015 MacFarland, USA opens in theaters. March 13, 2015 Cinderella opens in theaters. May 22, 2015 Tomorrowland opens in theaters. June 19, 2015 Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava).
Announcing Strange Magic from Lucasfilm, Ltd.
It looks like 2015 is going to be a great year for animation fans right out of the gate! It was just announced that Strange Magic, a new animated film from Lucasfilm Ltd., will be released by Touchstone Pictures on January 23, 2015. The film is described as “a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies, and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.” The story is by George Lucas (A “little” saga called Star Wars. We’ll leave it at that.), the screenplay is by David Berenbaum (Elf), Irene Mecchi (Brave, The Lion King), and Gary Rydstrom, and the film is directed by Rydstrom (Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation, Lifted). The talented voice cast includes Alan Cumming, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, and Maya Rudolph, to name just a few. That will make for a happy new year, indeed!
The Toys Are Back!
There’s nothing like a favorite toy—or a whole group of them. We couldn’t be more excited about last week’s announcement that Toy Story 4 will be coming to theaters June 16, 2017. Visit D23.com to read the whole story.
The Force Awakens
We learned two things this week about Star Wars: Episode VII. Principal photography has been completed. And the film’s official title is The Force Awakens. The film opens in theaters December 18, 2015—which means that we have just a little more than a year to ponder that name and try to figure out how the characters and story we know and love might play into the characters and story we’re dying to learn more about!
We Can’t Wait To Go Into the Woods
Into the Woods has been a must-see for us since long before we began working on the cover story for Disney twenty-three‘s Winter 2014 issue. More information ►
But the latest trailer for the film, from Walt Disney Studios, features Meryl Streep singing, Stephen Sondheim’s breathtaking score, and the amazing cast—which includes Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, James Corden, and Johnny Depp as The Wolf—who are also spotlighted in a series of character posters Disney unveiled last week. Into the Woods opens on December 25, Christmas Day, and is a present we’re so eager to unwrap.
See a Poster for McFarland, USA
Continuing its tradition of sports-themed movies that both entertain and inspire, Walt Disney Studios has released a poster for McFarland, USA, starring Kevin Costner as Coach Jim White, a newcomer to the economically challenged California town’s predominantly Latino high school. He and his novice runner students ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team, but an enduring legacy as well. The film, based on the 1987 true story, opens February 20, 2015.
Premiere Date Set for Marvel’s Agent Carter—Plus, Watch a Sneak Peek of the Show
We finally have a date that we can mark on our calendars for the debut of the new series Marvel’s Agent Carter. The show will premiere on ABC Tuesday, January 6, at 9 p.m. ET, and when its eight-episode run concludes, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will return to the time slot, beginning Tuesday, March 3, for the second half of its sophomore season. And if, like us, you’re having a hard time waiting for January, enjoy the above clip, which gives you a first look at the original Jarvis and the return of Tony’s dad, Howard Stark.
See Hiro and Baymax on the Big Screen and See Them at Disney Parks
Big Hero 6 is now playing at a theater near you, and its loveable heroes are now greeting guests at a Disney Park near you, as well. Meet Baymax and Hiro inside The Magic of Disney Animation attraction at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, and if you’re headed to Disneyland, be sure to catch the duo in Tomorrowland, near the Starcade and Magic Eye Theater.
Save the Dates for Zootopia and Moana
Disney fans have a lot of important dates to save, and now there are two more: Walt Disney Animation Studios has announced release dates for two upcoming films. Zootopia is slated to hit theaters March 4, 2016, and the recently announced Moana is scheduled to open later that year, on November 23, 2016. And of course, D23.com will try to help the time go by more quickly with coming attractions and updates as they’re announced.
