New Details About the Villains-Themed Land at Magic Kingdom
During a video message in the panel, Disney Legend and former animator Andreas Deja, who is best known for helping to bring some of the most evil Disney Villains to life onscreen, such as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Jafar in Aladdin, and Scar in The Lion King, announced that he was officially consulting on the project.
Deja shared that these characters are the best source materials for Imagineers to utilize and reference when conceptualizing the land, with big personalities, bold visuals, and rich backgrounds to influence the overall ambiance and the experience that guests will have while visiting.
What Inspired the Villains-Themed Land?
We were happy to confirm that our journey to developing the land began with the animation source material and the Walt Disney Animation Studios artists responsible for it. These conversations made us realize that it was critical to reflect the look and feel of the characters’ animation in the land’s physical structures and appearance, so we set off to Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain to learn about each city’s architecture and its unique attributes.
The research trip was truly transformative and completely immersive. Our team specifically studied Art Nouveau architecture design and the unique form, scale, and color that define this style, which flourished in the late 1800s. Through partnerships with local professors and art and architectural historians, Imagineers received an intimate look at the architectural aesthetics that will serve as the overall design inspiration for the land.
The Influence of Art Nouveau Architecture on the Villains-Themed Land
Paris is a city full of classic Art Nouveau examples—the team highlighted the way natural motifs and swirling designs there make nature appear to be “cursed,” like magic has frozen it into place. On the other hand, Barcelona’s art style is Modernisme, which has fewer natural patterns but gives the architecture an otherworldly, unnerving appearance.
Another fascinating discovery they made in both places was how many of the architectural elements had a wonderful, rich color palette. Details like colorful stained-glass windows and painted metals helped us understand how we might bring the beautiful, deep jewel tones of the animated villains to life in the land’s buildings.
After identifying the similarities between the magical, fluid, and organic appearance of both the animated villains and the Art Nouveau style of construction, the team coined the term “Conjured Architecture.” This refers to the blend of historical components and fantastical worlds that have merged to ultimately create something wicked that will be able to be experienced firsthand – a villains-inspired land.
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