General

Why For

Jim Hill’s back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This week’s effort starts off with an explanation as to why Disney World won’t be getting its very own version of Disneyland’s popular “Haunted Mansion Holiday,” then talks about who almost did voices for “Hercules” before closing out with a fond look back at WDW’s “River Country”

Published

19 years ago

May 26, 2006

Jim Hill

First up, Louis T. writes in to ask:

What happened to that seasonal retheming of WDW’s “Haunted Mansion” that you talked about a few years back? I thought that the Magic Kingdom’s version of Disneyland’s “Haunted Mansion Holiday” was supposed to have officially debuted this past October. But that never happened. Was this project actually cancelled or did you just get your original information wrong?

Dear Louis T.

Actually, my original information was dead-on. Two years ago, I had people in Magic Kingdom Operations telling me about all the money that was then being poured into WDW’s “Haunted Mansion” in preparation for “HMH” ‘s arrival. How effects that hadn’t worked since the late 1970s (EX: The chillers in this Liberty Square attraction. This particular effect replicates that sensation of super-cold air that humans supposedly feel whenever they’re in the same room as a spirit) were finally being repaired. All because WDW management was now getting this Magic Kingdom favorite to be in tip-top shape once its initial “Haunted Mansion Holiday” makeover began.

But then the money that was supposed to be used for the very first installation of “HMH” at WDW got sucked out of the Magic Kingdom’s annual operational budget (Supposedly to fund the desperately-needed-fixes the then-still-floundering “Stitch’s Great Escape” needed at the time). And then the following year, when it came time for Disney to once again cough up all of the dough necessary to turn this sinister old structure into Jack & Sally’s Christmas-themed playland … Well, WDW managers had had a change of heart.

Mind you, it wasn’t that the folks at Walt Disney World had fallen out of love with the Pumpkin King. Far from it. They saw all of the money that Disneyland & Tokyo Disneyland were making off of their “Haunted Mansion Holiday” seasonal overlay and thought “Well, I want some of that.”

But — at the same time — these WDW management-types recognized that WDW’s Magic Kingdom was not at all like the original Disneyland and/or Tokyo Disneyland. Where 60% of the people who push their way through the turnstiles at those particular theme parks each day are locals. Folks who’ve come from less than 100 miles away in order to experience some Disney magic. Who typically visit their local Disney theme park at least two & three times each year.

So when an individual visits the original Disneyland and/or Tokyo Disneyland and sees that this theme park’s “Haunted Mansion” is down for six weeks while its seasonal overlay is being installed and/or closed for three weeks while all of the “Haunted Mansion Holiday” decorations are being removed … That’s not exactly a hardship. These folks know that — the very next time they drop by this theme park — that it’s more than likely that the “Haunted Mansion” will be up & running again. So they’ll get their chance to commune with those “999 happy haunts” then.

On the other hand, people who visit the Walt Disney World Resort … Better than 60% of these individuals are out-of-towners. Folks who’ve traveled from cities & towns that are at least 300 miles away from Lake Buena Vista. And many of these people have saved for years for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience some Disney magic with their family & friends.

So when an individual like that comes such a long way at considerable personal expense … Only to find that one of the Magic Kingdom’s signature attractions is closed for almost two months each year, so that some seasonal decorations can be installed and/or removed … Well, that’s not going to wash.

Taking a cold-blooded look at this entire situation, WDW management anticipated a Guest Relations nightmare should they ever actually go forward with their initial plan to install “Haunted Mansion Holiday” at the Magic Kingdom’s “Haunted Mansion” each holiday season. They could just picture red-faced tourists screaming at the hosts behind the counters at City Hall, demanding some sort of explanation as to why this signature attraction has to be closed for a sixth of every year.

FYI: This is also why WDW officials eventually backed away from the idea of seasonally retheming the Magic Kingdom’s “it’s a small world” attraction. Even though Disneyland’s “it’s a small world holiday” has proven to be hugely popular with Orange County locals, with attendance levels at that Anaheim theme park going straight through the roof ever since this season redo originally debuted back in November of 1999 … The amount of time needed for the installation and then removal of all those “small world” – themed holiday decorations means that it’s just not practical (from an operational standpoint, that is) to duplicate this particular redo at Walt Disney World.

So does this mean that WDW is now going to become “The Nightmare Before Christmas” -free zone? Far from it, folks. With the brand-new Disney Digital 3D version of this 1994 Henry Selick classic due to roll into theaters later this year, the Mouse obviously believes that there’s lots of life left in old Jack Skellington.

