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• "High School Musical 5 & 6" ?! "Beauty & the Beast" headed back to Broadway ?!

  Jim Hill shares some of the domain names that the Walt Disney Company has recently registered. Including a new year-long promotion for 2009 that looks & sounds an awful lot like 2003's "Magical Gatherings" campaign Read More... Posted Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 22 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, "High School Musical", ABC, Disney Channel, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Theatrical, "Beauty & the Beast", Anaheim, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, "High School Musical 3", "High School Musical 4", "High School Musical" franchise, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Disney Parks & Resorts, "Aida", WDW, "Year of a Million Dreams", hotel, Broadway musical, Disney Channel Original, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story Midway Mania", 2007, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , Broadway production, 2003, on property, TV movie, TV movies , hotels, 2006, Disney franchise, theatrical release, 2010, "My School Musical" , "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" , "High School Musical 5" , "High School Musical 6", Wildcats, East High, Matt Prokop, Justin Martin , Jemma McKenzie-Brown, "HSM3" , domain name , "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The Musical" , St. James Theatre , Paul Kolnik, Big Apple , holiday treat, seasonal run , seasonal production, revival , "Annie" , Old Globe Theatre, Hilton Theatre, national tour, "Magical Gatherings" , Disney vacation, "Disney’s Magical Celebration", "Disney’s Magical Celebrations", Regular Unleaded, gasoline, DP&R, year-long promotion, heads in beds, consumers, theme park tickets, plane reservations, hotel rooms, birthday buttons, pins, plush

• Arrrr you ready for an all-Pirates edition of Why For?

  There's plenty of POTC-related info to be found in this week's column. Including the current status of "Pirates 4," news on Disney's "Legends of the Brethren Court" book series as well as a review of that I-Drive favorite, the Pirate's Dinner Adventure Read More... Posted Friday, May 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, Universal Studios, fireworks, Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp, Gore Verbinski, Walt Disney Pictures, Magic Kingdom, Disney Press, The Walt Disney Company, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", character dining, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney Parks & Resorts, AA figure, hard ticket event, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, 2007, "The Lone Ranger", Captain Jack Sparrow, "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", "Pirates 4", Pirates 4, 1996 , 2006, Pirate & Princess Party, "Pirate & Princess Party" , "Disney's Pirate & Princess Party" , Disney franchise, "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" , hard ticket , "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party", "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, CG version , lagoon show, Halloween hard ticket event , "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise , "Pirates of the Caribbean Online" , MMOG, massively-multiplayer online game, "Pirates" book series , "Legends of the Brethren Court", Development , Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio , "Prince of Persia", Tortuga restaurant, AA figures, "Enchanted Adventures Parade" , return on investment, Liberty Square bridge, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort , "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold" , 3-D helmet, Caribbean, Jolly Roger, I-4 , Gasparilla Extravaganza, Gasparilla season , Tampa Bay, Piratechnics, Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa, Southwest Airlines Gasparilla Pirate Fest , Gasparilla, Southwest Airlines, Gasparilla experience, Pirate's Dinner Adventure, International Drive, acrobats , Freedom Festival, Sebastian the Black, scurvy crew , Princess Anita, audience, Dubai, swordplay, stunts, I-Drive , "Magic, "Music, Music & Mayhem", Magic and Mayhem"

• Toon Tuesday : Was John Lasseter stung by that mean caricature of him that appears in "Bee Movie" ?

  Did an awkward conversation between Jerry Seinfeld & John Lasseter at Vanity Fair's 2006 Oscar party actually lead to an unflattering joke being inserted into this DreamWorks Animation release ? Jim Hill shares the story that's making the rounds in Hollywood Read More... Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 32 Comments Filed under: Disney, John Lasseter, DreamWorks Animation, "A Bug's Life", "Toy Story", "Bee Movie", Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, 2007, Disney Feature Animation, animated short, "Tin Toy", 2006

• Monday Mouse Watch : Will a new name really be enough to boost ticket sales for WDW's "Pirate & Princess Party" ?

