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Scrooge U: Part XXXI — “A Diva’s Christmas Carol” puts a silly but cynical spin on the season

Jim Hill continues his look at the many adaptations of "A Christmas Carol." This time around, Jim talks about the 2000 VH1 production which stars Vanessa Williams as the very bitchy Ebony Scrooge

Published

18 years ago

on

Some adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" are like a huge holiday meal. Rich, meaty, memorable. Really stick-to-your-ribs kind of shows.

And then there are those holiday specials like "A Diva's Christmas Carol." Which are the television equivalent of Chinese food.

Don't get wrong, folks. I LOVE Chinese food. Get me a pupu platter & some pork fried rice and I'm a happy, happy man. But — that said — I'm still not going to pretend that eggrolls & chicken fingers are haute cuisine.

Copyright 2000 Paramount Home Entertainment

Which is why I'm now not going to get on my high horse & get all pissy because this 2000 VH1 Production isn't a faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale. Because you & I both know that that was never what writer / director Richard Schenkman intended when he put together this particular TV movie.

What Schenkman was trying to do here was create a version of "A Christmas Carol" that would work for the VH1 audience. Something that was frothy & fun. That would use a lot of show business-based insider jokes to undercut the inherent sentiment of Dickens' holiday tale. In short, a cynical seasonal story.

And — within those (admittedly) very narrow parameters — "A Diva's Christmas Carol" is incredibly successful. Mind you, it shifts this story's locale from 1843 London to the pop music world circa 2000. And Ebenezer Scrooge has been changed from a greedy old white man to a bitchy young black woman. But — beyond that — Dickens' tale in pretty much intact.

 
Copyright 2000 Paramount Home Entertainment

This TV movie opens with Ebony Scrooge (Vanessa Williams) shooting a Christmas-themed music video in France. Being the pop diva that she is, Ebony is treating the cast & crew on this shoot horribly. Literally shutting down production because a piece of faux snow accidentally landed in her mouth. Which then causes this woman to threaten the gaffer who committed this gaffe with firing.

After Scrooge retreats to her trailer, her accountant, Ernie (Richard Jutras) arrives with some bad news. It seems that this pop star is having some serious year-end cash flow problems. So — in order to cover this financial shortfall — she needs to make a large wad of dough between now and New Year's Day.

So Ebony & Ernie come up with a plan. The pop star will first stage a charity concert in NYC on Christmas Day. Then Scrooge will pocket most of the proceeds, citing all the costs involved with producing this holiday fund-raising event before eventually handing over a token amount to some yet-to-be-named charity.

When Ebony's manager, Bob Crachett (Brian McNamara) hears about this holiday scam, he immediately balks. Crachett reminds Scrooge that their band has been on tour for months now. That she already promised to give all of these worn-out musicians & back-up singers Christmas Day off so that they could then spend that time with their families. More to the point, that what Ebony & Ernie are planning on doing seems rather unethical.

Copyright 2000 Paramount Home Entertainment

But Ebony refuses to listen. She then tells Bob that he has to break the bad news to the band & her road crew that they're now going to have to cancel their holiday plans.

Mind you, Scrooge's scheme is also going to cause Crachett considerable personal hardship. Given that Bob was really looking forward to getting some time off himself. So that he could then get home (after all of these months on the road) and see his son, Tim (Joshua Archambault). Who's been having some very odd health problems lately.

So Crachett then has to get on the phone and tell his wife (Linda Goodwin) & kid that he won't actually be able to make it home for Christmas Eve. That Bob's now got to help Ebony stage this last minute charity concert in NYC on Christmas Day. But — once that show's over — he'll catch the next flight back home to Philly.

As you might expect, Mrs. Cratchett isn't thrilled by this news. But Tim is sweet & understanding … Which makes Bob feel all the worse for blowing off his family on Christmas Eve.

But — that said — Crachett still makes all of the necessary arrangements for Scrooge's Christmas Day concert. Making sure that Ebony & all of her support staff make it into Manhattan the night before the event. With her musicans & back-up singers booked to stay in some flea-bag, while the pop star winds up in one of NYC's five star hotels.

Of course, once Ebony settles into her suite for Christmas Eve, that's when things start to go a little screwy.

