Big Hero 6 Review

BIG HERO 6 REVIEW
by Loren R. Javier

Our good friend and fellow Disney lover Loren Javier picks up the Tales pen for this entry! He's written an awesome review of the newest Walt Disney Animation Studios release, Big Hero 6. Enjoy! 

Just before Frozen was released in 2013, I visited a friend at Walt Disney Animation Studios. I asked him, “What film are you guys working on next that you can tell me without killing me?”

“A Marvel movie,” he said.

Being a huge Marvel fan, I immediately asked him with great excitement, “Which one?!?!”

“Oh, you probably don’t know this comic. It’s called ‘Big Hero 6,’” he replied, fully expecting me to be dumbfounded.  But, being the big Marvel fan I was, my eyes lit up and said, “Oh, my god! I totally know what you’re talking about!”

But, of course, after that, I was loaded with questions that he couldn’t answer. While I was familiar with the comic, it was an extremely obscure one. And, it was based on a Japanese super hero team with less conventional names such as Honey Lemon and Wasabi No Ginger. How would they pull this off?

And, while Walt Disney Animation Studios has set movies in more modern times, they’ve never tackled a story about super heroes. And, before you say, let’s not forget The Incredibles, let’s remember that was produced by Pixar which has a different philosophy to storytelling.

Big Hero 6 tells the story of Hiro Hamada who tries to solve the mystery behind his brother Tadashi’s death. Through this journey, he meets an incredible team of like minded friends as well as Baymax, an artificial intelligence that is the last remnant of his brother. It is a story of loss and it is a story of learning about the people in your lives.

Thankfully, Walt Disney Animation Studios was able to create a film worthy of both the Disney and Marvel brands. I’ve been involved in several conversations about whether one would consider Big Hero 6 to be a Disney or Marvel film. We know that Disney has distanced itself from the source material in some ways with very little mention of Marvel in the movie. I understand that this was a way to allow Disney to have some leeway in storytelling that doesn’t bind itself so closely to the source material. But, I think, as I’ve said, Disney was able to strike a fantastic blend of the two brands.  

From the Marvel brand, it was able to bring some great action sequences and the creation of a ragtag group of individuals wanting to do good in the world. Yes, a super hero team.  I’ve read the “Big Hero 6” books and the film definitely captures the spirit. And from the Disney brand, it was able to bring in the heart. Disney always does an amazing job of finding the relationships that people can really relate to. For me, the film is all about the impact that people make in your own life, whether it mean the support Tadashi, Baymax or the rest of the team gave to Hiro, or, how we can’t take for granted the people who are in our lives. It is touching and heartbreaking, but, with the everlasting message of hope.

On Tuesday, February 24, Walt DIsney Home Entertainment released Big Hero 6 on Blu-Ray and DVD (although, it did release it in Digital HD and Disney Movie Anywhere earlier in the month). I chose to wait for the Blu-Ray release because it had an exclusive special feature called “Big Hero Secrets,” showing the various Easter Eggs in the movie. We learned about hidden references to Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled and others as well as some very Hidden Mickeys. It’s a great special feature, but it is actually hard to find. In fact, I, at first, thought it was left off my Blu-Ray and look it up. If you want to spend the time figuring out how to activate it, skip the rest of this paragraph. Otherwise, here’s the secret….When you go to the Special Features menu, press “Up.” You will see Baymax appear in the upper right part of the menu. Press select and you got your special feature!

The longest and, to me, the most interesting special feature was entitled “The Origin Story of Big Hero 6: Hiro’s Journey.” Hosted by Jamie Chung, who provides to voice for Go Go Tomago, we learn how the film was brought from the pages of a Marvel comic and made its way to your local movie theater. It was interesting hearing some of the collaborative process between Disney and Marvel as well as showing Marvel’s confidence in Disney’s bringing this obscure property to the big screen. It was also really interesting to see how Baymax went from more of a monster looking robot in the comics to a soft personal healthcare companion.

