A Future Without Rules, A World Without Walls...

You can connect, but will you disconnect...








The future isn't written, it's a path...

Media companies have come to rely less and less on the Big Four Networks as time has gone by. The days of sitting down to watch what was on the tube started to crack when Cable came out. Then with various other media sources, HBO, Showtime, etc. it slowly started to release the grip that those few networks had on the content viewers would get.

With the introduction of the Net, the world of Cable suddenly had competition. Not just from websites, but content that could be independently generated. But the promise of the Internet hasn't yet been fully realized. The potential that was there hasn't been able to break apart and show that it can be of the same quality as Network/Cable show.

Until now.

Take a look at this trailer for the new series produced by Brian Singer, entitled "H+" that just premiered. It looks incredibly professional, intriguing, disturbing and high quality. Like something that I'd find on network television or FX, or possibly A&E. But it's not on any of those channels. In fact it's not on a channel at all. It's a digital series that will premiere on YouTube on August 8. And it shows you not only what the future looks like in this apocalyptic series, it shows you what the world will be like in entertainment in the future as well.

I know that the Mouse is experimenting with a Disney YouTube Channel that is supposed to have original content ("Where's My Water," etc.), but they and other media giants need to take note of this kind of platform and focus on it.

It is the future...

ALL THINGS Disney...

Working on the Mouse of the future...





If you're a techno-geek like myself then you follow the conference "All Things D" that is held by Walt Mossberg up in Silicon Valley every year...

Bob Iger spoke there seven years ago before taking the reigns of the Mouse and this year he returned. It's interesting to see his perspective of the changing landscape, not only for Disney, but the entertainment industry. Click here if you'd like to see part of the exchange.

Now, we'll have to wait for D23 to get more details on Shanghai Disneyland...

Iger On Disney...

Call me Bob...







Charlie Rose did a very in depth interview with Disney CEO Bob Iger that has been posted...

No matter if you like him or not, it's a great opportunity to get the man's perspective on Disney, business, the deals he has made and his take on the future that lies ahead.

An interesting viewing...

Everything...

I've always wanted to attend this gathering and especially tonight...

Why tonight? Because this evening at the "All Things D" conference Steven Paul Jobs, Disney's Largest Shareholder, Master of the Universe, Apple CEO and ruler of all that is/are cool will be speaking there for the first time since 2007. If you've never seen an All Things D discussion and you're a tech geek then you're in for a very frank treat. I'm sure when it's all over quotes and some video will start to leak out providing plenty of ink for old and new media alike.

One more thing...

Afterthoughts...

Just some observations/clarifications regarding the news...

I've seen a lot of comments out there regarding the Hong Kong Disneyland's expansion and wanted to give my thoughts about it.

Many people are upset with the introduction of a "Toy Story Land" because it appears too "Carny" to them. Being as how I hate "Dinoland USA" in DAK, I understand how they feel and where they're coming from. But...

I think the reaction to it is based on the preliminary artwork which is as you would expect not what you are used to. The Herbert Ryman styled designs haven't been used much of late when presenting of artwork for future attractions. I don't mean to demean the artist who did these, but the style most Disney fans look forward to are the kind of paintings you see from Byron Jowers, George McGinnis or the late great Peter Ellenshaw. It appears too cartoony, even for a cartoon land and doesn't convey the sense of wonder that these places can provide a ten year old, or someone that has a ten year old inside them. I think this type of art is one of the few things fans didn't like about the "Cars Land" artwork, alas when it's all done the results should look not only beautiful, but stunning in some places as well. I've heard from those that have seen other artwork and have commented how nice it looks, I just guess that the Walt Disney Company will want to bring out more of this slowly and at a later date. But when it comes to the new Toy Story Land, think of it as HKDL's Toon Town. Truthfully, that's essentially what it is. And when it's built it'll attract a large following of kids brought up on Woody and Buzz, not Mickey and Donald... and I'm fine with that. There are limitations to one's desires and you have to understand where they're coming from and who they're trying to appeal to.

