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By Michael - April 29th, 2009 
I’ve long wanted to start writing book reviews here on Progress City, as recent years have been filled with a slew of great new titles dissecting every aspect of the Disney empire. Hopefully I can make time to do that, but this year looks to be filled with just as many interesting new tomes that it might be impossible to ever clear up the backlog.
I’m perhaps most excited about the upcoming release, on May 6th, of The Art of Walt Disney World. A companion volume to the excellent The Art of Disneyland , the book has already received a rave review from respected Disney historian Didier Ghez. Authored by prolific Disney authors Jeff Kurtti and the late Bruce Gordon – who, thankfully, left us with more posthumous releases than Tupac Shakur – this illustration-heavy edition will contain lots of little-seen conceptual art from the creation of the resort.
I’m incredibly excited about this release, as conceptual art from Walt Disney World has been much harder to find over the years than art from the development of Disneyland. We all know the handful of renderings that were released repeatedly in 1971; perhaps the only park to have its development well documented publicly was EPCOT Center, thanks to the now-legendary Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow .
The only problem is that, incomprehensibly, this book will only be made available in stores at Walt Disney World. Not online, not at Amazon… nowhere. Why? A large swath of Disney fandom has been waiting for this book for several years – it has been delayed many times – and not all of us can just pop down to the Emporium to pick up a book we’re interested in. This is another of those odd instances when I’m raring to give Disney my money but they refuse to take it. Of course, if they want to send me a review copy…
 Staying in the theme parks, today marked the release of The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios . The next in a series of pocket-sized editions that contain brief histories of various Disney parks, these “Field Guides” rarely have any earth-shattering revelations for die-hard fans but they always have some nice artwork and provide a good primer to the park and its history. I do think they missed a chance, though, by not offering a more expensive version without the dreaded Hat on the cover. I know I would have chipped in a few extra bucks not to have to see that on my bookshelf.
Heading to the world of animation, we have several new titles relating to Pixar and its films. The studio’s forthcoming feature Up has quite a few tie-in releases, most notably The Art of Up by Tim Hauser (The Art of WALL.E ). Up also gets a Little Golden Book , and two picturebooks based on the film’s canine character Dug: Beware of Dug! and My Name is Dug , featuring art by Pixar vet Ronnie del Carmen.
Finally there’s The Pixar Treasures , also by Tim Hauser. Amazon says:
The Pixar Treasures is a scrapbook of instinct and inspiration, experiences readers can touch, and visions that exist only in the imagination. It begins with a group of animators who were inspired by Walt Disney films. In the late 1970s and early ’80s, John Lasseter, Brad Bird, and Joe Ranft were hired into an apprenticeship program at Walt Disney Productions. The last of Disney’s golden age artists, including animators Eric Larson, Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, and Ollie Johnston mentored the young dreamers, and as Pixar later developed, their work would draw heavily from this direct connection with Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men.” The tale continues with Pixar’s foray into computer animation, and the resulting success of Toy Story. With chapters on A Bug’s Life; Monsters, Inc.; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; Cars; Ratatouille; and WALL*E, Hauser’s narrative covers the struggles, growth, and successes of an incredible animation studio. And it gives readers a sneak peak at the newest Disney*Pixar film, Up. Filled with unique removable keepsakes, The Pixar Treasures is an essential collector’s item for every Pixar fan.
Happy reading…
UPDATE: Amazon has just listed Art of The Princess and the Frog , based on the next release from Disney Feature Animation. The book releases on September 1, and is authored by the omnipresent Jeff Kurtti. That guy is everywhere…
UPDATE THE SECOND: I smack my forehead as RandySavage points out in the comments below a very glaring omission from my post. On November 3, Disney will release Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real . This is a sequel to the popular 1996 edition, Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-The-Dreams Look At Making The Magic Real . Also – and I really can’t believe I forgot this one – there’s South of the Border with Disney: Walt Disney and the Good Neighbor Program 1941-1948 , an October release that will tell the story of the Disney animators’ research trips to South America during World War II and the package films that followed – Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, and the unproduced Cuban Carnival. This is one of my absolute favorite periods of Disney animation and I’m incredibly excited to see what never-seen surprises emerge from this book. Author J.B. Kaufman has discussed the project on the Walt Disney Family Museum site.
I also left out a couple of critical new animation titles such as June’s release of A Disney Sketchbook 1928 – 2008 , a compilation of development art from the history of the Disney animation studios. October brings Walt Disney Animation Studios – The Archive Series: Animation , the next volume in the series of Disney Studios art that began with last year’s Walt Disney Animation Studios – The Archive Series: Story .
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By Michael - April 29th, 2009 This is our 200th post here at Progress City, and I wanted to do something a little special to mark this milestone of my unexpected commitment. Something from the Bicentennial would be appropriate, I thought, but those seem like they were pretty depressing times so I decided to skip it. Instead we’re going to feature some rarely-seen artwork from Port Disney, the abandoned Disney project that was developed for Long Beach, California, in 1990-91. It’s exciting to be able to post these images, so I hope you enjoy our bicentennial post spectacular!
