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• “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” serves up quality holiday schmaltz

  It’s a two-fer today as Jim Hill reviews Robert Zemeckis’ latest movie as well as the new making-of book that Diana Landau wrote about this ImageMovers Digital production Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, A Christmas Carol, Walt Disney Pictures, Robert Zemeckis, Jim Carrey, Disney Editions, ImageMoversDigital, Christmas, film, movie, holiday season , holiday classic, London, Disney Digital 3D, seasonal run , performance capture, Charles Dickens, holiday, holidays, ImageMovers

• “Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol” book is sure to be a hit with baby boomers

  Jim Hill reviews Darrell Van Citters’ making-of book. Which takes you behind-the-scenes on the production of TV’s first animated holiday special Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, A Christmas Carol, CBS, NBC, Robert Zemeckis, television, ImageMoversDigital, Christmas, UPA, 2009, television program, holiday season , holiday story , A Charlie Brown Christmas, holiday special, Christmas special, holiday classic, 1962 , animated version, holiday treat, 1964, television show , performance capture, Charles Dickens, holiday, holidays, ImageMovers

• “Shrek the Musical” piles on the promotions, gets ready to launch its national tour in July of 2010

  Jim Hill discusses the many things that DreamWorks Theatricals & Neal Productions have done recently in an effort to make their show stand out from the crowd on Broadway Read More... Posted Friday, October 02, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: DreamWorks, Broadway, musical, Chicago, NYC, Christmas, D23, Broadway musical, 2008, 2009, September, October, 2001, Donkey, Shrek, Shrek the Halls, Fiona, Pinocchio, dragon, Christopher Sieber , Lord Farquaad , Johnny and the Sprites , John Tartaglia , December , November, August, 2010, May, January, national tour, special event, DreamWorks Theatricals, Shrek the Musical, I Know It's Today, Brian D'Arcy James, Broadway Theatre, D23 EXPO, SHREKtember, SHREKtoberfest, Monkees, I'm a Believer, Hannah Beatt, Laura Laureano, Sutton Foster, Fairytale Creatures, talkback, talkback session, talkback sessions, giveaways, Daniel Breaker, Festival of Ogre-sized Fun, standby, understudy, Ben Crawford, Build A Wall, Manhattan Theatre Club, Sameul J Friedman Theatre, Time Stands Still, Donald Margulies, At This Performance, understudy concert, Broadway in Chicago, general public, dragon puppet, little wooden boy

• Disney’s “Prep & Landing” wows animation fans at the D23 EXPO

  Jim Hill reports in on how well this ABC holiday special was received when it was screened at the Anaheim Convention Center this past Saturday. He also talks about some of the high points of this new Walt Disney Animation Studios production Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: TV, ABC, John Lasseter, Walt Disney Animation Studios, ABC Studios, Toy Story, television, Prep and Landing, Christmas, 2009, television program, TV show, TV special, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, holiday special, Christmas special, A Tin Toy Christmas, television show , holiday elf, elf

• Tech Tuesday: Mickey makes a move on the netbook market with Disney Netpal

  Jim Hill talks with Chris Heatherly, VP of Toys & Consumer Electronics for Disney Consumer Products, about his division’s latest initiative. Which is a computer aimed at the 6-12 year-old crowd Read More... Posted Tuesday, August 25, 2009 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, toys, Disney Consumer Products, Bob Iger, Disney Fairies, The Walt Disney Company, Labor Day, Toy Story, Disney Magic Desktop, Disney Princess, computer, Christmas, 2009, Disney Mix, keyboard, Netpal, gadget tray, Disney Netpal, Chris Heatherly, parent, school year, ergonomics, parents, netbook, browser, Consumer Electronics, Timex, Club Penguin, school, ASUS, Radio Disney, Trapper Keeper, platform, VP, Disney Pix, laptop, 6-12 year-olds, spill-proof, Toymorrow, user interface, intuitive, parental control, parental controls, white-list

• “The Thirteen Days of Christmas” lets you bring Haunted Mansion Holiday home

  Jim Hill reviews this fun new book from Disney Press, which is illustrated with those “Nightmare Before Christmas” –themed tarot cards from Madame Leota’s séance circle Read More... Posted Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, Disney Press, The Haunted Mansion, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloweentown, Tim Burton, Madame Leota, Jack Skellington, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Christmas, 2009, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween, holiday story , Christmas present, Steve Davison, holiday, holidays, Christmas tree, Christmas gift

