General

Disney goes for the gold with “Treasure Planet”

Though it’s still eight weeks ’til Disney’s newest feature length cartoon pulls into port, Jim Hill gives you some inside poop(deck) about how the Mouse intends to promote its pirate picture.

Published

22 years ago

October 1, 2002

Jim Hill

The feature length cartoon that Jeffrey Katzenberg continually tried to stop is finally coming to theaters next month.

For over 15 years now, director Ron Clements has had a dream. To make an animated version of “Treasure Island.” Only – this time around – Robert Louis Stevenson’s epic adventure would be set in deep space.

This dream of Ron’s seemed so flaky to the former head of Disney Studios that Katzenberg repeatedly refused to greenlight an animated film based on Clements’ ***-eyed concept. When Ron first brought the idea up after he finished directing “The Great Mouse Detective,” Jeffery said “No. Go make ‘The Little Mermaid’ instead.” When “Little Mermaid” opened to great acclaim, Clements again brought up “Treasure Planet.” And – again – Katzenberg said “No. Go make ‘Aladdin’ instead.”

Finally, when “Aladdin” opened and was (for its time) the highest grossing animated film in the history of the Walt Disney Company, Clements finally thought that he and his creative partner – Disney Feature Animation veteran John Musker – had a real shot at getting “Treasure Planet” made. But – rather than saying “No” – Katzenberg made a deal that deferred production of Ron’s dream project. If the pair would just agree to deliver a more commercial sounding cartoon first (Like – say – one based on the legend of Hercules), the Mouse House mogul would finally agree to let Ron’n’John make their space going pirate picture a few years down the line.

Of course, that was ‘way back in the early 1990s. And who could know that Jeffery was fated to leave Disney in September of 1994 to go co-found Dreamworks SKG? Musker and Clements did keep their end of the bargain, by the way. They delivered “Hercules” onto the Mouse House in June 1997, then immediately set to work bringing their wildly imaginative reimagining of Stevenson’s classic to life.

The end result of this epic behind-the-scenes struggle sails into “a theater near you” on November 27th. That’s when we’ll finally learn if Jeffrey Katzenberg’s instincts was right. Is “Treasure Planet” really just too wild an idea for audiences to embrace? Or is Ron Clements’ dream project going to pour tons of pirate gold into Disney’s corporate coffers?

One thing’s for certain. An awful lot is riding on the hoped-for success of Disney’s “Treasure Planet.” The Mouse House really under-performed at the multi-plexes this past summer. While “Lilo & Stitch” and “Signs” both raked in the dough, “Bad Company” didn’t do good business, “Reign of Fire” went down in flames and – as for “The Country Bears” … Well, insert your own lame “grizzly fate” joke here.

Anyway … Walt Disney Studios really needs a big fat hit right about now. And with Tim Allen once again donning his fat suit, “The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause” certainly looks like it has the “big, fat” part of that equation covered. That said, no one back in Burbank is entirely certain that this somewhat-overdue sequel to this 1994 Touchstone Pictures release will eventually emerge as a “hit.”

Which is why Disney is pinning a lot of its hopes for the end of this year on “Treasure Planet.” By that, I mean that Disney CEO Michael Eisner has certainly been talking up this pirate picture. The way I hear it, Uncle Mikey has reportedly been constantly drawing parallels between the Walt Disney Company’s performance in 2002 and how Disney did back in 1991. Why for? Well, because 1991 was also a pretty miserable year for the Mouse House, movie-wise.

Can any of you out there remember that seemingly endless string of duds that Disney delivered back in 1991? Here’s just a sampling of that year’s cinematic stillborns: “Scenes from a Mall,” “The Marrying Man,” “V.I. Warshawski,” “Billy Bathgate,” “The Doctor,” “Deceived,” “Paradise,” “Oscar,” “The Rocketeer” (Which I actually personally think is a pretty good movie. Even so, “The Rocketeer” – just like all of the rest of the films that I just listed – didn’t even come close to covering its production & marketing costs).

