Our Favorite Behind-the-Scenes Moments from 2015
Getting to work for Disney means our days are often filled with the types of things we could never have imagined being able to do (but always secretly dreamed about).w Getting to interview our creative heroes, experiencing films and attractions a little bit early; it’s been a great year with great moments and , we wanted to share a few of our favorites with you because they underline the best thing we’ve learned while working at Disney: Dreams really do come true.
Traveling to Pixar Animation Studios for Inside Out
A few months before the movie was released, there was a press day held for Inside Out at Pixar’s northern California campus where, tantalizingly, only an hour of the film was actually shown. As you can imagine, after that press day ended, we were clamoring to finish the movie. (At that point we were fairly certain Bing Bong would end up being the movie’s villain …) So imagine our absolute joy (get it?) when we got to travel up to Pixar Animation Studios again, watch the finished project, and play the brand new Inside Out-themed levels of Disney Infinity 3.0. It was the thrill of a lifetime; just being at Pixar gave us goosebumps in unsuspecting ways. But it was also wonderful to finally see a film that we’ve revisited countless times since then, each time with a new understanding and deeper appreciation.
Getting Weekly Updates from Gravity Falls Creator Alex Hirsch
One of our favorite shows in the entire world is Gravity Falls, and when the show returned from its agonizing hiatus, we had a foolhardy idea: Get Alex Hirsch, the series’ super genius (and much-beloved) creator, to answer questions on a weekly basis about the latest episode. And, amazingly, he said yes. Each time an episode would air, Hirsch would offer his thoughtful commentary and politely put up with our attempts to extract information about upcoming episodes. Oftentimes his commentary was just as funny and moving and odd as the episode itself.
Being a Judge for a Disney Infinity 3.0 Competition
We talk a lot about Disney Infinity 3.0, the amazing toys-to-life game that allows you to assume control of Disney•Pixar, Marvel, Disney, and, now, Star Wars characters in an epic, freeform toy box of your own design. But we never really appreciated just how creative the fans who utilize the game’s Toy Box features were until we were lucky enough to be a judge at the annual Disney Infinity Toy Box Summit. Imaginative contestants were given a specific Star Wars planet to create, then allowed to work overnight to get the job done. When we came in the following day, the designs and worlds that were created were absolutely dazzling.If you want to know the truly unlimited possibilities of Disney Infinity 3.0, just look at some of these creator-designed levels and let your jaw drop. We hope we’ll be invited back next year!
Seeing Tomorrowland in Tomorrowland
The Tomorrowland section of Disneyland was shut down for the Tomorrowland film premiere and celebrities and invited guests were allowed (we’d say encouraged) to ride signature Tomorrowland attractions like Star Tours and Space Mountain as many times as they desired. (We saw Damon Lindelof, co-writer of Tomorrowland, climbing out of our Space Mountain ride vehicle.) The entire night was filled with the spirit of Tomorrowland: That kind of soaring optimism and glittery futurism that simply cannot be contained or repressed.
Getting VIP Access for the Disneyland 60th Celebration
And speaking of Tomorrowland, what an amazing year Disneyland has had! And it all started off with the Disneyland 60th Celebration, which ran for several days back in May and afforded us previews of everything amazing that would be coming in the months ahead, including (but not limited to) the newly revamped Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Hatbox Ghost in the Haunted Mansion, the brand new nighttime parade “Paint the Night,” the new fireworks spectacular “Disneyland Forever.” And over at Disney California Adventure, the new “World of Color – Celebrate!” (featuring Neil Patrick Harris and Mickey Mouse). We’ve been celebrating the 60th anniversary, in various forms, for the rest of this year, including attending the Park on the actual anniversary, and being there to preview all of the new Season of the Force features meant to celebrate everything Star Wars. We can’t wait to keep the celebration going in 2016.
Visiting the Scoring Session for Zootopia
Walt Disney Animation Studios has two animated features opening in 2016, which is truly exciting. The first of those features is talking animal buddy cop comedy Zootopia, opening in March. While we can’t say a lot about it now, we can say that the gorgeously animated film, directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore and co-directed by Jared Bush, is absolutely hilarious and has plenty of heart. It goes without saying that we were over-the-moon when we were invited to one of the scoring sessions for the film. Michael Giacchino, the Academy Award winner who composed the music for Inside Out and Up (amongst many others), is the composer and it was such a thrill to watch him work, and watch Howard and Moore react and give feedback. The music sounds amazing and compliments the film perfectly. It can’t be overstated what a special film Zootopia really is and we can’t wait to experience it with Giacchino’s brilliant score.
Attending the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Premiere
We pretty much had one personal and professional goal for 2015, and that was make it to the world premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a movie we had been dreaming about since we were tiny. (This is what happens when you’re born the same year Return of the Jedi opens.) There was no way to know what an enormous extravaganza the premiere would eventually turn out to be, with three of Hollywood’s premiere theaters (the Dolby, TCL Chinese and El Capitan) being rented out and connected via a combination red carpet walkway/tent that ran down Hollywood Boulevard. But the complexity of the event made us even more excited to attend. And – thanks to some very lovely people – we made it. It was everything we had hoped for and more. The large tent also served as a gallery of sorts, with props and costumes from the film, along with life-sized LEGO replicas, a model of the BB-8-themed plane, photo opportunities with BB-8 and R2-D2, Disney Infinity consoles, and, during the after party, a choreographed light show where motorized lightsabers were synchronized to the film’s soundtrack. (There were also Stormtroopers patrolling the premises. Undoubtedly to make sure nobody broke the review embargo or was siding with the Resistance.) Everything about the night was unforgettable and unique – from laughing, gasping, and cheering along with an enraptured crowd at the TCL Chinese theater, to the after party where we got to meet people like Colin Trevorrow, director of Star Wars: Episode IX and the Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman. Whatever we were hoping that the Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiere would be, the actual event far exceeded our wildest expectations. Quite frankly, we don’t think that anything like it has ever been attempted and we doubt something like it will be attempted again … until, of course, Star Wars: Episode VIII.
It’s been a truly wonderful year and we want to thank you, our readers, for reading our posts, sharing your thoughts, and making our job extra special. What was your favorite Disney memory this year? Tell us in the comments!
