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• “Waking Sleeping Beauty” takes a candid look at the Second Golden Age of Disney Feature Animation

  Jim Hill talks up Don Hahn & Peter Schneider’s new documentary. Which will hold its world premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival Read More... Posted Friday, August 21, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: The Little Mermaid, D23, D23 EXPO, South American , South of the Border with Walt: Walt Disney and the Good Neighbor Program 1941 - 1948, Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale, Aladdin, Ted Thomas , Waking Sleeping Beauty, Walt & El Grupo, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Theodore Thomas, TIFF, Tim Burton, The Lion King, The Black Cauldron , the boys: the sherman brothers' story, Second Golden Age of Disney Feature Animation, Ron Miller, Roy E. Disney, Saludos Amigos, Poppin' Guitars: A Tuneful of Sherman, Peter Schneider, Laurence Juber, J B Kaufman, Glendale, Frank Wells, documentary, Don Hahn , Disney Feature Animation, Brad Bird, Beauty and the Beast, animated feature, animated features, 1970s , 1980s, 1990s, Toronto, Toronto International Film Festival, Jeffrey Katzenberg, John Lasseter, John Musker, Michael Eisner, Robert B Sherman, Disney, Howard Ashman, Mouse Factory, The Fox and the Hound, Sherman Brothers

• The John Hughes / ABC / Walt Disney Company connection

  In honor of the passing of this talented filmmaker, Jim Hill shares a few anecdotes that reflect on the times that Hughes worked for the Mouse Read More... Posted Friday, August 07, 2009 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: cross country trip , Curly Sue, Great Oaks Entertainment, ABC, Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Pretty in Pink, producer, television, television show , The Absent-Minded Professor, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, film, film title, films, writer , Warner Bros. , Walley World, Walt Disney, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Company, The Bee, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, slapstick, screenplay, script, Ron Miller, Ricardo Mestres, movies, Jackie Chan, Jaws 3 People 0, Flubber, Faber College, family vacation, Eddie Bracken, Disneyland, Disneyland Park, Delta House, 1979, 1990, 1990s, 1991, 1996 , 1997, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jim Belushi, John Hughes, vacation, Vacation '58, TV series, TV show, 101 Dalmatians, 1950s, Michael Eisner, Michelle Pfieffer, Mickey, Robin Williams, director , Disney, Hollywood Pictures, Home Alone, Harold Ramis, Mouse House, movie, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Studios, National Lampoon, National Lampoon's Animal House, National Lampoon's Vacation, motion picture

• WDI panel to be a high point of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ 20th anniversary celebration

  Jim Hill showcases some early DHS construction shots as he talks up next Friday’s festivities at the studio theme park Read More... Posted Thursday, April 23, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: 20th anniversary, CEO, panel discussion, WDI, WDW, WDWCelebrations , The Studios Thing, studio theme park, Superstar Television, swamp, swampland, Slapstick Stunt Theater, scrub pine, plussing, Premiere Theater, Orlando, Imagineering, Imagineers, George Lucas, Disney-MGM Studio and Studio Tour Attraction, Disney-MGM Studio Tour, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, Disney Film Festival, 1986, 1988, 1989, Tom Fitzgerald, Starring Rolls Cafe, studio , Studio 20, Chinese Theater, Michael Eisner, Magical Mountain, MagicalMountain, Disney, Bob Hope, Bob Weis, Eric Jacobson, movie palace, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort, The Walt Disney World Resort, construction

• Monday Mouse Watch : Waiting for the "Dawn"

  Jim Hill shares the latest news on the third installment of "The Chronicles of Narnia" film series, which has yet to officially be greenlit by Walt Disney Studios Read More... Posted Monday, November 17, 2008 12:00 AM | 11 Comments Filed under: Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, film franchise, film franchises, Walden Media, Toy Story 3, TR2N, The Walt Disney Company, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Roy O Disney , movies, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, Tron 2, Save Disney, Michael Eisner, Disney, Bob Iger, movie, Walt Disney Pictures, National Treasure 3

• The Disneyland expansion plan that never happened

  In this week's "Why For" column, Jim Hill talks about the contents of a three ring binder. Which contains WED's plans -- circa 1982 -- to radically expand Disneyland's capacity until this theme park could comfortably handle 17 million Guests every year Read More... Posted Friday, November 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Pirates of the Caribbean, America Sings, World Showcase, WDI, WED, The American Adventure, Mary Poppins, France, Frank Wells, Disneyland, Country Bear Playhouse, attraction, attractions, 1981, 1982, Tokyo Disneyland, Tomorrowland, Tron , it's a small world, Michael Eisner, ride, rides, Disney, Epcot, Epcot Center, show, shows, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Productions, theme park

• Monday Mouse Watch: Will Pop Century be rebranded as Disney's Animation Inn and Suites?

