Ursula K. Le Guin Quote

Photo by Marion Wood Kolisch

"People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within."

- Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wave in the Mind

Figment Art

Figment's Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt is always a fun part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. I especially like this classic portrait titled "At The Heart Of All Creation".

Disneyland Handcrafted

All images: Disney

Have you ever wondered about all that went into the building of Disneyland? Most fans have likely watched the special Walt had made back in 1955 about the park, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. It turns out, they had filmed a lot of the work that went into creating the Happiest Place on Earth. And now, Leslie Iwerks (who has quite the family history with Disney) has brought it all together for a new special: Disneyland Handcrafted. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disneyland Handcrafted.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

The magic of Walt Disney’s dream unfolds when Disneyland Handcrafted, a feature documentary from Leslie Iwerks, takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the exhilarating year that gave rise to The Happiest Place on Earth. 

Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955.

The documentary captures both the legacy and nostalgia of the year leading up to the creation of the Disneyland Resort. Through newly unearthed materials from the Walt Disney Archives, Iwerks and her team uncovered long-forgotten 16mm film reels and audio recordings. The result is an unpolished, fly-on-the-wall perspective that captures what was truly happening behind the scenes, told through the firsthand accounts of the artists, craftsmen, and Imagineers who were there.

Since opening over 70 years ago, Disneyland laid the groundwork for a massive global industry that is currently in the biggest era of growth, making this film a truly special treat for Disney fans. 

Disneyland Handcrafted arrives on‬ DisneyPlus and YouTube on January 22nd.

Seven Dials

All images: Netflix

I love Agatha Christie's mysteries. I read them often when I was a teen and always enjoyed the various Masterpiece Mystery series on PBS. In the last several years, there have been several new adaptations of Agatha Christie's tales of murder and mayhem. The latest is Seven Dials.

Here's the official synopsis from Netflix: 

In this timeless mystery by the Queen of Crime, a fearless young aristocrat investigates the murder of her love interest in her family home. 

England. 1925. At a lavish country house party, a practical joke appears to have gone horribly, murderously wrong. It will be up to the unlikeliest of sleuths — the fizzingly inquisitive Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent (Bruce) — to unravel a chilling plot that will change her life, cracking wide open the country house mystery.

Across 3 episodes, expect the unexpected as well as twists and turns as Bundle races to find the killer - time is running out. 

Seven Dials arrives on Netflix on January 15th.

The X-Men Return

Marvel

The latest trailer for Avengers: Doomsday features three of the X-Men: Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops in what appears to be a post-apocalyptic world. With so many heroes returning for one story, Doomsday is going to be epic.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.

You've Got A Friend In Me

Pixar

The Toy Story movies have some of the best songs that are sure to brighten any day. Can you believe that the original Toy Story turns 30 this year? 

It's The Return Of The Muppet Show

The Muppets Studio

Just in time for The Muppet Show's 50th anniversary, the Muppets are returning to the theatre where it all began for one special night... or maybe a bit more?

Here's the official synopsis from The Muppets Studio:

It's The Muppet Show! Kermit, Miss Piggy and the beloved Muppet gang are back with a brand-new special event. Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos is bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with their very special guest, Sabrina Carpenter!

The new The Muppet Show special premieres on February 4th on ABC and DisneyPlus.

All five seasons of the original The Muppet Show are available now on DisneyPlus.