Following its debut on the 2021 GRAMMY Show, The Walt Disney Company has released a new sneak peek plus three additional still images from its all-new live-action feature film “Cruella,” starring Academy Award®-winners Emma Stone and Emma Thompson, directed by Craig Gillespie. The film will be released on Friday, May 28.
Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinema’s most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets.
One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly Haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense & Sensibility”). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.
Disney’s “Cruella” is directed by Craig Gillespie (“I Tonya”) and produced by Andrew Gunn (“Freaky Friday”), Marc Platt (“Mary Poppins Returns”) and Kristin Burr (“Christopher Robin”), with Emma Stone and Michelle Wright (“Baby Driver”) serving as executive producers. Two-time Oscar®- winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “A Room with a View”) creates dazzling and imaginative costumes, which take on a life of their own.
After careful planning and discussions with the City of Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific has announced that the entire Aquarium will be fully open at 25 percent capacity to the public on Tuesday, March 16, and to Aquarium members on Monday, March 15, with safety protocols and advance reservations.
“We have survived, and our animals have thrived the last year only because of the support of our donors, help from the City of Long Beach, and dedication of our staff. With our reopening, we can continue to give back to our communities through our educational programs and provide an experience for visitors that embodies spring and recovery. A weight has been lifted. Our mischievous sea otters, beautiful lorikeets, endearing penguins, sleek sharks, and my favorite –Groot, our giant pacific octopus awaits you,” said Dr. Peter Kareiva, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.
Photo Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific
Guests can now journey into the Aquarium’s three main galleries, which have been closed to the public since summer 2020. In the Southern California/Baja Gallery, you can meet giant sea bass, leopard sharks, eels, seals, sea lions, white abalone, and other animals found locally or in Baja. Then, visitors can explore the cold-water habitats of the Northern Pacific Gallery to meet playful sea otters, diving birds, sea jellies, giant spider crabs, and a giant Pacific octopus. Guests can then travel through the Tropical Pacific Gallery to see colorful fish and other species that inhabit those warm tropical waters.
In the Aquarium’s Pacific Visions area, they can also explore an art gallery, orientation gallery, Honda Pacific Visions Theater, and the Schubel Family Culmination Gallery, which features interactive displays, educational game tables, and live animal exhibits. Pacific Visions is the Aquarium’s newest expansion, which opened to the public in May 2019. “The theater will be operated at reduced capacity, and the two-story, 300-seat stadium seating design allows for plenty of room for social distancing,” said Nicole Meek, Aquarium of the Pacific director of visitor operations. Pacific Visions also has features developed last spring that most members of the public have never seen before such as the Paint a Fish interactive multimedia exhibit.
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As part of its safety protocols, the Aquarium is limiting the number of visitors, requiring advance timed reservations for everyone, and managing traffic flow to ensure appropriate social distancing. The Aquarium also requires masks for everyone age two and older and temperature checks for everyone. Visitors will find numerous hand-sanitizing stations throughout the facility, Aquarium staff constantly sanitizing all touched surfaces, and clear partitions in key areas where staff interact with guests, such as the main entrance, member services, and retail areas.
The Aquarium has installed social distancing signs throughout the facility, set up for one-way foot traffic in the main galleries, and has staff to monitor and enforce social distancing. Exit with re-entry will not be allowed during this initial phase of reopening. More details are available on the Aquarium’s website at http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/visit/aquarium_safety.
Photo Credit: Robin Riggs
Aquarium of the Pacific Important Info
Public reopening date: Tuesday, March 16, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (advance reservations required)
Member preview day: Monday, March 15, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.(advance reservations required)
(Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
Address: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
COST: General admission: $36.95 adult (12+), $33.95 senior (65+), $26.95 child, and free to children under age three and Aquarium members
Go behind the scenes of Marvel Studios’ hit series “WandaVision” with a brand-new, documentary-style special “Assembled: The Making of ‘WandaVision’” now streaming exclusively on Disney+.
The premiere episode of this groundbreaking series of documentary-style specials features Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and the creative team behind Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” as they welcome viewers behind the scenes of their exciting series.
WandaVision Behind-the-Scenes
Learn how the production’s surprising concept took shape by drawing inspiration from classic sitcoms. Witness how the crew went to great lengths to emulate various filmmaking methods used during the early years of television. Discover the unique challenges and ultimate rewards of performing an entire episode in front of a live studio audience.
