General

Monday Mouse Watch: The Battle of Midway (Madness)

Jim Hill’s back with an intriguing tale about the real significance of those two dark rides that are being built at Disney’s California Adventure and Disney-MGM Studios. How the proposed locations of these new attractions speak volumes about the way WDI is now trying to reinvent itself

Published

19 years ago

May 15, 2006

Jim Hill

If you’ve been wandering around the Web lately — in particular poking around the discussion boards over at MouseInfo and WDWMagic — you’ve probably already heard the name “Midway Madness” bandied about this past weekend. This is that new interactive “Toy Story” -themed dark ride that’s supposedly being added to both Disney’s California Adventure & Disney-MGM Studios theme park in 2008.

But — what with all the talk about these two new Disney theme park attractions — Disneyana fans seem to have missed the truly significant news that is buried deep down inside of this story.

The DCA version of “Midway Madness?” It’s actually being built back in the Paradise Pier section of that theme park. Which has long been criticized as not having enough family-friendly rides, shows and attractions that feature the Disney characters.

But what’s really significant about this proposed Paradise Pier addition is that “Midway Madness” is being built in place of DCA’s next placemaking project. Which was to have revamped the entire “Sunshine Plaza” section of Disney’s California Adventure. So that — when all this retheming was done — the entrance area of this troubled theme park was then to have resembled the California that Walt Disney first encountered when he arrived in the Golden State back in August of 1923.

Whereas the Disney-MGM version of “Midway Madness” … This interactive dark ride was originally supposed to be built between “Muppetvision 3-D” and “Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.” You know? That large slab of land that “Al’s Toy Barn” and the old “Hunckback of Notre Dame” theatre currently occupy.

(FYI for all you Disney trivia fans out there: This particular MGM expansion pad was where Muppet Studios was originally supposed to have been built. Which was where the infamous “Great Muppet Movie Ride” would have been located.)

Photo by Martin Smith

However, instead of building a brand-new building to house this dark ride, what the Imagineers have opted to do instead is place Disney-MGM’s version of “Midway Madness” inside of two already-existing structures. To be specific, Soundstage 2 & 3. Which are currently the home of the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Play It!” attraction.

You get what’s going on here yet? In both of these cases, WDI had the option of spending a huge amount of money on something (I.E. A rethemed entrance plaza for DCA, a brand-new show building for MGM) that wouldn’t have had all that big an impact on how the guests actually experienced these two theme parks.

But — in the end — the Imagineers opted to put the needs of the paying customers first. Not the annual passholders, mind you, or the hardcore Disney dweebs. Those people who would have actually noticed that DCA’s revamped entrance area was supposed to represent Walt’s arrival in California circa 1923 and/or would have “Oohed” & “Aahed” if a distinctive looking new show building had been added to MGM’s Backlot area.

Instead, the Imagineers opted — in the case of DCA’s version of “Midway Madness” — to put an family-friendly attraction where it was actually needed. Which — in this case — was ‘way back in that theme park’s Paradise Pier area.

And — in the case of Disney-MGM — the Imagineers finally tried to be somewhat smart with the time & money that they’d been budgeted to build this attraction. Knowing that — if WDI retrofitted several of MGM’s soundstages so that they could then serve as home for that theme park’s new “Midway Madness” ride — they could then keep construction costs down. More to the point, the Imagineers could actually shave months off of the construction time of “Midway Madness.” Meaning that the MGM version of this attraction might then be able to open months ahead of the DCA version of this same attraction.

“So what’s so significant about all this?,” you ask. Well, this is the brand-new WDI that you’re looking at, folks. The version of this organization that — with the hope of impressing both of its new corporate overseers, Bob Iger & John Lasseter — will attempt to do better with the budgets that it’s given. Spending this money in ways that the guests can actually see it & appreciate it. Rather than just on vanity projects.

Which — to be honest — is the way that a lot of WDI-types now see DCA’s placemaking efforts. As a vanity project. An attempt by Imagineers who weren’t originally allowed to work on California Adventure to finally get their hands on that theme park. Remaking DCA in their own image, so to speak.

As one WDI insider recently told me:

“Remaking the ‘Golden Gateway’ and ‘Gateway Plaza’ so that ‘Sunshine Plaza’ then looks like the California that Walt Disney encountered when he first arrived in the state in 1923 is an incredibly stupid idea. Who — outside of a few annual passholders — is actually going to understand or appreciate a concept like that?

