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Best Food Values at Disneyland Resort

By
Chip
-

Best Food Values at Disneyland Resort

Economy-minded vacationers will find plenty of choices for delicious dining that won’t break the budget.  Think beyond hot dogs and hamburgers.  Here are some interesting picks for inexpensive dining ($10 or less) at the Disneyland Resort:

At Disneyland Park

  • Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland (bacon-wrapped asparagus, vegetable, chicken or beef skewers)
  • Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland (four cheese enchiladas with red chile sauce)
  • Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A. (a bowl of loaded baked potato soup)
  • Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland (fish ‘n chips)
  • Hungry Bear in Critter Country (grilled chicken Caesar, veggie burger, turkey club)
  • Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port in Tomorrowland (slice of veggie pizza, tomato-basil pasta)
  • Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square (gumbo in a sourdough bowl)
  • Tomorrowland Terrace (grilled veggie sandwich, fresh fruit plate)

 

At Disney’s California AdventurePark

  • Wine Country Trattoria in the Golden State (caprese salad, chef’s soup)
  • Lucky Fortune Cookery (Asian rice bowl with beef, chicken or tofu)
  • Pacific Wharf Café (Santa Rosa corn chowder, Vallejo vegetarian chili served in sourdough bowls)
  • Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill (tamales and tacos)
  • Taste Pilot’s Grill, Golden State Condor Flats (three large pork ribs, fries and slaw)

 

At Disneyland Hotel

  • The Coffee House (chef salad, ham and cheese sandwich)

 

At Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

  • PCH Grill (one-third-pound Angus burgers, club sandwich, grilled chicken breast sandwich, skinny melt with beef or turkey patty on bed of grilled zucchini and caramelized onions)

 

At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

  • White Water Snacks (veggie burger, nachos, personal pizzas)
  • Storyteller’s Café (at lunch, corn chowder, chicken quesadilla, sticky ribs with soba salad)

 

At Downtown Disney District

  • House of Blues (chicken shrimp gumbo, crispy catfish nuggets, spicy calamari, chicken quesadillas.)
  • La Brea Bakery Express (soup in a sourdough bread bowl, various sandwiches and salads)
  • Napolini (paninis, baked pasta, pizza by the slice)
  • Rain Forest Café (buffalo wings, chili con queso)
  • Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express (jambalaya, gumbo, po’ boy sandwiches)
  • Tortilla Jo’s Taqueria (tacos, burritos, nachos)
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Best Food Values at Disneyland Resort

Walt Disney Pictures and Autodesk Sign XGen Technology License Agreement

By
Chip
-

Walt Disney Pictures and Autodesk Sign XGen Technology License Agreement

At SIGGRAPH 2011, Autodesk, Inc. and Walt Disney Pictures announced an agreement to bring an innovative animation and visual effects technology to the Digital Entertainment Creation community. Autodesk obtained a license with a five-year exclusivity period for the XGen Arbitrary Primitive Generator technology (XGen), used most recently by Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) in the hit animated film “Tangled.”

XGen technology was first presented by WDAS in a research paper at SIGGRAPH in 2003 for the creation of computer-generated fur, feathers and foliage. Since that time, XGen has evolved and been refined on seven features, three shorts and one TV show. It has been used to create the fur, hair, feathers, trees, leaves and rocks in “Bolt,” the trees and bushes in “UP,” the dust bunnies, debris, trees, bushes, clover and flowers in “Toy Story 3,” and the grass and trees in “Cars 2.” In “Tangled,” WDAS used XGen to bring the lavish 3D animated world to life: from Rapunzel’s perfectly groomed golden locks to the film’s lush, vegetation-filled landscapes, including bushes, flowers, vines, grass, weeds, moss, thistle, ground mulch, fallen leaves, sticks, rocks, butterfly fur, airborne dust, leaves and trees, plus props such as roof tiles, arrow fletchings, a broom and paint brushes.

XGen is a comprehensive system for generating arbitrary primitives on a surface. The system advances the state-of-the-art in the industry in several ways with its versatility, durability and impact. XGen allows techno-artistic access to interpolation in an intuitive manner for artists, empowering them with a powerful and flexible framework for primitive generation, which is highly art directable. The genesis of XGen was a collaboration between the WDAS production and software teams to provide its artists with intuitive, creative tools for 3D animation — such as “grooming” tools for fur and hair — so that they can develop the look and feel of their characters and environments more quickly and easily. Senior Development Software Engineer at WDAS Tom Thompson was an initial creator and remains the chief architect of the software. Walt Disney Pictures’ agreement with Autodesk will enable Autodesk to make this technology available to artists to create digital entertainment.