Copyright 2000 Paramount Home Entertainment

Take — for example — what happens while this diva is on the phone, berating the room service staff because Ebony found a grain of sand in her spinach salad. As Scrooge is abusing the operator, out of the corner of her eye, she notices that a painting in the room is changing. That — for a brief moment — the face of her old bandmate, Marli Jacob (Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas) replaces that of the woman in this frame.

But then — when Scrooge hangs up the phone — the painting has resumed its original form. So Ebony just shrugs the whole thing off, attributing this temporary hallucination to jet lag.

But then the ghost of Marli actually shows up in the suite (Though — instead of dragging her chains — this long-dead pop star now wears them to accentuate her skin-tight outfit). And — following the tried & true "Christmas Carol" way– Scrooge's old partner warns Ebony that she has to change her way. Or she risks being sent to a dark realm where there are no facials & pedicures. Where every day you're tortured by having to break a nail

Scrooge — at first — refuses to believe that this apparition is actually Jacob's ghost. She thinks that it's just some celebrity impersonator who's playing Marli. So this spirit has to take matters into her own hands — with Jacob literally separating her head from her shoulders — before Ebony will believe that this ghoul is actually Marli. Then — after warning Scrooge about the three other ghosts that will be visiting her that night — Jacob disappears.

Copyright 2000 Paramount Home Entertainment

This then sets the stage for the Ghost of Christmas Past. Who's played with great bite & verve by comedian Kathy Griffin. This holiday spirit spirits Ebony back to her old childhood stomping grounds. Which were in Paterson, N.J. Which — as Griffin cracks " … explains the smell."

Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past then look in on the pop singer's tough childhood. Where the abuse that Ebony and her brother, Ronnie (Asde Obayomi) suffer at the hands of their drunken dad forces the authorities to place these two kids in foster care. From there, we watch Scrooge leave the bad times behind by forming "Desire" (I.E. The trio that Ebony performs in along with Marli Jacob & Terry Freeman [Stephanie Biddle]).

"Desire" seems destined for greatness. But when Marli dies in a car accident, Ebony opts for a solo career. Leaving poor Terri behind to first fall in obscurity and then homelessness.

Once the Ghost of Christmas Past departs, it's now time for the Ghost of Present to come on the scene. And who should play this role but John Taylor from Duran Duran.

Copyright 2006 Paramount Home Entertainment

The Ghost of Christmas Past then takes Scrooge on a (literally) whirlwind trip of New York City. Where they first peek in on Ebony's niece, Olivia (Amanda Brugel). Who — in spite of how rude & distant her aunt has been to her over the years — this young woman still hopes that Scrooge will have a happy holiday.

These two then drop by Ernie's 5th Avenue apartment. Where it quickly becomes apparent that Ebony's current cash flow problems aren't really related to the end of the tax year. But — rather — because Scrooge's accountant has been helping himself to her money in order to fund his rather extravagant personal lifestyle.

Then comes the news that Bob is bailing on Ebony right before tomorrow's concert. You see, Tim has taken a sudden turn for the worse. And Crachett feels that he really needs to be home right now. So he literally leaves Scrooge in the lurch.

Copyright 2006 Paramount Home Entertainment

As for the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be … Well, that's kind of the dividing line for a lot of Dickens fans when it comes to "A Diva's Christmas Carol." Some people seem to think that it's far too crass & self-promotional that a VH1 program actually play the part of this holiday spirit. While still others think that it's actually kind of clever & entirely appropriate that this TV movie uses an episode of "Behind the Music" to show how this pop diva how poorly her future turned out. That Ebony may have died with a lot of cash in hand, but she was still alone & unloved.

As Scrooge is then sucked into the wide screen television in her luxurious suite, the now-reformed miser vows to change her ways, to make amends to all those that she's wronged over the years.

Copyright 2000 Paramount Home Entertainment

And Ebony actually does keep her word. She starts treating her band & back-up singers much better. Scrooge has Crachett's wife bring Tim to NYC so that he can then be treated by the very best doctors. Ebony even reaches out to her old singer partner, Terri, and asks this down-on-her-luck performer to come join her on stage in a number during that charity concert.

Speaking of that charity concert  … Scrooge now makes sure that all of the money that's raised actually gets in the hands of a really-for-real charity. As for Ernie the accountant … Ebony contacts the FBI, who then come & arrest Ernie for embezzling.

So — as you can see — "A Diva's Christmas Carol" ends on an up note. With Scrooge trying to set things right in the world.

