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Why For does JHM keep posting articles that annoy so many of this site’s longtime readers?

It’s a glimpse into this website’s future as well as a trip into the distant past, as Jim Hill explains the recent change in JHM’s editorial focus as well as sharing a detailed description of Disneyland’s never-built “Voyage Through Time” ride

Published

18 years ago

on

Cheryl O. writes in to say:



Jim —


I feel that I’m speaking for a lot of JHM readers out there when I say: Enough with the “Cars” and the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” stories already!


Don’t get me wrong. I understand what you’ve been trying to say with all these
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 articles on your site lately. That expectations were particularly high for these two projects and that a lot of the Mouse’s money was on the line. I really get the point that you’ve been trying to make.



But — to be honest — stories about the financial side of things at the Walt Disney Company don’t interest me all that much. Once or twice a month, I’d be willing to read an article like that. But not week after week after week …


Please, Jim. I don’t come to JHM because I’m looking for charts that compare film grosses. I come here because you’re a gifted storyteller who knows a hell of a lot about Disney history. And it’s those sorts of the stories — the ones that talk about attractions that were never built or sequences that were cut out of animated films — that I think your site has been missing these past few months.


So can you please cut back on all the “Cars” & “Dead Man’s Chest” stuff? Post fewer stories that mention Michael Bay in favor of more articles that talk about Discovery Bay? I’m asking nice here.


Your somewhat frustrated fan,
Cheryl O.


Dear Cheryl O. —


Thanks for your very nice note. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve literally received dozens of e-mails like this. Each of them from loyal longtime JHM fans who have been urging me to cut back on the number of business-related stories that I’ve been posting on this site in favor of more articles about Disney’s theme parks & feature length cartoons.


But here’s the thing, guys. Since I’ve begun writing stories like last week’s “What’s the real final price tag for ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ ” story, we’ve seen a significant spike in traffic for JHM. So much so … Well, that’s the real reason that this site was “off the air” this past Wednesday morning. So many people have been coming by JHM lately that we were actually forced to move from a shared server to a semi-dedicated server in order to better handle our traffic load. (That’s a rather sounding odd name, don’t you think? “Semi-dedicated server”? It sort of reminds me of “semi-boneless ham.” Anyway … )


Soooo … Given that I’d really like this site to hang onto all of these new eyeballs, Cheryl O., I’m afraid that JHM is going to continue to post business-related pieces about the Walt Disney Company. Though — from here on in — I’ll make an effort to confine these sort of stories to just a single day. Most likely on Monday as part of my “MouseWatch” column. If that would be okay with you folks.


As for the rest of the week … Well, we’ll try & strike a balance between what the site’s newer readers are now looking for and the sorts of stories that JHM’s longtime fans are wanting to read.


Speaking of which: In your e-mail, you said that you wanted to learn more about Discovery Bay (I.E. That long-in-development expansion area for Disneyland that never quite made it off of the drawing boards). Well, how’d you like to read a ride description for an attraction that was originally proposed for this part of the park back in 1976?


Yep. We’re about to take a trip back through time to almost 30 years ago. Where — appropriately enough — we’ll then learn about the “Voyage Through Time” ride that the Imagineers wanted to build in the ” … far North Corner of Discovery Bay.”



Photo by Jim Hill


What follows is a transcript of the original WED memo that describes this proposed attraction:


A Voyage Through Time
October 12, 1976



This is a water ride similar to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” with the exception that it remains all on one level, and it is almost entirely an indoor ride.


Each boat seats 20. They resemble a jungle river steam launch (as we will be cruising thru some prehistoric tropical areas) and are fitted with some simple Victorian-motif gadgetry.


These gadgets, we are told, are activated by a huge Time-Transportation Archway that each craft passes under — thus we are “energized” and retained in every time-field we are thrust into. (Vibration motors could be used for each “time period transference.”)


STORY:


Stationed in the far North Corner of Discovery Bay, developed by some of Captain Nemo’s scientists, is an experimental Voyage Through Time trip, recently open to the public (although, we are warned, some of the earlier models were lost way back in the age of the first amphibians, etc.). The loading area is outdoors, and much of this time-travel theory, evolutionary tables, charts, etc. could explain to the holding lines just what they’re in for.



The load area for “Voyage Through Time” is located
above the train to the right. The two blurry light-blue
objects are boats getting ready to head out for a
trip to the distant past (Photo by Jim Hill)


Our trip starts out, simply enough, through a rocky area, occasionally marked with thick jungle growth, dotted here and there with some of Captain Nemo’s lab buildings and machinery. We then come upon one of the immense magnetic field archways, our boat passes under and we are “energized” to travel backwards through time.


