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Does the arrival of the “X Games Xperience” signal the start of DCA’s turnaround?

Back to work after a long road trip, Jim Hill offers up his thoughts about recent events at Disney’s California Adventure. Can it be that this beleaguered theme park has finally turned a corner and is now on its way to winning over the public?

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First, an apology / explanation.

For the past couple of weeks, JimHillMedia.com has been kind of a Jim Hill free zone. Oh, sure, you guys have had plenty of great new stories from Jim Korkis, Chuck Oberleitner, Roger Colton and the rest of the crew. But as for me … well, there’d be an occasional book review or a “Why For.” But that was about it.

“So what’s been going on?” you ask. Well, do you remember the tale of Willie Sutton? The infamous bank robber who — as he was being arrested yet again — was asked “Why do you keep robbing banks?” Willie’s reply? “Because that’s where the money is.”

Well, for the past month or so, I’ve been traveling. Journeying to Anaheim, Burbank, Emeryville, Hollywood, Mineral King, San Francisco as well as Orlando. All because “That’s where the stories are.”

Now I’m back home in New Hampshire. For a while, anyway. So I thought that I’d share some of what I’ve learned during my travels with JHM readers. Which (hopefully) will make up for the last couple of weeks. When JimHillMedia.com didn’t have a hell of a lot of Hill.

Beyond that … just so you know: We’re thinking about making a few changes at JHM. Tweaking things. Readjusting the focus of the site, if you will. But — before we do this — the crew at JimHillMedia.com would like to have YOUR input. So keep an eye out for the survey that we’ll be putting up on the site over the next week or so. Which will allow our loyal readers to help chart a new course for JimHillMedia.com.

Okay. That’s enough feeble excuses / blatant self promotion for a Monday morning. Let’s get to the somewhat real news now, shall we?

Photo by Nancy Stadler

Surely, you’ve seen the photos by now.

Moto X legend Mike Metzger and his bike soaring over the Golden Gateway into DCA’s Sunshine Plaza. Signaling (figuratively as well as literally) the start of the “X Games Xperience” event at California Adventure.

Admittedly, this was a killer photo op. Which explains why that picture of Metzger flying over DCA’s entrance was plastered all over the place come late Tuesday evening / early Wednesday morning. As television stations and newspapers all over Southern California all rushed to share that amazing image with their viewers / readers.

But for those of us Mouse fans who are a bit more in the know, that seemingly iconic imagery of Mike soaring over that miniature version of the Golden Gate Bridge signaled a bit more. That DCA — the Disneyland Resort’s much beleaguered second gate — may have finally turned a corner. That this much maligned theme park may now be on its way to winning over the public.

And how is the Mouse doing this? By deliberately trying to carve out a new identity for DCA. Gone are the attempts to try and lure out-of-staters to come to California Adventure to sample the very best that the Golden State has to offer. In its place is an intensive effort on Disney’s part to get Southern Californians to now embrace DCA. To get locals (particularly those finicky annual passholders) to give Disneyland’s second gate a second chance.

Phase One of this plan is to get those Orange County locals with the most disposable income (I.E. teens and pre-teens) to think of DCA as their new home-away-from-home. Which explains why the “X Games Xperience” is setting up shop at Disney’s California Adventure now through August 10th.

Sure, there are those who will say that the “X Games Xperience” is nothing more than an elaborate come-on for the “X Games IX,” an Xtreme sport extravaganza that will performed live at the LA Coliseum August 14-17, then air on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC (as well as www.expn.com) August 16-21. And even I will have to admit that the “X Games Xperience’ is a truly savvy bit of synergy on Disney’s part. Using the corporation’s super-popular sports cable network to help hype DCA as well as using the theme park as a vehicle to make sure that Southern Californians are aware that the “X Games” are being held in LA this year.

But — if you can look past all of the synergistic hype — you can get a real sense of what Disney’s trying to do here. Using all the thrills to be found in the MX “Big Air” Show in the X Arena as well as the Halfpipe Bay Show at Golden State Park to give the impression that DCA is now edgy. Making it a fun place for Southern Californian teens and pre-teens to hang out.

Come the Spring of 2004, with the official opening of DCA’s “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror,” look for the Mouse to continue to push this difference between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. That “The Happiest Place on Earth” is still where you want to go if you want fine family fun, while DCA is where you really want to go if you want to scream your head off. Get your fill of edginess and thrills.

Look for Mickey’s marketing staff to try and cement Disney’s California Adventure’s new image with Southern Californians when it announces (as part of the hoopla surrounding the Tower of Terror’s grand opening next year) that another clone of a highly successful Disney-MGM thrill ride — The “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith” — is coming to DCA in 2006.

From that point forward, look for the promotional campaigns for Disney’s California Adventure to focus primarily on that park’s edginess and thrills. TV commercials for the park will show guests screaming their way through the Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Grizzly River Run, the Maliboomer and (of course) California Screamin’.

Now some of you more hardcore Disneyana fans might argue that “By doing something like this — disregarding themes in favor of thrills and edge — isn’t Disney just making DCA into a knock-off of Knotts Berry Farm and/or Magic Mountain?” And my reply to that is: Yes! exactly!

