"Nightmare Before Christmas" Returning to the Hollywood Bowl; "Beauty and the Beast" as Told by Emoji

"Nightmare Before Christmas" Returning to the Hollywood Bowl:

Next month, "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" will be creeping back into the Hollywood Bowl for a live performance with an orchestra as the film is played on screen. The stars of the film Danny Elfman (Jack Skellington), Catherine O'Hara (Sally), Ken Page (Ooggie Boogie), and Paul Reubens (Lock) will all return to sing live with the orchestra. The show debuted last year and will return this year October 29-30. 

Elfman had this to say about the return to the Hollywood Bowl, "Being able to perform Nightmare live last year, in synch to the movie with a full orchestra was such a thrill. But having Catherine O’Hara, Ken Page, and Paul Reubens to perform with me really made it a unique and magical experience. I'm happy to bring it to our amazing Los Angeles audience one more time."

O'Hara added, "I'm proud to once again be part of such a fun evening celebrating Danny's musical genius." 

Ahead of the show, there will be some spooky activities that will include a costume contest, unique photo opportunities, and trick-or-treating stations. The Nightmare Before Christmas will be performed on Saturday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the shows will go on sale this Friday, September 9.

"Beauty and the Beast" as Told by Emoji:

Does anyone else when Disney releases a new "As Told by Emoji" video. I love being able to watch my favorite animated films as told by the cute little characters. Today, they released "Beauty and the Beast" in celebration for its 25th anniversary. Here is "Beauty and the Beast" as told by emoji:

Pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents – #BeautyAndTheBeast As Told By Emoji. 🍽✨ pic.twitter.com/k5tHo5EBwI

— Disney (@Disney) September 6, 2016

D23 Disney Legends Ceremony Honors 8 Plus a Surprise Honoree in Johnny Depp

The D23 EXPO 2015 is off and running and just an hour ago the Disney Legends ceremony ended and it honored its 8 honorees plus a surprise honoree in a definite Disney Legend, Johnny Depp. The ceremony kicked off with a video montage to kickoff the D23 Expo. Inducted in this years class included: George Bodenheimer, Andreas Deja, Eyvind Earle, Danny Elfman, George Lucas, Susan Lucci, Julie Reihm Casaletto, and Carson Van Osten.

Bob Iger kicked the ceremony off as the master of ceremonies. He noted previous history on announcements at the expo and how he expects this year's expo to be the biggest and best yet. Iger teased what's coming to this year's expo previews of the Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, and Star Wars. Iger promised a lot of Star Wars news this weekend. He also promised George Lucas that Disney will carry on the legacy the Lucas created with Star Wars. Iger stated he already saw Star Wars and reminded fans only 126 days until Episode VII.

The Legends Ceremony was then officially kicked off with another montage honoring past and the current class. The montage ended with a nice touch of honoring legend Robin Williams who had passed away last year. The first inductee was first Disney Ambassador, Julie Reihm Casaletto.

Casseletto shared stories of working with Walt in her thank you speech. She remembered the day when Walt asked her to become Disney's first ambassador it was a tall order but it was like an 'E-ticket ride' and she was off. Caseletto said her life has been filled with "pixie dust and magic" ever since the day Walt called her on to the position. She also said Walt would be proud and pleased with what the Walt Disney Company is today. 

Next on stage was a surprise performance from Disney Legend and musical genius, Richard Sherman. He began solo with a performance of "Kiss Goodnight," the song he wrote for the Disneyland Forever fireworks. He was later joined by Broadway's original "Mary Poppins" Ashley Brown in a duet of the song. George Bodenheimer was next to be honored.

Bodenheimer is a former ESPN president who began with the company as a mailroom clerk. He said that Disney acquiring ESPN changed the game and that Disney's support is what has made ESPN today. He also said sports is what built ESPN as a company. New to be honored was Eyvind Earl where his daughter accepted the award on his behalf. She said, "Creating art was his passion." Actress Susan Lucci was the next to be honored as a Disney Legend.

Iger said Lucci was a valued member of the Disney community that he has known and worked with throughout his entire career at Disney. Lucci thanked Disney as she believes that because of it, she was able to be an actress. She said, "It's all prime time to me as far as I'm concerned because it's so much fun to do what I do." In her speech if she could design a theme park ride about her career she said, "it would be a lot of husbands, and definitely a rollercoaster." Carson Van Osten was next. 