Loren and Baymax!

“Big Animator 6: The Characters Behind The Characters” was a fine special feature. In this feature, we watch interviews about the artists involved in the film. There’s some nice interviews, but nothing earth shatteringly educational either.

The deleted scenes were also interesting to watch I always love to see early thought process behind a film and why certain scenes are cut. While the scenes were definitely entertaining and fun, but I’m also glad they went the direction they did. They’re definitely worth watching, though.

The piece d’ resistance of all the special features, though, is the accompanying theatrical short Feast, which, along with Big Hero 6, recently won an Academy Award! This short film follows a young Boston Terrier puppy named Winston and how he relates to the world around him by the food he’s given. My sister has a Boston Terrier puppy and it’s amazing how realistic Winston is! It is also worth noting that, if you have a Disney Movie Anywhere account, it includes the Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Short Tokyo Go which features Mickey Mouse braving the bullet train in Tokyo during rush hour. If you aren’t watching these Mickey Mouse shorts, you are missing on some fun animation!

Thanks Loren for a GREAT review!! - Al & Joyce

Loren R. Javier, Guest Blogger and Super Hero!

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

by Al Kessel
Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Alexander. All Alexander wanted was good day. You see, while his brother, sister, mother and father all enjoyed wonderful, successful and awesome days, young Alexander suffered from the curse of 'grumpy, bad days', well, most days. So, one day, on his birthday in fact, he made a secret wish...for his family to truly understand how he feels...how truly bad days and just make ya', Mr. Grumpy pants! And you know what? His special, magical wish was GRANTED! Only, a little too well, for you see, Alexander's family suffered the wrath of the TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY!!

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is, without a doubt, one of the best live action Disney films we've seen in a long time. Back in October, 2014, we were honored to get an advanced screening of this fun family film (try saying THAT fast three times!), and when we were asked to write a review on the Blu-Ray/DVD release, we jumped at the chance! 

Based on the best selling 1972 children's book by Judith

The Original Bad Day

Viorst (who actually wrote the book about her own son), the movie of course varies a bit in the plot, but the basic premise remains. The story follows the exploits of Alexander as he experiences THE most terrible, horrible day of his young life (you know, his rival at school is having HIS birthday party on the same day as our hero - only a much BIGGER party; his friend decides to photo-shop Alexander's head on a bikini clad super model; oh, and he almost burns down the science classroom at school, that sort of day), and

Burning It Up In Science!

begins to wonder if bad things only happen to HIM. Because, his entire family seem to be having GREAT luck! Then, in the very early moments of his birthday, he decides to treat himself to a celebration cupcake, and a wish. A very special wish that he makes while everyone else is sleeping - for his whole family to have a bad day, just like him. And the next morning he realizes that sometimes, wishes DO come true as he witnesses his dad, his mom, his big brother and sister, and even his baby brother, all have the most terrible, horrible....well, you get the picture!

Steve Carell and Friend

With an all-star cast including Steve Carell (from T.V's The Office) as Ben Cooper, Jennifer Garner (from The Odd Life Of Timothy Green) as Kelly Cooper, Dylan Minnette (from Prisoners and T.V.s Lost) as Anthony Cooper, Kerris Dorsey (from Showtime's Ray Donovan) as Emily Cooper and Bella Thorne as Celia, Anthony's love interest, and of course, Australian actor Ed Oxenbould (from Paper Planes) as Alexander Cooper, this film has everything to make for an incredibly fun adventure! And if that's not enough, a lot of Australian Outback Party fun (including a crocodile, kangaroo and 'The Thunder From Down Under')! 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is certainly a movie for the entire family. Disney's heartwarming comedy will have your entire family laughing out loud, repeatedly! 

