A vacation to Disneyland is a unique and exciting experience for the entire family. No matter your age, there will be something behind those massive gates that will appeal to the kid in your heart - after all, the kid inside Walt himself designed the park. A couple of things to keep in mind when you're planning your trip to the Disneyland Resort though - the immense size of the park as well as the worldwide popularity results in it being a very...more
Imagine that, after establishing yourself as a creative genius early in life and spending much of your middle years in a slump, you release a new masterpiece that suddenly rockets you back into universal good graces. While you were derided as a hopeless has-been, you've managed to prove otherwise; however, while you bask in the accolades, you know that your comeback will only be secured if you manage to prove that it wasn't all just a fluke. So...more
It may not be common knowledge to those who grew up watching Disney films, but the studio was very close to creative (if not financial) bankruptcy in the 1980s. Walt Disney's death in 1966 had cost the animation giant more than just a founder: they were lost and aimless without him. Their animated features went from sure-fire hits to middling misfires. It wasn't just a matter of a few bad films, either. The legendary Nine Old Men group of animators had retired, leaving huge shoes to fill, and corporate raids and hostile takeovers had dwindled both fortunes and reputations all around. But the studio rocketed back into success in the 1990s, largely thanks to one film: The Little Mermaid.In this toxic environment, it was tough to see a way out. In 1988, Disney had shown that they could be a collaborative force, after the success of the multi-studio work Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and this gave the studio a bit of bargaining power. With that small jump, they set out to prove they still had what it took. The adaptation of the Little Mermaid was proposed by Ron Clements and John Musker in 1985; it was greenlit for production, but put aside in favor of focusing energy on the in-progress...more
There aren't many people today who acutely remember when Walt Disney was a man as well as a legend. It's understandable; he left a vast legacy behind, and permanently changed the face of animation and filmmaking. For the entire first half of the 20th century, his studio lived or died by Walt's decisions. When he died suddenly in 1966, the Disney...more
For those parents who have finally given in to their childrens' begging, and booked a family trip to Walt Disney World Resort Orlando, do not leave the house without arming yourself with these critical theme park survival tips. Walt Disney World is the most visited theme park in the world. There are more than 58 attractions, over 6000 rides and...more
It seems like a comedy setup: a wildly popular character had its origins as something entirely different - an iconic cat was originally intended to be a plucky, faithful caterpillar, but fate intervened. The reason why you've seen this situation on shows like The Simpsons is that it actually happened in real life. Mickey Mouse, the overwhelmingly successful character who made Disney a successful studio, was the last-minute replacement for a rabbit named Oswald.In the 1920s, Walt Disney had already established a reputation for himself in Hollywood: he was simply out of his element as a businessman, but to his credit, he was very passionately creative. He had stopped production on the Alice Comedy shorts, due to financial and technical issues, and even before 1927 he had financially killed one studio. Along with his partner and chief animator Ub Iwerks, Disney sought new opportunities for animation, and coincidentally sought work just as Universal Studios decided to get into the cartoon short business. They needed a headlining character, and Disney needed a success; for all concerned, it was a match made in heaven - at least initially.Iwerks animated a short cartoon called Poor Papa,...more
As we all know, Disney has designed 20 beautiful princesses, and the most famous are ten princesses. Their have some common points: beautiful, kind, brave, and pure. Who are they? My dear children, Do you like princess? Do you know what their names...more
While not all Disney films are musicals, it can sometimes seem that they all are! The real rush of films in that format came from the immense success of 1989's film The Little Mermaid, which was made into a Broadway-style musical during production....more
In the previous article, I once introduced the most beautiful Disney princess: Ariel, Snow White, and Bell. And they are beautiful, kind, smart and brave; these traits make them to win the prince"s love. And there are other beautiful princesses you...more
Mickey Mouse seems like he's been around since the beginning of time; even though he and the gang haven't headlined a major film in several years, they're still ubiquitous characters in the world of North American filmmaking and animation. Everyone...more
No one had expected Walt Disney to die in 1966; barely two months passed between the initial discovery of his lung cancer and his death. The Disney company, which had flourished under his hand, was left without a leader. Although Walt's brother Roy...more
Planning a family vacation at Walt Disney World Orlando is a large task, but it can be relatively simple if done correctly. First, have everyone familiarize themselves with the park maps and choose their top three attractions to visit. Then create a...more