“Twenty years ago, visual effects artists creating computer graphics were mostly mathematicians and scientists using highly technical and complex software tools that required significant amounts of custom programming,” explained Chief Technology Officer Andy Hendrickson, Walt Disney Animation Studios. “Back then, off-the-shelf software could not create the required details of nuance and emotion. Today, we were able to create XGen as an effective artistic tool because Autodesk provides studios like ours with comprehensive tools and a flexible, extensible platform to develop on. The Autodesk customizable toolset helps visual effects artists do their best work.”

“A key challenge in the visual effects industry continues to be the need to constantly evolve creatively while somehow controlling rapidly escalating production costs,” said Marc Petit, senior vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. “To help customers better address this challenge, Autodesk has been working with industry leaders like Walt Disney Animation Studios to help them innovate faster and to make these new technologies more broadly accessible. Digital Entertainment Creation users are sure to benefit from developments designed by industry visionaries and proven in production.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios Director of Studio Technology Dan Candela said, “A primary focus for my team is to ensure that the production pipeline is streamlined in order to efficiently produce the best possible CG animation. With Autodesk’s Maya as a core piece of our toolset, we’ve developed over 100 plug-ins and extensions for the platform to enable our artists to create a movie of the quality of ‘Tangled’ within necessary time and budgetary limits. Sharing our technology with the VFX and CG animation community raises the creative bar for the entire industry.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios has contributed many innovations to the entertainment industry, including the open source projects: SeExpr, Reposado, munki and Partio. Over the past two years, Autodesk has integrated two other WDAS technologies into its software, the Maya Camera Sequencer and Ptex. The animation studio’s Camera Sequencer was introduced in Autodesk Maya 2011 3D animation software and provides powerful multicamera editorial capabilities for previsualization and virtual moviemaking. WDAS’ Ptex texture mapping system was incorporated into Maya 2012 and Autodesk Mudbox 2012 digital sculpting and texture painting software. With the single-step interoperability between Maya and Mudbox in the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suites, Ptex enables artists to create highly detailed, textured models more quickly and efficiently.

The Software team at Walt Disney Animation Studios has continued its contributions to the animation and visual effects community by making technology available as open source software for use across the entertainment industry. The studio has a history of technological innovation and advances the use of open source software. Concurrently, Autodesk continues to work with the industry to help in the broader adoption of open source initiatives, such as Ptex, Alembic and OpenEXR, as a means of increasing production efficiency through greater standardization.

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Disney Presents Best-Selling Authors, Exclusive Giveaways, And Interactive Surprises At D23 Expo

By
Chip
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Disney Presents Best-Selling Authors, Exclusive Giveaways, And Interactive Surprises At D23 Expo

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) invites families and fans to experience The Wonderful Words of Disney. Guests have the opportunity to attend exclusive sessions with renowned children’s authors, listen to timeless stories read live, and explore the ultimate Disney fan’s dream library at the ultimate Disney fan event, D23 Expo, taking place at Anaheim Convention Center from August 19–21, 2011.

Guests will be able to immerse themselves in The Wonderful Words of Disney (booth #702), where classic tales and new adventures come to life. With beanbag chairs, great reads, and kiosks featuring loaded tablets and smartphones, fans can peruse Disney’s vast library of books featuring beloved characters from Mickey Mouse to Buzz Lightyear—and series including Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The Kingdom Keepers. Disney Publishing Worldwide’s latest books and magazines—including the brand-new It’s a Small World publishing program, Phineas and Ferb magazines, the Captain America special interest publication, learning products including School Skills workbooks, and the recently launched Cars 2 Read and Race app—will be on hand for guests to read and enjoy.

On Friday, August 19, in the Disney Channel booth, fans of all ages are invited to join Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry and noted New York Times best-selling author Ridley Pearson, co-authors of the Peter and the Starcatchers series of prequels to Peter Pan, along with beloved Jake and the Never Land Pirates characters Jake, Captain Hook, and Mr. Smee, for a celebration of the power of imagination and the magic of Disney storytelling. This event also includes an appearance by actor David Arquette (the voice of Skully in the hit Disney Junior series Jake and the Never Land Pirates) and a special announcement from The Walt Disney Company Corporate Citizenship team.

In addition, storytellers will read Disney favorites on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Disney Publishing booth, including the Winnie the Pooh and Cars 2 Read-Along digital books, The Ballad of Nessie by Kieran Lachlan, and The Little Golden Book Tangled.

Exclusive giveaways include a high-quality print in honor of the late Disney artist Mary Blair, a chance to win two parks passes through the Disney English referral program, and a special card to download a “Build-a-Roller-coaster” app.