Bonus Features Include:

(Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, Blu-Ray)

• Alexander...In Real Life
• Snappy Crocs & Punch Roos: The Australian Outback Party
• Walkabout: A Video Diary
• And the Delightful, Magnificent, Very Good Bloopers
• 'Hurricane' by the Vamps - Music Video

(DVD)

• Snappy Crocs & Punch Roos: The Australian Outback Party
• 'Hurricane' by the Vamps - Music Video

Rated PG for some minor violence and situations, running time approximately 81 minutes. 

We HIGHLY recommend seeing Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day as soon as you can. In typical Disney fashion, this film really is a 'feel good movie' that you can share with everyone. On our scale of 1-5 Mickey's, we give Alexander a 5! Yep, it's THAT good. Really. It is. 

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY....MATE!

CRIKEY!! Today is Australia Day! And, in honor of this special day, and the February 10, 2015 release of Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day on Blu-Ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere, we thought we'd share some Fun Facts about Alexander's favorite country:

• Australia is home to some of the world's deadliest animals - make sure to keep them locked up when they're visiting your home to avoid surprises!

• Male kangaroos are called boomers and can jump up to 25 feet in a single leap, making them hard to catch when they're loose in the neighborhood!

• Don't pick a fight with a kangaroo - one kick could send you across the yard!

• A didgeridoo is a native instrument and a great way to wake up your siblings!!!

About Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day:

Disney’s heartwarming comedy will have your entire family laughing out loud. Based on the best-selling book, it follows the exploits of Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life and wonders if bad things only happen to him.  But he discovers he’s not alone when his dad (Steve Carell), mom (Jennifer Garner) and family live through their own terrible – and hilarious – day. It will tickle everyone’s funny bone, and warm their hearts as they discover how even on rotten days, families can grow closer. Starring Steve Carell (TV's The Office), Jennifer Garner (The Odd Life Of Timothy Green), Bella Thorne (Blended), Kerris Dorsey (Showtime's Ray Donovan) and Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes) as Alexander. 

Bonus Features:

• Alexander...In Real Life
• Snappy Crocs & Punch Roos: The Australian Outback Party
• Walkabout: A Video Diary
• And the Delightful, Magnificent, Very Good Bloopers
• Music Video - 'Hurricane' by the Vamps

Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is rated PG and will be available everywhere on February 10, 2015! We went to the special pre-screening of this movie and believe us...it's an AWESOME movie! Be sure to pick up your copy as soon as it becomes available. You WON'T regret it!

G'Day Mates!

Baymax LOVES National Hugging Day!!

After much deliberation and even more hugging, Baymax, the lovable personal companion robot and star of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s action-packed comedy adventure and Academy Award® Nominated film “Big Hero 6,” was today named Most Huggable Character of 2015 on National Hugging Day™!

The coveted award was presented by the Ambassador of Hugs, Kevin Zaborney, founder and creator of National Hugging Day.™ Baymax humbly accepted the award from his residence in San Fransokyo where he attributed the honor to his “non-threatening, huggable design” and said he looks forward to spending the upcoming year giving and receiving hugs from all.

The Most Huggable Character Award coincides with this month’s National Hugging Day™ held annually on January 21. National Hugging Day™ was created to encourage people around the world show more affection in public. There is only one way you are supposed to celebrate the holiday: offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want. 

About National Hugging Day:

National Hugging Day,™ also known as National Hug Day, is an annual holiday created by Rev. Kevin Zaborney in Michigan, USA. It occurs on January 21 and is officially recognized by the United States Copyright Office. It was first celebrated in 1986 and has since spread to multiple countries. The purpose of the holiday is to encourage people to openly express themselves through hugging.  Offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want but remember it is wise to ask first. Whether you hug a family member or a stranger, the mental and physical health benefits are the same. For more information, visit www.nationalhuggingday.com.

THE MOST ORIGINAL, HUGGABLE HERO OF ALL

SHARES THE 10 BENEFITS OF HUGGING!

1)    Hugs make us feel “happy”! When we hug another person, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with “happiness,” according to scientific studies. 

2)    Hugs alleviate stress! Just as a good hug increases our oxytocin levels, it decreases our cortisol or “stress” levels. 

