Although I'm in California, I won't be able to go to D23. It is torturous to be so close yet so far . . . And even more torturous after writing this post to see what I'll be missing out on. This year's expo looks great.
The first day, Friday August 19 includes:
a talk by Imagineers about the making of the new DCA attraction based on The Little Mermaid
the latest Disney Legends ceremony which includes the induction of the more contemporary Disney princesses (among others)
a screening of every Pixar short back-to-back in honor of the studios' 25th anniversary
a discussion all about the history, art, and music behind it's a small world for the attraction's 45th anniversary
the Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament
a short talk by the folks who provide voices for the Disney theme parks
The second day brings even more awesome stuff. Here's the events I'd look forward to most (if I could go, that is):
a discussion by Michael Giacchino on the "Music of Pixar"
a conversation with the Pixar Creative Team, which includes the likes of John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, Lee Unkrich, Dan Scanlon, Mark Andrews, and Jim Morris. (Yeah. Holy crap, right? That's almost the whole Pixar Brain Trust in one room right there. No doubt they'll announce future Pixar films there.)
a talk with the legends of Disney Imagineering
character designers of Monsters University discussing the long-anticipated Pixar flick
Disney Imagineers discussing how story and innovation dictate what they do
Sunday includes:
the Art of Pixar's Brave
the evolution of Marvel characters
a sneak peek of Cars Land
the making of Star Tours
And that only scrapes the surface of what this year's D23 Expo has to offer. There's also the massive Disney Store, the floor filled with booths, tons more talks I didn't even mention . . . Basically, go to the D23 Expo if you can manage it.
The event will take place August 19-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center. And guess what? Tickets aren't even sold out yet! One-day admission is $47 for adults and $37 for children ages 3-12. Three-day passes are $136 for adults, $106 for the kids.
I know you've missed me, and I've missed you. I have been in California on vacation for a while, and haven't been able to post anything. (Although, I've been keeping up with the news on my phone and things and haven't seen much that's worthy of a post.)
Anywho, one of the things I've done out here in The Golden State is gotten a private tour of Pixar Animation Studios!! It was exhilarating. I didn't take a ton of pictures, but have some remarks I'll share with you once I have the time to construct a nice little post about it. Look for that by the end of this month.
Also, I'll be heading over to Disneyland next week, so keep an eye out for some talkback about all the new changes at DCA.
I'll try and keep you updated with the latest news, especially with SIGGRAPH and D23 coming up soon, but I'm not promising anything.
Sorry, my beloved readers, for the recent hiatus in posts. At least you have some fun stuff to look forward to, right!?
I was a D23 Charter Member and always will be. I have not renewed my membership, however. There are several reasons for this, but it mostly boils down to a simple lack of what's in it for me.
The best thing, by far, is the quarterly subscription to the D23 magazine that comes with a membership. The magazine is gorgeous and full of useful and interesting information, but it isn't something that I have to own. It's not the type of magazine I want to keep as a piece of memorabilia, and I can get all of the information out of it that I'll ever need by flipping through it at the bookstore. While it is a wonderful magazine, it really isn't worth purchasing.
Another huge feature of being a D23 member is having access to a ton of "special events" all about Disney. Well, these events might be nice, but, living in Golden, Colorado, I wouldn't know. I make it to California once a year for my annual trip to Disneyland, but that's it. If you don't live near Anaheim or New York, there are virtually no D23 events open to you, unless you are willing to pay 2 memberships' worth for a plane ticket.
Now, I will concede that the D23 Expo is a special special event, but it's still not worth the membership+plane tickets+a hotel room. The expo might be that great in 5-10 years, but they're still working out the kinks. The expo will constantly improve, and I'd be a fool to go this early (although there are some really great seminars and things...but it's just too much money).
The one thing that had me on the fence were the nice little pieces of Disney memorabilia that D23 sent out. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to. I loved getting them--the Matterhorn patch, the Christmas card reprint, etc. Those were great, but I figured I could pick one up on eBay if they sent out something really great. Nevertheless, it really was a nice touch that made being a part of D23 a bit more special and exclusive.
So, I am no longer a member of D23. If I move to California and become closer to these events they offer, or if they make the magazine twice as long, I'll consider rejoining the ranks of D23, but, for now, I'm staying out of it.
