i like the concept of Disney-Luxo studios for this TL so i am in.Chapter One Hundred-Six: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (1998)1998 Was the year Disney-Luxo had to prove that it had resson to exist as a studio and prove that its faith in CGI films was not misplaced. A lot of pressure existed on the studio and its staff. The new head of Disney-Luxo thrived under that pressure. That man was Brad Bird. Bird grew up in Oregon and became interested in animation after watching interviews with Walt Disney and old loony toon cartoons. By 14, he had completed his first animated short and sent it to Disney, where he soon gained an apprenticeship. He attended the California Institute of the Arts in the late 1970s and worked for Disney shortly after. At Disney, Bird continued to grow and climb the ranks; he was an early supporter of CGI films. This support landed him the position of first head of Disney-Luxo. A position he had long wanted was now his.
View attachment 904087
(The Original Disney-Luxo Logo in use from 1998 to 2004)
The studio considered a few ideas when deciding what to make for their first project. They considered a film about a superhero family, one about a floating house and one about Tarzan. All these films would be films the studio would indeed one day make, but for their first film, they pulled out an old Disney trick and turned to myths and legends to find a story. This was done in part due to Hercules' success. In the end, bird and his team settled on the legend of Atlantis mixed with the aesthetic of a Jules Verne novel. The film was to be a grand epic adventure crafted in CGI; the studio briefly considered a musical but decided to move away from it so as not to be compared to Disney animation studios.
Brad Bird and Bryce Zabel developed the story. It followed a group of explorers in 1888 who discovered the lost city of Atlantis. The script underwent several iterations to balance the adventure and the complexity of the story, ensuring it remained accessible to a younger audience while still engaging adults. The team worked closely with linguists to create a credible ancient language for the Atlanteans. Disney-Luxo was set on getting the film right. The team, driven by their commitment to innovation, developed new software and rendering techniques specifically for this film, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in animation then. The design of Atlantis itself was a significant undertaking. The animators worked hard to create a vivid, luminous city using advanced lighting effects to simulate underwater physics and optics, which was groundbreaking at the time. A lot of the techniques used in the film would go on to become hallmarks of Disney-Luxo. Thomas Newman was hired to score the film.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire premiered in theatres on June 18th 1998, a prime summer slot for a film from a new studio. Later, in interviews with Brad Bird, he explained that he was shocked that Disney had put the film into a summer slot, considering how essential summer releases were; he added that he had anticipated the film would get an October release. The release was accompanied by promotional tie-ins with fast-food chains and cereal companies, which included toys and collectables from the movie. To some, the summer placement and the promotional tie-ins helped push the film into prominent figures at the box office, but some say otherwise. Critics praised the film for its visual innovation and the depth of its storytelling, and some say this helped the film become a major hit. The film was celebrated for pushing the boundaries of animated movies and setting high standards for future productions by Disney-Luxo.
Though the film faced stiff competition from other summer blockbusters, it eventually grossed over $446 million at the box office. It earned a very rare 100% rating on the website Rotten Tomato. The film established the studio as a leader in animation innovation right from the very start. Its success paved the way for what was to come. To some, the studio would soon surpass the main studio as some of its films released in the next few years would reach acclaim Disney had not seen since the early 90s. Though it must be stated, the main studio never fell into a pit as it did in the 80s. Interests changed after 2001, but that will be explored later. For now, as the 90s drew closer to its end, Disney was riding on high once more. To bolster that, The Great Mouse Detective would soon allow Katie Fleischer-Disney to solidify herself as the next leader of Disney animation studios.
Will Ingham and Price still voice Basil and Ratigan, assuming it's still based on Basil of Baker Street?Next time, the great mouse detective, which I am biased to IRL since I think it's highly underrated.
That's great!Chapter One Hundred-Six: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (1998)1998 Was the year Disney-Luxo had to prove that it had resson to exist as a studio and prove that its faith in CGI films was not misplaced. A lot of pressure existed on the studio and its staff. The new head of Disney-Luxo thrived under that pressure. That man was Brad Bird. Bird grew up in Oregon and became interested in animation after watching interviews with Walt Disney and old loony toon cartoons. By 14, he had completed his first animated short and sent it to Disney, where he soon gained an apprenticeship. He attended the California Institute of the Arts in the late 1970s and worked for Disney shortly after. At Disney, Bird continued to grow and climb the ranks; he was an early supporter of CGI films. This support landed him the position of first head of Disney-Luxo. A position he had long wanted was now his.