And — again — while this may not be the most faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," this TV movie is still kind of fun. Though (not to belabor the Chinese food analogy that I introduced at the very start of this story) you may have trouble remembering any of the particulars of the plot a half hour after you've actually watched this VH1 production.

Frothy, fun but ultimately forgettable. That pretty much sums up "A Diva's Christmas Carol." Tomorrow … It's a tart, comic take on Dickens' classic tale: "Maxine's Christmas Carol."

Your thoughts?

Related Topics:

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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General

Seward Johnson bronzes add a surreal, artistic touch to NYC’s Garment District

Published

9 years ago

on

June 23, 2015

By

Greetings from NYC. Nancy and I drove down from New
Hampshire yesterday because we'll be checking out
Disney Consumer Products' annual Holiday Showcase later today.

Anyway … After checking into our hotel (i.e., The Paul.
Which is located down in NYC's NoMad district), we decided to grab some dinner.
Which is how we wound up at the Melt Shop.


Photo by Jim Hill

Which is this restaurant that only sells grilled cheese sandwiches.
This comfort food was delicious, but kind of on the heavy side.


Photo by Jim Hill

Which is why — given that it was a beautiful summer night
— we'd then try and walk off our meals. We started our stroll down by the Empire
State Building
…


Photo by Jim Hill

… and eventually wound up just below Times
Square (right behind where the Waterford Crystal Times Square New
Year's Eve Ball is kept).


Photo by Jim Hill

But you know what we discovered en route? Right in the heart
of Manhattan's Garment District
along Broadway between 36th and 41st? This incredibly cool series of life-like
and life-sized sculptures that Seward
Johnson has created.


Photo by Jim Hill

And — yes — that is Abraham Lincoln (who seems to have
slipped out of WDW's Hall of Presidents when no one was looking and is now
leading tourists around Times Square). These 18 painted
bronze pieces (which were just installed late this past Sunday night / early
Monday morning) range from the surreal to the all-too-real.


Photo by Jim Hill

Some of these pieces look like typical New Yorkers. Like the
business woman planning out her day …


Photo by Jim Hill

… the postman delivering the mail …


Photo by Jim Hill

… the hot dog vendor working at his cart …


Photo by Jim Hill


Photo by Jim Hill

… the street musician playing for tourists …


Photo by Jim Hill

Not to mention the tourists themselves.


Photo by Jim Hill

But right alongside the bronze businessmen …


Photo by Jim Hill

… and the tired grandmother hauling her groceries home …


Photo by Jim Hill

… there were also statues representing people who were
from out-of-town …


Photo by Jim Hill

… or — for that matter — out-of-time.


Photo by Jim Hill

These were the Seward Johnson pieces that genuinely beguiled. Famous impressionist paintings brought to life in three dimensions.


Note the out-of-period water bottle that some tourist left
behind. Photo by Jim Hill 

Some of them so lifelike that you actually had to pause for
a moment (especially as day gave way to night in the city) and say to yourself
"Is that one of the bronzes? Or just someone pretending to be one of these
bronzes?"

Mind you, for those of you who aren't big fans of the
impressionists …


Photo by Jim Hill

… there's also an array of American icons. Among them
Marilyn Monroe …


Photo by Jim Hill

… and that farmer couple from Grant Wood's "American
Gothic."


Photo by Jim Hill

But for those of you who know your NYC history, it's hard to
beat that piece which recreates Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph of V-J Day in Times Square.


Photo by Jim Hill

By the way, a 25-foot-tall version of this particular Seward
Johnson piece ( which — FYI — is entitled "Embracing Peace") will actually
be placed in Times Square for a few days on or around  August 14th to commemorate the 70th
anniversary of Victory Over Japan Day (V-J Day).


Photo by Jim Hill

By the way, if you'd like to check these Seward Johnson bronzes in
person (which — it should be noted — are part of the part of the Garment
District Alliance's new public art offering) — you'd best schedule a trip to
the City sometime over the next three months. For these pieces will only be on
display now through September 15th. 

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Wondering what you should “Boldly Go” see at the movies next year? The 2015 Licensing Expo offers you some clues

Published

9 years ago

on

June 10, 2015

By

Greeting from the 2015 Licensing Expo, which is being held
at the Mandalay Bay
Convention Center in Las
Vegas.