Additional highlights of DPW’s lineup at D23 Expo 2011 include:

  • Don Hahn Reveals “Why We Create” (August 19, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) – In a fascinating discussion, filmmaker, Academy Award-nominated producer, and author Don Hahn reveals insights into the creative process using classic Disney images, world-renowned art, advertisements, and music to share his inspirations and knowledge.
  • Behind the Page with Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (August 20, 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.) – These highly entertaining best-selling authors will discuss the blockbuster series Peter & The Starcatchers, with focus on the new book, The Bridge to Never Land.
  • Ridley Pearson Presents Kingdom Keepers (August 19, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) – In this presentation, Ridley will discuss the series and reveal his behind-the-scenes experiences at the Disney Parks while researching the New York Times best-selling books.
  • It’s a Small World Story Time and Pen Pal Program (August 19, 11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.) – Listen to a live reading from the It’s a Small World picture book and the Hello World! book, followed by a very special opportunity to become pen pals with a Disney English student based in China.

Tickets to the D23 Expo are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo, including the Disney Legends Ceremony, and can be purchased for single days or for the full three days of festivities. Admission is $47 for a one-day adult ticket and $37 for children 3–12. Three-day passes are $136 for adults and $106 for children. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will receive a discount for up to four admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests.

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Around the “Disney” World – Pixar Place

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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hollywood studios

Disney Hollywood’s Studios newest area is Pixar Place.   Once the Disney Co. officially acquired Pixar and not just the rights to some of their movies, Walt Disney World decided to give the Pixar family their own home.  Styled after the Pixar Animation building in California, Pixar Place welcomes guests with the friendly Pixar Place sign and luxo jr. sitting atop the street sign for “Pixar Place.”

Pixar Place is home to Toy Story Midway Mania, a fantastic arcade-style video game, and directly across the street is a Toy Story meet and greet with characters like Buzz and Woody, posing “on Andy’s bed.”  Located near the entrance of Pixar Place is another attracted, Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian, a walk-through attraction filled with scenes, costumes, and props from the Chronicles of Narnia movies.

Another walk-through attraction, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream is also located near the Pixar Place entrance.  Originally created by D23, this attraction is a museum of Walt Disney, complete with a mock up of his office, original characters and artifacts from Walt Disney’s life.

Pixar Place also has a snack kiosk and a few places to purchase mostly Pixar souvenirs.  If you’re lucky, you’ll also have a run in with Andy’s green toy soldiers as they march through the streets.  Pixar Place is a must-see area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Around the "Disney" World - Pixar Place

“The Odd Life of Timothy Green” First Look

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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"The Odd Life of Timothy Green" First Look
Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

“Like” THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OddLifeMovie
Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPictures
Official site: http://www.disney.com/oddlife

Cast: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Ron Livingston, Dianne Wiest, Odeya Rush, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, M. Emmet Walsh, Lois Smith and Common
Director: Peter Hedges
Producers: Ahmet Zappa, Scott Sanders, Jim Whitaker
Executive Producers: John Cameron, Mara Jacobs
Story by: Ahmet Zappa
Screenplay by: Peter Hedges

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Hollywood’s Biggest Names Bring Walt Disney World Attractions to Life

By
Chip
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How many times have you been on a Disney Parks attraction and said, “Hey, that guy looks familiar!” or “I recognize her voice”? Disney love how Imagineers seamlessly work celebrities into some of our favorite attractions. It can add additional layers to the storytelling as well as the enjoyment a guest experiences when they have the “Ah ha!” moment of, “Hey, that’s Jamie Lee Curtis playing against Ellen DeGeneres on ‘Jeopardy!’”

Ellen's Energy Adventure at Walt Disney World Resort

To celebrate the new issue of Disney twenty-three magazine in honor of Walt Disney World Resort’s 40th anniversary, D23 chatted with some of the incredible talent who appear on and in attractions around the Orlando resort. Currently featured on the D23 website is Illeana Douglas (Ghost World, Goodfellas, Cape Fear), who plays the hilarious rock band manager on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. She told us she was shocked when she was asked to be a part of the high-speed attraction. “At first I thought it was a joke,” she said. “Growing up, Aerosmith was my favorite band ever!”

Journey Into Imagination with Figment at Walt Disney World Resort

Disney also chatted with Eric Idle who contributed his talents to two Epcot attractions (Journey into Imagination With Figment and Honey I Shrunk the Audience), who is thrilled to a part of Disney history. “I love being able to appear fifteen times a day without having to turn up!” he joked.

Coming up this week we have exclusive interviews with two other big-name talents, including an actress who experienced an Alien Encounter and an actor who sent guests careening into space by giving voice to a lovable robot. We’ll finish up the series with a round up of stories and quotes from a dozen other stars (including a mischievous pirate, a chief flight attendant and lovable bug)! You’ll be able to find them all on the D23 website.

