Editor's Note: Disney and more is now back to its original design with, as usual, new articles every day! Also, all my thanks to each of you to have been so faithful during the D&M Christmas break as December was the best D&M month ever with 116511 visits! Which, considering that i was on vacation since December 9th and mainly reposted previous articles is not very moral, i admit! Anyway, again, many thanks to all of you for your support, and all my best wishes for this new year!

Disney Store on line art collectible reveals key scene from TRON Legacy !

Some of you often asked me where i find all the great artworks you can see on Disney and more, and sometime it's pure luck. This Tron Legacy artwork is a good example: yesterday i went to the Disney Store on line web site, just to have a look at the new items, and, in the "collectibles section" listing, i saw a small image entitled "D23 Exclusive Limited-Edition "Attack on the MCP" TRON".

I thought it was some art collectible from the first TRON movie but a surprise awaits me at the item page where the full description says: "Travel to the heart of the game grid with our "Attack on the MCP" TRON Giclée. Here two relentless digital warriors confront the corrupt Master Control Program in electrifying pre-production art from the forthcoming sequel, TRON Legacy". I thought: no kidding, this is a TRON Legacy production art ? And obviously showing a key scene from this highly awaited movie? Incredible. Have a look at the full image below.



Interesting scene, isn't it?

So, that's how it goes sometime, i'm surfing on internet, not specially searching for artwork but it's the artwork which finds me!

And for those of you interested by this 13" H x 19" L collectible Tron Legacy Giclée here is the direct link to the Disney Store page where it's available for $94.95.


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Artwork: copyright Disney

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland second trailer

While Disney and more was in Christmas break a new Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland trailer was released. If you've not seen it yet, there is plenty of new shots of the movie in it, and here it is below.

The Disneyland Paris Frontierland Stunt Show that never was

Recently , i found on the excellent Mark Taft Insights and Sounds web site this rendering below. It's labelled "EDL - for Euro Disneyland which means that this concept-art was done in the early 90's when the park was still called by this name. And it shows the facade of a stunt show arena envisioned for DLP's Frontierland - a "western" stunt show, of course.



In his article Mark was wondering "How seriously was a stunt show for Frontierland considered?" and hoped that i may have the answer as i am the one who wrote the book about the park.

Unfortunately, i just discovered Mark's March 2008 article yesterday (!) and i am a little bit late for the answer! However, i asked Jeff Burke who was Frontierland's show-producer if he ever heard about this project. And here is his answer:

"I don't recognize this specific illustration, but there were discussions, after the Park had opened in 1992, to build a stunt show arena where the Chapparal Stage now stands. The discussions of Frontierland's own stunt showplace ended when operations said it would be too much of a repetition of the "Buffalo Bill Wild West Show" in Downtown Disney."

Another former imagineer friend sent to me these additionnal infos: "There were a number of discussions concerning a live western show in Frontierland, including a small rodeo which was not done due to the strict animal protection laws in France. This is why the animals in the original petting zoo were moved behind a fence after opening so that the guests could only pet an animal when it approached the guest on its own.

As to the stunt show, this was developed under the Entertainment department on their own rather than Imagineering which was probably why it was not well known. An outside consultant was brought in and I seem to remember a model might also have been done. It was essentially a comic gun fight with exploding buildings and such but, as Jeff said, it was cancelled because of the clash with the Buffalo Bill show.

After that, the Chaparral stage came into existence to house any number of live entertainment shows."

So, there we have the answer about this mysterious rendering. The park DID envisioned a stunt show in Frontierland, but they finally cancelled it because of the Disney Village dinner show - translate: if we have a stunt show in Frontierland, people won't come - and pay - for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.

Although i must admit there is a kind of logic in their decision, i think it's a pity that a "western" stunt show don't exist in Frontierland instead of the Chapparal Stage. A western stunt show is a classic in theme parks - think about the Universal's Wild Wild West stunt show - and it would have give more life in the back of Frontierland...

And you, what do you think about this Frontierland stunt show that never was?

Artwork: copyright Disney

Many thanks to Mark Taft for this interesting rendering. I strongly suggest you to have a look on Mark's site Insights and Sounds, it's always interesting with rare pictures or renderings and Mark is posting new articles almost every day!

Editor's Note: It's all about Disneyland today. And for very good news about Disneyland's future attractions, don't miss Al Lutz new update on Mice Age!

