Diz News - Thursday 9.4.08

Keepoceansclean.org has launched a new campaign to keep our oceans clean featuring none other than our favorite mermaid (or former mermaid?) Ariel. The new advertising campaign and website is to educate kids and families about ways of keeping litter and debris out of the oceans. Junk in the oceans is one of the 13 contributors to the decrease in coral reef ecosystems and the public can help to prevent these problems.

Misty May-Trainor, two time gold medal beach volleyball olympian, will get a double dose of Disney. She will be strapping on her dancing shoes on Dancing With the Stars and will also guest star on the Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. On Wizards, she will portray herself on the show.

Those saddened by the cancelation of My Friends Tigger and Pooh (this may just be me) can have some consolation that Darby and the gang will appear this Halloween in a new direct to DVD release: Hundred Acre Wood Haunt. The DVD is in stores now and selling for $19.99. Not to be outdone, Mickey has a new DVD as well: Mickey’s Magical Storybook Surprises.

Saving Hong Kong Disneyland and Prince of Persia Pushed Back

First a quick primmer: Hong Kong Disneyland is 57% owned by the Hong Kong government. Due to attendance problems, the park is currently running in the red and the park’s loans are coming due in September. It has come to light, mostly due to Disney’s third quarter report yesterday, that Disney and Hong Kong can’t agree how to refinance the parks. Disney is reporting that they are willing to take on the loans but they are also reporting that the HK government does not want to accept the financing. We will have to see how this one shakes out but park attendance was up last week after special visas were granted so 8 - 16 million Chinese workers from a neighboring province. I’m interested to see how Disney and Hong Kong work this out particularly in light of the potential deal with Shanghai. What are your thoughts?

The release date for “Prince of Persia” the Disney/Bruckheimer joint venture staring Jake Gyllenhal, has been moved back almost a year to Memorial Day weekend 2010. There is a lot of speculation as to the reason for the move: Disney not wanting to compete with Transformers 2 and the possibility of labor issues leading to strike. Disney stated that they moved the release date due to the need for extensive post production on this major production for the company. Disney is hoping that this will become a franchise like Narnia or Pirates.

The Princess and the Frog Website and Trailer Are Up

The webpage and trailer are up for the Princess and the Frog. You can learn a bit about the story, watch the trailer and view a still from the movie. Set in New Orleans with music composed by Randy Newman, I can’t wait to see this one.


Link

Johnny Depp to Return to Disney and Tink in Disney World

Johnny Depp has signed on to star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s live action re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland. Australian actress Mia Wasikowska has been cast as Alice. We can expect to see the movie in theaters the summer of 2010. I can’t say that I was surprised to read about this given the close friendship between the director and actor.


Tink along with her friends: Silvermist, Rosetta, Iridessa and Fawn are expected to set up house in Walt Disney World. There will reportedly be a new character meet and greet so that you can meet Tink and her friends. One of the reasons you couldn’t meet Tink before was because she is so small. I wonder how they will either make her bigger or make us smaller so we can visit? Perhaps we will all shrink?? We’ll just have to wait and see. With the official announcement of her arrival - I imagine that the opening of the meet and greet area is only a short time away.

Coming Attractions: "Bolt" and "Up"

This weekend Disney debuted the trailers for "Bolt" and "UP" at
ComiCon. "Bolt" is a new movie done by Disney Animation, and "Up" is
the next Pixar offering. Both look like a lot of fun. "Up" is about
a man who is seeking adventure at the age of 78 and the kid who helps
him find it. "Bolt" is the name of a super dog (voiced by John
Travolta) who believes that his powers on his TV show are real and
what happens when he accidently loses his handlers and has to travel
across country to get home.

Webpage for "Bolt"
Webpage for "UP"

Disney at ComiCon - Tron 2 and Time Jumper

It all started out as a one hour panel hosted by Disney, on “Race to Witch Mountain.” Then the audience was surprised with footage from the upcoming Tron 2. Firstshowing.net reported that the footage was “stunning” and features a “light cycle duel” and Jeff Bridges. You can read a detailed description of the trailer on firstshowing.net.

Disney and Stan Lee announced an extension of their original three project deal earlier this year at ComiCon today, they will be jointly producing a multi-platform digital comic called “Time Jumper” featuring a cell phone that allows the user to travel through history. It will be highly stylized with some moving graphics within the traditional panel drawings. This new comic will be offered to the public through Disney home entertainment, publishing and online.

