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First Trailer Debut! INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
We always knew they were coming back. After INDEPENDENCE DAY redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
Action-Adventure
Release: June 24, 2016
Director: Roland Emmerich
Producers: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser
Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Angelababy, William Fichtner, Sela Ward
The Nutcracker Brings a Winter Wonderland to the OC
Snowflakes hit the floor as a young Prince reaches for the hand of young Clara. When their hands meet to ensue to dance, the once innocent young girl and boy transform into the passionate Prince and Princess that magnetize the audience. The Nutcracker at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa was a show to entice the entire family. Mischievous mice wreaked havoc as cotton candy tutus twirled and dazzled guests. Orange County brought forth the winter wonderland that everyone this holiday season dreamed for.
Choreographed by American Ballet Theatre’s Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky, set to a score by Peter IIyitch Tchaikovsky, scenery and costumes by Richard Hudson, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, and performed live by Pacific Symphony, The Nutcracker has 14 performances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, December 10-20, 2015. The Center’s commitment to supporting artistic excellence engages the entire community through its powerful performances. Their unique and innovative approach to their programs attracts audiences of all ages.
“We are so pleased to introduce a new Orange County holiday tradition by presenting American Ballet Theatre’s prestigious and acclaimed production of The Nutcracker. This ballet bolds a very special place in the hearts and memories of audiences and will continue to inspire a new generation of dance fans. And we are especially thrilled that students from our ABT William J. Gillespie School will share the stage with the celebrated ABT dancers.” stated Center President Terrence W. Dwyer.
Expanding their 27-year relationship, Segerstrom Center of the Arts and American Ballet Theatre created the American Ballet Theatre Gillespie School, which opened September 2015 for ages 3-14. The holiday classic premiered 35 young dancers from the school. The children’s innocent candor in The Nutcracker brought a sense of humor to the elegance on stage. Chase Rogers, age 11, played the role of the renowned Little Mouse. ACT 1, Scene 1, The Kitchen, opens with the Stahlbaum family, chefs, and housekeepers on Christmas Eve preparing for the family’s annual holiday party. Once the room is empty, naughty mice appear looking for scraps. The center of attention was Little Mouse with his booty shakes at the audience and ruckus demeanor. Rogers’ praise was collective with the other talented children of the show, including the Little Fairies, Party Children, and Toy Soldiers. Talent came of all different sizes for these dedicated and gifted dancers.
The Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Act II, was the highlight of the performance. When the Sugar Plum Fairy learns of Clara’s bravery in killing the King Mouse, the Fairy orders a festival to honor her, featuring dances from around the world. The beautiful array of culturally influenced dances awed and enthralled the spectators. From Russian to Spanish enthused choreography, each number was visually fascinating. The celebration came to an end and young Clara was granted her greatest Christmas wish of becoming an exquisite Princess to dance in the arms of her Nutcracker Prince. Gillian Murphy (Princess) and Marcelo Gomes (Nutcracker Prince) were the perfect ballet duet. As the crowd roared with applause, they also rubbed their eyes due to the lack of blinking. This was truly a breathtaking routine and attendees did not want to miss a thing from the pair’s whimsical movements.
Orange County just got a lot more magical this Christmas season and locals should flock to Segerstrom Center for the Arts to witness the enchantment unfold before their own eyes. Tickets start at $29 and are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. Christmas just came early.
The force is strong with Star Wars, Disney Infinity and Hour of Code
While I’m excited to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, my daughter, Teagan, is increasingly drifting into the force as well. In honor of Computer Science Education Week (December 7-13, 2015), Disney held an Hour of Code global campaign with the non-profit Code.org (code.org). The event was held on Monday, December 7, at the Disney Interactive HQ (headquarters). Teagan was thrilled to work on a “build-your-own-game” tutorial, where she learned to code with the help of a few Code.org engineers, Disney executives, and tech employees. Sixty-five kids from the local Boys & Girls Clubs, Girls Inc., and TXT: Teens Exploring Technology were invited to explore the world of game programming and technology.
