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Tag: wakanda

  • Disney Destiny: Representation Matters

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    The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall is T’Challa, the Black Panther. Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over. the statue speaks to the power of representation. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    PORT EVERGLADES, FL – The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall of the latest addition to the global entertainment company’s fleet of cruise ships, is Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over. 

    T’Challa, the Black Panther, King of Wakanda. The statue looms large over any other character depictions on the ship. He is standing with his shoulders back, his fist balled up, ready for battle if necessary. At his feet is a panther in mid-stride, equally ready to pounce if that’s what the situation calls for. The statue is beautiful. It is also overwhelmingly brilliant.

    The physical image of the Black Panther as the premier representative on a ship which features heroes and villains says so much more than any words can best describe. Representation matters, and for the children of all races and adults who board the Disney Destiny going forward, the Black Panther will be the representation that they see.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    There are other Disney heroes and villains represented on Destiny as well. Portraits of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Mulan, Hercules, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Frozone, can be found through the ship’s many hallways and stairways. All kinds of representations of heroes live on this ship. 

    On Deck 3, however, there is a set of small paintings that further set the tone of representation. There are six in total, and though colorful, their blackness shines through the brightest of all. The paintings are of African warrior tribes. Some of the warriors carry spears and wear masks. Others have people carrying small children in their arms. All are families bonding generations to one another.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Near the concierge desk is another depiction of the Black Panther. He can be seen several times on the ship, including on the way to the restaurant, World of Marvel. In this landscape painting, the Black Panther stands atop a boulder; to his left and right are the Dora Milaje, the all-female royal corps of warriors. This portrait can be taken directly from the screens of the Black Panther films and pages of the modern comic books. It’s beautiful. 

    The Disney Destiny will provide guests with a top-notch cruise experience, and the quality service that Disney provides at its parks, hotel properties, and on cruise ships. 

    That said, destiny can also be described as destiny fulfilled. The level of representation on this ship speaks louder than any other I have witnessed in five years of covering the brand. It’s loud, proud, and at least in this instance, very Black and beautiful.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Dressing the Watery Worlds of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Dressing the Watery Worlds of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

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    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney)

    “If you are asked to do a movie and they say there’s water, hang up,” jokes costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who had a steep learning curve for creating the underwater kingdom of Talokan. With the aquatic scenes filmed both on land and underwater, Carter often had to create multiple versions of the sea dwellers’ costumes. Occasionally, the outfits wouldn’t cooperate while wet, but visual effects supervisor Geoffrey Baumann told Carter “not to worry too much about the technicalities, but worry about the beauty of the costume itself.” Though the visual effects team could make changes in post, Carter and her team also used 3D printing, materials like silicone, and weights to make the costumes flow with ethereal grace.

    Mejia by Eli Ade/Marvel Studios. Wakanda Forever Stills Courtesy of Marvel Studios.

    For Namor’s feathered headdress, Carter made a second, rigid version to go underwater, which the VFX team animated for that beautiful underwater movement. One of the most challenging costumes to adapt was M’Baku’s, which is made of fur, leather, and a large grass skirt. Every day was a lesson, says Carter. “As much as you thought you knew about water, there was so much more to learn.”

    Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century Studios)

    When James Cameron moved the central characters of his long-awaited sequel from the trees to the seas, it meant creating an entirely new look for the Metkayina reef-people clan. Costume designer Deborah L. Scott started in the real world, creating hundreds of looks for what would be entirely digital characters. “Every single costume that you see, every piece of jewelry, every bead in the hair, is all real,” says Scott. Because the Metkayina spend much of their time in the water, she and the VFX team studied how all the clothing would react underwater. They even put costumes on the actors over their performance capture suits, allowing them to feel what their characters were wearing. Says Scott, “It became really obvious to us that the real thing is better than anything you can fabricate.”

    BTS by Mark Fellman. Stills Courtesy of 20th Century Studios. 

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    Rebecca Ford

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