Spend time with exciting newcomers to the MCU, including Teyonah Parris and Kathryn Hahn, along with returning favorites like Kat Dennings and Randall Park. “Assembled: The Making of ‘WandaVision’” is an all-encompassing look at Marvel Studios’ first, and arguably most unusual, streaming series.
Disney+ released the trailer for its upcoming original series “Secrets of the Whales,” which plunges viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to reveal the mysterious and beautiful world of five different whale species: orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals and sperm whales.
About “Secrets of the Whales”
The four-part series, from National Geographic, is executive produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and conservationist James Cameron (“Avatar”) and narrated by award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver (“Alien,” “Avatar,” “Gorillas in the Mist”). All four episodes will be available to stream exclusively on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2021, exclusively on Disney+.
Featuring the expansive knowledge and skill of acclaimed National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, the series ventures deep into the world of whales to witness the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures to reveal life and love from their perspective.
“Secrets of the Whales” unveils new science and technology to spotlight whales as they make lifelong friendships, teach clan heritage and traditions to their young, and grieve deeply for the loss of loved ones.
Filmed over three years in 24 global locations, throughout this epic journey, we learn that whales are far more complex and more like us than ever imagined. This is a personal story that very few are lucky enough to witness … until now.
“Secrets of the Whales” is produced for National Geographic by Red Rock Films. For Red Rock Films, Brian Armstrong and Shannon Malone-DeBenedictis are executive producers. For Earthship, James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm are executive producers and Kim Butts is associate producer. For National Geographic, Pamela Caragol is an executive producer. The series is scored by composer Raphaelle Thibaut.
Disney+ has surpassed 100 million global paid subscribers in just 16 months since its launch, Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), announced during the Company’s virtual Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
“The enormous success of Disney+ —which has now surpassed 100 million subscribers—has inspired us to be even more ambitious, and to significantly increase our investment in the development of high-quality content,” Mr. Chapek said. “In fact, we set a target of 100+ new titles per year, and this includes Disney Animation, Disney Live-Action, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. Our direct-to-consumer business is the Company’s top priority, and our robust pipeline of content will continue to fuel its growth.”
Disney+ is Available in 59 Countries around the World and Features an Impressive Collection of High-Quality Content from Disney’s Content Studios
Disney+ launched in the U.S. on November 12, 2019, and has rolled out rapidly across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, and most recently, Singapore.
Knott’s Berry Farm springs back in 2021 with the Taste of Boysenberry Festival. Returning in this annual favorite are food, music, characters, and of course, the flavor of the sweet and tart boysenberry that can only be found in this Southern California destination.
The park still upholds safety procedures of face masks, sanitizers, and social distancing as part of the temporary norm. Appetizing food, drink, and surgery treats amongst the Boysenberry purples and colorful Easter decor will delight and stimulate the senses. Let’s hop right into the fun, shall we?
A Grand photo opportunity in Camp Snoopy
Upon arrival through the Marketplace from the parking lot to the entry gates, a lengthy stream of guests crowd the walkways to satisfy taste buds. Patience and social distancing are also among key ingredients to the fun that awaits. As most people enter the first lines they see at the front of the park, we opted and suggest bypassing the entry of Ghost Town as the rest of the park is ripe with little to no wait. Not to mention open tables and benches to boot.
Boysenberry Key Lime Tart and Pastrami Sandwich on a Pretzel Bun with Provolone Cheese and Boysenberry Mustard
The Pastrami Sandwich is juicy and full of meaty goodness. Even the pretzel bun held its own with its texture. The Key Lime Tart is sizably as big as the palm of one’s hand. A layer of Boysenberry jam is sandwiched between the crumbly crust and sweetness of the key lime on top. The Boysenberry Balsamic Brussel Sprouts and Elote with Boysenberry Mayo, Cotija Cheese, Butter, and Tortilla Strips provide a vegetarian cleanse from the meats and sweets that are plentiful on the menu list.
