WDW Daily News

Tmall.com, China’s largest third-party B2C platform for brands and retailers and a business of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) has teamed up with The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), America’s mass media and entertainment company to be the first exclusive distributor of their Marvel Studio’s 2015 blockbuster, Avengers: Age of Ultron (hereafter referred as “Avengers 2”) merchandise on Tmall.com. This is the first time Alibaba Group has opened up its resources in connecting brands and filmmakers to establish a convenient model in developing a movie-related merchandise market made available online for movie fans.

By leveraging Alibaba Group’s strong foundation of merchants and user base, Tmall.com partners with Taobao ticketing platform to collaborate with more than 40 premium brands including Audi, Lego, Ecovacs, Hasbro, Li Ning, etc., to bring a selection of genuine Avengers 2 merchandise to Chinese consumers as the movie opens yesterday in cinemas across China. These superhero themed merchandise are available on Disney’s flagship store on Tmall.com.

“We are pleased to be working with Disney and brands on Tmall to bring genuine movie merchandise to our online consumers. This marks another effort into further enhancing the collaboration between the participants within our platforms and to also fully utilize the resources we have across Alibaba,” said Sherry Lang, Director of Co-Marketing for Tmall.com.

For the first time, Alibaba Group worked with Taobao ticketing platform and Tmall.com to establish a convenient connection between filmmakers and authorized intellectual property (IP) merchants on Tmall.com. This streamlined partnership will benefit filmmakers, merchants as well as movie fans to ensure that a wide selection of genuine movie merchandise is made available to online Chinese consumers through marketing projects.

The Avengers sequel topped U.S. box office for the second weekend in a row with an estimated US$ 77.2 million according to Rentrak as of Sunday May 10, 2015 and it opened in theatres in China yesterday.

Merchandise ranging from superhero themed t-shirts, gold pendants, cleaning robots, and special designed cars are available on Tmall.com:
http://brand-disney.tmall.com/p/rd947522.htm?spm=3.7396704.20000002.d5.MuOb3N&acm=tt-1141523-37080.1003.8.266734&aldid=yyItIWcX&scm=1003.8.tt-1141523-37080.OTHER_1433011197118_266734&pos=1

“Happily ever after” begins this season as PANDORA Jewelry unveils its new Spring 2015 Disney jewelry collection. Inspired by iconic love stories and enchanting fairy tales, PANDORA’s latest release adds 60 new jewelry items — including beautifully crafted earrings, rings, pendants and charms — to the Disney jewelry collection.

A celebration of some of the most beloved Disney Princess characters, the new collection features jewelry inspired by classic fairy tales, including Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Hand-finished sterling silver and enamel gowns, regal tiara dangles and colorful Murano glass charms for each of the characters serve as a sweet reminder that dreams can come true.

Disney’s Frozen, which won an Academy Award® and has quickly become a modern classic, inspired nine new designs in the collection. The intricate “Let it Go” charm celebrates optimism and embracing life with an open heart. With elegant crystal-like motifs, the sterling silver “Frozen Snowflakes” openwork charm and the “Frozen Snowflake” dangle make eye-catching additions to bracelets and necklaces alike.

“PANDORA’s Spring 2015 Disney jewelry collection gives us a new opportunity to connect with all those women who still believe in fairy tales,” said Charisse Ford, Chief Marketing Officer, PANDORA Americas. “The collection is both elegant in design and whimsical in nature, allowing the wearer to express multiple facets of her personality through her unique choice of jewelry.”

Iconic characters, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, continue to inspire new jewelry items in the Spring 2015 collection. A sophisticated interpretation of Mickey’s classic silhouette is showcased on sparkling sterling silver “Dazzling Mickey” stud earrings. Coordinating “Mickey Silhouette” pieces feature the classic mouse cutout within a heart-shaped pendant, ring, bracelet and pair of earrings.

The Disney jewelry collection is sold at PANDORA concept stores throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as through select Disney merchandise locations, including DisneyStore.com. Sterling silver pieces from the new collection start at $35. For a complete list of PANDORA retailers visit PANDORA.net.

When Disney recently unveiled merchandise for its new live-action “Cinderella,” the usual girls’ dolls and dresses were joined by princess-worthy fare tailored to a notably different market: women.

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A high-end Porsche or a piece of Disneyland history?

For some well-heeled Disneyland fans, that’s a no-brainer, and here’s the proof:

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What’s the best way to take home a piece of the magic when you visit Walt Disney World? A souvenir, naturally. With more than 200 retail locations to browse — from brick and mortar stores to carts selling clothes, designer bags, artisan soaps, and unique knickknacks — Disney World is a shopper’s paradise.

