Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke took the world by storm in 1964 as the magical nanny and a jack of all trades respectively. Mary Poppins has been a classic film ever since, and Disney is finally ready to continuing on with the mythology. Next year will see Disney follow-up the franchise with Emily Blunt stepping into the leading role for Mary Poppins Returns.
Pandora – The World of Avatar, which is set to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park at Walt Disney World® Resort on May 27, 2017, will transport guests to a visually stunning world complete with floating mountains, bioluminescent plans and all kinds of immersive adventures.
Walt Disney Imagineering developed this video in which Portfolio Creative Executive Joe Rohde (who played a major part in the original development for Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the 1990s) explains the overall design philosophy of Pandora – The World of Avatar and how that fits into the theming of the rest of the park.
According to Joe, the themes in both the film AVATAR and the values the designers of Disney’s Animal Kingdom had in mind when planning the park are the same: Emphasizing the intrinsic value of nature; Exploring the idea that Guests can be transformed through adventure; And inspiring Guests to understand and respect the nature that exists in our world.
Check out this video to learn more about what to expect when Pandora – The World of Avatar comes to life this summer.
Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland performing Let it Go from Frozen.
Celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will hold its World Premiere in Los Angeles on March 2, in association with Swarovski. Beauty and the Beast (in cinemas March 17) is set to be a stunning cinematic event sparkling with thousands of Swarovski crystals, and this empowering new adaptation has inspired a bold and beautiful new jewelry line by Atelier Swarovski.
Swarovski manufactured the glass bell jar, based on Disney’s original design, and provided the 2,160 crystals used on Academy Award winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran’s design for Belle’s iconic yellow dress. Swarovski crystals were used in the opening scene on the dress worn by Madame de Garderobe, the Prince and Maestro Cadenza’s costumes and the crystal house also supplied vintage jewelry.
Jacqueline Durran commented: “Swarovski crystals were an important addition to the Prince’s costume and Belle’s yellow dress. For the Prince, crystals were a key element in recreating an 18th century coat – for the character to be wearing a coat covered with sparkling stones seemed the perfect way to represent his opulence. For Belle, the crystals were part of Garderobe’s finishing touch to the yellow gown, when added to the dress’s golden print they provided the final magical flourish.”
Academy Award-nominated set decorator Katie Spencer flew to Swarovski’s headquarters in the Austrian Tyrol to work with the company’s master cutters to manufacture the Bell Jar, based on Disney’s original design. The delicate frozen etching effect was carried out by an artisan craftsman in London. Decorating the top of its ornate dome is a bespoke-cut crystal finial shining with 543 facets. Further crystal embellishment to the set includes several music boxes made by Maurice, Belle’s father.
Katie Spencer commented: “Working with Swarovski was an incredible experience. Their crystals bring that extra touch of magic, especially to the beautiful centerpiece that is the Bell Jar. Swarovski’s technical team in Austria were so passionate, and their expert craftsmanship and dedication really shine through in the end result.”
Atelier Swarovski jewelry
Alongside Swarovski’s work with Disney, Atelier Swarovski has created a bold and beautifully feminine jewelry collection inspired by the film’s themes of inner beauty and female empowerment. The mystical rose at the heart of Beauty and the Beast is the centerpiece of the collection, reimagined using Swarovski’s crystal Pointiage technique across a range of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings.
Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: “We are thrilled to have worked with Disney on the Beauty & the Beast ‘Atelier Swarovski Jewelry Collection.'” We hope the collection celebrates the message of the film of inner beauty, belief and strength of heart and soul, thus empowering all Swarovski clients with this meaning, but also with the beauty of the jewels.”
The Atelier Swarovski collection will be available in stores and online
www.atelierswarovski.com
We’ve got some great bonus material to share with you today from Disney’s Moana. The clips below are from the Voice of the Islands bonus feature and how the filmmakers developed and cast some of your favorite Moana characters
Moana | Voice of the Islands: Bald Maui
Mickey and his pals are revving up their engines in Disney’s Mickey and the Roadster Racers, now on DVD. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy team up in 8 adventures in their roadster race cars. If your children love Mickey and his pals,then they will love them zooming around town and helping their friends in need. Disney Junior has a hit on its hands for sure! The bonus features also includes 2 music videos that the little ones will really enjoy. I for one want to get my hands on Mickey’s hat! (It resembles Dipper’s hat from Gravity Falls) I also can’t wait to check out all of the Roadster Racers merchandise next time I go to the Disney store or to the parks. How cool would it be for the Tomorrowland Speedway to be transformed into the Roadster Racers cars! Their helmets would be awesome to wear too–ears and all! Disney’s Mickey and the Roadster Racers on DVD is a must have for your family. Ready. Set. Go out and get your copy now!
We’ve got some great bonus material to share with you today from Disney’s Moana. The clips below are from the Voice of the Islands bonus feature and how the filmmakers developed and cast some of your favorite Moana characters
Moana | Voice of the Islands: Casting Moana
Moana | Voice of the Islands: Casting Maui
Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland performing ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ from Mary Poppins.
Ashley Brown – Disney on Broadway at Epcot Singing – ‘Part of Your World’ – The Little Mermaid.
I’m not saying that Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins won’t be practically perfect in every way.
In an image released Friday by Disney for its upcoming sequel, “Mary Poppins Returns,” set to open on Dec. 25, 2018, the British-American actress looks lovely.