Lastly on this, those who have wondered about this in relation to Walt Disney Studios Paris' version of this land would be correct if they thought that this was going to be what they get. It is very close to what will wind up in France with the main difference being that it's inverted. For those that are grammatically challenged to envision that concept, just look at it in a mirror and you'll get an idea of what happening in Europe.

Now, Mystic Point which houses Mystic Manor, well this is what you've been hearing rumors about all this time over the past couple of years. This is the Adventureland themed Haunted Mansion that we were all hearing about. Minus the Omni movers and plus a lot of lazers and flashy magic. This land is my favorite of what was announced. With the addition of The Adventurer's Club as a fine dining restaurant you can expect lush and detail theming around this place. I know many of you were thinking/hoping that this would be just an expansion of Adventureland with the HM should think of this in relation to New Orleans Square and Adventureland in Anaheim. They tend to blend right into one another. The same can be said of Mystic Point. Don't think of it as so much an entirely new land as it is a specialized extent ion of Adventureland.

And that area will lead you right into what will be considered "Frontierland" in Hong Kong Disneyland. Now, it's not called that, but you might as well call it that or at least think of it as such. Just like in Tokyo Disneyland they don't call Frontierland by that name, but instead go by "Westernland" because Japanese tend to not have a concept of what a frontier is. Such will be the case in China, err, scratch that, Hong Kong I mean. Don't want to say anything about the rest of that country since we'll find out soon enough about that. But Grizzly Trail will be HKDL's own unique representation of it. Again, I think the problem is the artwork. If they'd presented a design by Sam McKim then most Disney fans would have been relieved, but they've chosen to go with this simplistic, cartoon look for the presentation. Just so you know, this is not the look of the final land, but simply an artistic mock-up. Now this isn't the end of this land (only the first phase). If you look down below it on that map you'll notice a large swath of land still for construction. That part is reserved for an expanded Grizzly trail or should plans change, a Critter Country or something else. Nothing permanent has been approved, and plans/designs are always fluid, but that area is set aside based on how things happen and how attendance picks up. Or not... but I have a feeling that this plan which gets started next year and gets finished late 2014/early 2015 will make many more locals come to see what a Disney park can offer.

Of course, when it's all done, there'll most likely be competition from the mainland to deal with. But that competition will be quite a bit different than HKDL and it'll also have to be in a much later post...

The End Of The Beginning Of The End...

Today "Toy Story Midway Mania" opens up at the Paradise Pier area in Disney's California Adventure...

It's a new day. A new dawn for a park that was badly under-funded, under-themed, under-built and under-planned.

Let this be the start of something big... something magical that turns this park into a true "Disney Park".

What Becomes Of Junior...

I've been planning on writing this as a follow up to my post about the future of Star Wars exactly one month ago today...

After seeing the latest adventure of Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. my analysis is somewhat colored. As I mentioned in the Star Wars piece, when someone eventually takes over Lucasfilm, Vader and Kenobi aren't the only characters that could be affected. Indiana Jones will play a part in that equation as well...

He is an iconic figure like James Bond, John McClane or even newer action hero Jason Bourne. He WILL live on. It's simply a matter of how and what formats. Unlike Bond, I don't see them recasting Indiana Jones. As much as I love Sean Connery and realize 007 doesn't just belong to him, I can't imagine them casting someone other than Harrison Ford to wear that Fedora. There is no way you could embalm the charisma and charm that Ford brings to the role with another actor.

I could see them creating an animated series, although I don't want them to create a CG version. If they were to try something hyper-realistic like "Beowulf" it would just seem weird and creepy. My own take would be for them to do something like "Batman: The Animated Series" and possibly pay a homage to the cartoons of that 30's/40's time period that the Indy films lives in. The Batman series mimicked the Max Fleischer cartoons of that period and a series with Dr. Jones could go well with that style too.