Disney Animators’ Collection Unveils New Sets and Updated Doll Designs
The award-winning Animators’ Collection from Disney Store brings together your favorite characters from your favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios’ films, created under the guidance of some of Disney’s most renowned animators, like Glen Keane (lead animator for Aladdin and Beast from Beauty and the Beast), Mark Henn (who animated Tiana in The Princess and the Frog), and Bill Schwab (character design supervisor for Frozen). The dolls are perfect for collecting or playing—or both! Each princess now comes with a plush friend—and you can purchase a Rapunzel Doll Gift Set with both Pascal and Maximus. Visit DisneyStore.com to check out the entire collection.
Watch Walt Disney World’s Main Street, U.S.A. Get Merrier
If you’re like us, you love the magical transformation Main Street, U.S.A. undergoes every holiday season. And if you’re like us, you’ve always wanted to see what’s involved in the process—which seems to take place overnight. And thanks to the Disney Parks Blog, we now know that it does take place overnight—in the wee hours of the morning. Enjoy the video above, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Walt Disney World’s Holiday Services department works through the night to install holiday décor that’s in the spirit and accommodates the sizeable floats from Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, which makes its way down Main Street, U.S.A. daily.
Reserved and Stand-by Viewing coming to Fantasmic! at Disneyland Park
The Fantasmic! viewing experience is about to get more… fantastic. Beginning December 12, guests at Disneyland Park will need a Fantasmic! FASTPASS to access the show’s reserved viewing space—much in the way they do for World of Color at Disney California Adventure. FASTPASS distribution will be available along Big Thunder Trail in Frontierland, on a first-come, first-served basis until one hour prior to show time or while supplies last. The passes will indicate show time, suggested return time, and assigned viewing session. Limited stand-by viewing will still be available in a non-ticketed area. And making the experience even more convenient, guests may also opt to take advantage of several Fantasmic! dining experiences that include a FASTPASS. Check the Disney Parks Blog to see all of your delicious dining options.
Strange Magic, a new animated film from Lucasfilm Ltd., will be released by Touchstone Pictures on January 23, 2015.
The film is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion. Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects.
With a story by George Lucas, Strange Magic is directed by Gary Rydstrom, produced by Mark S. Miller and executive produced by George Lucas, with a screenplay by David Berenbaum, Irene Mecchi and Rydstrom. An extraordinary roster of film, television and Broadway stars lend their voices to Strange Magic, including Alan Cumming, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya Rudolph, Sam Palladio, Alfred Molina, Elijah Kelley, Bob Einstein, Peter Stormare and newcomer Meredith Anne Bull. Well-known music producer Marius de Vries serves as both the musical director and composer.
To celebrate Disney’s big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Into the Woods, Disney twenty-three, the publication of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, got all the thrilling details from the stars and creative team behind the new breathtaking, upcoming film.
In exclusive interviews with Disney twenty-three, stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine, along with director Rob Marshall and screenplay author James Lapine, detail the excitement and challenges of bringing the Tony® Award-winning musical to the big screen, including explaining how they played a game of hide-and-seek with some (fake) witchy fingernails and how the team gracefully—and sometimes hilariously—handled Blunt’s pregnancy during filming.
Disney twenty-three‘s Winter issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23, also includes a fascinating look “behind the seas” at Disney Cruise Line, with dazzling photography that reveals places guests never see while on board, as well as interviews with the people who keep everything shipshape. “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” unlocks the secrets that enable the creative teams at Disneyland to bring the holidays to life, seemingly overnight. Director Steve Purcell unwraps the newest Disney•Pixar television treasure, Toy Story That Time Forgot, which airs on ABC December 2. Star Hayley Atwell and producer Jeph Loeb unleash the action of Marvel’s Agent Carter, also coming to ABC, which brings one of Captain America: The First Avenger‘s most thrilling stars to the small screen.
Also included in the Winter issue of Disney twenty-three:
The fascinating tale of Herman J. Schultheis, whose personal notebooks detailing Disney’s first golden age of animation are showcased in a new book by Disney animation scholar John Canemaker
A Frozen-influenced Adventures By Disney vacation in Norway
Twenty-three reasons fans will love the new Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes game
Festive holiday content to kick off D23.com’s “D23 Days of Christmas”
Regular columns including A Walk with Walt, D Society, and Ask Dave
All D23 Members are invited to visit D23.com for additional features and members-only content, including our “D23 Days of Christmas” celebration, where members can unwrap stories, videos, printables, and more beginning December 1.
