World of Color at Disney California Adventure
Receives Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement –
Nighttime Spectacular
Disney Imagineer Kim Irvine Recognized for
Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
November 16, 2010, 2:15 PM PT (Glendale, CA) – TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) once again recognized the achievements of Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative arm of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, in their announcement that this year’s Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Nighttime Spectacular goes to World of Color at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California. World of Color combines stunning Disney and Pixar animation with music, lights, fog, lasers, fire and nearly 1200 programmable fountains spanning an area that is bigger than a football field.
The show debuted in late spring and already more than one million guests have enjoyed this enchanting and innovative form of entertainment. World of Color is a major cornerstone in the multi-year expansion of the Disneyland Resort. Recognized by TEA as “a visual and technical marvel,” World of Color represents the work of hundreds of talented people from around the world over a five-year period.
Additionally, TEA recognized longtime Disney Imagineer, Kim Irvine, with The Buzz Price Award – Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements (formerly the Thea Lifetime Achievement Award). Kim began her career at Walt Disney Imagineering in 1970, where she worked alongside many of the Imagineering legends such as John Hench, Mary Blair, Marc Davis and Claude Coats. She worked on many attractions for both Magic Kingdom and Epcot at Walt Disney World before joining Imagineering’s Disneyland Design Studio team in 1980.
Kim has long been the Art Director for Disneyland and was responsible for projects such as Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebration, including a new look for the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. Recent projects include bringing to life an idea originally conceived by Walt Disney himself, the Disneyland Dream Suite, where lucky guests have gotten to stay overnight in a private suite inside Disneyland. She has also worked on adding ‘new magic’ to classic attractions such as ‘it’s a small world’ and in locations like the Rivers of America. Kim also created designs for the new Disney Gallery and interiors for the new Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction on Main Street, U.S.A.
TEA announced the 17th Annual Thea Award recipients during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attraction's (IAAPA) annual conference. The Thea Awards recognize achievement, talent and personal excellence within the themed entertainment industry. Recognized internationally as a symbol of excellence, the Thea Awards consider project submissions from all over the world.
To date, Walt Disney Imagineering has received a total of 34 awards throughout the Thea Awards’ 17-year history. Some of Disney’s past recipients of Awards for Outstanding Achievement include Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Finding Nemo- The Musical” and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Soarin’ Over California at Disney California Adventure, Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland Park, Space Mountain, From the Earth to the Moon at Disneyland Paris, CineMagique at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris and ‘The Legend of Mythica’ at Tokyo DisneySea.
About Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the unique innovative organization that creates – from concept through construction – all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, cruise ships, real estate developments, and regional entertainment venues worldwide. Imagineering’s unique strength comes from the teamwork and syntheses of creative and technical professionals representing more than 140 diverse disciplines.
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