Epic Mickey Wii Game 4 min 1/2 intro is a nice piece of animation !

Two days ago, four and a half minutes intro from the awaited Wii game "Epic Mickey" were released and i strongly suggest you to have a look at it.

But first, for those of you who don't know exactly what "Epic Mickey" i about, more details, thanks to Wikipedia, about this upcoming Wii game: "Epic Mickey (also known as Super Secret Warren Spector Game Project or Junction Point Studios Project 2) is an upcoming Mickey Mouse video game designed by Warren Spector, with 2D cinemas by Powerhouse Animation Studios and developed by Junction Point Studios for the Wii console, using Emergent Game Technologies' Gamebryo Engine. Epic Mickey is part of an effort by The Walt Disney Company to re-brand the Mickey Mouse character by moving away from his current squeaky clean image and reintroducing the mischievous side of his personality. Spector has been collaborating with Walt Disney Feature Animation and Pixar in conjunction with the project.

And what about the plot, you ask? Well, as you'll see it begins by a variation on the "Apprentice sorcerer": A long time ago, the sorcerer Yen Sid, created a Disney theme park themed pen-and-paper world (Ndr: which looks exactly like Disneyland) for his forgotten and rejected creations, held in an intricate model on a table, and his study accessible through a mirror...



Mickey, who steps through a mirror from his home and finds himself inside Yen Sid's study, sees the model, and waits until Yen Sid is gone before going back to take another look at it. Fiddling with it, Mickey tries to create a model of himself...



...but creates instead a being that becomes the Phantom Blot (Ndr: which looks a bit like Chernabog in that scene), Mickey tries to erase it and accidentally spills paint and paint thinner onto the model.



Hearing Yen Sid approaching, Mickey quickly tries to clean up with hurry and flees back to his home. However, it's too late and the world Yen Sid created turns into a wasteland...



And then? Well, you'll have to watch these 4 and 1/2 minutes intro below to know what is happening to Mickey and Yen Sid creation... - Okay, i'll put the end of the synopsis after the video... But, really, have a look at it, you'll be surprised, it's a nice piece of animation!




Here is the end of the synopsis: "The Phantom Blot who takes control of the Wasteland from its first resident, Mickey's older half-brother - Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald and the other residents of the Cartoon Wasteland fight against the Phantom Blot, but he eventually overwhelms them and twists their world into a dark and sinister version of itself, forcing Oswald into hiding.

Years later, Mickey has forgotten his past transgression until the Phantom Blot enters his home through the mirror and pulls him into the Cartoon Wasteland. Oswald, his will lost and twisted by his jealousy of Mickey's rise to fame, has formulated a plan to destroy Mickey. The Mad Doctor works closely with the Blot, creating robotic "Beetleworx", which are strange creatures that consist of combinations of various Disney cartoon characters. He also creates animatronic "buddies" for Oswald, looking like decrepit robotic versions of Mickey's friends, as Oswald wants Mickey's life and popularity for himself. Armed with a magical paintbrush that he managed to pull into the world with him, Mickey must stop the Phantom Blot, gain Oswald's trust and save the Cartoon Wasteland".

Pictures and video: copyright Disney

Toy Story Playland : The road leading to the Ratatouille dark ride

In my Toy Story Playland pictorial report posted last week-end there is an important addition that i didn't talked about. By the way those who had problem with their browsers because the pictures were too high-res can now see them on Mice Chat in lower-res HERE and HERE. But let's come back to this TSP important addition which is actually a path designed like a Parisian street with cobblestones in the ground and typical Parisian benches and lampposts.

And there is a good reason why DLP Imagineers themed this path like a Parisian street: this path certainly leads to the other entrance of Toy Story Playland - where guests can enter the land going through the blue monkey barrel - but in two years from now it will also be the street leading to the Ratatouille dark ride and the "Paris" area. Actually, we can even say that what you will see below are the first pictures of the future "Ratatouille" area.

I know you like to see proofs and i will bring them to you but let's have a look first to this Parisian street with its cobblestones in the ground and typical Parisian benches and lampposts. The first picture below is a panoramic, click on it to see it in larger scale.















Now, if you remind a previous D&M article i told you that a sculpture of Gusteau - Ratatouille's chef - was sculpted on the arch stick to the blue barrel. And as you can see on the picture below it's really the case and it's really a sculpture of Gusteau.



The picture above was shot by Alexandre Rosa, a former Disney and more contributor, during the cast member preview days. Two days later, when the land opened for annual passholders soft-openings last saturday, Gusteau's sculpture was hidden as you will see on the pictures below.





There is a good reason for that - there is always a good reason for anything done by Imagineers! - and it's probably that DLP execs would prefer to keep secret at least for a while the future land which will open during DLP 2013 fiscal year (which begins October 1st, 2012) and the year of the 20th Anniversary. No more Gusteau's sculpture means no questions from the guests, etc...

