General
“Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” is the latest step in Universal Studios Hollywood’s reimagining of its Upper Lot
By now, you've probably already heard that Universal Studios Hollywood's
version of "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" opened on Friday.
Copyright 2014 Universal Studios. All rights reserved
And as you might expect, there was the usual hoopla …
Gru is joined onstage by Miranda Cosgrove, Dana
Gier and Elsie Fisher, the three
talented young ladies who voiced Margo, Edith
& Agnes in "Despicable Me"
and "Despicable Me 2." Photo
by Shelly Valladolid
… that now comes with the opening of a brand-new theme
park attraction …
Universal Parks & Resort
management, dignitaries & celebrities all gathered with Gru
around a
detonator. Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… in the highly competitive Southern California
market.
As a blizzard of Minion-yellow balloons,
streamers and confetti descended on the crowd,
USH's version of
"Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" was officially declared open.
Photo by
Shelly Valladolid
Now a lot of other sites would use this
opening-of-this-new-USH-attraction as an opportunity to talk about the
"Minion Mayhem" ride itself …
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
But here at JHM … Well, I'd prefer to use the debut of Universal Studios
Hollywood's new "Despicable Me" -themed "land" as a way to
talk about how Universal Creative has reimagining that theme park's Upper Lot
area.
Because — let's be honest here, folks — while Universal Studios Hollywood
does have a really strong entrance …
Copyright 2014 Universal Studios. All rights
reserved
… not to mention a retail corridor that does reinforce the
idea that you're now entering a theme park which celebrates the movies …
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
… but everything kind of fell apart as soon as you got to the end of
Universal Studios Hollywood's retail corridor. Which was where the Upper
Lot then turned in this confusing tangle of games, shops,
attractions & restaurants.
Copyright 2014 Universal Studios. All rights
reserved
And the folks at Universal Creative knew this. But — given
that they'd previously had to rehab USH's Upper Lot area
in a piecemeal fashion — there was just no way that they could address the Upper
Lot's visual confusion / guest flow issues in a comprehensive
manner.
But all that changed in November of 2011 when Universal Park
& Resorts managers revealed that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would
be coming to Hollywood in 2016.
Copyright 2014 Universal Studios. All rights
reserved
And since a goodly portion of the Upper Lot (not to mention the entire Gibson
Amphitheatre) would have to be torn up / ripped down in order to accommodate J.K.
Rowling's characters … Well, Universal Creative took advantage of this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redo much of the front half of its Southern
California theme park. Put together a new master plan for the Upper Lot that would — for once & for all — address all of the visual confusion / guest flow issues that had
previously existed in this corner of Universal Studios Hollywood.
The first portion of Universal Creative's new vision for USH's Upper Lot to come online was the Universal Plaza. The area first opened to the public back in August of 2013.
Photo by Jim Hill
As you can see, the Universal
Plaza features many of the same
design elements that the Guests had already seen as they passed through this
theme park's entrance archway and then wandered up its retail corridor. Ah, but
there's more to this architectural-celebration-of-Hollywood's-golden-age than
meets the eye.
You see, right from the get-go, the Universal
Plaza had been designed to be a
multi-use space. So in September & October, it could be used as an
over-flow queue area for Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights
…
Photo by Jim Hill
… while in November & December, this exact same space could then be
repurposed for Grinchmas. Giving USH visitors a place where they do holiday
crafts …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… or attend the nightly lighting of this theme park's 60 foot-tall Grinchmas
tree.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
During the hot summer months, Universal Plaza then converts into a massive
water play area. Which gives kids a place to cool down while Mom & Dad go
off and grab lunch at near-by counter service restaurants like the Snack Bar
& Pink's.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
Mind you, one of the main reasons that Universal Creative
was looking to rip out this tangle of shops, restaurants, games and attractions
which one used to encounter when they arrived at the very heart of the Upper
Lot was to ease guest flow through this area. Which is going to
become especially crucial when this theme park's expanded Springfield,
U.S.A. area opens in
2015. Not to mention when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter came online in 2016.
But you know what I like best about Universal Creative's
been doing with that theme park's Upper Lot area.
Whenever possible, they've been using this multi-million dollar redo as an
excuse to do some placemaking.
Now please don't misunderstand. While I love what the folks
down in Orlando did when the
original "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" opened at Universal Studios
Florida back in July of 2012 …
Photo by Nancy Stadler
… because this attraction was located in that theme park's Production Central
area right across the street from Shrek 4-D, there was only so much placemaking
that Universal Creative could do. So they put some funny Minion-themed elements
on the exterior of Soundstage 42 …
Photo by Nancy Stadler
… not to mention some cute signage down at street level.
Photo by Nancy Stadler
Photo by Nancy Stadler
And I also have to give Universal Orlando's horticultural department props for
planting some banana trees right next to "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" 's queue area.
