100 years ago, Walt and Roy Disney founded their animation studio – which, as Walt famously said, “was all started by a mouse” – so it’s certainly a full-circle moment that Disney has kicked off its new Create 100 campaign with… a mouse.
We all know the success story of the small studio Walt and Roy started in 1923 growing into a global brand that includes the animation studio (plus additional movie studios), publishing, music, consumer and luxury products, and of course, a dozen theme parks around the world – and to celebrate the company’s first 100 years, Disney Create 100 campaign has brought all those components together.
What is Create 100?
The global campaign challenged “some of the world’s most inventive minds” from music, art, film, fashion, and design to create 100 unique items and experiences.
Contributors include musicians like Columbian singer Sebastián Yatra and superstar Beyoncé; iconic fashion brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Louboutin (of red-bottomed shoe fame), and Swarovski crystal; award-winning filmmakers like Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee; and artists like London-based Favour Jonathan and design company Alaska Alaska.
Global Disney partners, including Adidas, Pandora, and Coach, will also contribute one-of-a-kind pieces.
All Create 100 artwork, items, and experiences inspired by the creators’ personal connections to Disney stories and characters will be auctioned to benefit long-time Disney partner Make-A-Wish; however, Disney is also marking the launch with a $1 million donation.
“Disney’s timeless stories and characters have made an indelible mark on pop culture around the globe,” said Consumer Products, Games, and Publishing President Tasia Filippatos. “We couldn’t think of a better way to honor 100 years of Disney storytelling than by collaborating with this outstanding collective of visionaries to support Make-A-Wish.”
It Started With a Mouse
On July 27, 2023, Disney unveiled the first Create 100 project: A six-foot-tall sculpture of Sorcerer Mickey from “Fantasia,” which was commissioned by Disney and created by Alaska Alaska, a design company founded by the late designer and architect Virgil Abloh.
“Virgil was the ultimate collaborator,” said Arhiththan “Arthi” Selvendran of Virgil Abloh Securities, the corporation founded in 2022 to keep Abloh’s vision alive. “He inspired everyone he met to dream bigger and go after those dreams.”
The rainbow-colored sculpture titled “Structural Sorcerer – a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Sculpture” is currently on display at London’s Royal College of Art and features a lattice structure honoring Abloh’s “Framing” furniture line that launched in 2016 as well as the Mickey Mouse illustration he created in 2018 for Mickey’s 90th birthday.
Additional Disney Create 100 Pieces
Metalwork Sculpture by Favor Jonathan
A one-of-a-kind metalwork sculpture was also created for the campaign by multidisciplinary artist Favour Jonathan. It is called “The Doctor,” representing Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and the Frog” who Jonathan says is her favorite Disney villain.
You can hear more from her HERE.
Cinderella Slipper by Swarovski
Swarovski revealed their Create 100 HERE: Cinderella’s Glass Slipper.
According to the brand’s Creative Director Giovanna Engelbert, she was inspired to recreate the iconic Disney footwear, which she describes as “the most famous shoe in the world – [and] it’s made of crystal.”
“I thought it was the best way to combine the world of Swarovski and the world of Disney,” Engleberg said.
Mickey T-shirt by Maison Margiela
Maison Margiela is known for creating “deconstructed” garments and experimenting with unconventional materials. For Create 100, the design house will be contributing a one-of-one t-shirt inspired by the original Disney icon: the one and only Mickey Mouse.
Varsity Jacket by Tommy Hilfiger
American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has reinvented classics into a “modern prep” aesthetic, which he showcased in his varsity jacket featuring Manga Mickey & Friends (who also appeared in the 2023 Disney x Tommy capsule collection).
“Disney is one of the most iconic brands in the world [and] varsity jackets are part of our American heritage,” Hilfiger said.
Hear more from Hilfiger HERE.
Polo Gown by Clarence Ruth
Enlisted by Tommy Hilfiger – and a partner of the brand’s People’s Place Program – Clarence Ruth of Cotte DArmes has presented his passion for animation, storytelling, and fashion with a Mickey-inspired interpretation of the iconic Tommy Hilfiger polo that he transformed into a full-length ball gown fit for a modern Disney princess.
Wearable Sculpture by Schiaparelli
Artistic Director for French fashion house, Schiaparelli, Daniel Roseberry, offered his artistic perspective into the Disney animated classic, “Rescuers Down Under,” with a wearable crystal sculpture.
“My whole childhood was defined by Disney animation,” Roseberry said on Instagram. “I know I would be a different kind of artist and designer if I didn’t have the foundation that those films gave me.”
Printed Collage by Vik Muniz
The innovative Brazilian presents pop culture and art history through impactful images using unconventional materials.
“I have a fascination for comic books – and especially for [Disney] iconography,” Muniz said. “The characters are endowed with a generic quality that allows them to communicate with children from any culture.”
Miniz’s Create 100 contribution is a one-of-one inkjet-printed comic book collage, titled “For Art’s Sake.” You can see his work HERE.
Letterman Jacket by Coline Creuzot
The singer songwriter from Houston shares her Disney inspired Create 100 contribtion: a custom Princess Tiana letterman jacket.
“‘The Princess and the Frog’ really resonates with me because she’s obviously the first black princess.”
Creuzot also notes that Disney music (and singing along to Disney movies) inspired her musical career.
Opera Mask by Jackson Weiderhoeft
Fashion designer Jackson Weiderhoeft is known for whimsical and theatrical fashion, so it’s no surprise his Create 100 contribution is an opera mask inspired by “Oliver and Company.”
“‘Oliver and Company’ is such an iconic film– especially for New Yorkers,” he said. “This masquerade piece [featuring Georgette the poodle] embodies what Weiderhoeft is all about, which is being yourself, having fun, and looking good while doing it.”
You can hear more from Jackson Weiderhof HERE.
Vick and Pluto by Verdy
Graphic artist and designer, Verdy, has inspired Tokyo’s street scene with his works “Girls Don’t Cry” and “Wasted Youth,” which then inspired youth art culture and streetwear worldwide.
“I created [an original character] called Vick,” Verdy said. “I wanted to create a character that represented me like Mickey Mouse [for] Walt Disney.”
Verdy’s contribution to Create 100 is an original signed acrylic painting of Vick and Pluto on wooden canvas. Learn more HERE.
Papier Mâché Yoda by Nigo
Nigo launched his brand in the ’90s and has since become a pioneer for Japanese fashion and street culture. For his Disney Create 100 contribution, Nigo created a life-sized paper mâché rendition of iconic Star Wars character, Yoda.
“I thought of making a Yoda statue but I wanted to use a traditional Japanese technique,” Nigo explains. “Daruma is a traditional papier mâché doll, which is made by pasting together sheets of newspaper.”
What’s Next for Create 100?
Additional artwork, experiences, musical elements, comic books, recreations of iconic movie props, and more – plus the stories behind them – will be revealed over the summer. Click here to learn more about Disney Create 100.
“Make-A-Wish was born out of the kindness and generosity of community members who saw the power that wishes have to forever change the lives of wish kids, their families, and everyone involved,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO Make-A-Wish America. “Through Create 100, Disney has come up with an innovative way to bring together some of the world’s most iconic creators and artists to be part of the community that makes wishes possible.”
In April, Disneyland dedicated three new windows on Main Street U.S.A. honoring Make-A-Wish; you can read about them here:
Wishes Granted: Touching New Windows on Disneyland’s Main Street
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Let’s Hear From You!
There are more Disney Create 100 collaborations on the way. We’ll be here to share them all, but which ones are your favorites so far? Let us know in the comments.
