Last week, I was talking with Jim. And Mr. Hill mentioned that there had evidently been some complaints about the promotional campaign that Walt Disney Studios had mounted for “Chicken Little.” That some of the animators who worked on this project evidently felt that the Mouse wasn’t doing everything it could to promote this picture.
To which I replied: “Well, they’d never say that if they visited Disney-MGM. That studio theme park is lousy with stuff to promote ‘Chicken Little.’ I mean, they’ve still got that big sign up at the Brown Derby …
Photo by Jeff Lange
Not to mention banners promoting the picture up on lightposts all over the park …
Photo by Jeff Lange
Plus — if you visit the ‘Magic of Disney Animation’ exhibit — they’ve got this great new display up …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… that features maquettes of (left to right) Abby Mallard, Chicken Little, Fish Out of Water …
Photo by Jeff Lange
.. as well as Runt of the Litter and Foxy Loxy …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… Plus some great stills from the picture. Which give you a real sense of all the hard work that went into creating this Mark Dindal movie.
Photo by Jeff Lange
I mean, how can anyone say that Disney hasn’t done a decent job of promoting ‘Chicken Little’? As far back as this summer, I remember that the staff at the Studio Soda Fountain & Studio Store (You know? That cafe thing that the Imagineers built right next door to the El Capitan?) were wearing t-shirts that hyped this Randy Fullmer production. Those shirts had this great stylized version of Chicken Little on them. Which looked something like this:”
Photo by Jeff Lange
To which Jim Hill said: “Maybe you’re right, Jeff. Maybe it was wrong of me last week to put out the word that some folks at WDFA were displeased with ‘Chicken Little’ ‘s promotional campaign. I wish that there was a way that I could get that message across to the studio’s marketing staff.”
Which is why — several hours later — Jim and I found ourselves in Manhattan at NYC’s Disney Store. Where Mr. Hill sought the forgiveness of a cast member dressed as Chicken Little.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Given that these two were later seen shaking hands, I can only assume that CL eventually let JH off the hook.
But — for now — given that “Chicken Little” racked up more than $40 million in ticket sales over the past weekend, I guess it’s safe to assume that Disney Studios actually did a more than adequate job of marketing this motion picture.
Jeff Lange is the staff photographer / archivist here at JHM. He recently launched his own series of unofficial Disney theme park DVDs. Which include “Jeff Lange’s Holiday Treat.” Which offers full coverage of last year’s “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” at WDW’s Magic Kingdom. If you’d like to learn more about this or any other of the entertaining recordings that Mr. Lange has produced, we suggest that you follow this link.