Photo by Jim Hill
But that was pretty much all Universal Creative could do in Florida,
given the time & the budget that they were working with. Whereas the team
who was in charge of converting USH's "Terminator 2 – 3D" attraction
…
2014 Universal Studios. All
rights reserved
… and that theme park's old Coke Soak area really went all
out. They didn't just build Gru's house this time around. They decided to create a whole
"Despicable Me" -themed neighborhood. Which starts with "Miss
Hattie's Home for Girls," the orphanage where Margo, Edith & Agnes lived
until Gru adopted them.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
If you actually make it out to Universal Studios Hollywood
this week to check out "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" (Speaking of
which, to accommodate the crowds that USH official anticipate will be coming to
this theme park over April School Vacation Week, now through April 20th, both
"Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" & "Transformers – The Ride
3D" will open 30 minutes before the rest of the park), I urge you to walk
down "Despicable Me" street and hammer on all the doorbells you see
…
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… so that you can then hear all of the fun audio clips that Universal
Creative put together for this area.
Likewise as you exit "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… and then find yourself in the gift shop …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… be sure and continue on outside. Where you'll then find that Universal
Creative has turned USH's old Coke Soak area in a smallish sized version of Super
Silly Fun Land.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
I really have to applaud Universal Creative for their attention to detail in
this corner of that theme park. For Super Silly Fun Land apes the look at that
seaside theme park which Chris
Meledandri & Co. created for that 2010 Illumination Entertainment release.
Copyright 2010 Universal Pictures. All rights reserved
Everything from the Silly Swirly ..
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… which is this bug-themed spinner …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… to this area's climbing structure …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… the water play area …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… even the shade structures …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… keep that silly cartoon bug look of the original film going. Best of all,
if you wander over to Super Silly Fun Land's boardwalk gaming area …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
… you can then relive one of the comic highpoints of the first
"Despicable Me" movie
and attempt to win a fluffy unicorn by trying
your hand at "Space Killer."
Copyright 2010 Universal Pictures. All rights reserved
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
One of the other smart differences between the Universal Orlando version of
"Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" and the Universal Studios Hollywood
version of this same attraction is the addition of Gru's Lab Cafe. Which is
where parents can linger over their counter service lunch or dinner while the
kids run off and explore Super Silly
Fun Land.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
To be honest, there are lots of reasons to linger in Super
Silly Fun Land.
You could easily kill 15 minutes just trying find all of the Minions that
Universal Creative has stashed in & around this part of that theme park. There
are Minions standing guard …
Beware of the fart gun. Photo
by Shelly Valladolid
… Minions helping to safely operate this theme park's
attractions …
Ready for take-off. Photo by
Shelly Valladolid
… Minions who are touching up Super Silly Fun Land's paint job.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
There are even Minions who are just goofing, enjoying a quick toasted
marshmallows & banana break.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
"And why has Universal Creative loaded up USH's new
'Despicable Me' land with all sorts of detail instead of just building a
straightforward clone of the USF version of this attraction?," you ask.
Because Universal Creative learned a very valuable lesson when it opened the
original Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure
back in June of 2010. Which is that — when you create a hyper-detailed
environment which has far more than the average theme park guest can take in in
a single glance — they then slow down …
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
… They linger. They loiter. In a theme park environment like this, these
people are far more likely to visit shops and/or sit down and order a meal
& a drink.
Less than seven months after The Wizarding World
of Harry Potter opened at Universal's
Islands of Adventure, this theme park
within a theme park sold its millionth glass of
Butterbeer. Copyright 2014
Universal Studios. All rights reserved
Which perhaps explains why the version of Springfield,
U.S.A. …
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
… which is currently under construction at Universal
Studios Hollywood will be significantly larger & more elaborate than the
Universal Studios Florida original.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
Which is why — as you take a closer look at that concept
art for USH's version of Fast Food Boulevard
— you're going to see details which only a true Simpsons fan would appreciate.
Like Snake breaking out of the second floor of the Springfield Police Station
as Eddie & Lou look on obviously at street level.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
Or how — high up in the hills behind Moe's Tavern — Mr. Burns
has just released the hounds.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
"But why is Universal Creative extending the facades for USH's version of Fast Food Boulevard to such a great height?," you query.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
Ah, that's because the Universal Hollywood of The Wizarding World of Harry
Potter is being built right across the way. And the folks at Universal Creative
are doing everything within their power to make sure that worlds of Harry &
Homer don't visually intrude on one another.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
As for what rides, shows & attractions will be featured
in the Hollywood version of The Wizarding World? …
Well, given that the opening of this new USH "land" is still more
than two years away, Universal Creative is (understandably) being kind of
close-mouthed for the moment.
Copyright 2014 Universal
Studios. All rights reserved
Though, from what I've been told from a few insiders, the
Universal Hollywood version of the Wizarding World will have several aspects
that will then make this new theme park "land" different from IOA's
Hogsmeade, USF's Diagon Alley and even that version of the Wizarding World
which is currently under construction at Universal Studios Japan.
Copyright Universal Studios.
All rights reserved
So what do you folks think of what Universal Creative has
been doing with the Upper Lot at Universal Studios
Hollywood? Does this radically reimaging of the front-most portion of this
theme park make it that much more likely that you'll visit USH the next time
you're in Southern California?
Your thoughts?
General
Seward Johnson bronzes add a surreal, artistic touch to NYC’s Garment District
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.
General
Wondering what you should “Boldly Go” see at the movies next year? The 2015 Licensing Expo offers you some clues
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
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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