Source Disney Parks Blog

Hollywood’s Biggest Names Bring Walt Disney World Attractions to Life

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Wednesday with Walt: Chocolate Soda Please

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Wednesday with Walt: Chocolate Soda Please

Walt Disney was a warm, sincere, friendly and fun-loving guy. He liked to entertain more than he liked being entertained. I think that was because of his giving spirit. Walt and Lillian weren’t into the Hollywood social scene. Rather than being found out on the town at any lavish soiree or cocktail party, they were more likely to be at home with close family and friends playing games. Walt liked relaxing with people he was comfortable with and he liked entertaining his guests.

Walt is said to have had a giant sweet tooth (I can sympathize) and as such he had insatiable cravings for ice cream sodas and candy bars. He was known to have colorful jars of candy to share all over his studio office and his pride and joy at his Holmby Hills home (aside from his train) was the soda fountain in his club room, complete with all the extras and attachments. Walt loved playing soda jerk for his family and friends. He would make ice cream sodas and the biggest banana splits anyone ever saw, according to those who were lucky enough to benefit from his sweet tooth genius. One such person was Disney Animator, Ward Kimball, who said, “Walt would get behind the counter of his soda fountain, which was his boyhood dream come true. He’d have all these different flavors of ice cream, and he’d make these big tall things with whipped cream and cherries. They’d be a mile high!”

Walt was also happy about the fact that the club room was a fun place for his girls to entertain their friends. His daughter, Sharon, said he was known to make gooey concoctions of all kinds. Walt would “gripe” about supplying the whole neighborhood with sodas at his expense. Truth be known, he was happy his daughters were at home and had their friends visit there where he knew they were safe.

True to Walt’s style, his trying to “plus” one concoction after another sometimes developed into creations that no one would try, not even him. He did have a favorite though, a chocolate soda. During the planning phase of the 100 Years of Magic Celebration at WDW in 2000, several Disney chefs were asked to come up with recipes for Walt’s favorite desserts. Unveiled at the celebration, which was held in honor of what would have been Walt’s 100th birthday, was this recipe for the sweet soda treat Walt enjoyed so much. Chef Wendt Welcovitz of The Plaza Restaurant came up with the recipe. I hope you will try it at your next gathering of family and friends too — maybe you can sip it while enjoying a great Disney movie!

Walt’s Favorite Chocolate Soda

Served at: The Plaza Restaurant
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
1/3 cup chocolate syrup
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
6 ounces soda or seltzer water
Maraschino cherry

Instructions:
Pour chocolate syrup in the bottom of an 8-ounce milk shake glass.
Smoosh in 1 scoop of ice cream.
Slowly pour in soda water almost to top of glass.
Perch another scoop of ice cream on top.
Add a cherry and a colorful straw or two.

Nutrition Information: Serving Size 1 (171g); Recipe makes 2 servings

Calories 280; Calories from Fat 76; Total Fat 8.5g; Saturated Fat 4.5g; Monounsaturated Fat 3.0g; Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g; Trans Fat 0.0g; Cholesterol 16mg; Sodium 207mg; Potassium 301mg; Total Carbohydrate 48.5g; Dietary Fiber 1.7g; Sugars 32.2g; Protein 3.6g; Vitamin A 160mcg; Vitamin B6 0.1mg; Vitamin B12 0.3mcg; Vitamin C 0mg; Vitamin E 1mcg; Calcium 98mg; Iron 0mg. Weight Watchers Plus Points = 8.

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The Walt Disney Studios Takes Fans Behind The Scenes At Disney’s D23 Expo, August 19-21

By
Chip
-

The Walt Disney Studios Takes Fans Behind The Scenes At Disney’s D23 Expo, August 19-21

Exclusively at Disney’s D23 Expo August 19-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Disney film fans will go behind the scenes to explore the exciting roster of projects on the horizon at The Walt Disney Studios, with a variety of panel discussions, sneak peeks, and exhibits.

On Saturday, August 20, Rich Ross, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios; Sean Bailey, president, Production, The Walt Disney Studios; John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios; and Kevin Feige, producer and president, Marvel Studios, will present a not-to-be-missed look at The Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming film slate, which includes Disney’s The Muppets, John Carter, Disney•Pixar’s Brave, Marvel’s The Avengers, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, Oz: The Great and Powerful, and more.

With projects from Disney, Pixar Animation Studios, and Marvel Studios, this special presentation will feature never-before-seen footage and all-star appearances by Jason Segel, Kermit, and Miss Piggy (Disney’s The Muppets), Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, and Willem Dafoe (John Carter), Kelly Macdonald and Kevin McKidd (Brave), Jennifer Garner (The Odd Life of Timothy Green), Jack McBrayer and Sarah Silverman (Wreck-It Ralph), cast members from Marvel’s The Avengers, and other surprise guests.

