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STEAM Tips from Walt Disney Imagineering: Let’s Start with Art!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Tue, May 12, 2020

STEAM Tips from Walt Disney Imagineering: Let’s Start with Art!

by , Communications, WDI

Walt Disney Imagineering STEAM Tips - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics

In celebrating May the Fourth last week, we dug up this early sketch of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The image is an example of how Disney Imagineers often start with a hand-drawn sketch to help solidify and provide direction for an idea before it’s brought to life through other areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).

Early sketch of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

All five fields work in tandem at Imagineering to develop new concepts and create amazing experiences. In this new series, Imagineers share their STEAM tips based on what works for them. We’ll cover other areas of STEAM and related tips in later blog posts, but let’s do as one Imagineer suggested and start with “A” – art!

Tip 1 – Take time to develop and perfect your hand-drawing skills

Lyndsey Vincent, a senior interior designer, said, “With all the great technology out there today, it can be tempting to start design sitting at your screen, but you’ll be surprised how putting pen to paper changes the way you think about your design. Having a hand-drawing to review often solicits great feedback in early phases of design as the looseness of the drawing communicates the intent, but leaves room for other ideas to emerge. Having good hand-drawing skills also will be a stand-out factor in your portfolio for those getting ready to apply to college or jobs.”

Tip 2 – Recharge mentally by taking time to study great art

Visual Effects Designer Matthew Schoepf said, “Creating art and media for theme parks and attractions requires a high level of technical execution and planning. To stimulate creative thinking, it’s important for me to find that quiet time between tasks or in the early morning or evening to research something I’m personally curious about, and study it to make sure I’m growing as an artist. I would encourage students to recharge mentally by taking time to study great art from our past, from color and light in traditional landscape paintings to artists whose anatomy studies and sculptures are widely available online. You don’t need to be an ‘exceptional’ artist. It just takes a pencil, a piece of paper and curiosity to get started.”

Tip – Remember that inventing is an iterative art

Lanny Smoot, a Disney Research Fellow, advised, “If you want something that doesn’t exist in this world yet, think of what it would be like to have it, and then think about how you could cause it to happen. Learn as much as you can about ways to cause your vision to come true. For example, see how others may have approached what you want to do. I am always curious and wonder whether things that haven’t been done could be done, and if things that are being done could be done in better, or different, ways.”

Stay tuned as we cover engineering next!

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Disney Movies Disney News Star Wars

Celebrate Star Wars Day with an eBook Download of Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow, Free for a Limited Time

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Mon, May 4, 2020

Celebrate Star Wars Day with an eBook Download of Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow, Free for a Limited Time

by , Director, Communications, Games, Publishing and Merchandise

You’ve watched all of the Skywalker Saga, but how well do you really know Padmé, the courageous and hopeful leader who served as Queen and then Senator of Naboo?

March Magic 2016 Bracket

In this young adult novel written by New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston, Padmé Naberrie steps down from her position as “Queen Amidala” and is asked to become Naboo’s representative in the Galactic Senate. Together with her most loyal handmaidens, Padmé must figure out how to navigate the treacherous waters of politics and forge a new identity beyond the queen’s shadow.

“Padmé fought against unstoppable forces, and she never gave up on what she believed in,” says author E.K. Johnston. “Sometimes she held on too tightly, but she always knew what she stood for, and that never stops being incredible.”

This tale is an empowering novel about courage and finding strength in a galaxy far, far away. For a limited time, a free eBook download (available only in the US) will be available from May 1 to May 8, via Disney Books here.

For more fun content from some of your favorite authors and books, follow @DisneyBooks on social media!

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Disney Movies

Exploring the Magic of Onward With Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Dan Scanlon, and Kori Rae

From our friends at ohmy.disney.com

News Pixar

Exploring the Magic of Onward With Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Dan Scanlon, and Kori Rae

March 9, 2020 | 09:00 am

Exploring the Magic of Onward With Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Dan Scanlon, and Kori Rae

Disney and Pixar’s new movie Onward may have magical creatures, grand adventures, and a sentient pair of pants, but like any Pixar classic, it’s also full of heart. Onward tells the story of two elf brothers, Ian and Barley (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt), who were raised by single mom Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) after their father passed away when they were young. The brothers discover that their father left behind a wizard staff and a spell that could bring him back for a day. But magic isn’t as easy as it looks, so when they are only able to resurrect half of their father — and yes, we mean that literally — Ian and Barley must team up for an epic quest to meet the rest of their dad before time runs out. We recently sat down with director Dan Scanlon, producer Kori Rae, and stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland to dig a little deeper into what made Onward a truly magical experience for everyone involved.

