2001:
ABC-TV airs Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade. The special is
hosted by Regis Philbin (appearing for the 13th time) and Kelly Ripa (for the first time). Comedian
Wayne Brady and singers Aaron Carter, Charlotte Church and Mandy Moore make guesr appearances.
2005:
The 22nd Annual Walt Disney World Christmas Parade, hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, airs on ABC-TV. Special guests include The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Raven, Diana Krall, Wayne Brady, Kimberly Locke and Julie Andrews.
"Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In," a weekly podcast, debuts. The podcast features behind-the-scenes tours of Disney's four Florida theme parks, celebrity interviews, news about upcoming events and conversations with Walt Disney Imagineers.
It is reported that Disney's theme parks have made a list of the top 25 best-attended North American amusement parks in 2005. At the #1 spot is the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando with 16.1 million visitors. Other Disney parks include Disneyland at #2, Epcot at #3, Disney-MGM Studios at #4, Animal Kingdom at #5. and Disney's California Adventure at the #7 position.
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1913:
Candy Candido, the voice of Fidget in Disney's 1986 animated feature The
Great Mouse Detective, is born Jonathan Joseph Candido, in New Orleans,
Louisiana. His distinctive deep voice can also be heard as the Indian Chief in Peter Pan, the
Tournament Crocodile in Robin Hood, and the Graveyard Executioner in the Haunted Mansion attraction.
A radio performer, musician, and vocalist, Candido provided the "voice" for TV's Gentle Ben!
1924:
Screenwriter Rod Serling is born Edwin Rodman Serling in
Syracuse, New York. His popular Twilight Zone TV series is the
inspiration for Disney's Tower of Terror theme park attractions.
1939:
Lux Radio Theater with the cooperation of Walt Disney Productions presents
an adaptation of the animated Pinocchio. This special Christmas broadcast is a scene for
scene rendition of Walt Disney's upcoming animated feature, scheduled for a February RKO release.
Today's cast includes Dickie Jones as Pinocchio, Christian Rub as Geppetto, Cliff Edwards as Jiminy
Cricket, Charles Judels as Stromboli, Walter Catlett as Honest John, Frankie Darro as Lampwick and
Evelyn Venable as the Blue Fairy (but with Gracie Nielson supplying her singing).
1950:
Walt Disney's first television special, One Hour in Wonderland airs on NBC at
4 P.M. Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company and hosted by Walt himself, it is watched by about 20
million people (an amazing feat considering only 10.5 million TV sets exist in the U.S.). Guests include
Edgar Bergen and his dummies Charlie McCarthy & Mortimer Snerd, Walt's daughters Diane & Sharon,
Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Disney's upcoming newest animated feature Alice in Wonderland) and
Bobby Driscoll (the voice of Peter Pan). The Firehouse Five Plus Two - a Dixieland ensemble made up
of Disney employees - also performs.
1951:
The second Disney TV special The Walt Disney Christmas Show, hosted
by Walt Disney, airs on CBS at 3 P.M. Sponsored by Johnson and Johnson, the show
promotes the upcoming animated feature Peter Pan.
1955:
Disneyland's Mike Fink Keelboats (a Southern-style cruise through
the back waterways of the Rivers of America) opens in Frontierland.
1957:
Disney's Old Yeller is released. The film stars Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Chuck Connors, Tommy
Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Beverly Washburn, and a yellow Black Mouth Cur named Spike in the title role. Directed
by Robert Stevenson, Old Yeller was shot at the 700 acre Golden Oak Ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley, thirty miles north of Disney Studio. A teenage boy grows to love a stray yellow dog while helping his mother and younger brother run their Texas homestead. (Spike the dog will go on to appear in 20th-Century-Fox’s 1960 remake of A Dog of Flanders, as well as on the short-lived NBC series The Westerner, and sire two more generations of animal actors!)
Also released is the tenth People and Places film Portugal.
1958:
The Walt Disney live-action feature film Tonka is released. Based on the novel Comanche
(by David Appel) about a wild stallion, the film stars Sal Mineo, Philip Carey, and Jerome Courtland.