And just because Jack & Sally now won’t be moving into the Magic Kingdom’s “Haunted Mansion” doesn’t mean that the cast of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” won’t soon be able to find somewhere to settle at the Walt Disney World resort. The way I hear it, WDI allegedly has a number of “TNBC” -related irons in the fire right now for WDW. These ideas suppsedly range from a “Nightmare” -themed dark ride that would be built at Disney-MGM (This proposed attraction would reportedly occupy the spot where the “Sounds Dangerous” show currently sits) to several nights of “Nightmare” -themed fun at the studio theme park.

As for that last idea … This would be a hard ticket event that would held after-hours at Disney-MGM. With the basic goal here being to create an annual on-property Halloween-themed happening that would then appeal to those individuals who consider the Magic Kingdom’s “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” to be far too juvenile to attend.

In short, the Mouse is looking toward Jack Skellington to finally help them come up with a way to effectively combat Universal Studio’s hugely popular (and profitable) “Halloween Horror Nights.” Based on what the WDW guests (Who were recently guest-surveyed about this proposed annual event) have been saying, this “Nightmare Before Christmas” -themed redo of the studio theme park could debut as early as 2007. The evening’s entertainment would include a special “Nightmare” -theme parade & fireworks show as well as an all-new version of “Fantasmic” entitled “Fiend-tasmic.” Which would then supposedly paid tribute to all of Disney’s great villains.

Mind you, there are those with the WDW organization who believe that it would be probably wiser for Disney-MGM to walk before it begins running. Meaning that it probably would be smarter to hold off on this “Nightmare” -themed Halloween party until that “TNBC” dark ride is actually built. That way … Well, WDW’s event planners would then have a logical hook for the inaugural event (As in: Come to a special after-hours party at Disney-MGM. Be among the first guests to experience the studio theme park’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” ride). And if that after-hours party proves to be a success, then they can launch the annual “TNBC” -themed event for Disney-MGM.

So — getting back to Louis T.’s original question now — No, my original information about WDW getting ready to install a version of Disneyland’s popular “Haunted Mansion Holiday” seasonal redo at the Magic Kingdom’s “Haunted Mansion” wasn’t wrong. All of those changes & improvements that I talked about earlier were actually made at that Liberty Square attraction. But then — over the past two years — WDW management’s plan for this Magic Kingdom attraction changed. Which is why my story about this planned redo had to change too.

Here’s hoping that — over the next year or so — that the folks at Walt Disney World don’t change their minds yet again and then opt to pull the plug on Disney-MGM’s proposed “Nightmare Before Christmas” dark ride and/or back away from the idea of holding an after-hours “Nightmare” -themed party at the studio theme park.

Next up, Kaye R. writes in to say:

“Hercules” is my absolute favorite Disney cartoon. Do you have any new stories to share about that animated feature?

Dear Kaye —

Actually, what I find interesting about “Hercules” is the people who almost did voices for this 1997 animated feature. Among the well-known actors who auditioned for parts in this Ron Clements & John Musker film were Brendan Fraser (For the role of Hercules), Anne Heche (for the role of Meg) and Rod Steiger (For the role of Zeus).

On the villain’s side of the fence, comedian Richard Lewis was actually Ron ‘n’ John’s first choice for Hades’ minion, Panic. But Lewis’ trademark kvetching didn’t translate all that well to the world of animation. Which is why Richard was eventually replaced by “Max Headroom” himself, Matt Frewer.

As for Hades himself, Musker & Clements had hoped to persuade Jack Nicholson to come voice the Lord of the Underworld. And Nicholson was said to be quite eager to play this part. Unfortunately, Jack was never actually able to terms with Disney when it came to what Nicholson thought was an appropriate salary for this role (My understanding is that — in addition to being paid handsomely for voicing the part of Hades — Jack was also looking to get a healthy cut of all the “Hercules” toys that featured his character’s likeness). Which is why Nicholson eventually took a pass on the project.

After that, Ron ‘n’ John worked with John Lithgow for a year or more. Seeing if this “Third Rock from the Sun” could fill the Lord of the Underworld’s sandals. But try as he might, Lithgow just couldn’t bring the energy or the ego to the part that Musker & Clements were looking for. Which is why John was eventually let go.

After that, Ron ‘n’ John tried out William Shatner (Who — I’m told — gave a really fun reading but ultimately wasn’t big enough in the part) and Phil Hartman (Who — in his last moments at the mike — read a few pages of the script as Jack Nicholson. Giving Musker & Clements the sense of what their film really would have been like if Disney had finally be able to work out some sort of arrangement with Nicholson. And I’m told that those scenes really soared) before eventually settled on James Woods. Who (obviously) did a bang-up job in that role.