Below you'll find a panel discussion with John Lasseter and other Imagineering/Pixar executives and creative chiefs who do nothing but discuss Pixar at the Disney parks for over an hour. The panel was at the D23 Expo in Anaheim recently. A very interesting and worthwhile watch that I recommend for any Disney, Disneyland, or Pixar fan. Here are the links to all eight parts:
With the D23 Expo underway, as well as the Disney Studio always wheelin' and dealin', I've got a lot of news for you. Right here, right now:
This first piece of news is Disney-related, but not D23-related. Guillermo Del Toro, one of my favorite writer/directors of such films as Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth, has opened up an animation studio. This studio is known as "Disney's Double Dare You!". That's right: Disney's. One of Hollywood's best obscure/creepy filmmakers has opened an animation company within the walls of Disney Studios. The studio will be under the watch of Dick Cook and (hooray!) John Lasseter. Del Toro is very busy with his current slate of upcoming films, but will direct for DDDY (Disney's Double Dare You!) in the future. The current project at DDDY is Trollhunters, written (but not directed) by Guillermo who is also producing. So what should we expect from this new studio? Will the films be truly creepy, or just Coraline creepy? Will they appeal to kids, or to adults? I don't know...
The Associated Press is reporting that 'Pirates 4' is officially official. It has a real title: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," and Johnny Depp is, of course, its star. The film will be released in 2011. I can't wait! Although I am not a huge fan of the 2nd and 3rd 'Pirate' films, I do love the character of Jack Sparrow.
The D23 Expo is going on right now! To see what happened on day one, I'd recommend you check out the following links:
WDWNewsToday; Some stuff from the CarsLand room, and, mostly, the Disney Legends ceremony.
Disney and More: The really great-looking Imagineering Legends session.
Cinematical has an article about Tron at the D23 Expo, as well as a huge gallery of pictures from it.
The LA Times documents both days of the expo thus far, but mainly the stars that showed up, which include John Travolta, Johnny Depp, and Tim Burton. (The OC Register has a similar article.)
Jim Hill discusses an upcoming D23 presentation which will showcase what The Muppets ( I sure do love those little guys) will be up to in the next couple of years.
There is even more Disney news out there. Upcoming Pixar is reporting that Cars 2 is going to be a "Hitchcockian Spy Thriller." Their source is Mr. Lasseter who is quoted to have said:
Mater, who we know from the series of cartoon shorts Mater’s Tall Tales (more on that in our blog in a minute) is prone to exaggeration, gets involved in a "Hitchcockian" case of mistaken identity, saves the life of a British secret agent called Finn McMissile (who looks a heck of a lot like an Aston Martin) and becomes embroiled in a huge spy thriller. Only no-one believes him.
And, finally, here is the newest trailer for the upcoming Disney film, The Princess and the Frog. This movie keeps looking better and better:
That's all the news for now, but stay posted since we still have more Expo news headin' your way.
My apologies for not keeping up with the news lately, but I have been awfully busy. It won't happen again...
Anyways, in the week or so that news has been absent from Etc., a lot has happened when it comes to Disney. So, instead of writing an article on each piece of news which would encumber me with so much work that I'd miss new news, I will provide you with a bunch of links to other reliable and great Disney blogs. Enjoy the links. Click away...
Here are a slew of D23 links. You know, the expo in Anaheim? You might have heard of it...
Pixar (and therefore John Lasseter) will be present at the D23 Expo and will provide thousands of Disney fans with information all about their upcoming releases. Read about it here.
Blue Sky Disney has two articles about the upcoming expo. The first discusses the new, expanded, and complete schedule of the huge event in Anaheim. The second is all about the supposed planned presence of Stormtroopers at the upcoming event, suggesting a Star Tours 2.0 announcement. Very interesting...
Speaking of Lasseter, everybody's favorite Bigwig of Pixar/Head of Imagineering/Computer Animation Pioneer/General Great Creative Disney Guy has just been, after years at the Academy, elected secretary of the American Motion Picture Association of Art and Sciences. They've also got a new president, but not anyone as exciting as 'the Lasseter.' The Pixar Blog's got this one covered, too.
The great star of Disney's original Alice comedies has recently passed away, and Jim Hillhas a wonderful obituary-type article. Enjoy.
Jim Hill also has an article about recently registered domain names by the Walt Disney Company which would suggest a whole slew of new (and not too great) projects. Read it here, if you dare.
Above you will find the incredibly simple yet funny poster of the upcomingToy Story/Toy Story 2 re-release. I sill absolutely love the idea of using the little green aliens as the mascot for the release. October had better hurry up.
