The Grand Spectacle
(Roy Disney POV)
Changing the Guard is one of the hardest things to do, especially in my line of work. For one thing, you need to sort out ego's and manage expectations. Sometimes you need a little panaze and some greased palms.
And other times you just to put your foot down and just say it how it is.
And how it was at the time, was…the Time's they are a changing. Ron saw it before me, so that was the shock here.
We had the plan since War of the World…Tell Card Walker that the ship will change course, with or without him.
And to make things easier, I'd rather he be with me.
The Second Mouse on Main Street- A Roy Disney Story.
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It always started with a dream, a brave knight, a monster and a mountain, or course it could never come from nothing.
Fantasia…It always goes back to Fantasia.
The Flawed Magnum Opes of Uncle Walt Disney, is his masterstroke in attempting to show what he had done with Snow White all those years ago. It failed, Too Dark they said, not what they were looking for…
Not True Disney…they had said.
NOT TRUE Disney.
It was something that gnawed at you from the first moment you watched it all those years ago as a child, how could people so insulated from something so beautiful reject it as not as good as his finest works?
It wasn't the time, many of your fellows said when you were starting, it couldn't find its audience.
No, they couldn't accept it, never could accept something so bold, daring and liberating as Fantasia.
What was meant to be a crowning achievement…was forgotten.
No longer…while it may never be the start of Snow White, or the grandeur of Cinderella…or even the oft-forgotten hope of Beauty and the Beast (A hope that may still come to pass if he had any say in it.).
"Chuck…bring in the Animator A and B teams, I'm thinking we need a team movie night." You said to the phone after dialing up THE Chuck Jones, the man who revitalized the animation department.
"What's the occasion?" He said from the other end.
"I'm thinking something…of an idea for something big. I just want to know what you guys have in the pipe for later?" You asked.
Then you heard the list of ideas and then smiled.
"Oh, we can work with this." You said before hanging up.
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War of the Worlds Battle of the Isle… One of our newest rides and biggest hits, was about a Modified United States Torpedo Boat battling across the British Coastline of Wales trying to get to the open sea of the Atlantic, the USS Adamate Fury.
It was an On-Rails shooter that forced the Two players to shoot at the tripods with their Maxim Guns to distract the Tripods from attacking the Torpedo boat's heavy guns.
Ahh, War of the Worlds, the darkest work in the Disney Catalogue, at this time, shows the cost and terror of war, the unknown of space and all its terrors as well as being absolutely beautiful to look at from an artistic standpoint.
The fact it also made a fun ride, was also a grand success, with what the Imagineers had planned up, you would give them the support you needed. But going on a round on the ride wasn't the only reason you were here.
"Ride Meeting" was the colloquial phrase that denoted wanting to use the hustle and bustle of a Busy Day to talk business while enjoying the fruits of the park's work. Ron thought it all up, as a way to get out of the office and work while getting some exercise.
You were walking with Tony Baxter, who was on something of a "Ride Review" to see how the newest attraction was running, especially given the fact it was built so soon.
"Space Mountain should be…right over there." He said giving a small picture with his hands, "Tomarrowland's nicest and biggest attraction. The thrill seekers will love it."
"Same with that Thunder Moutain one…It ready?" You asked.
"Its a dang hit boss. Everyone loves it." He said. "You've seen the lines."
"We've been in those lines, glad to know the new ideas are giving people more to look forward to." You said.
"You saw the easter eggs to the "SEA" idea right?" He said. "We made it easy to find, and be read."
"Chandler's luggage on the stagecoach, and the letter in the waiting areas. You pointed it out, repeatedly." you said.
"I know, Cat and some of the more writing aspirant boys and girls are working the great process to make something real from this." He said. "And its coming together nicely."
"You're asking to squeeze quite a bit into this Discovery Bay Project…" You said.
"We've scaled it back a good deal to prevent bloat or overambition from capsizing it, technically now its going to be having three rides in a Julius Varne, Steampunk way." He said.
"Give it your best and then hammer it together. So what was this request of yours for something else?" You said. "You said two big rides for Tomorrowland?"
"We'll need Lucus on side, and well, we'd give him an in for later." He noted.