3)    Babies need hugs as much as water and food! According to researchers at Harvard University, hugs help promote normal levels of cortisol necessary for child development. 

4)    Hugs make us better students! Students who receive a supportive touch from a teacher are twice as likely to volunteer in class. 

5)    Hugs improve our game! Scientists at University of California, Berkley discovered that the more affectionate members of a team are with each other, the more likely they are to win. 

6)    A hug a day keeps the doctor away! A hug stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn regulates the production of white blood cells that keep us healthy and disease-free. 

7)    A hug stops the bug! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon proved that individuals who were sick and received hugs had less severe symptoms and were able to get better quicker. 

8)    A hugging heart is a healthy heart! Research from University of North Carolina showed that a good hug helps ease blood flow and lower cortisol levels, which in turn help lower our heart rates. 

9)    A hugging couple is a happy couple! Couples that experience their partners’ love through physical affection share higher oxytocin levels. 


10)    Hugs let someone know you care without having to say a word! According to Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, we can identify love from simple human touch – imagine how much love a big hug can communicate! 

About Disney’s “Big Hero 6”

From Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Frozen,” “Wreck-It Ralph”), “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy adventure about the poignant friendship that develops between a robotics prodigy and an extraordinary robot as they embark on a life-changing journey to unravel the mystery behind a devastating event. “Big Hero 6” is directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams, and produced by Roy Conli. 

The film introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his diverse group of friends — adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred — who transform into a band of unlikely heroes.


Disney’s “Big Hero 6” will be available nationwide on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere February 3 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack February 24. For more information, visit http://movies.disney.com/big-hero-6.

Jake and the Neverland Pirates - Battle For The BOOK!!

by Joyce Kessel 

Jake the Neverland Pirates: Battle for the Book!!!  sailed into store for home viewing on January 6, 2015 


We received a review copy in exchange for a DVD  review and as with other Disney Junior Jake and the Never Pirates stories, Battle for the Book was entertaining and the 141 minute running time would keep the attention of kids of all ages, and the kids at heart.    My favorite part of the story was Wendy and the songs she sang.  

This value-packed DVD includes the Battle for the Book! adventure plus 4 additional episodes, over two hours of fun! Plus FREE inside every DVD is an exclusive checker board bandana with gold coins, you can’t get anywhere else! 


Synopsis: When Wendy’s special Storybook is stolen by Captain Hook, Jake and his mates go to London to help Peter Pan’s friend (from the classic movie Peter Pan). The longer the book is out of Wendy’s hands, the more she and her brothers (John and Michael) forget about their past adventures on Never Land. The battle for the book continues in Never Land, where Hook plans to destroy the book and its stories in the legendary Ring of Blue Fire. It’s up to our young heroes to save Wendy’s Storybook and the Story of Peter Pan!

Voice Talents are:  Sean Ryan Fox (Life Tracker, East of Kensington) as Jake, Madison Pettis (Cory in the House, Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 and 3, The Game Plan) as Izzy, Jadon Sand (Frozen, Wreck it Ralph) as Cubby, David Arquette (Scream movies) as Skully, and Corey Burton (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Captain Hook Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca Producer: Mark Seidenberg Director: Howy Parkins 

Pick up your copy today and set sail on a adventure you and your little pirates are sure to enjoy!!!

Planes: Fire and Rescue to the....RESCUE!!

by Al Kessel


Well...yet another sequel. Seems as if that's a given these days. If a movie does semi well, it's pretty much guaranteed that they WILL make a sequel, which, unfortunately, typically turns out to be leagues short of the original. Luckily for us, Disney Planes * Fire & Rescue isn't a typical sequel!! This one ROCKED!

I must admit, when we first heard about the sequel to Disney Planes, both Joyce and I were...skeptical. They actually announced it right away, during D23 if I'm not mistaken. I thought, wow, how about letting us figure out if Planes is any good before you go making a follow up. But, yep...I was pleasantly surprised. I think that Fire & Rescue is every bit as good as Planes, and to be honest, if this were the first movie put out, I feel it would have been equally as successful as the first. It's THAT good. 