I have always loved my iPhone, but now I love it even more now that I can play Toy Story Mania! (my favorite DCA attraction) anywhere, anytime. If you own one of Apple's little mobile gems I suggest purchasing the application from the App Store.
I'll finish up this set of links with a link to Cartoon Brew's article entitled "Zemeckis to ruin Yellow Submarine." As you have probably deduced already, Disney and Zemeckis plan to release a remake of the classic Beatles flick, MoCap style. Read all about it on CB right here.
Once again, sorry about the lack of news recently, but this post has brought you completely up-to-date, as will my future and prompt news articles that you'll find right here at Disney, etc.
Disney fans are quite overwhelmed with news today due to the announcement of D23, as well as other news which has arisen from either Pixar, Disney's shareholder's meeting, or who knows where else. Here is a comprehensive list of the day's important, Disney-filled news:
The official synopsis of Partly Cloudy, the short preceding Pixar's newest feature Up, has been released by Pixar. Read it on Upcoming Pixar here.
The release date for Disney's upcoming feature The Princess and the Frog has been brought back from Christmas Day to December 11 in order to avoid competition with an Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel. AWN has a great article talking about these reasons behind pulling the release date of The Princess and the Frog, which is Disney's first movie in about 10 years which centers around a princess and is 2D, both of these attributes, as you know, are very similar to classic Disney films.
Bob Iger announced today something that is making theme park execs shake in their boots, if they haven't shaken 'em off already.
The big news of the day is D23. Read my coverage of this new "Official Club for Disney Fans", or visit the official site.
Bob Iger also announced the names of Disney's two new cruise liners. They are "Fantasy" and "Dream". Read all about it at The Disney Blog.
Other news covered today by myself includes my review of the new Pinocchio DVD and Blu-ray Discs, and the launch of Up: The Video Game's site.
That was the first 'Link Roundup' for Disney, etc.! I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll be sure to do more of them when the day's Disney news gets unbearably cumbersome to read and comprehend.
Here are all of the exciting new details , straight from Disney's press release, for D23, the "Official Community for Disney Fans":
A one-year D23 membership ($74.99) includes:
• Disney twenty-three quarterly publication: A one-year subscription (four issues) to D23’s new collectible magazine filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. This advertising-free keepsake is the all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past, present and future.
• Membership Certificate and Card: The D23 membership card and suitable-for-framing member certificate – both specially created for D23’s Charter Year -- feature many of Disney’s most beloved characters.
• Surprise Collectible Gift and Member Merchandise: Each member who joins D23 will receive an exclusive collectible gift from the new Walt Disney Archives Collection. This merchandise line was created specifically with D23 members in mind, and each piece is authorized by the Walt Disney Archives. D23 members will have exclusive or early access to a wide assortment of Walt Disney Archives Collection pieces.
• D23 Expo and Member Special Events: The D23 Expo – to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from September 10-13, 2009 -- will be “The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience,” featuring incredible speakers, celebrity appearances, breathtaking exhibitions, interactive experiences, sneak peeks, film screenings, one-of-a-kind merchandise, and much more. All Disney fans are welcome, but D23 members will receive a discount on Expo admissions and early access to the show daily. D23 also offers unique members-only special event opportunities throughout the year.
• Disney.com/D23: All fans can stay connected to Disney every day through D23’s new website, featuring up-to-the-minute Disney news, feature stories, event info and more, but only D23 members will receive regular email updates on special event and merchandise opportunities exclusive to them. All about Twenty-Three, the quarterly publication:
Disney today launches its new quarterly publication Disney twenty-three, a hybrid entertainment and lifestyle magazine that is the all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past, present and future. Its name pays homage to 1923, the year The Walt Disney Company was founded.
The premiere issue of Disney twenty-three includes exclusive features such as: • Interviews with Tim Burton, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens • Inside look at the new Disney/Pixar animated film Up, featuring interviews with Director Pete Docter and Producer Jonas Rivera, concept and production art, and a look at the new animated short Partly Cloudy. • A rare look inside Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California. Meet the Pixar team and learn the secrets behind the success of their films. • The doors open for two of the most exclusive, magical suites in the world: the Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Dream Suite overlooking New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America at the Disneyland Resort.
