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.
The film hits theaters November 7.
With Cristina gone, a new doctor, Maggie Pierce, making the rounds and Derek wanting to move to Washington, D.C., Meredith struggles to regain a sense of normalcy both at home and in the hospital. Meanwhile, Callie and Arizona come to a decision about surrogacy, Amelia overhears a big secret, Bailey realizes she will have to fight Alex for Cristina’s board seat and a freak accident causes two teenagers to be caught in a very compromising position.
Nearly two months after Olivia and Jake boarded a private jet to stand in the sun together, everything has changed. With another four years in the White House, Fitz and Cyrus are doing everything they can to make a positive impact on the nation. Meanwhile, Mellie struggles to cope with the loss of her son and the gladiators feel the impact of Olivia’s absence.
Annalise Keating is a tough-as-nails Criminal Law Professor and when Wes Gibbins starts his first day at Middleton University, he has no clue what he’s walking into. In her class, “How to Get Away with Murder,” Annalise challenges her students to solve some of the most difficult criminal cases that her law firm takes on, and in the end, she selects a group of the smartest, most promising students to come work for her. The competition is on and the students will stop at nothing to make sure they get to the head of her class. While Annalise seems to have it all together, we soon learn that her clients’ secrets aren’t the only ones she’s keeping. Meanwhile, in flash-forwards, we learn that the price of impressing Annalise might just be too much for some, when a group of four students, Wes, Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt and Laurel Castillo, get involved in their own murder-mystery cover-up.
In the season premiere episode, “Unbraceable You,” Frankie makes a giant blunder when she discovers that school started a week earlier than she thought, and Sue and Brick must scramble to catch up on the days they’ve missed and re-acclimate themselves to school life. Meanwhile, it looks like the “Year of Sue” might be starting off on a high when she finally gets her braces removed. Axl beats Mike at basketball for the first time in his life, and Brick gets creative in an attempt to find the perfect school book bag.
After spending the summer apart with Dana and unsure of their relationship, Adam makes a mixtape to express his feelings… only to have it intercepted by Beverly, who thinks it’s meant for her! Adam must carefully navigate not hurting Beverly’s feelings as his relationship with Dana progresses. Meanwhile, Barry gets a fake ID, but after showing it off to the entire school, it’s confiscated and Barry needs to make good on some promises he made to his classmates.
The five-time Emmy®-winning series returns for its sixth season with the premiere episode, “The Long Honeymoon.” This summer has been exceptionally blissful in the Dunphy house, Alex is away on a humanitarian trip and the rest of the family is getting along swimmingly, but when Alex comes home, there is an immediate shift in mood. Elsewhere, Mitch and Cam have returned from their honeymoon and Mitch is acclimating to real life much quicker than the still lovey-dovey Cameron. And, Gloria has taken issue with how little effort Jay puts into his appearance and decides to give him a taste of his own medicine.
Like any parents, Andre “Dre” (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross) Johnson want to give their children the best. But their offspring’s childhood is turning out to be much different than theirs. They now realize at least two things: There is a price to pay for giving their children more than what they ever had, and these loving parents are totally unprepared for the fallout. “Pops” (Laurence Fishburne), Dre’s dad, takes every opportunity to offer his old-school opinion on family issues. In the series premiere, titled “Pilot,” Dre, an advertising executive, is happily anticipating a promotion at work, which would make him the firm’s first African American senior vice president. Rainbow, an anesthesiologist, is looking forward to Dre’s raise. Meanwhile, Andre Jr. makes an announcement—he’s converting to Judaism so he can have a bar mitzvah, like all of his friends.
In the uniquely structured season premiere, a torn Rayna must choose not just between two men, but two directions that her life could take. Juliette, struggling to repair her relationship with Avery, auditions for the leading role of a film biopic. Meanwhile, Scarlett, determined to start fresh, embarks on a road trip home and bonds with an unexpected stowaway, and Will and Layla manage the fallout from his on-camera confession. The third season premiere of Nashville features three live performances within the episode—each performed twice—once for the East Coast and once for the West Coast. Real-life superstar duo Florida Georgia Line will perform one of their songs, Chris Carmack (Will Lexington) will sing “If It’s Love,” written by the Striking Matches, and Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne) will sing a song he co-wrote with Deanna Carter, “I Know How to Love You Now.”
