General

When it comes to Disney, when is “good enough” good enough?

Jim Hill gives JHM readers a look at concept art for the original version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion, then wonders: Should Walt Disney Imagineering change its corporate motto from “We Make the Magic” to “We Settle for Less”?

Published

21 years ago

October 7, 2003

Jim Hill

As you read this, 2000 journalists are in the process of being wined and dined at Walt Disney World. The Mouse has really rolled out the red carpet for these reporters. Treating them to after-hours parties at the Florida theme parks, which feature live performances by top name entertainers. (This year, Tori Amos, Sugar Ray and the B52s are all slated to make appearances.) Not to mention giving these same writers private previews of WDW’s latest rides, shows and attractions.

Why does Disney do this? With the hope that — once these entertainment reporters and traveler writers get their fill of free shrimp — they’ll schlep their goodie bags back home to Dayton or Scranton or wherever … and then write articles that say very nice things about the Disney World resort. Which will (hopefully) compel the people who actually read this coverage to think “Gee, maybe it’s time that I finally took the family back to Orlando.”

It’s all part of the great circle of schmooze, people. And — in the spirit of full disclosure — I guess I should mention here that I’ve actually attended several of these events in the past. Though — because I have this awful tendency to ask awkward questions at press conferences (I.E. “Is it true that you guys cut the budget on this attraction twice while it was still under construction?”) — Disney tends to only invite me to every other press event.

Which is why (I guess) that maybe it’s a good thing that the Mouse opted not to invite me (or any other JHM reps) to this year’s WDW press event. That way, they got to avoid the embarrassment that I would have undoubtedly caused at “Mission: Space”‘s grand opening. Which is being held at Epcot tomorrow night, by the way. When I would have felt the need to stand up at the press conference and say:

“Look, I know that ‘Mission: Space’ already has a legion of hardcore fans. But wouldn’t it have been smarter in the long run to just build the version of Epcot’s ‘Space’ pavilion that WDI originally proposed?”

Now — following a question like that — I’m sure that there would have been an awkward pause at the press conference. But — given the way the PR reps at Disney World usually work — I’m sure they would have quickly tried to brush aside my somewhat rude sounding question. Swiftly change the subject. Try to refocus the press conference back on more positive things … like how Epcot visitors just seem to love, love, LOVE “Mission: Space” !!

You see, this is why the guys at WDW Media Relations really don’t like me. The Mouse likes reporters who are polite. More importantly, who have very short memories.

Whereas I — unfortunately — have a very L-O-O-O-N-G memory. And — because I don’t really care for free shrimp and/or goodie bags — I don’t always feel the need to be polite.

Which is why — if I were down in Orlando right now — I’d probably still continue to press this point: “You know, the version of Epcot’s ‘Space’ attraction that the Imagineers originally wanted to build? That Future World pavilion that WDI initially proposed as a companion to ‘Horizons,’ rather than as a replacement for that GE-sponsored ride.”

Once again, Disney’s PR reps would probably have tried to change the subject. Which is why I’d probably have been forced to pull out these photos … which — ironically enough — I was given back in October 1991 while I was attending WDW’s 20th anniversary press event.

Concept art for Epcot’s proposed Space pavilion.
Click image to view full size.

This is it, folks. The officially sanctioned photograph of what the interior of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion was originally supposed to look like. Which WDW press staffers happily handed out to reporters back then because they wanted us reporters to get all excited about what WDI had in the works.

Now some of you may recall the story that I wrote for MousePlanet back in October 2000 (and now is archived over at LaughingPlace.com) which went into great detail about this version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion. Back when Future World visitors were supposed to be transported — via a “Star Tours”-like simulator ride — to a space station far off in deep space. (In fact, if you look closely on the right side of the drawing, you can actually see four simulators — stacked one right on top of the other — full of WDW guests. Who are supposed in the middle of their journey to this fabulous deep space outpost.)

And — of course — once you got to this space station, Epcot visitors would have been able to do all sorts of amazing things. Like — for example — walk in space …

Concept art for Epcot’s proposed Space spacewalk.
Click image to view full size.

So why did the Imagineers initially design “Space” to be such an ambitious addition to Epcot’s Future World? Because they were looking to top the “Living Seas” pavilion. Which — back when it opened in January 1986 — was considered the absolute height when it came to theming.

But that was back in the day when the Walt Disney Company felt that it always had to top itself. Back when the Mouse felt that it was its duty to make sure that every single new ride, show or attractions topped the ones that had come before.

But then Euro Disneyland opened in April of 1992. And — as that innovative and ambitious project quickly became awash in red ink — well … that’s when Disney Company officials lost their taste for innovation. That’s when “ambitious” became a dirty word in Burbank.

