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The
lavish folk tale draws from the song "When You Wish Upon a Star"
from the 1940 cartoon film "Pinocchio," about a puppet wishing
to become a real boy.
The "power and importance of wishing" is key to storytelling,
magic and possibility in the studio, said Walt Disney Animation
Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee, who wrote the new film, in
an interview.
"A simple word ... unlocked a complex story from such a simple
idea that's at the heart of Disney itself," said Lee, who wrote
and directed Disney's "Frozen," one of the highest grossing
animated movies with box office receipts of $1.28 billion in
2013 when it was released.
In "Wish," which opens in theaters on Nov. 22, 17-year-old Asha
makes a passionate plea to the stars after she senses a darkness
in the Kingdom of Rosas. A magical Star responds and helps her
challenge the powerful King Magnifico, a sorcerer, after sensing
his evil intentions.
Actor Chris Pine, who provides Magnifico's voice, said he was
moved by "the elegant way of celebrating the 100-year
anniversary by making a film that's all about probably the most
iconographic part of the Disney brand, which is 'When You Wish
Upon a Star.'"
"So, to make a movie where one of the stars is that star, we're
talking about dreams, dreams that are personified by these
stars, I think is really beautiful," Pine added.
Walt Disney Studios was founded in 1923 in Hollywood,
California, by brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney, making it the
world's oldest running animation studio. Disney movies are
usually based on classic fairy or folk tales, mixing romance,
humor, sadness, high-stakes action and self-discovery.
"It's just in the Disney DNA," said Ariana DeBose, who lends her
voice to Asha. "Not just to wish, but usually sing to their
heart's desire, and so I think it's important to this movie
obviously. I think it will be important to many Disney movies in
the future too."
(Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross; Editing by Mary
Milliken and Richard Chang)
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