General

“Destination Disney” is a lot closer than you think

Well, whaddaya now? The future really IS now. Jim Hill’s back with even more info about this new guest experience enchancing program which will start making its Disney World debut in early 2003.

Published

22 years ago

December 15, 2002

Jim Hill

I know, I know. What with the talking interactive plush and the hidden digital cameras, this all sounds like something out of Michael Crichton’s “Westworld.” But the fact of the matter is, kids, the “Destination Disney” program IS real. By that I mean, key components of this ambitious program are already in place, while other elements will be making their WDW debut starting in early 2003.

So what exactly are we talking about here? Well, for those of you who missed last Wednesday’s article, let me do a quick recap: “Destination Disney” is a guest satisfaction program that the Walt Disney Company will be rolling out in Orlando shortly that (to put it bluntly) will totally re-invent the theme park going experience.

Goal No. 1 of the “Destination Disney” plan is to get guests who have booked their WDW vacation packages through www.disneyworld.com into the theme parks with two hours of their arrival at Orlando International Airport. The Mouse hopes to accomplish this by:

1. Collecting these guests’ bags right as they come off the plane and taking this luggage directly to the guests’ on-property WDW hotel room. (Thereby sparing these folks all that standing and waiting around OIA’s luggage carousels as well as all the sweat and strain involved with schlepping their own bags out to Disney property.)
2. Using the “Destination Disney” desk – which will be located right inside the airport terminal – to allow these folks to check into their WDW hotel prior to actually arriving on property. (Thereby eliminating the need for these guests to drop by the front desk and physically check in once they actually arrive at the Disney World resort that they’re staying at.)
3. Immediately issuing these guests their room keys, which will also double as their passes to get into the theme parks. (Thereby eliminating any reason for these WDW visitors to stand on line at the admission booths once they arrive at the parks).

Goal No. 2 of the “Destination Disney” program will be to make the whole WDW experience as easy and convenient (and – more importantly – as entertaining as possible) for guests who have booked their WDW vacation packages on line. Disney hopes to accomplish this by giving these guests a variety of hi-tech devices. These include:

A handheld PDA (personal digital assistant) that – since it will be tied in directly with WDW’s intranet system – will be able to perform a variety of functions:
1. It will be able to give these guests real time quotes on what the current wait times are for various attractions around the theme park.
2. It will allow these guests to make breakfast, lunch and dinner reservations while on the fly. (Thereby eliminating the need to physically drop by that restaurant and/or call ahead in order to secure a reservation.)
3. As the guest walks through the theme park, the PDA will constantly “volunteer” new information. (I.E. offer up interesting bits of trivia about the park, suggest shows and attractions that the guest may be interested in seeing while touring a particular section of the theme park, point out where the nearest restaurant or restroom is located.)
4. Eventually, WDW’s PDA system will supposedly allow guests to pre-book their Fast Pass tickets. (Thereby eliminating any reason to actually go to that attraction prior to riding the ride.)
A device the size of a key chain that will allow these guests to make use of Disney’s new in-theme-park digital imagery system. (Thereby eliminating the need for these guests to carry a camera with them in order to record memorable moments during their Disney World vacation.)
An interactive plush toy that – thanks to sensors that already embedded throughout the entire WDW resort – will act as entertainer / ambassador for these guests’ Disney World trip. Among the many things that this doll is reportedly programmed to do is:
1. The plush will make suggestions about what the guest can do next while touring the park. (“Hey, we’re passing ‘Small World.’ Do you want to go ride on that?”)
2. The plush will try to entertain the guest while they’re waiting in line. (“Press my left hand if you’d like me to tell a joke.”)
3. The plush will also try to keep the guest updated on what’s going on in the park (“The 3 o’clock parade starts in just 15 minutes”) or any unexpected changes in the schedule (“Aw, shucks! The 3 o’clock parade has been postponed due to rain. Let’s find something fun and indoors to do.”)

I know, I know. This all sounds so outlandish. But wait ’til you hear about what guests who booked their Disney World vacation packages on line will be able to do once they get back to their on-property hotel rooms. Thanks to this great leap forward in Disney’s technological capabilities down in Central Florida, guests will be able to use the television in their room to:

Preview photos that they took (using WDW’s digital imaging system) that day.
Find out what the current total is on their hotel room bill.
Make breakfast, lunch or dinner reservations for the following day.
Check their at-home e-mail account for any new messages.

(Some of you JimHillMedia.com readers may be puzzling over why the Walt Disney Company will – at least initially – be restricting guests’ access to the “Destination Disney” program. [I.E. only allowing those who booked their vacation package via www.disneyworld.com to take advantage of this program.] The feeling is that – given the numerous hi-tech devices that play a prominent role in this new system – only guests who already have some technical savvy will be able to use “Destination Disney” to its fullest extent. More to the point, these folks will be comfortable with / won’t be intimidated by PDAs, interactive plush, using WDW’s intra-net to review their digital pictures, etc. As time goes by, Disney hopes that they’ll be able to offer the “Destination Disney” vacation package to a wider variety of tourists. But – for at least the first year or so – the program will be an on-line exclusive. [See? Now aren’t you happy that you learned to use the Internet. Now you get an exclusive WDW perk!] Anyway …)

Again, I know. This all sounds so outrageous. Like something straight out of Fantasyland and/or Tomorrowland. But here’s the facts, folks: many pieces of this program – like the digital imaging system, for example – have been in place since this past August.

