General

Why For?

This week, in an extra special edition of JimHillMedia’s Q & A column, Jim Hill deals with a single mountainous question. As in: What’s the deal with these proposed WDW additions: the Matterhorn, Mount Fuji / Fire Mountain and Forbidden Mountain? Then – just before he slides into a coma – Jim takes a moment to thank everyone who was nice enough to kick in a few bucks last week.

Published

22 years ago

December 12, 2002

Jim Hill

Joan wrote to say:

Hello!
Love the site … and I have a question for you. In November ’91, my husband Gary and I went on our honeymoon in Orlando. He remembers seeing some conceptual drawings of future attractions at … the MGM park and swears that he saw a drawing of a roller-coaster type attraction in the Japan section of Epcot to be called Mt. Fuji. Have you ever heard of such a thing? And if so, what happened to it?
Many thanks and keep up the good work!

Thanks for the kind words, Joan. As for what your husband remembers seeing during your visit to WDW’s Magic Kingdom: He’s right. There WAS concept art up in the post show area of the “Walt Disney Story” back in the early 1990s that clearly showed a “Space Mountain” – type roller-coaster ride which was supposed to have been built right behind the Japanese pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase area. And – yes – this ride was to have been housed in a mountain-shaped building, with the attraction inside being called either “Mount Fuji” or “Fire Mountain.”

Now where this gets interesting is that this indoor roller-coaster ride was actually one of two “mountains” that the Imagineers had hoped to add to Epcot’s World Showcase skline back in the early 1990s. The second of these “mountains” (which was also supposed to have contained a thrill ride) would have been an updated version of Disneyland’s popular “Matterhorn” ride.

This proposed Epcot addition was to have been the centerpiece of a brand new Switzerland-themed area which WDI had hoped to add at Epcot. Had construction actually gone forward, the pavilion’s Swiss chalet-styled structures as well as its towering mountain-shaped ride building would have occupied that empty spot along World Showcase Lagoon between the Italian and German pavilions.

In the best of all possible worlds, the Imagineers had wanted to add both the “Matterhorn” as well as “Mount Fuji / Fire Mountain” to Epcot’s World Showcase. Why both? Well, there were a variety of reasons, actually.

1) With the possible exception of Norway’s rather wimpy “Maelstrom” attraction , Epcot had no real thrill rides. Adding these two new Disney mountains would (hopefully) finally clear up that problem. Which would finally give WDW’s science and discovery park a little teen appeal.

2) These two rather prominent mountain-shaped ride buildings towering over World Showcase’s skyline would obviously have made great “weenies.” (I.E. Objects that would catch the attention of Epcot visitors, compelling them to move ever deeper into the theme park.)

3) The Imagineers thought – by adding both the “Matterhorn” and “Mount Fuji / Fire Mountain” to World Showcase’s skyline – it would give the back part of Epcot some symmetry. These two faux “mountains” would have acted as book-ends for the American Adventure pavilion. Framing and balancing this part of the theme park.

But of course, none of this ever happened. In spite of all of WDI’s best laid plains, neither of these attractions were ever built.

Why for? Well, just about the same time that the Walt Disney Company began searching for a corporate sponsor to underwrite “Mount Fuji / Fire Mountain,” the Japanese economy collapsed. So suddenly there weren’t a whole lot of firms out there who could shoulder the construction costs (not to mention the 10 years of staffing costs and maintenance fees) associated with the creation of this $100-million-plus thrill ride.

Mind you, the Mouse did everything it could to try and line up a sponsor for “Mount Fuji / Fire Mountain.” The company reportedly had prolonged discussions with Fuji Film about possibly sponsoring this proposed attraction … until Kodak (the Official Film of the stateside Disney theme parks) stepped in and quickly put the kibosh on the idea that its direct competition would be the sponsor of a popular new thrill ride for World Showcase.

There were even allegedly conversations with Toho Studios, built around the notion that this Epcot attraction could possibly prominently feature Toho’s biggest star, Godzilla. The idea behind this radically revamped version of the ride is that WDW guests would now race around inside of this faux “mountain” aboard miniature bullet trains, just inches away from constantly being crushed by Big G.

As for the “Matterhorn” … well, it’s the same sad story, folks. The Imagineers just weren’t able to find a Swiss corporation that was willing to pick up the tab for this proposed $100 million Epcot addition. Which is why Disney eventually had to abandon the idea of adding two “mountains” to World Showcase’s skyline and concentrated instead on adding exciting new elements to Future World.

Why Future World? Because it was infinitely easier — back in the mid-1990s, anyway — for Disney execs to convince American corporations to pony up sufficient dough to help showcase their latest products in Future World. I mean, surely the name “Innoventions” rings a bell.

Eve so, it’s still kind of sad to think that none of these faux “mountains” proposed for Walt Disney World ever made it off of WDI’s drawing board. Particularly the “Matterhorn.”

What’s so sad about the “Matterhorn” not getting built at Epcot? Well, it’s just that *** Nunis, the former Chairman of Disney Attractions, tried for over 20 years to get a version of this Disneyland favorite built at Walt Disney World.

