August, 2004

Jim Hill takes a look at two recent DVD releases from Buena Vista Home Entertainment: Walt Disney Productions' 1957 live action classic, "Old Yeller," and that film's lesser known sequel, 1963's "Savage Sam." ...

Proving that you can find interesting stories about virtually any aspect of Disneyland's history, Jim Hill looks fondly at the theme park's parking lot. ...

Ever wonder what a Disney animated feature looks like BEFORE the animation actually begins? Thanks to a generous ex-employee of Disney Feature Animation - Florida, Jim Hill offers you a detailed look at an earl version of "Mulan." ...

You asked for it. You got it. Thanks to Nancy Stadler, here's another series of photos that highlights some of the great pieces of concept art that are used to decorate the public areas of the Disneyland Resort Hotel....

Jim Hill takes a look at Pat Williams' new book, which takes pivotal moments from Walt Disney's career and shows you how you can apply the lessons that Disney learned to your own life. ...

When it comes to casting the role of Dorothy for "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," it would appear that the fourth time's the charm. Jim Hill fills you in on all the not-so-gory details....

Jim Hill fills us in on Hollywood's new math. Where the amount of shelf space & in-store promotion that Walmart is willing to dole out to Disney's theatrical releases now determines which video premieres get released to theaters....

Jim Hill takes a look at these two new DVDs from Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Walt Disney Productions' releases from the late 1970s that -- in spite of their fairly obvious flaws -- still have their charms....

Want some fun factoids to start out your week with? Then how about taking a stab at what Steve Jobs' Pixar salary might be? Or guessing which tween Disney now wants to send over the rainbow? Jim Hill has these and other stories.

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Love to look at Disneyland concept art? Well, then Jim Hill suggests that you tour of the lobbies of the Disneyland Hotel towers. Where you'll literally find dozens of pieces of vintage DL concept art hanging around....

Ever wonder about Pleasure Island, that Massachusetts theme park that was built -- 'way back in the late 1950s -- by ex-Disneyland employees? Well, if you live in the New England area, now's your chance to attend an information talk on that early theme park. ...

Can't quite decide whether you should buy a copy of this new Buena Vista Home Entertainment release? Then let Jim Hill tell you how the "Three Musketeers" actually turned an auditorium full of sugar-crazed kiddies into a quiet & respectful (but thoroughily entertained) audience....

Just back from SIGGRAPH, Jim Hill shares what he's (so far) learned about this new Disney / Henson project. Which begins shooting next month in Vancouver....

Van Dyke, that is. Jim Hill checks in with yet another SIGGRAPH story. This time, he talks about his (very) brief encounter yesterday afternoon with the star of "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

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Jim Hill says that Jason Surrell's new book on screenwriting is a fun read (even for those who don't want to write) because of the colorful examples Surrell cites. ...

While Jim Hill runs around like a Chicken (Little) with his head cut trying to cover everything that's going on in the LA Convention Center, Nancy Stadler shares some images from the more memorable moments on Monday & Tuesday. ...

It was the showplace that the "Old Mousetro" never got the chance to show off. On a break from SIGGRAPH, Jim Hill quickly walks JHM readers through the layout of what was originally supposed to have been the Disney family's home-away-from-home at the Anaheim theme park. ...

Before settling in at LA's convention center to cover SIGGRAPH, Jim Hill makes a quick side trip out to Anaheim. Where he learns some fairly interesting things about what's in store at Disneyland....

Exposing a somewhat less glamorous side of Hollywood, Jim Hill reveals what Donald Duck's walk of fame star actually looks like PRIOR to its official unveiling....

The fat man is on the move again. This time around, Jim & Nancy are headed out to LA to cover SIGGRAPH. Where they'll attempt to find out exactly what Disney, Pixar, Blue Sky and Dreamworks all have up their hi-tech sleeves....

Long considered the modern master of stop-motion animation, Ray Harryhausen looks back over his illustrious career in this profusely illustrated coffee table book....

Can't quite place the name? Let JHM refresh your memory about this veteran character actor who did a lot of work for Walt Disney Productions back in the 1970s....

Animation vets complain about the latest production policy change at WDFA. Which means that only projects that have screenplays that Disney executives approve of will now be allowed to begin artistic development at the studio....