Though the Shanghai Disney Resort is still under construction, its Enchanted Storybook Castle has already been lauded for its innovative design and technology practices. Walt Disney Imagineering was given the American Institute of Architects’ Technology in Architectural Practice Award for its successful implementation of Building Information Modeling, which uses three-dimensional design and provides a virtual representation of the actual building to be built.
The photo above offers a two-dimensional look at the castle that will stand at Shanghai Disneyland.
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives Summer and Fall 2014 D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration September 27 D23 Member Night at Aladdin on Broadway October 11 From the Vaults: Sleeping Beauty November 8 Walt Disney Studios and Archives Tour November 11 The Hunchback of Notre Dame VIP Experience November 22-23 Destination D: Attraction Rewind at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World 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 September 29 Phineas and Ferb—“Lost in Danville” premieres on Disney XD at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. October 13 Star Wars Rebels premieres on Disney XD at 9 p.m. ET/PT. October 20 Kirby Buckets debuts on Disney XD at 8 p.m. ET/PT. |
Parks September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, and 28; and October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 31 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties at Magic Kingdom Park September 26, 30; October 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, and 31 Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort 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 October 10 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day opens in theaters. November 7 Big Hero 6 opens in theaters. December 25, 2014 Into the Woods opens in theaters. March 13, 2015 Cinderella opens in theaters. June 19, 2015 Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava). |
After an extended refurbishment, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage will reopen on September 27. The attraction has been refreshed and repainted, a process that necessitated draining 5 million gallons of water from the lagoon. The Disneyland Resort worked closely with the Orange County Water District to treat and store the water (which was later refilled), a process that was first used at Disney California Adventure to prepare for World of Color.
The acclaimed musician and composer Danny Elfman created the score for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and also served as Jack Skellington’s singing voice in the film. The Disney Parks Blog shared a video of Elman’s visit to Haunted Mansion Holiday, where he recorded a special reading from the film.
The Disney Parks Blog shared the video above, giving Disney fans a sneak peek at the Haunted Mansion‘s annual transformation into Haunted Mansion Holiday. Members of the Disneyland Resort Creative Team share their favorite parts of the annual holiday makeover. We’re amazed they could each choose only one!
The Walt Disney Studios has announced that Oakes Fegely and Oona Laurence will star in a modern reinvention of Pete’s Dragon. Fegely will portray the title character, while Laurence will play Natalie, a role created for this new iteration of the 1977 musical, which combined live-action and animation.
Action figures, electronic accessories, plush dolls, and apparel are among the many items you can now purchase from Disney Store in anticipation of the November 7 release of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6. You’ll find Baymax, Hiro, and Honey Lemon, along with the film’s other colorful characters, at a Disney Store near you or online.
A new collection of apparel and accessories allows fans to show their school pride and their love for the Star Wars saga. More than 50 schools are represented in the collection, currently available at retailers like Kohls and Old Navy.
Read More. ►
The Walt Disney Studios’ feature Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day follows 11-year-old Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—and soon learns that he’s not alone when his mom, dad, brother, and sister all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The film hits theaters October 10, but in the meantime, check out this latest clip from the film.
The 2.0 Edition of Disney Infinity is now available in stores. In advance of this, Disney Interactive announced a full lineup of 82 Power Discs, the circular and hexagonal discs that allow gamers to customize their play experiences in the game.
Read More. ►
Hasbro and 3DPlusMe have announced “Super Awesome Me,” a personalized 3-D printing experience that allows kids (of all ages!) to become one of their favorite characters, Captain America or Iron Man. As part of the Marvel Super Hero September campaign, fans can visit an in-store scanning station where a special 3-D scanner captures their likeness to create a model, which can ultimately turn into a one-of-a-kind 12-inch action figure. For more information or to locate a participating retailer, visit SuperAwesomeMe.com.
The interactive experience that allows guests and cast members alike to be part of the story, Legends of Frontierland: Gold Rush, is coming to a close on September 27. The story will feature a big finish, so the citizens of Frontierland and its rival, Rainbow Ridge, are planning special events and surprises throughout the final day. Visit the Disney Parks Blog for the latest details on September 27.
A new iPhone necessitates a new Disney-themed phone case—or several. The Disney Parks Blog reports that D-Tech on Demand is offering cases for the new iPhone 6 at its location in the Marketplace Co-Op at Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World. Beginning in October, the D-Tech on Demand team will also offer select iPhone 6 cases at additional Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort retail outlets; and iPhone 6+ cases will arrive at the Marketplace Co-Op location later this fall.
