General

Why For?

After far too long a delay, Jim Hill’s back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about his plans for Philly, the next set of JHM Disneyland tours as well as answering questions about why he includes negative comments in his articles, what he thinks Roy Disney will say at the Academy Awards this weekend and what’s going on with Epcot’s “The Land” pavilion.

Published

20 years ago

February 26, 2004

Jim Hill

My apologies, folks. I know that “Why For” has sort of fallen by the wayside for the last couple of weeks. But — what with all the Disney-related news that’s been breaking lately — I was kind of hoping that you’d understand why I haven’t be able to answer your Mouse-based questions for a while. Hopefully — in the weeks ahead — things will start to calm down again (as I was saying to Rebekah Moseley of LaughingPlace.com as we spoke on the phone earlier this week: “Man, I’d kill for a slow news day”), we’ll get back to some sort of regular schedule ’round here.

Okay. Enough excuses. Let’s get to it, shall we?

First up, John Lasseter’s Evil Twin writes in to ask:

Jim –

Thanks so much for doing such a super job with your coverage with all the stuff that’s been going on with the Walt Disney Company lately. Quick question, though. Will you be in Philadelphia next week to attend the “Save Disney” rally as well as the shareholders meeting? If so, would it be possible to hook up with you while you’re in town? I’d really like to shake your hand as well as pick your brain about what’s been going on with the Mouse.

J.L.E.T.

Dear J.L.E.T.

Yeah, I’ll be down in Philadelphia to cover both the “Save Disney” Briefing and Reception as well as the Walt Disney Company’s annual meeting. Though — given the somewhat negative stuff that I’ve written about Shamrock this week as well as the extremely negative stuff that I’ve been writing about Disney CEO Michael Eisner since about … Oh … I don’t know … March of 1999? — I can’t imagine that I’m going to be greeted with open arms as I arrive in the “City of Brotherly Love” late next Monday night.

Which is why it might actually be nice to see some friendly faces while I’m in Philly. So … what the hey. Why don’t we try and set up a time and a place where JHM readers can meet while we’re all in town? Anyone have any suggestions?

If so, drop me a line at stadlerhill@mindspring.com over the next couple of days. Eventually, we’ll pin down the arrangements. Hey! Maybe we can even get a group photo taken while we’re all in town. Get a picture for posterity of all the dweebs who actually made the trek to Philadelphia to take part in Disney Company history.

And — speaking of history — Linda G. writes in today to ask:

Jim –

While poking around www.savedisney.com, I discovered a link back to your site. I have to say that I love all of your articles. Particularly the ones about Disney theme park history.

Which brings me to my big question: I notice that, last year, you gave a couple of tours of Disneyland. Will you be doing that again sometime in the future? And — if so — how can my husband and I reserve a spot for one of your tours?

Please keep up the great work,

Linda G.

Dear Linda G.

Funny you should mention the JHM tours of Disneyland. For I was just about to announce another round of them.

Yep. Just as the swallows return to the Mission San Juan Capistrano every year on March 19th, I’m returning to the Disneyland Resort on March 20th and 21st. I’ll be doing two days of tours at the theme parks that weekend. As part of this two-hour-long treks through Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, I’ll be talking up the behind-the-scenes stories of various attractions. At the end of each tour, there’ll be a Q and A session where — yes — I will answer your questions about what’s really been going on in the Mouse House over the past three months.

So — if you’ll be in the Anaheim area during that weekend in March and would like to take part in the tour — just drop me a line at (you guessed it!) stadlerhill@mindspring.com and I’ll send along the particulars.

Just be advised, though, Linda G. that space on these JHM tours is limited. (I find that — the smaller the tour group is — the easier that group is to manage. Plus it gives me more time for one-on-one talks with JHM readers. Which is always the most fun part of the tour. For me, anyway …)

Anywho … Robert H. — in response to yesterday’s “This isn’t a sprint anymore. This is a marathon.” article — writes in to ask:

Why do you quote people like B.B. in your articles? Does his opinion represent general feedback that you have received? To me his thinking is so obviously flawed. Is he suggesting that it would have been better for Disney and Gold to maintain the status quo and hope that no one figured out that WDC was a good takeover target. I hope that WDC stays independent, but if WDC is taken over it will be primarily due to Eisner and the Board of Directors not the Save Disney campaign.

Thanks, Bob

Dear Bob –

It’s all about balance, really. I think that it’s important that people always remember that there are usually two sides to every story. Yes, the majority of Disneyana fans seem to be solidly in Roy’s corner. Rabidly supporting his “Save Disney” effort.

But that doesn’t mean that ALL of the Disney faithful are marching in lock step with the folks over at Shamrock. Based on the e-mail that I keep getting, there are still a number of Disneyana die-hards out there who really disagree with what Disney and Gold are trying to accomplish here.

Hell, there’s even one guy out there who’s set up — I kid you not — a “Save Michael Eisner” site. Mind you, I’m still not entirely sure whether this website is actually an attempt at satire or someone’s deadly serious attempt to save Disney’s CEO. Either way, I found that image of the Comcast version of the Skyway pretty amusing. So maybe you’ll find it amusing too.

Next up, David P. writes in to talk about:

Hey Jim. Love the site, keep up the great work.

Given that the Academy Awards (Oscars) are coming up, I was disturbed to find out that they will be broadcast on the ABC network.

I can’t help but think that, in the event that Roy Disney’s “Destino” wins for Best Animated Short, he may get a chance on national television to dig at Michael Eisner a little bit. That would be good television and good for the Save Disney campaign, but what’s stopping Eisner from pulling the plug on Roy?

