To put together a show like “World of Color – Winter Dreams,” it takes an army, or in our case “Green Army Men”! For this new, full-length original show we have enlisted the help of PIXAR Animation Studios. Imagineers went to them with a wild idea: what if “Toy Story” characters decided to perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”?
In the original ballet, Clara’s Christmas tree grows and the audience shrinks to this size of a toy beneath the tree. This became the inspiration. The “World of Color” technology was perfect for this effect, because the animators can make the tree grow in front of guests eyes.
Then, below the tree is where the magic really happens. Beneath the tree quests will find Woody, the show’s director. Over the summer he has put together the toys’ version of the ballet. Of course, they have their own special spin on it. Each musical piece animators used – Miniature Overture, Trepak (Russian Dance), Tea (Chinese Dance) and Waltz of the Flowers – took on a life of its own. Pixar gave them all special arrangements to match the characters; for instance, the Trepak dance became western to fit Woody and Jessie’s duet.
Another great example of putting a new spin on the classic is Tea (Chinese Dance). Pixar animators took inspiration from Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” and the Mushroom scene. They replaced the Mushrooms with Little Green Men and the baby Mushroom with Rex in a tutu. The result is pure magic!