Though Onward is Pixar’s first foray into the traditional fantasy genre, it may be one of the most personal stories to come from the studio as it was directly inspired by Dan Scanlon’s real life. His own father passed away when Dan was a year old and his brother was three, so the two always wondered what he was like. “That question became the seed of Onward, which was, ‘What if you could meet him? What if you could have one day? What would you learn? What would you ask?’ And then we added elves and sprites to that incredibly sad story,” Dan shared with a laugh.

While the movie is definitely emotional (both Dan and Kori admitted to crying at various stages of the filmmaking process), what really won over people at Pixar was the human relatability at the movie’s core. Early on, Kori Rae’s way in was her relationship with her sister. “I would talk about my relationship with her and how she supported me and what she did for me. And as we had filmmakers come on, everybody started telling their stories, and what was amazing was that while it’s a personal story, it’s also got so many universal elements to it that I think will resonate with the whole world.”

Chris-pratt-tom-holland

The connection to a sibling became an important element for the two brothers in the movie. Even though in real life he is an older brother, Tom Holland felt an immediate kinship to his character, younger brother Ian. He described himself in his early teens as a “nervous kid [who] had a hard time at school,” but his experience joining the cast of the Broadway musical Billy Elliot brought him out of his shell. He explained, “It wasn’t until I went on [that] adventure [that] I became more confident in myself and I believed in myself. And what drew me to this character is that we get to see that entire journey that I went on as a kid in him throughout this film.”

Dan Scanlon

As for the real-life family who helped inspire the movie, we asked Dan Scanlon what it’s been like to share Onward with them. He enthused, “I kind of made [the movie] for [my brother]… I showed [it to] him two weeks ago, and he loved it. He was blown away. He gave me the longest hug, and we talked for hours about it after, and he’s been texting me about it.” Dan and his brother are also excited and nervous to share Onward with their mother. “It’s her experience too in some ways, in losing her husband and raising these two kids alone. I mean, in a lot of ways, I think it’s more her story in terms of the drama of it. She’s one of the funniest people I know and one of the best storytellers.”

For a celebration of love and family you’ll want to share with more people than just your siblings, join us for the heartwarming journey of Disney and Pixar’s Onward, in theaters now! 

Chris-pratt-Tom-holland-Dan-Scanlon-Kori-Rae

 

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Disney Movies Disney News

Honoring a Global Story: A Guide to the Making of Disney’s Mulan

From our friends at ohmy.disney.com

News Disney

Honoring a Global Story: A Guide to the Making of Disney’s Mulan

Kelly Lin

March 6, 2020 | 11:15 am

Honoring a Global Story: A Guide to the Making of Disney’s Mulan

Exciting news, readers! Disney’s Mulan is just a couple weeks away, and the anticipation is building! Before the film arrives in theaters on March 27, we’re sharing more details from our incredible visit to the set.

Mulan behind the scene bootcamp

One of the main goals for the filmmakers at the start of production was making sure the film catered to the many diverse audiences who have a strong affinity towards the story. As they went about their research, they realized that sometimes one community’s interpretations of the story differed from the interpretations by another community. Reed explained, “I’ve learned during my research that in traditional China, the story of Mulan is the story of a young girl finding her way to do her duty. What we found is that the diaspora community saw it as a young girl finding her way against tradition and order. Those are two completely different ways of reading the same story.”

Through working with partners in China and at Walt Disney Studios, the team was eventually able to not only find ways to address all audiences, but also tie together the ways those audiences looked at the movie. “What we realized is that while [Mulan] is a story of an individual finding their true self, ultimately, she is doing that in service of  doing her duty. She’s not doing it in the way that young girls are expected to do it, but she still ultimately fulfills her destiny.”

Mulan walking with horse

Throughout the development process, the filmmakers also strove to create characters that were diverse in personality and background, and were not just tropes. “Every single character has dimension, and dispels the stereotypes of other films,” shared actor Yoson An, who plays Honghui in the film.

Mulan in make-up and a dress

Attention to detail was crucial to the filmmakers, and many elements — including the sets, weaponry, and costumes — were custom-made just for this film. One detail that’s sure to be a standout is Mulan’s dress from the matchmaker scene. A favorite of costume designer Bina Daigeler, this silk dress took over 21 hours to hand-embroider. “It has a little surprise that I won’t spoil, but it’s one that Niki used throughout the movie,” added Daigeler.

Mulan with sword in smokey background

Another detail that many were quick to point out after the trailer’s release was the decision not to cut Mulan’s hair. Reed explained this further: “In traditional China, male warriors wore their hair long. For her to cut her hair, it would actually make her look more like a woman instead of less like a woman. Since we’re doing this movie for a worldwide market, we felt like we needed to bring back that cultural accuracy.”