Disney Blue Ray Movies Will Be Interactive

Really interesting details on how Disney Blue Ray Movies will be interactive.

Link

This story is DizNews worthy but I think that reading it on your own will give you all the details. Some highlights are: being able to talk with other people watching the movie at the same time and playing trivia games with people watching the movie.

Best of 10: AFI releases top-10 genre film lists

Best of 10: AFI releases top-10 genre film lists

The American Film Institute's top-10 lists of the best in:ANIMATION

1. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937.
2. "Pinocchio," 1940.
3. "Bambi," 1942.
4. "The Lion King," 1994.
5. "Fantasia," 1940.
6. "Toy Story," 1995.
7. "Beauty and the Beast," 1991.
8. "Shrek," 2001.
9. "Cinderella," 1950.
10. "Finding Nemo," 2003.

Disney, as you can see made 9 out of 10! Not bad!!

From the Ooooohhh Desk...

Disney is going to be offering free movies via web browser. Selected Wonderful World of Disney Movies will be streaming live for free on the Disney website. Each week's featured movie here. Movies will be available Monday through Friday after the movies' showing on Wonderful World of Disney. Movies offered will be: "Finding Nemo", "Monsters, Inc.," "Haunted Mansion," "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," "Princess Diaries 2," "Freaky Friday" and "Peter Pan".

TiVo your Favorite Disney Movie

Disney is going to make their movies available for download to your TiVo. Movies will be available for 24-hour rental and will be stored for this period on the TiVo hard drive. The press release states that Disney-Pixar and Miramax titles will be available. However, no information was released as to the cost of this service.

Kingdom Comics

Disney has formed a new arm of Disney Studios and Publishing. The arm, led by Ahmet Zappa, Harris Katleman and Christian Beranek will develop graphic novels and comics which could become future franchises or movies for Disney. The group will also be tasked with "updating"
features from the Disney live action vault.

Prince of Persia finds it's Prince

After rumors of Orlando Bloom, among others, being cast as The Prince of Persia, Disney has finally found its prince. Jake Gyllenhaal was announced as the prince of the movie turned video game. Cast opposite Gyllenhaal is Gemma Arterton, soon to be the latest Bond girl. The joint Disney Bruckheimer production is hopefully the next Disney franchise following the Pirates tradition.

Star Wars Weekends Adds Walk Around Characters and Get Your DVD's

Laughing Place.com has announced that Stormtrooper Donald, Darth Vader Goofy and Princess Leah Minnie will be joining Jedi Mickey for the Star Wars Weekends this June.


Today is the release date for The Classic Caballeros Collection. This set includes Saludos Amigos and Three Caballeros. The set also includes two Donald Duck cartoon shorts: "Don Donald" and "Contrary Condor".

Blue Sky Disney Talks Disneynature

Honor Hunter has a great post about the new Disneynature label with some insider stuff about upcoming titles.

Link

Disney Celebrates, Creates Magic for One Family and Makes a Big Announcement

Today marks the 10th Anniversary of the Animal Kingdom Park. There will be several ceremonies and goings on throughout the parks today. WDWcelebrations.com is spearheading the fan turnout with their own magic.

Disney will also crown it's first ever DreamCMO today. As I was writing this, Justin Muchoney, was named the first ever DreamCMO in a ceremony in front of Cinderella Castle. Justin hails from Seven Fields, PA.

Disney Cast Members created some real magic for a Massachusetts family today after they waded and sorted through a mountain of trash to find a wedding and engagement ring accidently thrown away by one visiting family. Dad had accidently thrown away mom's rings not knowing that they were in a cardboard cereal bowl at the Wilderness Lodge. Seven
volunteer employees and executive housekeeper Drew Weaver waded through the garbage and found the ring before the family left Disney Property. This to me the real Disney Magic, the castmembers! Way to go Wilderness Lodge Staff!!

Happy Earth Day!

Disney made a huge announcement this week, they are starting a new movie production banner, Disneynature. Many sites are saying that this is in response to the success of March of the Penguins. Not just for movies this arm of the Disney company will cover publications,
park initiatives and educational outreach. While it is not in the press release I think that this banner will also be used for some of Disney's conservation efforts.