Boysenberry Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
The Mac and Cheese Bites were more “under” than “over” the French Fries with the Boysenberry Sriracha Ketchup standing out the most. A returning favorite is the Boysenberry Flavored Shrimp and Grits. Although savory, the shrimp size is small compared to the mound of grits. Another underwhelming selection was the Cheeseburger with a Boysenberry Onion Spread on a Brioche Bun. The burger itself had a rubbery texture that left much to be desire.
Boysenberry Cosmopolitan and Frozen Boysenberry Mai Tai
Searching for a refreshing drink on the bright and beautiful day, we looked to the Boysenberry Cosmopolitan and the Frozen Boysenberry Mai Tai. The former had an overpowering alcoholic blend that drowned out the flavor while the latter melted quickly as a brief cool down. Almost a reminder of the Boysenberry smoothie. We prefer the Boysenberry and Basil Lemonade or the Boysenberry, Cucumber, and Pineapple Aqua Fresca to satisfyingly quench our thirst.
Boysenberry ICE Dippin’ Dots
New to the festival lineup is the introduction of the Boysenberry ICE Dippin’ Dots. This seems like a no-brainer since the introduction of the festival, but it’s finally here and ready to be enjoyed. And it doesn’t disappoint. Much less messy compared to an ice cream cookie sandwich.
Boysenberry Brisket Tater Tots topped with Crispy Jalapeno Chips and a Boysenberry Aioli Sauce
You really can’t go wrong with Boysenberry brisket paired with tater tots or mac and cheese. Either option explodes in your mouth. Do not fear the jalapeno chips, it’s really there for that crunchy snap.
Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival Photo Gallery:
Taste of Boysenberry 2021 Photo Album
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Tasting Card and Easter Egg Hunt
Ghost Town alive with Boysenberry
Pastrami Sandwich on a Pretzel Bun with Provolone Cheese and Boysenberry Mustard
Boysenberry Key Lime Tart
These items are featured at Wilderness Broiler
Taking a bite out of taste
Mac and Cheese Bites over French Fries with Boysenberry Sriracha Ketchup
Boysenberry Cosmopolitan and Frozen Boysenberry Mai Tai
Cheeseburger with a Boysenberry Onion Spread on a Brioche Bun and Boysenberry, Cucumber, and Pineapple Aqua Fresca
Boysenberry Flavored Shrimp and Grits
Boysenberry Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
Boysenberry Dippin' Dots
This frozen treat can be found across from Supreme Scream and Silver Bullet
Boysenberry and Basil Lemonade
Shrimp Taco with Cabbage Slaw and a Boysenberry Salsa
Boysenberry Shrimp Ceviche with Tortilla Chips
Boysenberry Brisket Tater Tots topped with Crispy Jalapeno Chips and a Boysenberry Aioli Sauce
"Hint of Lemon" Churro Bites with a White Chocolate Sugar and a Boysenberry and Chocolate Dipping Sauce
Camp Snoopy celebrates Easter
A must-do photo opportunity along the main path in Camp Snoopy
Pondering between an egg and a mushroom
Got eggs?
Oversized bunnies, carrots, and flowers abound
Carrying a basket of carrots
Charlie Brown would rather fish for eggs instead of hunting them
A field of carrots a bunny could only dream of
Awaiting a character meet for socially distanced photos
Snoopy in his Easter best
You can't get any bigger than this
Queues awaiting additional safety protection
Mushrooms and eggs brighten up the roads
Woodstock farming for boysenberries
Woodstock tending to carrots
This sheep is very happy to see you
Hauling berries
Camp Snoopy has the biggest berries
Carnival games in the Boardwalk and Fiesta Village
Find the Easter Egg at Knot Radio
Soon to be open "Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair" includes an Easter Egg find
The Easter Bunny's cheeks are sore from smiling for the camera
Seasonal merchandise for Boysenberry 2021
Sanitizing Wipes for tables and chairs for guest use
DJ spinning at Fiesta Village
A cart full of berries and plants
Your chance to take home and grow your own boysenberry
Hand-carved wooden book as a Ghost Town tribute on display in The Marketplace
Knott’s Taste of Boysenberry Festival will take place on select dates beginning March 5th through May 2nd. Event hours will be 12 pm to 9 pm select Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and from 12 pm to 8 pm on Sundays.