In celebration of 25 years of moviemaking magic, five sessions will be devoted to the artistry and technical wizardry of Pixar:

  • A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team – Enjoy a rare opportunity to spend some time with the key figures responsible for Pixar’s unprecedented success, including John Lasseter (chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), Jim Morris (general manager, Pixar Animation Studios), Pete Docter (director, Monsters, Inc., Up), Andrew Stanton (director, Finding Nemo, WALL-E), Bob Peterson (co-director, Up), Lee Unkrich (director, Toy Story 3), Mark Andrews (director, Brave), and Dan Scanlon (director, Monsters University).
  • The Characters of Monsters University – Director Dan Scanlon and Production Designer Ricky Nierva discuss how they combine hair, horns, and a lot of heart to bring the wonderful Monsters University characters to life.
  • Michael Giacchino’s Music of Pixar – In this musical presentation, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino explores his early influences through the creation of modern-day classic scores from Ratatouille, Up and Cars 2.
  • The Art of Brave – Production Designer Steve Pilcher and Shading Art Director Tia Kratter show how they and their team put paint to canvas and fingers to computer keys to create the stunning visuals of Scotland for Disney•Pixar’s upcoming film Brave.
  • Pixar Shorts – This retrospective screening of the animation studio’s legendary short films will be followed by a panel discussion with several of the filmmakers, including Ralph Eggleston (director, For the Birds), Andy Jimenez (director, One Man Band), Angus MacLane (director, BURN-E), Pete Sohn (director, Partly Cloudy), Teddy Newton (director, Day & Night), and Enrico Casarosa (director, La Luna).

Expo attendees will also have access to advance screenings of an all-new 3D version of The Lion King, presented by RealD 3D, coming to theaters and homes this fall, and the upcoming ABC holiday special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Out on the Expo floor, fans can explore the world of The Walt Disney Studios at their leisure with comprehensive exhibits, including:

  • Walt Disney Studios Animation Pavilion – Experience the art, technology, culture, and legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios with filmmaker demonstrations, drawing classes, book signings, meet-and-greets, and art exhibits.
  • Walt Disney Studios In-Home Entertainment Pavilion – Dive into cutting-edge home entertainment technology and learn what the future holds for Disney movie fans, with sneak peeks of upcoming films in breathtaking high-definition Blu-ray 3D™ and more.
  • Inside Tides: Pirates of the Caribbean Film Prop Collection – Get an up-close look at an exclusive collection of detailed set pieces, props, and costumes from the billion-dollar blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Tickets to D23 Expo 2011 are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo and can be purchased for single days or for three full days of festivities. Admission is $42 for a one-day adult ticket and $32 for children 3-12. Three-day passes are $121 for adults and $91 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on admission as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests. More details about D23 Expo entertainment, events and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all the news by visiting www.D23Expo.com, as well as by following “Disney D23” on Twitter and Facebook.

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Disney’s Body-Mounted Cameras Turn Motion Capture Inside Out

By
Chip
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Disney's Body-Mounted Cameras Turn Motion Capture Inside Out

Traditional motion capture techniques use cameras to meticulously record the movements of actors inside studios, enabling those movements to be translated into digital models. But by turning the cameras around — mounting almost two dozen, outward-facing cameras on the actors themselves — scientists at Disney Research, Pittsburgh (DRP), and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have shown that motion capture can occur almost anywhere — in natural environments, over large areas and outdoors.

Motion capture makes possible scenes such as those in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” where the movements of actor Bill Nighy were translated into a digitally created Davy Jones with octopus-like tentacles forming his beard. But body-mounted cameras enable capture of motions, such as running outside or swinging on monkey bars, that would be difficult — if not impossible — otherwise, said Takaaki Shiratori, a post-doctoral associate at DRP.

“This could be the future of motion capture,” said Shiratori, who will make a presentation about the new technique today (Aug. 8) at SIGGRAPH 2011, the International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Vancouver. As video cameras become ever smaller and cheaper, “I think anyone will be able to do motion capture in the not-so-distant future,” he said.

Other researchers on the project include Jessica Hodgins, DRP director and a CMU professor of robotics and computer science; Hyun Soo Park, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering at CMU; Leonid Sigal, DRP researcher; and Yaser Sheikh, assistant research professor in CMU’s Robotics Institute.

The wearable camera system makes it possible to reconstruct the relative and global motions of an actor thanks to a process called structure from motion (SfM). Takeo Kanade, a CMU professor of computer science and robotics and a pioneer in computer vision, developed SfM 20 years ago as a means of determining the three-dimensional structure of an object by analyzing the images from a camera as it moves around the object, or as the object moves past the camera.

