To celebrate the launch of LEGO’s new Disney100 Collector’s Edition Disney Castle set, LEGO is calling for families around the world to help build Disney-themed murals made entirely out of the tiny, colorful bricks.
LEGO Disney100 Murals
Artists Amy Jones (left), Lakwena Maciver (center), and Kristin Texeira (right), were all commissioned to design giant LEGO murals that look like they might be the stained glass windows of a Disney castle. Now that the designs are made, the next step involves everyday families from different walks of life to take part in the LEGO-building.
The murals are each 4.5 meters high and will utilize over 220,000 LEGO Bricks.
Jones, a French-American artist, wrote on Instagram:
I grew up near Orlando close to the Disney magic, so I will always feel a nostalgic connection to the inspirational world of Disney and its characters. Included within my LEGO | Disney mural are Ariel and Belle, two of my favourite Disney characters that continue to inspire me today — I’ll tell you why soon.
Her mural will be available to build near the LEGO Store in Paris from July 7 through July 9, 2023.
Maciver’s first completed mural, Kaleidowaves, has already been unveiled at Tower Bridge in London. Her second will be available to build at the Arndale Shopping Centre in Manchester, UK from July 14 through 16.
“This partnership has taken me on a nostalgic journey to when my family lived in Ethiopia in the 90s and there wasn’t a lot of access to films,” Maciver wrote on Instagram.
So we would watch Disney videos on repeat – they brought us together and sparked my creativity and imagination. That magical feeling that Disney captures so well definitely had a big impact on my imagination as a child and I can still see some of that influence in my adult life and work as an artist.
Texeira, a New York painter, also wrote on Instagram:
I watched Disney films as a kid and the characters in their fascinating landscapes like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Mulan left me craving to see more of the world and collect more stories from its people. When I started work on my LEGO | Disney mural, I took a journey down memory lane working with global Disney treasures including Mickey Mouse from Fantasia, Woody, Aurora, Cinderella and Mulan.
Texeira’s design will be available to build at Pier 17, the Seaport, New York, from July 27 through 29, 2023.
Disney100 LEGO Sets
Disney and LEGO have teamed up to release several Disney100 sets this year, both online and in Disney Parks. Check out some of the sets at the links below.
- First Disney100 LEGO Set Revealed, Release Date Announced
- Disney100 LEGO Sets & Minifigures Officially Announced Including DUPLO Castle with Platinum Character Costumes
- New Disney 100 ‘Up’ House LEGO Set Coming Soon
- New Disney100 Train LEGO Set Coming Soon
- 3 in 1 LEGO Duplo Disney100 Magical Castle Available at Walt Disney World
- LEGO Duplo Disney100 Magical Castle Available at Disneyland
- New Disney100 LEGO Sets Inspired by Animation Icons, Villains, and Disney Duos Coming Soon
Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder
Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder (or Disney100 for short) is being celebrated across the world at Disney Parks and Resorts.
The 100 Years of Wonder celebration began at Disneyland Resort, where guests can enjoy “Wondrous Journeys” at Disneyland and “World of Color – ONE” at Disney California Adventure. There is a platinum Mickey statue (which had to be fixed because the Walt Disney quote on the base was incorrect) and a platinum Minnie statue.
Disneyland Resort is offering the “Celebrating Disney100 at the Disneyland Resort” guided tour, including a walk through both parks, the drawing experience at Animation Academy, a digital download of a photo taken in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, a Disney100 snack, reserved viewing for the Magic Happens parade, and a limited-edition pin.
Walt Disney World announced monthly themes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company over the next several months. Disney100 will be celebrated at EPCOT with Mickey and Minnie in their platinum outfits and a platinum Mickey sculpture. A new Spectacle of Light show will debut on Spaceship Earth and, in late 2023, a new Disney100 nighttime spectacular will premiere to replace “Harmonious.” Journey of Water, CommuniCore Hall, World Celebration Garden, and Dreamers Point are all scheduled to open in late 2023 at EPCOT.
Mirabel will have a meet and greet at Magic Kingdom beginning “this fall” in the Fairytale Garden. She will be replacing Merida, and the area will be redesigned to look like the Casita Madrigal. Check out our full list with locations of Disney100 pressed pennies at Walt Disney World. Other souvenirs include Disney100 silver medallions, gift cards, light-up balloons, and refillable mugs.
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is hosting Disney100: The Exhibition, honoring The Walt Disney Company’s centennial. The exhibit includes a lifelike Walt Disney hologram. Disney100: The Exhibition will remain at The Franklin Institute through August 27 and in Munich through September 3. The North American installation will then tour cities such as Chicago and Kansas City, while the European installation will visit London and then other Europe and Asia destinations through 2028.
Disney debuted a new short to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation Studios at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The studio brought more than 40 voice actors in to reprise their roles and pulled from the archives to use dialogue from past actors like Robin Williams as the Genie. “Once Upon a Studio” combines 2D and 3D animation alongside live action to create a tribute to the studio’s century-long legacy. The short will be attached to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” upon its release later this year on November 22.
What’s the most elaborate LEGO creation you’ve helped build? How are you celebrating the 100th anniversary of Disney? Let us know in the comments.
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