1963:
Disney's 18th animated film The Sword In The
Stone is released. Merlin the Magician (voiced by Karl
Swenson) teaches a young boy (voiced by Rickie Sorensen)
who is destined to be King Arthur. The film marks Wolfgang
Reitherman's first solo directional effort for a feature film. Based
on the novel of the same name, (which was first published in
1938 as a single novel), Bill Peet has written the story for
the film, while the songs have been composed by the
Sherman Brothers. The voice cast also includes Junius
Matthews as Archimedes (Merlin's crotchety yet highly
educated pet owl), Sebastian Cabot as Lord Ector (Arthur's
foster father), and Barbara Jo Allen as Scullery Maid.
1995:
Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade, hosted by Joan Lunden and
Regis Philbin, airs on television. Guests include actor/singer Richard White (best known for voicing
Gaston in Beauty and the Beast), Jodi Benson (the speaking and the singing voices of Princess Ariel in The Little
Mermaid), actress Brianne Leary, television personality J.D. Roth and actor Ben Savage.
1998:
The world famous Harlem Globetrotters slam-dunk into Disney's Wide World of
Sports Complex in Florida for a series of performances through the New Year.
Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade hosted by Caroline Rhea and
Richard Kind, airs on ABC. Wayne Brady makes his first appearance and Donny Osmond sings a Mulan
medley including "True to Your Heart" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You."
Touchstone Pictures releases the feature A Civil Action, in New York and Los Angeles. A legal thriller based on a true story, it stars John Travolta and Robert Duvall. A tenacious lawyer takes on a case involving a major company responsible for causing several people to be diagnosed with leukemia due to the town's water supply being contaminated, at the risk of bankrupting his firm and career. The film will open nationwide January 8, 1999.
Walt Disney Pictures releases the adventure film Mighty Joe Young. Based on the 1949 film of the same name, it tells the story of a giant mountain gorilla brought to a wildlife preserve in Los Angeles by a young woman named Jill who raises him and a zoologist who protects him from the threat of poachers. The film stars Bill Paxton as zoologist Professor Gregory "Gregg" O'Hara, and Charlize Theron as Jill Young.
Toys based on the popular animated series Disney's Recess make their debut at
McDonald's. The set includes T.J., Spinelli, Vince, Gretchen, Gus, Mikey, and Miss Finster. Disney and
McDonald's also sponser a sweepstakes called "Be on Recess". The grand prize winner will get to appear in
animated form on an episode of Recess and take a trip to Disneyland!
1999:
Following the success of the "outtakes" during the end credits of last
year's A Bug's Life, Disney and Pixar have decided to add a group of funny
all-new "outtakes" to Toy Story 2 beginning today.
Touchstone Pictures releases the historical drama Cradle Will Rock, produced and directed by Tim Robbins. A true story of politics and art in the 1930s U.S., focusing on a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production, the film stars Hank Azaria, Bob Balaban, Jack Black,
Rubén Blades, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, and Paul Giamatti.
2002:
The Lion King (Disney's blockbuster 1994 hit feature) opens exclusively
in IMAX theaters and large format cinemas.
The 19th Annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC-TV. Hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, the special features such stars as actor John Ritter, comedian George Lopez, singer John Rzeznik (of the Goo Goo Dolls), Broadway favorite Andrea McArdle, and actress/pop star Hilary Duff.
2003:
The 20th Annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, airs on ABC-TV. (Philbin has hosted more Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parades than anyone!) Guests include American Idol favorite Clay Aiken, Disney Channel star Raven, actress-singer Andrea McArdle, and entertainer Wayne Brady.
Disney's live-action Young Black Stallion opens exclusively in IMAX and other large format cinemas. A young girl named Neera, played by Biana G. Tamimi, befriends a wild black stallion.
2004:
The team of Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa return for a fourth year to host The 21st
Annual Walt Disney World Christmas Parade on ABC-TV. Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo host
the Disneyland section of the broadcast. Guests include Wynonna Judd, Kelly Clarkson, Jump 5,
Diana DeGarmo and a special appearance by Julie Andrews.
