Tag: disney
The Lion King: Disney Criticized for Trademarking ‘Hakuna Matata’
A recent petition is challenging Disney for their decision to trademark the phrase ‘Hakuna Matata.’ The Lion King has been getting a lot of press lately thanks to the release of the first teaser trailer for the live-action remake. The teaser became one of Disney’s most viewed trailers, getting 224.6 million views worldwide in just 24 hours. But while enthusiasm for the film is strong even over two decades later, not everyone is pleased with Disney.
The Lion King is the latest Disney film to get a live-action reboot. Since the film first appeared in theaters back in 1994, it has become one of the company’s most beloved tales. Jon Favreau is set to direct, following his success with the live-action of Disney’s The Jungle Book. The reboot boasts a star-studded cast, including Donald Glover voicing Simba and Beyoncé as Nala. But for fans of the original, they can breathe a sigh of relief that James Earl Jones will once again give his voice to Mufasa. Composer Hans Zimmer will also be returning, along with his memorable score.
Not everyone is pleased with Disney. Shelton Mpala has started a petition on Change.org, titled, “Disney Robs Swahili of ‘Hakuna Matata,” calling out the company for trademarking the Swahili phrase ‘Hakuna Matata,’ which means ‘no problems’ or ‘no worries’. In the petition, Mpala asks for others to “Join us and say NO to DISNEY or any corporations/individuals looking to trademark languages, terms or phrases they didn’t invent.” The goal of the petition is to convince Disney to remove the trademark, stating that “Disney can’t be allowed to trademark something that it didn’t invent.” As of this writing, the petition has gained over 47,000 signatures out of a goal of 50,000.
Disney applied for the trademark back in 1994, when the film was first released. The trademark was registered in 2003 and states that no one outside of Disney can use the catchphrase for commercial purposes. This, Mpala argues in a petition update, is called cultural appropriation. The problem with trademarking ‘Hakuna Matata’ goes beyond Disney. Mpala argues that “The trademarking of ‘Hakuna Matata’ also sets up precedence for other foreign corporations, businesses and individuals to do the same.”
This isn’t the first time The Lion King has been accused of taking something that doesn’t belong to them. The film has long been seen as a remake of the anime series Kimba The White Lion, a claim Disney denies. This latest controversy has added to the debate of what is considered appropriation, with some fans defending Disney’s choice to trademark a phrase they made popular. Mpala argues that just because Disney popularized it in America, doesn’t mean they can claim the catchphrase is theirs. After all, ‘Hakuna Matata’ isn’t just a line in a song, it’s a part of a culture and should belong to the people who are part of it.
Article via ScreenRant
The Lion King 2019 VS Original 1994 Shot By Shot Comparison
Take a look at the new Lion King, compared to the old:
Lion King 2019 Teaser Trailer
The wait is over and the first teaser for the 2019 live action Lion King is here!
Disney theme parks confirm long-running urban legend is true
Some people enjoy Disney World and Disneyland so much that they never leave.
Despite years of denials from the House of Mouse, an urban legend has been confirmed: Human ashes are regularly scattered at the theme parks.
Loved ones of the recently deceased are known to place the remains on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the Dumbo ride, near Cinderella’s castle — pretty much everywhere, according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal. It happens about once a month, often enough that custodians know to call for a “HEPA cleanup” with a special vacuum cleaner when it does.
The most popular place for people to spread ashes? “The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny,” an unnamed custodian told the newspaper.
One employee said she and her co-workers got in trouble for referring to such incidents as “Code Grandma.”
For guests, there are consequences for getting caught.
“This type of behaviour is strictly prohibited and unlawful,” a company spokeswoman told the Journal. “Guests who attempt to do so will be escorted off property.”
The act of spreading ashes without permission is a misdemeanour, according to a spokesman for the Anaheim (California) Police Department.
But there are plenty of people willing to take the risk, if it means their beloved friend or family member can spend eternity with Mickey Mouse and pals. They just hide the ashes in Ziploc bags or pill bottles when they come to the park.
Jodie Jackson Wells went with the latter in 2009 when she brought her mom’s ashes to Disney World, where she sprinkled them on the It’s a Small World ride and in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
“Anyone who knew my mom knew Disney was her happy place,” Wells told the Journal.
When people like Wells do get caught, theme park employees reportedly shut the ride down for “technical difficulties” until any visible ashes are removed.
So that’s what they’re doing…
Article via Yahoo News
Anika Noni Rose, Voice Of Princess Tiana, Breaks Silence On ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’ Controversy
Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Princess Tiana in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog,released a statement on her her Instagram about the role she has played in Disney’s decision to make modifications to the design of Tiana for the character’s cameo in the upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Rose says that she was surprised when she first saw the cg version of the character, and noted reactions online and her DMs, before deciding to reach out to the studio.
