Political interference in the Avengers’ activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man.
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Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Incredible Hulk Clash for the First Time in an Epic Battle for Coca-Cola’s Mini Can
millions of viewers witnessed a David and Goliath-style brawl between Super Heroes for the ultimate prize – an ice-cold Coca-Cola Mini Can. Debuting during the Big Game’s second quarter, the 60-second ad gave viewers something small to consider as Coca-Cola reintroduced its 7.5-ounce Mini Can to America.
Coca-Cola’s advertisement – “Coke Mini” – was developed in collaboration with Marvel and featured two of the world’s most popular Super Heroes – The Incredible Hulk and the tiny, yet astonishing Ant-Man. In the spot, the diminutive Ant-Man, voiced by actor Paul Rudd, attempts to swipe a Coca-Cola Mini Can from the refrigerator in Dr. Bruce Banner’s lab, only to be caught by the doctor mid-heist. In a fit of rage, Banner turns into Hulk and chases the tiny hero through busy city streets. Ultimately cornered, Ant-Man surrenders the Mini Can, but not before helping Hulk, whose fingers are too large to open the Coca-Cola Mini Can. Clearly friends, not foes, The Hulk and Ant-Man enjoy a little ice-cold Coca-Cola refreshment – and a special moment together – as the sun sets over a sweeping cityscape. “Sometimes you just want a little Coca-Cola” closes the spot, which fades to black, marking the kickoff of a virtual hunt for limited edition, Marvel-themed Coca-Cola Mini Cans.
“Trends in the U.S. are driving smaller package sizes. This ad recognizes the trends and celebrates our smallest pack, the Coca-Cola Mini Can,” said Emmanuel Seuge, Senior Vice President, Content, Coca-Cola North America. “Coca-Cola’s ‘One Brand’ strategy puts the irresistible taste and feeling of an icy-cold Coca-Cola at the center of our storytelling. There is no better partner than Marvel, and no better platform than the Big Game, to bring this story to life in an epic and meaningful way – for the fans and for our brand.”
The airing of “Coke Mini” kicks off a virtual hunt for Marvel-themed Coca-Cola Mini Cans, which feature six of the world’s best-known heroes – Hulk, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Iron Man and Falcon. Each day through February 14, Coca-Cola will release hidden clues (known as “Easter eggs”) through its social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Each individual “Easter egg” will unlock a limited number of cans and provide young adults direction for the chance to obtain a limited edition six-pack of their own. Marvel-themed, limited-edition Coca-Cola Mini Cans are not available for sale in retail outlets – and only available while supplies last.
“Americans are looking for greater variety from their beverages, and we’re helping shape consumer choice through smaller packaging options,” said Andy McMillin, Senior Vice President, Coca-Cola Trademark, Coca-Cola North America. “Smaller packages are a top priority for us in 2016, and so is making people more aware of the variety of choices they have across the entire Coca-Cola Trademark. ‘Coke Mini’ is an early example of our commitment to smaller packages. The partnership with Marvel is a bold and entertaining new way to drive home the choice of smaller packaging options available in our portfolio.”
This is the 10th consecutive year Coca-Cola commercials have appeared during the Big Game broadcast. Coca-Cola worked with Wieden + Kennedy (in Portland, Ore.) and Disney to create “Coke Mini.”
“Teaming up with Coca-Cola for such an exciting project on a larger-than-life stage is just the beginning of a broader partnership,” said Mindy Hamilton, SVP, Global Partnerships, Marvel. “As we build up to the release of Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ we look forward to celebrating both brands by creating some truly special moments for fans throughout the year.”
The Ultimate Checklist For Planning a Trip to Disney
Whether you’re a seasoned professional when it comes to scheduling family vacations or have never even been on It’s A Small World, planning a trip to Disney can be difficult for anyone. There’s so much to remember along the way, often before you even leave home, and having a reliable checklist can be just the thing to ensure it all goes smoothly.
Pixar Wins Big At 43rd Annie Awards
Pixar Animation Studios was the big winner at the 43rd Annual Annie Awards, Saturday evening at UCLA’s Royce Hall. ‘Inside Out’ won Best Animated Feature along with 11 other categories, including Outstanding Music – Michael Giacchino; Outstanding Editing – Kevin Nolting; Outstanding Production Design – Ralph Eggleston; Outstanding Voice Acting – Phyllis Smith as ‘Sadness’; Outstanding Writing – Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley; and Best Directing – Pete Docter. This year was the first for the new category Best Animated Feature, Independent with Filme de Papel’s ‘Boy and the World’ taking this top honor.