(This archway and rockwork actually disguises the building we are cruising into — perhaps some projections or a strobe-light sjow, combined with the vibrations felt under our seats are the first effects we experience as our trip thru time commences.)


Following this “Light Show,” the first era we see is the Age of Mammals (during the presence of, or before the Dawn of Man). The vistas are almost pastoral, as in a museum diorama and a minimal amount of animation should be involved for these scenes.


We cruise on into a storm, the sky darkens, lightning is seen. All of this is soon coupled with a raging volcano which has set off a prairie fire. It is suddenly advised (over the loudspeaker) that we’d better transport ourselves into another time period before we are wiped out. Fortunately, ahead of us looms our escape — another Time-Transportation Archway — and we are hurled once again into a “Light Show” as our boat vibrates.


We are now at the Age of the Dinosaurs — some appear peaceful enough. Others would be terrifying. An enormous Tryannosaurus would be leaning over trying to snap at our boat.



Copyright 1976 Walt Disney Productions


Another Tryannosaur would be in the grips of an immense snake — both grappling over a low gully. Our boat passes safely underneath.


At this stage, we should be moving into an earlier period of the Dinosaurs. Instead of moving under another “Time Arch,” we could perhaps see the scenery hazy, obscure. A few light flashes are observed, coupled with the vibration of the boat. Here we see prehistoric animals less aggressive but nonetheless menacing. As in the Age of Mammals seen before, the vistas are peaceful. A few Stegasaurs (plated Lizards) could be roaming thru a meadow while on the other side of the river some Ceratosaurs (horned dinosaurs) roar and threaten.


There is now more jungle growth, the area appears more swampy. An enormous Brontosaurus is in the same lagoon with us and we hope to pass him unnoticed. Just as we think we’re safe, the creature begins to drift after us. Our only hope is to arrive under the next transporter archway dead ahead before he overtakes us.


We get there just in time (another monster just happens to be at the foot of the Gateway, giving us one last scare), but then something goes wrong: Our time transporter device is locaked into super overdrive (or whatever) and we are hurked into dimensional voids never experienced by human beings anywhere before. (Here we get fancy with the light shows).


Even the voice over the speaker is unsure whether or not we are being transported into the continuing past or the far future.


When we arrive, our boat drifts by some futuristic-looking civilization, with the exception that it is presently in ruins. Over the speaker, we hear: “Who could have been here before the Age of the Dinosaurs — or, could we have gone so far back in time that we have actually arrived in the future and now passed it?”


At the corner of the ruins, an ancient machine is still functioning — possibly some sort of an Atomic Fusion Laser Weapon. At any rate, it appears to have shorted out and is now firing at us in static bursts.


One of the shots finds its mark (our boat, to be exact). All of lights and Victorian gadgetry begin to flicker and glow and we are thrust back into the final time span — in this case, all the way back (or ahead) to our present day. Our announcer wonders if we ever went into the past at all — or instead, beyond the far-flung future.


The mind boggles as we tear out another “E” coupon.



Copyright 1976 Walt Disney Productions


Anywho … I hope that the above transcript was more to your liking, Cheryl O. The sort of story that you’ve been looking for lately on JHM but haven’t seen for a while.


Mind you, as I mentioned earlier, we’re still going to do business-related stories about the Walt Disney Company here on JHM. But — from here on in — I’ll make an effort to confine those sorts of features to a single day. Mostly likely on Monday as part of my weekly “MouseWatch” feature. Soooo … If you really don’t like reading about film grosses or stuff like that, maybe you should wait to come by the site ’til Tuesday morning.


Anyhow … You folks have a great weekend, okay? Hopefully, we’ll see you all again on Monday morning. Or — at the very least — on Tuesday.


‘Til then, you folks take care, okay?

j

Related Topics:

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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General

Seward Johnson bronzes add a surreal, artistic touch to NYC’s Garment District

Published

9 years ago

on

June 23, 2015

By

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


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. 

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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

on

June 10, 2015

By

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?

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General

It takes more than three circles to craft a Classic version of Mickey Mouse

Published

9 years ago

on

June 9, 2015

By

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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved

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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights
reserved

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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved

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.' "


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"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.


Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

"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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"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.


Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

"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?


Copyright Lucasfilm / Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

"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

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