View attachment 904087
(The Original Disney-Luxo Logo in use from 1998 to 2004)
The studio considered a few ideas when deciding what to make for their first project. They considered a film about a superhero family, one about a floating house and one about Tarzan. All these films would be films the studio would indeed one day make, but for their first film, they pulled out an old Disney trick and turned to myths and legends to find a story. This was done in part due to Hercules' success. In the end, bird and his team settled on the legend of Atlantis mixed with the aesthetic of a Jules Verne novel. The film was to be a grand epic adventure crafted in CGI; the studio briefly considered a musical but decided to move away from it so as not to be compared to Disney animation studios.
Brad Bird and Bryce Zabel developed the story. It followed a group of explorers in 1888 who discovered the lost city of Atlantis. The script underwent several iterations to balance the adventure and the complexity of the story, ensuring it remained accessible to a younger audience while still engaging adults. The team worked closely with linguists to create a credible ancient language for the Atlanteans. Disney-Luxo was set on getting the film right. The team, driven by their commitment to innovation, developed new software and rendering techniques specifically for this film, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in animation then. The design of Atlantis itself was a significant undertaking. The animators worked hard to create a vivid, luminous city using advanced lighting effects to simulate underwater physics and optics, which was groundbreaking at the time. A lot of the techniques used in the film would go on to become hallmarks of Disney-Luxo. Thomas Newman was hired to score the film.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire premiered in theatres on June 18th 1998, a prime summer slot for a film from a new studio. Later, in interviews with Brad Bird, he explained that he was shocked that Disney had put the film into a summer slot, considering how essential summer releases were; he added that he had anticipated the film would get an October release. The release was accompanied by promotional tie-ins with fast-food chains and cereal companies, which included toys and collectables from the movie. To some, the summer placement and the promotional tie-ins helped push the film into prominent figures at the box office, but some say otherwise. Critics praised the film for its visual innovation and the depth of its storytelling, and some say this helped the film become a major hit. The film was celebrated for pushing the boundaries of animated movies and setting high standards for future productions by Disney-Luxo.
Though the film faced stiff competition from other summer blockbusters, it eventually grossed over $446 million at the box office. It earned a very rare 100% rating on the website Rotten Tomato. The film established the studio as a leader in animation innovation right from the very start. Its success paved the way for what was to come. To some, the studio would soon surpass the main studio as some of its films released in the next few years would reach acclaim Disney had not seen since the early 90s. Though it must be stated, the main studio never fell into a pit as it did in the 80s. Interests changed after 2001, but that will be explored later. For now, as the 90s drew closer to its end, Disney was riding on high once more. To bolster that, The Great Mouse Detective would soon allow Katie Fleischer-Disney to solidify herself as the next leader of Disney animation studios.
I haven't gone in-depth into the Disney channel, but a chapter covers the shows over the years.That's great!
How is Disney Channel doing as of 1998?
nice chapter about the parks.Chapter One Hundred-Seven: Adventure Island (1998)The land where Adventure Island now stands was once used as a botanical garden from 1974 to 1988 before closure for unknown ressons. Some speculate it may be due to the need for more visitors. The island sat dormant for years afterwards, with Disney slowly removing bits and pieces from the unused island. In 1994, Disney announced plans to reinvent the island into Adventure Island. The plan was to transform the island into a themed adventure park inspired by exploration and discovery. The new plans were to Feature attractions such as zip lines, rope courses, and climbing walls, allowing guests to embark on thrilling adventures through lush forests and tropical landscapes. The decision was fuelled by the company's strategic aim to repurpose and rejuvenate underutilized areas within its resort properties. Head of Resort Properties, Martha Disney, had spent a lot of her early years in the parks and wanted to be ready for them for the new millennia. Adventure Island was to be the first step in this new master plan.
