Defined by Disneyland

I am an Anaheim native... and a former Disneyland cast member... I assume you have figured that out by now.   If not, you are now informed and can now cast your vote as to whether Disneyland is my (A) hobby; (B) cult; or (C) fetish(?)

I initially started this blog because I had created dozens of Disney inspired graphics over the last several years and sought a place to display them.  Obviously, I showed off everything I had to offer at the time,  between June 2011 and November 2011, therefore recent posts have been rare (at best).

I have continued to be inspired, despite my blog absence, by several other blog sites I visit weekly and as a result, I have a few newly created graphics that I personally enjoy.  I will roll them out over the next few weeks, as a Thank You to everyone who has continued to visit my site regardless of a lack of new items...

Here is my idea for a canvas print...  it probably won't be manufactured, as it really highlights Disneyland as it pertains to my own experiences.  Regardless, I hope you can appreciate the time-places-images that are represented herein!

Disney Poster, by the Decades

Back in July, I posted a faux "Disneyland Poster" from the opening dedication ceremonies.  I had created this image about 5 years ago for a school project.  (I will repeat here, that this is not an actual Disneyland poster)

Much to my surprise, this post has become the most visited post in the short history of this blog.  (My many thanks to those who appreciate and visit (and copy) my work).

The volume of visits made me think, if I had to create a new poster, what would it look like? Those thoughts have been in my head for a couple of weeks, and I did finally come up with an idea.

Here is my latest poster idea... I put it together in about 4 hours with images I could easily create or access.  It was not part of a graded school assignment, nor did Disney contact me with a business proposal to create this, so some of the graphics are a bit rough.  (I am unemployed, so a Disney offer would certainly be welcome!!!)

This is MY Disney Decades Poster.  Each decade, from the 1920's thru the 2000's are represented in a singular element within this poster, however, only the realms of Disney that are part of my own life are represented (sorry, Marvel).  Look for different elements that represent animation and parks to be featured...

Disney Decades Poster (1920s thru 2000's)

I am gonna open this post to my readers.  Can YOU figure out which element represents which decade?  If you'd like to participate, just comment below with your response (PLEASE RESPOND WITH AN ANSWER FOR ONLY ONE DECADE---I'd like to give everyone the opportunity to respond, so I will delete multi-decade responses---however, if you think you are uber-knowledgable, once someone else has added a response, I will accept your next reply)

Decade Icons:  (UPDATED 25 June 2012)

• 1920's- The "pie eye" classic 1928 Mickey face [Trevor]
• 1930's- wavy music bars from the 30's Silly Symphonies [Trevor]
• 1940's- Sorceror Mickey hat from 1940's Fantasia
• 1950's- Disneyland's "D" logo; opened July 1955
• 1960's- E-Ticket "Castle Background" existing on only for '66-67 ticket books.
• 1970's- WDW original logo globe; opened in Oct 1971 [flymetothemoon]
• 1980's- Original Rainbow Castle logo from BVHV [Pixie Pebbles]
• 1990's- Pixar Ball from "Luxo, Jr", the short shown before 1995's "Toy Story".
• 2000's- Disney Parks cheesy balloon from 2008's "Celebrate Today" promotion.

Disneyland Mountains: Mountain Range

So, I have not yet included Grizzly River Rapids, as that is not part of "Disneyland"... but it is being considered.  As the Radiator Springs range nears completion, GRR is becoming more important to include.  Perhaps I will revisit BTMRR, GRR and Radiator Springs soon in order to complete the Resort Mountain Range.  Until then, here is the larger, poster sized version of the image above

Click on this for FULL SIZE

Disney Castle Parks: HalloweenTime

For October 1st, I thought I should do one more Castle in the Castle series I have been posting for the last five Saturdays.  Since I have yet to create the upcoming Shanghai Castle, a Halloween overlay of Sleeping Beauty Castle seemed like the perfect choice.

My favorite part of this image are the Ghost Mickey Balloons rising from the Castle!

HalloweenTime Castle

Disney Castle Parks: Hong Kong Disneyland

Finally, (for at least a couple years, anyway), the Hong Kong Resort opened in 2005.  This Castle Park was the smallest built thus far, and as so, needed an appropriate sized castle.  Anaheim's Sleeping Beauty Castle was selected to be duplicated in Hong Kong due to its appropriate scale.

Now, I always felt Tokyo made the wrong choice, by selecting the Florida Castle to duplicate.  However, once I found my beloved Anaheim Castle was being copied elsewhere, I felt betrayed.  Apparently, I actually had been quite happy Tokyo went east-coast all these years, I just didn't know it.