The choice to have her hair down during one of the film’s battle scenes also served as a symbol of the character’s evolving self-confidence. “When she goes to the army, she has to wear it up like a top knot, and then before she comes into this scene [the battle scene], she realizes that in order to help her comrades she needs to be her true self. Her hair comes in, it’s blowing in the wind, and it’s epic,” remarked Reed.

Mulan fighting in battle

When it comes to music, audiences can expect to hear callbacks to some of their favorite Mulan songs throughout the film. “It will not be a musical, but I can guarantee that songs you will recognize will be in the [score] of the movie,” Reed shared. “It’s a little easier in animation to have the tension and reality, yet still have lighthearted moments where people break into song. We made the decision [for this film] that we wanted to keep the world more grounded, so the emotions really play and it all feels very real.”

Ready to experience the adventure for yourself? Get your tickets for Disney’s Mulan now, and be sure to see the film when it arrives in theaters on March 27.

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Disney Movies Disney News

Stunning Settings, Compelling Characters, and Magnificent Moments: Inside the Making of Disney’s Mulan

From our friends at ohmy.disney.com

News Disney

Stunning Settings, Compelling Characters, and Magnificent Moments: Inside the Making of Disney’s Mulan

Kelly Lin

February 27, 2020 | 09:00 am

Stunning Settings, Compelling Characters, and Magnificent Moments: Inside the Making of Disney’s Mulan

Go behind the scenes of a once-in-a-dynasty story in the making!

Picture this. You’re driving through the countryside of the South Island of New Zealand, past majestic snow-capped mountains, gushing streams, and idyllic pastures, when all the sudden you see it: an enormous battle scene, filled with hundreds of armored extras and horses. In the center of it all stands a young woman, dressed powerfully in red. Her hair is down and she’s ready for battle. There may be a camera crew and lighting equipment around, and yet you can’t help but feel that this moment is going to be epic. You have just entered the world of Disney’s latest live-action film, Mulan.

Making of Mulan

A beloved tale for audiences around the world, the story of Mulan was introduced to most of us through the 1998 animated feature. In this latest live-action retelling (coming to theaters in one month on March 27!), the story retains the DNA of the animated film while drawing upon the original ballad of Mulan and the many variations told in China — but forges a path of its own, as well.

Fans of the animated film can look out for nods to familiar musical themes, beloved characters, and more! Audiences can also expect new settings, new storylines, and new characters. Two of those characters are Honghui, a fresh conscript like Mulan and one of the best martial artists on the team, and the mysterious Böri Khan, one of the main villains of the new tale. “Böri Khan has a personal vengeance out for the empire, and Mulan is an issue that springs up in his plans to take back the land and culture of the Rourans [his people],” shared Jason Scott Lee, who plays him in the film. If there’s one thing for sure: you don’t want to mess with this fearsome foe.

Mulan-behind-the-scenes

By contrast, Yoson An’s Honghui is someone who Mulan initially views as a rival, but who quickly becomes a friend… and maybe even something more. An shared, “They start off on the wrong foot and as they progress through the trainings together, they have this unspoken bond ‘cause they recognize each other’s warrior spirit.”

Yoson An as Honghui

For Yifei Liu, who plays Mulan, the character represents a powerful symbol of the value that comes with being yourself and standing in that truth. “The chi in her body is inspiring and it’s in every one of us. The more she can stay still and be calm and stay grounded, the more power she can go beyond herself.” The actor’s ability to really bring that inner chi to her own performance was impressive to many on set. “She’s taking on this intense lead role and I’ve been so impressed. It takes a lot of stamina and focus, and she’s doing it. She’s been stellar,” added Lee.

Training for an action-packed film like Mulan was no easy feat, and the actors went to great lengths to capture the warrior spirit. “[Director] Niki [Caro] brought over this amazing Serbian ex-Special Forces guy, and we went through military training with him for three months every day,” recalled An. The actors also trained in a variety of fight styles, dependent on their character, which included a Chinese fight style, a Rouran fight style (the style of the enemy army), and even a specific Wushu style, just for Mulan and the Commander. Producer Jason Reed explained, “The Rouran style is a little rougher, a little less refined, and more horse-based, as was traditional with the northern nomadic tribes. With the Chinese army, we have a traditional ancient military style that was about formation-building and moving in coordination — typical of large armies at the time.”

Yifei Liu as Mulan

For many in the cast, being a part of a film like Mulan, with such epic scenes and an impactful history, has been an absolutely surreal experience. “The animated movie was one of my favorite films as a kid, so when I found out that I got cast in this, I was like, ‘Okay. It’s on,’” shared An.

“Mulan really opens up a positive side to younger generations. To think big, take risks, and know that anything is possible. You just gotta believe it,” remarked Liu.

A true inspiration to us all! Mulan comes to theaters in one month and you can bet we’ll be there on opening night! Tickets are on sale now!