She was invited to the studio three weeks ago to meet with the Ralph Breaks the Internet crew, as well as animator Mark Henn, who was the lead animator of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog. During the meeting, Henn showed her “the steps they were taking to bring those things back that got lost in the move from hand drawn to cgi,” such as the character’s richer skin tone and rounded nose.
“It was important to me to hear what Disney had to say,” Rose said, “and to have an open dialogue about legacy and representation. They did not have to make time to give me a presentation on the process, but I’m very glad that they did.”
Rose’s full statement from her Instagram account can be read below:
I’ve been very quiet on this subject because it was important for me to do my due diligence before publicly addressing something as near and dear to my heart (and face) as Princess Tiana.
This summer new images were released where she looked very different, with lighter skin and much sharper features. I was as surprised as most of her & my fans were. Aside from my personal feelings, I noted how people felt online (and in my dms) and I was glad to see that people are still very much in love with and supportive of our Princess.
My team and I immediately put in a call to the studio to talk about the visual changes, and three weeks ago I had a meeting in person with the Wreck it Ralph team, my original animator Mark Henn, and others.
They explained how cgi animation did different things to the characters’ color tones in different light compared to hand drawn original characters, and I was able to express how important it is to the little girls (and let’s face it, grown women) who felt represented by her that her skin tone stay as rich as it had been, and that her nose continue to be the little round nose that Mark so beautifully rendered in the movie; the same nose on my very own face and on many other little brown faces around the world, that we so rarely get to see represented in fantasy.
When we were making Princess and The Frog I’ll never forget Mark asking me if there were any things I wished to see on her, and among the first things I said were a round nose, full lips, and that she be left handed. He made certain to incorporate these things as he created my likeness as a Princess then, and he sat with me in this meeting showing me the steps they were taking to bring those things back that got lost in the move from hand drawn to CGI.
It was important to me to hear what Disney had to say, and to have an open dialogue about legacy and representation. They did not have to make time to give me a presentation on the process, but I’m very glad that they did.
I also appreciate that this far into the process Disney had enough care and respect for all who love Princess Tiana and her legacy to spend the time and money to make the adjustments necessary. In doing so, they recognize that her legacy is also their legacy; two things I’m very proud to be a part of.
Here I am leaving the studios after our meeting. It never gets old walking those halls and being a part of something so very special. Thank you for continuing to love and support Princess Tiana. I’m sure you know that she loves you right back.
Article via: Anika Noni Rose, Voice Of Princess Tiana, Breaks Silence On ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’ Controversy
Color of Change: Remember the Outcry Over Princess Tiana’s Makeover in Wreck-It Ralph 2? Disney Listened!
You know, we relish every opportunity to use our powers for good, so we were thrilled to hear that an article we published last month helped influence some very positive change at Disney, one of the world’s oldest, largest and most revered movie studios (and self-proclaimed creators of “the happiest place on Earth,” Disneyland).
After we, several other outlets and commenters on social media spoke out about the seeming whitewashing of Disney’s only black princess (as well as its other princesses of color) in its upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, our friends at racial justice organization Color of Change launched a campaign lobbying the 79-year-old studio to try harder when it comes to representing one of their rare black characters.
And Disney took note—of the campaign, our article, and the general outcry regarding the appearance of their formerly dark-skinned, wider-nosed and full-lipped princess, who, through the unfortunate magic of CGI, had been homogenized into a button-nosed, sandy and curly-haired pixie who basically looked like a super-tan version of all the other Disney princesses.
Read more via The Root
Ralph Breaks the Internet’s New Trailer Promises to ‘Never Give You Up’
Article via: Ralph Breaks the Internet’s New Trailer Promises to ‘Never Give You Up’
It’s time for cat memes, princess selfies, and the darkest corners of the webiverse in the latest look at Disney’s sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet.
The new trailer for Ralph Breaks the Internet shows us more of the plot behind this web-friendly sequel to 2015’s Wreck-It Ralph. Take a look…
The steering wheel on Vanellope’s (Sarah Silverman) driving game broke in half—must’ve been a really strong preteen driving the game that night. Fearing that Sugar Rush could get shut down for good, Ralph (John C. Reilly) suggests they go to the internet to get a new steering wheel.
Only problem: They need money. So they check out a free-to-play mobile game called Slaughter Race, which features fellow driver Shank (Gal Gadot). Vanellope is drawn into the digital world, which only shines a light on how different she is from older video game characters. And Shank can relate to this, becoming a sort-of big sister to Vanellope…much to Ralph’s dismay.
Oh, and if you thought that exploding bunny was bad, just wait until you see what happens to the junkyard dog.
The film also stars Taraji P. Henson as the trend algorithm behind BuzzzTube (get it, because internet things), and sees the return of Jack McBrayer as Fix-It Felix Jr., who’s married to Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun (Jane Lynch).
Ralph Breaks the Internet heads to theaters on November 21.