I do like that the HK Castle has a beautiful mountain backdrop behind it.  In my interpretation, I did opt to color the castle turrets in a more fitting Chinese red... not as it is in reality, but how I view it.  Besides, it compliments the pink castle walls.

Hong Kong Disneyland's Castle

Disney Castle Parks: EuroDisney/Disneyland Paris

(You must know, I thought EuroDisney was a brilliant name, and find it to be unique and informative toward the Paris Park, so I continue to use it still)

The Castle at EuroDisney, (the Disneyland style, Magic Kingdom, outside of Paris, France), is absolutely stunning and beautiful.  If I didn't already have a love affair with my own Anaheim Castle, this would easily top the charts.

As the story goes, Disney was gonna build a Castle in France, right among the hundreds of real European Castles throughout the continent, so they had to make this one really special and magical.  I think they succeeded.  I especially love the rectilinear lines of the structure and gardens that mimic the artistic style of the Sleeping Beauty animation aesthetic.

(FYI, although I am sure your might already know this, "Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant" translates to "Sleeping Beauty Castle")

Euro Disneyland Paris' Castle

Disney Castle Parks: Tokyo Disneyland

When Oriental Land Company reached an agreement with Walt Disney Productions in the 70s regarding building a new Disney Park in Tokyo, they had two different, existing parks to pick and choose the best elements from in creating their own, third kingdom.  By-and-large, I agree with most of the choices they selected (after all, I also have the added benefit and critical eye of perfect hindsight). 

They chose the Florida version, with its impressive size and grandeur.  I know there are subtle difference between the two, but they are mostly too subtle for even me.  I always felt it was the wrong choice, but again I understand the reasoning.

Tokyo Disneyland's Castle

Disney Castle Parks: Magic Kingdom

The second Disney Castle was in Florida in 1971.  Home to Cinderella, it is much taller and sleeker than its California cousin.  While I do admire this Castle, I also find it a bit bland.  As I was attempting to create my graphic version (below), I found it to be void of interesting details found on the previous castle.  I do like, however, that this castle represents a different style, time, and place.  And to be honest, I'll admit it is much more majestic and awe inspiring just 'cuz its so darn big!

WDW Magic Kingdom's Castle

Disney Castle Parks: Disneyland

Let me say this up front: I hate the "Disney Parks" homogenization of the 11 current Disney theme parks. Each park is unique and different...even the five Magic Kingdom, castle style parks have their own personality and vibe.  By creating that "One Disney" umbrella term for all the parks, it has done nothing but help to water down the special magic that each park has unto itself.

Don't get me wrong, I still have my personal favorites, as I am sure most of you do, as well, but favorite or not, I still enjoy each and every park on its own merits.

I can also enjoy that which is similar, as well.  I am not so jaded as to also understand and appreciate similarities.  By my way of thinking, there are three distinct classification of Disney Parks: Castle Parks, Studio Parks, and Unique Second Gates (some of which were immediate hits; some that need to grow into their success)

My way of simultaneously celebrating the similarities/differences of the Castle Parks will be this "Disney Castle Park" series.  We start with the original, Disneyland, which is my favorite for obvious reasons... I am from Anaheim myself, I grew up with it, I worked there, I helped lower the drawbridge during the 1983 New Fantasyland dedication, Walt built this one...

Disneyland's Castle

Disneyland Poster, July 17 1955

I have been saving my Disneyland ephemera since 1977.  A ticket or guide book from each of my annual visits somehow avoided the trash after the day ended, and once I realized I had begun a small collection, I began to keep all of these free souvenirs to this day.

Had I had the insight, I would have collected a lot more than what I did.  I would have even purchased some of the more cool items.  But alas, I was poor and didn't foresee how fascinated I would be decades later with the historic significance of many of these items.

Thankfully, blogs and photo galleries on the web have created a venue in which to revisit the tickets, posters, maps, promotions, and photos of Disneyland through the decades.

I am still poor, so in lieu of actually purchasing these items, I have turned my interest into trying to create images that help to give historical significance... hence the different series of graphic images I am creating for this blog.  With that in mind, I thought I'd share one of the first projects I did years ago, as a graphic design student.

I have always loved the Disneyland Attraction Posters; even long before they were reproduced and made available to guests, and even then, I couldn't afford them myself.  So when my instructor announced a new assignment, to create a "period-appropriate" poster for an activity or event, it took two seconds for me to figure out what I'd be doing.

Below is my "early attempt" at a Disneyland silk screen style poster for the dedication event on July 17, 1955.  My re-creation of the early castle logo had been completed long before this assignment, and truth be told it was a bit weak, with rough edges and crooked lines... perfect to represent screen printing!