This fall, PANDORA Jewelry will launch a collection of .925 sterling silver and 14K gold charms inspired by beloved Disney characters. The collection will feature 16 items that have been created specifically for Disney Parks—and that will only be available for purchase in the Parks, as well. The Parks-specific charms include a Minnie Sparkling Ear Hat dangle and a “Mickey-Mania” charm made from sterling silver with red, light yellow, black, and white enamel. And the can’t-miss item from the collection is, of course, a charm bracelet to house your new Disney-themed treasures. The other items from the collection will be available in select retail locations at Disney Parks and at PANDORA stores across North America.
Disney Interactive and Marvel today launched Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes—the follow up to last year’s No. 1 best-selling new hybrid toy/video game of 2013 (according to the NPD Group’s video games retail sales data). The game is available for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the WiiU system from Nintendo.
The Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Starter Pack features the 2.0 game software, the Disney Infinity 2.0 Base, Marvel’s The Avengers Play Set with three character figures (Iron Man, Black Widow and Thor), two Toy Box Game Discs, a web code card and countless hours of creative play in the all-new Toy Box 2.0. Marvel’s Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy Play Sets, along with additional figures from those worlds, will be sold separately. All characters and Power Discs from last year’s release of Disney Infinity are compatible with Toy Box 2.0.
The new game introduces interactive Super Hero figures from across the Marvel Universe with original Play Set storylines written with the help of award-winning Marvel comic writer Brian Michael Bendis. Each new character brings a variety of super-powered and unique gameplay mechanics such as flying, web slinging, wall crawling, wall smashing and more.
An improved Toy Box 2.0 mode makes it easier for players to create and share their one-of-a-kind levels and games with family and friends using their favorite Marvel and Disney characters, vehicles, settings and items. New and enhanced Toy Box tools and toys will make the groundbreaking game mode even more accessible for players of all ages. Toy Box Game Discs deliver new structured gameplay modes to the Toy Box where players can engage in classic Dungeon Crawler and Tower Defense gameplay using any character from across the Disney Infinity universe.
Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has recently received a prestigious professional honor for the innovative design and technology practices that have been used in the development of Enchanted Storybook Castle, currently under construction at Shanghai Disneyland.
The American Institute of Architects presented its Technology in Architectural Practice Award to WDI for its successful implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM). While traditional building design uses 2-D drawings and elevations of a planned building, BIM adds three dimensions (height, width and depth) and is a virtual representation of the actual building to be built. Embedded with data, this digital model can be linked to schedules so that designers can see the construction of a building over a period of time. The image above represents a snapshot of the BIM model.
“Our commitment to collaboration, teamwork, and mutual success enables us to create those magical, innovative experiences in a way that only Disney can do,” David Van Wyk, WDI project management and integration executive, said. “When the whole organization is thinking about reinforcing each other’s efforts, it allows individuals the ability to focus on what they need to do to accomplish our shared goals. By using BIM processes and technology on this and other projects to be built around the world allow us to work smarter and more efficiently as a team.”
For more on this story, visit the Disney Parks Blog.
(September 12 through October 31) New to Halloween Time at Disneyland this year are the latest twists at Haunted Mansion Holiday, including its 2014 gingerbread house, and additional entertainment experiences at the Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch, with more mysterious fun joining the Astounding Cauldron of Magic.
11 Not-To-Miss Halloween Attractions at Disneyland Resort ►
Happy Haunts Delight During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ►
Hong Kong Disneyland Crawls With Frightful Halloween Attractions For 2014 ►
Skeletons Take Over Disney TokyoSea! ►
Since 1955, guests of Disney Parks around the globe have journeyed through some of the world’s most “dangerous” rivers on Jungle Cruise, guided by a trusty skipper with a brave heart and a clever sense of humor. Tokyo Disneyland has just unveiled what might be the attraction’s biggest refurbishment to date with the debut of Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions, which provides an even more immersive adventure for guests through an increased use of music, interactivity, and a thrilling new nighttime experience.
“Our goal was to maintain the value of that classic Marc Davis ‘skipper experience,'” Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) Executive Producer Kathy Rogers told D23. “We worked very hard to make it feel real and really wanted to connect you with the environment through the enhancements to each scene.”