"Hold on George Lucus? What kind of ride are you cooking in order for us to go to him?" you said.
"Well we call it Star Tours, and…given what we may need from Lucusfilms in the future, I'd rather we set a good foot forward." Tony finished. "A win for support…It freed advertisement for them, plus a stake in the ole park itself it opens the door for a lot of things."
Oh…OH, well, oh…well this will fly over great with the board.
But it just might work, Lucusfilms was a titan on the rise, best support and not hinder it.
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"The Society of Explorers and Adventures…SEA." You said looking once again at the notes Cathrine Powell was writing.
She had been a godsend to the TV and Writers Room, churning out and reviewing a large amount of high-concept works, and ladened with witty remarks and historical easter eggs. Her words were "Give the audience a spectacle to come for and details to search for."
"Rolls off the Tounge quite well if I do say so myself." She said.
"I know its a big change from your literature writing, but I just want to know if the idea that you and Imagineers thought of is sustainable, like not more than a one-and-done show? Not that I don't doubt your writing, but…"
"I know you want your money's worth and you'll get it, beyond that, the creative control must be left to the writer's and animators' discretion, you wanted a "Break the Boundaries of TV Animation show" and you'll get it, if you let it work." She said. "Then you can merchandise it to heck and back."
"Good, we'll leave you back to it then." You said as you looked to see a large list of names. "Potential Voice Actors?"
"Well, it is, not a field that we have a lot of options in yet, or at least not like Japan does." You said.
"Say's here "Have Bruce Feed Lines." You said.
"Been meaning to try to reconnect on a professional basis in the job, but I don't want him in my work yet, he's got his own life to live." She said. "Plus we like to keep a good work-life balance."
"Understandable, anything else?" You said.
"Whatever you are planning to make big? Make sure it works first." She said.
"Good advice for everyone." You said.
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You looked at Ron as he gave you a winning smile as you prepared your speech.
This was gonna be the one that sinks your plans or makes it soar.
"Everyone, a long time ago, Walt Disney said this " If you can Dream, you can do it." And we've built so much already. Let's Dream a little bigger, think a little wider." You started.
"A New Decade is upon us, a new set of years with an opportunity to chart new ground and new opportunities…to once again push the boundaries of animation, storytelling and more, I of course and bringing to mind the changing animation landscape and storytelling, and I do not wish for this company to be left behind in this great change."
"While we will always have time for romantic musicals and grand sweeping fairy tales that tug at our hearts, we also have to be inspired by the greatest storytellers of the world, the inventors, masters and leaders of man and the hidden millions that shape the idea of history whether they wanted to or not, the Hero, the Villain and the hidden darkness and light that live within all living things, struggling to control the hearts of men. That is the power of story."
"And I want to tell a story that is full of all the human emotions of us, but to do that, to give that feeling of hope, that triumph its weight…we must first, turn out the lights."
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"Burbanks will never ever, let us get away with this kind of stunt again," Ron said looking at the ledger's book and thanking the accountant. "You do know that right."
"Well, it's a matter of turning out the lights around the park not the whole city. Your overreacting." You said. "We've made the arrangements and made sure that it was only around the park, and we've also made sure to close the rides early to get it all set."
"Yes but sending Tony to the Badlands to see if this little light show works in North Dakota, is a bit different when you have a city with all the light pollution." He said.
"Then we'll need stronger lights and good weather." You said. "Besides we're gonna play it on projector screens later so they can all see what they missed anyway."
"Roy…Roy I love you, but by god this looks a bit too big." He said.
"We've been working on this for like 6 months, its all hands on deck with the animation departments, we'll be ready for it." You said. "Besides, what better way to show we mean business then this?"
"Its one thing to say it, its another to deliver." He said.
"What is life without risk…Ron? Besides, if we need talent, we'll get some from the best." You said as silence took it over.
He almost smiled. Almost.
"So…Barnibus looks like Tony Baxter?" He started.
"Who showed you the Concept art!?" You said.
AN: Ambitious Change in my Disney Company! It's more likely than you think with the One-Two Punch of Star Wars and Gundam.
But ever vigilant, you'll know why Ron Miller and Roy Disney were a part of the Disney Renaissance.
Its ready!
