News

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has soft opened to Annual Passholders at Disneyland, but not everyone is happy with the reimagining of the classic ride. Here’s why some guests are calling it “empty” and lacking the original charm.

Mixed Reactions to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the reimagined version of the beloved Splash Mountain, has faced a mix of excitement and criticism since its debut at Disneyland. While some fans were eager to see Tiana take the spotlight, others have voiced disappointment over what they perceive as a reduction in the ride’s magic and fullness.

Lack of Animatronics and Claustrophobic Design

Fluff Skwovet, in a tweet that gained considerable traction, criticized the ride’s emptiness, stating: “Tiana’s sucks on Disneyland, literal darkness & very empty, even more empty than Wdw’s version, terrible retheme no matter what version.” He pointed out the reduction in the number...

Sister Wives star, Christine Brown has been on the move lately. While she and Janelle Brown are touring for work, she is squeezing in as much fun as possible. Undeniably, she loves sharing about her fun, family, and “The Happiest Place On Earth” with fans.

Christine Brown Is Spilling Tea And Having Fun

Although Janelle and Christine Brown have been very busy lately with their Sister Wives media tour, they aren’t skimping on fun along the way. Undeniably, the sisters wives’ power team is ready to spill as much tea as they can about Season 19. They have hit up Access Hollywood, Extra, E! News, and even attended Us Weekly‘s Reality Stars of the Year event in Los Angeles, CA. But Christine is taking the opportunity to share the fun with her family as well.

Janelle and Christine Brown from Instagram Christine Brown Shares Fun, Family & ‘Happiest Place On Earth’

On Instagram,...

There are big changes coming for Disney World, with several attractions closing! Here’s a quick guide!

Disney World fans are used to how attractions can regularly shut down for refurbishment. Sometimes, it’s just for a few weeks, while others can be much longer. That’s more common for older rides as well as for attractions that may be affected by larger construction. With Disney World planning some big changes, some attractions are in for huge closures and here’s a quick guide!

Big Thunder Mountain is closing for a year

If you want to get on “The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness,” you only have a few months to get there. Disney announced that Big Thunder Mountain will close for a lengthy refurbishment on January 6, 2025 and won’t reopen until 2026.

Being shut down for a year is a big move for this ride, but it does seem needed.

For Tesla‘s latest high-profile event, Elon Musk wanted the Hollywood treatment. On Thursday night, the CEO unveiled a prototype of the auto manufacturer’s “robotaxi” at the “We, Robot” event in Warner Bros. Discovery movie studio lot in Burbank, California.

The vehicle is intended to be fully autonomous, with no human driver required, like other self-driving taxis currently operating in select markets, such as Google‘s Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise fleets. Musk initially announced that the demo of Tesla’s version would take place on Aug. 8, only to...

In J.M. Barrie's original 1904 play "Peter and Wendy," the fairy Tinker Bell was typically represented by a powerful spotlamp, reflected onto the stage by a small hand mirror. Her dialogue was a series of small jingle bells, shaken offstage. When Barrie adapted his play into a 1911 novel, Tinker Bell remained mute, although she was able to participate in the action more closely. In the first film adaptation of Barrie's work, Herbert Brenson's 1924 film "Peter Pan," Tinker Bell was a light dangled by a string in long shots but actor Virginia Browne Faire in close-ups, either filmed against outside sets or composited into the frame.

In 1953, directors Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson brought Pan to life in the celebrated animated film "Peter Pan," released by the Walt Disney Company. In that film, Tinker Bell was also mute, but could be animated as a miniature person in most of her scenes,...

Disney’s TV special for Epcot Center's opening may have looked great, but behind the scenes, it was a nightmare!

Looking back at television in the early 1980s is an interesting experience. Cable TV was in its infancy, VCRs were barely used, and the overall tone was more conservative in many ways. It was also pretty old school as networks relied on tried and true stuff like the old variety show aspects and musical specials.

Disney had used that well for years as their TV specials were always unique, mixing in original songs with some fun stars. By the 1980s, they were working with Smith-Hemion, which is well known for some award-winning variety specials featuring stars such as Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Elvis, Bette Middler, and more. They could be silly and cheesy yet fun to watch. The company was also behind the now-infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.

One of...

There was at least some hubris in Weezer’s 30th anniversary Blue Album tour announcement. Openers the Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr. are more than potential show-stealers, they’re established headliners in their own right. How do you follow that? You drop a giant curtain to reveal a Weezer-branded spacecraft. It seemed instantly clear at the tour opener in Saint Paul, Minn., on Sept. 4 that Weezer have reached new heights as an arena band.

After a countdown where an Xcel Energy Center full of voices screamed “5, 4, 3, 2, 1,” the vessel took flight into the rafters,...