Unfortunately, all signs related to Ratatouille couldn't be hidden beginning by the face of Remy, Ratatouille's main character. And where is Remy's face, you ask? Well, actually he is on EACH bench of this Parisian street. Have a look at the picture below...



Don't see Remy? Okay, let's have a closer look. Do you see him now?



May be you'd like to see where this awaited dark ride will be build? The next panoramic, shot from the Parachute Drop attraction, will show you this. The building you see on the right is actually located backstage and is the "costuming" where cast-members come each morning to pick their costume - a Paris backdrop is supposed to hide the building when the Ratatouille ride will open. And on the left of this building, behind the blue barrel, is the land reserved for the Ratatouille ride and Paris area.



Edited: Christian, from www.eap-magazin.de just sent me this picture showing the land where the Ratatouille ride will be build. Note that there is on the left more land that you don't see on the picture. As you can see it's a pretty big area and I wonder if they will keep the big trees located at the center of the land... my feeling is that they will keep them and it will be a good idea.



I don't want to be provocative, but with the Parachute Drop ride DLP Imagineers provided to us the perfect observation point to have a look at the upcoming works and shoot pictures of the future Ratatouille area... Works, by the way, should begin this fall or early next year as it will be a major ride - with a budget estimated around 130-150M$ and, as i told you before, with trackless ride vehicles and 3D projection effects along the ride. Those of you who complain that Toy Story Playland only have re-themed carnival rides only have to wait two more years to be happy and get the E-Ticket ride they're asking for.


If you enjoyed this Disney and more special report, thanks for your support!

You can see great pictures of Toy Story Playland, shot with a wide angle by Alexandre Rosa on his web site HERE


Pictures: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more

Arch with Gusteau's sculpture picture: copyright Alexandre Rosa

Toy Story Playland Opening Video

Toy Story Playland opened officially yesterday August 17th and DLP did a small ceremony for its opening with DLP Ambassadors and guess who? that's right, Mickey Mouse who cut the ribbon. Then WDS guests rushed into the new land following the green soldiers. You'll see all of it in this Youtube video filmed by filaroli.




Youtube video: copyright filaroli

Editor's Note: Toy Story Playland is now officially open at the Walt Disney Studios and you'll find a full pictorial report below, including HD video! Note: Due to the heavy weight of the TSP high-res pictures the article might take a long time to load. As i've also posted the pictures in the DLP forum of Mice Chat where the pictures size have been reduced you can choose to look at it there if your browser can't load the D&M page.

DHS Last Tour to Endor Event : Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom Show

Kevin Yee did a brilliant article today on Mice Age, and part of it is a report of the Star Tours - Last Tour to Endor event at the Disney's Hollywood studios last week. During this celebration they did a special version of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show with Storm Troopers instead of Nazis soldiers! Darth Vador, Princess Leia, Darth Maul and many others Star Wars characters were also part of this surrealistic show where two universe are mixed together.

Attractions Magazine did - as usual - a very good video of the whole show. Choose to watch it in the best Youtube definition and in full screen mode, i'm sure you will enjoy it. And once you've watched the show jump on Attractions Magazine Youtube page where they have many more videos of this Star Tours event!




Video: copyright Attractions Magazine

Picture: copyright Disney

WDS Toy Story Playland HD Video - Part One

D&M special report on the new Toy Story Playland opening tomorrow August 17th at the WDS is going on with a two part full HD video which will give you the feeling that you've been teleported at Toy Story Playland!

In this first video you'll see everything of Parachute Drop and Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin rides including on-ride shots and as you will see WDS guests will have a great view when the parachutes of Parachute Drop lift off in the air. The part two showing the RC Racer thrill ride will be on line later this week when i will have finished the editing.

I remind you the huge Toy Story Playland pictorial report posted this week-end with more than 110 high-res pictures. The article is now divided in two parts that you will find HERE and HERE or click on the previous posts link below.

As i've told you the video is in HD so definitely watch it in full screen mode, it'll be just like if you were there!




Video: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more

Toy Story Playland - Full Pictorial Report - Part One

That's it, Toy Story Playland opened today for the first day of annual passholder's soft-opening and the land will open for everyone officially on August 17th. In the pictorial report below you will see everything of the land, including great panoramic pictures. I've spent several hours in the land and i confirm once again that WDI Imagineers did - on my point of view - a great job. I know that some of you don't like TSP, but believe me, it's good.

There we go for the first part showing the entrance and Parachute Drop attraction. For each attraction the pictures are in "chronological order", i.e you'll see the different scenes as you'll see them if you were walking inside the attraction.













































































So, how does it look when the parachutes are going up? The next pictures will show you how high Parachute Drop takes the guests and the great view you have on Toy Story Playland.









Let's have a look now to the Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin attraction.











































Here is a great panoramic shot in front of Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin. Double-click on it to see it in big size.



T-Rex is right at the exit of the attraction!





The part two of this Toy Story Playland showing you the RC Racer ride is RIGHT HERE.
And don't miss the Toy Story Playland HD video which is HERE!

All pictures: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more


If you enjoyed this Disney and more special report, thanks for your support!