  Jim Hill brings you a pile of "Pirates of the Caribbean" -related news. Including the tabling of the "Tortuga" restaurant project Read More... Posted Monday, March 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 39 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Visual Effects, fireworks, Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Best Buy, The Magic Kingdom, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Jack Sparrow, Disney Princess, restaurant, WDW, Disney Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, The Crystal Palace, movie, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", ticket sales, 2007, merch, full service, Saturday , Tuesday , merchandise , WDW management , Captain Jack Sparrow, The Black Pearl, Black Pearl, "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", "Pirates 4", Pirates 4, 2006, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" , Pirate & Princess Party, "Pirate & Princess Party" , "Disney's Pirate & Princess Party" , Disney franchise, "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" , fireworks extravaganza , "Music Magic and Mayhem" , Walt Disney Creative Entertainment , hard ticket , after-hours event, break even , Rivers of America, Hershey's Treasures , WDW officials , financial success , Monday, Friday, April , "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party", "POTC" , POTC, "Tortuga" project, Tortuga project, Adventureland Veranda, Adventureland , "Cinderella's Royal Table" , dining experience, Caribbean cuisine , rum , development pipeline, mock-up , test kitchen, Bonfamille's , French Quarter , Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, test meal , face character , quick service restaurant , full service restaurant, Liberty Tree Tavern , lunch , dinner , dining facility , occupancy rate , 2012, "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, retail chain , Hi-def , disc player, flat screen , HDTV , retail world, equation

• Small town preps big welcome for "Extreme Makeover" family

  Jim Hill reports on the preparations that are now underway in Maynard, MA. Where the production team for this popular ABC reality series -- working with local volunteers -- has just built a brand-new house for the Giunta family Read More... Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, ABC, Walt Disney World, WDW, wheelchair accessible, handicap access, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, TV show, construction site, snow, Disney World vacation, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", Ty Pennington, Maynard, Massachusetts, audition tape, Paul Giunta Jr, Renee Giunta, Brianna Giunta, Cameron Giunta, Dylan Giunta, Giunta family, handicap-accessible, wheelchair-friendly, wheelchair, construction, makeover, "Move that bus", design team, volunteers, 2006, August, severe head trauma, ABC reality series, ranch house, production team, triathlete, Boston Marathon, February , snowstorms

• Do-it-yourself Epcot celebration leads to new fan-based business

  Jim Hill reveals how "Celebration 25" led to the creation of "WDWCelebrations." Which will be presenting "A Wild Decade" at Disney's Animal Kingdom this April in honor of that theme park's 10th anniversary Read More... Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Epcot, promotion, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Innoventions, Marty Sklar, The Walt Disney Company, Epcot Center, concept art, 2719 Hyperion, WDI, Central Florida, 10th anniversary, WDW, Imagineer, "Year of a Million Dreams", DAK, Figment, Nathan Rose, MagicalMountain, WDWMagic, tourists, promotional campaign, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, merch, Disneyana fans, Disney World vacation, Disneyana community , Deb Wills , AllEars.net , Brad Rex, 25th anniversary , "The Happiest Celebration on Earth" , 50th anniversary , Central Florida resort , 100th birthday , "100 Years of Magic" , tourist , Jenn Waitt , discussion boards , "Celebration 25" , Adam Roth, Jason Diffendal , get-together , Disney webmasters , John Corigliano , Mouse Times, Lou Mongello , Disney World Trivia , Jeff Pepper , day-long event, history walk , dessert party, rededication ceremony, temporary exhibit , props, models , MC , history talks, Fountain of Nations , Mouse Gear, limited edition , merchandise , commemorative , Figment plush , merchandise location , manager , Animal Kingdom , WDWCelebrations , fan-based , signature event , commemorative event, April 22 1998, "A Wild Decade" , guest speaker, registrants , Magical Mountain, "The Epcot Thing"

• "Dream Worlds" offers look at abandoned Disney animated features

  Jim Hill reviews Hans Bacher's new "Production Design for Animation" book. Which features visual development art from "My Peoples," "Fraidy Cat" and "Wild Life" Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, Broadway, Andreas Deja, Disney Theatrical, "Beauty & the Beast", "101 Dalmatians", "Aladdin", "Dinosaur", Walt Disney Animation Studios, France, WDAS, "The Lion King", the New World, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", LA, Germany, film, Broadway musical, stage version, animated feature, 2007, Disneyana fans, Walt Disney Feature Animation, "Mulan", Hans Bacher , logo, visual development, visual development artist , production designer, paintings, drawings , inspirational material , artists , animators , "Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation" , Focal Press, December , canvases , "China Doll", emperor, Shang, "My Peoples" , "Elgin's Peoples" , "Angel and Her No Good Sister", "Once in a Blue Moon" , "A Few Good Ghosts", "Fraidy Cat" , Alfred Hitchcock , crime story , London, development art , "Wild Life", The Secret Lab, urban, hipster, George Bernard Shaw, "Pygmalion", story points, BS-free , edited, massaged , Disney Publicity , production notes, European version, Loire , generic-looking , Mulan