Touchstone Pictures releases The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. An off-beat comedy
directed by Wes Anderson, the film stars Bill Murray as Steve Zissou, an eccentric oceanographer.
Today is Christmas Day
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1996:
Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade, hosted by
Suzanne Somers and Jerry Van Dyke, airs live (for the last time) on television.
Guests include Gary Beach, Brianne Leary, Sandi Patti, J.D. Roth, Ernie Sabella and Samuel E. Wright.
Evita, a Cinergi production released by Hollywood Pictures, is released in New York
and Los Angeles. The musical drama is based on the 1976 concept album of the same name produced by
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The film stars Madonna as Eva Perón (also referred to as Evita), the wife of
Argentine President Juan Perón (1895–1974) and First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. Evita
will have a wider release on January 1 and a general release on January 10.
1997:
A Magical Walt Disney World Christmas, hosted by Melisa Joan Hart and Ben
Savage, airs on television. Musical guests include Paige O'Hara, Jodi Benson and The Backstreet Boys.
Walt Disney Pictures releases the comedy feature Mr. Magoo to theaters. A live-action film adaptation of UPA's cartoon of the same name, it stars Leslie Nielsen as the title character, alongside Kelly Lynch,
Matt Keeslar, Nick Chinlund, Stephen Tobolowsky, Ernie Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Malcolm McDowell. When
stolen gems accidentally fallen into the possession of Quincy Magoo, a loveable but eccentric bumbling millionaire,
the criminals try desperately to retrieve them.
Hollywood Pictures releases the comedy horror An American Werewolf in Paris, starring Tom Everett Scott and Julie Delpy. An American man unwittingly gets involved with French werewolves
who have developed a serum allowing them to transform at will.
Touchstone Pictures exclusively releases the epic biographical film Kundun, directed by Martin Scorsese, to New York and Los Angeles. From childhood to adulthood, Tibet's fourteenth Dalai
Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, deals with Chinese oppression and other political problems.
1983:
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade is broadcast
live from the Magic Kingdom for the very first time. The 90-minute
telecast is hosted by Joan Lunden (of Good Morning America) and popular talk-
show host Mike Douglas (the singing voice of Prince Charming in Cinderella).
1984:
Joan Lunden and former track & field athlete Bruce Jenner host Walt Disney
World Very Merry Christmas Parade from the Magic Kingdom. The 90-minute telecast
features Regis Philbin (future parade host) for the first time and greetings from U.S. President Reagan.
1985:
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade is broadcast on television.
Hosted by Joan Lunden and actor Ben Vereen, the special also features Regis Philbin and greetings
from U.S. President Reagan and other world leaders.
1986:
Joan Lunden and Ben Vereen return as hosts of Walt Disney World Very Merry
Christmas Parade. Regis Philbin hosts a segment celebrating Disney World's 15th birthday (and
takes a ride in the Ear-Force One hot air balloon) and Snow White leads the parade as its Grand Marshal.
1987:
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade airs on television. Hosted by Joan
Lunden and actor Alan Thicke, the special also features Regis Philbin (giving a "hard hat" tour of such new
WDW structures as the Grand Floridian and the Disney-MGM Studios) and film critic Leonard Maltin.
1988:
Joan Lunden and Alan Thicke return as hosts of Walt Disney World Christmas Day
Parade. The 2-hour telecast (a first for the parade) includes Regis Philbin giving a sneak preview of Disney-
MGM Studios and Sarah Purcell & Scott Valentine reporting from Disneyland (a first time simulcast from Anaheim).
1989:
Joan Lunden and Alan Thicke once again return as hosts of Walt Disney World
Christmas Day Parade. Stars from the current hit sitcoms Growing Pains, Family Ties, and Major Dad
make appearances and Regis Philbin interviews Kermit the Frog about joining the Disney family.