There’s been a push to incorporate curriculum devoted to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and STEAM (enhanced by art) within our educational system, as well as, local clubs. I think that’s a fabulous idea especially, considering I may have a future scientist on my hands. I was thrilled watching all of the kids, including with my 8 year-old Teagan learn how to write code and build their own video game, using Code.org’s Star Wars coding tutorial. During the fun Star Wars tutorial, kids “officially” join the force, assisting Rey on a mastermind space mission to guide BB-8 (from the upcoming film Star Wars: The ForceAwakens).
Although she’s young, Teagan tried the coding and was able to figure out prior to watching the Star Wars tutorial. Throughout the tutorial, Disney techs and Code.org engineers offered tips to all of the young programmers. Teagan surprised me and a few others by completing the tutorial well before the hour was up! In fact, Teagan received a Certificate of Completion. Did we have fun? Of course, Disney invited a few special guests to the Hour of Code event. From Star Wars, R2-D2 and Chewbacca, attended, along with Disney Channel’s Karan Brar (“Ravi” on Disney Channel’s Bunk’d and Jessie) and Disney XD’s Sophie Reynolds (“Ashley” on Disney XD’s Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything). We also heard inspiring stories of how different Disney executives landed in the tech world of coding. Much like the “force awakens” millions, this Hour of Code awakened and introduced a new generation to the technology world. I’m happy Teagan and I were there to celebrate this occasion.
For more information visit https://code.org/starwars.
About Hour of Code: The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone, anywhere can organize an Hour of Code event. One-hour tutorials are available in over 40 languages. No experience needed. Ages 4 to 104.
X-MEN: APOCALYPSE First Trailer Released!
Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
X-MEN: APOCALYPSE
Release Date: May 27, 2016
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenplay by Simon Kinberg; Story by Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Producers: Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Hutch Parker & Lauren Shuler Donner
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor, Ben Hardy
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS – Teaser Trailer
“TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS” is the sequel to the 2014 hit film “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.” The film is based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman and is directed by David Green (“EARTH TO ECHO”). Michael Bay (the “TRANSFORMERS franchise) returns to produce alongside his Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form (“ TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES”), with Galen Walker and Scott Mednick (“TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES”) also producing.
Also returning for the sequel is Megan Fox (“TRANSFORMERS”) as April O’Neil, Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”) as Vernon Fenwick and the Turtles: Alan Ritchson as Raphael, Noel Fisher as Michelangelo, Pete Ploszek at Leonardo, and Jeremy Howard as Donatello. Rounding out the cast is Stephen Amell (“Arrow,”) as Casey Jones, Tyler Perry (“GONE GIRL”, the “MADEA” franchise) as Baxter Stockman, Academy Award nominated actress Laura Linney (“The Big C”, “LOVE ACTUALLY”) as Chief Rebecca Vincent, Brian Tee (“JURASSIC WORLD”) as Shredder, WWE World Heavy Weight Champion Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly as Rocksteady and Gary Anthony Williams (“THE INTERNSHIP”) as Bebop.
American Craftsmanship at Fender Factory in Corona, CA
To those who think that great things aren’t still being made in the USA, I say check out the Fender Guitar Factory Tour and Visitor Center in Corona, California. A must-see for any guitarist, bassist or music-lover, this place gives guests a chance to go behind the scenes and see how legendary Fender guitars are made from a start to finish.
The complex also boasts a world-class collection of rare instruments on display, as well as hundreds of new ones for purchase in the 8,600-sq-ft Visitor Center.
My recent getaway to the Fender factory and museum began when a friend and I booked an 11:30 am tour and drove about 50 miles southeast from Los Angeles to Corona. At the Visitor Center, we checked-in, put on a headset and safety goggles and followed our guide outside to the Fender Factory across the parking lot.