This outing starts after Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook) has successfully defended his crown of air race champ. Seems Dusty has pushed himself a bit too hard and has to back it off a tad, or else.....well, we don't even want to THINK of that!! So, while trying to prove to himself that he's still got it, certain mishaps...well, happen that set up the Fire & Rescue storyline. Now, Dusty finds himself learning to be one of the elite fire and rescue members, and some pretty funny stuff crops up (yep, pun intended). In a plot that is similar to the original, Planes Fire & Rescue introduces us to a new set of characters that are just as endearing and heroic as the originals. 

“PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” is fueled by a star-studded voice cast that includes Dane Cook (“Planes”) as Dusty, Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”) as Dipper, Ed Harris (“Gravity” and "Apollo 13") as Blade Ranger, Captain Dale Dye (“Saving Private Ryan”) as Cabbie, Cedric the Entertainer (“Ice Age”) as Leadbottom, Erik Estrada (“CHiPs”) as Nick “Loopin” Lopez, Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) as Chug,     Teri Hatcher (“Desperate Housewives”) as Dottie, John Michael Higgins (“Pitch Perfect”) as Cad, Hal Holbrook (“Into the Wild”) as Mayday, Stacy Keach (“Planes”) as Skipper, Regina King (“Ray”) as Dynamite, Anne Meara (“Night at the Museum) as Winnie, Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”) as Harvey and Wes Studi (“Avatar”) as Windlifter. 

Disney's Shout-Out to CHiPs!!

And what Disney movie on Blu Ray/DVD would be complete without a plethora of bonus features?

Blu-Ray Combo Pack, Digital HD/SD & Disney Movies Anywhere:

• Exclusive Animated Short - "Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular"
• "Welcome to Piston Peak!" - This mock-umentary promotional piece shows off all the highlights of the acclaimed Piston Peak National Park and it's aerial firefighting team
• "CHoPs" TV Promo - An in-world TV promo (you've got to see the movie to understand this. It's AWESOME)
• Air Attack: Firefighters From The Sky - This high-energy, music-driven behind-the-scenes piece takes an inside look at the real smoke jumpers and firefighters who attack wildfires from the air as Director Roberts Gannaway and Producer Ferrell Barron take us through their journey in making the film
• Spencer Lee Music Video - Still I Fly
• Deleted Scenes
• Animated Shorts - 
• Dipper
• Smokejumpers
• On the DVD:
• Spencer Lee Music Video Still I Fly
• Exclusive DMA Discover Content
• Animated Shorts:
• Blade Ranger
• Piston Peak

Planes-Fire & Rescue

So, yes, if you insist on a rating system, let's say....1 to 5 Pistons, with 1 being stay away and 4 being "GO GET YOUR COPY TODAY!". Joyce and I both give Disney Planes * Fire & Rescue a 5! Honestly, this is one of the best animated movies we've seen in awhile. There are plenty of great things about this movie, and I'm sure a LOT that you'll pick out that we didn't notice. There's humor for all ages as well. And some nods to previous Disney project (see how many you can spot). 

10 Things You Never Knew about Planes: Fire & Rescue:

MOVIE SECRET #1…  

THERE ARE HIDDEN MEANINGS BEHIND THE NUMBERS IN THE MOVIE!

“We love to hide fun numbers in the animation,” reveals Planes: Fire & Rescue art director Toby Wilson. “The ‘301’ you see on the side of Blade is actually the number from the CalFire’s air-attack helicopter at Hemet-Ryan air base. We used that as a thank you because we spent so much time there researching the movie. Watch out for national identification numbers on the planes and helicopters, too. They often hide things like birthdays or special dates for the filmmakers. The birthday of Bobs Gannaway, our director, is one of the national identification numbers in the movie!” 

