Encanto Directors Discuss Disney Animation, Mario Movie Cast, and Norm Macdonald

Encanto's Creative Vision

• 🎬 The directors of Disney's "Encanto" – Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Charice Castro Smith – discuss their early press day experience with the film.
• 👗 The costumes for "Encanto" are highlighted as Oscar-worthy, with animators expressing strong support for their submission for best costume design.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The film "Encanto" is described as an inversion of typical Disney narratives, focusing on a family with magical gifts where the central character, Mirabel, is the only one without a gift, exploring themes of self-worth and family dynamics.
• 👵 Abuela Alma is presented as a complex matriarch whose past experiences have shaped her protective, yet sometimes stern, demeanor towards her family, a nuanced portrayal not often seen in Disney films.
• 🎶 The song "Meet the Family Madrigal" was a deliberate choice to quickly introduce the large extended family, the house, and the world within five minutes, a significant challenge that was overcome by having Mirabel introduce them in real-time.
• 🎤 Lin-Manuel Miranda's involvement was crucial in condensing complex information into effortless-sounding songs, with "We Don't Talk About Bruno" being a standout, despite its rapid pace.

Animation News and Tributes

• 🍄 The vocal cast for Illumination's "Super Mario Bros." movie is revealed, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser, with surprise cameos by Charles Martinette.
• 💔 A tribute is paid to the late comedian Norm Macdonald, remembering his contributions as a voice actor in "Family Guy," "Mike Tyson Mysteries," and "The Last Holiday Film," Klaus.
• ❄️ Disney Animation is releasing a new series of shorts for Disney Plus called "Olaf Presents," featuring Olaf retelling classic Disney animated films, set to debut on November 12th.
• 🌟 New Spark Shorts, including "Nona," are being released on Disney Plus, accompanied by a feature-length documentary, "A Spark Story," about the program and its filmmakers.
• 👯‍♀️ The memoir "Forever Young" by Hayley Mills is discussed, recalling the filming of "The Parent Trap" and the use of split screens and a photographic double, Susan Henning.
• 🎬 The Empire magazine's list of the 50 Greatest Animated Films is debated, with discussions on inclusions like "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," Miyazaki's films, and omissions such as "Rango" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

Roadside Attractions and Theme Park Connections

• 🦖 The Cabazon Dinosaurs, famous California roadside attractions, are noted for their recent paint jobs resembling Fred Flintstone and Dino, a temporary measure before a Christmas theme.
• 🏞️ Claude Bell, a sculptor and portrait artist at Knott's Berry Farm, is credited with the creation of the dinosaurs, initially as a way to attract customers to his restaurant, the Wheel Inn.
• 👻 A preview of an upcoming "Fine Tuning" episode featuring Kirk Thatcher discussing his work with Jim Henson on "Dinosaurs" and the "Muppets Haunted Mansion" is mentioned.