The Fender Factory Tour takes visitors behind the scenes to see how the legendary guitars are made from start to finish
The huge factory, which produces more than 300 Fender guitars and basses per-day, is arranged in sections, where various experts work on the instrument’s metal, wood, painting and electronic components, before testing begins and the musical masterpieces are ready to shipped around the world to their new owners.
Our tour began in the metal shop, where actual, real people use large lathes to shape and cut metal pieces and bars to go on the guitars. We then strolled over to the wood working section, where giant computerized machines precisely cut giant chunks of ash or alder wood into beautiful curved guitar bodies. Near here, machines also cut strong rosewood and maple into those gorgeous guitar necks that Fender is so famous for.
Expert craftsmen turn chunks of rosewood and maple into classic American guitars
After the wood is cut, it moves to the sanding area, where expert craftsmen sand the bodies and necks to perfection. Our guide told us that the sanders must train more than a year before they master the delicate and precise process.
Once the guitars are sanded, they are sent to the paint department, where they get treated to signature Fender paint jobs, such as Butterscotch blond, Sunburst, Candy Cola, Sea Foam Green, and many more. With the wood painted and polished, the bodies and necks are put together and the instruments are hung high above on a conveyor belt near the ceiling where they dry.
After drying, the guitars are ready to be thoroughly tested by Fender technicians. And once they pass inspection, the instruments ready to be sold to the public.
The factory creates more than 300 guitars per day
At the end of the tour, our guide showed us the “Dream Factory” – the world-famous Fender Custom Shop, where some of the best guitars in the world are built for some of the biggest names in music. Guitars in the custom shop are built by hand by the best of the best guitar builders in the industry and when complete, they fetch roughly between $4,500 and $12,000.
During the tour, our guide let me touch a new, 1952 Reissue Telecaster right off the assembly line and it was love at first sight. With a beautiful butterscotch blond paint job, a fat baseball bat type neck, and a classic, curved body that screamed “rock and roll,” the guitar sent musical lightning bolts through my fingers and into my soul. This is the type of guitar used by the likes of Merle Haggard, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and The Hearbreakers, and countless other famous and not-so-famous rockers. I knew I had to have one.
After taking the tour and seeing what goes into making these musical works of art, I have a better appreciation for the value of these classic instruments and I can see why they are not cheap to purchase. This is American craftsmanship at its finest and there is a lot of love, history and hard work that go into every American made Fender that comes out of the Corona factory.
When the tour was over we went back to the 8,000 sq-ft Visitor Center and explored the showroom, which boasts hundreds of instruments, amplifiers, photos, historical artifacts, and interactive displays related to the Fender brand, which began in 1946 and literally changed music.
Leo Fender began his company in the 1940’s
Some of the instruments on display at the Visitor Center include Fender Stratocaster guitars owned by Jimi Hendix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as other instruments played by Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Kurt Cobain. There is also a hand-crafted guitar covered in jewels that is worth an estimated $1 million!
The Visitor Center showcases numerous Fender guitars, including one covered with jewels, worth around $1 million
The center also offers shopping for apparel, accessories, collectibles and other items in the retail shop, and walls full of instruments for purchase. There is even a big room where new instruments can be played. It was in this room that I got to actually play the aforementioned 1952 Reissue Telecaster. It felt like warm butter in my hands and played like magic. I knew I was holding my early Christmas present.
The Visitor Center is located at 301 Cessna Cir, Corona, CA 92880. The center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and is free admission. Tours begin at 10am and 11:30 am and cost $10 for adults. For more information, call 951.898.4040 or visit: www2.fender.com/features/visitor-center/
Indulge Your Sweet Tooth This Season-Big Bites' Sugar Rush Top Desserts
Sweet Tooth’s from all around Orange County swept to Big Bite’s Sugar Rush! The event was held at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Raise your hand if you love cupcakes, chocolate, cotton candy, cake pops, and delicious heavenly goodness. That’s what I thought. Sugar Rush hosted a variety of vendor booths along with cookie bake-offs, sugar cookie art display competitions and a wine/beer and chocolate pairing V.I.P. experience. Attendees were able to hand pick the samples they wanted to try and purchase any goods at a value price. With so many scrumptious desserts all in one place, guests struggled to choose their favorites.