(The Park's Logo in use from 2001 to 2006)
In 1994, Disney assembled a team of top planners, environmental scientists, and theme park designers to embark on the detailed planning process. Recognizing the Island's underutilization, Disney was committed to ensuring its safety. Construction commenced in the summer of 1995, with the Construction team implementing a series of measures to minimize ecological disruption. They strategically utilized existing waterways and made concerted efforts to preserve a significant portion of the Island's native vegetation. The construction phase posed its own challenges, including establishing the Island's electrical system, creating a modern port and entry point, and installing new water purification systems and crew areas. By late 1997, the construction work was completed, and the final touches were added in the early months of 1998.
The park opened on July 22nd, 1998. The ceremony was smaller than usual, though that was attributed to the smaller size of the island. Nevertheless, Disney pulled out all the stops to ensure a smooth and entertaining opening day, which included appearances of Disney characters outfitted in explorer gear. The opening was covered extensively by international media, drawing significant attention. Times have changed since the first Disney Park, and international press has always been on hand since Disney opened a new park. The first few months saw large crowds, with guests praising the park’s attention to detail and the educational value of its attractions. Adventure Island quickly became known for its blend of education and entertainment, though like every other Disney Park, it suffered during the early years of the 21st century. The park barely made it through that period as plans to shut it down were mused; however, it survived, and after a significant investment took place in 2006, the park stands strong, offering something different than any other Disney Park.
Adventure Island is accessible only by boat, with regular ferry services from several points at Walt Disney World Resort, including four resorts, Magic Kingdom and EPOT. Like all the other forms of transport in the park, it is included in the price of admission. The park operates daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Of all the parks in the Disney World resort, Adventure Island closes the earliest as the park is not built to be open at night. However, this closing time is delayed in the fall when Disney hosts its Adventure Island Campfire Story event, which sees the park extend its opening to 10. The park comprises four areas: Mystic Jungle, Lost Lagoon, Skyward Peaks, and Echo Caves. The park is the first Disney Park to forgo a main street, with the port area serving its purpose instead, though the port is not considered land in terms of the park.
Mystic Jungle: Mystic Jungle was built to immerse guests in a lost and magical jungle. Stone paths weave through the jungle, which is blanketed with rich foliage, including towering trees, hanging vines, and various exotic real and artificial plants to enhance the immersive experience. These trees also cover this parkland in case of inclement weather, such as rain. The land has two main attractions: Canopy Quest, an interactive climbing course where guests navigate rope bridges, crawl through hollow logs, and swing from tree to tree. The Attraction was designed for varying skill levels as Disney wanted to ensure that everyone from children to adults could enjoy the experience. The second Attraction is Whispering Waters, which takes guests on a voyage through a small river ride as they explore the local ruins.
Lost Lagoon: Lost Lagoon continues on the theme of stepping into a newly found place for the first time. This area focuses on forgotten civilizations, with the land centred by a big lagoon with sunken ruins dotting the area and huts established by the Guild of Adventures. The team decided earlier in the creative process for this park area to avoid Atlantis and Poseidon, so instead, the area is themed around old South American civilisations such as the Mayans. This land contains three significant attractions as it is the largest of the four lands. These attractions are the river rapids ride Temple Torrents and the walkthrough attraction Crystal Caverns, which takes guests into an area beneath the lake.
Skyward Peaks: Skyward Peaks is based on Machu Picchu; thus, it is the second largest and most mountainous area in the park. Despite the Area's elevation, Disney built special features to allow all to experience it. The land is home to one of Disney's biggest artificial waterfalls. The main attraction in this Area is the Cloud Cruiser, which takes guests across the island, starting from the highest point, Skyward Peaks. The zip line stretches over 600 meters. The Area has two smaller attractions, Peak Perch Lookout and Skyward Bridge.
Echo Caves: Echo Cave is the smallest of the four lands, but because of this, when it was constructed, efforts were made to pack in as much theming as they could to make the Area feel alive. The land replicates an underground network of natural and artificial caves, and the design is influenced by the caves found in mythologies worldwide. The Area is adorned with stalactites and stalagmites and is lit by bioluminescent plants and minerals. This Area has only two attractions: Bejewelled Rift and Donald’s Harmonic Festival.