HBO to show Disney Films, Malay Children Treated to Disney on Ice and CMO Day 2

HBO acquires rights to Disney films

HBO has purchased 85 films from Disney to be aired beginning on 2012. The films include: National Treasure, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Princess Diaries. Miramax and Touchstone titles were also included in this second package deal, the first deal took place last October and included 100 titles including The Sixth Sense. Newer Disney films are currently being shown by Starz, another cable movie provider.


40 Children treated to Disney On Ice

40 children who live in Bethany Home, a school and training center for kids with disabilities, were treated to the opening show of Disney On Ice Mickey and Minnie's Amazing Journey. The performance took place at Stadium Putra in Malaysia.

Day 2 of the Dream CMO competition

Ricky Brigante, has once again provided us with the inside scoop on Day 2 of the Dream CMO competition. Here is a link to his photo essay.
Once again, Thanks Ricky!

Disney Announces Ten Animated Movies to be Released before 2012

Disney Announces Ten Animated Movies to be Released before 2012

2008
WALL-E - June
BOLT - November
Tinker Bell (DVD Release) October

2009
UP - (Digital 3D) May
Toy Story in 3D - October
The Princess and the Frog - Christmas
Tinker Bell North of Neverland - DVD no release date

2010
Toy Story 2 in 3-D - February
Toy Story 3 - June
Rapunzel (in 3D - Christmas)
Tinker Bell a Midsummer Storm - DVD no release date

2011
NEWT (in 3D - Summer)
The Bear and the Bow (in 3D - Christmas)
Tinker Bell a Winter Story - DVD no release date

2012
Cars 2 - in 3D - Summer
King of the Elves - in 3D - Christmas

Stan Lee and Disney!!

Not only does it rhyme but they are going to make three movies together. The three projects are "Nick Ratchet" a private eye movie, "Blaze" and action adventure project and "Tigress" about a woman with tiger like instincts. Lee, is quoted in the Hollywood Reporter as saying, ""I only hope Disney will have room at the theme park once they become the tentpole franchises that we envision them to be." Sounds pretty cool, I was surprised by this because so many of his characters are features in the Universal Parks.

Nestle Out? and Secret Green Messages in Disney Classics?

Several sites are reporting today that Nestle may no longer continue to be a sponsor in the parks. This poses both a reason for joy and one for concern. Nestle, provides all of the coffee in the parks and it is truly awful. Although there are a few places that you can purchase an actual brewed cup of coffee but those are tough to find without prior research and planning. I would be thrilled to have real coffee in the parks and resorts. However, the downside of all of this is that Nestle is the manufacturer of Mickey Bars. For the love of Mickey, a trip to any Disney Park is not complete with out the ice creamy goodness of a Mickey bar. As you can see this poses a bit of a dilemma. Rumors are further speculating the Coca Cola will be Nestle's replacement. We will have to see how all of this shakes out.

Times Online, has an interesting article speculating that classic Disney animated films contain conservational themes and educate the public about the importance of the environment. A new book out called The Idea of Nature in Disney Animation by David Whitley, a Cambridge lecturer in English, discusses the messages inherent in Bambi, The Jungle Book and Finding Nemo. It's an interesting article and I think that the argument that the movies encourage children to consider their relationship to nature is valid. To judge for yourself here is the
link:

Link

Disney Raises It's Stake in India.

There are several news stories today about Disney's increasing it's stakes in the Indian market. The Times of India is reporting that Disney will be franchising 135 new Disney stores (currently there are 15) by 2011. The AFP is reporting the Disney will be paying 203 million to increase it's stake in Indian entertainment firm UTV. In addition to now owning a 32.1% stake in the software company, UTV has launched two television studios with three more in various stages of development. UTV produces movies, television shows and gaming content. There is also an interesting article from an Indian movie watch website (see link below) that there is a Bollywood movie already in the works staring and directed by prominent Indian actors and
directors. What does this all mean? Well, according to a little research, India is one of the fastest growing global markets, just behind China, for new media and entertainment. More than 71 million homes in India have televisions with 61% have either cable or satellite. Disney is definitely looking to get in on this lucrative and interesting market. I can't wait to see what a Disney Bollywood movie looks like. Can you?

Link