Carson Van Osten noted that he had his mother to thank for his love of art. He also took a look back on the story of the day he was offered a full-time position to draw Mickey Mouse comic-strips. After Van Osten's speech a In Memorium montage played with Frank Gifford who just passed last week and once again ending in a wonderful tribute to the late Robin Williams. Singer Ne-Yo sang "Friend Like Me" as a tribute to Williams. Animator Andreas Deja was the next to be honored. 

Deja was most known for his drawings of famous Disney villains Gaston, Jafar, and Scar. His work at Disney Animation was noted as he worked on films "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," and many more Disney films. Deja mentioned to the crowd how "The Jungle Book" and how much of an impact it had on him and his home country of Germany. He even asked Iger for a Jungle Book attraction in Disneyland Paris. Composer Danny Elfman was the next to be honored as a Disney Legend.

Elfman scored "The Nightmare Before Christmas,""Alice in Wonderland," "The Avengers," "Dick Tracy," and much more. In honor of Elfman, Broadway star James Monroe Inglehart performed Elfman's famous "Oogie Boogie" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Elfman said that working with Disney today must feel like how it felt to work during the Golden Age in Hollywood. The crowd then erupted as what was thought to be the final presentation for Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas was honored. 

Iger reiterated that Disney will strive to continue George Lucas' legacy of Star Wars. Lucas was welcomed to the stage by C-3PO and R2-D2. "Disney has always given me a great deal of inspiration," Lucas said on the impact Disney has had on him. He also revealed that Jar Jar Binks was based off of Goofy. He professed his love of Disney and how it inspired him on his career path to making Star Wars. He ended with saying it took years to get more Star Wars and Indiana Jones into the theme parks and it finally took Iger and Disney to buying his company for it to happen. 

Then the surprise came as Johnny Depp famous for his roles as Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films and the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland." 

Johnny Depp was surprised and started off with saying, "Hi, I don't know why I'm here." He thanked his fans in saying, "Thanks for this great opportunity to basically do stupid stuff for a living." He said he was honored just to be in the same room with likes of George Lucas and Dick Van Dyke. Depp ended with saying he hopes he could meet Mickey Mouse. Iger said he wished he could dress like Johnny Depp. Iger ended the ceremony by thanking the new inductees and the fans. 

D23 Announces Disney Legends Class of 2015 and Invictus Games Coming to Walt Disney World in 2016

D23 Announces Disney Legends Class of 2015:

The wait is finally over as Disney and D23 announced the inductees of Disney Legends to be honored during next month's D23 EXPO. This years class will include Star Wars creator George Lucas, composer Danny Elfman, All My Children star Susan Lucci, animator Andreas Deja, former Executive Chairman of ESPN George Bodenheimer, artist Eyvind Earle, Disneyland's first ambassador Julie Reihm Casaletto, and artist Carson Van Osten.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, August 14 at 10 a.m. and will be hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger. It will take place in Hall D23 and include special musical performances. Iger said in the release, "The Disney Legend Award is our highest honor, and we are incredibly proud to recognize these eight talented individuals who have contributed so much to the world of entertainment and the Disney legacy. Their vision and dedication to their work have brought joy to audiences around the globe and earned them a place in Disney history."

Here are the eight individuals who will be honored (the list is in alphabetical order):

GEORGE BODENHEIMER, who retired from his role as Executive Chairman of ESPN in May 2014, enjoyed a remarkable 33-year career that began in the company’s mailroom in 1981. Working his way through the ranks, he became executive vice president of sales and marketing in 1996, before being named the network’s fifth president in 1998. He held that role until 2012, when he stepped down from day-to-day operations.

ANDREAS DEJA is a link to Disney’s past and one of the greatest animators of its modern era. Deja is known for his rich portraits of villainy, having animated Gaston for Beauty and the Beast, Jafar for Aladdin, and Scar for The Lion King. He has also brought life to heroes such as mighty Hercules, the precocious Lilo (Lilo & Stitch), regal King Triton (The Little Mermaid), wise Mama Odie (The Princess and the Frog), and loveable Tigger (Winnie the Pooh). In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Winsor McCay Award for his contributions to the art of animation.