The star-crossed lovers, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who rekindled their romance after two decades, have once again gone their separate ways, leaving what seemed like a perfect reunion in tatters. While the public eagerly speculates on the details of this latest split, neither party has shed light on the situation.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Jersey Girl | Credits: Miramax Films

However, insider whispers suggest that it was the Batman actor who called it quits on the marriage, despite Lopez’s reluctance to end things.

“Bennifer” Is Officially Over! But Was It Really a Surprise?

TMZ very recently reported that Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce on August 20 without legal representation, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the cause. The New York Post later confirmed this. TMZ also noted that although the couple has been negotiating a settlement for several months, they have yet to reach an agreement.

Related“His team is...

Zum Abschluss der D23 haute Disney noch einmal auf die Pauke mit der traditionellen Abendveranstaltung, in der die neuen „Disney Legends“ in die hauseigene Hall of Fame aufgenommen werden. Unter den 14 neuen Legenden sind Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Bassett, Miley Cyrus, James Cameron und Komponistenlegende John Williams.

Micky Maus freute sich mit der frisch gebackenen „Disney Legend“ James Cameron und Zoe Saldaña (Credit: The Walt Disney Company)

Wenn man bei der CinemaCon bedauert, dass die Disney-Show dort stets so trocken und rein produktbezogen sind, kaum Stars auf die Bühne in Las Vegas kommen wie bei den anderen Studios, dann lernt man beim Besuch auf der D23 schnell: Weil sich Disney diese Art des Showcases aufhebt, bis man ihn selbst veranstaltet, auf dem eigenen Turf in Anaheim südlich von Los Angeles. Dann zeigt man, was man kann. Das war am Freitag zum Auftakt der gigantischen Fanmesse so, als man...

The Emmy Awards grew up on March 7, 1955. For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast nationally on NBC. Steve Allen, the star of “The Tonight Show,” was the host of the 7th annual awards honoring the best of 1954 programming which was telecast from the Moulin Rouge nightclub on Sunset Boulevard.

One of the seminal live dramas of the 1950’s, Reginald Rose’s searing “12 Angry Men,” which aired on CBS “Studio One,” earned the most Emmys that evening winning with three. The taut drama about a jury of a dozen men decided the fate of a young man accused of murder starred Robert Cummings, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold and Walter Abel. For years, only an incomplete kinescope of the show, which was adapted into the Oscar-nominated 1957 film, existed.

Finally, a complete copy of the show was discovered in 2003. Rose told me in a 1997 L.A. Times interview that he came up...

Fred R. Krug, a producer, director and cinematographer who worked on such nature-focused TV programs as Animal World, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and The Magical World of Disney, has died. He was 94.

Krug died June 4 of natural causes at his home in Solvang, California, his daughter, Vivian Krug-Cotton, told The Hollywood Reporter.

A pioneer in wildlife TV documentaries and travel shows, the Swiss-born Krug dined with Picasso, worked with The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl and danced with the Nicholas brothers.

He also collaborated with the likes of Gypsy Rose Lee, Louis Armstrong, Cornel Wilde, Jayne Mansfield, Dana Andrews, Jean Simmons, Agnes Moorehead, Art Linkletter and Tippi Hedren.

Krug’s career took him to the jungles of Peru, Ecuador and Brazil; to India, Zululand, South Africa and the Serengeti in Kenya; to the high country of New Zealand; and to the mountains of Italy.

Friedrich Roy Krug was born on Aug.

Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World… which is better? We’re back from a trip to Disneyland to check out Pixar Pier, and we have some thoughts on both Disney parks’ strengths and weaknesses!

Giveaway links:

http://thekingdominsider.com/disneyland-vacation-giveaway-2018/

http://thekingdominsider.com/walt-disney-world-giveaway-2018/

______

► Subscribe on iTunes: http://bit.ly/PNPiTunes

► Subscribe on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/PNPSticher

►Website: http://www.disney-podcast.com

►Twitter: http://twitter.com/PodcastDisney

►Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PNPDisneyPodcast

►Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/pnpdisnepodcast

About Pnp: A Disney Podcast — a decidedly Different Disney fan podcast! News and rumors on the Disney parks including Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as news about Disney movies, Disney TV, Disney video games… Disney everything! Join your hosts, comic book creators Thom and Kam Pratt as they dish about The Mouse House!

Disclaimer: ‘Pirates and Princesses’ is an unofficial Disney fan podcast and not affiliated or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.

There is never a dull moment on any episode of Pawn Stars or the spin-off Pawn Stars Do America.

In a recent video, a would-be seller brought some items from Disneyland to be evaluated and sold.

