By the D23 Team
First debuting at D23 Expo 2019, the Walt Disney Archives’ exhibition Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume has travelled across the nation—enchanting guests with more than 70 costumes from beloved characters such as Cinderella, Maleficent, and more… highlighting the innovative ways iconic characters are brought to life through the artistry and imagination of their costumes. The magic continues in May 2025 when the South Carolina State Museum will be the next host of Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume! The exhibition debuts May 3, 2025, but D23 Members will have early access with a special preview before it opens to the general public; stay tuned to D23.com for more details!
Planning on making a springtime trip to the museum? Mark your calendars: General public tickets will be available for purchase in January 2025.
“We are thrilled to bring this exhibition to South Carolina,” said State Museum Executive Director Amy Bartow-Melia. “Guests will be able to enjoy an up-close look at some of Disney’s most memorable costumes and learn about the skilled artisans who helped bring them to life.”
Representing nearly six decades of film and television production at The Walt Disney Company, the exhibition showcases costumes worn by the likes of Bette Davis, Glenn Close, Angelina Jolie, and Disney Legend Julie Andrews. Guests will also be able to get insight into how costumes evolve from concept to reality, with quotes and detailed written accounts featured throughout the exhibition from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers, including Academy Award® winners Sandy Powell and Disney Legend Colleen Atwood, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy® nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.
“Costumes are a significant and memorable element of building a character and telling a story,” said Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives. “The exhibition explores the craftsmanship required to produce these amazing costuming elements, as well as the immense talent and creativity that goes into every stitch.”
The exhibition is organized into three Disney archetypes: heroes, villains, and the spaces between—a category reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys make them some of Disney’s most complex characters. Here, guests can get an up-close look at the artistry on display in some of the iconic costumes of Disney live-action characters including Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Queen Narissa from Enchanted (2007), and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006). The “Cinderella’s Workshop” gallery examines how several designers have applied their own unique style and artistry to different interpretations of the fairy tale heroine—from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997) and Into the Woods (2014) to the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time (TV, 2011–2018), and the 2015 live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic starring Lily James.
Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume will run at the South Carolina State Museum from May 3 – Oct. 26, 2025. Visit scmuseum.org for more information on the exhibition and ticketing.