Photo by Jim Hill

I have to admit that I enjoy covering the Licensing Expo.
Mostly becomes it allows bloggers & entertainment writers like myself to
get a peek over the horizon. Scope out some of the major motion pictures &
TV shows that today's vertically integrated entertainment conglomerates
(Remember when these companies used to be called movie studios?) will be
sending our way over the next two years or so.


Photo by Jim Hill

Take — for example — all of "The Secret Life of
Pets" banners that greeted Expo attendees as they made their way to the
show floor today. I actually got to see some footage from this new Illumination
Entertainment production (which will hit theaters on July 8, 2016) the last time I was in Vegas. Which
was for CinemaCon back in April. And the five or so minutes of film that I viewed
suggested that "The Secret Life of Pets" will be a really funny
animated feature.


Photo by Jim Hill

Mind you, Universal Pictures wanted to make sure that Expo
attendees remembered that there was another Illumination Entertainment production
coming-to-a-theater-near-them before "The Secret Life of Pets" (And
that's "Minions," the "Despicable Me" prequel. Which
premieres at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival next week but
won't be screened stateside 'til July 10th of this year). Which is why they had
three minions who were made entirely out of LEGOS loitering out in the lobby.


Photo by Jim Hill

And Warner Bros. — because they wanted "Batman v
Superman: Dawn of Justice" to start trending on Twitter today — brought
the Batmobile to Las Vegas.


Photo by Jim Hill

Not to mention full-sized macquettes of Batman, Superman and
Wonder Woman. Just so conventioneers could then see what these DC superheroes
would actually look like in this eagerly anticipated, March 25, 2016 release.


Photo by Jim Hill

That's the thing that can sometimes be a wee bit frustrating
about the Licensing Expo. It's all about delayed gratification. You'll come
around a corner and see this 100 foot-long ad for "The Peanuts Movie"
and think "Hey, that looks great. I want to see that Blue Sky Studios production
right now." It's only then that you notice the fine print and realize that
"The Peanuts Movie" doesn't actually open in theaters 'til November
6th of this year.


Photo by Jim Hill

And fan of Blue Sky's "Ice Age" film franchise are in for an even
longer wait. Given that the latest installment in that top grossing series
doesn't arrive in theaters 'til July
15, 2016.


Photo by Jim Hill

Of course, if you're one of those people who needs immediate
gratification when it comes to your entertainment, there was stuff like that to
be found at this year's Licensing Expo. Take — for example — how the WWE
booth was actually shaped like a wrestling ring. Which — I'm guessing — meant
that if the executives of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. didn't like
the offer that you were making, they were then allowed to toss you out over the
top rope, Royal Rumble-style.


Photo by Jim Hill

I also have to admit that — as a longtime Star Trek fan —
it was cool to see the enormous Starship Enterprise that hung in place over the
CBS booth. Not to mention getting a glimpse of the official Star Trek 50th
Anniversary logo.


Photo by Jim Hill

I was also pleased to see lots of activity in The Jim Henson
Company booth. Which suggests that JHC has actually finally carved out a
post-Muppets identity for itself.


Photo by Jim Hill

Likewise for all of us who were getting a little concerned
about DreamWorks Animation (what with all the layoffs & write-downs &
projects that were put into turnaround or outright cancelled last year), it was
nice to see that booth bustling.


Photo by Jim Hill

Every so often, you'd come across some people who were
promoting a movie that you weren't entirely sure that you actually wanted to
see (EX: "Angry Birds," which Sony Pictures Entertainment / Columbia
Pictures will be releasing to theaters on May 20, 2016). But then you remembered that Clay Kaytis —
who's this hugely talented former Walt Disney Animation Studios animator — is
riding herd on "Angry Birds" with Fergal Reilly. And you'd think
"Well, if Clay's working on 'Angry Birds,' I'm sure this animated feature
will turn out fine."


Photo by Jim Hill

Mind you, there were reminders at this year's Licensing Expo
of great animated features that we're never going to get to see now. I still
can't believe — especially after that brilliant proof-of-concept footage
popped up online last year — that Sony execs decided not to go forward
with  production of Genndy Tartakovsky's
"Popeye" movie.  But that's the
cruel thing about the entertainment business, folks. It will sometime break
your heart.


