There’s certainly something to be said for Christmas in July. After all, even though the chill of winter may be the furthest thing from our minds as we grill and watch the fireworks this weekend, the holiday season is only a few months away, and it’s never too early to get ready! That’s certainly the attitude Disney had toward things when they recently showcased their upcoming products for the 2014 holiday season. It’s set to be quite the exciting time this year for boys, girls, and even moms and dads, with toys, games, electronics and apparel based on some of Disney’s hottest properties.
For boys, superheroes are a perennial classic, and this year looks to be no different, with a big push toward the sure-blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy (due in theaters this August). The film’s minuscule hero Rocket Raccoon is getting a particular dose of star treatment, with action figures, plush, and more bearing the character’s image (and phrases voiced by none other than Bradley Cooper, who lends his acting charm to the character in the movie as well!) The Avengers are also a big focus this year, with a holiday children’s book featuring narration by Marvel legend Stan Lee, and of course the upcoming Disney Infinity 2.0! Infinity 2.0, a follow-up to last year’s wildly successful Disney Infinity, will center around Marvel heroes like the Avengers, Spider-Man, and more, and is ready to hit shelves this September.
Girls this year will be more than ready to “Let it Go” with the stars of Disney’s Frozen, who will feature on a number of playsets, books, and costumes inspired by the instant classic. The film’s booming fanbase has only continued to grow since the film’s debut last winter, and Frozen‘s spike in popularity has in turn led to the two princess leads, Anna and Elsa, (and their lovable snowman pal Olaf) appearing anywhere and everywhere you could imagine. Coming this winter, be sure to keep an eye out for new Animator’s Collection dolls of Anna and Elsa, an Olaf snow cone maker, and more!
Finally, for the teens and adults in your life, Disney’s got plenty to offer as well, with lines of headphones, speakers, collectible items, and apparel featuring such licenses as Marvel and Star Wars, and of course the classic Disney characters and princesses. Standouts include a partnership with Vans to produce Stormtrooper-based shoes, bags, and apparel, a partnership with Under Armour to create Marvel-themed cleats, workout shirts, and more, and (going back to Star Wars), headphones based around the Rebels and Empire, and a portable Death Star speaker.
We’ve certainly got a great holiday season ahead of us from Disney, and I don’t know about you, but I for one am glad that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
On the same day it won two Academy Awards® including Best Animated Feature, “Frozen,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 53rd feature film, crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The biggest non-sequel animated film ever released and the second biggest animated film of all time globally, “Frozen” has earned an estimated $388.8 million at the domestic box office and $611.5 million internationally for a global total of $1,000.3 million. It is The Walt Disney Studios’ seventh release to reach the $1 billion mark, joining “Marvel’s The Avengers” and “Iron Man 3,” Disney’s second and fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 3,” and Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
“With ‘Frozen,’ we knew we had something truly special on our hands, and it has connected with fans and filmgoers around the world in a way we only dreamed was possible,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “Animation is the cornerstone of our company, and thanks to the vision, dedication, and talent of our tremendous cast and filmmaking team, Disney Animation has come roaring back with a new classic for fans of all ages.”
Universally embraced by audiences and critics alike, “Frozen” is the winner of two Academy Awards®, for Best Animated Feature and Original Song (“Let It Go”). This the first animated feature Oscar® win for Walt Disney Animation Studios in the category’s 13-year history. The film has also won Golden Globe®, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, and Producers Guild of America awards for best animated film, five Annie Awards, and four Visual Effects Society Awards, among many other honors. The film is directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and produced by Peter Del Vecho.
“Frozen” opened wide domestically on November 27, 2013, following a five-day exclusive engagement at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. In its record-setting nationwide opening, “Frozen” became the #1 all-time Thanksgiving debut with a $93.6M five-day gross and a $67.4M Friday–Sunday gross over the holiday period. It was Walt Disney Animation Studios’ biggest opening ever. “Frozen” was the #1 movie in its second weekend of wide release and, after posting stellar numbers throughout the holiday season, returned to the top spot four weeks later in its sixth weekend. Due to popular demand, a special sing-along version of the film opened in theaters nationwide January 31, its 10th weekend of wide release. “Frozen” has remained in the top 10 films at the domestic box office for all 14 weeks of its wide release, the longest run by any film in four years.
Internationally, “Frozen” is the biggest animated film released by The Walt Disney Studios in more than 25 territories, including Russia, China, and Brazil, and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ biggest release in over 50 territories, including UK/Ireland, Australia, Mexico, and Argentina, as well as the Latin America region as a whole. In Korea, “Frozen” was #1 for the first five weeks of release and is now the biggest animated film, the second biggest non-local film, and Disney’s biggest release of all time. It’s also the highest-grossing animated film of all time in Denmark and Venezuela, and the biggest non-sequel animated film in the U.K./Ireland. “Frozen” debuts in one remaining international territory, Japan, on March 14.
