In their own version of the Hall of Fame, Disney presents the Legends status on entertainers whom they believe have had a “significant impact” on the legacy that is Disney. This year 14 people have been added to the list of Disney Legends.
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the ceremony was a part of D23 – the annual convention touting things to come at Disney.
Bob Iger – CEO of Disney – thanked everyone from fans to employees for their work and support. Established in 1987, 304 Disney Legends have been honoured to date.
Igor introduced the first Legend with the words “from a galaxy far far away…” Harrison Ford. Igor call Ford a “cultural icon!”
Ford took the stage to a standing ovation of cheering fans. He said that he loves the life that they have given him. He noted that he has the privilege of being (an assisted) storyteller.
Lindsey Lohan introduced Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis. Jodie Foster spoke on Curtis and even gave her a set of Mickey Mouse ears with her name on it. Curtis noted that it’s the Disney in all of us is why they are all here. She ended her speech with the words from the Carousel of Tomorrow; adding that’s what’s happening right now.
Host Ryan Seacrest introduced his former co-host Kelly Ripa. He said that she is the best at what she does and has a magic power. He called her the definition of a legend.
Ripa said that it all feels surreal to her. Saying that she owes everything to Disney, Ripa has been a part of Disney for 34 years.
Derek Hough called Disney a second home and introduced Martha Blanding who was the first full time woman of colour to be a tour guide at Disney and later became the first manager of colour at Disney.
The Dapper Dans and the Disneyland Band performed. Mickey and Minnie were on hand as well. Derek Hough escorted Martha up on the stage.
Martha noted that her high school counselor told her in 1969 that she needed to learn to do something with her hands because she would never make it in corporate America. Martha noted that she never believed she would be a Disney Legend. Martha spent 50 years at Disneyland. Blanding called herself an ordinary black girl from south central Los Angeles.
Calling him a genius, Ryan Seacrest introduces writer, director, and producer James L. Brooks.
Danny DeVito spoke on Brooks. Brooks has been a part of “Taxi”, “Rhoda”, “Mary Tyler Moore”, “Lou Grant”, “The Simpsons”, and the Academy Award winning film “Terms of Endearment”.
Brooks said that him being a part of the night is nuts.
Producer and director Rob Marshall introduced costume designer Colleen Atwood. She is the first costume designer to be named a Disney Legend. Atwood is a four time Academy Award winner. Marshall called her a storyteller; adding that she is always original and thinking out of the box.
Atwood called being named a Legend “mind blowing”. She wants to continue bringing magic and hope to this world.
Pixar CEO Pete Docter introduced Muppets legend Frank Oz. Known for his work with The Muppets, Oz has also directed a number of films including “What About Bob” and “Little Shop of Horros”.
Oz noted that it felt odd to be standing on stage alone because no one does it all alone. Oz is the child of Holocaust survivors. His family waited five years to get a visa to move from Belgium to California.
Oz noted that as a child and even into adulthood he had very low self esteem and was afraid to be who he was; he end his speech with telling the crowd not to be afraid to show who they are.
Ryan Seacrest introduced Miley Cyrus who becomes the youngest Disney Legend ever.
Country singer Lainey Wilson noted that she used to be a Hannah Montana impersonator. Wilson performed “The Best of Both Worlds” and dedicated to Cyrus.
Giving an emotional speech noted that legends get scared too…she is scared right now…but do it anyway. She notes that after her first auditions for “Hannah Montana” they thought that she was great but too small for the part. A year later, the show called her back and she got the part. Her first show was a free concert at the mall. She dedicated the award to Hannah Montana; a role she said that she was proud to have.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige spoke on comic book legend Steve Ditko – the creator of Spiderman. Ditko is being honoured as a Disney Legend posthumously. Nephew Mark Kitko accepted the award for Steve. He called it insane and crazy his uncle winning the award. He noted that his uncle did not see himself winning awards, letting the work speak for itself.
Mark Henn called it a dream come true to work at Disney as an animator. He noted that he tries to put himself in his character’s shoes. The women who voiced the Disney princesses spoke on Henn. As each princess spoke there were wild cheers from the audience.
Henn hugged each of the princesses as he took the stage; ending it with “Wow!”. Noting that there were a lot of people there, he thanked the princesses. He called the award the tip of the iceburg of a 40 plus year career.
Via video link trailblazer and conservationist Jane Goodall introduced Joe Rohde – creator of the Animal Kingdom at Disneyland.
The Tam Tam Drummers perform ed.
Joe called it amazing to be considered with the rest of the honourees. He noted that he…and the other honourees…don’t do it for awards but because they love what they do. He noted that they are made legends by “YOU”.
Filmmaker James Cameron has revolutionized the film industry. Zoe Saldana spoke on Cameron. She called working with Cameron has been a “wild ride”.
Saying he feels infinite gratitude, Cameron noted that there was such a display of imagination and creativity. He called it a dream come true.
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler creator of “Black Panther” introduced Angela Bassett. He noted that his first encounter with Bassett was seeing her on the screen and they blew him away. He later cast Bassett as the queen in “Black Panther”.
Dora Milaje performs before Bassett takes the stage. She called Ryan Coogler a visionary and filmmaker in his own right. She thanked the people at Disney for being named a Legend. She noted that she has had the extreme privilege of working in the Disney universe; adding that she could not have done it alone; and thanked them all, saying she shared the honour with them. She said that the fans were the magic.
Lucas Film head Kathleen Kennedy and Harrison Ford introduce award winning composer John Williams. Williams is responsible for a number of films including “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “ET”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Star Wars”. Ford called Williams a storyteller with music. Kennedy called Williams the greatest film composer of all time. Ford added that John Williams has written the soundtrack of our lives.
Kennedy noted that Williams was unable to attend but the Pacific Symphony performed a medley of Williams’ compositions that was written by Williams for the occasion while clips from the films aired on the screen. Music from “Stars Wars” complete with storm troopers on the stage and “Indiana Jones” were played.
The evening ended with a group photo with the Legends present accompanied by Mickey and Minnie.