• "The Archive Series: Story" features a stunning selection of art from Disney's Animation Research Library

  Jim Hill reviews this impressive new hardcover from Disney Editions. He also talks up Don Hahn's book signing tomorrow night at the Barnes & Noble at the Americana at Brand Read More... Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Samuel Goldwyn, Jeff Kurtti, Disney Editions, Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park, Cinderella, Animation Research Library, ARL, WDAS, featurette, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Los Angeles, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Song of the South, Glen Keane, LA, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Christmas, film, 2008, feature film , Disney Feature Animation, The Fox and the Hound, short, holiday shopping list, Joe Ranft, Hans Christian Andersen, Chris Sanders, December , Mulan, animation fan, shorts, Don Hahn , Fantasia 2000, archives , Barnes & Noble, The Little Mermaid, Steamboat Willie, films, The Alchemy of Animation: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age, Lilo & Stitch, story, Lilo and Stitch, holiday, feature-length cartoon, Highlander, Bill Peet, Brizzi Brothers, Gaetan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi, The Americana at Brand , In the Bag, Humphrey the Bear, Hellfire, What's This, Firebird Suite, Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Story, storyboards, storyboard, story sketches, story sketch, boards, board, featurettes, 1930s, artwork, Malibu, sketches, signing, Christmas gift

• Manhattanites mob the Muppet Whatnot Workshop

  Jim Hill reports in from FAO Schwarz's flagship store, where holiday shoppers are paying top dollar for the opportunity to create their very own Muppet Read More... Posted Monday, December 08, 2008 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, Muppets, LLC, Muppet Studios, New York City, Manhattan, NYC, Christmas, 5th Avenue, flagship store, 2008, 2009, holiday season , Santa Claus, New York, Macy’s, Rockefeller Center, holiday, projections, Muppet, FAO Schwarz, Muppet Whatnot Workshop, holidays, holiday sale, Saks 5th Avenue, Macy's at Herald Square, Cars: World Grand Prix, Christmas tree, Saks, Herald Square, sales, sale, flagship, FAO Schwarz flagship store, Madison Avenue, Jump In!, Plaza, Plaza Hotel, holiday windows, holiday shoppers, 8th Avenue

• "Imagineering Legends" is the ideal gift for the Disneyana fan on your Christmas list

  Still struggling to come up with the perfect present for your family's Disney dweeb? Jim Hill points you toward Jeff Kurtti's latest book, which looks back at "The Genesis of the Disney Theme Park" Read More... Posted Wednesday, December 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: book, Walt Disney, Imagineering, WED, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Marc Davis, Country Bear Jamboree, Marty Sklar, The American Adventure, Jeff Kurtti, Disney Editions, Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park, John Hench, it's a small world, WDW, Imagineer, Christmas, 2008, holiday season , Imagineers, Snow White's Scary Adventures

• "Dream Castle Lights" dazzle at night, disappear during the day

  Jim Hill talks with Rob Hamberg, veteran WDW Entertainment show producer. Who discusses the development of this new holiday spectacle for the Magic Kingdom Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 02, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney World, The Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, WDW, Tokyo, Christmas, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, December , November, Cinderella Castle , 2006, August, Disney Weddings, Disney theme park, holiday, Walt Disney World Resort

• Will Disney World's new "Buy 4 Get 3 FREE!" promotion really be enough to get you to book a trip to Orlando in early 2009?

  Jim Hill talks about that new WDW incentive program that Bob Iger revealed as part of yesterday's earnings call. Which includes a free $200 Disney Gift Card for those who buy a vacation package before December 20th Read More... Posted Friday, November 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments Filed under: Disney, Bob Iger, Walt Disney World, promotion, The Walt Disney Company, marketing, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW Entertainment, 9/11, Central Florida, WDW, Christmas, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, annual passholders, guest, Disney World vacation, WDW guests, Disney Dining Plan, WDW management , advance reservations, advance reservation, WDW vacations, WDW officials , cost over-runs , WDW executives, bottom line , 911, Walt Disney Company, Disney theme park, business plan, fiscal year, bookings, earnings, earnings call

• Monday Mouse Watch : Disney's "High School Musical" cancels "Christmas" ?!