MOVIE SECRET #2…  

A SCENE IN THE MOVIE IS BASED ON A FIREFIGHTER’S TRUE ACT OF BRAVERY!

“In the movie, there’s a scene where a new character named Blade takes Dusty Crophopper into a mine to protect him from a fire,” explains Planes: Fire & Rescue director Bobs Gannaway. “Well, that sequence is based on a true story. A firefighter named Pulaski saved his crew by taking them into a mine in Idaho during 1910’s Great Idaho Fire. In honor of the famous firefighter, we named our yellow fire truck in the movie Pulaski. It’s an absolute honor to have him represented in the film.” 

MOVIE SECRET #3…  

PISTON PEAK NATIONAL PARK IS BASED ON A NUMBER OF NATIONAL PARKS!

“We wanted to take audiences somewhere they’ve never been before,” reveals Bobs Gannaway. “The film has a little bit of Americana woven into a mash-up of Yellowstone, Yosemite and a few other national parks – all with our own distinctive spin.” Keep your eyes peeled when the action of the movie heads to the Grand Fusel Lodge of Piston Peak. The quirky building was directly inspired by Yellowstone’s iconic Old Faithful Inn!

MOVIE SECRET #4…  

JULIE BOWEN SIGNED UP FOR THE SEQUEL BEFORE THE FIRST PLANES  FILM WAS EVEN RELEASED!

“I have no idea how I ended up in an amazing Disney animation like this,” giggles actress Julie Bowen. “Out of the blue, I got a call from Disney offering me the role – but I’ve since discovered that John Lasseter [the head of Walt Disney Animation Studios] is a huge fan of my show, Modern Family. When they offered me the role of Dipper in Planes: Fire & Rescue, the first Planes movie hadn’t been released – but I knew I was in safe hands. My kids love the fact that I’m in a Planes movie. This whole experience has been an absolute blast!” 

MOVIE SECRET #5…  

IT TOOK A TEAM OF 900 PEOPLE TO CREATE THE MOVIE!

A lot of time and effort goes into the creation of an epic animation like Planes: Fire & Rescue. “In total, a team of 900 people spent four years creating the ambitious animated movie,” admits producer Ferrell Barron. “That includes everyone from animators and voice artists to writers and musicians.” 

MOVIE SECRET #6…  

REAL VEHICLES OFTEN INSPIRE THE CHARACTER DESIGN!

Most of the high-flying vehicles in the movie are fictional, but their design is usually inspired by real aircraft. The look of Dusty Crophopper was inspired by three planes: the Air Tractor 502, the Cessna and the Air Dromader. The design of Windlifter was inspired by three helicopters: the Sikorsky Skycrane, the Kamov KA-26 and the Mil MI-10. Many of the land-based vehicles are also based on real automobiles. The design of Mayday – Propwash Junction’s feisty fire truck – was based on the 1940s Fordson Tender.

MOVIE SECRET #7…  

ACTRESS JULIE BOWEN PANICKED IN THE RECORDING BOOTH!

“I had a lot of fun in the recording booth,” admits Julie Bowen. “You have to repeat the same lines a million times, but it never gets boring. The director and his team sit behind a big glass window. They have to press a button for me to hear what they are saying, but I’d always see them chatting away whenever their fingers left the button. It made me panic. I’d think, ‘Oh no! Am I doing this wrong?’ Eventually, I asked them to keep their finger on the button so that I could hear everything. That’s when I discovered they were talking about the most boring things in the world! They would turn to each other and say things like, “Um… Did anybody change the toner in the fax machine?” They weren’t talking about me at all!”

MOVIE SECRET #8… 

AN AEROBATIC HELICOPTER PILOT ASSISTED THE ANIMATION TEAM!

Blade Ranger and Windlifter are two exciting new helicopter characters in the movie. In order to research how they fly, the filmmakers turned to a world-renowned aerobatic helicopter pilot named Chuck Aaron. Aaron has more than 42 years and 20,000 flight hours under his belt! “They asked me if I would watch the movie and look at the storyboards to determine if the helicopter movements were factual and feasible,” says Aaron. “It brings authenticity and realism to the movie.”

