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Character Castle Makeover Concepts and Visuals for the 15th Anniversary

In Brief  ● 
Full Guide  ●  Concepts
& Visuals

A behind-the-dreams look at concept art and advertising
visuals presenting the Character Castle Makeover and providing a
preview of the overlay, allowing us to look back and see its progress
from sketch, to glossy visual, to reality!

Concept Art

Concept Art is a Disney tradition – entertainment and
seasonal events are no different!  Each of the fifteen character
additions and the giant “15” window were designed to perfection by the
creative masters behind the magic at Disneyland Resort Paris.


Character Castle Makeover Concept Art

Released: 21st February 2007, Euro Disney SCA
Shareholders’ AGM

Final concept art for the makeover, as revealed
during the February 2007 AGM. The artwork shows all the final designs
of the character statues in their final positions. It also introduced
Buzz Lightyear to the line-up, whilst switching the positions of Chip
& Dale with Hewey, Dewey & Lewey.


Character
Statues Concept Art

Released: 21st February 2007, Euro Disney SCA
Shareholders’ AGM

Final concept art for all of the character statues.

Advertising Visuals

For travel partners and the press, Disney creates
glossy “key visuals” to promote their products. With an event as
grand as the 15th Anniversary, a huge series of character visuals
were created. Intended mainly for travel company brochure covers but
also used for general anniversary advertising, these depict the
Character Castle Makeover at daytime as the central icon of the 15th
Anniversary celebrations.

Buzz Lightyear does not appear on any advertising
visuals, likely due to the Pixar copyright disclaimer which would then
be required for every use of the image.


Original
15th Anniversary Key Visual

Released: 4th July 2006

The very first marketing visual released for the 15th Anniversary,
this daytime “Key Visual” from July 2006 shows full-colour characters
rather than the final golden designs. This original design also
featured Winnie the Pooh atop the third-highest spire.


Revised
15th Anniversary Key Visual

Released: 12th October
2006

A second, revised set of visuals were issued in
October 2006, replacing Winnie the Pooh (whose A.A. Milne-created
character has consistently had rights issues) with Pinocchio and
Figaro.


15th
Anniversary Mickey & Minnie Visual

Released: 12th
October 2006

The Disney VIPs were also featured up-front for the
first time, in addition to the other characters seen in later
visuals.  This visual features Mickey and Minnie, a very rare time
when non-Disney travel organisations have been permitted use of these
valuable assets.


15th
Anniversary Mickey Mouse Visual

Released: 12th
October 2006

Mickey Mouse introduces the Character Castle
Makeover.


15th
Anniversary Minnie Mouse Visual

Released: 12th
October 2006

Minnie Mouse in a yellow dress with pink bow and
shoes.


15th
Anniversary Donald Duck Visual

Released: 12th October 2006

Donald Duck in his famous classic sailor outfit
holding his candle.


15th
Anniversary Goofy Visual

Released: 12th October 2006

Goofy attempts to perch is candle perilously in front
of the Castle.


15th
Anniversary Cheshire Cat Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

Cheshire Cat grins for the cameras as he holds his
candle high.


15th
Anniversary Hewey Dewey & Lewey Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

Donald’s nephews, Hewey, Dewey and Lewey, clamber on
top of each other to hold their candle the highest.


15th
Anniversary Seven Dwarfs Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

Dopey rests up-front with the candle whilst other six
dwarfs sit on the Castle’s moat wall.


15th
Anniversary Pinocchio & Figaro Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

Pinocchio in puppet form holds his candle with Figaro
climbing over his little wooden head.


15th
Anniversary Dumbo & Timothy Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

A circus-styled Dumbo flies into the sky holding his
candle with his trunk, as Timothy rides in his hat.


15th
Anniversary Baloo Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

Despite not actually being featured in the Character
Castle Makeover, an advertising visual was also created for Baloo
from The Jungle Book, who holds a candle like the other characters.


15th Anniversary Aladdin Visual

Original: 10th July 2006; Revised: 12th October
2006

Also not actually featured in the Character Castle
Makeover, this visual shows Aladdin soaring into the sky on his magic
carpet, holding a candle.