Page 67 - CelebrationsSpring2020

its international release. It went on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, losing to fellow Disney offering WALL-E.
Whatever the reason for its perhaps unlikely success, given its rough beginning and high stakes, it has become a beloved component of the Disney lexicon. There are those who believe that it is a crucial turning point in Disney film history, with some argument among Disney aficionados over which film ushered in the new era of Disney Animation, dubbed the “Disney Revival”: Bolt has its supporters as the film that started this new reign, while others point to The Princess and the Frog, released a year later. Regardless of which film gets to own the distinction, the real winners are film fans, who have these memorable films to enjoy.
Bolt Fascinating Facts
• The creative team looked to the paintings of American artist Edward Hopper in designing the look of the film.
• Though Bolt’s breed is never clearly identified, his look is based upon the White German Shepherd.
• Chloë Grace Moretz was originally intended to play Penny
for the entire film, but she ultimately voiced only young Penny, as Miley Cyrus played the older version of the character.
• Penny is also the name of the kidnapped girl in Disney’s The Rescuers (1977). While there are fan theories that the two girls might be somehow related or connected, Disney has never addressed this idea. (This is not the only time there have been identical or similar names between Disney characters: Prince Philip in Sleeping Beauty and Philippe the horse in Beauty and the Beast; Pete is the name of Mickey’s antagonist, as well as Peter Pan and the titular boy of Pete’s Dragon; as well as Robin Hood and Christopher Robin, for example.)
• The look of Rhino was inspired by John Lasseter’s pet chinchilla.
• A human-sized hamster ball was brought in the Studios to help the creative team relax throughout the stressful film- making period.
• Co-stars John Travolta and Miley Cyrus put their vocal talents to good use, recording “I Thought I Lost You” for the film’s soundtrack.
67 · Celebrations