Continue reading Neverworlds Bicentennial Special – Port Disney
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By Michael - April 25th, 2009  There are four things in this picture; they are all cooler than anything in the current Imagination! pavilion Let’s say we’re taking a trip to EPCOT, and decide to check out the Walt Disney World website for some information. In the Imagination pavilion, we might decide to check out the ImageWorks – the interactive post-show area for the Imagination ride. Looking at the official Disney page for the ImageWorks, we find the following attractions listed:
ImageWorks – The Kodak “What If” Labs features a vast array of hands-on, sensory-themed activities and exhibits where you can exercise your imagination and explore your creative side in exciting exhibits that include:
* Dreamfinder’s School of Drama – Become the star of your very own film using greenscreen technology
* Stepping Tones – Create your own music by stepping on electronic picture panels
* Figment’s Coloring Book – Using electric paintbrush guns, add a little color to Figment and Dreamfinder
* Electric Philharmonic – Conduct an orchestra through the use of electronic sensors
* Rainbow Corridor – Stroll through an illuminated tunnel where colored lights follow you
* Vibrating Mirrors – Watch as your reflection changes right before your eyes
* Kaleidoscopes – Spin eye-popping colors in intricate designs via large-size kaleidoscopes
* Voice-Activated Lumia – Speak out and behold a bevy of shimmering light effects
* Bubble Projectors – Blow virtual bubbles on a circular screen and create colorful colors
* Figment’s Melody Maker – Help Figment play an instrument to the tune of “One Little Spark”
Those of you unfamiliar with EPCOT might say, “so what?” Those of you who know EPCOT’s history are probably falling out of your chairs laughing by now. The fact is that these attractions, with two exceptions, aren’t part of the post-show exhibit – they never have been. Instead, they were part of the former ImageWorks area that occupied the second floor of the Imagination pavilion from 1982-1998. The new version opened with the controversial and much-maligned Journey into YOUR Imagination attraction overhaul in 1999.
 WE ARE HAVING FUN WE SWEAR!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAThe original ImageWorks, whose attractions are listed above, came from a less technologically advanced era but was larger and far more creatively executed. Fans have long hoped for a return of the original ImageWorks, along with a rumored impending fourth version of the Journey into Imagination ride, so it’s no surprise that the discovery of this list on Disney’s website started a conflagration on fan-frequented message boards.
It’s pretty obvious that this is some weird glitch caused by the web team having to cut-and-paste old information, but it’s fascinating that site has remained this way for at least three days since it was widely noticed. Conspiracy theories have blossomed, but it’s universally reported that no actual work has been done in the former ImageWorks area so this is not something that’s currently happening. Some hope that this is some trial balloon for fan reaction – which, if so, they definitely got a reaction – but more than likely it’s just a weird little mistake.
What is interesting is that these events have shaken out a few interesting rumors about that hoped-for restoration of the Imagination ride. The last few years have provided a steady stream of whispers about plans being drawn up for the pavilion, but these always seem to be stymied by one reason or another. It’s said that Disney knows this attraction is a dog, but the fact of the matter is that someone has to cough up some cash before the rehab begins. In any case, one of the leaked tidbits that has come from several sources is that one potential plan for the attraction that is under consideration involves the remodeled ride expanding into the area currently occupied by Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. This would make up for the massive reduction of the attraction’s footprint in the 1999 remodeling, and would save Disney from having to shoot yet another 3-D film to replace the threadbare current presentation.
The pavilion really needs the work, so hopefully these changes come sooner rather than later, but for now we can assume the brief rebirth of the ImageWorks owes more to a fluke of copy-editing rather than a sneak preview of things to come.
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By Michael - April 24th, 2009 
Alain Littaye has broken the news that Imagineering legend and current “Imagineering Ambassador” Marty Sklar announced today his intention to retire. Sklar, in a letter to fellow Imagineers, stated that his last day with Imagineering will be July 17 – the anniversary of Disneyland’s opening. He has been working with the Walt Disney Company in various capacities for 53 years.
Sklar has a long and storied career with WDI, and is one of the few individuals remaining with the company to have worked closely alongside Walt Disney himself.
While a student at UCLA in 1955, Sklar was recruited before Disneyland’s opening to edit The Disneyland News, a souvenir newspaper that was sold in the park. After graduation in 1956 he joined the company full-time and helped to run the park’s publicity operations.
In 1961 Marty joined Imagineering – then called WED Enterprises – and became Walt’s personal speechwriter while also helping to recruit corporate sponsors for the 1964 World’s Fair. Many of the most famous speeches and television bits that Walt delivered in that era were written by Marty, including the famous EPCOT proposal film in 1966.
Sklar also helped develop attractions during this period, becoming Vice President of Concepts & Planning in 1974. While helping guide the creation of EPCOT Center he was named Vice President of Creative Development in 1979, and then Executive Vice President in 1982. Marty was Imagineering’s President and Vice Chairman from 1987 to 1996, and then became Vice Chairman and Principal Creative Executive. In 2006, on the heels of Imagineering’s 50th anniversary, Marty stepped down from his active role at WDI and became Imagineering’s official ambassador to the world. This was a largely ceremonial role, and I’m unsure how active Marty has been in day-to-day projects since.
While it’s understandable that after 53 years Marty might want to pack it in, it’s still sad to see him go. Regardless of what role he’s played recently, imagining WDI without him around is simply bizarre. Still, all things must pass and we wish Marty well. Keep in touch, ok?
UPDATE: Orlando Attractions Magazine has posted the text of Marty’s letter to his fellow Imagineers.
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By Michael - April 24th, 2009  Hope you installed your mouse driver Ok, that’s pretty cool.
Sideshow Collectibles has just revealed this vinyl figurine of Mickey Mouse as TRON. The figure, by Medicom, will be released later this year.
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