Photo by Jim Hill

And make no mistake about this. The Licensing Expo is all
about business. That point was clearly driven home at this year's show when —
as you walked through the doors of the Mandalay
Bay Convention Center
— the first thing that you saw was the Hasbros Booth. Which was this gleaming,
sleek two story-tall affair full of people who were negotiating deals &
signing contracts for all of the would-be summer blockbusters that have already
announced release dates for 2019 & beyond.


Photo by Jim Hill

"But what about The Walt Disney Company?," you
ask. "Weren't they represented on the show floor at this year's Licensing
Expo?" Not really, not. I mean, sure. There were a few companies there hyping
Disney-related products. Take — for example — the Disney Wikkeez people.


Photo by Jim Hill

I'm assuming that some Disney Consumer Products exec is
hoping that Wikkeez will eventually become the new Tsum Tsum. But to be blunt,
these little hard plastic figures don't seem to have the same huggable charm
that those stackable plush do. But I've been wrong before. So let's see what
happens with Disney Wikkeez once they start showing up on the shelves of the
Company's North American retail partners.


Photo by Jim Hill

And speaking of Disney's retail partners … They were
meeting with Mouse House executives behind closed doors one floor down from the
official show floor for this year's Licensing Expo.


Photo by Jim Hill

And the theme for this year's invitation-only Disney shindig? "Timeless
Stories" involving the Disney, Pixar, Marvel & Lucasfilm brands that
would then appeal to "tomorrow's consumer."


Photo by Jim Hill

And just to sort of hammer home the idea that Disney is no
longer the Company which cornered the market when it comes to little girls
(i.e., its Disney Princess and Disney Fairies franchises), check out this
wall-sized Star Wars-related image that DCP put up just outside of one of its
many private meeting rooms. "See?," this carefully crafted photo
screams. "It isn't just little boys who want to wield the Force. Little
girls also want to grow up and be Lords of the Sith."


Photo by Jim Hill

One final, kind-of-ironic note: According to this banner,
Paramount Pictures will be releasing a movie called "Amusement Park"
to theaters sometime in 2017.  


Photo by Jim Hill

Well, given all the "Blackfish" -related issues
that have been dogged SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment over the past two years, I'm
just hoping that they'll still be in the amusement park business come 2017.

Your thoughts?

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It takes more than three circles to craft a Classic version of Mickey Mouse

Published

9 years ago

on

June 9, 2015

By

You know what Mickey Mouse looks like, right? Little guy,
big ears?

Truth be told, Disney's corporate symbol has a lot of
different looks. If Mickey's interacting with Guests at Disneyland
Park (especially this summer, when
the Happiest Place on Earth
is celebrating its 60th anniversary), he looks & dresses like this.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved

Or when he's appearing in one of those Emmy Award-winning shorts that Disney
Television Animation has produced (EX: "Bronco Busted," which debuts
on the Disney Channel tonight at 8 p.m. ET / PT), Mickey is drawn in a such a
way that he looks hip, cool, edgy & retro all at the same time.


Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights
reserved

Looking ahead to 2017 now, when Disney Junior rolls out "Mickey and the
Roadster Racers," this brand-new animated series will feature a sportier version
of Disney's corporate symbol. One that Mouse House managers hope will persuade
preschool boys to more fully embrace this now 86 year-old character.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

That's what most people don't realize about the Mouse. The
Walt Disney Company deliberately tailors Mickey's look, even his style of
movement, depending on what sort of project / production he's appearing in.

Take — for example — Disney
California Adventure
Park's "World of Color:
Celebrate!" Because Disney's main mouse would be co-hosting this new
nighttime lagoon show with ace emcee Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Goldberg really had
to step up Mickey's game. Which is why this master Disney animator created
several minutes of all-new Mouse animation which then showed that Mickey was
just as skilled a showman as Neil was.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved

Better yet, let's take a look at what the folks at Avalanche Studios just went
through as they attempted to create a Classic version of Mickey & Minnie.
One that would then allow this popular pair to become part of Disney Infinity
3.0.

"I won't lie to you. We were under a lot of pressure to
get the look of this particular version of Mickey — he's called Red Pants
Mickey around here — just right," said Jeff Bunker, the VP of Art
Development at Avalanche Studios, during a recent phone interview. "When
we brought Sorcerer Mickey into Disney Infinity 1.0 back in January of 2014,
that one was relatively easy because … Well, everyone knows what Mickey Mouse
looked like when he appeared in 'Fantasia.' "


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"But this time around, we were being asked to design
THE Mickey & Minnie," Bunker continued. "And given that these Classic
Disney characters have been around in various different forms for the better
part of the last century … Well, which look was the right look?"

