November 2021 – Page 7 – A Walk With The Mouse

Disney Releases Trailer For A New Twist on the Classic Cinderella Story

Posted on November 15, 2021November 15, 2021 by Mathew Corn Disney+

There are few fairy tales that are more well known — and more frequently remade — than Cinderella. Disney first released the animated fairy tale in 1950 and that was followed up with a 2002 sequel film Cinderella II: Dreams Do Come True and a third film was released in 2007, Cinderella III: A Twist In Time. In 2015, Disney released a live-action remake of the film, starring Lily James, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, and Cate Blachett.

Cinderella is one of those tales that can seemingly always be adapted to fit with a modern audience, and Disney has revealed their newest take on the time-honored story in celebration of Disney+ Day. The new film will be called Sneakerella and tells the story of hard-working teen El as he falls in love with basketball princess Kira. Disney has released both the key art and the trailer for Sneakerella.

Here is a description of Disney’s newest film from What’s On Disney Plus:

Set in the avant-garde street-sneaker subculture of New York City, “Sneakerella” introduces El (Jacobs), an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens who works as a stock boy in the shoe store that once belonged to his late mother. El hides his artistic talent from his overburdened stepfather and two mean-spirited stepbrothers who constantly stomp on any opportunity that comes his way. When El meets Kira King (Underwood), the fiercely independent daughter of legendary basketball star and sneaker tycoon Darius King (Salley), sparks fly as the two bond over their mutual affinity for sneakers. With a little nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic, El finds the courage to use his talent to pursue his dream of becoming a ‘legit’ sneaker designer in the industry.

You can watch the full trailer for Sneakerella below.

Sneakerella is set to premiere on Disney+ on February 18, 2022 and will star Chosen Jacobs as El, Lexi Underwood as Kira King, Kolton Stewart as Zelly, and four-time NBA Championship winner John Salley as Darius King.

Does Live-Action Pinocchio Finally Have a Release Date?

Posted on November 15, 2021November 15, 2021 by Mathew Corn Disney+, Uncategorized

Although we don’t know exactly how we feel about Disney’s obsession with remaking all of its classic content, we have really been looking forward to the entertainment giant’s reimagining of its 1940 classic Pinocchio.

We love the 1940 classic story about Gepetto and his amazing craftsmanship that, after a visit from the Blue Fairy, yields him a puppet that can talk and walk and eat and sleep, and who just wants to be a “real boy.” So we’re considering issuing Disney a pass on this one as they reimagine the story into a live-action version that includes a new Seagull character named Sofia.

But if we’re honest, we’re probably most looking forward to seeing the incomparable, the uber-talented, the amazing Sheriff Woody himself, Tom Hanks play the role of the kind old Gepetto. In addition to using his voice talents to bring Toy Story’s Woody to life, Hanks also played the role of Walt Disney in the film Saving Mr. Banks. He made a voice cameo in Disney’s Big City Greens, and now he will bring Gepetto to life in a way we’re sure no one else could.

Live-action Pinocchio to be released in 2022 | The Digital Fix

The cast also includes the following:

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Pinocchio
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket
Cynthia Erivo as Blue Fairy
Keegan-Michael Key as Honest John
Luke Evans as The Coachman
Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull; a new character

You may remember Luke Evans from Disney’s remake of Beauty and the Beast in 2017. He played the egotistical Gaston opposite Emma Watson.

Luke Evans as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.

During an earnings call this week with The Walt Disney Company’s executives, it was announced that Disney’s remake of Pinocchio will debut exclusively on the Disney+ streaming platform during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter in 2022.

It’s important, however, to note that the company’s fiscal quarters don’t correspond to the regular calendar, so, according to Disney’s Chief Financial Officer, Christine McCarthy, the film will make its streaming debut sometime between July and September of next year.

New Designer Mickey ears arrive at Disney Springs and online

Posted on November 15, 2021November 15, 2021 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

Disney has collaborated with different designers to bring to Guests unique pairs of Mickey and Minnie ears and ear headbands. Heidi Klum, Disney Imagineer Kim Irvine, Imagineer Kevin Rafferty and Betsey Johnson are only a few of the designers who’ve created the famous ears lately. And now we’ve come across a Minnie Mouse ear headband that has our jaws on the floor! It’s the newest member of Disney’s Designer Ear Collection by designer Vera Wang.

This beautiful designer Minnie Mouse ear headband was created by Vera Wang and has a certain bridal flair to it. Disney Parks Blog describes them as “designed with elevated fabrics such as black velvet ears and organza, topped off with a large white silk bow, true to Vera Wang’s classic style.” The headband also includes pronged crystals that are hand-sewn on the front and back with exquisite, intricate beading. It also comes with a comb and a detachable veil.

Vera Wang’s designer ears join a gorgeous collection of fan-favorite ears–some breathtaking, some ornate, some whimsical, but all absolutely Disney magical! We love every part of the collection. Here are just a few of our favorites so far:

Latest Additions to the Disney Parks Designer Collection Coming This Month to Epcot International Festival of the Arts | Disney Parks Blog

Contemporary (1968-Now) Apparel & Accessories Hats Disney Parks Designer Collection Ears Princess Leia LR D23 2019 Star Wars

New Disney Parks Designer Collection Mickey Mouse Ear Hat by The Blonds Hits Shelves Tomorrow | Disney Parks Blog

Wang says she’s excited about being one of the designers for the Disney Parks Designer Collection: “The magic that is the Disney brand has brought joy and happiness to generations around the world. We at Vera Wang are so honored to participate in this collaboration that I hope will bring some fun, charm, and joy to all!”