  Jim Hill talks about what the future may hold for this troubled WDW Value Resort. Which involves completing construction of the Legendary Years and then turning both sections into a family-friendly suites-based hotel Read More... Posted Monday, November 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: WDW, WDW management , WDW officials , TouringPlans.com, The Walt Disney Company, FabRocks.com, economic downturn, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2008, Value Resort, value resorts, Michael Eisner, Disney, Disney's All Star Music Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Shelly Smith, Walt Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney World, model rooms

• "Defying Gravity" details Stephen Schwartz's sometimes difficult dealings with the Walt Disney Company

  Jim Hill reviews Carol de Gieve's career biography of this Academy Award-winning songwriter, which features some great behind-the-scenes stories about the five Disney projects that Schwartz worked on Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 01, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: graduate school, Gregory Maguire, A Whole New World, softcover, Something's Coming, songwriter, Kevin Bannerman, Pippin, Aladdin, Alan Menken, Working, world premiere, Written in Stone, therapist, The Prince of Egypt, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sir Tim Rice, September, Romeo, Romeo & Juliet, resume, reviews, rhyme, Radiator Springs, Pocahontas, Peter Schneider, musical, musical theater, musical theater fan, middling reviews, Matthew Wilder, long running hit, long running hits, Los Angeles, lyricist, lyrics, Juliet, hit, Geppetto, Godspell, Enchanted, Disneyana fan, Disney Feature Animation, David Zippel, Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked, Destiny, creative process, Colors of the Wind, career, Carol de Giere, book, Broadway, Broadway credits, Broadway musical, animated feature, Academy Award-nominee, Academy Award-winning, 1978, 1986, 1990s, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 , 2007, Tony, John Smith, trio, TV movie, Stephen Schwartz, Children of Eden, China, Michael Eisner, London, Disney, DreamWorks, DreamWorks Animation, Applause Books, Howard Ashman, Shirley Jones, show business , NYU, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Studios, West Side Story, Wicked, Native Americans

• Monday Mouse Watch : Mickey, Minnie ... and Michael ?!

  Jim Hill got an advance look at the list of honorees for this year's Disney Legends awards. And he predicts that at least one of this year's picks is going to tick off the fan community Read More... Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 12:00 AM | 21 Comments Filed under: CEO, The Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse, Frank Wells, award, 1984, 2008, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Eisner, Burbank, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Legend, Disney lot

• The Adventurers Club that we almost got

  Jim Hill talks about how WDI's original plans for Pleasure Island were changed to due to cost concerns. He also reminds JHM readers about Peter David's map-mailing campaign to save the Adventurers Club Read More... Posted Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 12 Comments Filed under: PI, Adventurers Club, The Adventurers Club, WDI, WDW, The Haunted Mansion, September, resort, restaurant, Pleasure Island, Peter David, night club, night club complex, night clubs, Marty Sklar, Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, Disney CEO, 1986, 1989, Tokyo DisneySea, Joe Rohde, Save the Adventurers Club, Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland, Bob Iger, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney World

• Mist Direction or How DAK Operations just slipped Joe Rohde a Mickey

  Jim Hill talks about "Expedition Everest" 's faltering effects. More importantly, WDW's long-standing tradition of bamboozling senior Disney officials whenever they come on property Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: The Magic Kingdom, DAK, Pixar, WDI, WDW, Walt Disney, theme park attraction, The Jungle Cruise, the boys: the sherman brothers' story, Liberty Tree Tavern , guests, Food Service, Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, effects, Disneyland, Disney / Pixar, Chairman, attraction, attractions, Joe Rohde, John Lasseter, Michael Eisner, ride, rides, Magic Kingdom, Dick Nunis, Disney, Expedition Everest, Expedition Everest : Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney's Animal Kingdom, show, shows, Operations, Walt Disney World, theme park, Disney Legend, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney World

