General

Is Disney-MGM due for a name change?

The word is out that — by June of this year — the Walt Disney Company may be forced to remove any & all references to “MGM” at its WDW studio theme park. Jim Hill fills you in on the various twists & turns of this tale.

Published

20 years ago

February 23, 2005

Jim Hill

Could it be that D-Day — the day that Disney-MGM managers have been dreading for more than a decade now — is just a few months away?

“Which ‘D-Day’ are you talking about, Jim?,” you query. “Surely not the World War II version.” Nope, the D-Day that I’m talking about is Delete Day. As in: The day that WDW personnel have to go around Disney-MGM Studio theme park and remove every single reference to the word “MGM.”

“Why will Disney have to do that?,” you sputter. Because the Walt Disney Company’s 20-year-long licensing agreement with the MGM/UA corporation will be expiring this June. On June 27th, to be exact. Which means that — as of that date — the Mouse will lose any & all rights to use the “MGM” name as well as Leo the Lion’s likeness in a theme park setting.

Clearly, this is a moment that Mickey is not looking forward to. Whereas over at MGM … The way I hear it — for years now — MGM/UA execs have been counting the days down ’til the Disney licensing deal expires. So that they can finally put this whole embarrassing episode behind them.

“What’s so embarrassing about MGM/UA licensing the use of its name to the Walt Disney Company?,” you ask. Well, let’s start with the financial terms of this deal. Where Disney got the license to use the “MGM” name as well as Leo’s likeness for what basically amounts to chump change.

“What do you mean by ‘chump change’?,” you continue. Well, under the terms of this 20-year-long agreement, Disney only had to pay MGM/UA $100,000 a year for the use of that studio’s name during the first three years of this agreement. Starting in the fourth year (I.E. The year that Disney-MGM would actually open its gates and begin operation as a really-for-real theme park), this annual licensing fee would then jump up to $250,000 a year. And then — with each subsequent year — that fee would continue to creep up in $50,000 increments. Until it eventually topped out at $1 million a year in the 20th year of the agreement.

Now keep in mind that — in addition to these licensing rights — this agreement that Disney’s lawyers hammered out with MGM/UA’s executives also gave the Imagineers access to up to 250 titles from the MGM/UA film vault. Which WDI could then use as inspiration for settings and/or attractions to be featured in the studio theme park.

“But why would MGM officials ever agree to sell off the rights to such valuable intellectual property at such low, low prices?,” you sputter. Well, you have to understand that — back in the mid-1980s — Frank Rothman (I.E. the then-chairman & CEO of MGM/UA Entertainment) was actually thrilled to make this deal with Disney.

Why for? Because MGM/UA was swimming in a sea of red ink back in 1985. $59 million dollars worth, to be precise. So any & all cash that was coming in the company’s coffers at that time was thought of as a good thing.

At least that’s what Rothman thought until MGM owner Kirk Kerkorian finally learned about the exact terms of the Disney licensing deal. Kirk was simply stunned that Frank had sold off the rights to the MGM name & logo for such a ridiculously low fee. Which was why Kerkorian immediately ordered MGM’s lawyers to find a way to break the deal that Rothman had just signed with the Walt Disney Disney.

After repeatedly pouring over the 31-page contract, MGM/UA’s attorneys finally found a loophole that they thought that they could work with. It seemed that the Imagineers had neglected to mention — as part of the original agreement — that the Walt Disney Company actually intended to make movies at its soon-to-be-opening studio theme park. WDI also allegedly forgot to tell MGM’s lawyers that Disney planned on building two huge luxury hotels (I.E. The Dolphin & the Swan) directly across the street from Disney/MGM.

This — to MGM/UA’s way of thinking, anyway — put the Disney/MGM Studio theme park project in direct conflict with the movie studio and luxury hotels that MGM was already operating. Not to mention putting the kibosh on the movie-themed theme park that Mr. Kerkorian was thinking about building as part of the $1 billion dollar MGM Grand casino project that he had planned for Las Vegas.

Feeling that MGM/UA’s lawyers had raised enough legitimate concerns about the licensing deal that Rothman had cut with Disney to finally bring this case to trial, MGM/UA and MGM Grand, Inc. (I.E. Kerkorian’s company) then filed a $100 million breach of contract suit against the Walt Disney Company in Los Angeles Superior Court in May of 1988.

Disney — in turn — filed a counter-suit against MGM. And — after several years of legal wrangling — this non-jury trial finally got underway in the Fall of 1992. With Judge Curtis R. Rappe presiding, attomeys for the Walt Disney Company, MGM/UA and MGM Grand Inc. each began to plead their cases. All with the hope that his Honor would then see the validity of their company’s claims to the MGM name.

Of course, what added additional pressure to these proceedings was the fact that — by October of 1992 — Kerkorian had already broken ground for his MGM Grand theme park. Which was why it was now crucial for MGM/UA’s lawyers to come out ahead in this case.

After listening to testimony from both Kerkorian as well as Disney CEO Michael Eisner, Judge Curtis delivered what many saw as a Solomon-like judgment. MGM/UA and MGM Grand Inc. would be allowed to use the “MGM” name as well as the Leo the Lion logo as part of their then-still-under-construction theme park and casino complex. PROVIDED that the Las Vegas theme park did not resemble in any way the faux studio backlot setting that the Imagineers had created in Central Florida.