A tasting card is required for this limited-time food event at Knott’s Berry Farm. Regular tasting cards (ages 12+) are priced at $45 (plus tax) and will include five food tastings and Junior tasting cards (ages 3-11) are $20 (plus tax) and include three tastings. Tasting cards are date-specific and must be purchased online at knotts.com or through the Knott’s Berry Farm mobile app prior to the date of visit. In order to manage proper physical distancing of guests, Knott’s Taste of Boysenberry Festival tasting cards will be limited each day and may sell out.
LEGO® is inviting Winnie the Pooh fans to embrace nostalgia and return to the picturesque Hundred Acre Wood with its new LEGO Ideas Winnie the Pooh set - based on original designs by LEGO builder and superfan Ben Alder. Beneath a large oak tree, complete with beehives and bees, Pooh’s house takes center stage. The house can be opened up to unveil a whole host of furniture and unique items, such as the “Pooh-coo” Clock, box of “Pooh Sticks”, Tigger’s locket, and of course, plenty of honey pots – both full and empty!
A. A. Milne’s wonderful tales of Christopher Robin’s adventures have amazed readers of all ages for almost a century and have become even more memorable thanks to the television and film adaptations that have truly brought the characters’ world to life.
LEGO superfan Ben Alder originally submitted the concept to LEGO Ideas; a LEGO initiative that takes new ideas that have been imagined and voted for by fans and turn them into reality. Based on Ben’s original designs, the set is the perfect project for adult builders to take time to relax and return to the halcyon days of youth, recalling the adventures of their favorite bear and his friends.
About the Lego Set
Discussing the design, Ben Alder commented “I love Winnie the Pooh and remember my parents reading it to me as a child. I now read the same Winnie the Pooh stories to my children, so it is certainly something dear to my heart. I decided to make the set so that my children could bring to life our bedtime stories but never quite expected the positive reaction it has received.”
The new set also includes five new molded characters, each with its own accessories. Pooh himself has his red balloon to collect honey from the bees in the branches above, Piglet is wrapped up in his scarf, and Tigger has just moved to the woods with his sack on a stick. Meanwhile, Rabbit has carrots ready for snacking, and Eeyore comes complete with his tail and a removable ribbon.
Other notable inclusions to the set include; a campfire and log for Pooh to think about the things that he discovers, his front door complete with “Mr. Sanders” sign above it, his adorable bluebell to ring the front door, and finally, a signpost to the Hundred Acre Wood to make sure Pooh finds his way home.
Federico Begher, VP of Global Marketing at The LEGO Group commented, “Winnie the Pooh is a 95-year-old story that is loved globally, so seeing Ben’s design sparked a lot of nostalgia for us all. Plus, his personal story about how he created the set for his family to play out the lovely Winnie the Pooh stories using LEGO bricks felt like a beautiful combination of family, LEGO bricks, and Winnie the Pooh that we wanted to share with others.
We also had the rare treat of being able to create all-new characters for this LEGO Ideas set. We simply had to see how the line-up of Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, and Piglet would look in mini-figure shape. As well as creating a brand-new Eeyore figure!
The stories of the Hundred Acre Wood come to life with this set and there are plenty of intricate details for fans of both Disney and LEGO to discover.”
The LEGO Ideas® platform is a LEGO initiative that takes new ideas that have been imagined and voted for by fans and turn them into reality. The LEGO® Ideas Winnie the Pooh set is available directly from LEGO Stores and LEGO.com from 18th March 2021 for LEGO VIP members, and 1st April 2021 for all.
Universal Studios Hollywood takes its first step in re-opening with the introduction of “Taste of Universal,” a lively outdoor dining and shopping experience taking place within select themed lands on weekends—Friday to Sunday from noon to 7:00 p.m.—beginning on Friday, March 12.
Universal Studios Hollywood is working closely with local health and government officials to implement new health and safety procedures that include controlled capacity to enforce physical distancing and required face coverings.
This eagerly-awaited experience will invite guests to once again feel the thrill of strolling along the park’s signature red carpet as they pass through its iconic gates to enjoy some of the theme park’s best culinary offerings and premium shopping options along with physically distanced photo opportunities with some of their favorite characters.