This is when the era of “Less is More” at the stateside Disney theme parks began. When attractions like “Kitchen Kabaret” (which was loaded with Audio-Animatronic figures) began to be replaced by obviously lesser shows like “Food Rocks” (which featured minimatronic figures … which were much cheaper to build and maintain).

Which was why the Imagineers’ ambitious initial plans for Epcot’s “Space” pavilion were descoped (translation: nickeled and dimed to death) to the point that all that eventually remained was the trip out into outer space. That magnificent recreation of a space station that WDW visitors were supposed to find at the end of their journey? It disappeared into a budgetary black hole, never to be seen again.

Now some might argue (particularly you “Mission: Space” fans out there) that what we’ve got now is good enough. Well … I remember a time when the Walt Disney Company just didn’t settle for “good enough.”

Take for example, this quote that I found while reading a 1980 Tokyo Disneyland presentation book. Which was prepared in order to woo Japanese firms to become sponsors on the project:

“Tokyo Disneyland will include the most popular attractions from Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as unique new attractions and facilities of its own. Just as Walt Disney World was not a carbon copy of Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland will not be an exact duplication of its predecessors in America. At Walt Disney Productions, we pride ourselves on improving each new project – learning from our past experience and applying it to new products.”

That spirit is still alive at WDI. You only have look at the innovative and ambitious attractions that the Imagineers created for Tokyo Disney Sea to realize that these guys are still capable of creating absolute wonders. But — sadly — when it comes to creating rides and shows like this for Disney’s stateside theme parks, WDI is hobbled by a management team that’s far more interested these days in meeting the expectations of some Wall Street analysts than it is in pleasing and surprising the public.

Okay, I know. Not everything that the Walt Disney Company has built for Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the past few years is total crap. Just look at Disneyland’s incredibly popular “Haunted Mansion Holiday” or WDW’s “Wishes” fireworks extravaganza (which has its official world premiere at the Magic Kingdom tonight at 10:15 pm). And — as I mentioned earlier — “Mission: Space” does already have its fans. As does “Mickey’s PhilharMagic.”

But then I look at those beautiful conceptual paintings for the original version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion. Where WDW guests would have found dozens of intriguing exhibits to explore and interact with inside of a five story tall mock-up of the interior of a space station … and I compare that to “Mission: Space.” Where — after they’ve been spun by the centrifuge and played a few computer games — Epcot visitors are usually heading for the exits after just 15 – 20 minutes, looking for something new to entertain them now.

Of course, there are some Imagineers who will insist that this is actually a good thing. That Disney’s own market surveys show that theme park visitors no longer like long shows in the park. That they actually prefer rides that are shorter and intenser.

Me personally? *Sigh* … I don’t know. I just can’t see how the Walt Disney Company can continue to do this. Continue to cut corners, delivering just okay attractions when it’s still capable to producing extraordinary rides and shows. Settling for less because it thinks that the public doesn’t notice.

But here’s Disney’s problem: The public does notice. And we do remember when Disney announces initially ambitious projects — like the original version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion, or the first version of DCA’s “Hollywood Studio Backlot” area (which initially was supposed to feature elaborate recreations of an 1930s movie palace as well as the LA theme building) and DAK’s Beastly Kingdom — only to substitute lesser quality products … like Epcot’s “Mission: Space” pavilion, DCA’s bare bones backlot and DAK’s Camp MinnieMickey.

Mind you, I still have hope that the Walt Disney Company can eventually turn this situation around. I mean, when I look at the concept painting for “Expedition Everest” for Disney’s Animal Kingdom …

Concept art for Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest.
Click image to view full size.

… I can’t help but think that maybe Disney’s “Less is More” era really is coming to an end.

But then I have visions of standing up at some other WDW press event in the not-so-distant future, waving that photo around, as I say “Remember when they said they were going to build this ambitious attraction? And what did we get instead? Gadget’s Go Coaster Goes Himalayan?!”

Sorry to rant and rave here. But again … in advance of what I’m sure will be a veritable tidal wave of positive press for Epcot’s “Mission: Space” attraction, I just wanted to remind you guys of what we almost got. What the Imagineers had originally wanted to build in Future Word … before Disney Company management decided that the bottom line was now their top priority.

So I ask you … when it comes to the Walt Disney Company, when is “good enough” good enough? Or do you — like me — long for the days when “We Make the Magic” used to be the words that Disney’s Imagineers lived by. Rather than that division’s new unofficial slogan: “We Settle for Less.”

Your thoughts?

General

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

Published

9 years ago

June 23, 2015

Jim Hill

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

… 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.

General

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

Published

9 years ago

June 10, 2015

Jim Hill

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?

General

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

Published

9 years ago

June 9, 2015

Jim Hill

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.' "

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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?

"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