Rick and Chumlee interacted with a seller in Season 15, Episode 6 of Pawn Stars, and fans loved seeing them value some Disney cast member costumes so much they had to comment.

These cast members’ costumes are from the rides of the Tower of Terror, the Haunted Mansion, and the Pirates of the Caribbean, circa 1967-1969.

Rick shared that he loves Disneyland, calling it a “neat place…no place like it,” which fans picked up on the sentiment and shared how they felt.

The video that Pawn Stars shared on its YouTube channel is captioned, “The Gold & Silver turns into the happiest place on earth when a seller brings in some vintage Disneyland employee costumes.”

Fans...

Immersion is the backbone of any Disney Parks experience. While other places don’t care if their costumed employees wear walkie-talkies or break character, Cast Members are a different, dedicated breed.

However, as Sfgate notes, trying to keep guests in a land of fantasy, adventure, or a galaxy far, far away isn’t easy. You can’t have Disney Princesses or Star Wars characters constantly checking their phones to see when it’s time for a break or shift rotation.

The solution to this issue is far easier than you think. All you need is one ancient piece of communication: a slip of paper.

Walt’s employees have used this basic form of correspondence for some time. Sure, it’s not a technique unique to Disney or theme parks specifically, but guests have probably noticed it more often there than anywhere else.

If you’ve been to Disneyland during a busy day,...

Pride Month is here! For those celebrating, the Walt Disney Company has rolled out several new PhotoPass and photo ops at nearly every park!

Wdwnt and Disney Food Blog report that several PhotoPass areas are now up at Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom. While we had previously seen Disney merchandise sporting the traditional rainbow flag, the photo opportunities all feature the “Progress” Pride decore.

There are many varied ways to make Pride magical for yourself and your loved one. Magic Shots, props, and photo walls are all over the place!

The locations available for those Pride Month selfies are the following places.

Animal Kingdom: Pandora The World of Avatar (photo op) Tiffins Restaurant (photo op) Heart Hands prop (photo op) Mickey Mouse Pride Flag prop (photo op) Pride Balloons Magic Shot Pride Fireworks Magic Shot Floating Rainbow Magic Shot Pride Confetti Magic Shot Pride Confetti Magic Shot Disney Springs...

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani have a rock-solid marriage, and The Voice fans are elated that the show brought the two coaches together. While the country star and the No Doubt frontwoman seem like the perfect fit, divorce rumors plagued them throughout their marriage. Shelton and Stefani discussed their “insecurities” in April 2024. Here’s what Shelton said about how he and Stefani are insecure in all the same ways.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani discussed the ‘insecurities’ they have in their marriage

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani seem like an unlikely couple. However, they connected over their grief after spending time together on NBC’s The Voice. Stefani was going through a divorce with Gavin Rossdale when Shelton was divorcing Miranda Lambert. Stefani and Shelton leaned on each other through their difficulties and found love in one another.

In April 2024, Shelton and Stefani discussed their relationship with Nylon Magazine. Stefani...

Are you walking around with a boring iPhone case that doesn’t sport Disney’s iconography? Why?! You could be protecting your expensive Apple tech with Otterbox accessories!

Otterbox’s two newest iPhone cases show off Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle and Disneyland’s Sleep Beauty Castle. See how well your friends know the difference between the two theme park icons by slapping these cases on your iPhone 13 or 14!

Of course, these are considered premium items, so expect to pay $59.99 per case.

Image Credit: Disney Store

Image Credit: Disney Store

Unlike that knock-off, unofficial iPhone accessories you find on eBay and Amazon, Otterbox ensures you’re getting your money’s worth. Each case includes the following features:

Clip case OtterBox Drop+ style Fits iPhone 13 and 14 Ultra thin design Three times tested to military standard 5G compatible material Wireless charging compatible

Otterbox’s iPhone protectors are made from silicon and plastic.

Itchy and Scratchy are responsible for some of the most memorable episodes of "The Simpsons." Every fan will fondly remember "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show" or Marge's crusade against the ultra-violent kids' cartoon in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge." Indeed, "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show" landed at number five on /Film's ranking of the best episodes of "The Simpsons," with "Itchy and Scratchy Land" coming in at number 15.

Clearly, then, "Itchy and Scratchy" was more than a parody of "Tom & Jerry"-style cartoons. Though the central joke was as simple as "What if Tom & Jerry was super violent," the show-within-a-show was often used as a way to extend the cultural satire that was so integral to "The Simpsons." Plus, as legendary writer John Schwartzwelder once told The New Yorker, it allowed the writers a break from the rules of the show overall:

"We could show...

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite is just a couple of months away! Tickets are going on sale very soon!

Magic Key holders will be able to get a two-day jump on getting tickets. They can reserve admission to Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite on April 9.