The Best Animated Special Production was awarded to ‘He Named Me Malala’ (Parkes-MacDonald/Little Door); Best Animated Short Subject ‘World of Tomorrow’ (Don Hertzfeldt); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial ‘Man and Dog’ (Psyop); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children ‘Tumble Leaf’ – Mirror (Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Children ‘Wander Over Yonder’ – The Breakfast (Disney Television Animation); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for a General Audience ‘The Simpsons’ – Halloween of Horror (Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox Television); Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production: ‘The Revenant’ – The Bear (Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Anonymous Content, M Productions, Appian Way, RatPac-Dune Entertainment; and Best Student Film ‘ed’ (Sheridan College – Taha Neyestani).
“The Annies are drawing more attention from both our industry and the general motion picture industry,” said ASIFA-Hollywood Executive Director, Frank Gladstone. “We wait all year for this event and it never disappoints! It was a fun evening looking back at our history and celebrating what we have accomplished over this past year.”
Presenting the coveted Annie trophies this year were actor, producer & director Edward James Olmos with actress Rita Moreno; actor & writer Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) with actress Laraine Newman (Dawn Of The Croods); actors Alexander Garfin and Hadley Belle Miller (“Linus and Lucy” from The Peanuts Movie) & Snoopy via Video; actress Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers), composerChristophe Beck; Phyllis Smith (voice of ‘Sadness’ from Inside Out) with Bing Bong (Richard Kind) via video; Anomalisa co-directors Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, John Musker and ASIFA-Hollywood President, Jerry Beckand Executive Director, Frank Gladstone.
This year’s Juried Award recipients included Winsor McCay lifetime achievement award – Joe Ranft (posthumously), Phil Romanand Isao Takahata. The Winsor McCay Award is one of the highest honors given to an individual in the animation industry in recognition for career contributions to the art of animation. Don Hahn was this year’s June Foray award recipient which honors an individual who has given significant and benevolent contributions to the art and industry of animation.
The Annie Awards™ honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 36 categories from best feature, best feature – independent, production design, character animation, and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music, editing and voice acting, and have often been a predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The ceremony was live-streamed again this year at www.annieawards.org/watch-it-live where animation enthusiasts and those unable to attend the event, could watch the show. A complete list of winners can be viewed at www.annieawards.org and highlights of the ceremony will be uploaded to the Annies website in the next few weeks.
Toy Story 4: Pete Docter on “New Direction” of the Sequel
Pete Docter likes to make me cry. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s made you cry too. As the writer-director of Pixar’s Up and Monsters, Inc. and a contributing writer on other Pixar films like WALL-E, Toy Story, and Toy Story 2, Docter has shown an amazing ability to inject life and feelings into computer generated images.
These candles will make your house smell exactly like Disneyland, and we need them
Don’t we all go to Disneyland and think, “man, I wish my living room could smell as good as Pirates of the Caribbean,” or “why doesn’t my kitchen smell like churros 24/7″? If this is something that’s crossed your mind before, then we’ve got the perfect item for you. There’s now a way to bring the smells of Main Street U.S.A. home with you.
Meet Norman Reedus Of ‘The Walking Dead’ At Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia, Chicago
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Disney World’s Biggest Rival Is Making a Big $130 Million Bet
The battle for theme-park supremacy in Central Florida is getting more intense. Universal Orlando parent Comcast confirmed a major land purchase on Wednesday during its quarterly earnings call.
Celebrate Black History Month at Walt Disney World Resort
Guests can celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February with special experiences at the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot. From historical displays and intriguing artifacts to book signings by Celebrity Chef G. Garvin and best-selling author Terry McMillan, guests can take a stroll through the pages of America’s history and learn about the influence of African-American culture.
Black History Month Author Series
In honor of Black History Month, guests have the opportunity to meet three renowned African-American authors and cultural icons select Saturdays during the month of February. Book signings are open to all guests and hosted at the American Adventure Pavilion, where books written by each guest author are also available for purchase throughout the month.
