General

On the red carpet at the “Cars” premiere

At this past Friday night’s event at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, JHM columnist Michael Howe got to quiz many of the stars who worked on this new Pixar film as well as the celebrities who attended the premiere. Here are a few highlights from Mike’s moment on the red carpet

Published

18 years ago

May 28, 2006

Jim Hill

John Lasseter
Director of “Cars”

Q: I know you’re a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki. Is the Fiat 500 named Luigi a reference to Miyazaki-san’s film (“The Castle of Cagliostro“)?

A: No, it’s not a reference to it, though I love “Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro.” I love that film. But his movies mean so much to me, he’s a filmmaker and he’s great.

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: It has to be incredible knowing that all these Pixar films are going to be seen and loved by your grandchildren’s grandchildren. Do you think about that?

A: Nancy Lasseter — my wife who is standing right next to me — said to me a long time ago, when I was making “Toy Story” : “Make sure you make this movie, not for the first time someone sees it, but for the 100th time someone has to suffer through it on video.” And it is so true. We really work to make these movies last a long time. It’s not about the technology we use. It’s about the story and the characters we use. And I’m very excited about it. I love to entertain my audiences. So that’s what it’s all about.

Q: When you first get your ideas, which may seem crazy at first to other people, is Nancy your filter? In terms of “This will work, this won’t work”?

A: She is. I talk to her a lot about all my projects. I remember pitching her the idea in the bathroom getting ready one morning. And I pitched her the idea for “Toy Story 2,” and she went: “Oh yeah. That’s a good idea!” With “Cars,” honestly, she’s not a car-person. And she goes: “Well, you make sure you make this movie for me, your nieces, and all the people out there that are not into racing, not into cars.” And I said: “there’s people like that?” Because I’m really into cars. And all through the making of this movie we have the “Nancy Factor.” Which really said: “get away from just the detail of the cars.” And it’s about the story and the characters. And that’s what it’s about.

Nancy Lasseter
Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Has she shot down any ideas that were just too crazy to make?

A: No, because she questions them, and I have to kind of work to support them, and then I finally win her over. But she helps make them better.

Larry the Cable Guy
Voice of Mater

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Mater seems like a fun guy. I love the big buck-teeth he has, and it gives him his personality.

A: Oh yeah. And the thing is they’re wider than my teeth. That’s the thing that irritated me.

Q: I’ve heard a rumor that Mater possibly goes cow-tipping in the movie. Have you ever gone cow-tipping?

A: You know what? I’ve never done cow-tipping, and we used to have cows. I think that’s somethin’ that city kids … We had a cousin that lived in the city. You made him go out and cow-tip. And we got away from the cows.

Owen Wilson
Voice of Lightning McQueen

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Knowing that this is a movie that will be seen by your grandkid’s grandkids, does this make it more special for you?

A: Yeah, it does. Because the way you phrased (your question) really made me think about it. That’d be a very cool thing. And it does seem like these Pixar movies really enter the culture in a way that movies when we were growing up like, you know, those classic Disney films. It’s like Pixar’s become that, so that’s cool.

Bonnie Hunt
Voice of Sally

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Sally seems to love going for drives around Radiator Springs. Is there any place you’ve enjoyed going to, such as a place to relax?

A: For me, it’s being in the garden. But I think that Sally going on that ride through Radiator Springs is kind of symbolic. It’s “Take time to slow down and stop and just smell the roses.” Whether it’s going fishing, or working in the garden. Whatever your Radiator Springs is in your mind, take the time to take a nice slow drive.

Cheech Marin
Voice of Ramone

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Now you play Ramone, who runs his own Custom Shop in Radiator Springs. So what was it like when they told you you’re going to be playing an Impala who changes his style around?

A: I thought just: “Hey, right up my alley.” Must be typecasting. And he’s cool. And he goes up and down.

Q: If you could customize yourself, what kind of custom would you be?

A: I would probably be a Bentley, you know. I like to go low, and slow, and cushy. I like a cushy ride.

Tony Shaloub
Voice of Luigi

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: In the film, Luigi has an Italian accent. Do you happen to know which region of Italy Luigi is from?

A: Yeah, he’s from the region of Italy called Green Bay, where I grew up. I don’t pretend that it’s an authentic Italian accent, but somehow the Pixar people think it’s good enough.

Q: Luigi seems like a little car with a big heart. It must have been fun to play a cute little Fiat in the film.

A: Yeah, it was thrilling. They give you so much. You’re able to see all these sketches, the world that these characters occupy. They make your job really easy.

Paul Dooley
Voice of Sarge

Q: We hear you play Sarge in “Cars.” It must be fun to play an old ’41 Willys Jeep.

A: Well I’m an “old Jeep” myself. I mean, I’m the same age as Sarge. He’s World War II, and I’m about his age. So it wasn’t a stretch for me to play an old person, even an old car. So I enjoyed it and I added a little gravel to my voice. I figured if he’s been barking orders at soldiers part of his life, you know. So I gave him a kind of a gravelly quality like that, you know. And it was great fun.

Q: Did you need to do a lot of research into military-type stuff, or did you have that experience before?

A: We’ve all seen so many military movies, that you know what “Ten-hut!,” and “As you were,” and “Drop and give me twenty,” all that language we’ve seen. Hundreds of movies about us. So it’s in the general public information about how a sergeant would work. He’s like a drill instructor, you know.

Paul Dooley & playwright Winnie Holzman
Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Though it seems that the one guy he can’t quite get ahold of is Fillmore, the VW Bus.