But then – on November 22, 1991 – one film came along that turned the whole year around for the Walt Disney Company. Can you name that picture? (What am I saying? You’re all Disney dweebs. Of course you can answer that picture. Which was …) “Beauty and the Beast.”

That one film was such a huge hit with the public – moving mountains of merchandise, generating tons of acclaim for the Walt Disney Company – that everyone just seemed to forget about all the awful movies that had preceded it. (Which was a really good thing for Jeffery Katzenberg. Seeing as he was the studio exec who had greenlit all of those flops. If “Beauty” hadn’t come along when it did, Mr. K might soon have been out of a job.)

Michael Eisner seems to be hoping that – just like Jeffery Katzenberg did ‘way back in 1991 – that his fading professional fortunes can be revived by the soaring success of a single Disney animated film. But will that actually happen? Will Uncle Mikey’s ship really come in when “Treasure Planet” floats into view next month?

Maybe.

Disney insiders clearly have lots of differing opinions when it comes to “Treasure Planet”‘s chances at the box office. Some animators that I’ve spoke with say that it’s Ron’n’John’s “masterwork. It’s the very best thing that these guys have ever done.”

Still others aren’t so optimistic. Or – for that matter – particularly kind. A few studio wags have reportedly dubbed the film “Atlantis Revisited.” Which suggests that “Treasure Planet” – with its space based pirate storyline – might have limited appeal and may have trouble luring in audience members who aren’t boys 8-13 (The only demographic that actually turned out in great numbers for Disney’s summer 2001 release, “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”).

Certainly films that appeal to very narrow demographics have a much tougher time recouping their production & marketing costs. I mean, look what happened to Dreamworks SKG’s latest animated release, “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” this past summer. Industry analysts had projected that this feature length cartoon would pull in at least $150 million during its domestic run. Instead, a significant hobbled “Spirit” had to struggle all summer to pull in a meager $73 million.

What went wrong? Industry experts suggest now that – in spite of Dreamworks’ valiant attempts to make “Spirit” appeal equally to boys and girls (Katzenberg reportedly told the animators at Dreamworks to pack on the thrills in that picture. Jeffrey was actually quoted as saying that “I want at least six ‘Die Hard’ moments in this movie. Moments when the audience thinks that there’s no way that this horse can survive that.’ “) – only little girls who really loved horses made their way to the multi-plexes to see the “Stallion of the Cimarron.” As one Dreamworks SKG animator put it to me yesterday: “Of course ‘Spirit’ only made half as much as it was supposed to. Only half the audience actually showed up.”

Which brings us back to “Treasure Planet.” Disney’s extremely anxious to avoid the half-sized audiences that turned out for “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” and “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.” Which is why the film’s promotion got underway in earnest earlier this summer.

But rather than go with a monstrous promotional campaign (like the one that Disney rolled out for Musker and Clements’ last movie, “Hercules”), this time around, the Mouse opted for smaller and smarter. Take – for instance – the “Treasure Planet” preview that Mickey rolled out in “Disney Adventures” magazine back in June. For the last few months, tweens who read “DA” have been able to follow the comic book adventures of young Jim Hawkins, a rebellious teen who’s trapped on the backwater mining planet of Montressor.

Disney marketing execs hope that this low-key series of comic strips – which actually cover adventures that young Hawkins has on Montressor prior to the start of “Treasure Planet”‘s storyline – will help “Disney Adventure” readers bond with Jim’s character. Which – it’s hoped – will make these tweens that much more likely to drop by their local theater this coming November and go see “TP” (Rather than watch Warners’ “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” for the fifth time). A similar series of “DA” comic strips seemed to have a positive impact on “Lilo & Stitch” earlier this year. So Disney’s hoping to strike gold once again with DA’s “Treasure Planet” preview series.

Another way that Disney hopes to get the girls to come out for “Treasure Planet” is through the film’s unusual use of music. Rather than go the tried and true route (Which would have involved recruiting Academy Award winner Alan Menken to churn out yet another series of tunes for their new toon), Ron’n’John opted to go in a different direction. Which is why they recruited poster boy Johnny Rzeznik of the “Goo Goo Dolls” to write & perform two songs for the film.

