General

Mickey (finally!) plays it smart

Tired of writing about how the Mouse is always screwing up, Jim Hill tells a tale about how the corporation’s recent clever business dealings with KirchMedia may actually give the Walt Disney Company the inside edge when it comes to acquiring the Jim Henson Company.

Published

21 years ago

December 9, 2002

Jim Hill

Let me be honest here, kids: I’m really getting tired of writing stories about how the Walt Disney Company keeps screwing up. Last week (and yesterday), it was that article about how Buena Vista Home Entertainment dropped the ball with the release of the 2-disc collector’s edition of the “Lilo & Stitch” DVD.

Today, my choices were 1) write about the REAL reason that Walt Disney Studios executives have been so eager to talk with the press about “Treasure Planet”‘s failure (I.E. They’re allegedly going to use this film’s under-performance as an excuse to make another significant staff cut at Walt Disney Feature Animation. By seeking out reporters and aggressively spinning this situation [making it seem as if “Treasure Planet” is a bigger flop than it actually is], these suits are just laying the ground for the next round of lay-offs. Making it seem like downsizing WDFA yet again is just the smart, reasonable, adult thing to do … which will [hopefully] prevent the reporters from uncovering the REAL story. Which is: That these alleged “creative” executives are just ramming through this latest round of job cuts with the hope that it will allow them to hang onto their own cushy positions at WDFA) OR 2) write about what a waste it has been for Disney and ABC to pour ten of millions of dollars down a special effects rat hole in their desperate attempt to turn “Dinotopia: The Mini-series” into “Dinotopia: The Series.” (To date, the series has performed so poorly that – just three episodes into its run – ABC executives are already allegedly talking about cancelling the series).

But – like I said – I’m getting really tired of pounding on the Mouse. I mean, there’s just no sport in it for me anymore. Which is why today, I’m going to do a story about something that I think that the Walt Disney Company is doing right. Something that Mickey is handling in a really clever way … which is: making another play for the Muppets.

Yep, you heard right. The Mouse is supposedly after the Muppets again. Of course, nothing’s official yet. But over the past few weeks, I have heard from a variety of sources associated with the Walt Disney Company, the Jim Henson Company and KirchMedia that Mickey’s been nosing around Kermit’s door once more. Kicking the tires, if you will. Crunching the numbers. Trying to figure out (once and for all) if it would really be a smart move for the Walt Disney Company to actually acquire the Jim Henson Company.

Of course, Disney wants to limit its risk here. Make sure that – if the corporation actually makes a play for the Muppets – that they have a really good shot at acquiring the Jim Henson Company.

Toward this end, just last month, one of Disney’s international arms – Buena Vista International Television – cut a deal with KirchMedia, Germany’s biggest television group. (Kirch – for those of you who don’t know – is the company that swallowed debt-laden EM.TV back in March of 2001. And EM.TV & Merchandising AG – again, for those of you who don’t know – is the German-based corporation that purchased the Jim Henson Company for $680 million ‘way back in February 2000.)

Now keep in mind that KirchMedia has also had more than its share of money troubles. That this major player in European media actually had to file for bankruptcy protection last spring. And there were many in this field who doubted that the insolvent German broadcasting giant would ever survive this ordeal.

But then here comes the Walt Disney Company to Kirch’s rescue. Through their Buena Vista International Television arm, the Mouse signs this enormous deal with KirchMedia. A multi-year pact that will give Kirch the exclusive German TV rights to such hit Disney films as “The Santa Clause 2,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Signs” as well as popular Touchstone Television programs like “Alias,” “Scrubs” and “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter.”

Now keep in mind that the Walt Disney Company is the very first major western media outlet to step up to the plate and sign a deal like this with KirchMedia since that media consortium had to file for bankruptcy protection last spring. By signing this deal, the message that Disney seems to want to get across to the international business community was that: “We know that Kirch has had some financial problems. But we believe in this company. More importantly, we believe that KirchMedia will be here, broadcasting in Germany, for many years to come. Which is why the Walt Disney Company is perfectly happy to enter into an multi-year pact with the Kirch corporation.”

To give the deal some further heft, Disney also awarded ProSieben (a commercial German television channel that’s controlled by KirchMedia) the rights to begin airing two blocks of Disney Television Animation programs (to be specific, the “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command” animated series as well as the “Legend of Tarzan” animated series) starting in 2003. The Mouse also gave Kirch the rights to air a number of older hit films from the Disney library, including “Pretty Woman,” “Armageddon” and the live action version of “101 Dalmatians.”

Naturally, KirchMedia was absolutely thrilled that the Walt Disney Company had done something like this. Made such a public gesture of support. Demonstrating that – in spite of all of Kirch’s money problems – the Mouse still wanted to do business with them. By signing these multi-year pacts, the Walt Disney Company had effectively said to all of its competitors (AOL / Time Warner, Viacom, Vivendi Universal et al) that Mickey thought that KirchMedia would be around for many years to come.

The German executives of this firm were obviously quite grateful that Disney would make a gesture like this. But just HOW grateful? … Well, I guess we’ll find out sometime over the next four weeks.

