“Disney Insider” is back to give us a look at some of the things the Walt Disney Company is working on. In this episode, “Disney Insider” takes a closer look at one way the company is celebrating the 70th anniversary of “Cinderella,” how Disneyland is marking the “Year of the Mouse” and a closer look at how conservation is being done right outside Disney’s Imagineering office in California.

“Cinderella” is one of the most iconic Disney films of all time and features Walt Disney’s favorite animated scene. To celebrate 70 years, the animation department is making an animated cell of the Walt’s favorite scene; the transition of the tattered dress to the gown she wears to the ball. It’s a really cool featurette that shows the way Disney used to animate the films before everything when digital and computer generated. I really enjoyed seeing some of the tools that had been in use since the making of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” back in the 1930s. It’s really cool to see something from that era still in use and is a nice tribute to an animated classic.

Disneyland is bringing in a Chinese designer to help celebrate the Year of the Mouse for its Lunar New Year. 2020 is considered the Year of the Rat on the Chinese Zodiac and the Year of the Mouse on the Japanese Zodiac. It’s the first of the 12 Zodiac signs on both calendars. I’m not really sure why Disneyland is focusing specifically on Chinese culture when 2020 is the Year of the Mouse on the Japanese Zodiac, but it’s really cool to see how the Chinese designer, Guo Pei, worked in some important parts of Chinese culture into the designs for the costumes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I know Disney will incorporate other cultures into their celebrations and look forward to more featurettes demonstrating how they will be doing that.

Finally, we get the best featurette if you’re into nature. Disney’s Imagineering offices in California are right near the Verdugo Mountains which leads to all kinds of wildlife making its way near the offices. We get to meet a wildlife expert who has set up a motion activated camera in an effort to keep an eye on that wildlife. It’s awesome to see how the mountain lions, coyotes and skunks interact right next to an urban area. It’s wonderful to see someone stepping up and keeping the wildlife safe while also finding a way to keep the people safe.

All in all, these featurettes are a nice way to let Disney fans get an inside look at some of the things going on and, hopefully, give them ideas for what they like to see in the future.

Ranking: 2.5 stars out of 5.

What did you think of this episode of “Disney Insider?”

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

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