• DreamWorks Animation bets big on digital 3-D

  Jim Hill shares the latest news from ShoWest 2008. Where Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed that, as of March 2010, DA will only be produced digital 3-D films Read More... Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:00 AM | 15 Comments Filed under: 2D CG film, 2D movie , 3D, 3D digital motion pictures, 3D film , 3D film format , 3-D releases , Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, Kevin Rafferty, alien, alien spacecraft, Paramount , Warner Bros. , Ultimate 3-D, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Toy Story characters, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-D , Tales from the Laughing Place, Marty Sklar, Lee Unkrich, Jaws 3-D, Frank Wells, DCA, Dick Cook, CG, CG feature, CG studio , Chairman, Chicken Little , big figure, animation, animation industry, 1984, 2008, 2010, Jeffrey Katzenberg, TRON: Legacy, Michael Eisner, Robert Coltrin, Robert Zemeckis, Malibu Hills, digital 3-D , digital 3-D conversion, digital 3-D format, digital 3-D production, digital 3-D project, digital projection, DreamWorks, DreamWorks Animation, Epcot, Disney's California Adventure, Disney's Hollywood Studios, red-and-blue lenses, Shrek Goes Fourth, Disney Pixar , Disney Studios , Comin' at Ya! , Monsters vs. Aliens, Montagues & Capulets

• Toon Tuesday: Disney's "The Aristocats" ... The Animated Series ?!

  Jim Hill takes a look at a show that was proposed for the Disney Channel back in 2003. One that would have ditched Duchess & O'Malley and made Marie, Berlioz & Toulouse teenagers Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 12:00 AM | 24 Comments Filed under: Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, teen, teenager, teenagers, Flash, Zzzz, WDSHE, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Toulouse, Thomas O'Malley , The Walt Disney Company, The Aristocats, The Aristocats 2, The Aristocats II , The Aristocats: Special Edition, single disc edition, Maurice Chevalier, Justin Timberlake , Glen Hanson, franchise, Frank Wells building, DisneyToon Studios , Disney Channel, Disney Feature Animation Florida, Delancey, classic Disney characters , Chicken Little 2, bonus material , Berlioz, animated feature, animated series , 1970 , 2003, Toon Disney, John Lasseter, unnecessary sequel, unnecessary sequel business, unnecessary sequels, Usher, Street Cats , Meet the Robinsons 2, merch, merchandise , Michael Eisner, Richard M Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Marie, Dick Sherman , Duchess, DVD, Aristocats: The Animated Series , home premiere, movie, Disney's Aristocats: The Animated Series , Sherman Brothers , O'Malley , Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, theme park, Disney twenty-three magazine , Mouse

• Toon Tuesday : How Pixar fixed "Finding Nemo"

  Been hearing disappointing things about those "WALL*E" test screenings? Jim Hill reminds us what happened when Michael Eisner predicted that Andrew Stanton's last film would flop Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 29 Comments Filed under: Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Finding Nemo, The Walt Disney Company, Roy E. Disney, Emeryville, Andrew Stanton, animated feature, Academy Award winner, 2003, 2008, Steve Jobs, Michael Eisner, movie, Shrek 2

• The Russians are coming !! The Russians are coming !! ... to Epcot ?!

  Jim Hill shares the news that's been leaking out of Glendale since just before Christmas. Which is that the Mouse has recently revived its plans to add a Russia pavilion to Epcot's World Showcase Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:00 AM | 37 Comments Filed under: Soviet Union, television, World Showcase, World Showcase Lagoon, Russia, Imagineer, Imagineering, Disneyland Hotel, attraction, Michael Eisner, ride, Disney, Epcot, Epcot Center, show, Walt Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort

• Toon Tuesday: The story behind "The Pixar Story"

  Jim Hill chats with acclaimed filmmaker Leslie Iwerks about her new documentary. Which will be screening this evening at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater and will be followed by a panel discussion with Roy E. Disney Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 11, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: The Pixar Story, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Pixar campus, film, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Toy Story, The Walt Disney Company, Roy E. Disney, Leslie Iwerks, holiday special, Hollywood, Ed Catmull, Emeryville, Disney / Pixar, CG, animated feature, animation, John Lasseter, Steve Jobs, Michael Eisner, Disney, Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Feature Animation, computer animation