But — to be honest — virtually every animated film goes through something like this, Kaye R.. As the production team chases after an actor that they ultimately can’t get (EX: Al Pacino as the voice of Hopper in “a bug’s life“) and/or has to replace a great performer who — for one reason or another– just isn’t working out (EX: William H. Macy, the original voice of Marlin in “Finding Nemo“). That’s just the nature of the business.

Finally, Bill F. writes in to ask about:

Do you have any news on WDW’s River Country? One of the main reasons that my family & I used to really enjoy camping at Walt Disney World is that we’d then get at least one day at that water park. Why’d Disney shut it in the first place? Are there any plans to re-open it?

Dear Bill F.

To be honest, WDW’s River Country was a victim of its own popularity. From almost the day that the “ol’ swimmin’ hole” first opened at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (Back on June 20, 1976), RC was ridiculously popular with WDW visitors. In fact, there was many a guest who actually missed out on their chance to experience Whoop ‘n’ Holler Holler (I.E. River Country’s two themed water slides) because they failed to make it down to the park before it reached capacity. Which on some days happened as early as 10 a.m.

Of course, given the number of tourists who’d complain bitterly about driving all the way over to Fort Wilderness only to encounter that “Sorry! River Country is sold out for today!” sandwich board … In the late 1980s, the Imagineers finally got serious about dealing with Disney World’s water park capacity problems.

First Typhoon Lagoon opened in June of 1989, then Blizzard Beach opened in April of 1995. A third WDW water park — Ragin’ Cajun Lagoon — was proposed back in the late 1990s but ultimately never built. Since that time, Disney World has allegedly also toyed with the idea of constructing a “Pirates of the Caribbean” -themed super water park on property. But — to date — beyond a few concept paintings, there’s been no real movement on that project.

And as for River Country … Well, given its relatively small size and remote location, once Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach opened for business, guest demand for access to WDW’s original water park fell right off.

Which — in theory — should have been great news to campers at Fort Wilderness. Meaning that they’d no longer have to compete with virtually every WDW guest in order to experience Slippery Slide Falls and/or White Water Rapids.

But then the state of Florida supposedly changed the statutes governing the safe operation of water parks. Insisting that each of these operations now had to get their water from a chlorinated municipal supply, rather then just recycle unfiltered water from a natural source.

And since River Country (With the exception of Upstream Plunge, the 330,000 gallon clear water filtered pool at the base of Slippery Slide Falls) got all of its water from Bay Lake … Once that statute was in place, the end was in sight for the Fort Wilderness favorite.

Mind you, there are those that say that — because of the charter of the Reedy Creek Improvement District (I.E. That piece of legislation that basically allows the Walt Disney World resort to be self-governing) — that the Mouse could have fought this piece of legislation. If it really wanted to.

But the fact of the matter was … The Walt Disney Company really didn’t want to fight the closing of WDW’s River Country. The success of both Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach seemed to clearly indicate the direction that Disney World should be taking with its water parks. In order for these operations to really be successful, they needed to be centrally located off of one of the resort’s main roads with an enormous parking lot.

And given that River Country was a smallish water park that had limited capacity and was really difficult for WDW guests to get to … Well, it’s easy to understand why the Mouse finally pulled the plug on the operation back in November of 2001.

Since then, there’s occasionally been talk of reviving River Country. Of spending the $20 – $25 million that would be necessary to seal off WDW’s original water park from Bay Lake. So that guests who are staying at Fort Wilderness would then have their own ultra-cool swimming area like the Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay.

But given that the Imagineers are also supposedly toying with the idea of building Buffalo Junction (I.E. A Western-themed hotel that would sprawl from Wilderness Lodge & the Villas at Wilderness Lodge all the way to Pioneer Hall), spending money now to revitalize River Country just doesn’t make sense. Particularly given that — in just a few years — you could be tearing down the place in order to make room for a brand-new WDW resort.

Which is why River Country remains as it is today. Gates closed, overgrown with weeds. And on a humid spring day like today, it surely would be fun to take one more trip down Whoop ‘n’ Holler Hollow.

Speaking of which … Here’s hoping that all you JHM readers find fun & safe ways to spend your long Memorial Day Weekend. Nancy and I plan on spending the next three days picking up the pieces here at the site. So that JimHillMedia can then finally be back up to full strength when Monday morning rolls around.

Thanks again for all your patience this week. We’ll see you again on Monday, okay?

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