Take for example, the image capture system that’s already been installed inside the “Haunted Mansion” attraction at WDW’s Magic Kingdom. This particular camera can only be activated by guests who are carrying their “Destination Disney” key ring. The picture that this image capture unit will takes shows the guests in their doom buggy being menaced by a ghost that will be optically inserted after the fact. This photo opportunity will only be available to guests who taking part in the “Destination Disney” program.

As for the plush and the PDAs: they’re actually being constructed in China as we speak. The PDA will look a lot like that handheld “Magic Moments” electronic trivia game that’s currently on sale in the parks. (Which – given that the PDA will have access to 1500 different Disney trivia questions that it will lob at guests as they stroll through the parks – only seems kind of appropriate.)

The interactive plush? … I’m told that there will be just three different characters offered at the start of the “Destination Disney” program: Mickey and two other Disney favorites. (Should “DD” prove to be successful, other different versions of the interactive plush – featuring a wider variety of beloved Disney characters – are expected to be fielded.)

Now where this gets interesting is that I’ve been told that the interactive “Mickey” plush will NOT be a “Destination Disney” exclusive. To explain: The doll will be given – for free – to guests who have booked their “Destination Disney” vacation packages on line. But this interactive Mickey will also be available for sale in the park (current suggested retail: $50) or it can be rented for just $8 a day.

So guests who opt to buy and/or rent this interactive plush and lug it around WDW’s theme parks will have some sense of what it’s like to be taking part in the “Destination Disney” program. (Which – Disney hopes – will spur these very same tourists to book a “Destination Disney” vacation package the next time they journey to Orlando). FYI: The “Mickey” version of the interactive plush (barring any unforeseen delays, of course) is expected to hit store shelves at the Disney World resort on or about March 24, 2003.

Obviously, this sort of program takes a lot of advance planning (and – more importantly – a ton of money) to pull off. Which is why my sources are telling me that “Destination Disney” has been in the works for over two years now and that the costs involved in setting up the computer and technology infrastructure necessary to make this system go have been absolutely massive.

Toward this end, the Walt Disney Company has been leaning heavily on its corporate partners to contribute. To help pick up the tab for this several hundred million dollar upgrade of WDW’s technical systems. Which is one of the main reasons that American Express recently reportedly opted not to renew its 20 year long sponsorship deal with Disney. The credit card company just couldn’t see its way clear to contributing toward the creation of this bold new system.

But that’s okay. Because other corporations have been positively giddy to get on board with “Destination Disney.” For example: Compaq/HP. In lieu of cash, this computer giant will be providing much of the hardware necessary to drive the system. And Microsoft (which in the worst kept secret in Disney Company history, will soon replace AT&T as the new sponsor of the soon-to-be-revamped “Spaceship Earth” attraction at Epcot) will be pitching in to help out with the software. And good old Kodak is also a key partner with the “Destination Disney” project.

So what happens next? Well, in order for “Destination Disney” to succeed, every resort room on property will have to receive a major upgrade in PC/server connectivity and processing. Given the expense of doing all this, Disney will start with the higher end WDW resorts – with the Contemporary and the Yacht & Beach Club supposedly being the first to be wired up for broadband and intranet access starting in early 2003.

So when will the full blown “Destination Disney” system officially go live? Well, as I mentioned in Wednesday’s column, there are still concerns that in the wake of 9/11, the Transportation Security Administration may not allow the Mouse to remove WDW guests’ bags directly from OIA without having these travelers first come forward to identify their luggage. So that end of the program still needs to be sorted out.

And then – of course – there’s the always-essential debugging of any new technological system. Disney still has to put in hundreds of hours of field testing (not to mention idiot proofing) before the corporation can feel confident about handing out thousands of PDAs (Compaq iPaqs, actually) and interactive pieces of plush to WDW guests each day, knowing that they’re all going to perform flawlessly.

If it’s any consolation, Disney has already done extensive field testing of the PDA portion of the program. Folks who visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom back in 2001 may recall that a device similar to the one described earlier in this article was briefly available for rent at that theme park. It would direct DAK visitors to the nearest attractions, make them aware of show schedule changes, etc.

HP/Compaq has already put hundreds of hours into perfecting the PDA component of the “Destination Disney” program. Toward this end, the company built a 6 ounce iPaq which will be housed in a nearly unbreakable, waterproof plastic case that was deliberately designed to withstand the rigors of a busy day in a Disney theme park. They also tinkered with the unit’s power supply so that the battery could last all day without being recharged.

Which brings us back to the big question: When is “Destination Disney” – a program that the Walt Disney Company expects will boost WDW guest satisfaction rates right through the roof (not to mention creating a huge new revenue stream for the corporation) – go live in Orlando? To date, no one at the Mouse House is willing to go on the record about this program (or even admit that “Destination Disney” is actually in the works).

That said, company insiders are suggesting that “Destination Disney” will quietly be beta-tested throughout the spring and summer of 2003, with select groups of veteran Disney World vacationers being selected to take part in the program. Again provided that these tests go well, we can expect the official launch of “Destination Disney” (accompanied by tons of hoopla, of course) to kick off in October 2003. Just in time for WDW’s annual press event.

Again (let me stress this, folks), this is NOT conjecture. This is NOT science fiction. The pieces for many of “Destination Disney”‘s unique features are already in place and/or are already under construction.

So – if you want a really special Disney World vacation experience – you may want to hold off ’til late 2003 / early 2004 when the Mouse officially has its “Destination Disney” system up and running.

Remember: You heard it here first.

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

10 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

10 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