Over the past 20 years, it’s become something of a tradition that Walt Disney Animation Studios slips in a few Easter Eggs. A brief, affectionate nod to previous productions. Which is why the Beast from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” can be among the toys that the Sultan plays with in “Aladdin” …
… and Mrs. Potts & Chip pop up on a table in Disney’s “Tarzan” …
… and — if you look closely in young Jim Hawkins’ bedroom during “Treasure Planet” ‘s opening sequence …
… — you’ll then see a stuffed Stitch among his toys.
And that tradition was continued with Disney’s 2009 hand-drawn release, “The Princess and The Frog.” Which is why — during that film’s opening number — you can spy the carpet from “Aladdin” being shaken out.
But when it came to Disney’s first-ever CG fairy tale, “Tangled” …
… given that the look and stylization of this Nathan Greno & Byron Howard film was so decidedly different from all of the hand-drawn Disney fairy tale films that had preceded it … Well, for a time, there was a question whether this tradition of hiding a few Easter Eggs in each new film would actually continue with “Tangled.”
But to give credit to those clever cusses at WDAS, they did eventually figure out how to pull this off. Take — for example — the “I Have a Dream” number. Where (SPOILER AHEAD) the thugs at the Snuggly Duckling reveal that they’re not such bad guys after all.
When you purchase the Blu-ray and/or the DVD version of Disney’s “Tangled” next week, be sure and pay close attention to this song where Big Nose ties a rope to Shorty ….
… and then sends this drunken thug soaring through the air around the Snuggly Duckling.
“What’s so special about this scene in ‘Tangled’ ?,” you ask. Well, check out the support column that Flynn Rider is hanging from.
To be specific, the upper portion of that support column. Where — stashed in the rafters directly above Flynn — you’ll see a certain wooden boy.
Yep. That’s Pinocchio.
Better yet, how about that sequence where Rapunzel, Flynn, Pascal and Maximus sneak into the kingdom so that the lost princess can then finally see the lights which are launched every year on her birthday?
There’s a brief scene in this sequence where Rapunzel & Flynn duck into a bookstore.
Cab you see that picture book — in the upper left-hand corner — which is on display in the front window?
That’s actually the storybook from “Sleeping Beauty” ‘s opening sequence. To be specific, the moment in that hand-drawn animated feature when this jeweled volume is opened to this particular two page spread.
Mind you, “Tangled” doesn’t just pay tribute to Disney’s animated features. This CG fairy tale also features a quick nod to the Disney theme parks. To be specific, the Fantasyland sections of these Parks. Which had a huge impact on the look and overall design of this film’s sequences which were set in & around the kingdom.
Take — for example — this scene from the film.
Do you see that clock tower way off in the distance?
That building in the kingdom was supposedly modeled after the Fantasyland Clock at Disneyland Park.
Now when I was talking with Mark Kennedy (i.e. “Tangled” ‘s Head of Story) about a rumor that was making the rounds last year … To be specific (SPOILER AHEAD): That the ceramic unicorn which Vladimir deliberately leaves out in the open as a signal to Flynn Rider that the thugs from the Snuggly Duckling are about to break him out of prison …
… was a deliberate callback to that origami unicorn which Officer Graff (Edward James Olmos) leaves for Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) at the end in Ridley Scott‘s 1982 sci-fi film noire, “Blade Runner.”
According to Kennedy, this brief scene in “Tangled” wasn’t a deliberate “Blade Runner” reference. Vladimir just collects ceramic unicorns …
… because he likes them.
So how about you folks? Have any of you spotted any other Easter Eggs and/or in-jokes in Disney’s “Tangled” ? If so, post the necessary info here. And when the DVD and/or Blu-ray version of this new Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment release hits store shelves next week, we’ll then see if these tips turn out to be true.
Your thoughts?