THEATER IN THE WILD

In 1998, Theater in the Wild opened its doors and has been home to three big Disney shows at the Animal Kingdom parc.

Originally , it was an open-air amphitheater and its debut was with the show Journey into the Jungle Book, a 30-minute stage show with Mowgli, Baloo and King Louie retelling the story with songs.

Then in July 1999, Tarzan Rocks! took over the theater. It was a spectacular musical with dancers, singers and gymnasts with all the characters and music of the movie. I remember seeing this show myself in my second trip to WDW (I don’t remember much of my first as I was quite young).

Now, the theater is home to the Finding Nemo- The Musical, a musical with amazing costumed, transporting the guest to the undersea adventure.

No plans as to what is going to be the next show to take over the theater, but continuing the tradition, it will be amazing when the time comes.

TODAY, MOWGLI IN ANIMAL KINGDOM

Mowgli will be meeting intermittently throughout the day at the Oasis in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and at the front of the park. Sources say he might be accompanied by Baloo as well!

It’s a good chance for you to take a picture with a character we do not see in the parks as often.

Source: Unofficial Disney Character Guide

Vanessa Fahy

THE JUNGLE BOOK, THE MUSICAL

Disney’s adaptation in a musical of the 1967 classic The Jungle Book, by Mary Zimmerman will be opening in the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Unforgettable and classic Disney music by the Sherman brothers such as I Wanna be Like You.

In addition, Zimmerman is adapting original stories from Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli.

(Source: fancysomedisneymagic)

Shere Kahn’s expressions are the best

(Source: fancysomedisneymagic)

KEN ANDERSON’S THE JUNGLE BOOK DESIGNS

In the last post I uploaded a picture of the animators having a break during a recording session of I Wanna Be Like You. Here are some of those designs you can see at the back of the picture, and even a collage put together with Ken’s work for the film and his signature.

If you are really into the concept art of this film, I insist in recommending you Pierre Lambert’s Le Livre de la Jungle (X). I came across this amazing book in Paris. Gorgeous! The owner of the store insisted in what a treasure it was, and he was right, but it was too big and heavy, and I had already bought so many books during the months, there was no way I could fit it in my luggage.

(Source: fancysomedisneymagic)

JUNGLE BOOK RECORDING SESSION… taking a break!

Here you can detect Milt Kahl in the back, with his arms over his head, Ollie Johnston smiling, arms crossed in the center with his glasses and Ken Anderson in the right, at the front, sitting crossing his legs, looking at the back, probably at his drawings.

These are Ken’s designs for Baloo’s and King Louie’s scene before the I Wanna Be Like You sequence, performed by the late Sherman Brothers.

It seems like they are all just taking a break, chilling during one of those long recording sessions.

HOMAGE TO FRANK THOMAS

Frank Thomas was one of Walt Disney’s team of animators known as the Nine Old Men.

He was a Disney Legend, and did quite a team when paired with Milt Kahl in scenes such as the witchcraft duel in The Sword in the Stone or the I Wanna Be Like You scene in The Jungle Book.

He was best friends with fellow animator Ollie Johnston and created lovable and transcendent characters and scenes like the ones above, thus creating a spot for him in the history of animation for which he will always be remembered.

(Source: fancysomedisneymagic)

Dizzy yet?

From storyboard, to rough, to final animation

The Jungle Book

(Source: fancysomedisneymagic)