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Innovative entertainment and lifestyle retailer HSN announced today that supermodel Coco Rocha will debut her first-ever apparel line Modern Princess Collection by Coco Rocha in March.  The capsule collection, which features some of HSN’s top designers and brands across fashion, footwear, jewelry, accessories, home and beauty, is part of a larger assortment of merchandise inspired by Disney’s all-new action movie Cinderella.

To promote the collection and the film, HSN – through a multifaceted marketing collaboration with Disney – has developed a comprehensive 360 degree marketing campaign that includes a 24-hour live event on March 10 and two additional primetime specials on March 11 and 12.  This unique marketing program is a key component of HSN’s entertainment integration strategy, which drives engagement across all of the retailer’s shopping platforms, including TV, digital and mobile.

“Storytelling is the foundation of everything we do at HSN and Cinderella is the perfect story to tell through unique brand and product experiences,” said Bill Brand, President of HSN.  “We are excited to once again collaborate with Disney and can’t wait to introduce the tremendous work of Coco Rocha and our many fantastic designers to customers in March.”

Drawing inspiration from the intricate designs and beautiful sets of Cinderella, the Modern Princess Collection by Coco Rocha features fairytale-influenced patterns that capture the essence of today’s modern day princess.  Key pieces from the collection include: a Butterfly Print Peplum Skirt with matching Sleeveless Blouse; a Double Diamond Quilted Moto Jacket with Mixed Media Studs; and a Long Sleeve Draped Gown with Embellished Shoulder Detail.

“As a child, I grew up on Disney movies and Cinderella was a huge part of my childhood,” said Coco.  “The theme behind the story – that good things happen to those with good hearts – is something I strongly believe in and has shaped my view of the world.  When I was asked to bring my high fashion perspective to the idea of a modern princess, I jumped at the chance to work with HSN on this Disney project.  I’m very proud of this collection and thrilled to bring it to such a wide audience with HSN.”

From traditional pastel shades to the baroque styles of a contemporary princess, the entire fashion and accessories collection seamlessly transitions from day to evening, with items such as:

• contemporary skirts, blouses and jackets by Coco Rocha;
• statement silhouette handbags by Snob Essentials;
• dazzling heels, sandals and other footwear by Donald Pliner and Vince Camuto;
• fantastical statement jewelry including necklaces, earrings brooches, and hairpins by Heidi Daus, Amedeo and Roberto by RFM;
• ethereally vintage-inspired dresses skirts and sweaters by Christos Garkinos, and classic princess designs including lady-like pencil skirts, fit & flair dresses and leather jackets by Hal Rubenstein

HSN will bring Cinderella to life in the home with beautiful bedding and home essentials from Madcap Cottage, Anna Griffin and Jeffrey Banks, whose classic toile bedding set features an image taken from the movie as part of its design.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the all-new, live action retelling of Cinderella will feature stars Cate Blanchett as the Stepmother, Lily James as Cinderella, Richard Madden as the Prince and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. The screenplay is by Chris Weitz. The film opens in theaters nationwide on March 13 and is rated PG.

Hot Topic announced today a limited edition fashion collection inspired by the Walt Disney Studios live action film “Cinderella,” in theaters March 13^th. The collection will be available February 24^th exclusively at Hot Topic stores and on hottopic.com, with a pre-sale starting February 3^rd on hottopic.com.

The “Cinderella” collection features fashion apparel inspired by costumes and iconic moments from the feature film. Each piece has been designed with great attention to detail and includes accents symbolic of the beloved fairy tale, like clock and carriage prints and glass slipper-imprinted hardware.

“We are all such big fans of Cinderella here at Hot Topic, and are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to create a fashion collection inspired by Disney’s upcoming live-action film,” said Cindy Levitt, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing at Hot Topic. “The collection has just enough twists to make it wearable, but is still a bit magical, for our fan girl customer.”

The five-piece Hot Topic collection includes:

• Peasant Sweetheart Dress: $49.50
• Victorian Waistcoat: $79.50
• Striped Knit Top: $29.50
• High Waisted Skirt: $34.50
• Corset Ball Gown: $64.50

In addition to the fashion collection, Hot Topic will offer an exclusive line of jewelry inspired by the film, plus a wide range of classic Cinderella tees, gifts, accessories and more.