General admission for the event will open up on April 11 at 9 Am Pt. Regardless of your status as a guest, tickets will cost you $159 per person for ages three and up. Admission to Pride Nite does not require a theme park reservation.

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite kicks off on June 18 and runs through the 20th. While you can get into the park starting at 6 Pm, the festivities don’t officially begin until 9 Pm.

Disney bills the event as a time to “come together with family, allies and friends to enjoy an unforgettable and fun-filled evening that recognizes and embraces the Lgbtqia+ community.” For those...

The Voice fans love watching Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s marriage blossom as they make a life with each other in Oklahoma. Shelton is a country superstar known for living on a ranch, whereas Stefani grew up in California, far from country living. Stefani continues to prove just how much she loves Oklahoma life — and her laid-back clothing on Easter shows how much she’s changed.

Gwen Stefani wore jeans and a flannel shirt for Easter in Oklahoma

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton spent Easter Sunday together in Oklahoma. Stefani didn’t grow up as a country girl but fully embraced life on the ranch. While she loves the glitz and glamour of California living, she surprises fans with her laid-back style now that she’s married to Shelton.

Stefani posted a reel to Instagram showing her Easter celebration in Oklahoma, and she didn’t bother to get dolled up for the occasion.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton seemed like an unlikely couple to come from The Voice, but they’re madly in love years later. And Stefani has fully embraced country life in Oklahoma. She lived on Shelton’s Oklahoma ranch full-time during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic quarantine, and she just proved that she still loves to embrace the great outdoors in 2024. Here’s what she posted about “Oklahoma life.”

Gwen Stefani showed off her ‘Oklahoma Life’ with Blake Shelton on Instagram Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani | Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Gwen Stefani didn’t grow up in Oklahoma and never envisioned herself as a country girl. However, Blake Shelton changed her outlook on what kind of life she wanted as she progressed deeper into middle age. Now, the No Doubt singer from California adores the countryside.

Stefani posted about her and Shelton’s “Oklahoma life” on Instagram on March 15, 2024. The clip...

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton continue to prove that they’re madly in love. The couple stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Valentine’s Day 2024 and performed their new song, “Purple Irises.” Additionally, Stefani stuck around to talk to Jimmy Kimmel about her life with Shelton in Oklahoma. Here’s what she revealed about her son, Kingston Rossdale, performing at Shelton’s bar.

Gwen Stefani said that Blake Shelton didn’t pay her oldest son to perform at his bar

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton know what climbing to the top of the music charts is like. Stefani rose to fame in the ’90s with her ska-punk band, No Doubt, and Shelton struck gold with his country hits in the 2000s. Now, Stefani’s oldest son, Kingston Rossdale, is walking in her and Gavin Rossdale’s footsteps by performing music live.

Stefani spoke about her son’s performance at Shelton’s bar,...

The Voice fans adore the love story that surrounds Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. While nobody expected the No Doubt frontwoman and the Oklahoma country boy to fall hard and fast for each other, they made the perfect pair. Unfortunately, rumors are swirling that Stefani and Shelton are having marriage trouble in 2024. Here’s what Stefani posted amid the rumors.

‘The Voice’ coach Gwen Stefani flaunted her marriage to Blake Shelton amid rumors of a rift

The Voice coaches Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton seemingly make the perfect couple. While Stefani is a California city girl at heart, she loves Shelton’s country life in Oklahoma and moved on to his ranch. Stefani and Shelton married in July 2021, which seemed smooth sailing for the couple. However, rumors in early 2024 claimed Stefani and Shelton have a “troubled” marriage.

“Gwen and Blake’s marriage is definitely in trouble,” an insider told Life & Style.

Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" is about as quintessentially American as a classic book can get. The 1960 novel, which is still commonly read in schools today, follows young Alabaman girl Scout Finch as she endures the trials and tribulations of her pre-teen years -- and witnesses the grim realities of the Jim Crow-era South. Some aspects of "To Kill A Mockingbird" haven't aged perfectly, but the book remains beloved for good reason. It's funny, sharp, and emotional, full of wisdom and harsh truth, and builds a world that's vividly alive.

That world made the leap from the page to the big screen in 1962, when director Robert Mulligan and playwright Horton Foote adapted "To Kill A Mockingbird" as a film. The movie version is indelible in its own right. It's anchored by a precise performance from Gregory Peck, who plays compassionate defense attorney Atticus Finch. In the 60 years since...

NBC’s The Voice Season 24 isn’t the same without Blake Shelton, but fans know they can still catch him actively making new music. Shelton is one of the biggest names in country music today. But he won’t make new tunes forever. Here’s what he said about acknowledging his time in the music industry is limited.

