Toon Studio (Imagineering) - 15th Anniversary - Disneyland Resort Paris

	Introduction Animation Courtyard concepts Toon Studio concepts More Every Disney theme park dream begins at the exact same place: Walt Disney Imagineering. The true dream factory of the world of Disney, the Imagineers have been responsible for each and every groundbreaking, magical at Disney parks since the very first Disneyland opened in 1955. Walt Disney's original talented team at WED Enterprises (the former name for WDI) were all hand-picked from his animation studio, giving his theme park productions the very same attention to detail and meticulous story planning. Now, with Toon Studio, the talent of Walt Disney Imagineering can return to animation, for a tribute to the art and artisty of unforgettable storytelling...
Animation Courtyard Concepts Dates 1999 - 2001 Artists Unknown	Animation Courtyard concepts The story begins in 1999. After a series of very positive years at Disneyland Paris, financial backers finally give the go-ahead for a second gate originally due to arrive in 1995. With four extra years of experience in Europe, the small animation area of Disney-MGM Studios Europe is turned into a full Animation Courtyard land for the new Disney Studios Paris. Plans to have Paris' Walt Disney Feature Animation outpost re-locate to the studio fall through, but the land already becomes a well-defined series of attractions, despite challenging budgets. Animation Courtyard - General Concept Released: 1999 The first general concept art for Animation Courtyard, showing Art of Disney Animation and Animagique positioned around a full-coloured statue of Sorcerer Mickey. The attractions are located further from the main plaza than in the park's final design, with more planting and some special character banners around the area. Art of Disney Animation side elevation Released: 1999 A plan for the original, yellow Art of Disney Animation building, based on the real Disney Animation building at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Animagique concept model Released: 1999 An early maquette of Animation Courtyard showing the original layout design. Animagique is also shown with a full extended queue, which was provided for but never used in reality. Paintbrushes decorate the entrance canopy. Flying Carpets Over Agrabah concept Released: 2000/01 The original concept for a story idea to place Aladdin's Magic Carpets in Walt Disney Studios Park using a "toon backlot" idea. Much of the concept made it to reality, and the inspired idea of toons shooting their own movies - featured here for the very first time - soon became the inspiration for the entire Toon Studio expansion project to follow.
Toon Studio Concepts Dates 2005 - 2007 Artists Jim Shull, Christian Hope, Walt Disney Imagineering	Toon Studio concepts As Euro Disney SCA, the operating company of Disneyland Resort Paris, progressed through its important financial restructuring of 2004, a new investment package for new attractions became the major fruits of the negotiations, giving the resort 240 million euros for expansion at its two parks. A key project on the agenda - more attractions for children at Walt Disney Studios Park and more real Disney magic on those bare studio lots. And so, as if by magic, the Imagineers began making magic all over again... Toon Studio - General Concept 1 Artist: Jim Shull, November 2004 Released: 17th January 2005, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts presentation The very first Toon Studio concept, featuring Flying Carpets Over Agrabah with an extended oasis, Crush's Coaster (then Sea Turtle Spin or Turtle Twister) with no outdoor track and Tuck and Roll's Drive'Em Buggies imported from A Bug's Land at Disney's California Adventure park. The area also features two trailers against a small Toon Town hills backdrop, along with the Omnidroid of 'Incredibles' fame and several other small photo locations. The original concept included a separate entrance gate from the rest of Animation Courtyard, though one detail here did remain - the 'Now in Production' sign. Toon Studio - General Concept 2 Artist: Christian Hope Released: 11th February 2005, Walt Disney Company Annual General Meeting The only concept close to the final design for several years, this ambitious vision of the finished land shows strong placemaking efforts in Animation Courtyard - such as paintbrushes, easels and coloured flooring - along with extensive landscaping around Cars and Flying Carpets. It introduced the idea of Crush's track coming outside of its building for the first time, albeit elevated above an underwater coral reef. The Toon Town plaza area features simply two trailers against a blue-sky backdrop. Toon Studio - General Concept 3 Artist: Christian Hope Released: 21st February 2007, Euro Disney SCA Shareholders AGM Shows the divide between "old" Animation Courtyard and "new" Toon Studio more blurred than any other concept, with new yellow flooring on two levels filling the old courtyard thanks to the green-lit placemaking project, which is also shown here with a fountain and flower beds before Animagique, a decorated Sorcerer's Hat and the Sorcerer Mickey statue. Toon Studio - General Concept 4 Artist: Christian Hope Released: 30th September 2006, Toon Studio construction walls A fourth concept, this time focusing only on the new expansion area. Both Crush's Coaster and Cars Race Rally are shown very similar to their final design, whilst the Toon Town hills and backdrop also appears quite similar, particularly in the placement of its food cart and two photo locations. Route 66, the planters of the Toon Studio plaza and a concept involving Goofy's crashed Food Company van (notice the cracks in the wall) are also included. This concept, released publicly before that above, introduced for the very first time the idea that Toon Studios is a movie studio within Toon Town. Toon Studio - General Concept 4 remastered Artist: Christian Hope Released: 30th September 2006, WDSFans.com (From Cast Member Tribune) A 'remastered' version of the earlier, fourth concept, printed in internal Cast Member newsletters to showcase the new area. Several changes have been made to update the original concept, including blue paint and a yellow number for Studio 5, redesigned turtle shell vehicles, a new Crush entrance marquee and the final design of the Cars vehicles. Toon Studio - Entrance Concept Artist: Jim Shull (?) Released: 11th February 2007, Internet fan forums The Toon Studio project seen from a purely placemaking angle, the new entrance statue, colour scheme and Sorcerer's Hat decorations given top billing. The concept showed for the first time extra characters on the Hat - Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Ariel and Flounder, as well as an idea to continue the familiar design of the Sorcerer's Hat with new lighting rig decorations. Sorcerer's Apprentice statue Artist: Jim Shull (?) Released: April 2007, Tales from the Laughing Place magazine A more detailed look at the Sorcerer Mickey statue, positioned on a blue plinth with stars and sketch lines matching the Sorcerer's Hat opposite. Painted entirely gold with 'Toon Studio' written in strong, quality lettering below, the statue includes a burst of gold from Mickey's wand, arching across the parade route and here appearing to be illuminated. Toon Town hills & Toon Studio gate Artist: Jim Shull Released: 16th April 2007, Internet fan forums The first and only concept seen which focuses entirely on the new Toon Town gate area, showing the Toon Town backdrop, Toon Studio security booth, 'Now in Production' sign and two character locations - Mickey Mouse and The Incredibles, as in the final design.
More Concept models, maquettes, construction, etc.	More There's more to planning a whole new Disney land than simply beautiful concept art. When the dream needs to become a reality, a whole new wave of design and logistics comes into play and engineers must turn magical concepts into working attractions. Walt Disney Imagineering not only designed the land but helped in the completion of countless elements of its final, real production. From the humerous advertisements of Radiator Springs to the delicate sculpting of the Sorcerer's Apprentice, the wand of magic has been dusted over everything... Sculpting the Sorcerer's Apprentice Released: April 2007, Tales from the Laughing Place magazine The final, unpainted sculpt of the Sorcerer Mickey statue is worked on at the Walt Disney Imagineering workshops by Valerie Edwards, Director of Sculpture at Walt Disney Imagineering. Below the final statue can be seen a smaller maquette, the basis for the larger design.

Animation Courtyard concepts

Toon Studio concepts

More