Admission tickets to “Taste of Universal” include access to select themed areas of the park along with a wide selection of nearly 70 choice culinary options, of which 30 are new to the event. Adults can choose five options and kids can choose three with additional food offerings available for purchase. Tickets start at $44 plus tax for adults and $25 plus tax for kids ages 3-9 years. Discounted admission tickets will be available for Universal Annual and Season Pass members. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
While rides, shows and attractions will not be operational during this experience, guests will be able to take in the incredible environments that surround them as they enjoy the scrumptious food, including vegan and vegetarian options, served within these areas. This includes:
“Springfield, U.S.A.” — Home of The Simpsons featuring Krusty Burger, Suds McDuff’s Hot Dog House, the Lard Lad Donut Cart and Kwik-E-Mart.
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” — Stroll through Hogsmeade village and enjoy shops such as Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods, and feast on food favorites, including Three Broomsticks™ Fish & Chips, Sticky Toffee Pudding and Butterbeer.
The debut of Minion Cafe, a delicious new dining experience, located adjacent to the popular “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” ride, offering such tasty fare as Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Meatballs, Chicken & Bacon Mac and Cheese, and Nutella Banana pudding.
The Hollywood & Dine section will feature:
Authentic Mexican fare at Cocina Mexicana with such favorites as Queso Street Tacos, Loaded Nachos all topped with choice of Tinga or Carnita & Birria, Tortilla Cut Chips with Guacamole, Chili Relleno and Elote Corn on the cobb with Lime Crema.
Hollywood & Dine, the establishment located just inside the theme park’s main entry, serving a selection of comfort foods including, Hot Chicken Sandwich, Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bowl, Personal Pizza with choice of pepperoni or cheese, Brisket Sliders with Caramelized Onions, Korean Hot Dog, and mini funnel cake.
City SnackShop offering grab and go treats such as the quintessential NYC Giant Pretzel, Spicy Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Leg, and the debut of the Crepewich, which features sweet (Banana and Nutella, or Strawberry Chocolate) and savory (club or Spinach and Berry vegetarian) temptations. Yum!
A highlight of the experience will invite guests to preview the very exciting “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” attraction shop, The Pets Store, where guests can purchase favorite TheSecret Life of Petsthemed goodies. Minion Way and Pets Place perpendicular streets located adjacent to Illumination’s “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and all-new “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” rides will take guests on a stroll through the film’s scenic New York City streets as they explore the themed environment.
The Animation Store, home to Hello Kitty® and her friends from Sanrio®, including My Melody™, Keroppi™ and Chococat™, as well as Minions merchandise from Illumination’s, blockbuster Despicable Mefilm franchise, and DreamWorks Animation franchises including Trolls and Kung Fu Panda, will be among the park’s exciting shopping options.
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Physically distanced photo opportunities with select favorite characters will offer guests the chance to reconnect with Universal Studios Hollywood and share their experiences with friends and family via social media.
In addition to this exciting “Taste of Universal” event, guests can extend their day with more shopping and dining at the adjacent Universal CityWalk.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s new health and safety protocols are outlined below, highlighted in thisvideo and detailed on the Universal Studios Hollywood website.
Temperature checks for all Guests upon arrival. If temperatures exceed 100.4° Fahrenheit / 38° Celsius or greater, Guests will not be permitted to enter.
Face coverings required for all Guests throughout their visit. Face coverings also will be available for purchase.
Controlled capacity within the theme park, and limited occupancy at all CityWalk venues to help enforce physical distancing. Some areas and programs may remain temporarily closed.
Rigorous cleaning and disinfecting at all food locations, restrooms, and all other high touch points.
Physical distancing practices at all locations throughout the park.
Eating and drinking permitted only in designated outdoor dining areas.
“WandaVision,” the first Marvel Studios series created exclusively for Disney+, stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, Paul Bettany as Vision, Kathryn Hahn as Agnes, and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, who was introduced to audiences in “Captain Marvel.”
Kat Dennings reprises her role as Darcy from “Thor” and “Thor: The Dark World,” and Randall Park reprises his role as Jimmy Woo from “Ant-Man and The Wasp.” The series is directed by Matt Shakman with Jac Schaeffer as head writer.
Featuring nine episodes, “WandaVision” is now streaming on Disney+.
Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.
The digital WandaVision Original Soundtrack Albums with score by composer Christophe Beck (“Frozen 2,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”) and original theme and songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (“Frozen”) for Episodes 1 through 8 are available now. Episode 9 soundtrack album will be released on March 12.
