Taking the Mickey: A Save Disney Quest

The greatest of opportunities are sometimes started by the smallest of things. For Toshio Suzuki, that small thing was his daughter Mamiko, ambushing him in the entranceway of their home on a rainy day in April.

"Welcome home, Dad!" Mamiko shouted as she threw herself into him, nearly toppling him over. She was growing fast. Looking up at him, she blurted out, "Dad, can we go to Disneyland this summer?"

Toshio looked down at his daughter, confused. "Mamiko, if you want to go to Disneyland, I'm sure your mother can take you, we don't have to wait for summer."

"No, Dad, not in Tokyo, in America! Here, I'll show you." She ran off into the living room while Toshio removed his shoes, and as soon as he walked in she was thrusting a newsletter in his face. He scanned the article she'd turned to as Mamiko chattered on happily. Apparently alongside a remodel of the future park in Disneyland, Disney had decided to partner with Nintendo to release a new ride based around their upcoming Metroid game. A...Disney park release? With Nintendo?

"-and Junko from school said her uncle at the company heard that Samus is actually a girl, wouldn't that be so cool!?" Mamiko beamed and practically bounced in place as Toshio unthinkingly put the newsletter back down.

"I...I'll have to talk with your mother about it, Mamiko, but maybe."

With another rib creaking hug, Mamiko blurted out her thanks and rushed off. After dinner, Toshio picked up the phone and dialed his secretary. "Get in contact with Nintendo, I'd like to speak with someone about the details on their partnership with Disney."

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A few weeks later, he was sitting down at a casual lunch with Hiroshi Imanishi, who amongst other duties was Head of Public Information.

"I must say, my daughter was very excited about the announcement of the new Metroid ride at Disneyland, and I was very surprised at such a large move in the American market."

"To be perfectly honest, Mr. Suzuki, we were surprised ourselves when Director Yamauchi returned with the news," Mr. Imanishi responded. "I can't speak in too great a detail, but the partnership negotiations with Disney has well exceeded our original expectations."

Toshio leaned in with curiosity. "What can you tell me?"

"Well, alongside the Metroid ride, we've also agreed to a tech showcase at their Tomorrowland, as well as provide licensing rights to Nintendo characters for park appearances and media productions. In exchange, Disney has agreed to provide their characters for game production, as well as an agreement that every Disney game will have a Nintendo release, and a deal for advertising production. Mr. Yamauchi was excited about the idea of a simultaneous American release of Metroid, but unfortunately the Disk System has not tested well in American markets. As is, we're working hard on a winter release for a cartridge port, and Disneyland Tokyo is in negotiation for additional Nintendo marketing." Hiroshi smiles. "It appears they were a bit upset at being usurped by Mr. Eisner."

That was an incredibly in depth deal, for the first meeting, and even though it seemed to favor Disney Mr. .Imanishi seemed very happy with it. "Michael Eisner, the new head of Disney? What do you know of him?"

"Well, I have not met him personally, but Director Yamauchi spoke very highly of him, comparing him to Walt Disney himself. He was passionate about integration at the meeting. He spoke about the artistic integrity of the company and the importance of creating quality works. I have yet to see their new Black Cauldron film, but I have heard very good things."

As the lunch meeting came to a close, Toshio walked out of the restaurant, ruminating on the information Mr. Imanishi provided. As head of a fledgeling animation studio, he actually had already seen Black Cauldron. The storytelling was top notch, as well as the animation, though he was forced to admit he was not the biggest fan of Gurdy. After looking into the inspirations of the film, it was also clear that the studio had paid great attention to preserving the original themes of the writer and the preceeding mythology.

Even if it was never officially recognized as such, Nausicaa was the film that made Studio Ghibli possible. It was Miyazaki's passion project, and those fools at New World had butchered it beyond recognition. When the studio was founded, Toshio, Hayao and Isao had agreed that it was better to focus on the domestic market. But Castle in the Sky was due to be released soon, and now that this opportunity presented itself, it seemed tailor made for an international distribution through Disney.

Not even bothering to get home, Toshio pulled the cell phone from his briefcase and dialed his secretary once more. "See if you can arrange a meeting with Disney regarding distribution rights for Ghibli films in the international market. And make it known that I'd like to speak with Mr. Eisner personally."


Hey, other people see opportunity, they're going to try and get on board.