1990:
The team of Joan Lunden and Alan Thicke return as hosts of Walt Disney World
Christmas Day Parade (for the 4th time). Regis Philbin hosts a segment on the Disney-MGM
Studios Backstage Tour. Musical guests include Lee Greenwood and Amy Grant.
1991:
Joan Lunden and Regis Philbin (for the very first time) host Walt Disney World
Very Merry Christmas Parade television special. Because Disney's Surprise Celebration
is running at the Magic Kingdom, the parade is broadcast from the Disney-MGM Studios. Musical guests
include Sandi Patty and Lee Greenwood.
1992:
The team of Joan Lunden and Regis Philbin return as hosts of Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade. Special guests include Ed McMahon, Miss America Leanza Cornette, John Davidson, and Al & Wilson from ABC's Home Improvement.
1993:
Joan Lunden and Regis Philbin return to host Disney World's Christmas Day
Parade television special. Guests include Kathy Lee Gifford, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Robby Benson.
Hollywood Pictures releases the western film Tombstone. The film is based on historical events in Tombstone, Arizona, including the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride, during the 1880s. It depicts a number of Western outlaws and lawmen, such as Wyatt Earp, William Brocius, Johnny Ringo, and Doc Holliday. The cast includes Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, and Dana Delany.
Composer and lyricist Ann Ronell, one of the first successful Hollywood and
Tin Pan Alley female composers, passes away days before her 88th birthday. She cowrote Disney's first hit song, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" with Frank Churchill for the 1933 cartoon Three Little Pigs. (Ronell's exact contributions are in dispute, though the sheet music cover credits her simply with "additional lyrics.")
1994:
Disney World's Christmas Day Parade is broadcast on ABC-TV. Hosted by Joan Lunden
and Regis Philbin, the special features comic Margaret Cho, skater Nancy Kerrigan and Jonathan Taylor
Thomas (reporting from Disneyland).
Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a live-action adventure film, is released. Kipling's
classic tale of Mowgli, the orphaned jungle boy raised by wolves who became king of the jungle, is retold
in this new version starring Jason Scott Lee.
2006:
The team of Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa return for ABC's 23rd airing of the Walt
Disney World Holiday Parade. Also appearing is Ryan Seacrest (from Disneyland), the cast of High
School Musical, Aly & AJ, Beyonce, Playhouse Disney's The Doodlebops and Travel Channel's Samantha Brown.
At Disney World, the Magic Kingdom shuts down for 55 minutes due to
capacity crowds.
1953:
The Donald Duck short Canvas Back Duck is released. Donald is lured into the boxing
ring (after proving his prowess at various circus games) only to discover his opponent is Pegleg Pete!
Also released is the Goofy short How to Sleep. Poor Goofy can sleep anywhere at anytime ... except
when his head hits the pillow at night! Even a cartoon character can suffer from insomnia.
Edgar Bergen: "I've never told you the story of Alice in Wonderland, have I?"
Charlie McCarthy: "No, I've been lucky so far."
2000:
Disneyland closes its gates from 3PM to 6PM due to a high number of visitors!
2007:
The 24th Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC-TV. Hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, the show was actually taped last November 30 and December 1. Guests include Patti LaBelle, Joey Fatone, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and members from "Dancing With the Stars."
Tired of living in a Medieval mess ... Merlin uses all his magic powers to change a scrawny little boy into a legendary hero!
Disney's 1979 science fiction feature The Black Hole is
released to U.S. theaters for a fourth and final time. It is the 11th Anniversary edition of Disney's first PG-rated production.
Coca-Cola brings you holiday greetings!
2008:
Disney's annual holiday TV special Walt Disney World Christmas
Day Parade airs on ABC. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the program is once
again hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, with Ryan Seacrest from Disneyland.
Special guests include Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jose Feliciano, Corbin Bleu, Jonas Brothers, David Cook,
David Archuleta, the Imagination Movers and Sarah Brightman.
Walt Disney Pictures Bedtime Stories opens in theaters. The adventure comedy stars Adam Sandler as a hotel handyman whose bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew mysteriously come true. Directed by Adam Shankman (known for such features as Hairspray and The Wedding Planner), Bedtime Stories also features former-Mouseketeer Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, and Courtney Cox.