That connection is now forged in the queue, before guests board the boat. As Rogers notes, “When you go to Jungle Cruise at Disneyland [in California], all of the props in the queue tell you that you’re going on an adventure. At Tokyo Disneyland, the message wasn’t that strong.”
The Imagineers used the queue as an opportunity to introduce elements that will be featured on the cruise. Guests can examine jungle maps, listen to a radio show hosted by DJ skippers, and read thank-you letters—ostensibly written to skippers by past Jungle Cruise passengers—that are posted on a bulletin board that hangs in the attraction.
Show Writer Charlie Watanabe reveals, “We tried to plant various seeds in different places. The spiels on the boat are related to what the DJ skippers say over the radio. And what the DJ skippers say on the radio is related to the letters.” Since many guests are repeat visitors in Japan, it was important that they always find something new to discover.
The Imagineers also wanted to strengthen the connection that guests have with the jungle itself and allow them to feel that they play a bigger part in the story. “One of the main stories in this new enhanced version of Jungle Cruise is that animal spirits help us through difficult or dangerous situations,” Watanabe explains.
To summon those animal spirits, skippers rely upon three amulets, each representing a specific animal: The tiger symbolizes courage. The elephant stands for strength. And the monkey, of course, is for cleverness. The skipper and guests call upon the animal spirits by making that animal’s sound together during the cruise. Each skipper relates to one of the animal spirits, and the animal may reveal itself—creating the opportunity for multiple storylines that can be woven through the jungle, depending upon the performance of the skipper.
“We have two bas reliefs that show the connection of animals in the jungle and people together, so that all comes in harmony,” Rogers details for D23. When the “animal spirit” recognizes that everyone on the jungle adventure is also a friend of the jungle, the entire environment changes in a very short amount of time. “The stones rebuild themselves, the roots disappear, and the color and the whole temple comes to life,” Rogers continues.
The soundtrack plays an important role in Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions. “It carries the emotion, whether it’s mystery, humor, or suspense,” Rogers says. This is the first time a Jungle Cruise has featured background music, and the enhancement also marks the debut of a new nighttime experience.
The after-dark cruises feature flickering fireflies, animal eyes that can be seen illuminated in the bushes, and, of course, moonlight.
The goal, according to Rogers, was to make these enhancements feel “like they always were there and always belonged there,” as well as to maintain the intent of Marc Davis’ humor and the classic Jungle Cruise puns. Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions marks the first time in the 31-year history of Tokyo Disney Resort that a “show script” has been written originally in Japanese, by a Japanese writer.
“In the past,” Rogers recounts, “we’ve always taken the U.S. puns and then translated them into Japanese. And our humor is totally different from the Japanese cultural humor, so for the first time we were able to write puns and humor that the Japanese culture can relate to in the same way that we relate to our puns.”
Watanabe shares an example: “I was following tweets—#JungleCruise—and I’ve seen a joke already copied. The Japanese joke is, ‘Those on the right hand side, please enjoy the “expression” of the water. Those on the left, enjoy the “expression” on the rocks. And in the middle, enjoy the [facial] expression of the captain.'”
“That is one of ‘the backside of water’ jokes for Japanese guests,” Rogers explains, referencing the beloved joke U.S. guests associate with Schweitzer Falls (named winkingly, as Disney fans all know, for Dr. Albert Falls).
According to Rogers and Watanabe, the skippers have embraced the changes, particularly the interactive dialogue. “They always played an important role but they didn’t feel like they were playing an important role,” Watanabe admits. Rogers agrees, adding, “I think giving the skipper the tools to feel comfortable with and the story to tell helps the skippers deliver their lines. It’s their story and when you deliver it like it’s your story, then the guests respond. It’s contagious.”
Both agree that they believe the enhanced Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions is the immersive experience they set out to create. Watanabe refers to the important message found in the new show. “The last message the skipper says,” Watanabe points out, “is ‘Before we conclude, I hope that you stay a friend of the jungle and be nice to nature.’ Everything leads to that—visually, intellectually, and aurally—and I hope that they maintain that idea that the jungle is a really good place.”
D23 can’t help but agree that this jungle is a really good place, indeed.
When Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6 hits theaters this November, you’ll meet boy genius Hiro Hamada and the inflatable robot Baymax, who team up with a group of high-tech heroes to uncover a mystery when a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo.
