‘Disney 100’ exhibition much more than just a Mickey Mouse exhibit
Get immersed in the world of Walt Disney from the beginning
The Franklin Institute has been Disney-fied.
Hosting the world premiere “Disney 100: The Exhibition,” Philadelphia’s science museum is once again the focus of one of the biggest fan bases in the world.
“Bringing stories of innovation and discovery to the public in an immersive and interactive way is at the heart of what The Franklin Institute has done for the past 200 years,” said Larry Dubinski, president and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “We are thrilled that the world premiere of ‘Disney100: The Exhibition’ is here, offering the first opportunity to see the crown jewels come to life in beautifully crafted galleries reflecting Disney’s imaginative storytelling, innovation, discovery, and wonder.”
Coming on the heels of the highly-successful “Harry Potter: The Exhibition,” this new exhibit focuses on every aspect of Disney. There are artifacts from the beginning of the company to what may be happening in the future.
Visitors can wander through 10 different galleries that feature artifacts, stories and even a pair of Walt Disney’s pants.
“The Walt Disney Archives spent years planning and curating more than 250 objects to capture the 100 years of storytelling, creativity, and unparalleled magic of The Walt Disney Company,” said Becky Cline,
director of the Walt Disney Archives. “We cannot wait for fans and families to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating the iconic characters and stories that have captured the hearts of audiences around the globe.”
The galleries, which take up 15,000 square feet of exhibition space include “Where It All Began,” “Where Do the Stories Come From?,” “The Illusion of Life,” “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery,” “The Magic of Sound and Music,” “The World Around Us,” “Innoventions,” “Your Disney World,” “The Wonder of Disney,” and “We Are Just Getting Started.”
“Disney has been a part of my whole life,” said Christoph Scholz, the executive producer/director of Semmel Exhibitions, which put the whole thing together. “Growing up in East Germany, we had to have friends smuggle in
Disney books. I kept them hidden and read about the adventures of Donald Duck during my whole childhood.”
Immersed within the galleries are more than 250 of Disney’s “crown jewels,” original artworks, artifacts, costumes, props, and other memorabilia, including the earliest sketches of Mickey Mouse and animation drawings from his debut in “Steamboat Willie” (1928), the “Spell Book from Hocus Pocus” (1993), the Cinderella Castle model for Magic Kingdom Park, a Genie maquette from “Aladdin” (1992), and the Black Panther costume from the 2018 film.
There is, of course, a section on Star Wars that includes Luke Skywalker’s light sabre and a full stormtrooper uniform.
Welcoming guests into the exhibit is the Disney MagicStage, where a vision of Walt Disney himself
stands life-sized and shares an inspiring message about innovation. Partnering with Disney StudioLAB, DisneyResearch Studios, and Industrial Light & Magic, the team utilized cutting-edge technology to digitally bring Walt to life and create this unique greeting.
Tapping the resources of the Walt Disney Archives, two separate audio recordings of Walt were assembled, creating
his vocal script. The Disney Archives also provided footage of 1960s-era Walt to DisneyResearch Studios, who used their super-resolution A.I. upscaler to convert the archival footage to high definition. The result was an authentic recreation of Walt Disney and a collaboration across all.
“In being chosen to host
another world premiere exhibition of such magnitude is a testament to our ability to draw millions of visitors for an unforgettable experience,” Dubinski said.
“Disney 100: The Exhibition” runs through Feb. 18, 2024 at the Franklin Institute. Go to https://www. fi.edu/ for information on times and tickets.