Country star Blake Shelton said ‘the clock’s ticking’ in terms of how long he’ll make music

Country music legend Blake Shelton put out his first single in 2001, and over 20 years later, he’s become one of the biggest names in the business. While fans want more music from Shelton in the future, he acknowledges that he can’t produce albums forever. He spoke to Country Radio Seminar about where he stands moving forward.

“I’ve kind of always been prepared for when this ends, and my songs aren’t getting played anymore,...

NBC’s The Voice Season 24 coach Gwen Stefani is coaching the season without her husband, Blake Shelton, by her side. While fans don’t see the couple on the show together, they spend plenty of time together in Oklahoma with Stefani’s three kids: Kingston, 17, Zuma, 15, and Apollo, 9. While Stefani raised her kids in California, Shelton opened up about what her boys think of Oklahoma.

‘The Voice’ coach Blake Shelton said Gwen Stefani’s kids think of Oklahoma like ‘Disneyland’

The Voice Season 24 star Gwen Stefani never envisioned herself as an Oklahoma girl. And we can only imagine how her kids felt about the initial change. Stefani grew up in Anaheim, California, and admitted that she never considered country living. However, she’s fully adapted to her new life. And it seems her three kids have, too.

While speaking to Country Radio Seminar in 2022, Shelton said Stefani’s three boys...

A man leaped to his death from a parking structure at Disneyland on Wednesday, police said, marking the third such incident at the Anaheim park in less than a year.

A caller alerted police at about 9:30 p.m. that a person had jumped from the Pixar Pals structure on Magic Way. Officers found a man dead at the scene and began a suicide investigation. A spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s office said the county coroner’s office identified him as Jonah Edwards, 24. No other details were provided.

The death comes about nine months after an Arizona woman died after jumping or falling from the park’s Mickey and Friends structure. That incident came several weeks after a man in his 50s fell from the same six-level facility in December 2022. Anaheim Police have said both likely were suicides.

The Pixar Pals structure opened in 2019, and the Mickey and...

Robert Butler, a television director for the pilot shows for Star Trek, Batman, Hill Street Blues, and Moonlighting, has died. He was 95.

Butler’s family announced that the Emmy award-winning director died on Nov. 3 in Los Angeles.

Graduating from UCLA where he majored in English, Butler started his career in entertainment as an usher at CBS. His first credit as a director would come in 1959 when he directed an episode for the military comedy-drama Hennesey which starred Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton.

Over the years, Butler was sought out to direct pilots for shows like Hogan’s Heroes (1965), the original Star Trek (1966), Batman (1966), the first mini-series on television The Blue Knight (1973), Hill Street Blues (1978), Moonlighting (1985), Sisters (1991) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993).

Butler won two Emmy Awards, the first one for The Blue Knight pilot in 1973 and the second one in 1981 for Hill Street Blues. In 2015 he was...

Given U2’s reputation for pushing technical and creative boundaries with its live concerts, it seemed fitting that the band opened the anticipated Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday with its most ambitious and transportive live show ever: an electrifying live performance and visual odyssey that unfolds on Sphere’s enveloping 160,000-square-foot wraparound interior LED display.

Built for an estimated $2.3 billion, Sphere is a big gamble by Msg mogul James Dolan and Sphere Entertainment Co. (which was formed in April to combine Sphere and Msg Networks) on the future of entertainment. At 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide, the venue is now the largest spherical structure in the world, housing the largest interior and exterior wraparound LED displays. Inside, the enveloping LED display supports a high resolution of 16K, meaning that it delivers images so lifelike that it may make you feel as though you’re no longer in a Las...

Barbie really is a pink unicorn.

The movie is on course to earn $95 million or more in its sophomore outing, one of the best second weekends of all time at the North American box office, and the best second weekend gross ever for Warner Bros., not adjusted for inflation. That includes a $29 million Friday.

The female-fueled Barbie, which continues to shatter any and all expectations, should finish Sunday with a domestic cume of around $350 million. Detractors had predicted it would fade away quickly after a history-making debut over the July 21-23 weekend, but that isn’t the case. Barbie is looking at a scant decline of 41 percent, a rare hold for a pic originally opening to such a big number.

Barbie continues to paint the overseas box office pink as well for a dreamy global total of $750 million or more by Sunday as it fast approaches the $1 billion mark. It...

This article appears in the new issue of Den Of Geek magazine. Get your copy here.

Haunted Mansion was launched as a theme park attraction at Disneyland in 1969. Riders get strapped inside “doom buggies” and whisked through a spooky old manor with chills and thrills around every corner. The ride doesn’t end at the last stop, either. A mirror along the exit captures the image of a phantom prankster attaching itself to each visitor. For Disney’s upcoming Haunted Mansion film, director Justin Simien wants to bring that feeling home.