I'm sure we'll still have theme park rides as long as guest keep coming. There will always be room for Indy comics, from Dark Horse's version of the character with stories such as "Indiana Jones & The Tomb of the Gods" or Marvel Comics with their "Further Adventures of Indiana Jones" series featuring a great start off with "The Ikons of Ikammanen” by John Byrne and Terry Austin or the excellent "The Fourth Nail" story by David Michelinie and Kerry Gammill. There are clearly enough stories that can be created for a compelling character like this. Lucas himself commissioned at least three or four scripts before he settled(wrongly, IMO) on "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"(I'll have more on these Indy scripts later this summer).

I'm not even mentioning the novels and other things that Lucasfilm and whoever winds up owning it could create to keep this character alive and relevant. The big difference between Star Wars and Indiana Jones is that Star Wars exist in a universe waiting to be discovered and Indy exist in our own world and what he finds there is what we rediscover from our own past. While the SW Universe is an environment made for exploring, Indiana Jones tales are character based stories in which we're invested in the lead character. The fun of these adventures is always in finding out where he goes and how he reacts to the situations he finds himself in.

In the future, once Lucas has let go of the tight reigns he keeps on his company and his creations, we'll hopefully get to see this character explored in some new ways... just not in anymore movies. The treasure in those films has been plundered. The chamber of ideas has been stolen by a grave robber named Lucas and Indy is too old to go after him. It's up to others to restore the magic that is Indiana Jones. Someday, someone out there will do that... I hope that it's someone that loves this character as much as I... maybe that could even be the Mouse. Then again, maybe not.

Time will tell...

Work In Progress...

Yeah, I know...

I've gotten a lot of response to the latest "Blue Sky Buzz" update about Walt Disney World. Both here in the comments section and in my e-mails I've received an earful. Both positive and negative. But I just wanted to clear up some things...

First off, I haven't turned into one of those raving negative nabobs we have mentioned quite a bit. Second, I'm still not a tool for the Walt Disney Company, no matter what you think. And lastly, I wanted to address what I believe is a pivotal time for the Mouse, its Shareholders and its fans.

Everyone that's read my posts knows that I'm no fan of Jay Rasulo. I believe he's the single-most impediment to the theme parks shining and blooming under the watchful eye of some great Imagineers and John Lasseter's guidance. Thankfully Lasseter is there to counter many(but not all) of the boneheaded decisions he has made or at least wanted to make. If it was up to Jay the Finding Nemo Submarine ride wouldn't have been anywhere near as elaborate as the one we got. It would have been more along the lines of an aquatic version of DCA's Monsters Inc. ride. The budget alone would have been close to half what it wound up costing. Now I'm sure that would have save the Disneyland Resort a great deal of money, but it would have also cost it with the amount of guest coming to ride it... and even more so when having them return to ride it again. Those two hour lines people have had to wait in to ride it wouldn't be there, but neither would the desire to stand in an even shorter line for a mediocre attraction. And let's not get me started about what Toy Story Midway Mania would have wound up looking like had Lasseter not dove in to make sure this attraction had all the bells and whistles it needed to be a supremely fun, elaborate "D-Ticket". Lasseter has been the buoy that has kept many projects alive and his direct link to Iger has prevented Jay from screwing up a lot of projects.

While I may be frustrated by the cloning of "The Little Mermaid" attraction, I am happy that MK is getting an extremely nice addition to the park. I just wished it was one of several other rides that have been proposed and brushed off by WDW park management. Heck, I'd be happy if they went ahead with a Mermaid ride, but had it be different than the one DCA is getting. What looks like will happen is a repeat of TSMM with the same ride being built in both parks housed in entirely different buildings. Maybe if there is a bright side, if the attraction gives the park a boost maybe some of those Suits will figure out that more attractions, better attractions will actually help the park. I'm not holding my breath, but that's what I hope happens... then maybe one of two or three really cool attractions they've pitched will also be added to the World and we won't have such a long drought like we had between Splash Mountain and The Little Mermaid.