- Terry McMillan, author of “Who Asked You?”
Saturday, Feb.6, 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.: Critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Terry McMillan is known for her powerful novels and short stories about African American women. Her novel, “Waiting to Exhale,” was adapted into a film starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett in 1995. Many of McMillan’s other novels, including the award-winning “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Disappearing Acts,” and “A Day Late and a Dollar Short,” have also been brought to life for film and television audiences. McMillan recently published her eighth novel, “Who Asked You?,” a story about the challenges and strength of a family.
- Chef G. Garvin, author of “Turn Up The Heat With G. Garvin: More Than 200 Incredible Recipes from the Chef Who Keeps it Super Simple”
Saturday, Feb.13, 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.: Acclaimed chef and television host, Chef G. Garvin has mastered the art of cooking as well as writing. His first cookbook, “Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin: More Than 200 Incredible Recipes from the Chef Who Keeps it Super Simple,” received an American Literacy Award and nomination for an NAACP Image Award. Chef Garvin has enjoyed continued success with his subsequent cookbooks and television show “Road Trip with G. Garvin” on The Cooking Channel.
- Terrence Roberts, author of “Lessons from Little Rock”
Saturday, Feb. 27, 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.: Terrence James Roberts, Ph.D. is one of the “Little Rock Nine,” a group of history-making African American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Roberts was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bill Clinton in 1999. His book, “Lessons from Little Rock,” is a memoir of his experience during the integration of Little Rock Central High School and the lessons learned from that historic episode.
New pieces at Epcot’s Kinsey Collection exhibit
“Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection,” a collection of pieces displayed at the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, draws from an extensive assortment of rare art, documents, books and artifacts attributed to African American history. Philanthropists Bernard, Shirley and their son Khalil Kinsey share some of their vast personal collection of artifacts spanning 400 years of history. Touch screens and guest-activated lanterns with narration by Whoopi Goldberg, Diane Sawyer and other celebrities help bring the history to life. Three new pieces recently have been added to the exhibit which is open daily.
- “Banneker’s Almanack and Ephemeras” by Benjamin Banneker, is the mathematical and mechanical work of Benjamin Banneker. Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, read and approved of Banneker’s work. The almanac was published in 1771.
- “My Bondage and My Freedom” by Frederick Douglass, is an autobiography recounting Frederick Douglass’s life as a slave and that as a freeman. Published in 1855, the book is a first edition.
- “Survivor” by Elizabeth Catlett, is a beautiful Linoleum block print inspired by a photograph taken by Dorthea Lang titled “Ex-slave with a Long Memory.” The print was created in 1983.
“Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection” is included in Epcot admission. For more information about the collection, visit TheKinseyCollection.com.
Legacy Portraits Tell a New Story
As guests explore the American Pavilion Rotunda, they are greeted by images of influential men and women who contributed to the progress of America. New portraits have been added to the collection for the month of February to further illustrate the contributions of many African American notables.
The new displays feature African American figures such as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice; Ronald Erwin McNair, the second African American to fly in space; and Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to stage a public airplane flight in America.
Taste of Southern Comfort
Mrs. Abby Fischer was one of the first African American authors to publish a cookbook dating back to 1881. “What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Southern Cooking,” includes 160 Southern-style recipes. One popular dessert recipe featured in the cookbook, Mrs. Fisher’s Peach Cobbler, is available for guests to purchase and enjoy at Liberty Inn at the American Adventure Pavilion.
Disneyland Hotel Features Enchanting Magic and Nostalgia
Long a favorite lodging for vacationers at the Disneyland Resort, the Disneyland Hotel offers Disney magic and special amenities with a AAA Four Diamond rating. Two themed restaurants, a tiki bar, pools, water play area and luxurious themed suites add immersive experiences, making the landmark property one more reason for families to enjoy a multiday vacation at the Disneyland Resort.
From the 973 beautiful rooms to the theming of the hotel towers, the hotel creates a happy family destination with a nostalgic nod to the early days of Disneyland. The Fantasy Tower lobby showcases Mary Blair artwork, creating an instant connection to the popular “it’s a small world” attraction. The Frontier Tower lobby features a scale model of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, an icon in Disneyland Park. At the Adventure Tower, Jungle Cruise characters are incorporated into the design. All three towers now feature an energy-efficient, sky-blue reflective glass exterior.