In this application, SfM is not used primarily to analyze objects in a person’s surroundings, but to estimate the pose of the cameras on the person. Researchers used Velcro to mount 20 lightweight cameras on the limbs, and trunk of each subject. Each camera was calibrated with respect to a reference structure. Each person then performed a range-of-motion exercise that allowed the system to automatically build a digital skeleton and estimate positions of cameras with respect to that skeleton.

SfM is used to estimate rough position and orientation of limbs as the actor moves through an environment and to collect sparse 3D information about the environment that can provide context for the captured motion. The rough position and orientation of limbs serves as an initial guess for a refinement step that optimizes the configuration of the body and its location in the environment, resulting in the final motion capture result.

The quality of motion capture from body-mounted cameras does not yet match the fidelity of traditional motion capture, Shiratori said, but will improve as the resolution of small video cameras continues to improve.

The technique requires a significant amount of computational power; a minute of motion capture now can require an entire day to process. Future work will include efforts to find computational shortcuts, such as performing many of the steps simultaneously through parallel processing.

For more information and to see a video, visit the project website at http://drp.disneyresearch.com/projects/mocap/.

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Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine Gears up at NABJ Conference

By
Chip
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Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine Gears up at NABJ Conference

The City of Brotherly Love gave a warm welcome to Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) national convention. The power-packed NABJ event in Philadelphia featured a myriad of panels on professional development, scholastic lectures and workshops. Disney hosted a panel showcasing the magic behind Disney’s Dreamers Academy as it embarks on its fifth year of igniting dreams, passions and lives.

Eight local Philadelphia-area Dreamers shared their personal stories and provided insight on how Disney’s Dreamers Academy has helped them get started on their career exploration.

Stephanie Stewart, a 2008 alumna, spoke on her experience at Disney’s Dreamers Academy: “Disney’s Dreamers Academy has opened many doors for me. At the program I was able to work directly with a production team. The experience broadened my horizons in production as far as working with cameras and directing, preparing me for my future. I hope to work with Oprah one day.”

Leading sports journalist Stephen A. Smith spoke to attendees about the importance of dreaming and on how Disney’s Dreamers Academy has inspired him. Top Gospel artist and Disney’s Dreamers Academy Advisory Board Member Yolanda Adams wowed guests with a powerful performance. An avid supporter of the program, Adams said, “I share a kindred spirit with the Dreamers because when I was 16 years old, I was looking for role models and I was able to find them in my family. Disney’s Dreamers Academy provides youth with great people to look up to. Everyone needs a role model. Hopefully somebody can find that in me.”

Since its launch in 2007 by Disney and syndicated-radio-show host/author/comedian Steve Harvey, Disney’s Dreamers Academy has shown a world of possibilities to 400 youth. The four-day program held in the world’s most creative classroom, Walt Disney World Resort, unites 100 high school students with entertainment experts, motivational speakers and world-class business professionals for a weekend of special events, educational workshops, personal enhancement and professional enrichment. Every year, Dreamers participate in “immersive” workshops concerning career paths ranging from Animation to Zoology, allowing them the opportunity to take a plunge into real-world career scenarios. Each participant learns important interview skills, communication techniques and networking strategies. With a focus on hands-on experience and training, Disney’s Dreamers Academy encourages youth to unlock their potential and DREAM BIG.

Among the hundreds of students Disney’s Dreamers Academy has helped catapult barriers to their dreams is Niki Dawson. A 2010 alumna, Niki followed her dream to sing and became a sensation on top television show “The Voice.” Dawson performed for the audience at the NABJ convention and spoke on her experience with Disney’s Dreamers Academy. “The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Dreamers Academy gave us a complete feel of the stage,” she said. “We were put in the spotlight and learned to work with cameras and media. It was awesome for me to learn how everything worked on stage and behind the scenes. That experience prepared me to get to where I am today.”

Disney’s Dreamers Academy has evolved into a year-round initiative with its informational Facebook and Twitter social media platforms, interactive website and presence at community outreach partner events like the Essence Music Festival, National Association of Black Journalists Convention and Bud Billiken Parade.

Nominations are open for the 2012 Disney’s Dreamers Academy. More information and an online application are available at www.disneysdreamersacademy.com. Students ages 13 to 19, living in the United States and enrolled in high school grades 9-12 when entering can be nominated. Nomination deadline is Oct. 31, 2011.

A distinguished panel of leaders from the communications, education and entertainment industries will judge the nomination submissions. Winners will be announced in early December. Participants and a parent or guardian will travel to Walt Disney World Resort for the 2012 Disney’s Dreamers Academy March 8-11, 2012.

There’s more information at www.facebook.com/disneysdreamersacademy or follow the program on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dreamersacademy.

