Shanghai Disney Resort shares the creative journey behind Duffy and Friends
The creation process involves over 70 personnel across international and local Shanghai Disney Resort teams. Mi Bo, art director at Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai, noted the characters' particular resonance with Asian female consumers.
"Asian fans appreciate cute, or 'meng', characters in diverse ways," Mi explained, sharing how Gelatoni's character emerged from a creative reimagining of a dropped ice cream incident into a story of resilience and optimism.
The latest addition to the family, LinaBell the fox, made her global debut at Shanghai Disney Resort in September 2021. Yasmeen Chen, director of merchandise creative at Shanghai Disney Resort, revealed that LinaBell's development began in 2017, with careful attention to details from her tail to her eyelashes.
"The success of Duffy and Friends in Asia, particularly at Shanghai Disneyland, presented the perfect opportunity to expand the franchise," Sim said regarding LinaBell's Shanghai debut. The character was specifically designed to appeal to Chinese guests who appreciate clever and problem-solving personalities.
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