EYVIND EARLE, one of the greatest of Disney artists, brought his unique style to a number of memorable projects but perhaps the purest realization of his vision remains the visual styling and backgrounds for the Disney classic Sleeping Beauty. Earle’s career with Disney began in 1951, working on background artwork for Peter Pan. He created the look of the 1953 animated short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, which won an Academy Award® for Best Short Subject, Cartoons in 1954. His most noticeable contribution, however, remains his work on Sleeping Beauty. The film’s eye-catching look, in its design and backgrounds, are the perfect representation of his unique style.

DANNY ELFMAN provided the songs and score for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, for which he also provided the singing voice of Jack Skellington. He also scored several Disney films including Alice in Wonderland, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Dick Tracy, Dead Presidents, Flubber, Good Will Hunting (Oscar® Nomination: Best Score), A Civil Action, Instinct, Frankenweenie, and Oz the Great and Powerful. Elfman also wrote the theme for ABC’s Desperate Housewives and penned the music for the Mystic Manor attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. His music is featured in Disneyland’s annual Haunted Mansion Holiday. His upcoming Disney projects include Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass.

GEORGE LUCAS, whose Star Wars films made him one of the most successful filmmakers of all time, is also a longtime Disney fan who has left an indelible impression on Disney parks. His first project with Disney was Captain EO, the 1986 3-D spectacular starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Star Tours and Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland, as well as Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril in Disneyland Paris, and two blockbuster Indiana Jones Adventure attractions at Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, round out Lucas’ timeless work in conjunction with Disney.

SUSAN LUCCI portrayed Erica Kane on ABC’s fabled soap opera All My Children for 41 years, a role that TV Guide deemed unequivocally the most famous character in the history of daytime television, earning Lucci 21 Daytime Emmy® nominations to which she won the prestigious Emmy for Best Actress to an industry-wide standing ovation on her 19th nomination. Shortly thereafter, she received her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, presented to her by Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The iconic actress has also appeared on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Hope & Faith, as well as Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven. Lucci currently stars in the international hit Lifetime series, Devious Maids, produced by ABC Studios, as the wealthy and effervescent socialite, Genevieve Delatour.

JULIE REIHM CASALETTO, who began her Disney career as a tour guide, became Disneyland’s first Ambassador in 1965—a role created to help Walt, who found it increasingly difficult to attend all the events to which he was invited. As Disneyland’s first Ambassador, she was chosen “as a personification of Disneyland’s world-famous spirit of friendliness and happiness.” She became the template upon which decades of Ambassadors would pattern themselves.

CARSON VAN OSTEN helped bring Disney characters to life in a variety of media, all around the world, for three decades. During Van Osten’s tenure, he oversaw creative content for motion picture tie-in advertising, many Disney publications, and also established some of the first licensing style guides for Disney Consumer Products. The talented artist designed logos for Mickey Mouse’s 50th and 60th birthdays, the Walt Disney Studios logo and water tower design, and the Disneyland Hotel clock tower “Mickey” logo in Paris.

Each honoree will receive a two-foot tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the company. After the ceremony each honoree will participate in a handprint ceremony, and the bronze prints will be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza at Disney's headquarters in Burbank, California. 

This years D23 EXPO will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center, August 14-16, 2015.

The Invictus Games are Coming to Walt Disney World in 2016:

In a royal announcement on the Disney Parks Blog this morning, it was announced that Prince Harry will be bringing the Invictus Games to Walt Disney World at Disney's Wide World of Sports in 2016. The event will take place May 8-12, 2016. The Invictus Games are an event that celebrates our wounded serviceman and women from around the world competing in different sports events.

Last year's inaugural games held in London drew more than 400 athletes from 13 countries and drew more than 65,000 spectators. For the first time ever next year the event will be held in the United States. A similar number of athletes will compete from up to 14 different nations. They will compete in 10 different sports: archery, cycling, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, track & field, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.

The idea behind the games is that the event uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for all those who serve their country as well as their family and caregivers. More details on the event will be posted in the coming months on the Disney Parks Blog.