“My number one goal as a filmmaker is to make sure you actually get haunted,” Simien tells Den of Geek magazine. “I was nine when I rode the Haunted Mansion at Disney World, and you couldn’t tell me that dude was not still over my shoulder all around the park.”

The feeling never left, so Simien brought that spirit to pitch meetings.

Gkids, the acclaimed animation producer and distributor, has announced its acquisition of the North American distribution rights to “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest release from Hayao Miyazaki, the Oscar-winning director of “Spirited Away” and “The Wind Rises” and the co-founder of legendary Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. A North American release is planned for later this year, meaning it will qualify for next year’s Academy Awards.

The film, which is being released in Japan without any trailers, TV spots or even official synopses (the Japanese title is “How Do You Live”), will be produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki and features a musical score by longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi.

According to the official release: “In an unprecedented decision by Studio Ghibli, no images, trailers, synopses, advertisements, or other information about the film have been made available to the public prior to its release in theaters in Japan.

There are still so many potentially great games left to be released in 2023. Diablo 4, Final Fantasy 16, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Starfield, Baldur’s Gate 3, and more will finish up one of the best years for new releases in recent memory. In the minds of some gamers, though, the 2023 Game of the Year awards ended the moment that Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In just a couple of weeks, Tears of the Kingdom has entranced millions of gamers in ways that I haven’t really seen since…well, since last year’s nearly undisputed Game of the Year winner Elden Ring was released.

I’ve been thinking about the similarities between those two games a lot lately. Both are open-world titles, both became historic critical and commercial successes in a short period of time, and both even drew criticism for their lack of certain modern conveniences and technological innovations.

Most Nintendo games aren’t known for their stellar voice acting (or even have voice acting), so when one features voice-acted cutscenes, it’s usually a big deal. But while Nintendo is still getting used to producing titles with vocal performances, at least the company knows how to properly cast the roles themselves.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the first time a Zelda game featured good voice acting. And when Nintendo announced a sequel, audiences hoped it would live up to that legacy. From what we’ve seen so far, Tears of the Kingdom’s most prominent characters won’t be recast, and some new faces will join them, one of whom is arguably the best casting choice we’ve seen in a long time.

Below, you’ll find a rundown of the major voice actors you need to know from the new Zelda sequel. This...

In the early days of television, the “Big Three” networks ruled the small screen. ABC is the baby, entering the new medium a little behind its competitors, and finding new and creative ways to find success against two mighty opponents.

ABC found its earliest success with two programs that had begun on radio, “The Lone Ranger,” which was the network’s first big hit, and “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” a sitcom loosely based on the life of the real-life Nelson family. The latter remained on the air for 14 seasons, and was the longest-running prime-time comedy for decades, and the longest-running live action sitcom until 2021. However, ABC still struggled against the firmly established NBC and CBS, and found innovative ways to compete.

In 1954, ABC and Walt Disney struck an unprecedented deal: the network helped finance the filmmaker’s ambitious Disneyland Park, while Disney produced a weekly TV show for the network.

Disneyland’s festive after-hours special events promotion Disneyland After Dark has been set to host its first-ever Pride celebrations, taking place over two evenings during Pride Month in June. Dubbed Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite, the events will celebrate the Lgbtqia+ community and allies, and will be held on June 13 and 15, officials have announced.

The Pride Nite events will include after-hours park access, themed entertainment, Disney characters, photo opportunities, specialty menu items, merchandise and more.

They will begin with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6pm to 9pm, and will be followed by a private party from 9pm to 1am. During that period, guests can ride some popular attractions after regular park hours.

The lineup for the evenings also includes the Pride Nite Cavalcade on Main Street featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle, Donald, Daisy and Goofy in specially designed outfits.

Guests can also join Stitch at the Ohana Dance Party...

Gunsmoke set a record as the longest-running scripted television show on primetime with 20 seasons under its belt between 1955 and 1975. It went down in history as one of the greatest Western dramas ever to hit the screen, but some fans would argue that the awards season didn’t give it the attention that it deserved. Gunsmoke won five Emmy Awards over its 20 seasons, although none of them went to lead actor James Arness.

‘Gunsmoke’ had a terrific ensemble cast L-R: Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell, James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, and Milburn Stone as Dr. Galen ‘Doc’ Adams | CBS via Getty Images

Gunsmoke initially started as a radio show in 1952 before it made its way to television. Diehard fans of the radio show were upset to hear that the voice cast wouldn’t return to play the iconic characters on television. Nevertheless, Gunsmoke...

Rebel Wilson is leaving nothing to waste.