Why Rzeznik? Well, to hear master animator Glen Keane tell it, once he heard the “Goo Goo Dolls” lead singer belting out “Iris,” he just knew that Rzeznik could deliver the goods – vocally, that is – for “Treasure Planet”‘s angst-filled central character.

When approached by Disney to write & perform several songs for the film, Johnny was initially extremely hesitant. Rzeznik told the Mouse House reps straight out that “I can’t write show tunes.” Ron’n’John reportedly then told the pop star that they weren’t looking for yet another version of “Part of Your World.” But – rather – they needed a song for someone who didn’t seem to fit in anywhere. But in that patented “Goo Goo Dolls” style.

In the end, Rzeznik delivered two songs to the film-makers: A fairly melodic pop song called “I’m Still Here” and a more upbeat rock number, “Always Know Where You Are.” Johnny also recorded these songs for the film’s soundtrack (Though it should be noted here that Rzeznik’s version of “Always Know Where You Are” won’t be heard during the film itself. But – rather – will play over the film’s end credit).

Anyway … Truth be told, perhaps the most important role that Rzeznik will ultimately in “Treasure Planet”‘s production is in early promotion of the picture. How so? Well, Johnny’s pop single version of “I’m Still Here” goes into heavy rotation on Top 40 stations nationwide next Monday. The music video version of this same song has already begun airing on VH1. And Disney’s seriously counting on the pop star’s photogenic face to get that video plenty of air time.

If Rzeznik’s recording of “I’m Still Here” actually begins to climb the charts (More importantly, if TV viewers are actually intrigued by the two brief glimpse of “Treasure Planet” footage that appear at the very beginning & tail end of Johnny’s “I’m Still Here” video), that sort of exposure will hopefully compel young girls as well as older teens to come out and take a look at “Treasure Planet.”

Disney’s honestly doing everything that it can think of to try & compel people to come out and see “Treasure Planet.” For example: If you’re a young boy under 10, the Disney Store’s offering you the chance to bond with Jim Hawkins by getting to dress up like him. You too can own this limited edition “Treasure Planet” Halloween costume by shelling out $35.50. (Of course, if you’re a 10-year-old with a paunch, you might want to consider slipping into the Long John Silver costume instead. That Disney Store exclusive is only $45.50.)

Or do you prefer to see your movies on a really big screen? If so … Well, with the hope that this maneuver will help boost “Treasure Planet” ‘s box office, this Ron’n’John production is going to be the very first Disney animated film to debut on the very same day in both the conventional widescreen format as well as IMAX.

Are you a huge internet fiend? (Well of course you are! Look at how you get your news about the Walt Disney Company …) Then you’re probably going to eventually want to check out TreasurePlanet.com. (To be honest, a great number of the features at this Disney web site hasn’t gone live yet. For example, if you click on the “Games” or “Loot” tabs, all you get right now are messages like ” Please enter valid coordinates.” But – further on down the line – this site shows plenty of interactive promise. You’ll supposedly be able to access the manifests of all the crew members of the RLS Legacy. So you can see for yourself the villainous scum that John Silver recruited to help him carry out his horrible plot.)

TreasurePlanet.com – in addition to offering you access to the “Treasure Planet” teaser trailer – also allows you to enter a Caribbean cruise contest. (FYI: I’m not actually sure where this piece fits into the puzzle. But the Disney Catalog tacked this itty-bitty piece of fine print onto a “Treasure Planet” ad: “Join in the treasure hunt and enter to win fabulous prizes at Treasureplanet.com. Enter coordinates: 21-63-213 to win.” Where exactly you’re supposed to enter these coordinates, I have no idea. But – if you actually do win a Caribbean cruise – be sure to invite me along.)

Anywho … I know, I know. All of this sounds very impressive. But – no matter how clever a promotional campaign may be – all of the contests, Top 40 songs, hit music videos, interactive web sites and exclusive Halloween costumes in the world won’t be enough compel an audience to come out and see a lousy motion picture. So now we come to the real tough question: Is Disney’s “Treasure Planet” really any good?

For a detailed answer to that question, come back tomorrow … please?

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