To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will wrap up on Sunday, August 11, with the much-anticipated Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. This celebrated event honors the crème de la crème of talent and creativity throughout the history of The Walt Disney Company. This year marks the 37th year of this storied tradition, and the list of honorees is nothing short of spectacular! Trailblazing individuals such as Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams will be lauded for their invaluable contributions to the Disney legacy.
In an exclusive Q&A session, we had the pleasure of delving into the mind of Colleen Atwood, who is being recognized in the Costume Design category. Colleen reflected on her artistic journey and what it means to be the first costume designer ever to receive the Disney Legend Award. “To be the first costume designer to receive the Disney Legends Award, I am thrilled! It is an honor from a company founded by artists and remains one that has always supported the art of film,” Colleen shared, her excitement palpable.
When asked about her secret to creating costumes that are distinctly Disney, Atwood was reflective. “The secret lies in taking the character familiar to audiences as a starting point and building a new world around it,” she said. It’s this unique approach that has made her costumes memorable, blending the familiar with the novel in a quintessentially Disney manner.
Colleen also commented on the artistic freedom she has enjoyed while working with Disney. “I think the support that Disney has always given me as a designer, along with the belief in the filmmakers I work with, expands creativity,” she said. This creative synergy is evident in her works, such as the dark and whimsical designs for “Alice in Wonderland,” “Into the Woods,” and “Dumbo.” She explained that the “dark edge in design goes hand in hand with these stories—they have characters that are dark, much like old fairytales. To me, it is fun to design the scary folks alongside the innocent beauties.”
Wrapping up our conversation, Colleen reflected on her proudest Disney accomplishment. “For me, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ remains my favorite. The technology was new to us, and the challenges of merging real with bits of animation made it unique for all times,” she declared.
Join the discussion! Share your thoughts about Colleen Atwood’s captivating designs and the Disney Legends Awards in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this story with fellow Disney enthusiasts!
Source: The Walt Disney Company