On Sunday night, the “Pitch Perfect” star mingled with all the celebs at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party after the Academy Awards, and she decided to re-wear an old dress.

Read More: Rebel Wilson Says She Was Banned From Disneyland Over A Bathroom Selfie

Wilson shared a clip on Instagram explaining she was “sustainably re-wearing my @jasonwu dress from the Oscars 2020.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson)

The dress, from the New York-based designer, featured an off-the-shoulder style, draping her in sparkling gold sequins.

Wilson looked great in the gown, holding hands with fiancée Ramona Agruma as she walked the red carpet on her way into the afterparty.

She also accessorized her look with items from Simon G. Jewelry and a Pride-inspired rainbow clutch purse by Kurt Geiger.

Read More: Rebel Wilson On First Meeting Meghan Markle...

Rebel Wilson is opening up about meeting Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for the first time, and it wasn’t exactly great.

The “Pitch Perfect” star recalled the experience during an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live”, where they had been talking about the royal family during a commercial break and briefly continued on the subject when they got back from break. Wilson said when she met the couple in Santa Barbara, Markle was a bit standoffish while Harry, on the other hand, was “lovely.”

“Meghan was not as cool. She wasn’t as naturally warm,” said Wilson, who revealed they share a mutual friend, a polo player.

Read More: Rebel Wilson Says She Was Banned From Disneyland Over a Bathroom Selfie

That being said, the actress conceded that the not-so-warm encounter with Markle may have had a lot to do with her mother, Sue Bownds, being a bit intrusive...

"When hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls ... wherever candle lights flicker, though the air is deathly still ... that is the time that ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight."

So runs the opening narration, provided by Paul Frees, at the entrance to the Haunted Mansion, easily the best thing Disney has ever produced as a company.

Justin Simien's new film "Haunted Mansion," due in theaters on July 28, 2023, is the third attempt to adapt the 1959 Disneyland attraction to the big screen. As Disneyland attractions go, The Haunted Mansion stands out. It's one of the few attractions that is meant to explicitly elicit fear rather than wonderment or thrills. There are ghosts and images in the Haunted Mansion that are still, to this day, genuinely scary. The Mansion is also, like many of Disneyland's early attractions, not attached to any...

A woman has died after falling on Saturday evening from the Mickey and Friends parking structure at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, authorities said.

Police responded around 6:50 p.m. to a report of an individual who “jumped off or fell” from the structure, police said

An unidentified adult woman was found on the ground and rendered aid until Anaheim Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene. She was taken to a local hospital but pronounced dead.

It is unclear whether she was a park guest.

The seven-story Mickey & Friends Parking Structure was built in 2000. The garage can hold more than 10,000 cars.

In December, a man died on a Saturday night after falling from the multistory parking garage at Disneyland, Anaheim police said.

The incident happened just before 9 p.m., said Sgt. Shane Carringer, a public information officer with the Anaheim police. The man was described as being in his 50s.

TLC’s Little People, Big World Season 24 could mark the end of the road for the Roloff family. The season showed Matt and Zach Roloff’s strife that affected the other Roloffs, and recent reports suggest Zach, Tori Roloff, and Caryn Chandler may not want to continue filming. However, a source said that Matt could “persuade” Zach and Tori to continue the show for the money.

Is ‘Little People, Big World’ canceled after season 24? Amy and Matt Roloff from ‘Little People, Big World’ | Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

As of February 2023, TLC fans don’t know the fate of Little People, Big World. The network has yet to renew the family for another season, and reports suggest it’s unclear whether the Roloffs want to continue filming. Season 24 showed how deeply divided the family became over the Roloff Farms conflict.

Zach and Tori...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Disneyland celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and millions of visitors are expected at the park for the #Disney100 celebration. But tickets to Disneyland don’t come cheap and the theme park rarely offers deals or discounts.

Related: Shop the Official Disney100 Merch Collection Here

If you do a little digging though, there are a few ways to get discount Disneyland tickets online.

Whether you’re taking kids...

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company at Disneyland begins today with the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a new feature that marks the first time the beloved mice have starred in a ride-through attraction at the Anaheim resort.

The attraction is located in Disneyland’s Mickey’s Toontown, which will reopen March 8 following its year-long closure on March 9, 2022, for the land’s makeover.

Related Story Disney Reorganization Looms Ahead Of First Earnings Report Since Bob Iger’s Return Related Story Disney Seeks To Soothe Fans' Ruffled Feathers With New Theme Park Perks Related Story Disney Theme Parks Ask Patrons To Show "Courtesy" While Visiting The Happiest Place On Earth

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway combines sets, audio-animatronics figures, animated media and projection-mapping techniques, all synchronized with trackless vehicles and a musical score calling back to Disney Television Animation’s Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.