As for all the questions I got about Cars Land, I can't put it in writing, but it will be very difficult to clone. It is a whole land after all, not just a ride. There are no plans to add lands to WDW's parks so I really don't see it happening. Add to that the emphasis Lasseter and Weis have wanted to give the parks in California. See they believe somewhat in my idea about the parks being unique... but even they are not all powerful. Sometimes Rasulo gets his way. I'm just praying Lasseter keeps amassing power so that in a year or two he's able to walk Jay Rasulo to the door and nudge him or kick him out of it. Much of the management change at WDI has been for the good, but in the Parks and Resorts division of the Mouse there are still too many Suits left over from the past regime. I can't say for sure, but I know that Lasseter does recognize some of the problems with this management. I'm crossing my fingers that "Wall-E" and "Up" and "Bolt" wind up giving him the clout to sweep this crew out of Burbank, Orlando and Anaheim. Maybe they can stop by the unemployment office and chat with Paul Pressler as they search for a new job.

I will say that there are a lot of things that are going to be coming to the parks over the next four or five years that are really cool. Some things are moving through the proposal phase in Glendale that wouldn't have even been possible three years ago. Lasseter and his crew are busy trying to rid the place of the toxic atmosphere that has built up over the last decade and I'm a realist about it. This will take a long time. Perhaps it wont even be done for another decade. Perhaps it won't ever be done. But I can tell you it's moving in the right direction. It takes detours every now and again and sometimes there are stumbles, but I feel that WDI is making progress. It's not as much headway as he's done with the animation division, but that is his primary element. Once he's proven they're on the right track, he'll be able to devote more attention to the makeovers not only in the parks, but in the halls and walls of Glendale as well.

Sometimes magic happens slowly and maybe even I'm a little more impatient than I should be...

The Shape Of Things To Come...

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."

- Alan Kay


Imagine this...

You arrive at the gates of Disneyland ready to ride all your old favorites and the new ones that have been blared in advertising all over the place. As you go through the turnstile you're amazed at how light the crowds are. You're also curious that all the tourist are dressed the way you would like them to be instead of the normal traveler in a shirt too small. You brush it off and start walking toward the berm. A lovely park CM smiles at you and asks if you'd like to take a survey. You brush her off and nod as you walk under the rail road tracks and head down Main Street U.S.A.

You smell the air. The fresh aroma of sweets and other foods make your mouth water. Looking around you realize how vibrant the flowers are, how sweet they smell, how clean the streets are, how... perfect everything is.

Perfect.

And not a custodial worker in sight. Walking toward Sleeping Beauty Castle you take in the lovely view of the buildings. The lights you remember being on the roof as a kid are no longer there. The street seems wider than it used to. Either that, or perhaps the smaller crowd makes it seem so. As you get in front of the castle you suddenly realize that you'd like to take a picture. A tap on your shoulder...

Another friendly CM smiles at you and says: "Where would you like to stand, sir?" You smile and point to an area perfect for a framed photo. You stand on the exact spot and flash your pearly whites as the CM says: "Say Mickey!" Once the flash is over he smiles and walks away. You start to go through the castle but stop, something is wrong. Something isn't quite right... You look up into the sky and say: "City Hall?"

A kind and soothing voice purrs up: "Yes, Mr. Hunter? How can I help you?"

Looking around you say: "I really think the park is too sparse... could you put more customers in here, it just doesn't feel right."

City Hall: "I'm sorry for any inconvenience, Mr. Hunter. I thought you requested a light crowd today." A moment later: "How's that?"

You look around and notice that there are now quite a few more patrons, almost double in fact.

Smiling, you say: "Perfect"

Just then the slow, humming sound of a phone pipes in. You wave your hand and motion...

"City Hall, I'm going to have to take this call. I'll return shortly."

City Hall: "Very good, sir. Hurry back."