Disney twenty-three’s regular featured departments include: • A Walk with Walt: A look back at the trials and triumphs of the man who made dreams come true and whose imagination started it all. • D Society: From gala movie premieres and grand openings to candid Disney moments and memories, D Society takes readers backstage and onto the red carpet. • PHOTOfiles: The legendary Walt Disney Archives Photo Library houses millions of Disney’s most cherished photographic memories, and the Archives team shares its Top 100, five in every issue. Let the countdown begin! • Where in D?: Try to identify where in the world of Disney each issue’s mystery photo was taken. • The Funny Pages: For the first time in decades, enjoy the vintage newspaper comic strips that helped make many of Disney’s most popular characters famous. • Making Magic: Crafts for children of all ages, inspired by Disney’s favorite stories and experiences. • Recipes from Disney’s most popular restaurants and eateries, past and present. Disney twenty-three subscriptions are available only by becoming a member of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans. Individual issues of Disney twenty-three retail for $15.95 and are available exclusively at all U.S. Barnes & Noble booksellers, all domestic Disney Stores, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, and Disneyshopping.com.
DISNEY.COM/D23 The D23 site on Disney.com will serve as the premier online destination for Disney fans, highlighted by breaking Disney news, exclusive feature stories, blogs, historical retrospectives, a collectibles boutique, special event information, and other content. The D23 online experience includes News & Features, Walt Disney Archives, Disney twentythree, Expo & Events, and Boutique23.
Highlights include:
NEWS & FEATURES • Late-breaking news, press releases, and photos of interest to fans from every part of Disney. • “Twilight Bark” – inspired by the Disney animated feature 101 Dalmatians – offers up the latest tidbits and news “bites” from all around the world of Disney. • Feature articles and interviews on current Disney topics from theme parks and animation to television and motion pictures, as well as historical retrospectives. • Official Disney Bloggers – Get regular updates on films in production at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, current Walt Disney Imagineering projects, and the Walt Disney Archives.
WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES • “This Day in Disney” – A daily walk down memory lane. • “What’s Old Is News” – Go back in time and enjoy rare, vintage and classic articles, stories, interviews, press materials and other highlights from deep within the Disney Archives. • “Ask Dave” – Disney Legend and Chief Archivist Dave Smith answers your questions about Disney history. • “Archives Library” – helpful Disney reference tools including biographies, filmographies, award chronologies, Disney A to Z updates, historical profiles and other archival information.
DISNEY TWENTY-THREE • The online home of Disney twenty-three, D23’s quarterly publication. • Expanded stories, interviews and imagery. • “D Society: Online Edition” – regularly updated photo gallery. • “The Funny Page: Daily Edition” – a delightful daily dose of vintage Disney comics that haven’t been seen outside the Disney Archives in decades. • “Making Magic” – An archive of the unique crafts featured in Disney twentythree. • “Disney Dish” – Always be able to find your favorite recipes from Disney twentythree.
EXPO & EVENTS • “D23 Expo” – The official Web site for everything you need to know about “The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience” September 10–13, at the Anaheim Convention Center, including programming, show hours, celebrity appearances, keynote speakers, ticket information, vacation packages, and more. • “D23 Member Special Events” – Throughout the year, D23 hosts special events created just for its members. Members can find out which ones they want to attend and how to register.
BOUTIQUE 23 • D23 merchandise and collectibles, including D23 member-only offerings from the Walt Disney Archives Collection • Hosted by Disneyshopping.com
D23 membership D23 membership is not required to visit Disney.com/D23, but some merchandise and special event opportunities are exclusive to D23 members. Fans can join D23 at www.Disney.com/D23, all Disney Store locations within the United States, select shops at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, and www.DisneyShopping.com/D23.
About D23 The name “D23” pays homage to the wonder and excitement that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. Through the years, Disney has captured the imagination of millions around the world, and, as requested by Disney fans everywhere, D23 gives them a greater, richer.
Steven Clark, the head of D23, says the following in an article that can be found on D23's new website:
Now we get to share that excitement with you through D23, the first official community for Disney fans! We want to introduce you to the amazing, talented people in front of and behind the cameras and construction walls that make Disney the special place that it is. And when we say it's "made for you and me," we mean it, because we're sharing with you exactly what we'd want to see.
Whether you're visiting the D23 Web site, experiencing the incredible D23 Expo in Anaheim this September or diving into Disney twenty-three magazine every three months, our goal is to make every moment special, new and — I don't think it's a stretch to say — magical.
