Archive for July, 2009

Trailer for ‘Walt and El Grupo’ Released

Not too long ago, we told you about the new film Walt and El Grupo which tells the story of how the United States Government sent Walt Disney and his team of animators to South America on a good will tour. Today we are pleased to bring you the first trailer for the film courtesy of Apple.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Becomes Backdrop for Episode of PBS Kids Series FETCH!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 31, 2009 – For most guests, a trip to Walt Disney World Resort is synonymous with a vacation. But for two talented teens from Boston, their visit seemed more like biology lab than summer break.

Shreya, 12, and Marco, 14, traveled to Walt Disney World with their parents and a video crew to tape two segments for the hit PBS television series FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman. The program features an animated dog called Ruff who helps teach real world science by challenging his fellow cast members and viewers to ask questions, conduct experiments and investigate the world around them.

With Disney’s Animal Kingdom as their backdrop, the TV crew focused on Disney’s Animal Programs and the science associated with caring for approximately 7,000 birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. Animal experts — including veterinarians, animal keepers, researchers and conservation biologists — explained the complex systems such as a veterinary hospital, scientific laboratories, nutrition center and more, required to care for the animals.

During one challenge, Marco and Shreya shadowed the veterinary team as they conducted an annual health examination on a 30-year-old siamang, which is an ape native to Asia. They also were able to feed the crocodiles along Kilimanjaro Safari and provide enrichment treats such as peppermint and pumpkin pie spices to the tigers along Maharaja Jungle Trek.

FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman is produced by WGBH Boston and may be seen in select local markets and online at pbskids.org/go/video.

Disney Interactive Media Group Offers Art Students Chance to Win Cash and Internship in 2010

Disney Interactive Media Group has announced it’s offering a cash prize of $1500 plus a design internship or professional co-op position in 2010 to the winner of the YOUR TAKE: Alice in Wonderland contest.

The contest is open to undergrads and recent graduates in most design disciplines. Entries can be submitted in any medium although digital work is preferred.

To enter, create an original work of art based on one of the following Alice in Wonderland characters: Alice, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts or Tweedledee/Tweedledum.

Digital art entries must be in JPG or TIFF format with dimensions of 1280 pixels wide and 1024 pixels high and no larger than 2MB in filesize.  All other mediums must be digitally-photographed or scanned in, showing multiple angles (back, front, sides, top, bottom), to the same specifications as digital art entries.

Along with the images, entries must include a Microsoft Word document which includes contact information such as name, address, phone number, email, school, date of graduation, major, resume/bio (include all credits, shows, press, etc.), original size of artwork, medium used, title of work and a paragraph explaining why you should be selected for a 2010 internship, in 500 words or less.

Entries are limited to one per student and must be submitted through here beginning August 10th and no later than 12:00 am on August 23rd.

One first place winner will be awarded a $1500 cash prize as well as a design internship or professional co-op position. DIMG also reserves the right to offer the same position (no cash prize) to the runner-up. Positions must be filled in 2010 or be forfeited and entrants under consideration may be required to submit a portfolio.

Park Tickets Increase 8/2 on Both Coasts, Renewing WDW Passholders Could Get Three Months Free

As expected, ticket prices will increase on Sunday, August 2 at both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. Details are as follows:

Sample prices at Disneyland Resort: Single Day/Single Park tickets will increase by $3 to $72 per Adult and $62 per Child; Premium Annual passes are up $40 to $429;  Deluxe Annual Pass is up $20 to $298; Southern California Annual pass is up $20 to $194; and Southern California Select Annual pass is up $10 to $144 (source)

At Walt Disney World, a sample of new prices include: 1 Day Base Ticket will increase $4 to $79 per Adult and $5 to $68 per Child; Magic Your Way (MYW) tickets with 4 days or more will see the smallest percentage in increase; Both the Park Hopping and the Water Parks Fun & More options will increase to a flat rate of $52 (up $2) (source)

Walt Disney World is also instituting a renewal policy for Annual Passholders that could yield up three months extra at no additional charge. When owners of eligible passes renew within 30 days before or after the expiration date, the new pass will be good for a total of fifteen months after the expiration date of the renewed pass. Eligible passes include Annual Pass, Premium Annual Pass, Florida Resident Annual Pass, Florida Resident Premium Annual Pass and Florida Resident Seasonal Pass. The offer explicitly does not apply to After 4 at Epcot Annual Passes, Water Parks Annual Pass and DisneyQuest Annual Pass. Offer subject to change at any time.

Ink & Paint Cel Release at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Mickey Mouse as Indiana Jones

On Saturday, September 12, join Disney Design Group Artist Costa Alavezos and Ink and Paint Artists: James Bonserio, Erin Magill, Theodora M. DeLaney, David Rippberger, Lynn Rippberger, Sharon K.Vincent as they celebrate the premiere of the Mickey Mouse  as Indiana Jones entry into the Ink and Paint Cel series.

The event will take place between 10 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm at the Studios Animation Gallery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The cel is hand-painted  and a limited edition of 1500 pieces. As an extra bonus, the first 750 framed pieces sold will be accompanied by a matching limited edition pin created for the release.

