Disney Lion King 3D Mom Blogger Event: Behind the Scenes

by Lori Cunningham

I’m writing this post after seeing Lion King 3D for the third time in a month.  In my last two posts on Lion King, Lion King 3D Premiers at El Capitan Theater and Disney’s Lion King 3D Premiere Mom Blogger Event, I encouraged parents to take their children to see Lion King 3D, as the current generation has never had a chance to see Lion King in the movie theaters.  In the process of writing that sentiment, I realized my advice applied to our family as well.

On Sunday, my husband, 5-year-old son, and 8-year-old daughter and I went to see Lion King 3D.  The kids were given fun-themed Lion King 3D glasses.  Man, I just love this movie.  Sharing a “piece” of what I experienced with the Disney mom blogger event with my family was very satisfying.  It was fun to hear my husband laugh heartily at the jokes in the movie and have my daughter cuddle close to me during the scary scenes.  Lion King is now one of my long-lasting movie favorites.

Apparently, we’re not the only ones who hit the box office.  Disney Lion King 3D was the number one movie this past weekend, taking in $22.1 million.  It was number one at the box office the previous weekend too.  Perhaps Disney should reconsider its 2 week only début of the 3D version.

Behind the Scenes

One of the coolest things we did at the Lion King 3D mom blogger event* (besides staying at the Beverly Regent Hotel, being driven in a Rolls Royce, meeting some GREAT mom bloggers, going to the Lion King 3D world premiere…and the accompanying after party), was the opportunity to talk to people who actually worked on the Lion King movie…17 years ago.  I was also excited to learn more about Second Screen, a free iPad app that accompanies the movie and allows you to see extra pictures and read facts about the movie…while you’re watching the movie.

Second Screen

Let me start first with Disney’s Second Screen iPad and PC app.   Disney recognizes that their fans want more.  Fans love the movies and are  interested in learning more about how a movie was made, how characters were drawn, etc.  Second Screen allows fans to interact with the movie by syncing the Second Screen app to the Blue-Ray Disney movie.

Second Screen is in sync with the Lion King 3D movie, giving viewers a look behind the scenes.

Once connected, viewers can:

• explore interactive galleries
• play challenges
• learn interesting facts about the scenes they are watching

The Ink& Paint activity is one of my favorite features.

I love it, the E ticket is back!  As a part of the Lion King Second Screen version, you can earn A,B,C,D, or E tickets depending upon your level of activity with the app and utilizing its sharing capabilities.  There’s a social aspect that allows you to tweet and post to Facebook your discoveries using Second Screen.  Growing up near Disneyland, the E ticket was the most coveted ticket because it allowed you to get on the coolest rides.

I'm standing with two of the producers who worked countless hours to add footage, animations, history, and fun features to the Lion King 3D version.

Currently, Second Screen is only available for Bambi and TRON.  Lion King and Pirates of the Caribbean:  On Stranger Tides are in the works and will be available soon.  Price?  Currently, there is no charge for any of the Second Screen apps!  You can’t beat free!  Download Bambi and TRON now and Lion King 3D soon, Second Screen is a must have for any HUGE Disney fan!

Don Hahn, Lion King Producer

Don Hahn produced both Beauty and the Beast and Lion King, which became the top-grossing traditionally animated film in Disney history.  We had the opportunity to hear about his experiences along with Niketa Calame, who played the voice of young Nala, when she was just 13 years old.  Both said the offices were all a buzz while working on the movie.  Employees were playful yet hard-working.

See what we saw in this video clip.  Listening to Don and Niketa talk, you would have thought that they just finished Lion King.  It was cool to hear them recollect their memories together…from 17 years back.

How Lion King was Converted into 3D

This presentation by Robert Newman, was particularly interesting, for a techie, like me.  Robert was tasked with the job to insert 3D into the highly popular Lion King movie.  Throughout the movie you will see the background, subject, and foreground in different depths which really add to a scene.  Robert wanted to find additional ways to add depth and perspective.  To do this, he and his team went through the Lion King movie numerous times, rating all the scenes as to their emotional effect.  Higher rated emotional scenes merited a heightened sense of 3D effects to bring the viewer closer to the character.

As I re-watched the movie, I could see that indeed I felt a closer intimacy to the character during pivotal points in the movie due to the use of 3D.

This video below is a bit dark, due to the fact that we were in a darkened room, but here Robert Newman tells you in his own words how 3D was created for Lion King 3D.

Mark Henn and Tony Bancroft, Disney Animators

Disney Animators Mark Henn and Tony Bancroft

In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to talk with Mark Henn and Tony Bancroft.  Mark animated young Simba and Tony animated Pumba.   They told us about their challenges and memories they had creating these fun characters.  Mark and Tony have worked together for years on various projects and truly love to draw and love working for Disney.  As they talked to us, they would sketch characters on their notepads.  Hear first-hand what they had to say to us on The WellConnectedMom YouTube TV Channel:

Disney Lion King 3D Event Day 2 Disney animators Mark Henn and Tony Bancroft part 1   part 2

 

The night ended with a great dinner at Villa Blanca Restaurant in Beverly Hills.  For those of you who follow Bravo’s The Housewives of Beverly Hills, you know that this is Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant.  It’s a truly stunning restaurant, mostly decorated in white.  Unfortunately, we did not meet Lisa as she was at her daughter’s rehearsal dinner.  The wedding was

Moira Kelly (at top), voice of adult Nala, Lion King

set for the next day.  Nonetheless, we had a wonderful time and got the opportunity to talk with Moira Kelly, who was the voice of adult Nala 17 years ago.  What a delightful woman.

Want to see more about Lion King and Disney?  Be sure to check out the following posts:

Lion King 3D Premiers at El Capitan Theater

Disney’s Lion King 3D Premiere Mom Blogger Event

A Look into Disney’s D23 Ultimate Fan Expo

 

 

Love Disney?  See more Disney videos on the WellConnectedMom YouTube TV Channel  (The new Fantasyland at Walt Disney World, the New Shanghai Disney being built, Mickey playing the drums and much more)

 

I’d like to thank Disney and Click Communications for a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.  To be invited to this event was an honor and a privilege, especially since Lion King is one of my kids’ all-time favorite movies.  And to have the opportunity to meet and get to know such great mom bloggers, was a blessing indeed.

 

After only 2 weeks, the Lion King 3D début has ended.  If you missed Lion King 3D on the big screen, you can still see it when it comes out in Blue-Ray on October 4th for a limited time.  Several combo packs are available ranging from $39.99 to $115 for the 8 Disc Trilogy (Lion King, Lion King 1 1/2, and Lion King II:  Simba’s Pride.  To learn more or pre-order go to the Lion King site on Disney.  A one-disc DVD will also be available on November 15th, right in time for Christmas.

Disney fans, weigh in…did you attend Lion King 3D during the past two weeks?  What did you think?

 

 

*Disney provided me with food, lodging, and incidentals for the three days.  All expressed opinions are my own.