A: That’s George Carlin, yeah. George and I are at odds with each other. I’m a “spit-and-polish” guy and he’s a laid-back hippie that hasn’t changed since the 60’s.

John Ratzenberger
Voice of Mack

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: Now I understand that in “Cars,” you play the part of Mack?

A: The Mack Truck. Yeah, the Mack Truck that pulls Lightning McQueen around to the races. During one journey, he goes missing. And that’s where the story begins.

Q: I heard that your Dad actually drove Mack trucks as well.

A: My Dad drove a red Mack Truck.

Q: Did you imbue some of your Dad into the role of Mack for the film? Any little nuances you remember?

A: No, but John knew that my father drove a Red Mack Truck and that’s why he had me voice the red Mack truck.

Q: You seem to be the lucky guy when it comes to Pixar. You’re their good luck charm. What’s it like being able to be involved with all of these films that have done so well?

A: The amazing thing is that you never hear the phrase “Aw, that’s good enough” at Pixar. They always try to out-distance themselves in their work, and they do that consciously. Every film they do, they work as hard as they did on the very first film and it comes out. Wait’ll you see this movie. You thought “Finding Nemo” was good? Please.

Dave Foley
Voice of Flik in “A Bug’s Life“
Cameo appearance in “Cars” credits sequence

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: So Dave, we know you’ve done “A Bug’s Life,” and we hear that you’re involved in “Cars” in some way. Can you tell us what’s going on with that?

A: I’m part of a little surprise treat in the credits of the film. You know, Pixar always likes to put something special into their credit sequences. And so I was involved with that for this picture.

Q: Who came up with the idea for it?

A: I’m guessing it was probably John Lasseter. I know that we did it. I guess the first time they did it was on “A Bug’s Life” where they did outtakes at the end. Which was something they wanted to do on “Toy Story,” but they weren’t allowed to do it on ‘Toy Story.’ But by ‘A Bug’s Life,’ they were allowed to do whatever they wanted, y’know. Naked, if they wanted. So, yes. They always do a little special thing in the credits. And that’s part of that.

Q: So was it good to come back and work at Pixar again? It must have been quite a change since you did “A Bug’s Life.”

A: I always stay in touch with them. We’ve stayed friends over the years. It was just sort of seeing old friends again, so it was nice.

Michael Wallis
Voice of the Sheriff
Author of “The Art of Cars“

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: We’ve just got a little question, because we took a little road trip from Chicago this morning, and were wondering if you’ve ever heard of “The Chicken Basket?” (EDITOR’S NOTE: “The Chicken Basket” is one of the restaurants near the start of Route 66. Which starts in Chicago, IL)

A: Oh yes. Up in Willowbrook. I know it very well. I’ve devoured lots of chicken there. The Road is so great in the state of Illinois today. Out of all the states, I always point out that Illinois is leading the 8 Route 66 states in terms of restoration and preservation. Great signage, wonderful ride, yeah.

Q: You play the Sheriff in Radiator Springs. Was that John’s (Lasseter’s) idea, or did you kind of come up with the idea?

A: I was his consultant. And then I wrote the book about the making of the movie, “The Art of Cars,” with my wife. But he said: “you’ve got to be a character voice in this film. We’ve got to capture you on film. And don’t you think you’d make a great Sheriff?” And I said: “Sure, why not? What’s the car?” “1949 Mercury.” “Um, it’s a done deal.” Because it’s one of my favorite cars. It’s the same kind of car that James Dean had in “Rebel Without a Cause,” you know? It’s just a Classic. And people tell me that grille on that car looks a little bit like my moustache. Which just a few years ago was pitch black and suddenly it’s turned chrome-colored. So I don’t know.

Q: You have a very distinctive voice.

A: Yes, and wait til’ you see my interaction with Mater. I think you’ll get a kick out of that. Mater is one of my favorite characters, and he drives my “Cars” character crazy.

Q: I didn’t know that.

A: Oh yes. He’s sort of my little nemesis. I’m always after him. But these people that are represented in these cars are actual people from Route 66. And a lot of them are here tonight: Cooks, waitresses, people that I exposed Pixar to. And they took the personailty of these people and it comes out in these cars. That’s why this film is so good. That’s why it’s accurate and true.

Dick Cook
Chairman of Walt Disney Studios

Photo by Marie Yuen

Q: One thing I find wonderful about Pixar is that the technology has not gotten in the way of storytelling like so many special effects movies do.

A: No, the technology never gets in the way of the storytelling. Storytelling comes first. The technology just helps you to tell the story in a more interesting and fun way, and having characters that are able to show this kind of emotion is just sensational.

Q: And obviously, you have very high hopes for the partnership going forward into the future?

A: You know, I think it’s been the most successful partnership I think in motion picture history. And now that Pixar is a part of Disney, it just makes it that much better.

Q: It’s interesting the way Lasseter’s come on board to Disney. Is there any word on 2-D animation coming back to the studios?

A: Well, I think everyone that’s there is a real fan of 2-D animation. I think that we’re not ready to make any announcements. But I think — at some point –you could certainly look forward to something in 2-D coming back. You know, it’s still great storytelling and characters that matter the most, and I think you might see it.

Q: Since we’re also talking about cars, is there a favorite car that you wanted as a kid, or had as a teenager?

A: It was probably my very first car, which was a 1964 Chevy II Nova. It was red, had 3-speed on the column. Maybe it’s because it was my first car. It was a used car, several people had owned it. But I just loved that car.

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