April, 2006

Properly warned, ye be. Jim Hill is about to reveal several major plot points from the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel, which will be sailing into theaters on July 7th. So if you don't want this Walt Disney Pictures release spoiled, now might be a good time to heave to and pull up anchor...

Jim Hill reveals how Downtown Disney's indoor theme park will soon be closing its doors to make way for a brand-new ESPN Zone. ...

Jim Hill offers a suggestion to the creative team that's currently struggling to get "Tarzan" ready for its Broadway debut. Maybe the best way to shore up this show's saggy second act is to borrow a few ideas from the film's original screenplay. Which took the Lord of the Apes out of the jungle and set him down in London's high society...

Jim Hill's back with even more answers with your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim explains how the once-dead "Gnomeo" wound up being resurrected by Miramax, how "Song of the South" may soon be coming to a PC near you as well as giving you an update on "Enchanted"...

With the hope that this article might even out the score a bit, make it not seem like JHM is always picking on Pixar, Jim Hill shares a transcript of John Lasseter’s remarks at Disney’s annual shareholder meeting last month. But then – to balance things out – Jim shares a bit of news that will probably upset both Mr. Lasseter & Disneyana fans...

While poking around that web site where the Walt Disney Company registers all of its domain names, Jim Hill came across a new vacation package that's just begun to be offered at both the Disneyland & the Walt Disney World resorts. One that's sure to be a bit controversial with those folks who already think that the Mouse is making far too much money off of material that's marketed directly to children...

Look who rolled through Akron yesterday? Lightning McQueen and Sally from that upcoming theatrical release, "Cars." Thanks to Chuck Nilson and his trusty camera phone, we now have a sneak preview of this impressive traveling unit. Which will soon be visiting a city near you as it promotes Disney / Pixar's latest animated feature ...

As security begins to tighten at Disney Feature Animation, Jim Hill shares a few of the in-jokes from Walt Disney Pictures' Spring 2007 release, "Meet the Robinsons"...

In a rather surprising move, Walt Disney Pictures is -- for the next 10 days -- going to offer a sneak peek at WDFA's next project through the Starz Entertainment Group. Jim Hill shares all of the intriguing details...

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about an early Disneyland attraction that never quite made it off the drawing board, why "The Wild" actually was screened for a few critics last week as well as offering a peek at what's been going on lately over at WDW's Pleasure Island...

Can you spot the amusing mistake over at the electkimberly.com web site? Well, I can guarantee you that New Orleans residents won't be amused once they see the picture at the top of this page ...

Jim Hill has noticed something interesting about the TV commercials that the Walt Disney Company is now using to promote "The Wild." It appears that all three of the quotes that are being featured in these ads are attributed to a single film critic: KNX's Jim Svejda. Who has quite a history of being overly-enthusiastic about Disney Studio releases...

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This week's column, though, is something of a departure. Given that it concentrates on JHM readers' concerns & comments about all the sightline challenges that the "Tarzan" creative team are currently facing at the Richard Rodgers theatre ...

In a story that doesn't exactly bode well for the new CG feature that Walt Disney Pictures will be releasing to theaters next Friday, Jim Hill talks about how Toy 'R' Us execs were offered the chance to produce some "The Wild" -themed plush ... but then passed on that opportunity after they saw a work-in-progress version of this CORE Digital production...

Jim Hill has stumbled upon a fascinating explanation as to why Disney just shut down production of "Gnomeo & Juliet" and Dreamworks Animation is currently retooling "Flushed Away." Could it be that certain studio executives actually believe that the type of humor & story-telling that is typically found in British-themed toons doesn't appeal to American audiences anymore? ...

Jim Hill tries to give us some idea of where John Lasseter & Ed Catmull's power really lies. How these two Pixar execs have absolute control over WDFA but surprisingly little pull when it comes to Disney Consumer Products...