A Marvel Comic Inspires Disney Animation ►
And although they are not your average super heroes, some of the beloved characters from Disney animated features past have some super-secret, undercover heroic abilities. Before the action-packed comedy-adventure hits theaters on November 7, check out D23’s list of favorite Disney characters and the powers they would have if they were actual Super Heroes.
In 2015, the Walt Disney Archives embarked on an international touring exhibit program, Winnie the Pooh Exhibition, which is currently traveling throughout the country of Japan. After opening at Tokyo’s Matsuya Ginza department store on August 6th, the exhibition continues traveling into select Japanese cities well into 2016.
In showcasing more than 400 historical objects celebrating everyone’s favorite “willy, nilly, silly old bear,” the exhibit aims to present the history, art, and legacy of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh to viewers of all ages.
Let’s take a brief virtual tour of what stories and sights the exhibit includes.
Winnie the Pooh Exhibition presents the history of Winnie the Pooh and includes rare treasures from the Walt Disney Archives.
From A. A. Milne’s inspiration for the character and the Hundred Acre Wood (where Winnie the Pooh and his friends live) to Walt Disney’s telling of the stories, the character’s journey into animation, and the history of the animated features, this special exhibition takes visitors to the world of Winnie the Pooh with animation sketches, maquettes, and worldwide Winnie the Pooh nostalgia.
Winnie the Pooh is perhaps the most iconic—and beloved—teddy bear in the world. British author Alan Alexander Milne began his career as an essayist, editor, novelist, playwright, and poet—but it wasn’t until 1926 that he published the whimsical book that introduced the teddy bear.
A. A. Milne never intended to be a “children’s” author, but after the birth of his son (named, incidentally, Christopher Robin) he began writing poems that were meant—just as were Walt Disney’s films—for “the child in all of us.” Milne’s legacy was firmly established by the four “children’s books” of verse and stories he wrote about his son’s adventures with a certain bear “of very little brain,” the world’s beloved Winnie the Pooh.
A loving father who often read aloud to his children, Walt Disney saw how much joy his daughter Diane found in the Winnie the Pooh books. He thought they would be perfect for animation, so after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, he began pursuing the film rights.
Momoko Ishii was a distinguished Japanese author, critic, editor, and translator of children’s books. As an editor at Iwanami Shoten Publishers she had “a blissful encounter with A. A. Milne’s Pooh books.” She decided to become a writer of children’s literature, and a thoughtful translator into Japanese of what she felt were important children’s books. The first translation she attempted was Winnie the Pooh.
While Walt wanted to make sure the Pooh films had a Disney look, he and his artists also respected and admired the genius of Ernest Shepard’s delicate drawings, which perfectly matched the whimsy of Milne’s stories.
Walt also wanted the films to have the illusion of storybooks coming to life, so the films open in a live-action nursery featuring real stuffed toys. Book pages turn of their own accord, and the characters, which first appear to be merely drawings on a background, begin to animate across the page.
One of Disney’s famed “Nine Old Men,” Wolfgang Reitherman, directed the first Pooh featurette, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. It was released on February 4, 1966, and was an immediate hit with American audiences.
Several of Disney’s famed “Nine Old Men” joined the animation team to make the second Pooh featurette, which, like the first, was directed by Woolie Reitherman.Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day was released in December 1968. The film was a tremendous success with audiences and critics, and it received an Academy Award® as best animated short film.
Two chapters in The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne’s second Pooh book, inspired Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, which was released in 1974. Another of Walt’s top animators, John Lounsbery, directed the film.
As production of Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983) began, veteran Disney voice performer Sterling Holloway was getting ready to retire and decided not to continue his signature role as Winnie the Pooh. Actor Hal Smith, who in 1981 had voiced Pooh for Disney’s educational film Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons, took over the role.
Although several more Pooh movies had followed the first four featurettes, each telling brand-new stories about the characters, Walt Disney Animation Studios decided it was time to bring Winnie the Pooh back into the feature animation division and make a new Pooh film, Winnie the Pooh, inspired by A. A. Milne’s original stories and what producer Peter Del Vecho called “the great storytelling and wit of those first movies—Honey Tree and Blustery Day…” This also meant a return to traditional hand-drawn 2-D animation.
The public adored the bear of very little brain right from the beginning: the publication of A. A. Milne’s original tales led to a plethora of Pooh dolls, toys, songbooks, calendars, games, and even dish sets. But it would take Walt Disney and his creative team to create a Hundred Acre Wood that truly circles the globe.