When one hears the name “Disney” it is natural to think of their many animated films. When people talk about being “Disney fans” they often do so thinking of iconic films ranging fromSnow White and the Seven Dwarves(1937) toMoana(2016). They may have experimented with different styles of animation as technology advanced, but it has always been a core part of their brand. It can therefore be easy to forget that Disney is not exclusively an animation studio. They may have started out that way, butSong of the South(1946) combined live-action and animation. Five years later,Treasure Island(1951) became Disney’s first film without any animation and opened the floodgates to a plethora of live-action films. This side of Disney has produced some masterpieces and cultural icons that are still popular today.
Dreamlight Valleyis built around bringing together characters from classic Disney productions in anAnimal Crossing-esque open world. The game hasa lot of its bases covered when it comes to animated films, but it has not yet touched any of the company’s live-action output. This is unfortunate since Disney has some fascinating characters in its repertoire that would make great additions toDreamlight Valley.
6Herbie, the Love Bug
One of the more peculiar creations out of Disney was Herbie, a sentient Volkswagen Beetle that has so far starred in six live-action movies between 1968 and 2005. He was a friendly, if competitive, car that often developed a close bond with its various human drivers as they participated in automobile races. Of course, he was also fully autonomous and could function on his own, which was often used as a source of humor.
Herbie is far from the only living car associated with Disney (other notable examples include Benny inWho Framed Roger Rabbitand the entireCarsfranchise), but he was the original and remains something of an icon. Bringing him intoDreamlight Valleywould have the selling point of allowing the player to become his new driver (and therefore develop a bond like the ones seen in the movies).
5Captain Jack Sparrow
Pirates of the Caribbeanwas already a popular Disneyland attraction, but the then-unusual decision to use it as inspiration for a movie proved a massive success. Its memorable cast of characters quickly resonated with fans, butit was the eccentric pirate captain Jack Sparrow who became an icon. He could be best described as chaotic neutral: not quite a good guy but not quite a bad guy either, and sometimes flip-flopping allegiances for plans that only make sense to him.
He could be one’s best friend or worst enemy, or double-cross someone only to reveal he was actually helping them in a very roundabout way. Throughout the series, Jack produced a lot of iconic lines that are still quoted by fans today, such as “Why is the rum gone?” If anything, he is probably one of the most iconic characters Disney has produced in any of its live-action productions and a logical choice forDreamlight Valley.
4Long John Silver
Long beforePirates of the Caribbean, Disney left its mark on piracy withTreasure Island. The classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel has been adapted several times (even being adapted by Disney again forMuppet Treasure IslandandTreasure Planet), but the 1950 version had one thing going for it no other had: Robert Newton as Long John Silver. He managed to lose himself in the character in a way few others could.
It was almost certainly his portrayal of Long John that popularized the stereotypical “pirate voice” that became widely imitated by many, but nobody can do it quite like Newton.Disney has a long history with pirates, but surprisingly none of them have made it intoDreamlight Valley(even animated ones like Captain Hook are conspicuously absent). Why not rectify that by digitally resurrecting Robert Newton and bringing back theiroriginalpirate?
3Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins has got to be one of the most iconic characters of Disney’s live-action roster. The classic musical about a magical nanny taking children on fantastical adventures has enamored children since its release and still remains a favorite among adults.
Despite resistance from the book’s original author, Mary Poppins has practically become synonymous with Disney. She is easily one of the most famous live-action characters they have produced. The whimsical nature of the film and her talent for pulling out the best of a seemingly dysfunctional environment would fit right in withDreamlight Valley.
2Captain Nemo
The 1954 adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic serial novel remains one of the greatest productions ever to come out of the Disney Corporation, boasting an all-star cast, special effects that still hold up today, and a compelling story driven by characters and moral ambiguity. But many would argue the best part of the film was James Mason’s portrayal of Captain Nemo, the commander of theNautilus(an advanced submarine built in the mid-19th century). He was the closest thing the movie had to an antagonist but was more of a tragic anti-hero than an outright villain.
He was the kind of person one could come to respect and even admire, even if they didn’t always agree with his methods. And even when he was cruel, it was easy to see where he was coming from. Captain Nemo has been portrayed several times by many different actors, both in and out of Disney, but none have ever captured the role quite like Mason did.Dreamlight Valleyalready has an aquatic aspect. There are sailors and sea creatures, so why not a submarine captain? And why not digitally resurrect James Mason in one of his greatest performances?
1Quorra
Tronalready had a cult following, and its sequelTron Legacyalso managed to win over fans. Both filmschronicled the experiences of characters inside a virtual computer world. However, one notable addition inTron Legacywas Quorra, a curious program adopted by the original film’s protagonist. She was tough and knew how to handle herself, but Quorra was also fascinated by the real world and was driven by a desire to explore it herself.
The closestDreamlight Valleyhas gotten toTronis theirotherpopular franchise about a virtual world,Wreck-it-Ralph. The two do have some similar themes.If Ralph and Vannellope could get to the valley from cyberspace, why not Quorra? Her natural curiosity would be a logical drive for entering the valley and a good starting point for her quests.