Take for example, back in the mid-1970s, when Nunis envisioned building a “Matterhorn” in the Magic Kingdom – in the same approximate area that “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” currently occupies. This Florida version of Disneyland’s “Matterhorn” ride was supposed to have straddled the railroad track that circled the park.

The idea behind doing this was that the WDW railroad was supposed to have rolled right through an opening in the base of the “Matterhorn.” Once inside this cave, guests would have encountered … a raging blizzard! (Which you have to admit would be a very cool way to spend a few moments on a blistering hot summer afternoon in Central Florida.)

Anyway … when the Magic Kingdom version of this thrill ride failed to make it off the drawing board, *** set his sights on getting a “Matterhorn” attraction added to Disney – MGM. Below, you’ll find a photo of a conceptual painting for the studio theme park that shows one of the proposed layouts for the park. Please note that – at approximately the center of this photograph (back and to the left of the “Great Movie Ride” show building) – you’ll see a pointy mountain rising right up where Disney – MGM’s New York backlot area was eventually built.

Click to view larger image.

What is that? You guessed it, kids. Another Florida version of the “Matterhorn.” Only – in this incarnation of the attraction – only the side facing out toward World Drive would have been finished and actually looked like a real mountain. The side facing in toward the center of the park would have been open, unfinished. Just like most movie sets are.

The idea behind this version of the “Matterhorn” was that WDW guests would (thanks to all the daylight that was pouring in through the open side of the mountain) get a big thrill out of seeing how close their ride vehicle was actually coming to the “mountain”‘s support beams. Which (supposedly) would have added to the fun of this Disney-MGM thrill ride.

The only problem was that – as the budget kept ballooning for the studio theme park – the Imagineers were under constant pressure from Disney’s CEO Michael Eisner to keep construction costs down on Disney-MGM. (You have to understand that – by building the studio theme park – Uncle Michael was out to prove that all future WDI-designed projects wouldn’t have to be like Epcot. Which ended up costing the corporation over a billion dollars to complete. Eisner wanted MGM to be the new template for WDI. To prove to the Imagineers that it really was possible to build an entire new theme park for a 1/3rd or half of what it cost the Walt Disney Company to build Epcot).

One easy way to keep construction costs down on this particular park was to pull the plug on the enormous “E” Ticket that towered over the backlot. Which is how Disney-MGM’s version of the “Matterhorn” ended up on the cutting room floor.

What happened to the Epcot version of the “Matterhorn,” you already know. And – by the time WDI was hatching plans for Disneys’ Animal Kingdom – Nunis had been promoted up and out of his position of power at Disney Attractions. Once he became chairman of that division, ***’s powers became largely ceremonial. He’d show up ribbon cuttings, maybe hand out a few oversized checks to organizations like the United Way. But – beyond that – Nunis was no longer in a position to call the shots as to what got built where at the Walt Disney World resort.

Which – as I said earlier – is sort of sad. Still, I’m hoping that *** Nunis can take at least some comfort in the knowledge that DAK’s “Forbidden Mountain” attraction clearly draws its inspiration from Disneyland’s “Matterhorn” ride. This new thrill ride – which is supposed to be built in Animal Kingdom right along the edge of Discovery River near the entrance to Asia (facing out across the water toward the “Tarzan Rocks!” amphitheater) – is, of course, another snow capped faux Disney “mountain.”

Only this version of the “mountain” (which hides most of trackwork for this indoor roller-coaster) is lush and green below the snow line. Truth be told, the pictures that I’ve seen of the model for this attraction (thanks Michelle!) suggest a somewhat squashed “Matterhorn.” Shorter in stature, but wider around the base.

So – if all goes according to plan (I keep hearing that Disney plans to break ground on DAK’s “Forbidden Mountain” sometime in early 2003. With an eye toward having the ride up and running by October 2004. Just in time for WDW’s annual press event) – Walt Disney World will finally get its “Matterhorn” clone.

Just not in the shape that *** Nunis had originally envisioned.

I apologize for only answering one “Why For” question this week, kids. But, frankly – after cranking out five days worth of new features for JimHillMedia.com in one straight shot – I’m kind of beat.

So I’ve decided to rest and regroup this weekend. With the hope that some of the other columnists who write for this site (Hello, Chuck. Hey, Andrea) will start sending in new stories again shortly.

Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I’m really very happy with the crew we currently have here at JimHillMedia. So – if these guys need some extra time off in order to wrap up all of their Christmas-related crud – then I’m perfectly happy to pick the slack. For a while. Until – of course – I slip into a writing induced coma …

(There. That ought to be enough guilt to motivate those guys … Don’t you think?)

Anyway … Before I go, I also wanted to thank all of you JHM readers who were nice enough to answer the call last week and throw a few bucks in the Amazon honor box. Michelle tells me that we received enough donations to keep the site up and running well into January. (How did my ex-wife put it? “They like you. They really like you.”)

Those of you who donated … I honestly can not thank you enough for all the generosity you’ve shown (Not to mention all those nice letters of support I also received). You’re a great bunch of readers, you know that?

Anywho … I’m going to go lie down. Hoping that a little rest now will get me in shape for Monday. When I have to start churning out stories again.

You folks have a great weekend, okay? Talk to you Monday,

jrh

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