Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Walt Disney " Secret Lives " Documentary



If there is one thing i really believe in when i do something - in this case, my blog - it is that my readers are enough intelligent to accept the truth even if it must break a bit an icon image.

The Youtube videos below are a Channel Four 1995 documentary, and it talks about the "dark side" of Walt Disney. It includes interviews with artists Bill Melendez, David Hilberman, Mary Eastman, Bill Hurtz, Marie Beardsley, and Bill Littlejohn, screenwriter Joan Scott, and biographers Marc Eliot, Richard Schickel, and Bob Thomas.

Although some of the facts told in this document are not new - and also that i don't know how objective the editing is, it worth the look, specially because of rare footage of that old era - the Studios at Burbank, the famous strike that changed everything, the 1950's Mac Carthy anti-american commitee, etc... Before beginning to think that some of these facts are infamous, it is important to put back these events in the era context. It don't change the fact that Walt really should not have done some of these things, but it explains it.



Now, don't get me wrong: Walt's mistakes don't change the fact that he had a unique vision, but what you'll see today will mainly prove one thing: Walt Disney was a human being. And like most of humans he had his moments of solar vision, and others of darkness. But, once again, there is a lot of interesting footage inside this six-part video below, so, have a look!













Video: copyright Channel Four and Disney

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel Shops - Exclusive High-Res Pictures



I will end this series of articles about the new and stunning Tokyo Disneyland Hotel with some new exclusive High-Res Pictures of the shops of the Hotel.

The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel have three shops:

Above, the picture of the Looking Glass Gifts shop - A wide variety of hotel gifts and daily-use items can be found here.

Disney Mercantile is more a "Disney" shop - This shop offers Tokyo Disney Resort merchandise.



Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a beauty salon for young girls. Shimmering dresses, elegantly coiffed hair, lovely makeup… Every girl’s dream of becoming a “Disney Princess” comes true at this magical salon.





All photos: copyright Tokyo Disneyland Resort - Oriental Land Company

Please note that i will add these pictures to the previous Tokyo Disneyland Hotel article so you'll be able to find every picture on the same page.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Animation master Hayao Miyazaki's new movie " Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea " opens in Japan today ! - Artwork and Movie Trailer



You probably know who Hayao Miyazaki is, but for those of you who don't, Hayao Miyazaki is not only a genius director of animated movie, but also a master acclaimed by all animated movie directors in the world, beginning by John Lasseter.
If you've seen Princess Mononoke, Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Howl's Moving Castle, then, not only you know his work, but also his genius. If you've never seen any of Miyazaki movies, i envy you! As you still have to discover them, and believe me, it's pure genius and poetry!

So, today in Japan is released the highly awaited Miyazaki animated movie: "Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea" and not only it's the new one and a major event, but may be, too, his very last one, as Miyazaki is now 67 and his health is not very good - one more good reason to discover his movies while he is still alive.

And, guess what? "Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea" is inspired by the classic story of "The Little Mermaid". Of course it's a new version of Hans Christian Andersen classic tale, re-written in a japanese way. " The story is now set in modern Japan and the christian elements of Andersen original story have been deleted " says Miyazaki. Miyazaki says also that this movie was done for very young children. The movie tell the story of Ponyo, a lovely aquatic creature with a human face, saved by a 5 years old boy, Sôsuke. Ponyo is forced to go back in the abyss of the ocean, and is dreaming to become human and live with Sôsuke who saved her life.



" I wanted to use the sea element since a long time, but doing animated waves is an incredible challenge " says Miyazaki. The 170000 cels of the movie are as always all hand painted - in the pure 2D animation tradition. As it is often the case in his previous movies, there is a subliminal ecological message - even if Miyazaki keep saying that " hidden messages don't interest him". But Fujimoto, Ponyo's father in the movie is living in the ocean's abyss since he left human beings because he could not stand any more their non-Environment respect...



The movie, released today in Japan, should be release in the U.S and Europe early 2009 and will be as usual distributed by Disney. In the meantime, here is some artwork and you can see more on the Studio Ghibli web site , to see them, find the four rectangles on the right of the home page, and click on the second one.
But most of all, below, here is Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea japanese trailer!





Artwork and trailer: copyright Studio Ghibli

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Wall-E windows now on the Disney Store at Champs-Elysées, Paris



Those of you who don't live in France may not know it, but the Disney Store on the Champs-Elysées avenue in Paris , known as the "most beautiful avenue in the world" - which is a bit exagerated - is one of the best seller Disney Store in the world.

And, as the movie is released July 30 in France, they've changed their windows yesterday with a new Wall-E theming. Inside the window of the corner a real-size animated Wall-E - not a Audio-animatronic, don't dream - and all the other windows are themed on the film, including a real size Eve. Inside, the store, of course, plenty of Wall-E merchandise. Here are the pictures, sorry for the inevitable reflections in the glass.









All photos: copyright Disney and more

Saturday, July 19, 2008

If you don't know yet Kevin Kidney's blog , here is why you should rush to it right now !



I've let you know in a previous post all the good things that i think about Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily fantastic work. You know, Kevin and Jody are these two great sculptors who created the Disneyland 50th anniversary collectibles that were on sale on Disney Shopping two years ago. More recently, they've participated to the Tiki Room anniversary collectibles released last month - yes, the beautiful Tiki Fountain was designed by them.

But Kevin have also his own Miehana blog, where he post regularly extremely rare and old Disneyland artwork like this original Tomorrowland pencil sketches "for a 1955 newspaper section presenting some of the "many delights and wonders that are yours to enjoy at Disneyland."

Or this one showing a Bank of America Main Street building "in an authentic, turn-of-the-century setting".



And this great one of Disneyland Red Wagon Inn - one of the "charming eating places in Disneyland".



Many of them are in full colours like this one showing Main Street old lamplighter - in fact you will even see the two versions - first the pencil sketch then the colour version.



And also this great painting of Fantasyland galleon - Chicken to the sea restaurant.



Most of you will discover these Chemitron exhibit which took place in Tomorrowland Monsanto's Hall of Chemistry attraction a loooong time ago!



You see, there is literally dozens of never-seen-before artwork on Kevin's blog. And i don't mention the fantastic piece of art that Kevin just post on his blog yesterday to celebrate Disneyland's 53rd anniversary...For all these good reasons, you should really rush to Kevin's Miehana blog and put it in your bookmarks as there is many more treasures to come!

Artwork: copyright Disney - Many thanks to Kevin, and keep up the great work!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Ratatouille's Remy Audio-Animatronic at WDS Rendez-vous des Stars restaurant best video

The excellent web site Photosmagiques.com was most successful than i was when they went at Walt Disney Studios Rendez-vous des Stars restaurant, as Remy's Audio-animatronic was there. The result? Simply the best video so far of this WDI small audio animatronic.

It seems that Remy have two or three different"shows" with different kind of movements. it's a cute addition to the WDS and once you've seen the video, just go to their excellent web site to discover the latest news and pictures about Paris Walt Disney Studios!



Video: copyright Photosmagiques.com

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Editor's note: On Miceage Al Lutz did a great tribute to this 53rd anniversary with Cinemascope pictures of Disneyland view from above in 1956, it's great and you can see it HERE once you've read the big news below and the Disney and more Disneyland 53rd anniversary tribute below!
 
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