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Spotlight Shines on the Disney Store at D23 Expo

By
Chip
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Spotlight Shines on the Disney Store at D23 Expo

The spotlight will shine on Disney Store’s spectacular product lines at the D23 Expo, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Calif. from August 19-21. Disney Store will treat fans to a sneak peek of its fall and holiday 2011 products, as well as offer them a chance to meet and hear from the artists and designers who created them.

Disney Store guests will also get a first look at this year’s hottest Halloween costumes, join in Disney Store’s 25th Anniversary kick-off celebration and have the first look at the Disney Princess Designer Doll Collection—expected to be one of the most wanted items this holiday season. Daily at the convention, guests will enjoy Disney Store artist signings and special guest appearances, as well as witness events such as a Halloween costume parade and hear the latest news on what’s next for Disney Store.

Guests can take home the Disney Store magic when they purchase exclusive merchandise in the 1,500 square foot pop-up store housed in Disney Consumer Product’s Disney Living Pavilion. Featured products include items created especially for the D23 Expo, limited edition 25th Anniversary items, Vinylmation, and the always unique and whimsical Kidada for Disney Store Collection. Visitors will not want to miss the daily opening ceremony, where a special attendee will be chosen to “unlock imagination” each day at 9 a.m.

In addition, these other D23 Disney Store celebrations and events are not to be missed:

  • 25th Anniversary Collection and Celebration Kick off: D23 guests will help Disney Store kick-off its celebration of 25 magical years. Since the opening of the first store in Glendale, California on March 28, 1987, Disney Store has become a global retail phenomenon with more than 350 stores in eight countries and foot traffic of more than 200 million guests per year worldwide. On Friday, Aug. 19 at 9 a.m., Disney Store president Jim Fielding will kick off the celebration with remarks prior to opening the store on the first day of D23. The first 25 guests in line will receive a special limited edition 25th anniversary pin. Disney Store artist Jim Salvati will sign exclusive 25th anniversary commemorative art. The pop-up store will offer the first 25th anniversary products ever.
  • Disney Princess Designer Doll Collection: At D23, Disney Store will debut ten spectacular designer dolls just in time for the holidays. Each classic doll dressed in a glamorous runway inspired gown comes in its own special collector case with a sleeve that showcases the beautiful sketch art created for each one. A limited number of complete sets will be available for pre-purchase at the D23 event, in addition to a special limited edition 25th Anniversary silver Cinderella. As part of the worldwide debut at D23, the dolls will be given to the honorees at the Legends of Disney Awards ceremony on Friday, Aug. 19, where the extraordinary actresses whose voices brought to life many modern-day Disney Princesses including Jodi Benson (Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Paige O’Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast), Lea Salonga (singing voices of Jasmine from Aladdin and Mulan from Mulan), Linda Larkin (speaking voice of Jasmine from Aladdin), and Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog) will be named and honored.

Starting Aug. 22, 2011, one new Disney Princess Designer Doll will arrive in stores each week for 10 weeks in a random order not to be revealed to guests until each Monday when they go on sale. An assortment of home products (stationery and mugs) as well as special trend items (t-shirts, cosmetics, and accessories) inspired by the beauty of the new dolls will also be available at D23. D23 guests will be the first to see these beautiful dolls.

  • Halloween Costume Parade: The Halloween Costume Parade held Saturday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. will unveil the hottest costumes for 2011, including a beautiful limited edition Rapunzel costume (only 2,000 will be available this fall). Visitors can watch kids modeling the best Disney Store costumes on the Disney Living Pavilion Center Stage. Five lucky guests will win the opportunity to receive a complimentary costume, courtesy of Disney Store.
  • Vinylmation Artists Signing: On Sunday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m., Vinylmation artists will sign the new Lion King inspired Vinylmation collection. Vinylmation toys are the latest pop culture phenomenon and are treasured by collectors of all ages.
  • New Kidada for Disney Store Wish-a-Littles Line: On Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. in the Disney Living Pavilion Center Stage, celebrity jewelry designer Kidada Jones will make a special appearance to welcome her newest friends to her exclusive line of jewelry and accessories. Wish-a-Littles are Kidada’s design twist on Disney characters – each figure opens to reveal a secret jewelry charm. The new fall Wish-a-Littles include Alice, Ariel, Jasmine and Tinker Bell. Guests can make their D23 trip extra special and get their photo taken with Kidada following the reveal.

In addition to all the events and guest appearances, fans can chat with Disney Store president Jim Fielding and other surprise guests via Disney Store’s Twitter, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the D23 experience by checking Disney Store’s blog, The Buzz, at http://blog.disneystore.com

Disney Store at D23 can be found in the Disney Living Pavilion. Check the D23 Expo web site for event schedule details and locations.

To find a local Disney Store, guests can visit www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798. Guests can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates, become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyStore to stay connected to your favorite destination.