Additional Into the Woods tales including a “character who’s who” and a discussion with James Lapine and Rob Marshall about the changes made in taking the show from stage to screen.
A gallery of photos from our backstage exploration of the Disney Dream
More about the mysterious tale of Herman Schultheis
Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. The publication will begin arriving mid-November.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes Big Hero 6, an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
Big Hero 6 opens this weekend, and we quizzed guests on the red carpet at the film’s Hollywood premiere about what it means to be a Disney hero. Thanks to all who played! And sorry to the El Capitan Theatre and The Walt Disney Studios for causing a scene on the red carpet. We had a lot of fun with everyone!
Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are coming back to a theater near you!
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger today announced that plans are underway to bring Toy Story 4 to the big screen.John Lasseter, who helmed the first Toy Story movie in 1995—the world’s first computer-animated feature film—is returning to direct the new film, which opens a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the Toy Story gang. The story was dreamt up by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Lee Unkrich, the storytellers who have been the driving force behind all three Toy Story films.
“We love these characters so much; they are like family to us,” Lasseter said. “We don’t want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what’s gone before. Toy Story 3 ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another Toy Story movie. But when Andrew, Pete, Lee, and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.”
Writing team Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (Celeste and Jesse Forever) came on to the project, which is being produced by Pixar veteran Galyn Susman.
We’ve been excited to continue Woody and Buzz’s adventures with their fellow playthings in shorts and TV specials like Toy Story of TERROR! and the upcoming Toy Story That Time Forgot, but this will mark their first feature film appearance since Toy Story 3 in 2010.
The film is slated for release on June 16, 2017, and we can’t wait!
Starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine, Into the Woods is a humorous and heartfelt musical that follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his Wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the Witch who has put a curse on them.
Hiro Hamada isn’t your average teenager. And neither is Ryan Potter, who provides the voice for the boy genius in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6 (in theaters Friday, November 7). The 19-year-old actor has been on a whirlwind tour to promote the film, traveling just about everywhere between Hollywood, California, and Tokyo, Japan.
D23 was lucky enough to sit down with Ryan and talk to him about bringing Hiro to life in the film. Oh, and we had to sneak in a question about his favorite Disney “thing,” too! Check out the Q&A below to see what this up-and-coming star had to say.
D23.com: What was it like to voice Hiro Hamada?
Ryan Potter (RP): Surprisingly enough, I didn’t have to do anything special to voice Hiro. I just walked right in and lent my voice; it worked out pretty perfectly. I’d say Hiro may seem like your average teenager, but his brain ends up getting him into a lot of trouble. I related to him on so many levels and that’s what made the job easy and fun.
D23.com: What about immersing yourself in Big Hero 6‘s world of science and technology? Were you ever interested in the subjects as a kid?
RP: Growing up, anything futuristic, tech, robots and Super Heroes were my thing. And San Fransokyo just happened to be a city that’s a blend of the place I grew up in, Tokyo, Japan, and a city I visited every holiday season, San Francisco, California. There are no two other cities that would have been more perfect for Hiro to live in.
D23.com: Is Big Hero 6 your first Disney project?
RP: It is, and I think it’s kind of like jumping into the pool. I’m not wading around at all. And it’s a Walt Disney Animation Studios film, so I’m very excited! To put it simply, the team knows what they’re doing. It’s a lot of fun to play in their world.
D23.com: What are we going to love about the film?
RP: I think every single audience member can relate to one of the characters in one way or another, whether it’s a personality or their look. I hope everyone can walk out of the theater and say, “Hey! I saw a little bit of myself in one of those characters.” That’s what I love so much. It’s just such a diverse cast.
D23.com: Last question! What is your favorite Disney “thing”?
RP: I spent my first birthday at Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland is my absolute favorite Disney “thing.” I actually haven’t been to Walt Disney World yet!