The first booth to be seen was Albert’s Petite Sweets. Owner and creator, Albert G. Daniel, creates extremely impeccable detail oriented chocolate. His main display at the event caught everyone’s attention as they walked through the doors. A tower of Star Wars custom-made cake pops gleamed and dazzled all guests. Unfortunately, these beauties were not for sale. However, it did show how impressive Albert’s custom work is. You can hire him for corporate events and weddings and personalize pretty much anything to match the theme or product. What was available for sale was his exclusive Holiday Ornament Gift Window Box set, which includes a pop up box effect inside. This is the perfect gift for the holidays or for your own personal wish list.
Paloma’s Paletas were in attendance to astonish guests with handcrafted ice pops. Premiering their winter flavors Blood Orange Buttermilk, Vegan Chewy Gingerbread and Brown Butter Walnut, Paloma’s Paletas was a taste bud’s delight. For guests with dairy allergies, they offered some dairy-free options substituted with coconut milk.
A modern twist on all of your favorite classic cookies, Stuffed offers stuffed cookies. Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, Stuffed’s #1 Seller, Oreo Birthday Cake, was a sensation of flavors. You can also opt for a gluten free alternative with orders and personalize your own Stuffed creations.
Gelato Paradiso wowed the crowd with sorbetto and gelato. All artisanal gelatos are authentic Italian with secret Sicilian recipes and Italian imported ingredients. These also contain no artificial powders or syrups. As a dairy-free alternative, the berry sorbetto at the event was equally as tasty. My favorite was the Pistachio sorbet.
Home of the Tamal Con Mole cupcake, Viva Los Cupcakes, draws inspiration from Mexican foods and desserts to create one-of-a-kind sweets. Try their unique flavors, such as their popular Margarita Cupcake, Horchata Cupcake, and Churro Con Cajeta Cupcake. The flavor of the month is the Tamal Con Atole, which is sweet tamale with sweet corn strawberry porridge buttercream and confetti sprinkles. Delicioso!
For an adult gift this season, Drunken Cake Pops offers a holiday gift box. Eggnog Martini, Pumpkin Spice Cocktail, Spiced Apple Cider, Mom’s Pecan Pie, and Candy Cane Cocktail will surely be a cake pop hit as a stocking stuffer. Remember to “Eat Responsibly” since these do contain alcohol.
For those of you who enjoy the simple scoop of raw cookie dough, Unbaked offers 100% safe to eat jars of cookie dough. Choose from 17 flavors and 18 toppings. Olivia Hops, Owner and Creator, was able to give me the inside scoop on her favorite flavors. Snickerdoodle and Peanut Butter will be sure to resolve your sugar craving.
Believe it or not, you do not have to hit the gym and can sleep at ease after eating Romina Narang’s Light and Healthy Desserts. You can eat guilt free with these absolutely delicious gourmet desserts. The Holiday French Mendiants are a delicacy you must get your hands on. They are made with salted cashew, dried mango, peppermint bark, candied orange peel, almond and sea salt, pistachio, and dried cranberry. The important bold statement Light and Healthy Desserts made at the event was the fact that all the sweets offered at Narang’s booth had no refined sugars, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, and no candy coatings.
If you are a fan of the show Cupcake Wars, you have probably heard of Bubba Sweets. Winner of Cupcake Wars’ Season 13, guests were able to see first hand if the dessert lived up to its fame. I can tell you, it did! You too can try some of Bubba Sweets exceptional flavors, like the “Katy Perry” with a chocolate covered strawberry topping or the “Son of a Biscuit” with a galore of sprinkles and cherry topping, at their home location in Huntington Beach.
