Disney100: The Exhibition, created for the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company, recently made its world debut at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, US. The new exhibition is the result of an exclusive collaboration between Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions, the international exhibition design specialist.
The installation opened on Saturday 18 February with an esteemed number of personalities and members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club in attendance for an exclusive preview and ribbon cutting.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as president and CEO of The Franklin Institute Larry Dubinski, welcomed Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives; Michael Vargo, head of the Walt Disney Archives and D23; and Christoph Scholz, executive producer/director of Semmel Exhibitions, for a formal ribbon-cutting. Disney classics were performed by The Philly POPS and Don Hahn and Bob Gurr, two Disney legends, also attended the event.
Once-in-century celebration
Ten uniquely themed galleries with cutting-edge technology enhancements will be available to visitors where they can discover how some of Disney’s most cherished and iconic movies got their inspiration. They will go on a quest throughout the 15,000-square-foot exhibition space to uncover items from their favourite Disney movies, look through an interactive window of Captain Nemo’s fabled submarine, and enter a recreation of Main Street, U.S.A.
“Bringing stories of innovation and discovery to the public in an immersive and interactive way is at the heart of what The Franklin Institute has done for the past 200 years,” said Dubinski.
“We are thrilled that the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition is here, offering the first opportunity to see the crown jewels come to life in beautifully crafted galleries reflecting Disney’s imaginative storytelling, innovation, discovery, and wonder.”
Delve into the archives
More than 250 of Disney’s crown jewels are now on show at The Franklin Institute including artworks, costumes, and props, many of which are rarely seen, are displayed throughout ten unique galleries.
These artefacts include the earliest sketches of Mickey Mouse and animation drawings from his screen debut in Steamboat Willie (1928), the Cinderella Castle model for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, the Spell Book from Hocus Pocus (1993), a Cinderella Castle model for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park and the Black Panther costume from the 2018 film.
Preserving Walt’s legacy
The Disney MagicStage welcomes visitors to the exhibition, where a life-size statue of Walt Disney himself stands and delivers an energising speech on innovation. The team collaborated with Disney StudioLAB, DisneyResearch|Studios, and Industrial Light & Magic to produce this distinctive greeting by digitally bringing Walt to life.
Two different audio recordings of Walt were combined to create his vocal script using the immense resources of the Walt Disney Archives. The Disney Archives also gave DisneyResearch|Studios film of Disney from the 1960s, which they then upscaled in high definition using their super-resolution A.I. The outcome was a collaborative effort between all areas of The Walt Disney Company to create an authentic recreation of Walt Disney.
Cline adds: “The Walt Disney Archives spent years planning and curating more than 250 objects to capture the 100 years of storytelling, creativity, and unparalleled magic of The Walt Disney Company.
“We cannot wait for fans and families to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating the iconic characters and stories that have captured the hearts of audiences around the globe.”
Semmel Concerts, part of the same group as Semmel Exhibitions, recently confirmed it will be in attendance at The International Live Music Conference (ILMC), a dedicated gathering of professionals from the performance industry.
Photos: Disney and Disney/Pixar