This is simplistic, which is my style... and I can see many ways to improve upon this image, but I loved this poster when I made it, and still love it today.  That is why I am rounding out this Disneyland Birthday week by including it here and sharing it with you.

Chronologically, this poster could never have been real.  Walt's quote didn't happen until after the time stamped on the poster, the iconic Disneyland Sign did not exist for another three years, and the Park wasn't promoted as The Happiest Place on Earth at the very beginning.  This is my romanticized interpretation, fifty years after the actual event.

Happy Birthday Disneyland

Herb Ryman created some fantastic art for Disney.  Among them are images that represent New Orleans Square, Epcot, and Tokyo Disneyland, each painted before the individual subjects were actually created.  Of his work, my favorite is the first concept drawing of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

My first quarter in art school, we were tasked to re-create a master art piece.  I chose to try my hand at Ryman's Castle.  As much as I enjoy creating digital art, this was a freehand drawing class, so I this subject because it is near and dear to my heart.  I never claimed to be a stellar artist, and freehand is not my forte, but I was very pleased with my results.  (And I got an "A" on it, too!)

 CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES BELOW

TO SEE LARGER VERSIONS

Ryman Castle Reproduction

The following week in class, the assignment was to re-draw this piece.  The catch was that is needed to be done in black and white, only using grey scales to represent color and shadow.

Ryman Castle B/W Reproduction

A couple years later, I took the opportunity to revisit these favorite drawings of mine.  Since the original drawing was created to represent something that was in the process of design and building, I reworked my version to also represent the creative design process in action.

Ryman Castle Creation Reproduction

On this day, 56 years ago, the actual Sleeping Beauty Castle made its debut.  The real thing varied somewhat from this first sketch.  The story is told of the model for the castle in which Walt Disney preferred the upper floors turned backwards.  Today, this view of the upper floors can be seen from inside the castle walls in Fantasyland.

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y

D I S N E Y L A N D ! !

Flights of Fantasy Parade

The Summer Season at Disneyland begins this weekend, the same as it did in 1983.  Back then, a brand "New Fantasyland" had just opened, less than a month earlier, and beginning this weekend the Park was open Summer hours and the entertainment schedule kicked into high gear.  That included the parade.

It was 28 years ago, just as Disneyland was about to celebrate it's own 28th Anniversary, when I stepped off from the Small World gate in the first performance of the Flights of Fantasy Parade. (Despite being biased, it remains one of my Top 5 favorite Disneyland parades ever.)  I have never been a great dancer, so getting cast in a simplistic dance role like a Toy Soldier did not offend me...  ...and because I am tall, I was lucky enough to be in the front row.

Here is kinda what it was like for me back then.

That's me, in the front row!

The Disneyland California Report

If there is but one thing I know for sure, it is that no matter where you are or how old you are, there are things that are guaranteed to provide comfort, confidence, and satisfaction.  Often times, those same things provide happiness, or at least are able to put a smile on one's face.  Chicken soup is one of those things.

Being a 10 year old passenger on our way to the mall, traveling down the 55 Freeway, I always attempted to spot the peak of the Matterhorn that seemed so far away, both physically and through few opportunities to visit.  The Park was usually closed 2 days a week during most of the year, and even then, it still closed around dusk.  Annual Passports were still 20 years away so the thought of frequent visits had not even been conceived in my head.

Being an Anaheim native myself and growing up in greater OC, born in the almighty year of the Tencennial celebration, and spotting the Matterhorn from afar WAS my frequent visit to Disneyland from a very early age.  The sights and sounds of Disneyland capture an innocent and magical time for me.

I currently live 1000 miles away from Disneyland and keep abreast of what is happening there via weekly updates on several websites and blogs... but what really comforts me are the images that remind me of "My Disneyland", the park that I grew up with... and still am growing up with, despite the distance.

I have been creating graphic arts, logos, and maps that help to remind me, personally, of the history, joy, and special moments in life that I share with the neighbor down the street I grew up with.  I am very fascinated with the tour and book about Disneyland: The Architecture of Reassurance so I am starting this blog to share some of the art I have created that has always put a smile on my own face, that has placed me visually in a locales that always create good memories, and give me an opportunity to share Disneyland history as I lived (and recall) it.

SO THEN, to begin, I posted the first image (above), as one of my favorites of the Anaheim property.  I captured icons of both Parks, past and present.

(FYI. I have always loved, and have missed, the original Disneyland sign... I came up with these images long before the Hotel pool remodel went retro with the same idea!)

(Disclaimer: I do not work for, nor do I represent the Disney Company.  I create images for my own personal satisfaction and do not sell or promote the images I create that are based on Disney copyright materials)