V.I.P. guests were able to relax in the Sugar Rush lounge and experience a wine/beer and chocolate tasting. Sponsored by So Rich Chocolates, guests elevated their palates and enjoyed an array of indulgent confections. The menu included IPA or Chardonnay paired with Citris Crush white chocolate, Porter or Pinot Noir paired with a salted maple caramel chocolate, and a Stout or Cabernet paired with a dark chocolate toffee chocolate.
With the impossibility of being sugared out, this event left guests wanting more. This spectacular dessert showcase revealed the top bakery chefs and foodies across Orange County. Make sure to try some of these amazing sweets and support our local shops.
Steven Spielberg unveils first teaser for Disney's THE BFG
The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg –finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic “The BFG” to life. Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. “I think it was kind of genius of Roald Dahl to be able to empower the children. It was very, very brave of him to introduce that combination of darkness and light which was so much Disney’s original signature in a lot of their earlier works like in ‘Dumbo,’ ‘Fantasia,’ ‘Snow White’ and ‘Cinderella,’ and being able to do scary, but also be redemptive at the same time and teach a lesson, an enduring lesson, to everyone, it was a wonderful thing for Dahl to have done, and it was one of the things that attracted me to want to direct this Dahl book,” says Spielberg.
Roald Dahl’s “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant) was first published in 1982 and has been enchanting readers of all ages ever since. Dahl’s books, which also include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Matilda,” are currently available in 58 languages and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide. “The BFG” is the only book of Dahl’s that has never been adapted into a feature film. Originally created as a bedtime story, “The BFG” was Dahl’s own favorite of all his stories. “It was very important for us to be loyal to the language,” says Spielberg, “and the great writer Melissa Mathison, who also wrote ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,’ wrote “The BFG.”
“The BFG” opens in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.
The Original Farmers Market Announces 2015 Holiday Events Schedule
Iconic Los Angeles Landmark Features Fun for All Ages This Holiday Season
The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles—the city’s most festive location this time of the year—is celebrating the holidays in style this season with a variety of free, family-friendly activities that are sure to please patrons of all ages.
On Sunday, December 6, the Market will be celebrating Chanukah in grand fashion from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Market Plaza with a variety of activities that include face painting, treats, arts and crafts and the construction of a giant LEGO® menorah. Then at 4:30, revelers can enjoy the magical stylings of Tom Ogden, twice-voted “Parlour Magician of the Year” by the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. The special event will conclude at 5 p.m. with a ceremony illuminating both the LEGO and giant Farmers Market menorahs, in celebration of the first night of Chanukah.
Then, on Saturday, December 19, The Original Farmers Market will give a big “howdy” to the season with “A Farmers Market Country Christmas” celebration. Afternoon festivities on the Plaza will include the Podunk Poets’ Holiday Hoedown and ornament decorating; the evening’s program will be none other than EB’s downhome, annual Holiday Ranch Party.
The entertainment will carry on through Christmas Eve. From December 20 -24, the Farmers Market’s entertainment line-up will be as diverse as Los Angeles itself, with acts such as: the Dickensian Strolling Carolers, Susie Hansen Latin Jazz Band, Einstein Brown’s Calypso Christmas and Scott Land’s Holiday Marionette Show, to name just a few. Visit www.farmersmarketla.com/events for a complete schedule of holiday-themed activities.
The Market is open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve for last-minute shoppers. Parking at the Farmers Market is free for two hours with a purchase and validation from any Market merchant.
Classic Images of Walt Disney Now Available Through Photographs
On December 5, 2015, what would have been Walt Disney’s 114th birthday, Disney will launch Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives, a new online print-on-demand photo service that will allow fans to own vibrant images from Disney’s rich history, including classic images of Walt himself.