You notice a holographic tachometer appear next to you that reads... "Twenty-three hours remaining left on One Day Pass. Click here if you'd like to extend your stay."

Everything beautiful around you fades to black. You click your phone and answer it: "Hello?"

And so would be a typical experience to the Disneyland park you may enter in the future. This would be a "true" Virtual Magic Kingdom. But is it just around the corner?

Of course not! But it may be what you could expect to experience when Tony Baxter's Tomorrowland 2055 becomes just another year in the park. It's far off, but it's not far out.

Trust me...

In the meantime there are plenty of technologies that WDI and the Mouse in general are working on to make you wonder how they did it. You've seen the demo of the new Mr. Potato Head and several other new interactive attractions. The new AA's in the Cars Land area will be some of the most advanced Imagineers have ever come up with. Some capable of truly, mesmerizing qualities. Several of the "E-Tickets" that the Mouse will come out with during the next decade will show how technology has changed/evolved/advanced in telling a story.

I know some of you bemoan the inter-activeness of TSMM and I've got bad news for you... it's going to increase. There will be more technology used in attractions and everything in general to provide a more immersive environment. Does this mean that we'll no longer have any passive attractions like "Small World" or "Pirates" or "Haunted Mansion"? Of course not. There are several things WDI is working on that involve these types of experiences, but the (Disney)world we'll live in will be one in which the guest play a more active part.

Think of the Muppets attraction that was at DCA a while back or the PUSH character that roams around the Golden State area of the park. Sometime early next year well see a much more advanced version of this as these and much more detailed characters(from both films and original) roam about the park interacting with guest. I'd say based on the success of a certain film later this summer we can expect to see a prototype character out and about in Tomorrowland quite soon(ahem).

Lasseter is really trying to change the culture of WDI so that it works on fostering creativity and not fostering paranoia about whose getting fired. It's a hard job, but he knows it will take time to undo the structural chaos that Michael Eisner built up to have Imagineers fighting with one another. Many of these projects are team projects used to foster a collective sense of pride in creating something... this is a feeling that WDI hasn't had for the most part since the early 90's. We may be seeing the early, low hanging fruit of some of these projects in a year or maybe two, but the vast majority of these new design initiatives that will keep Disney ahead of other parks won't be seen until early next decade. 2011 anyone? I know, I know, saying that makes some of you go bonkers... but it's true. More like 2011/2012 or 2013 is when these things will really start to flow and transform the parks. By then Lasseter will be deep into his ruling of the Glendale Kingdom and if the choices he's made as Mouse Animation Czar are good ones(read: lots of moola) then he'll have an extremely large amount of autonomy within the company. Not only animation or Imagineering, but consumer products and live-action as well(but that's another story for another day). I'd venture to say that should things go well, John Lasseter will have the most power of any Disney official since Walt himself. Iger will be running the company of course, but the stock holders will be very lenient on Lasseter should his golden touch from Pixar rub off on the Mouse and Iger knows this...

But don't fret about these plans should they come about... Bob Iger and John Lasseter aren't trying to remake the world, just stay up to speed with it. To be relevant and dominate entertainment. As we move into the 21st century the taste of guest change. I can say I would have never thought I'd see certain things at the parks. Some films/rides don't appeal to my demographic. They're simply not for me, but my taste don't have to be catered to exclusively in Disney's global strategy.

It's a big enough small world out there for you, me and many, many others. Just realize that it's a bright enough future to sit back and welcome what is awaiting us...

Batting 500...

It's hard to believe it, but this is the 500th post I've made to this little blog since November 2006 when I started it on a whim. Some have been better than others but I've enjoyed posting everyone of them... warts and all.

I want to thank everyone that comes hear to hear my opinions and the rumors and news we post... I never thought I'd get many people who would want to look at my rantings so I'm a little overwhelmed.

We've hopefully got some surprises and big(for me, at least) announcements in the coming months. 2008 is shaping up to be quite a year.