In its third trip back to movie theaters, but the first time in 3-D, Disney’s The Lion King is ruling the box office again. It brought in an estimated Update: $30.2 million ( was $29.3 million) over the weekend, placing it atop the list of… Read More »The Lion King 3D Rules Box Office Again
Academy Award winning film The Tempest is coming out on Blu-Ray DVD today. Experience The Tempest like never before through the art and costume design from the film. Nominated for an Academy Award in Costume Design, designer Sandy Powell created masterpieces worn by Helen Mirren,… Read More »The Tempest – When Costume Art meets Magic, Oscar is the Result
With Disney preparing to release The Lion King 3D for the first time in theaters on September 16th and then to Disney Blu-ray Hi-Def and Blu-ray 3D October 4th, join us as we journey back in time to uncover a ten little known facts and secrets about the animated blockbuster.
#1 THE ORIGINAL TITLE OF THE MOVIE WASN’T ‘THE LION KING’
“When I first started work on The Lion King, the movie was called King Of The Jungle,” reveals the film’s producer Don Hahn. “King Of The Jungle was a metaphor for this allegorical story about human behavior. We were thinking about the idea of how it’s a jungle out there and Simba has to exist in this jungle. However, there was no jungle in our story; they’re out on a savannah. Another title we looked into was King Of The Beasts, which made more sense because a lion is the king of beasts – but then we threw that out because we wanted to focus on a simple story about a lion king. At that stage we thought, ‘Why not call it The Lion King?’ The story is about a kid who wants to be king and his uncle frames him for murder, so he grows up in the wilderness and then he has to come back to claim his throne. That’s the whole story, and it’s all about a lion king, so the name stuck.”
In celebration of Disney’s recent release of The Fox and the Hound and The Fox And The Hound 2 as a 2-Movie Collection on Blu-ray Hi-Def & DVD Combo Pack in celebration of the 30th Anniversary, Disney has made available a brand new interview with Mickey Rooney, the voice of Tod, from the Disney classic and an un-rivaled Hollywood legend!
In the mid-1920’s, an up-and-coming young animator had a brief encounter with an up-and-coming child star. Although they only met in passing, Mickey Rooney remembers Walt Disney as “a very charming man.” More than 50 years later, in 1981, Rooney would find himself starring in one of Walt Disney Studio’s most beloved animated films, The Fox and the Hound. Rooney voiced the character of Tod, an orphaned fox cub who forms an unlikely friendship with Copper, a coonhound voiced by Kurt Russell. The film also stars Pearl Bailey, Pat Buttram and Jack Albertson. The Fox and the Hound and its sequel The Fox and the Hound 2 was released in a 30th Anniversary 2-Movie Collection on August 9, 2011.
Although he is quick to deny it, Mickey Rooney is the definition of a Hollywood legend. With a career that spans nine decades, he has defied the odds in an industry that often typecasts performers. He got his start crashing his parents’ vaudeville act while still a toddler and, just a few years later, he became a silent film sensation; starring in the popular “Mickey McGuire” shorts.
In the 1930’s Rooney made a successful transition to sound films, headlining in the long-running “Andy Hardy” series and teaming with his friend Judy Garland in such classic musicals as “Strike Up the Band” and “Girl Crazy.” Rooney was awarded a special Juvenile Oscar at the 1939 Academy Awards ceremony and the next year was nominated in the competitive Best Actor category for “Babes in Arms,” the first of four Oscar nominations. He also won an honorary Academy Award in 1983 in recognition of 50 years of memorable film performances.
Having also won an Emmy and two Golden Globes by that time, many actors would be content to rest on such precious laurels but Mickey Rooney, now 90, continues to work on stage, screen and television and recently wrapped a cameo role in the highly anticipated Walt Disney Pictures Holiday 2011 release, “The Muppets.”
Read More »Mickey Rooney Remembers The Fox And The Hound in New Interview
Heading out to the movie theater to see Cars 2 in 3D this weekend? Disney just announced today that you’ll will be treated to a special 4 minute preview of the first four minutes of The Lion King in its new 3D splendor. That will… Read More »Special 3D Preview of The Lion King to run with Cars 2 3D showings
Ready for a trip down memory lane? Simba, Mufasa, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa are back and better than ever this fall when Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into theaters and homes in breathtaking 3D. A special two-week theatrical run kicks off Sept. 16, 2011, showcasing the Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning film on the big screen in Disney Digital 3D for the first time ever. Then on October 4, collect the new Diamond Edition version of the epic movie “The Lion King” in high-definition Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D.
“The Lion King” is the best-selling home entertainment release of all time—and this is “The Lion King” like never before,” said Bob Chapek, president of distribution, The Walt Disney Studios. “The all-new 3D format immerses viewers in the epic settings and puts them face-to-face with these beloved characters. We’re showcasing one of the all-time favorite Disney movies in theaters and making it available in Blu-ray hi-def and in Blu-ray 3D—it’s the must-see, must-own title for everyone.”
Nearly a decade since “The Lion King” last appeared on the big screen, the upcoming theatrical release invites new generations into the “Circle of Life.” The two-week, 3D-only presentation is a planned wide domestic release—the biggest since the film’s 1994 debut—and the film’s first-ever 3D release.
The Blu-ray debut marks the first time “The Lion King” has been available in any form since 2004. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of picture and sound enhancements, interactive features and bonus content, including a new set of hilarious animated bloopers.
“The Lion King”: Diamond Edition home entertainment release will be available from the Disney Vault for a limited time only beginning October 4 as follows:
And the one-disc DVD Edition will be available on November 15.
Disney animation fans looking to complete your collection now is your last chance to own three of the company’s most classic and beloved animated features. At the end of April Disney will closing the doors on the infamous Disney Vault removing the following DVDs from… Read More »Last Chance! Three Movies head to the Disney Vault
Back in February we posted a review of the Diamond Edition Bambi 2-Disc Disney Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD). With Easter right around the corner, Disney is making another push to spread the news about the Bambi release. So what better way to celebrate than with an Easter Basket themed to the original Disney animated classic Bambi! That’s what we call synergy, right?
I’m happy to announce that Disney has provided me with one of this terrific prize packages to giveaway. This cool Easter-themed basket contains
A $75 value.
To enter: First, make sure you’re a fan of The Disney Blog on Facebook by ‘liking’ the fan page. Then, leave a comment sharing the name of your favorite Disney forest friend on this Facebook post on The Disney Blog fan page linking to this post on the blog. Only one entry per person via this method. Finally, you must have a US postal address to ship the prize package to. That’s it. I’ll pick one winner from among all the valid entries.
For a second chance to win, follow @TheDisneyBlog on twitter then tweet the message below up to once per day between now and the end of the contest. Please do not leave an additional comment with a link to your tweet. I’m tracking it another way. One additional winner will be randomly drawn from all qualifying tweets made by those who satisfied the conditions above.
The message to be tweeted is:
Enter to win a Disney Bambi DVD/Blu-Ray Easter Basket on @TheDisneyBlog http://bit.ly/bambidvd then learn to draw Bambi & Thumper
The contest begins now and all entries must be received by 11:59PM EST on Saturday April 16st. Not valid where prohibited by law.
Good luck!
Check below the jump for more details on the Bambi Diamond Edition DVD and links to lessons on how to draw Bambi and Thumper from Disney animator Andreas Deja: