Editor’s Note: Multimedia journalist Sarah Pilla went live on Friday morning at Disney California Adventure to preview the new nighttime spectacle and Disney 100 celebration. Click the arrow above to watch the video.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The new “World of Color — One” show has a scene where water dances in sync with the jazz piano keys of Pixar’s “Soul.”
When the keyboard music plays, another fountain erupts in time with the sound of the trumpets. The projected light shines on the surface of the water. Meanwhile, Mickey Mouse’s face on Pixar’s Pal-A-Round Ferris Wheel lights up in different arrangements to the sound of drums.
Jennifer McGill, Senior Producer at Disney Live Entertainment, explained to Spectrum News: “We found a way to do all the elements that we’ve done before, but in a different and exciting way: lights, lasers, projections, flames. It’s been taken to a different level.”
Yoda is seen on the water screen of Disney California Adventure’s “World of Color — One” show. (Photo credit: Disneyland)
The ‘World of Color — One’ water and light show at Disney California Adventure is one of two new nightly spectacle shows debuting Friday as part of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Studio in Hollywood in 1923. A few years later it became the Walt Disney Studios.
Called the Disney 100, this year-long celebration showcases Disney’s past, present and future.
While the company plans to host cross-company celebrations throughout the year, Disneyland Resort said Disneyland President Ken Potlock said: [the celebration]Disney established Disneyland in 1955.
“If you think about it, this whole company and everything beyond started with one man’s idea—a vision, a dream, an aspiration,” says Magill. “That’s the theme of ‘World of Color — One’.”
The new “World of Color — One” shows how a drop of water ripples and turns into a wave.
In Wednesday’s media and cast member previews, the 24-minute water and light show covered much of Disney’s vast film series.
For the first time, the show featured video snippets from Pixar, Star Wars and The Avengers on a large water screen, plus music and scenes from “Pocahontas,” “Encanto,” “Ratatouille,” and “Soul.” This show wanted to represent Disney’s film and animation changemakers.
“This is a company-to-business representation,” says Magill.
Strong winds blew through the night, blowing away parts of the water screen and fountains, hampering previews of “World of Color — One,” but McGill said the show was a success nonetheless.
An image of Pocahontas will be projected onto the water screen during Disney California Adventure’s “World of Color — One” show. (Spectrum News/Joseph Pimentel)
For McGill, she and the team are just part of the ripples started by Walt Disney and his brothers in the 1920s.
“We talk about how just one action, whether it’s a small thing or a big one, can make a difference. In fact, it can have a huge ripple effect in the world around you.” She said, “We are all part of this and it started with just one drop.”
