In celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, the upcoming Fall 2023 issue of Disney twenty-three will take fans on a trip down memory lane in honor of the company’s centennial this October.
The special commemorative issue—a meaningful keepsake as part of the Disney100 celebration—will feature original, exclusive sketch art of Mickey Mouse from artist and “Mickey” voice-over performer Bret Iwan. Also in this issue, the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, shares a letter of gratitude to the passionate fans who inspire Disney to go farther and reach higher.
The new issue, to be delivered directly to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will include an account from Walt Disney Archives experts on how Walt and Roy Disney defied all expectations to become the founders of the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in 1923. Fans will read quotes from the brothers themselves as firsthand testimony of their fascinating journey. Plus, take a closer look at the foundation of The Walt Disney Company through one of Walt Disney’s driving principles: innovation. Readers will learn more about the art and science behind the revolutionary technology and techniques that have shaped Disney stories and experiences through the decades.
The commemorative issue will also feature personal stories from Disney Legends Josh Gad and Tracee Ellis Ross, the cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and additional talent including Rosario Dawson, star of the upcoming Disney+ show Ahsoka. Then dig a little deeper into the evolution of organized fandom, from the Mickey Mouse Clubs of the 1930s to modern cosplay for Marvel and Star Wars.
Music plays a large part in fans’ connection to Disney stories and experiences, and there is one unparalleled partnership that created the standard for Disney music. Whether floating through a world of laughter in “it’s a small world,” being reminded that “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress or stepping in time with Bert and Mary in Mary Poppins (1964), brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman were instrumental in creating songs that have captured hearts—and been stuck in heads—for the past 60 years. In this issue, the Disney Legends recount intimate moments in their own words through archival interviews.
Plus, follow beloved stories from page to parks and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the magic-makers at Disney turn drawings, storyboards, and animation into real-life experiences. Later in the issue, dive into the unknown with director Chris Buck and the Frozen design team, as well as producer Mary Livanos of Marvel Studios’ upcoming The Marvels, as they share the inside scoop on how these imaginary worlds are built for the big screen, creating intricate new realms for fans to enjoy across multiple stories.
The new issue, available first to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also takes a trip down memory lane in an eye-popping parade of 100 characters from all 62 Walt Disney Animation Studios feature films, from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Wish, coming out this November.
