If you were driving up Hollywood Boulevard trying to make it to the TCL Chinese Theatre yesterday afternoon, you probably found that your way was blocked by a …
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
Wait a minute. Is that a giant inflatable jet?
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
Yep. There were all sorts of untraditional aircraft coming in for a landing in front of the El Capitan Theatre last night.
Photo by Jim Hill
Which only made sense. Given that this Hollywood movie palace was where Walt Disney Studios decided to hold the world premiere of Disneytoon Studios' latest production, Disney "Planes."
Photo by Jim Hill
People had been lined up in front of the barricades which had been set up across the street …
Photo by Jim Hill
… for hours ahead of time. All with the hope that they'd then be able to catch a glimpse of the various celebrities who'd soon be strolling down that custom red & grey carpet which Disney's event planners had laid down along 200 yards of Hollywood Boulevard. All with the hope that this film's red carpet would then look like an airstrip.
Photo by Jim Hill
And what with the presence of genuine Navy fliers (i.e., the servicemen who actually worked with "Planes" director Klay Hall to make sure that the military portions of this movie's story were accurate) …
Photo by Jim Hill
… as well as that gentleman on stills who kept trying to wave people into the Target Landing Zone.
Photo by Jim Hill
Speaking of the Target Landing Zone … Since this retail giant was the sponsor of the world premiere of Disney "Planes," just beyond the entrance of the El Capitan Theatre and right after the red carpet had ended, Target had set up this area where event attendees and their families could grab a bite to eat and/or try their hand at a game of chance.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
There were also displays of the various Disney "Planes" -related products that Target currently had available for purchase.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
But the tourists who'd stood in the hot sun for hours yesterday weren't interested in displays of Disney "Planes" blanket and comforters. They had come to Hollywood to see celebrities. Which is why they cheered when Dane Cook (i.e., the voice of Dusty Crophopper) strolled down the red carpet.
Photo by Jim Hill
Stacy Keach (i.e., the voice of Skipper in this Disneytoon Studios production) got a similar strong response for the folks who were looking on from Hollywood & Highland.
Photo by Jim Hill
Cedric the Entertainer (who voices Dusty's nasally challenged co-worker, Leadbottom) drew cheers from the crowd across the street as well.
Photo by Jim Hill
As did comic Gabriel Iglesias.
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, it wasn't just the stars of this new Disneytoon Studios production who were being interviewed / posing for photographs / being asked for their autographs. Sure, Teri Hatcher (who voices Dotty the mechanic in Disney "Planes") was being peppered with reporters' questions as she walked the length of the red / grey carpet. But then again, so was Charles Fleischer, the voice of Roger Rabbit.
Photo by Jim Hill
Likewise John Ratzenberger AKA Pixar's good luck charm (who makes a quick cameo appearance in this movie as a jet tug at JFK Airport) was constantly in demand on the red carpet, answering dozens of reporters' questions as he slowly made his way down to the red / grey carpet to the El Capitan Theatre.
Photo by Jim Hill
The Disney Channel also lent some of its star power to Monday night's event. With Kevin Chamberlain …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and Skai Jackson from the Disney Channel's hit sitcom, "Jessie" …
Photo by Jim Hill
… both turning out to show their support for this new Disneytoon Studios production.
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, there were celebrities who attended Monday night's world premiere of Disney "Planes" who deliberately seemed to avoid the spotlight. Take — for example — Anthony Edwards (i.e. the voice of Navy fighter jet Echo). Who you can see in the photo above in a porkpie hat and white pants, zooming down the portion of the red carpet that was furtherest away from all the reporters & photographers.
Photo by Jim Hill
Conversely there were people at yesterday's world premiere like Ed Catmull, the president of Pixar Animation Studios & Walt Disney Animation Studios. Who would stop and talk with every reporter & photographer along the press line about how proud he was of the Disneytoon Studios team and the work that they'd done on Disney "Planes."
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
I'll share what I learned from my own chat with Ed Catmull on the Disney "Planes" red carpet in a future JHM article. But for now … Well, I have to get this story posted on JHM before I then have to head out the door at 4:30 a.m. to go cover the 50th anniversary of the Cast Member canoe races at Disneyland Park. Here's hoping that you enjoyed this selection of pictures that Shelly & I took at last night's world premiere.