Disney — in turn — would still be able to call its Central Florida studio theme park “Disney-MGM” for the full 20-year-term of the company’s original agreement with MGM/UA. Judge Curtis even awarded the Mouse the rights to call any other studio theme parks that the corporation built ’round the world “Disney-MGM.”

“So — if that’s really the case — then why isn’t the ‘Walt Disney Studios’ theme park in Paris called ‘Disney-MGM’?,” you query. Sadly, Kerkorian’s attorneys took Mickey back to court in the Fall of 1997. They pointed out that Disney’s original agreement with Rothman included language that specifically stated that the theme park rights to the MGM name would revert back to the parent corporation if the Walt Disney Company failed to begin construction of any theme parks that were to feature the MGM name after the ninth anniversary of the original signing date of this deal had passed.

Given that — due to Euro Disney SCA’s continuing financial problems — Disney had missed its original target dates for the start of construction on the “Disney-MGM Studios Europe” project (I.E. The studio’s production facilities were originally supposed to be open by the Spring of 1994, with the actual theme park wasn’t slated to open ’til April of 1995), the judge in this case had no choice but to return the theme park naming rights to MGM’s parent company. Which is why DLP’s second gate wound up being called “Walt Disney Studios.”

Anyway … The really ironic part of this whole convoluted court case is that — after Kirk fought so long & so hard & spent so much of MGM’s money in an effort to regain the MGM theme park naming rights — Kerkorian’s “MGM Grand Adventures” theme park turned out to be this huge disappointment. Though this $120 million theme park featured seven rides and five shows when it opened in December of 1993, MGM GA never quite caught on with the folks who frequented Las Vegas.

After seven years of struggling, “MGM Grand Adventures” finally closed its doors in December of 2000. As I understand it, most of the rides in the 33 acre theme park were then quickly sold off. As for the rest of the park … Well, I hear that MGM GA’s highly themed “lands” — like New York Street, Paris Street and Old England Street — are now being used for corporate functions & private parties at this resort.

But — in spite of the failure of Las Vegas’ “Grand Adventure” — MGM/UA management still strongly believes that a theme park that is built around this historic Hollywood studio’s library of memorable motion pictures & colorful characters could be a huge financial success. Particularly in those parts of Asia (I.E. India & China) that both Disney & Universal are currently considering as possible expansion areas for their theme park empires. Which is why this company is most anxious to get back the exclusive rights to use the MGM name in a theme park setting.

As for the Walt Disney Company … Given that MGM/UA was actually acquired by the Sony Corporation back in September of 2004, there’s reportedly already been some talk between these two multimedia giants. To see if there might be some way to prolong the licensing agreement that allows the Walt Disney Company to use the “MGM” name in a theme park setting. At least for another couple of years.

Of course, in order to get Sony to do something like this, Disney would have to make some sort of huge concession to the Tokyo-based electronics giant. This may explain why — back in December of last year — in spite of the fact that virtually every other major studio (I.E. Paramount, Warner, Universal & New Line Cinema) in the business had announced that they would soon begin releasing movies in the HD-DVD high definition format, the Walt Disney Company suddenly revealed that it would be releasing its films in the Blu-ray format. Which (not-so-coincidentally) is the same DVD format that the Sony Corporation favors.

Did Disney deliberately decide to go with Blu-ray just because it wishes to retain the “MGM” name at its Florida studio theme? Most likely not. But — that said — one can’t help but think that the folks at Sony will now look favorably upon the Mouse. All because Mickey & his marketing might have decided to get behind the high definition DVD format that their corporation is championing. Rather than the one that Sony’s rivals (I.E. Toshiba & NEC) are currently pushing.

As to whether this somewhat generous / politically advantageous gesture will now make it possible for Disney to negotiate an extension of its MGM licensing deal … Who can say?

But what I can tell you is that Disney-MGM managers have already allegedly begun preparing the staff at that theme park for what may happen on the evening of June 27th. When Disney employees would then have to sweep through that theme park and remove each & every reference to “MGM.”

Just so you understand the scale of what we’re talking about here: That would entail everything from replacing all the highway signs out along I-4 and World Drive that direct guests to the studio theme park right down to changing the name tags & business cards of each & every Disney-MGM cast member. Every poster, every brochure, every t-shirt and baseball cap would have to be replaced. The projected costs for this property-wide change-out that we’re talking about here could easily climb into the millions.

Not to mention all the hassles involved with reeducating the public — not to mention WDW cast members — about the theme park’s new name (I.E. “It’s not the Disney-MGM Studio theme park anymore. It’s now just called the Walt Disney Studios”). It may take years for the new name for this 14-year-old theme park to be accepted & absorbed.

So is it any wonder that the Walt Disney Company is still hoping that the Sony Corporation might eventually be persuaded to allow the Mouse to continue to use the MGM name? Because otherwise … Well, things could get pretty confusing around Orlando come the morning of June 28th.

Your thoughts?

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