"Disney100 - The Ultimate Celebration of 100 Years of Disney Magic: A Journey Through the Exhibition in Munich"

2023-04-21 07:02:00

Disney celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023. To celebrate this, there is an exhibition with many Disney treasures from April 18th to September 3rd in Munich. We were there at the opening.

In 1923, the brothers Walt and Roy Disney founded the “Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio”, which today, as The Walt Disney Company, is one of the largest and best-known entertainment groups in the world. A lot has happened in these 100 years, even if Walt Disney always emphasized that they had only just begun – a sentence that the studio still proudly claims to this day. The “Disney100” exhibition, which can currently be admired in Philadelphia, USA, and as a European premiere in Munich in the Small Olympic Hall, offers a look back into Disney’s past. OutNow was able to attend the grand opening of the exhibition in Munich on April 17, 2023, before it opened to the public on April 18.

But don’t let the name of the venue fool you. Yes, the exhibition was set up in the Small Olympic Hall, but it is anything but small. “Disney100” covers an area of more than 1,500 square meters. Enough space for not just one, not two, but ten themed galleries.

A march through 100 years

It all starts logically at the beginning. After a video screen greeting from Walt Disney, “Where It All Began” shows the company’s first steps. The Mickey short film should appeal to many Steamboat Willie well known, but it only appeared in 1928, five years after the company was founded. The first Disney films centered on a character named Alice, played by Virginia Davis, who found herself in a cartoon world. The Mickey Mouse predecessor “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” should not be missing in this theme world either, as of course the one already mentioned Steamboat Williewhereby there are storyboards and comics to admire for both figures.

It continues with «Where Do the Stories Come From», where the sources of inspiration of the early Disney classics are illustrated. You can find out, among other things, through an interactive book of fairy tales by Cinderella scroll and see a carved clock made for the animators of Pinocchio served as inspiration for Geppetto’s work. Here, for the first time, the worlds of animation and live-action, past and present, are mixed, and there is also the glass slipper from the live-action update from Cinderella issued in 2015.

“The Illusion of Life” shows how the different characters from Disney history were brought to life. This themed gallery is full of models made of gibs, resin and other materials, as well as costumes from films such as Cruella. “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery” is dedicated to Disney’s curiosity to venture into new worlds. Not only fans of come here Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise at their expense, but also those of Marvel and Star Wars. You want Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber off The Last Jedi and Captain America’s shield off Avengers: Endgame see? You are right here!

Theme worlds on music, closeness to nature, technical achievements (including an exhibited Pixar Image Computer from 1988!) and amusement parks follow, before there is a little glimpse into the future, which actually consists almost entirely of trailers for upcoming films. Finally, there is the obligatory souvenir shop.

How was it?

Of course, for Disney fans, this exhibition is an absolute must, as well-known props are on display, as well as many original drawings and models, and you can do some interactive things. But there is also a lot on offer for technology enthusiasts and it is fascinating to follow how animated films have developed and changed over the last 100 years.

However, it is an exhibition that logically focuses on the Disney animated films, as these have long been the core business. “Star Wars” and Marvel have only been added in the last 15 years, which is why there is rather less to see about the star saga and the Avengers.

Those who primarily want to look at the props and don’t feel like reading or listening – everything is available in German and English – will get through the exhibition quite quickly. On the other hand, if you take your time and take a closer look and listen everywhere, you will spend between 60 and 90 minutes there. But a visit is also worthwhile for those who just want to go on a “Trip Down Memory Lane” with Disney characters they have come to love.

“Disney100 – The Exhibition” can be viewed from April 18 to September 3, 2023 in the Small Olympic Hall in Munich. The exhibition can be reached by public transport in Munich within 20 minutes from the main train station. If you prefer to walk, you should allow an hour for the walk from the main train station.

Chris Schelb [crs]

Chris has worked for OutNow since 2008 and has been the Editor-in-Chief since 2011. Ever since he fell into a cauldron of videocassettes as a child, he has been keen on watching all sorts of things, with the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals being his favorites.