Which is why Jeff and his team at Avalanche Studios began watching hours &
hours of Mickey Mouse shorts. As they tried to get a handle on which look would
work best for these characters in Disney Infinity 3.0.


Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

"And we went all the way back to the very start of Mickey's career. We began
with 'Steamboat Willie' and then watched all of those black & white Mickey shorts
that Walt made back in the late 1920s & early 1930s. From there, we
transitioned to his Technicolor shorts. Which is when Mickey went from being
this pie-eyed, really feisty character to more of a well-behaved leading
man," Bunker recalled. "We then finished out our Mouse marathon by
watching all of those new Mickey shorts that Paul Rudish & his team have
been creating for Disney Television Animation. Those cartoons really recapture
a lot of the spirit and wild slapstick fun that Mickey's early, black &
white shorts had."

But given that the specific assignment that Avalanche Studios had been handed
was to create the most appealing looking, likeable version of Mickey Mouse
possible … In the end, Jeff and his team wound up borrowing bits & pieces
from a lot of different versions of the world's most famous mouse. So that
Classic Mickey would then look & move in a way that best fit the sort of
gameplay which people would soon be able to experience with Disney Infinity
3.0.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"That — in a lot of ways — was actually the toughest
part of the Classic Mickey design project. You have to remember that one of the
key creative conceits of  Disney Infinity
is that all the characters which appear in this game are toys," Bunker
stated. "Okay. So they're beautifully detailed, highly stylized toy
versions of beloved Disney, Pixar, Marvel & Lucasfilm characters. But
they're still supposed to be toys. So our Classic versions of Mickey &
Minnie have the same sort of thickness & sturdiness to them that toys have.
So that they'll then be able to fit right in with all of the rest of the
characters that Avalanche Studios had previously designed for Disney Infinity."

And then there was the matter of coming up with just the
right pose for Classic Mickey & Minnie. Which — to hear Jeff tell the
story — involved input from a lot of Disney upper management.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"Everyone within the Company seemed to have an opinion
about how Mickey & Minnie should be posed. More to the point, if you Google
Mickey, you then discover that there are literally thousands of poses out there
for these two. Though — truth be told — a lot of those kind of play off the
way Mickey poses when he's being Disney's corporate symbol," Bunker said.
"But what I was most concerned about was that Mickey's pose had to work
with Minnie's pose. Because we were bringing the Classic versions of these
characters up into Disney Infinity 3.0 at the exact same time. And we wanted to
make sure — especially for those fans who like to put their Disney Infinity
figures on display — that Mickey's pose would then complement Minnie.

Which is why Jeff & the crew at Avalanche Studios
decided — when it came to Classic Mickey & Minnie's pose — that they
should go all the way back to the beginning. Which is why these two Disney icons
are sculpted in such a way that it almost seems as though you're witnessing the
very first time Mickey set eyes on Minnie.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"And what was really great about that was — as soon as
we began showing people within the Company this pose — everyone at Disney
quickly got on board with the idea. I mean, the Classic Mickey that we sculpted
for Disney Infinity 3.0 is clearly a very playful, spunky character. But at the
same time, he's obviously got eyes for Minnie," Bunker concluded. "So
in the end, we were able to come up with Classic versions of these characters
that will work well within the creative confines of Disney Infinity 3.0 but at
the same time please those Disney fans who just collect these figures because
they like the way the Disney Infinity characters look."

So now that this particular design project is over, does
Jeff regret that Mouse House upper management was so hands-on when it came to
making sure that the Classic versions of Mickey & Minnie were specifically
tailored to fit the look & style of gameplay found in Disney Infinity 3.0?


Copyright Lucasfilm / Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

"To be blunt, we go through this every time we add a new character to the
game. The folks at Lucasfilm were just as hands-on when we were designing the
versions of Darth Vader and Yoda that will also soon be appearing in Disney
Infinity 3.0," Bunker laughed. "So in the end, if the character's
creators AND the fans are happy, then I'm happy."

This article was originally posted on the Huffington Post's Entertainment page on Tuesday, June 9, 2015

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