Actress-singer Eartha Kitt passes away at age 81 in New York City. Best known as a cabaret star and for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby," Kitt was featured in many Disney projects. Her award-winning
voice credits include Yzma for TV's The Emperor's New Groove and the features The Emperor's New Groove and
The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New Groove, and Bagheera the Panther for The Jungle Book: Mowgli's
Story. Kitt also appeared in the live-action feature Holes as Madame Zeroni.
DECEMBER 25
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
DECEMBER 25
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DEC
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2009:
The 26th annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC-TV. The first to be called
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade (instead of the usual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade), it is hosted by
Kelly Ripa (in Florida) and Ryan Seacrest (in Anaheim, CA). Ripa's traditional co-host Regis Philbin misses this year's
event - as he is recovering from hip surgery. Special musical guests include Celine Dion and Stevie Wonder.
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Season's
Greetings
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1971:
Christmas Day is celebrated for the first time at Walt Disney World with
the Magic Kingdom operating from 10am to 6pm.
"Christmas isn't about candy canes, or lights all aglow,
it's the hearts that we touch, and the care that we show."
-Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
2010:
The 27th year of the Emmy Award-winning Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade airs
on ABC-TV. Hosted for the first time by Ryan Seacrest at Walt Disney World and Nick Cannon at
Disneyland, guests include Mariah Carey; country-music chart-topper Darius Rucker; Amber Riley (who plays
Mercedes on Glee); Disney Channel stars Selena Gomez and Debby Ryan; young soprano sensation Jackie
Evancho (of America’s Got Talent fame); American Idol Lee DeWyze, swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy;
professional dancers from ABC-TV’s Dancing with the Stars and R&B singer Sean Kingston.
1956:
Disney releases its seventh People and Places film Samoa.
1969:
The live touring show Disney on Parade debuts in Chicago, Illinois.
2011:
Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida present the 28th annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade TV special on ABC. Nick Cannon and Mario Lopez host the telecast, along with co-host Maria Menounos and special guest singers Christina Aguilera
and headliner, teen sensation Justin Bieber.
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, "The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special" begins a limited run through December 31. Taking place at the ABC Sound Studio, the live improvisational comedy show features alumni from the Comedy Warehouse (once located in Pleasure Island).
War Horse, a war drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, is released by Touchstone/DreamWorks. The film's ensemble cast includes Jeremy Irvine (in his film
acting debut), Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Marsan, Niels
Arestrup, Toby Kebbell, David Kross, and Peter Mullan. Set before and during World War I, it tells of the journey
of Joey, a bay Thoroughbred horse raised by British teenager Albert (Irvine), as he is bought by the British Army, leading him to encounter numerous individuals and owners throughout Europe, all the while experiencing the tragedies of the war happening around him.
2012:
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC-TV, hosted by Maria Menounos and Nick Cannon. Musical guests on the WestCoast include Brad Paisley, Backstreet Boys, and TobyMac. While Lady Antebellum, Colbie Caillat, gospel star Yolanda Adams and "American Idol" Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips perform down in Florida.
December 25
2013:
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade celebrates 30 years of holiday magic on ABC-TV.
Stage and screen star Neil Patrick Harris joins "Good Morning America" co-anchor Lara Spencer to lead the Walt
Disney World Resort festivities. Nick Cannon co-hosts from Disneyland.
2014:
The festive 31st annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Celebration and Parade, this
year titled "Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration," airs on ABC-TV.
The pre-taped show includes performances by Lucy Hale, Train, Laura Marano, Ariana Grande, Alex & Sierra,
Trey Songz, Trisha Yearwood, Gavin Degraw, Lexi Walker, Prince Royce and Sabrina Carpenter.
Into the Woods, a musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall, and adapted to the
screen by James Lapine from his and Stephen Sondheim's 1986 Broadway musical
of the same name, is released in U.S. theaters. A Walt Disney Pictures production, it features an
ensemble cast that includes Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman,
Christine Baranski, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, MacKenzie Mauzy, Billy Magnussen, and Johnny Depp.