That’s $30 million that WDI might as well flush down the toilet. For — if they actually spend that money to redo DCA’s entrance — it’s going to have zero impact on the park’s gate.

After all, nobody goes to a theme park because they heard that that park now has a snazzy new entrance area that tells a story. They go to a theme park because there’s a brand-new ride to ride or a new parade or fireworks show to see.

This whole placemaking thing is a crock. I wish that they’d just abandon this idea and let us get to the job that really needs to be done here. Which is designing & then building all of the rides, shows and attractions that DCA needs. So that that theme park can finally be a worthy companion to Disneyland.”

Of course, the best news here is that the Imagineers decided to build “Midway Madness” in the Paradise Pier section of DCA. Which signals that WDI really hasn’t given up on this side of that theme park. That the Imagineers are going to try & find a way to make this part of the park finally work.

Mind you, this wasn’t always the case. As recently as last year, a certain VP at WDI was still pushing hard for DCA to wash its hands of Paradise Pier. To literally wall off this section of that theme park. Deannex this area to Downtown Disney, so that its collection of carnival-types rides & games could then be considered part of that dining, shopping & entertainment district’s assortment of attractions.

But now that “Midway Madness” is on its way to Paradise Pier (More importantly, given that Steve Davison’s next big extravaganza — the “Wonderful World of Color” fountain spectacular — is expected to be up & running in Paradise Bay by late 2008 / early 2009), this whole area will become the new focal point of that theme park. The place that you have to visit whenever you go to DCA.

Whereas the MGM version of “Midway Madness” … One of the main reasons that this new dark ride is being built on Mickey Avenue is that — sometime in 2007 — Mickey Avenue’s other big attraction, the “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” stage show, will be closing.

Why For? Well, to be honest, for much the same reason that the “Tarzan Rocks!” stage show had to close at Disney’s Animal Kingdom back in January. Because Disney Theatrical was prepping the Broadway version of “Tarzan” and they didn’t want any authorized Disney “Tarzan”-themed productions out there that their new musical could be compared to.

Sooo … Given that Disney Theatrical’s version of “The Little Mermaid” is reportedly due to arrive on Broadway during the 2007 – 2008 season … That’s why MGM’s “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” has to close sometime in 2007.

And given that Disney-MGM could actually use a new attraction that would help drive guests into the backmost portion of this theme park … Well, that’s why (in addition to that construction cost savings) it does make sense to install “Midway Madness” in Soundstages 2 & 3.

Speaking of cost savings … It’s kind of ironic that here are the Imagineers. Working so hard to prove to Mouse House managers that they can do lots better when it comes to the way that WDI spends money on new theme park attractions (This new efficiency initiative supposedly came about because of all the cost over-runs on DCA’s new “Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue” ride. Which reportedly drove the construction costs of this DCA redo well over $30 million).

And yet here’s John Lasseter, the Principal Creative Advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering, suggesting ways that Disneyland‘s new “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage” can be “plussed.” Even though construction of this $70 million retheming of Tomorrowland’s “Submarine Voyage” was already well underway, with concrete being poured and steel beam being anchored into place, John — in a recent meeting with the “Finding Nemo” design team — was talking about how he wanted changes made to several show scenes. Rather expensive changes, I might add.

And as the “Finding Nemo” design team laughed & smiled at Lasseter’s suggestions, inwardly they wondered. Sure, John would be able to get all the money necessary to make all of these changes (And we’re talking millions here, folks). But — even so — trying to work all of these proposed new show scenes & effects into the “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage” is going to probably put this Tomorrowland construction project behind schedule. Which might make them miss their Spring 2007 completion date.

But — again — given that it’s John Lasseter who’s asking for all these changes, time & money are no object. Right now, anyway. Though one wonders how long John’s honeymoon period is actually going to last.

Me personally, I think a lot depends on how well “Cars” does at the box office this summer. If Pixar’s newest animated feature pulls in at least “The Incredibles” -level money, then Lasseter can pretty much write his own ticket. Push through whatever theme park projects that he choses.

If — on the other hand — “Cars” under-performs and Wall Street starts talking about how Disney overpaid for Pixar … Well, then this honeymoon may be over real quick. At least when it comes to Lasseter always getting his way with WDI projects.

Anyway … That’s a quick overview of what’s been going on at Disney’s California Adventure, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disneyland. With a particular emphasis on where this new “Midway Madness” attraction actually fits into the bigger picture.

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

10 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

10 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