There are a limited number of these designer headbands available, whether they are purchased in the parks or online at ShopDisney.com. This limited edition is so limited, that each headband comes in a dust bag with a certificate of authenticity. You can find Vera Wang Designer ears beginning tomorrow at Ever After at Disney Springs and online, and beginning Tuesday, these designer ears will be available for purchase at The Disney Dress Shop at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in California, but only until they sell out!

Music from The World’s Most Magical Celebration Added to the Official Walt Disney World Playlist

Posted on November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Music has been an integral part of the Walt Disney World experience for 50 years, and the music of Walt Disney World Resort is tied to so many of our memories of “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Just a few notes from “Swisskapolka” by Buddy Baker and Bob Jackman, and we picture ourselves exploring the jungles of Adventureland. If we close our eyes and listen to Bob Moline’s “Canada (You’re a Lifetime Journey),” we can imagine a detachment of Mounties surrounding us in CircleVision 360 at EPCOT. And from the very first note of John Williams’ score for “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular,” we are right there with Indy as he navigates treacherous ruins in search of treasure (we can’t wait for that show to come back next month)! These classics and more can be found on the official Walt Disney World playlist, now available on Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, and Deezer.

With the start of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, the playlist has been updated with the addition of some of the new music recently introduced to the parks, including Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the 50th anniversary celebration anthem, “The Magic Is Calling.”

“The Magic Is Calling” was written just for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort by platinum-selling songwriter and music producer Alana Da Fonseca and Nashville-based songwriter and producer Bobby Studley, collaborating with award-winning composer Emily Bear and singing phenom Journi. It’s got a great hook Guests won’t be able to get out of their heads and listening to it just makes us want to get back out to the parks!

Another new addition to the playlist is “You Are the Magic,” the original song written by eight-time GRAMMY Award winner (and former Walt Disney World Cast Member) Philip Lawrence. Philip composed the song and performed it with actor and singer Kayla Alvarez for the new fireworks spectacular at Magic Kingdom Park, “Disney Enchantment.”

Perhaps best of all, Guests can now stream the entire soundtrack to “Harmonious,” the stunning new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT, beautifully crafted by arranger Mark Hammond and Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Music Producer and Creative Director Yaron Spiwak. We get goosebumps when we hear the vocals of “Opening Chants,” envisioning the sunrise that emerges from World Showcase Lagoon to start the show, rolling right into the multiple languages of “Awakening,” as the pavilions of World Showcase illuminate and we begin our musical journey around the world. Throughout, a global ensemble of vocalists and musicians presents a concert of familiar Disney songs, each reinterpreted through the lens of the culture or country that originally inspired the Disney stories from which they came. The digital album even includes extended versions of some of the songs heard in the show. It’s a musical tour de force that immediately takes us back to our first time experiencing “Harmonious” in person and inspires us to see it again and again.

Anytime Guests want to revisit magical Disney theme park memories like these, they can just tap to listen on their favorite music streaming platform! It’s the perfect way to get themselves psyched for their next trip to Walt Disney World Resort. The World’s Most Magical Celebration started October 1 and is going on for 18 months. With so much to experience, Guests have to get here themselves! Guests should be sure to follow #DisneyWorld50 and visit the special Everything Walt Disney World 50th page for the latest stories and information.

‘Disney METAVERSE’ coming soon to a reality near you

Posted on November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

It’s official. The Wonderful World of Disney is entering the metaverse. Sounds like something you’d read in an alternate universe, right–like something written by Ray Bradbury, H. G. Wells, or Jules Verne and read aloud by Rod Serling.

Disney isn’t the only company to be joining the growing trend. In fact, the House of Mouse is just one of many global organizations that have made the decision to go meta. Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed the transition and says that it’s just another example of Disney’s dedication to staying up to date with the latest trends in technology.

So, just what the heck is the metaverse? Well, I’m glad you asked. Fortune Magazine describes it as “a fully immersive online realm that looks similar to the real world but is computer generated.” In other words, it’s a digital reality realm that combines some aspects of social media, some aspects of online gaming, mixes those aspects with augmented and virtual reality, thus producing a sort of online realm where users interact with avatars. Think of the metaverse as a place where we are able to interact in virtual “worlds” that are supported 24 hours a day.

Or think of it like your Facebook profile being alive, always on, always interacting, affording you a sort of second life on the side.

I know, it’s still murky, right?

That’s largely because the metaverse is still in its infancy. However, go back to the 1990s, and you may remember a time when the phrase, “aol.com” had you scratching your head. And what’s this about a “worldwide web?”

Exactly.

Disney will be creating its very own metaverse, as announced by Chapek on Disney’s earnings call this week.

“Our efforts to date are merely a prologue to a time when we’ll be able to connect the physical and digital worlds even more closely, allowing for storytelling without boundaries in our own Disney metaverse, and we look forward to creating unparalleled opportunities for consumers to experience everything Disney has to offer across our products and platforms, wherever the consumer may be,” Chapek said.

I can get behind a universe in which I can experience Disney “wherever I may be.” How about you?

More information will be coming, as Chapek even stated that so far, Disney has only just begun developing the idea for a new Disney Metaverse. Let us know what you think about the idea of a metaverse, and specifically, a Disney metaverse.