Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

As the somber news of the death of Apple visionary Steve Jobs echoes through every corner of the Internet, where talk of Macs and iPods and iPhones and iPads abound, Disney fans mourn the passing of the man without whom Pixar would never have existed.

In 1986, it was Jobs who purchased Lucasfilm's computer graphics division for $10 million to form Pixar. Initially a struggling computer hardware company, Pixar eventually found its niche in digital animation, ultimately partnering with Disney to produce Toy Story, A Bugs Life and a host of immensely successful computer animated films.

When Disney bought Pixar in 2006, Jobs became Disney's largest shareholder and joined its board of directors, a position he held until his death today at age 56.

Disney and Pixar both issued statements honoring the memory of this great creative innovator.

‎Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. 

Steve was such an 'original,' with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. 

With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time. 

Robert Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company

Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar's DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.

John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer & Ed Catmull, President, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios

The Mouse Castle extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Steve Jobs.


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Disney Classics in 3D: Stop the Madness!

Beauty and the Beast

Well, $80 million certainly got Disney's attention, didn't it?

Following The Lion King's astounding movie box office returns during its just-concluded run in 3D, Disney announced Tuesday it would give the 3D treatment to four other films and release them in limited theatrical engagements during 2012 and 2013.

The blatant cash grab continues.

Since it already completed a two-week run in 3D at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood last month, Beauty and the Beast will be the first one of the four to hit theaters on January 13, 2012. Pixar's Finding Nemo will follow on September 14. In 2013, Monsters Inc. will take its turn on January 18, five months before its new prequel, Monsters University, debuts. The Little Mermaid will finish up the series on September 13.

Finding Nemo

If Disney sticks to past practice, the good news is we'll have beautiful new Blu-ray releases of Nemo and Mermaid following their theatrical runs (Beast and Monsters Inc are already available on Blu-ray, although I'm sure we'll see them reissued in a Combo Pack that includes a 3D disc). The bad news is Disney will continue to over-saturate the already bloated--and mostly unnecessary--3D movie market. And it'll do it at the expense of films that are perfectly fine as is.

When I was growing up, in the era before home video, Disney would regularly re-release its classic animated films in theaters every seven years or so. This is how I was introduced to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia and many other great Disney films. If Disney were to take this route with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, I would cheer. These are magical movies that I would gladly see again on the big screen, but in their original 2D form, not in a gimmicky 3D retrofit.

The Little Mermaid

Yes, I know, The Lion King re-release was also shown in 2D and these upcoming releases likely will be as well. Sadly, that's not the point. The fact that Disney feels compelled to trick out its classic film library in 3D to somehow stay relevant to modern audiences is insulting to both moviegoers and to the artists and animators who originally made these films. Your work is no longer good enough. We're going to make it "better"--and charge people premium prices to see it.

I passed on The Lion King during its latest theatrical run. I plan on doing the same for these next four films. Call it my (not-so) silent protest against tampering with movies that were never intended to be seen in 3D to begin with.

Enough already.

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Walt Disney World 1977: A Nostalgic Look Back

1977 Walt Disney World guide

“I love the nostalgic myself. I hope we never lose some of the things of the past.” – Walt Disney

With Walt Disney World celebrating its 40th birthday yesterday, I decided to rummage through some old Disney photos. I came across these pics from June 1977 when I took my first trip to Walt Disney World with my family. I had just turned 15 and received a Kodak Instamatic camera for my birthday (forget Instagram all you iPhone users, I had the real thing). For serious photographers, it was a toy camera, but to me it was the most awesome gadget ever. The camera took 126 film cartridges and required an 8-bulb Flip Flash if you were shooting at night or indoors (if you don't know what I'm talking about, Google is your friend). It even had alphabet stickers so I could put my initials on the back. How cool was that?

I'm sure I still have that old Instamatic stored away in a box somewhere. I loved that thing and used it for many years. As you'll see below, it took some fairly decent pictures.

I made the trip to Walt Disney World with my mom and my sister. My dad had died suddenly in 1976 and this would be the last family vacation the three of us would take before my sister went away to college. By the end of the summer, my mom and I would move to Orlando, where I graduated from high school in 1980.

During those three years in Florida, mom and I made a lot of trips to Walt Disney World. This first one will always be my favorite.

Once upon a time, there was only one theme park inside Walt Disney World.
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom.

One of the few shots of Cinderella Castle I took during the trip. Film
cost money (remember film? HA!) and exposures were limited.
We're spoiled by digital cameras these days--and, boy, do I appreciate it.

A rare picture of my mom (and me) on Cinderella's Golden Carrousel.
To say she hated to have her picture taken was a huge understatement.
Try loathed, despised. I did not inherit that trait from her.

Gone, but not forgotten:  the Nautilus cruises 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Fantasyland's great E-ticket ride.

My buddy Tigger and I in front of the entrance to Adventureland.

Once upon a time, the entrance to Tomorrowland was an inviting blue and
white with cascading water.

"Presented by America's Investor-Owned Electric Companies": the WEDway
PeopleMover...with the StarJets circling above.

"Row five, green light to go!" Long before it was the Tomorrowland Speedway, it
was the Grand Prix Raceway.

A view of the Grand Prix Raceway from the Walt Disney World Railroad
with the Skyway in the background (sigh).

From the Monorail, a slightly blurry Space Mountain.

The Contemporary Resort Hotel, still my favorite hotel at Walt Disney World.
The Monorail goes right through the middle of it, hello!

The Polynesian Village Resort Hotel. On the left, you can see the Oahu
Longhouse under construction. It was later renamed "Tokelau."

My sister and I about to take a cruise on the Seven Seas Lagoon in a mini speedboat.

Pioneer Hall, perpetual home to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.

Forget Typhoon Lagoon. Forget Blizzard Beach. The best water park ever at
Walt Disney World was River Country on the shores of Bay Lake.

Slippery Slide Falls at River Country. That's me on the left about to take the plunge.

Before branding and commercialism took over, the Downtown Disney
Marketplace was simply known as the Village at Lake Buena Vista,
full of quaint shops and restaurants. Fulton's Crab House used to be
the uber-classy Empress Lilly (named for Walt Disney's wife Lillian),
home of three restaurants: the Steerman's Quarters, the Fisherman's Deck
and the Empress Room. The Baton Rouge Lounge served up some
mighty fine cocktails too.

Happy 40th Birthday Walt Disney World!

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