As JHM guest writer Leo N. Holzer explains it, the folks at PDI / DreamWorks Animation labored mightily to make sure that the third "Shrek" movie looked like the first two films in this series. But just below that smooth CG surface, literally thousands of changes were made in order to enhance the look of this picture as well as improve its animation...

JHM guest writer Leo N. Holzer takes us behind-the-scenes in Emeryville, revealing many of the real-world places & people that inspired the creation of Radiator Springs and its residents...

Without " TRON ," there wouldn't be " TRON: Legacy ," and without former Disney CEO and producer Ron Miller , "TRON" may have never been made. Writer/director Steven Lisberger 's "TRON" project had been rejected by at least three other studios before he submitted it to Disney, hoping for the best but not really expecting the positive reaction he received. Miller, Walt Disney's son-in-law, is listed as executive producer of "TRON" and,...

Family togetherness and memories of shared experiences to last a lifetime ... those are at the heart of Walt Disney's many creations - from cartoon characters and heart-warming movies that have entertained generations to Disneyland, which has delighted guests between the ages of 2 and 102 since opening in 1955. Family meant a great deal to Disney, both personally and professionally. His daughter, Diane Disney Miller, told me in 2005 that despite her father's success, she and her sister, Sharon...

Well, it looks like Christmas is coming a little early not only for fans of Walt Disney the man, but also for the Walt Disney Family Museum at The Presidio in San Francisco . Today, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is releasing a combo Blu-ray / DVD collection featuring both " Fantasia" and "Fantasia 2000 ." And if that wasn't reason enough to celebrate - both films look marvelous in high-definition Blu-ray and sound superb - the company is also releasing on Blu-ray...

JHM guest writer Leo N. Holzer talks up this new Ted Thomas film, which will be screened several times over the next few days at the San Francisco International Film Festival ...

It's engaging stories, great characters, good acting, lighting and hundreds of things working together that makes a motion picture a truly MOVING experience. One of the most critical pieces is a film's musical score. Even before recorded dialogue, music was there and it's always had the power to excite us, amuse us, to elicit a tear or two. Those musical notes hit our heartstrings and have the ability to spark memories years later as well as certain feelings. Think about the deep foreboding...

Wow, July 16-18 was quite a weekend for Disney fans marking the 55th anniversary of Disneyland 's opening. In addition to all of the events at the parks in Anaheim and elsewhere, there were special talks Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Walt Disney Family Museum in The Presidio of San Francisco. Tough choices, but I met a couple of people who attended museum events Friday and Sunday, with a quick plane trip down to Anaheim on Saturday to continue their long-standing tradition of being at the...

JHM guest writer Leo N. Holzer delivers a heartfelt piece about the celebration of Joe's life that was held at Pixar Animation Studios last month....

So it's the time of seasonal giving and you're looking for something a bit unusual for that special Disney fan in your life. Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum Nothing says Disney any better than items related in some way to "Walt and his life" and the Walt Disney Family Museum has a few things worth considering. Here's the direct line to the Museum's onsite store, (415) 345-6859, where you can place a phone order if you're unable to make...

The following is an email interview that I recently had with David Tanaka, the creative editor of " Pixar in Concert ." I'd like to thank David for his detailed answers and Chris Wiggum at Pixar for arranging the interview. Q: Please tell me about the process. What prompted the Pixar in Concert idea? How easy was it to get everyone on board and how long did it take from idea to this past weekend's event? Tanaka: The entire process for "Pixar in Concert" actually took around...

JHM guest writer Leo N. Holzer returns with an article about an exciting new aspect of the Disneyland history exhibit that's currently being presented at the Oakland Museum of California. Where Disney Legends and veteran Imagineers will now share seldom-told stories about "The Happiest Place on Earth"...

Leo N. Holzer shares what Nicolas Cage, Jon Turteltaub and Jay Baruchel had to say at about this new Jerry Bruckheimer production at WonderCon 2010...

Leo N. Holzer reports in on what the star of “The Sands of Time,” director Mike Newell and producer Jerry Bruckheimer had to say about this upcoming Walt Disney Pictures release at WonderCon...