Down the rabbit hole winding up in Paris.
Alice in Wonderland (Good Idea) – by Becky Hollada
“You mean this isn’t a full Play Set?” That’s right. Go and double check the Disney Infinity character list to make sure I’m telling the truth. There’s a few power discs from Wonderland, but that’s it.So back in 1865, Lewis Carroll brought us Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which is probably one of the most adapted works in history. Disney actually turned this book into a movie TWICE, but we’ll forget about the Tim Burton version for now and focus strictly with the animated adaptation.
There are so many reasons why Alice seems to fit so well into a good Disney Infinity set that it’s actually pretty amazing Disney decided to currently opt for just a couple power discs instead of an entire Play Set. First, Alice is one of the most recognizable Disney icons from the classic era aside from the princesses themselves. She even has her own themed ride in the Disney Parks that is nothing if not iconic. Kids would snap this up, instantly knowing the world and the characters. Also, with a varied character roster that could include Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and the Cheshire Cat (at the very least), there’s something that actually has some general appeal across the board.
Crazy = Grade A fun. Or the nuthouse, either one.
Wonderland. Talk about place that you could go nuts in (no pun intended). There’s no end to the possibilities for what players could do just in Alice’s home world. In fact, developers might have a harder time deciding how to narrow it down to a manageable scale while keeping it from looking like a rehash of the world in Kingdom Hearts.
There are actually more than a few characters that could easily be playable in the Toy Box and with some interesting quirks. The Cheshire Cat is one of the few four-legged Disney creatures not actually limited by his four legs, gravity, or even physics. He could potentially pop from one place to another over short distances, or disappear altogether, though you may run into the Super Smash Bros. cloaking device issue. Also, since he doesn’t generally walk much at all, floating is more his style. There’s also no limitation on handling weapons.
The Mad Hatter would be akin to someone like Roger Rabbit, cartoony and not really limited by much either since he’s crazy. Alice even just rolls with the punches her entire time in Wonderland, so she wouldn’t be afraid of any craziness like riding flying elephants or taking out someone with a frying pan. The only one maybe not suited for the Toy Box would be the White Rabbit, and actually not because he couldn’t run pretty darn fast or have the free hands for weapons, but because he’s just too cowardly to do much of anything.
Why Disney chose not to incorporate more strictly Disney icons in the early Play Sets of their game is left to speculation, but with any luck, Alice will eventually get a full set to stir some more craziness into this game. We know all the best people are a little bonkers.
The Aristocats (Bad Idea) – by Kimberly Keller
Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat, except maybe Disney Infinity players. This film from 1970 was the last to be approved by Walt Disney himself before he died in 1966, making it an important film in the Disney timeline. The Aristocats featured street-wise alley cat Thomas O’Malley (Abraham de Lacy Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley if we’re really getting technical here), a scorned butler hell bent on committing catocide, and some fantastically crazy jazz numbers.
Almost all characters are cats in this film and do behave as such around humans. However, things really get interesting once left alone as they instantly put on more human-like qualities doing everything from upright dancing to playing the trombone with ease. Their furry little paws can hold anything they want without regard to their lack of opposable thumbs and they seem to have no problems standing on two feet when they feel like it.
More musically inclined than most people...
Clearly, these are cats that could make the cut for Disney Infinity if we’re just basing it off of physical capabilities. As far as popularity goes, Marie, the middle kitten, is a meet and greet character down at Walt Disney World. You can go see her, and her staggering wait line, in Epcot at the France pavilion. This is a kitten that is in direct competition with Belle from Beauty and the Beast and she seems to be holding her own just fine. This film is over forty years old, but still sees some serious attention from all generations so it would make sense to look at this film for some Disney Infinity inspiration.
However, at the end of the day, these characters are just cats with no special abilities. Unlike films that fall in the Robin Hood category, these are not fully humanized animals. Besides looking completely ridiculous if they try to run and fight while standing up, there isn’t much to their world beyond the events in the film, completely ruining any Play Set potential. Unless Madame Bonfamille hires another servant with an incurable hatred of her pets, players will be stuck exploring a happy Parisian home with rich kitties.
Can I get reincarnated as a rich Parisian kitten?
Of course, figurines and Play Sets are not all Disney Infinity offers for their movies, there is also opportunity for a Power Disc addition. I don’t really think this fits in either though as the film doesn’t offer anything truly unique to the game. A French-inspired theme? Just look to Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, etc., for more varied and playful settings to choose from. Gadgets and vehicles? I think we’re stuck choosing between a milk cart, cat-sized musical instruments, and an old motorcycle complete with a funky green sidecar (perfect for cat-napping). I can’t see much use for jazz club singing either, so an abilities disc is out.
The Aristocats is a film that has truly stood the test of time. Whether this is because of some heart-felt family themes, downright silly plotline, or its psychedelic 1970’s tendencies remains to be seen, but I just can’t see it taking the next step and transitioning into the gaming world, no matter how adorable those groovy cats are.
