In 2008 Walt Disney Animation Studios released the animated feature “Bolt” which starred a canine named Bolt. Fast forward 13 years and the company has announced a new expansion of their partnership with Chevrolet featuring their Bolt electric vehicle? Coincidence? I think not.
This weekend, Chevrolet announced a new all-electric 2022 Bolt EUV and a redesigned Bolt EV in a 90-second Disney themed commercial titled Magic is Electric. The commercial was created in collaboration with Disney.
“The power of two iconic brands like Disney and Chevy coming together to reveal the Bolt EUV inspires customers to imagine an all-electric future,” said Steve Majoros, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “We want to engage and inform consumers about all the benefits of owning an EV and do it in an entertaining way. These vehicles are fun to drive, loaded with technology and are affordable, proving EVs are for everyone.”
To bring the full story to life, Chevy and Disney created several pieces of content. In the 90-second commercial, a series of friends and families bring the magic of electric to life while traveling to Walt Disney World Resort with a cast of iconic characters, including Tinker Bell, Haunted Mansion’s Hitchhiking Ghosts, a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and more.
We like to see EPCOT and other Disney brands being paired with the future of electric vehicles. The park can always do with more futurism, especially when it’s tied to the important need for everyone to switch to EVs to end the use of fossil fuels which are a primary cause of climate change.
The more people who are exposed to EVs the better, and millions of people visit EPCOT each year, so the partnership makes a lot of sense.
Chevy also released Behind the Magic, a “making-of” video that uses behind-the-scenes footage to explain the features of the Bolt EUV in a fun and entertaining way along with reactions from current BOLT EV owners.
For the behind the scenes video, Chevy collaborated with Nick Cho, aka @YourKoreanDad on TikTok, to walk viewers through a unique, behind-the-scenes look at Chevy and Disney’s content collaboration on the commercial.
@yourkoreandad My ##YourKoreanDad and @chevrolet collab is OUT, and it's MAGIC! Link in my profile. ##sponsored ##BoltEUV ##BoltEV
♬ original sound – Nick Cho
Both Magic is Electric and Behind the Magic were shot in part on location at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
“Our Alliances creative team has produced amazing content that fuses the anticipation and magic of a visit to Walt Disney World Resort with the excitement of driving the new Bolt EUV,” said Tiffany Rende, senior vice president of Marketing Partnerships and Alliances at The Walt Disney Company. “The result is an unforgettable campaign, amplified across Disney’s ecosystem, that we know will resonate with consumers.”
Disney has a long history of partnership with Chevrolet and their parent company General Motors.
- In the 1940s, General Motors commissioned Walt Disney and his studio to create an animated training film.
- In 1979, the company signed an agreement with Disney to become the first attraction sponsor at EPCOT prior to EPCOT’s grand opening in 1982.
- The GM pavilion – World of Motion presented by General Motors – was an opening day attraction, which ran from 1982 until January, 2,1996.
- Test Track presented by General Motors opened May 17, 1999 and operated until April 12, 2012.
- On December 6, 2012 Test Track reopened with a new ride experience and sponsorship by Chevrolet.
The Walt Disney Company has a long history of corporate sponsorship. We love to see relationships like this flourish as it means that we’re more likely to see more unique attractions in the future.