You see, Knotts Berry Farm and Magic Mountain are successful Southern Californian theme parks. To date, DCA is not. Which is why Disney is going to do everything it has to turn this situation around. Even if it means changing the Disneyland Resort’s second gate from a theme park to a scream park.

Mind you, this doesn’t mean that absolutely every new ride that’s going to be added to Disney’s California Adventure theme park over the next four or five years is going to be some sort of steel coaster. Far from it. In fact, as of this moment, DCA’s slated to be the home of the Southern Californian version of the “Finding Nemo” show that WDI’s designing for Epcot’s “Living Seas” pavilion. (Intriguingly enough, the current plans call for the “Nemo” show building to be built on the same spot that the MX “Big Air” Show arena currently occupies. Which means that — should the “X Games Xperience” actually become an annual event at DCA — Disney’s going to have to find another spot for Metzger and his buds to ride in the Summer of 2004.)

But new kid-friendly fare like that “Finding Nemo” show will be the exception, not the rule, at Disney’s California Adventure. As the Walt Disney Company moves quickly to distance itself from its original dream for Disney’s California Adventure — where out-of-state tourists would pay top dollar for the privilege of dining at Wolfgang Puck’s Avalon Cove and Robert Mondavi’s Golden Vine Winery — in favor of winning over local teens and pre-teens. Those Orange County kids who (hopefully) will have time to kill and money to spend this summer. Which is why Mickey is trying so aggressively to lure them into Disney’s California Adventure now through August 10th.

Will this gambit ultimately pay off? We’ll know more come the middle of August, when Disneyland Resort officials can get a final tally on DCA’s attendance levels and see for themselves whether the “X Games Xperience” actually had a positive impact on the theme park’s Summer 2003 attendance levels.

This much is already certain: DCA’s operations staff has been pleasantly surprised by the hardcore work ethic and upbeat attitude that the X Games athletes who are performing in the park have shown. Senior Disneyland Resort staffers initially looked at all of these skateboarders and Moto X riders with their piercings and tattoos and thought “This bunch is going to be trouble.” But in fact, the exact opposite has proved to be true.

To date, the X Games athletes have been (at least according to the Disneyland officials that I’ve spoken with) a joy to work with. “A great bunch of kids,” said Randy Baumberger, senior vice president of resort operations. They’ve enthusiastically taken part in every autograph session, happily posing for pictures with their fans. Giving their all during the MX “Big Air” Show and the Halfpipe Bay Show. Doing everything they can to make DCA’s “X Games Xperience” a success. (Which hopefully will make some of these Southern Californians eager to attend “X Gamex IX” at the Los Angeles Coliseum next month.)

Of course, what really helps here is that some of these X Games athletes are real Disneyland fans. Mike Mezger — in particular — recalled with much enthusiasm the many trips that he made to the park as a kid. How his grandmother (who reportedly lived in Fullerton) would take Mike to Disneyland almost every week during his annual summer vacation.

Which may explain why Metzger looked absolutely thrilled when — as part of the opening ceremony for DCA’s “X Games Xperience” — he was made an honorary Disneyland cast member. After receiving his name tag as well as a Mickey Mouse shaped gold medal, Mike was heard to say “I’m told that I’m the first guy to work at Disneyland (who has) tattoos.” Metzger then looked skyward and said “Sorry, Walt.”

(Side note: Immediately after this ceremony wrapped, my ex — the Fabulous Disney Babe AKA Michelle Smith — walked up to Mike and said “Since you’re now an official Disneyland cast member, I’d like to be the first to ask: Where’s the nearest restroom?” Upon hearing Michelle’s question, Meztger busted out laughing, then jokingly pointed back toward DCA’s entrance area. Fab then quickly corrected Mike, gently reminding him that Disneyland employees always point with two fingers. So as not to offend the park’s international visitors … *Sigh* It’s not easy being a Disneyland cast member. Anyway …)

So will DCA’s “X Games Xperience” event/promotion actually become a hit with Southern California locals? Particularly among those hard-to-please annual passholders? Well, from personal observation, I know that the “X Games Xperience” Ultimate Scratch and Win Game (I.E. every guest — as they initially enter DCA for the day — is handed a game piece which makes them eligible for one of the more than 10,000 prizes that will be given away during the 41-day long event. Among the items that Disney is giving away as part of this “X Games Xperience” promotion are cars, motorcycles and ATVs) is making many APers drop by Disney’s California Adventure daily. If only so they can score a new “Ultimate Scratch and Win” game piece each day.

Photo by Nancy Stadler

So as I said earlier … come August 10th, we’ll know for certain whether DCA’s “X Games Xperience” event/promotion proved to be a success. But — as of right now — it looks like (from here on in) the Mouse will be relying on thrills and edginess to give Disney’s California Adventure an edge on the competition.

Your thoughts?

Jim Hill

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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General

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

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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. 

Jim Hill

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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

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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?

Jim Hill

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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

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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

Jim Hill

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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