• Oscar Watch '08: Miramax maxes out while the Mouse gets skunked

  Was today a good day or a bad day at Walt Disney Studios? Well, as Jim Hill points out, it all depends on whether you work at Miramax Films or on the Walt Disney Pictures side of the house Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 PM | 37 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, movies, Pixar, ABC, NBC, Brad Bird, "Enchanted", Pixar Animation Studios, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Amy Adams, "How to Hook-Up Your Home Theater", Academy Award, film, movie, actress, 2008, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, 2007, feature film , Best Picture nominee, Disney Feature Animation, animated short, picket line, Jan Pinkava, animated features, Oscar-winning , Norman Jewison , "The Man I Love" , George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, "good news day" , Amy Ryan, nomination , Best Actress in a supporting role , "Gone Baby Gone" , Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ABC Inc, Best Actress , Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Music – Original Song, Original Song , nominee, nominations , "Happy Working Song" , "So Close" , "That's How You Know" , Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Jim Capobianco, Best Original Screenplay, Achievement in Sound Mixing , Achievement in Sound Editing, Achievement in Makeup , Achievement in Visual Effects , Oscar, Oscars, Best Animated Short Film, Academy Award nominee, Academy Award winner, Academy voters , February 24th , 80th annual Academy Awards , actors , picket lines, Academy Award nominations , Academy Award nominees, Academy Award winners, Miramax Films , "No Country for Old Men" , Paramount Vantage, Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role , Achievement in Directing , Achievement in Cinematography , Achievement in Film Editing , Adapted Screenplay, "There Will Be Blood", Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role , Achievement in Art Direction , "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" , Pathé Renn , co-production, Michael Giacchino , Achievement in Music – Original Score, Original Score, Oscar broadcast, Golden Globes, hand-drawn animation

• "To Infinity and Beyond!" is an entertaining look back at Pixar's first two decades

  Jim Hill reviews Karen Paik's inspired (more importantly, inspiring) new history of Pixar Animation Studios. Which offers a lot of insight about how John Lasseter became the Big Kahuna of the CG world Read More... Posted Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, movies, Pixar, computer animation, CG, John Lasseter, John Musker, "The Little Mermaid", "Cars", "Ratatouille", Leslie Iwerks, Brad Bird, "Aladdin", Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Ron Miller, "Toy Story", "Toy Story 2", WDAS, featurette, "Monsters Inc.", "The Pixar Story", "To Infinity and Beyond: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios", Karen Paik, Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney Studios, film, movie, Mouse, Disney / Pixar, 2007, "Tis the season" , feature film , Chronicle Books, "The Art of Animation", Bob Thomas, cartoons, epiphany, coffee table book, hardcover, church, pew, gourd, sermon, pencil, pencil time, award, The Headless Horseman, "The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr Toad", station wagon, Casper the Friendly Ghost, California Institute of the Arts, CalArts, character animation, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disney Feature Animation, calcified, middle management, "The Fox and the Hound", old guard, Tom Wilhite, Maurice Sendak, picture book, "Where the Wild Things Are", Thomas M Disch, "The Brave Little Toaster", Marin, Lucasfilm, "The Adventures of Andre & Wally B", SIGGRAPH, animated short, short, character comedy, cutting-edge technology, money pit, Jane Eisner, Roald Dahl, "James and the Giant Peach", human costs, keyboard, repetitive-stress injury, "The Art of Ratatouille", aspiring animator, holiday shopping list

• Could you please have the Rat whip me up some crow?

  Here (finally) is the JHM column that Pixar fans have been waiting for. Where Jim Hill talks about how well "Ratatouille" has been doing overseas ... as well as other Disney-related matters Read More... Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 12:00 AM | 31 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, TV, Visual Effects, Gore Verbinski, Walt Disney Pictures, "Ratatouille", Brad Bird, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Pixar Animation Studios, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", television, "The Game Plan", Hollywood, WDSHE, DVD, box office, film, movie, Thanksgiving, leftovers, crow, international, worldwide box office, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, production costs, release date, stateside, exhibitors, ticket sales, top selling, FX, effects, The Michael Eisner building, Michael Eisner building, character-based merchandise, 2007, "Wild Hogs", "Wild Hogs 2", titles, floss, promotional costs, "The Best Reviewed Film of the Year", domestic performance, The Ivy, opening weekend grosses, opening weekend, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, strip-mining, wild-assed guess, Magic 8 Ball, television program, TV show, television programs, TV shows, The Hollywood Reporter, The Nielsen ratings, Nielsen ratings, domestic box office numbers, entertainment industry, initial domestic run, evergreen title, franchise, film franchise, film franchises, merch, nuturing, long term profit potential, long term profitability