Us Again is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first short to appear before a film since 2016. Told entirely through music and dance, it’s the story of an elderly couple trying to recapture their youth in the big city.
After the husband looks out his apartment window to see everyone dancing in the streets, his wife tries to get him to participate. Discouraged by his age, he begrudgingly dismisses her.
After she leaves, he begins to have second thoughts. He makes his way onto their balcony and starts to feel the music move him. It begins to rain, and suddenly he transforms into his younger self. Making his way down the fire escape, he dances through the neighborhood and runs into a woman in the park.
She turns around and it’s his wife who has also been transformed into her younger self. They proceed to dance a duet together, making their way across the city where everyone else is also dancing.
As the storm begins to pass, they realize that once they’re out of the rain, they’re no longer young. They continue to chase the storm through the streets until they finally reach a pier. The wife stops running but the husband continues to the end. The storm passes and both of them are no longer young in appearance. But they rejoin hands and continue to dance together.
All of this is, of course, a metaphor for accepting your age but continuing to feel and be young at heart. Everyone grows up and eventually grows old, but it is possible to hold on to your adolescence. Without words, using dance as a symbol for one’s youth was both unique but easily recognizable and understood.
The music and visuals were paired beautifully. Overall, it was a sweet story and a great way to tell this kind of life lesson.
“Us Again,” a vibrant and original new theatrical animated short from director Zach Parrish that brings together dance, music, emotional storytelling, and inspired animation, is set to debut exclusively in theaters worldwide beginning on March 5, playing on the same bill as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (WDAS) newest animated feature, “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
During a special virtual press conference, we heard from Director Zach Parrish, Producer Brad Simonsen and Choreographers/Dancers Keone & Mari Madrid about the making of this new animated short.
Parrish is an eleven-year veteran of Disney Animation who served as head of animation on “Big Hero 6” and director of the Short Circuit film, “Puddles,” in addition to his numerous animation credits on features for the Studio.
Award-winning choreographers/dancers Keone and Mari (featured performers on “World of Dance,” and renowned for their collaborations with such top talents as Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish), and acclaimed composer Pinar Toprak (“Captain Marvel”) brought their unique talents to this experimental and musical fantasy.
The short is produced by Brad Simonsen (associate producer on “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet”), and executive produced by Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS).
“Us Again” Press Conference Highlights
Parrish started on how he came up with ideas for the short. We pitched four ideas actually in the development process, but this idea, in particular, came from a time in my life when I was, kind of struggling with the changes that go along with aging. I was kind of, you know, bemoaning my aging body.
I’m not a-not a super old person, but I was starting to recognize those changes in myself and it kind of led me to these conversations that I would have with my mom where she would always talk about all the great things that she was gonna do when she grew up.
And it really made me stop and realize that, um, I kinda had my priorities wrong. I was looking in the wrong direction, and-and if I’m always looking in the past, then I’m gonna miss the beauty in the now. And I’m old by my own definition, and she’s young by hers. And so that idea of youth being a state of mind, really got my gears turning and I really thought it’d be fun to do a fountain of youth story.
Simonsen discussed the score for the short by saying, Zach knew that the foundation of this had to be the music. Choreography and music were the foundation of the short. Tom McDougal, who is, head of music, at Disney Animation, brought in Pinar Toprak, who did Captain Marvel. She did the score. What we didn’t know at the time was that actually, although Pinar’s amazing at doing scores, she loves funk.
Keone and Mari discussed when they joined the project and how excited to work with Walt Disney Animation. I believe we came in, around April-ish. April of, 2019. I remember
‘cause I think I was about six months pregnant on our first meeting when we came in and it’s just been, like, a dream. We’re huge Disney fans.
We have been dancing for so long and choreographing. The one thing that we are so passionate about is the story, and just the marriage of the project was just instantaneous as soon as we, you know, heard what the ideas were and, and we’ve been trying to tell stories through dance our entire careers.
The film is Disney Animation’s first new theatrical short since the 2016 release of “Inner Workings,” which accompanied “Moana” on the big screen. “Us Again” is scheduled to make its streaming debut in June on Disney+.