Xoxo.

On Thursday, “Gossip Girl” showrunner Josh Safran announced on Instagram that the revival series has been cancelled at HBO Max after two seasons.

Read More: Chace Crawford & Penn Badgley Reminsce About Shooting ‘Gossip Girl’ In NYC: ‘Like Mickey Mouse in Disneyland’

“So here’s the goss: it is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce Gossip Girl will not be continuing on HBO Max,” he wrote, adding, “This was honestly the greatest set I ever worked on, top to bottom.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Js (@joshsafran)

This may not be the end, though, as Safran explained that the producers will be trying to find a “new home” for the series, though he makes me promises.

“We are currently looking for another home, but in this climate, that might prove an uphill battle, and so if this is the end, at least...

There isn't a more prominent supporter of grindhouse cinema than Quentin Tarantino. His films are stuffed-to-bursting with references to the kinds of low-down, controversy-courting exploitation flicks that ran around the clock in New York City's Times Square and on Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard. These theaters attracted dumpster-diving cinephiles with an unquenchable appetite for trash, and druggies, transients, and sex workers looking to kill time or stay warm. According to the folks who frequented these establishments, you never knew what you were going to get quality-wise in terms of the movies and the audiences. Prior to the advent of the Video Cassette Recorder, a grindhouse screening was the only way you'd ever see mind-melters like "Ms. 45," "The Swinging Barmaids" and "Fight for Your Life."

Growing up for the most part in Southern California, Tarantino had access to the trash palaces in Hollywood and downtown L.A., but he lacked the financial...

This article contains Alice in Borderland spoilers through season 2.

In case the title doesn’t make it glaringly obvious, Netflix’s Alice in Borderland is the J-horror VR altverse answer to the Alice in Wonderland realm. The Wonderland that emerged from Lewis Carroll’s imagination was adapted into an animated Disney classic in 1951. The Netflix version was adapted from the manga of the same name that reimagines Wonderland into Tokyo video game scenes splattered with blood. Season 2 has brought even more games—and with them suspense and confusion. Once Borderland’s Alice, Arisu, goes down this rabbit hole, there may be no way out.

Borderland may seem the opposite of the story that inspired Disneyland’s whimsical spinning teacup ride. However, whether you’re a diehard fan of the Carroll canon or prefer the animated psychedelia Disney conjured, you may notice some unsettling similarities. It starts with card suits and a white rabbit,...

Disney, newly under Bob Iger’s wing, is taking steps to mollify theme park-goers, some of whom have been at a low boil.

Theme parks saw big changes coming out of Covid under former CEO Bob Chapek with new technology, ticket pricing and advances aimed at making the business more lucrative and the experience smoother for customers. It didn’t all fly, leading to flurries of protest and even a few lawsuits. Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro has sent a memo to staff outlining a series of initiatives from parking to park hopping, annual passes, free photos and reservations.

“I’m excited about all of these changes and offers and want you to know that we are committed to listening, adapting, and staying relentlessly focused on making the guest experience at our Disney parks even better,” he said.

Walt Disney World also set an April 4 opening date for the Tron Lightcycle...

Since its launch in 2019, a pillar of Disney+ has been revisiting and building upon stories from across the Walt Disney Company's brands. Whether that's traveling deeper into a galaxy far, far away with new "Star Wars" shows, uncovering uncharted corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or catching up with fan-favorite characters from beloved shows and movies like "The Santa Clause," "Night at the Museum," or "Enchanted," the House of Mouse's streaming platform continues to offer interesting and exciting ways to revitalize their biggest franchises. Although, the service also creates an avenue to revitalize lesser-known or forgotten properties from Disney's past. With their 100th anniversary just around the corner, that's likely to happen a lot more in 2023. But even before the new year is upon us, the company has announced that they're taking another trip back to Witch Mountain.

Based on the 1968 sci-fi novel by Alexander Kay, the "Witch Mountain...

In this edition of Star Wars Bits:

A New "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" Season 2 Trailer"The Mandalorian" Season 3 Premiere DateMarvel's Upcoming "Star Wars" ComicsHasbro's Vintage Collection & Black Series ReleasesAnd More!Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2

Lucasfilm Animation and Disney+ recently released the trailer for Season 2 of "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," which you can watch above. The series, which follows the exploits of Clone Force 99 — Omega, Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, and Tech — streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning January 4, 2023, with a two-episode premiere. Here's the synopsis:

"When the new season opens, months have passed since the events on Kamino, and the Bad Batch continue their journey navigating the Empire after the fall of the Republic. They will cross paths with friends and foes, both new and familiar, as they take on a variety of thrilling mercenary missions that will take them to unexpected and dangerous new places."

Here's the full...