I haven’t seen any journalists, anyone from the Save Disney campaign, or anyone from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) mention this possibility and confront ABC.

Of course ABC would deny that anything like that would ever take place, but if no one makes it an issue before the Oscars, then if it does happen they could just claim it was an unfortunate “technical difficulty” but that “these things happen in live broadcasts.”

Once the issue is out in the public, they would know that people are watching to see if ABC does “accidentally” censor Roy and would be very careful to make sure it didn’t happen.

Hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I really don’t want to see Roy cut off for a car commerical in the event that Destino wins.

Hope you can help in some way,

David P.

Dear David –

Actually, I did write an article about this very same subject back on February 6th. And Richard Verrier and Claudia Eller also chimed in about what might happen on ABC should “Destino” actually win for Best Animated Short at this coming Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony in their February 19th article, “Short Film Has Tall Implication.”

But — as to what might happen if Roy actually makes it up on stage — I honestly don’t think that Disney’s CEO is stupid enough to order that Walt’s nephew be censored should Roy actually start saying mean things about Michael. More to the point, I think that Roy Disney is far too classy a guy to lash out at Michael Eisner in front of an estimated audience of 200 million people.

Mind you, a mild joke at Michael’s expense. A veiled reference to his “Save Disney” effort … THAT I could possibly see. But — as Roy Disney said to JHM’s own Chuck Oberleitner (when these two bumped into one another earlier this month at this year’s Annies):

“Folks don’t need to worry. I’m not going to say anything embarrassing. ‘Destino’ is about the fine work and efforts of people like John Hench at the studio.”

Like I said earlier, Roy just has too much class to openly attack Michael at the Oscars. However — this coming Tuesday afternoon at Philadelphia’s Loews Hotel — Walt’s nephew MIGHT be singing a different tune.

Speaking of tunes, Anthony T. now writes in to ask about what became of Epcot’s more tuneful shows, “Food Rocks”:

I just saw on a Disney info website that “The Land” pavilion at Epcot is closed for “renovations” while they put in that new “Soarin’ over California” ride. Is this the end of “The Land” that I know and loved from childhood, or is it only an addition?

I know “The Land” isn’t for everyone. But — along with “The Living Sea” (which may also be defunct) — it was my favorite Epcot attraction…

Anthony T.

Dear Anthony T.

Actually, most of the show and attractions in Epcot’s “The Land” pavilion have been left pretty much untouched. The “Living with the Land” boat ride (which replaced Future World’s original “Listen to the Land” show back in December 1993) is virtually unchanged. As is “The Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable” (the large format film that replaced “Symbosis” back in January 1995).

Unfortunately, “The Land”‘s “Food Rocks!” show has been tossed out in the garbage. This less-loved follow-up to “Kitchen Kabaret” may have debuted ‘way in March 1994 … but now it’s history. And the space that “Food Rocks!” pre-show and auditorium used to occupy? It’s now going to serve as the pre-show and queue for “Soarin’ Over California.”

Given what a lousy show “Food Rocks!” was, I seriously doubt that anyone — including you, Anthony — will miss it. Whereas “Soarin’ Over California” (which is — arguably — the very best attraction that DCA has to offer) will be a welcome addition to Epcot. I’m sure that thousands of Future World visitors will thrill to the simulated sensation of flying over San Francisco, Yosemite and Napa Valley.

Oh … just so you folks know: a friend who works at WDI told me earlier this week that there are already tentative plans to produce a new “Soarin'” show. Something that would probably fit in better with the Florida version of the attraction’s setting.

However, whether production of this new ride film for this somewhat-soon-to-be-opening Future World attraction (Tentative launch date: Spring 2005) will actually be greenlit in time for October 2007 (Epcot’s 25th anniversary) remains to be seen.

But — remember! — you heard it here first.

Next Chuckles writes in to ask:

Jim –

I recently discovered your web page through www.savedisney.com. Which is a cause I strongly believe in. I’d like to do whatever I can to help Roy and Stanley. Get the word out that something needs to be done and FAST if we’re actually going to save the Walt Disney Company. Since JimHillMedia.com seems to be doing such a good job of getting that message across, I was wondering if you suggest ways that a person like me could actually get Eisner booted out?

Chuckles

Dear Chuckles:

Well — for starters — if you actually owned some Disney stock, I think that probably the best way to help out Disney and Gold would be by withholding your proxy vote for Eisner, Bryson, Estrin and Mitchell. Or — if you live anywhere near Philadelphia — you could make the trek to the Loews Hotel this coming Tuesday evening and take part in the “Save Disney” Briefing and Reception, which is starting at 4 p.m. I know that the folks at Shamrock would really love it if a capacity crowd turned out for this event.

However, if you don’t live anywhere near Philly, Chuckles … you could write to Roy and Stanley’s people and request a “Save Disney” bumper sticker. Or you could just head over and order up a “Disappointed” t-shirt. That way, whether you’re driving or even if you’re just walking around, you’ll still be showing folks that you support the “Save Disney” cause.

Whatever you end up doing, Chuckles, I’m sure that the folks at Shamrock will appreciate the effort. (Hmmmn. I wonder how many of those “Disappointed” t-shirts I’ll be seeing this coming Wednesday morning at the Philadelphia Convention Center.) Anyway …

Okay. That’s enough for this week. I gotta go get started on packing for next week’s trip to Philly. I hope to see a lot of you JHM readers there supporting the “Save Disney” effort.

Til then, you folks take care, okay?

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

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