Inspired by the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales of "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", "Jack and the Beanstalk", and "Rapunzel", the film is a fantasy genre centered on a childless couple, who set out to end a curse placed on them
by a vengeful witch.
Norwegian painter and illustrator Alf Gabriel Næsheim passes away in Norway. Mostly known for his architectural drawings, he was also known for being the first Norwegian artist that illustrated Disney comic book stories featuring Donald Duck.
2015:
Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration airs on ABC-TV. The 32nd Annual
Disney Parks Christmas Day Celebration and Parade, it is hosted by Robin Roberts and Jesse Palmer. Musical
guests include David Foster, Reba McEntire and Seal.
2016:
The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration airs on ABC-TV. Hosted by Julianne
and Derek Hough, musical guests include Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood.
2017:
Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration airs on ABC-TV. Hosted by Julianne
and Nick Lachey, musical guests include Fifth Harmony, Jason Derulo, and Ciara.
2018:
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC-TV. Hosted by Jordan Fisher and
Sarah Hyland, musical guests include Gwen Stefani, Brett Eldredge, Andrea Bocelli & his son Matteo Bocelli,
and Aloe Blacc.
1975:
Disney's family adventure film Ride a Wild Pony is released. Directed by Don Chaffey, it is based on the novel "A Sporting Proposition" by James Aldridge. Set in a small Australian town, the film follows the battle between two children, Scott, a poor farm boy, and Josie, the handicapped daughter of a wealthy ranch owner, for ownership of a horse that both children love. The largely Australian-based cast includes Robert Betties, Eva Griffith, Michael Craig, John Meillon, and Alfred Bell.
The Touchstone Pictures romantic comedy Green Card is released to U.S. theaters. Starring Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell, the film focuses on an American woman who enters into a marriage of convenience with a Frenchman so he can obtain a green card and remain in the United States. (Depardieu will later win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.)
2019:
The annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC and Hulu Live TV. Glee star Matthew Morrison, former Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton and TV personality Jesse Palmer host the event along with appearances by Sting, Shaggy, Pentatonix, Ingrid Michaelson, and the cast of the new Disney+ series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Spies in Disguise, a computer-animated spy comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox (both divisions of The Walt Disney Studios), is released. Loosely based on Lucas Martell's 2009 animated short Pigeon: Impossible, the film is directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane in their directorial debuts, and stars the voices of Will Smith and Tom Holland, alongside Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Reba McEntire, Rachel Brosnahan, Karen Gillan, DJ Khaled, and Masi Oka. The plot follows a secret agent who is accidentally transformed into a pigeon by an intelligent teenage agent who then must work together to stop a cybernetic terrorist who seeks revenge and return him to his human form. Spies in Disguise is the first release by Blue Sky Studios as a unit of The Walt Disney Company.
2020:
Pixar's computer-animated comedy-drama Soul
is released on Disney+ and theatrically in
international territories. The movie, starring Jamie Foxx
and Tina Fey, tells the story of Joe Gardner (played by Foxx), a
middle school band teacher who dreams of one day becoming a
true jazz club musician. When it looks like his luck has finally
turned, a series of events transport him into The Great Before —
a place where, among other things, souls live before they go to
Earth. It is there he befriends 22 (Fey), a soul who feels quite the
opposite of Joe about the world and has no interest in living on
Earth at all. Directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Kemp
Powers, the voice cast also includes musician Questlove as
Curly, Phylicia Rashad as Libba Gardner, Daveed Diggs as Paul,
and Angela Bassett as Dorothea Williams. Animators used footage
of several music performers, including jazz composer Jon Batiste,
performing as reference for the film's musical sequences.(Soul
was originally scheduled for a theater release in June 2020.)
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day
Celebration airs on ABC-TV. Hosted by Julianne
Hough and Tituss Burgess with an appearance by Keegan-
Michael Key, the show features special sneak peeks and
musical guests.