  Jim Hill's back with a tale that reveals the true power of the "HSM" franchise. Which has a Massachusetts theater postponing its long-proven holiday moneymaker so that it can then present the stage version of Disney's "High School Musical 2" Read More... Posted Monday, October 20, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, A Christmas Carol, musical, High School Musical, Disney Theatrical, High School Musical 2, Tarzan, High School Musical 3, High School Musical 4, High School Musical franchise, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Disney's High School Musical on Tour, stage version, HSM, 2008, 2009, Thanksgiving, 2007, holiday classic, Gabriella , Camp Rock , stage show , stage, East High, creative team , rehearsal, theater community, musical theater, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Music Theatre International, Fabulous Fox Theatre, Theater of the Stars, regional theater premiere, Salt Lake City, Temple Square, Charles Dickens, regional theater, professional production, Ebenezer Scrooge, North Shore Music Theatre, holiday traditions, high school students, high school student, rehearsals, Camp Rock 2, Atlanta, Carol LaRosa, Gloucester Times, Jon Kimbrell, Beverly, Tiny Tim, NSMT, holiday, Disney's High School Musical : On Tour, High School Musical On Stage, High School Musical : On Stage, Disney's High School Musical On Stage, Disney's High School Musical : On Stage, Disney's High School Musical 2 On Stage, Disney's High School Musical 2 : On Stage, High School Musical 2 On Stage, High School Musical 2 : On Stage

• Characters come to the rescue at the Magic Kingdom

  Jim Hill explains how WDW officials used Mickey & friends as a diversion while repairs were being made on the Liberty Square bridge Read More... Posted Friday, August 29, 2008 12:00 PM | 5 Comments Filed under: Magic Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, WDW, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Operations, Christmas, 2008, The Walt Disney World Resort, guest, guests, holiday season , WDW guests, construction, August, WDW officials , Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party, Adventureland , Liberty Square bridge, operational issues

• "Shrek the Halls" puts the fun back into dysfunctional family gatherings

  Jim Hill reviews this new holiday special from DreamWorks Animation, which debuts tonight on ABC at 8:00 p.m. EST Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2007 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: animation, TV, DreamWorks, ABC, Shrek the Third, DreamWorks Animation, television, Christmas, television program, TV show, Tis the season, holiday season , gingerbread man, Twas The Night Before Christmas, Gingy, holiday perennial, TV special, holiday special, Christmas special, Puss in Boots, Donkey, ogre, Shrek, Shrek the Halls, Fiona, George Bailey, Zuzu's petals, Kleenex, The Island of Misfit Toys, Christmas present, Grinch, subversive, marshmallows, sweet potatoes, White Christmas, holiday guide, Christmas for Village Idiots, family Christmas, Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, The Three Blind Mice, The Big Bad Wolf, dragon, Doug Smith, triplets, holiday classic, waffle, Waffle Santa, jolly old elf, butter, syrup, Santa Claws, Christmas ain't Christmas 'til someone cries, fart, fart joke, kazoo, Ogre Claus, Clement C Moore, Christmas goose, black lace, sheer black lace, chocolate kiss, harried holiday season, harried holiday, palate cleansed, dysfunctional family gathering, dysfunctional family, family gathering, The Gingerbread Man

• Tube Tuesday: Gary Trousdale tries to "Shrek the Halls" without first wrecking DreamWorks Animation's most important franchise

  Jim Hill chats with this WDAS vet about many of the ogre-sized challenges he faced while directing this new holiday special. Which airs tomorrow night on ABC Read More... Posted Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, DreamWorks, ABC, CG, Epcot, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Third, DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, television, WDAS, Future World , Christmas, film, gags , film franchise, Happy Holidays, Tis the season, feature film , Shrek Goes Fourth, ratings, color coordinated , Godzilla, midnight snack, chimney, Disney Mix, cookie, It's the most wonderful time of the year, holiday season , gingerbread man, Twas The Night Before Christmas, Gingy, holiday perennial, dated , timeless , film parody, in-joke, Disney in-joke, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers , recording session, DreamWorks campus, character bits , TV special, holiday story , How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Best Picture nominee, Richard Purdum , 1980s, Cranium Command, Kirk Wise, holiday special, Christmas special, Gary Trousdale, fairytale, Santa's workshop, The North Pole, Puss in Boots, Donkey, Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas, naughty list, Santa Claus, ogre, Shrek, Shrek's First Christmas, Shrek the Halls