Disney Consumer Products today unveiled exclusive details about the new global toy lines celebrating Disney∙Pixar’s Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur, debuting theatrically in the U.S. on June 19, 2015, and Nov. 25, 2015, respectively. Both movies will have robust toy lines from best-in-class licensee TOMY, whose innovative approach, strength in international markets and ability to reflect Pixar’s unique storytelling in its product lines made them the ideal choice for Pixar Animation Studios’ most exciting year yet.

“We put our hearts into these films, so it’s incredibly important to us that our toy-making partners care about and do justice to these characters we know so well,” said John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “When I visited TOMY’s headquarters in Japan, I was impressed by their commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The toys they’ve created for Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur are fantastic—they’ve truly brought our characters to life.”

TOMY’s toy line for Inside Out is inspired by the humor, visual style and whimsical elements within the film. The poseable character figures have light up features and all of the toys allow for self-expression and re-creation of key movie moments. The broad toy range for The Good Dinosaur appeals to kids of all ages, for both action figure play and more sophisticated remote control walking and talking. The unique characteristics of the film’s dinosaurs, such as how they move and run, are reflected in the toy line, and several working models were built and shared with filmmakers to get the movements just right. Additionally, RFID technology allows the characters to interact as they do in the film, bringing their unique personalities and stories to life.

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Swarovski has collaborated with the Academy Award^® winning costume designer Sandy Powell to add some fairy tale sparkle to Disney’s new enchanting live action film Cinderella. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Lily James in the title role, Cinderella is due for release on March 13^th, 2015.

The suite of shimmering Swarovski-embellished costumes included in the lavish production features Cinderella’s iconic crystal slipper, which plays such a pivotal role in the classic fairy tale, as well as gowns, jewellery, accessories, hair, make-up, wigs and props.

Sandy Powell, a long time Swarovski collaborator, worked with technicians at the firm’s headquarters in Austria to design and realize the unique crystal slippers given to Cinderella by her Fairy Godmother, played in the film by Helena Bonham Carter. A team of eight worked on the development and creation of the shoes, taking approximately 150 hours and working on six versions before the final model was decided on. The dazzling slippers are hewn from solid crystal with a 6 inch heel and their dimensions are a dainty 186x75x196mm, featuring 221 facets in a light-reflecting Crystal Blue Aurora Borealis coating.

In addition to the unique slippers, Swarovski also worked with Powell on scores of costumes, jewellery, accessories, hair, make-up, wigs and props. The crystal house provided over 1.7 million crystals, which were used to embellish costumes such as Cinderella’s breathtaking blue ball gown, the Fairy Godmother’s gown and magic wand, and the wicked stepmother’s dress. Swarovski also opened its famous jewellery archives to Sandy Powell and her team, who used vintage pieces to lend added glamour to the ballroom scenes.

Branagh’s Cinderella, is a live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale. It brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.

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Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse turn on the charm this season, as part of PANDORA Jewelry’s new Disney-themed collection. The original assortment of hand-finished jewelry, released in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products, includes charms inspired by the iconic silhouettes, patterns and colors of Disney’s most iconic couple.

Sterling silver Mickey and Minnie icon dangles accented with black and red enamel celebrate Disney’s classic designs. Wear the charms on your favorite PANDORA bracelet, or style the charms as pendants on necklace chains of varying lengths to celebrate your love of Disney.

Disney’s eternal sweethearts are celebrated on a sterling silver “Minnie and Mickey Kiss” heart-shaped charm featuring red and black enamel designs, with engraved Walt Disney script expressing “Believe in Magic.” The Mickey and Minnie double-heart sterling silver dangle with six bezel-set black crystals and red enamel commemorates the pair’s courtship, which has been going strong since they first debuted together onscreen in 1928.

Mickey and Minnie sparkle on sterling silver clips encrusted with clear and red cubic zirconia. A sterling silver clear pave charm with intricate cutouts and a spacer set with 24 clear crystals are inspired by Mickey’s instantly recognizable silhouette. The charms add whimsical style to PANDORA’s layered leather bracelets, sterling silver bangles or multi-strand color cords.

“Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are not only favorite Disney characters, they represent optimism, goodwill and happiness,” said Beth Moeri, Chief Merchandising Officer, PANDORA, Americas. “We’re thrilled to offer charms that meet our exacting quality standards, while preserving the integrity and hopeful spirit of Walt Disney’s original designs.”

The initial launch of PANDORA’s co-branded Disney jewelry collection includes 25 charms, which are currently sold at PANDORA concept stores throughout the U.S., as well as Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America and the Caribbean. Sterling silver pieces from the new collection start at $35.

To discover the Disney jewelry collection from PANDORA, visit PANDORA.net.