For those unable to attend the event, you may contact Walt Disney Event Services at 407-827-7600 to pre-order your cel. Artist signatures will only be available for orders placed before or on Friday, September 11, 2009 by 3:00 pm ET.

Prices are as follows:

Tyler Perry Joins Mickey Mouse and Friends at DisneyQuest in Welcoming Creative Steps Children from Philly

Tyler Perry poses with Disney characters and more than 70 campers from Creative Steps in Philadelphia July 31, 2009 at DisneyQuest, an indoor, interactive theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.   Earlier this month, the campers were the subject of a story that they were turned away from a local Philadelphia pool. Perry sent each child who was turned away, along with a legal guardian, to Walt Disney World to enjoy the theme parks and other recreational activities at the resort. Perry said he wanted to do something kind for the children to let them know that for every person out there who treated them poorly, there was someone else waiting with an act of kindness.  During a surprise appearance July 31 at DisneyQuest, Perry addressed the children and spoke of racism and challenged each child to live their life to the betterment of the community.  (Quantrell D. Colbert, photographer)

Cap’n Jack’s at Downtown Disney’s Marketplace Introduces New All-Day Menu

Disney was kind enough to send us a copy of the new All-Day menu at their Cap’n Jack’s restaurant located in the Marketplace at Downtown Disney and we’d like to share it with you.

You can view or download it below.

Cap’n Jack’s All Day Menu

JourneyEd to Sell Pixar’s RenderMan® Software to Schools, Students

DALLAS, TX — Today, JourneyEd, a division of Journey Education Marketing, Inc., announced a major collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios. As the leading online marketer of software to K-12 and college education, JourneyEd will market and sell RenderMan®, Pixar’s professional rendering software, through its website, to high school and college students, educators, schools, and higher education institutions at attractive academic prices.

Both JourneyEd and Pixar’s RenderMan® will exhibit next week at SIGGRAPH 2009, the leading international conference on computer graphics and interactive technology. The convention in New Orleans showcases the most respected technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation, music, gaming, interactivity, education, and the web. Educators and students are invited to drop by the JourneyEd and Pixar booths to see some of the best products.

“JourneyEd is thrilled to become Pixar’s connection to the education market,” said JourneyEd’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Fischler. “RenderMan is the software that Pixar uses to create not only its own Academy Award®-winning animated films, but is also used to render the bulk of visual effects seen in today’s movies. We are delighted that student artists can now access this coveted professional resource among our animation software offerings at a highly attractive price.”

RenderMan® is now available to the education community through JourneyEd at special academic prices, as low as $125 for an annual student subscription, at www.JourneyEd.com.

“Pixar is excited to be able to reach out to the education community through JourneyEd, and make RenderMan accessible to the next generation of CG artists,” said Chris Ford, Pixar’s RenderMan Business Director. “JourneyEd is a perfect partner for us, with deep roots in the education market and online sales leadership.”

Journey Education Marketing, Inc. (JourneyEd) is the leading multi-channel software marketer to the K-12 and college academic markets. It sells to students, faculty, staff, educational institutions and public school districts. With the addition of the popular K-12 education reseller CCV Software to its business in Feb. 2008, JourneyEd expanded from serving only higher education into the K-12 market. It acquired online retailer Academic Superstore in Jan. 2009. JourneyEd’s Academic eStore Network (AEN), which includes more than 22,000 online stores, offers thousands of market-leading software and technology products, including those published by Microsoft and Adobe, at discounts of up to 85 percent off retail prices to the education community. JourneyEd is also a leader in verifying academic buyers. Call JourneyEd at 800-874-9001 or visit www.JourneyEd.com.

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. Creator of some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL•E and most recently, Up. The Northern California studio has won 21 Academy Awards® and its ten films have grossed more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The next film release from Disney•Pixar is Toy Story 3 (June 18, 2010).

A Sneak Peek at the Walt Disney Family Museum, Gallery 3: The Emergence of the Walt Disney Studio

Galleries 3 New Horizons: The Emergence of the Walt Disney Studio (1928 to 1940)

The success of Mickey Mouse let Walt Disney expand the newly renamed Walt Disney Studios and improve the quality of Studio animations, so he embarked on a series of ambitious projects, including the “Silly Symphonies,” one-reel shorts that let him experiment with images, music, and story lines. In the following years, the Studio created the first Technicolor cartoons, introduced a multiplane camera to create the illusion of depth in animated films, and developed distinctive styles of movement and personality in their characters. Also in this period, Walt and Lillian’s family grew to include daughters Diane and Sharon.

The continuing success of Walt’s cartoons led to a revolution in the art and technology of animation. Vintage artifacts, animation art, character merchandise, and family photos chronicle the creative explosion of the 1930s, Walt’s sudden world fame, and Diane and Sharon.

All images © Disney Enterprises, courtesy of the Walt Disney Family Museum

Visit the official Walt Disney Family Museum website and follow it on Twitter and Facebook.

The Walt Disney Company Releases 3Q FY2009 Report; Things Not Looking UP.

The Walt Disney Company released it’s annual report today for the 3rd Quarter of the 2009 Fiscal Year. Decreases in items such advertisers and increases in items such as promotions at the parks are reasons cited for virtually every unit of the company’s decrease in revenue for the quarter.

You can access the report directly here.