Well, there you have it! For $74.99 you can be one of the first members of D23; you can have access to the newest Disney news, get discounts to Disney events in Anaheim, receive a subscription to a very cool quarterly magazine, as well as receive a special gift, a D23 card and a certificate! I think that this is a little bit pricey, especially if, like me, you don't live in California, thus you can't reap all of the benefits of this new club made for true Disney fans like you and me.
Update: Here is an official video ad for D23 that features clips from new and classic Disney movies and shorts, as well as interviews with cast members, Disney park guests and Disney CEO Bob Iger:
D23, the mysterious club being revealed by Disney on March 10, has mostly been revealed. Some people around the internet have gotten a hold of the first edition of the magazine attached to the club called "Twenty-Three". The magazine is basically a book; it is 62 pages of colored photos, well-written articles, and interesting sidebars of information. It costs $15.95, but I imagine that you will receive them in the mail if you become a member of Disney's new club (and I know that I am going to become a member).
The "magazine" reveals a lot of new information regarding the club, as well as other aspects of upcoming things at Disney. The magazine describes the new membership club by describing that it "celebrates the adventure Walt embarked upon and the amazing legacy that lives on in the work of Disney storytellers, animators, film-makers, Imagineers and Cast Members around the world."
There are currently no details about membership prices, perks or anything else. All of that will be announced on March 10, and will be promptly posted here to satisfy your curiosity.
Also revealed in the first issue of "Twenty-Three" is some very interesting information regarding the short, Partly Cloudy, that will be attached to Pixar's upcoming feature Up. To read the exclusive article, click your way over to The Pixar Blog. Here's a short summary of Partly Cloudy's plot from The Pixar Blog:
Partly Cloudy’s protagonist is a cloud named Gus who makes the ‘tougher babies’ like alligators and porcupines. Peck is Gus’ stork who’s grown tired of having to deliver all the tough babies and wants to move on to softer ones like kittens and humans. The short’s climax is when Gus thinks Peck quit in search of easier deliveries.
That's about all that has been revealed through the first edition of "Twenty-Three" that was presumably put on shelves too early by some outlets. Read all previous D23 posts here. Come back in two days to read all about Disney's announcement of its new club, D23.
Disney has fans stumped. A very mysterious site has arisen from deep within Disney's website, and all I can gather from it is: D23 (or Disney 23). Upon entering the site you are greeted with a Flash movie, and the question "Are you 23?" pops up, then the words "Find out March 10" appear; an animation of Tinker Bell and a countdown to march 10 follow. No more information is given. A simple countdown to March 10 and the phrase "Are you 23?" That is it.
I have several theories about what this new D23 might be. It seems like a sure bet that the "23" represents the year that the Walt Disney Brothers Studio was founded (October 16, 1923). Or possibly the 23rd birthday of Pixar, or even the release of 23 Disney DVDs. Many rumors around the internet, however, agree that D23 is most likely a new membership club for Disney fans (this is confirmed in the update below). Rumors also mention enrollment fees, exclusive merchandise, a yearly convention and an online community. Some leaked photos on The Disney Blog somewhat confirm these rumors (or, at least, the exclusive merchandise rumor), but there's no telling whether the pictures are legitimate at all:
These rumors sound about right to me since there are no real Disney fan clubs for true Disney fans, like myself (except, of course, for Club 33 which is very restricting due to its location and the fact that that's about all it is; an experience, not a real fan club or anything of that nature). There are very mild fan clubs, but those don't do or mean or provide very much. I guess we won't know until March 10. I did try to sneakily find out the answer by downloading the Flash file to my local hard drive and changed the system clock to March 10, but the video was disappointing; it had the countdown still, just in the negatives. I'll be sure to post all of the details on March 10, so come back then if you're curious, I know that I am very curious...
Update: StitchKingdom.com has some very exciting news regarding this mystery. They have discovered an insert from the Pinocchio Platinum Edition DVD being released on March 10 (the same day that the announcement by Disney regarding D23 is made), and this insert pretty much solves the mystery of D23. (See the insert at the top of this post.)
Although this doesn't specify any details regarding D23, it does solve the mystery of what D23 is: "D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans".
Well there you have it. Come back on March 10 to read all about the details given at Disney's official D23 announcement.
Hi. My name is Adam and I love to write and to read. I shoot and go to a lot of movies. I am an avid collector of Disneyland souvenirs, Pixar stuff, celebrity photographs, and everything else.