In August 2019, Disney officially announced the production of Raya and the Last Dragon at the D23 Expo. This would be their 59th animated film, with a scheduled release in November 2020. It would also mark the directorial debut of Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins, both of whom had multiple credits on previous films as writers, story artists, and voiceovers. The story was to be written by Kiel Murray, who had screenplay credits on Cars and Cars 3.
With 2020 being what it was, Disney was forced to shift their entire release schedule of animated and live-action films, including Pixar and Marvel releases, and Raya was moved to March 2021. By August 2020, it was revealed that new directors were being brought in after the film had also undergone rewrites. They also re-cast the lead character with Star Wars alum Kelly Marie Tran, joining previously announced Awkwafina as the last dragon Sisu. Additional cast was announced in January 2021 with the final trailer, as well as Disney’s intention to simultaneously release in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. And now nearly 18 months after their last animated release, Raya and the Last Dragon is here.
Set in the fictional world of Kumandra, this magical land was once home to dragons and humans living together. After facing a threat from monsters called the Druun, which resemble fast-moving, purple clouds of chaotic energy that turn living creatures to stone, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save the human race, leaving behind the Dragon Gem as a remnant of their magic.
Now 500 years later, a rift between the 5 clans of Kumandra have reawakened the monsters after the gem is broken and its pieces stolen by each clan. It’s up to a warrior named Raya to locate the last remaining dragon Sisu, recover the pieces of the gem and stop the Druun from destroying Kumandra entirely.
Kumandra is inspired by Southeastern Asian culture, located around a body of water shaped like a dragon and broken into 5 separate lands named after its parts: Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon, and Tail. Traveling with her giant pet pill bug named Tuk Tuk, Raya follows a legend to locate Sisu at the far end of Tail. After finding Sisu, she must make her way back home to Heart and collect the broken pieces of the gem from each land during their journey. Each new piece they collect gives Sisu a new power, one previously held by one of her dragon siblings.
All the while, warriors from Fang are attempting to stop Raya as she tries to hide Sisu’s existence. And the Druun continues to ravage Kumandra, with its only weaknesses being water and the powers of the Dragon Gem. Can the people of Kumandra learn to put aside their past in order to survive? Or will their inability to trust one another be their downfall?
There is a lot going on in this story. And while Raya and the Last Dragon attempts to cover a lot of ground (both figuratively and literally in Kumandra), the story overall does not feel cohesive. Despite having some beautiful scenery to play within Kumandra, barely enough time is spent in each land to really appreciate them or get a feel for the distinct cultures of each clan. Based on the last-minute change in directors, as well as multiple rewrites (6 writers credited total), it seems as though scenes were rushed or redone late in production.
The animation quality varies heavily from location to location, with some places being very detailed and others seeming like direct-to-video movies from the early 2000s. This is also noticeable with certain characters, especially some of the warriors from Fang. It was a distraction that pulled me out of the story.
Another issue may have also been the recasting of Raya. It’s unclear how much of the film had already been recorded with the original voice actress, or if Kelly Marie Tran was brought in sooner than the August 2020 announcement.
Regardless, there was a disconnect between her voice and the character on screen, which made Raya a less compelling lead. She didn’t convey a lot of emotion and lacked strong personality traits like other main characters in films like Tangled, Moana, or Frozen. The main characters in those films are so closely matched to their voice actors.
Sisu on the other hand, voiced by Awkwafina, had clearly been animated in a way to highlight her comedic delivery. While I found some of her moments a bit goofy or tonally disconnected from the film, it was clear she inspired the character’s design from the start.
Where Raya and the Last Dragon excels is in its message about trust. In a world where there is currently a divide amongst people, whether it be political or ideological, many of those feelings are based on preconceived notions. The film shows that in order to survive, sometimes you have to put aside past differences, trust those that may think differently, and come together for a common good. The climax of the film is fairly strong and drives that point home well.
Overall, Raya and the Last Dragon feels like a missed opportunity. It has a good message but poor execution. It’s very possible the production of this film suffered due to the pandemic, with different teams working on it remotely. Late changes in directors and multiple writers lead me to believe that was the case.
Ironically a joke is made by Sisu in the film about team projects and how everyone gets the same grade regardless of their effort. The production of any film is very much a team project, but it feels like everyone wasn’t on the same page for this one. While not a lost cause, Raya and the Last Dragon is forgettable and one of Disney’s weakest animated efforts in the last several years.