What’s so important about the next four weeks? Well, even though this media group is now basically just a division of KirchMedia, EM.TV & Merchandising AG is still struggling to resolve its own money problems. In fact, the debt laden company has until December 31st to repay a $64.5 million loan or risk having the German bankruptcy courts step in.

EM.TV executives are earnestly hoping that they’ll be able to take the money that they’ll make off the sale of the Jim Henson Company and use those funds to retire this $64.5 million debt. Which is why the pressure is really on right now for this almost defunct corporation to quickly close a Kermit & Co. acquisition deal with someone – ANYONE – before the end of the month.

As of right now, there are reportedly five different groups actively working toward acquiring the Jim Henson Company. These groups are (in no particular order):

1) Dean Valentine. Once the president of Walt Disney Television, Touchstone Television and Walt Disney TV animation. More recently the president and CEO of UPN. Valentine is said to be looking into forming a production partnership with Mort Marcus (another Disney Television veteran) and using the Muppet stable of characters as fodder for a new line of direct-to-video projects.

2) Entertainment Rights PLC. This London-based firm – best known for the creation (and exploitation) of such popular U.K. children’s shows like “Postman Pat,” “Merlin the Magic Puppy” and “Tracey Beaker” – is also looking to acquire the Jim Henson Company with an eye toward making some serious money off of licensing the Muppets.

3) Classic Media LLC. A NYC-based company that has already acquired the feature film, TV, home video and consumer products rights to characters like Mr. Magoo, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richie Rich, The Lone Ranger, Lassie and Lamb Chop. Classic Media is looking to acquire the Jim Henson Company so that it can add Miss Piggy and pals to its stable of saleable stars.

4) Billionaire Haim Saban. Whose Saban Capital Group (while working in partnership with Evercore Partners, Inc., a New York based private equity company) was reportedly rebuffed earlier this fall when it made a $128 bid on the Jim Henson Company. But despite that setback, Haim’s supposedly still in there, swinging. (It’s been reported that – just like Dean Valentine, Entertainment Rights PLC and Classic Media — Saban’s chief interest in acquiring the Jim Henson Company was so that he too would be able to license the Muppets.)

5) A buy-back of the Jim Henson Company led by Henson CEO Charlie Rivkin. (With an eye toward proving that the Muppets were still a viable and valuable franchise [with the hope that it would help him acquire all the financing necessary to buy back the company], Rivkin personally masterminded this year’s spectacular comeback of the characters. The Denny’s deal. The Mastercard ad. Kermit’s appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.” That was all Charlie’s doing.)

And lurking – somewhere ‘way in the background – is the Walt Disney Company. Hoping that their recent dealings with KirchMedia might compel EM.TV to give them an especially good deal on the Jim Henson Company.

Or – if that gambit fails – Disney’s also reportedly toying with the idea of licensing the rights to use Henson characters in movies, TV and/or a theme park setting … should it be Dean Valentine and Mort Marcus, Entertainment Rights PLC, Classic Media LLC or Haim Saban’s group who ends up acquiring Kermit & Co.

But make no mistake, kids. The Walt Disney Company is reportedly quite serious in its interest in acquiring the Jim Henson Company. Or at the very least, acquiring the rights to use the Jim Henson characters. I’ve heard talk that the Mouse is actually thinking of applying the money that the corporation will make off of the sale of the Anaheim Angels toward the cost of buying the Muppets.

“And what’s the sense of selling an ultra hot sports team like the Angels in order to acquire a bunch of moldy old Muppets?” you may ask. Well, the harsh reality is, kids: Owning a sport franchise like the Angels or the Mighty Ducks has been a lot more costly (not to mention infinitely more aggravating) than Disney had ever anticipated. EX: In order to keep the roster for its World Series Champion team intact (which – hopefully – will make the Angels that much easier to sell), Disney had to agree to a steep payroll increase. 43% over the next two years.

This means that Disney will have to spend $84 million next year to run the Anaheim Angels organization next year. With little hope of ever recovering that cost through ticket sales.

Whereas the Muppets … This is something the Walt Disney Company actually has had some experience in: Brand management. Taking an already established group of characters (Like Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo and/or Mickey, Donald and Goofy) and creating new projects for them. Finding new ways for these much beloved characters to reconnect with consumers. Keeping these assets evergreen.

This is what Disney is hoping that they’ll eventually be able to do with the Jim Henson Company’s stable of characters. Provided of course, that Buena Vista International Television’s recent dealings with KirchMedia DID actually help set the stage for the Walt Disney Company to successfully acquire the Jim Henson Company. Or at the very least, see to it that the Muppets ended up in the hands of people that Disney had had prior dealings with – like Dean Valentine, Mort Marcus and/or Haim Saban.

Either way, the next four weeks are going to REALLY interesting for Muppets fans and/or those of us who (occasionally, anyway) like writing about how the Walt Disney Company did something smart for a change.

Like cutting a deal with the KirchMedia gruppe which (hopefully) will give the Mouse the inside edge when it comes to talking with EM.TV & Merchandising AG about acquiring the Muppets.

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