Disneyland's New Orleans Square Original Artwork

The artwork topic of this week is a special Disneyland's New Orleans Square artwork. The renderings below were done by great WDI artists such as Sam Mc Kim, Herb Ryman or Dorothea Redmond. As usual don't forget to click on each image to enjoy them in big size!

This first painting above - by Herb Ryman - was the first detailed visualization of New Orleans Square. The masts of sailing ships, seen over the rooftops are not at Disneyland, but add an authentic touch to the painting. Many of Ryman's renderings for New Orleans Square are peopled with the sister of charity, who were a common sight in 19th century New Orleans.

The next one, also from Herb Ryman, depicts an early concept for the Royal Courtyard, located adjacent to the One-of-a-kind shop. Stairs from this courtyard lead to a suite planned for the Disney family, which became the Disney Gallery before it was transformed in the Disneyland Dream Suite.



This next rendering show the french quarter of New Orleans Square.



This painting below show the "Cristal d'Orleans" shop. Its elegance recalls the film "Gone with the wind". Interior designer Dorothea Redmond who did this painting worked on the 1939 classic.



This next painting, also by Dorothea Redmond, show the Walt Disney Suite project. Imagineers took part of their inspiration from this artwork when they've designed the Disneyland Dream Suite last year.



This last and famous painting from Sam Mc Kim was a design for an eerie "Haunted Mansion" and was based on an actual antebellum home. Walt Disney who didn't want anything so run-down looking in Disneyland remarked "We'll take care of the outside, let the ghosts take care of the inside.




Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

All Artwork: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc.

What is Disney waiting for to introduce " Augmented Reality " in their toys line?

James Cameron's Avatar world wide box office has reached $760 Million in only two weeks, which is simply phenomenal. If you have not seen Avatar yet, go to see it as the movie is fantastic, really. Some complains that the story has nothing special, but that's not the point. You must watch Avatar with the heart, not only with the mind, then you will enter the world of Pandora and the movie will look like a dream...

However, if you live in the U.S where Princess and the Frog is already released, go to watch it too! So many people went to Avatar that Princess and the Frog is not doing that well at U.S box-office... It would not be that dramatic if the movie was not 2D animation. And you know how executives are, they believe only in numbers... so, if "Princess and the Frog" box office don't reach their expectations they may think that it's the 2D animation which is responsible. Of course it will be absurd but if you want Disney traditional animation to survive give it a little help, just go to see Princess and the Frog, which, by the way, is a wonderful movie.

Let's come back to Avatar now or more precisely to the Mattel toys inspired by the movie - as they introduce for the first time "augmented reality" in merchandise products. Each box of the Mattel toy line include "iTags" to use with your computer and webcam to deliver hi-tech features. How does it works? It couldn't be more simple, all what you have to do is to place the iTags in front of your webcam to see Avatar's creatures or machines appearing on your computer screen. It's pretty cool, and the best is that you have a look at the videos below which will show you more about this in details.







Isn't it cool? Now, all this leads me to this question: what the hell Disney is waiting for to introduce augmented reality in their toys line? All the kids, even the younger one, are now playing with their computer and all computer now have webcams, the only thing that you really need for augmented reality.

Frankly, do you imagine the potential of this with any Disney/Pixar animated movie? Augmented reality, finally, is also animation... All "Princess and the Frog" toys should include an iTag so the kids could see and interact with their favorite character on their computer screen. They will love it! It's time to wake-up at Disney's merchandise section! We're in 2010 and some great technology awaits you!

Happy New Year 2010 !

All my best wishes to all of you for this new year! We are now in 2010 and let's hope that it will be a peaceful year, full of great theme park attractions.

The first big theme park event will happen later this month with the opening of Universal Studios Singapore, then the awaited World of Color show will begin next April and at Disneyland Paris Toy Story Playland will open next June (or july). Not to mention the comeback of Captain EO in February at Disneyland and the new King Kong at Universal Hollywood tram tour.

In 2010 Walt Disney Imagineering will also probably reveal the final design of Shanghai Disneyland - and God knows how we are all waiting for more details about this park!

2010 should be also a good year for movies, beginning with the awaited Toy Story 3 released next May...

So, make sure to come each day on Disney and more as i intend to cover all these events, as usual with the best pictures and videos available!