Iconic Dining Locations
Tangaroa Terrace, a “fast casual” restaurant, and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar take their architectural cues from the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland and the Polynesian/Tiki architecture that was popular during the early era of the original hotel.
Tangaroa Terrace features Island-inspired fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with items that include cinnamon-spiced oatmeal with Island fruit compote and Kalua pork flatbread, along with a selection of sandwiches, salads and “grab-and-go” items. Meals are prepared to order and delivered to their tables either inside or on the large outdoor patio.
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar – named after Trader Sam, Disney’s Jungle Cruise “head salesman” – recounts the story of his worldly travels through the artifacts and memorabilia he collected along the way. The bar features interactive special effects blended with classic Disney storytelling. Trader Sam’s serves a mix of signature cocktails such as the flaming Uh Oa! — perfect for sharing —the Hippopotamai Tai and the Mosquito Mojito. The creative appetizer selection includes panko-crusted Chinese long beans and sweet and spicy Asian wings with tropical slaw.
Rounding out the tropical experience, Trader Sam’s features live music performed on the patio in the evening.
Guests also may relax next to a large, outdoor stone fireplace, or enjoy the view of the new Cascade Falls and Old Unfaithful near the Frontier Tower, both reminiscent of the former Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland attraction in Disneyland.
Immersive Pool Experience
Guests of all ages will enjoy theimmersive water play area. With a nod to the iconic original park signage, “Disneyland” is spelled out in familiar blocks atop a platform supporting two thrilling water slides. A replica of the original Mark 1 Monorail Cars sits at each slide’s entrance, paying tribute to nostalgic Disneyland. Guests glide through the cars as they twist and turn their way to the water below. The larger of the two main slides sits 26 feet high and stretches 187 feet, until it plunges into a splash pool. The second slide is 13 feet high and 112 feet long. For younger guests, the area includes a third, two-lane mini-slide that sits just 3 ½ feet high and is 19 feet long, as well as a series of small bubble jets in which to play.
No tickets are required at the new D-Ticket and E-ticket pools, which draw their names from the iconic ticket books that were used in the early days of Disneyland to experience attractions.
The four-foot-deep, D-Ticket pool is a shady oasis next to the new Monorail water play area, and the E-Ticket pool is perfect for families, with poolside food and beverage service at select times of the year.
The pool area also features a Minnie Mouse-themed outdoor spa, which matches a Mickey-themed spa. In addition, six new cabanas are available; each features a flat screen TV, refrigerator, safe, phone, and ceiling fan.
Themed Suites
The Disneyland Hotel boasts a unique collection of themed suites including the Mickey Mouse Penthouse and the Pirates of the Caribbean suite. Three exciting, new suites were added as part of the renovation. The Adventureland Suite offers guests a two-bedroom hideaway complete with a grotto in the master bathroom that simulates various settings – including a rain forest and African savanna – through light and sound effects.
The Big Thunder Suite, where up to six pioneers are immersed in luxurious, rustic accommodations, was inspired by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland park. The Fairy Tale Suite, adorned in colors of sage and champagne, features an exquisite canopy bed as its centerpiece and a hand-cut cut mosaic of a stylized Sleeping Beauty Castle in the bathroom.
Guest Rooms
The beautiful guest rooms feature exquisite Disney touches woven into the décor. The beds have stunning light-up headboards with an artistically carved representation of Disneyland park’s famous Sleeping Beauty Castle. As the focal point in each guest room, the headboard features fiber optics to create a magical skyline with fireworks – bringing the immersive park experience into the room. Guests also will discover a magical touch of music in the rooms, with refrains from the familiar song, “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
The new magic at the Disneyland Hotel is part of a multiyear expansion project, which was also highlighted by the creation of new experiences, attractions and nighttime spectaculars in Disney California Adventure Park. The project culminated in the summer of 2012 with the opening of Buena Vista Street and the 12-acre Cars Land.
The AAA Four Diamond Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa was expanded in 2009, adding 203 hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom villas that are part of the Disney Vacation Club, marking the West Coast debut for Disney Vacation Club. At Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, all rooms were recently remodeled to fit the playful, beach theme.