Iconic photographs, from a young Walt circa 1932 surrounded by more than a dozen plush Mickey Mouse dolls to a shot of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on opening day in 1955, will be available for purchase in an array of sizes and formats, including photographs and canvas. Each image tells a story, including a rare behind-the-scenes photograph of musicians during the filming of the concert epic Fantasia (1940), as well as a shot of Walt and his staff with the groundbreaking multiplane camera during the 1951 filming of Alice in Wonderland.
With multiple sizes and frames to choose from, individuals can customize their orders—from an 11’’ x 14’’ print on paper or gallery–wrapped canvas ($59.00) to a 20’’ x 20’’ print in a natural or black wood frame ($150.00).
All artwork comes from the photo library operated by the Walt Disney Archives. Comprised largely of original negatives, the roughly 4 million photos rarely leave their cold storage facilities to see the light of day. As more and more digital copies have been created, the Archives is offering this special opportunity to own a print from its one-of-a-kind collection.
Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives launches December 5, 2015 at DisneyPhotoArchives.com.
Behind-the-Scenes: Building the world of Disney's "Zootopia"
In its 92-year history, Walt Disney Animation Studios has created a long and storied legacy of talking-animal films—from Mickey Mouse’s debut short “Steamboat Willie,” to “Bambi,” “Dumbo,” “The Jungle Book,” “Robin Hood” and “The Lion King.” Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the wild with next spring’s feature film “Zootopia.”
Zootopia is a city like no other that’s comprised of neighborhoods that celebrate different cultures. There’s ritzy Sahara Square for desert animals, Tundratown for the polar bears and moose, the hot and humid Rain Forest District, Little Rodentia for the the tiniest mice, and Bunnyburrows for the millions and millions of super cute bunnies. The downtown area, Savanna Central, is a melting pot where a wide array of mammals from every environment come together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve a mystery.
The team of artists, technicians and storytellers came together to build a multifaceted city that features tiny transport systems within larger ones, and a network of interlaced tubes, ramps, escalators and entryways big and small. The city is home to animals of not only varying sizes, but also varying needs. Zootopia is made up of many different environmental districts. Each district is designed for a specific type of animal—the look, the climate, everything reflects the habitat the animals need to thrive. And by bringing all these environments, all these different kinds of animals together in one big melting pot of a city—we create opportunities and relationships between animals that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
We recently sat down with Art Director of Environments Matthias Lechner and Environment Look Supervisor Lance Summers to discuss how they built the world of Zootopia. 3 1/2 years ago we started to design this world with a small team. How do you build a world for animals, built by animals stated Lechner. When you look at a building, we wanted to make sure the audience knows what they are looking at. We used a lot of patterns and details, like flagstones and animal patterns he added. Scale was also a challenge since we had animals of all sizes from mice to elephants. The idea is to make the city look realistic but also a city that animals would live in.
Inspired by cities like New York and London, artists blended traditional cityscapes with global influences and animal infusions. For example, Tundratown sports onion-shaped domes in a nod to Russian architecture, and the Zootopia train station features an interior tropical garden inspired by Madrid’s Central station, but with horn-shaped towers. With a Southern California-like central climate, Zootopia features artificial climate zones to accommodate the variety of inhabitants. Extensive research provided the logic behind placing opposing climates in adjoining neighborhoods.
Summers discussed how they work with the different departments, by setting up all the materials, like Glass and metal. He added that they wanted to make sure they add life to the world they create. It adds value and richness to the scene. We are also in charge of all the foliage to help it feel alive and lived in. One of the challenges we had was building the Rain Forrest said Summers. We had to create plants and foliage that’s art directable. We start with the base and then we added the elements like real plant growth. In this film, almost all of our plants are actually alive. Another challenge we ran into was the scope and scale. We had to integrate the plants with the animals and their world.
While the possibilities were endless—and explored—filmmakers had to narrow down the districts of Zootopia. Ultimately, they settled on six key areas, giving each a specific color palette and details. Sahara Square, Tundratown, The Rain Forest District, Bunnyburrow, Savanna Central and Little Rodentia.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.
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