MOVIE SECRET #9… 

PISTON PEAK’S MECHANIC TUG IS NAMED AFTER A REAL MECHANIC! 

“Maru is the name of the friendly mechanic tug at Piston Peak Air Attack base, but his history dates back to the first movie,” explains Toby Wilson. “On one of the research trips for the first movie, the team went to Wisconsin where they met a mechanic with one hand. Outside his garage, it said ‘Maru’s Garage’ written in big letters. Our creative executive, Paul Gerard, went inside and asked him, ‘So, where’s Maru?’ The mechanic replied, ‘The name’s Marv!’ It turns out he had really bad handwriting on his sign. Marv is the real-life inspiration behind Maru in the movie.” 

MOVIE SECRET #10!

DANE COOK WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MUSICAL PLANES MOVIE!

“I’ve always been a fan of all Disney movies when I was growing up, especially the musicals,” admits Dane Cook. “I used to love Bedknobs And Broomsticks, which was live action and animation combined. I just loved it, and I always wanted to be a part of it. I’d love to see a Planes musical. After Frozen was released, I said to everyone, ‘We need music in Planes.’ Maybe next time?” 

MOVIE SECRET EXTRA!

MORE THAN 2 MILLION TREES POPULATE PISTON PEAK NATIONAL PARK!

One of the many difficult tasks that the filmmakers tackled was the creation of Piston Peak National Park. “It was a huge challenge for the art team,” explains Bobs Gannaway. “And more than 2 million trees were incorporated into its design.” The animation team ensured that just the right trees were incorporated into the scenery – including lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar, red woods and giant sequoia!

Disney's 101 Dalmatians!!

This Valentine’s Day, Share the Humor, Suspense and Adventures With Your Family!

Disney’s

101 DALMATIANS DIAMOND EDITION

Available for the First Time on Digital HD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Disney Movies Anywhere and On-Demand – February 10th

From the studio that brought you Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book and other timeless animated classics comes Disney's 101 Dalmatians on Blu-ray™, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand February 10th! Exciting bonus features include a never-before-seen animated short, bonus clips and more!

Stay connected with the latest news and information about ”101 Dalmatians”:
· “Like” us on Facebook: facebook.com/Disney101Dalmatians
·  Check out our Website and Mobile Site:    disney.com/101dalmatians 

·  Visit www.Disneymoviesanywhere.com and download the DMA App at: di.sn/ttI

Featuring All-New, Never-Before-Seen Animated Short! 

Pick your favorite spot to watch—anytime and anywhere—and get ready for a fun-filled adventure with the Diamond Edition of 101 Dalmatians! Pongo, Perdita and their super-adorable puppies are in for thrills, hilarious spills and an epic action-packed adventure when they face off with Cruella De Vil, Disney’s most fabulously outrageous villainess. When Cruella dognaps all of the Dalmatian puppies in London, brave animal heroes launch a daring plan to save all puppies from Cruella’s clutches! Unleash all the excitement and suspense of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, a beloved classic you’ll want to share with your family again and again! 

Cast: Rod Taylor (Inglorious Bastards, The Birds) as Pongo, J. Pat O’Malley (The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland) as Jasper and Betty Lou Gerson (The Fly, Cats Don’t Dance) as Cruella de Vil


Release Date: February 10, 2015 (Direct Prebook: 12/16; Distributor Prebook: 12/30)
  
New Bonus Features:
* All New Short – The Further Adventures of Thunderbolt
* Walt Disney Presents “The Best Doggoned Dog in the World” (1961 Version)
* Lucky Dogs
* DisneyView
* Dalmatians 101: Hosted by Cameron Boyce 
* Plus a Selection of Classic Bonus Features


Feature Run Time:  Approximately 79 Minutes