The Walt Disney Studios Adds 3D Favorites To Its 2011 Blu-Ray 3D Line-Up

By
Chip
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The Walt Disney Studios Adds 3D Favorites To Its 2011 Blu-Ray 3D Line-UpThe Walt Disney Studios Adds 3D Favorites To Its 2011 Blu-Ray 3D Line-Up

The Walt Disney Studios Adds 3D Favorites To Its 2011 Blu-Ray 3D Line-UpThe Walt Disney Studios Adds 3D Favorites To Its 2011 Blu-Ray 3D Line-Up

Leading the way in the advancement of 3D entertainment and continuing its commitment to the growing Blu-ray 3D™ market, The Walt Disney Studios today announced release plans to add four new titles to its growing in-home Blu- ray 3D line-up.

Among the popular films making their Blu-ray 3D debuts are Bolt, Chicken Little, G-Force and Meet The Robinsons, all releasing on November 8th. The four new Disney Blu-ray 3D releases have been packaged as Disney Blu-ray Combo Packs, satisfying the multitude of viewing habits across the household whether it’s 3D, 2D, Blu-ray, DVD and/or mobile devices.

―In early January, Disney announced an aggressive plan to bring a wide variety of 3D content to consumers’ in-home experiences,‖ commented Lori MacPherson, Executive Vice President, Global Product Management, The Walt Disney Studios. ―These latest Disney Blu-ray 3D releases all deliver the most superior in-home 3D viewing capabilities, and by offering the films
in Combo Packs, we are continuing to provide families with exceptional value, quality, and versatility in a single purchase.

Bolt, Chicken Little, G-Force and Meet The Robinsons, will all join the studios unparalleled catalog of 3D in-home movies which include Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (releasing August 30, 2011), The Lion King: Diamond Edition (releasing October 4, 2011), Beauty and the Beast (releasing October 4, 2011), Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (releasing October 18, 2011), Gnomeo & Juliet (released May 24, 2011), TRON: Legacy (released April 5, 2011), Tangled (released March 29, 2011), Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland (released December 7, 2010), Step Up 3D (released December 21, 1010), and
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (released November 16, 2010).

Disney’s Blu-ray 3D Films:

BOLT 3D (November 8)
Prepare to enter a fantastic new dimension of family fun as Disney’s sensational animated comedy leaps off the screen and into your living room. You’ll sit up and beg for more when Bolt springs into action in awe-inspiring Disney 3D.

Bolt is the star of the biggest show in Hollywood. The only problem is, he thinks it’s real. After he’s accidentally shipped to New York City and separated from Penny, his beloved co-star and owner, Bolt must harness all his ―super powers‖ to find a way home.

Bolt 3D is available as a:

  • 4-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) for the suggested retail price of $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada
  • 3D Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada

CHICKEN LITTLE 3D (November 8)
Disney’s ―perfect family film‖ (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood) is now more fantastic than ever! All systems are go for fun, action and adventure as Chicken Little soars off the screen and into your living room in breathtaking, eye-popping Disney 3D!

When the sky really is falling and sanity has flown the coop, who will rise to save the day? Together with his hysterical band of misfit friends, Chicken Little must save the planet from an alien invasion and prove that the world’s biggest hero is a little chicken.

Chicken Little 3D is available as a:

  • 3-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $44.99 U.S./ $51.99 Canada
  • 3D Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada

G-FORCE (November 8)
Buckle up for thrilling edge-of-your-seat action and laugh-out-loud fun in Disney’s G-Force as this elite team of highly trained guinea pigs leaps off the screen and right into your living room.

Just as the G-Force is about to save the world, the F.B.I. shuts the secret unit down. But these next-generation action heroes won’t be stopped. Armed with the latest high- tech spy equipment, and with the F.B.I. on their tails, the fur flies as they race against
the clock to save the world. From the producer of Pirates Of The Caribbean and National Treasure, G-Force is fantastic 3D fun for the whole family.

G-Force 3D is available as a:

  • 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada
  • 3D Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $44.99 U.S./ $51.99 Canada

MEET THE ROBINSONS (November 8)
Brace yourself for an eye-popping new dimension of imagination and surprises when Disney’s fun-filled family adventure blasts off the screen and touches down in your living room. Get ready to Meet The Robinsons – in amazing Disney 3D!

Join Lewis, a brilliant young inventor who sets off on a time-traveling quest to save the future and find the family he never knew. With the help of the wonderfully wacky Robinson family, Lewis learns to keep moving forward and never stop believing in
himself.

Meet The Robinsons 3D is available as a:

  • 3-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada
  • 3D Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $44.99 U.S./ $51.99 Canada
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The Walt Disney Studios Adds 3D Favorites To Its 2011 Blu-Ray 3D Line-Up
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