Go inside the mind of Chris Gilligan, Executive Producer of Disney Junior’s latest animated series, Goldie & Bear, in this exclusive interview. Here we discuss his inspirations, the filmmaking process and why fairy tales are so important to keep alive in the minds of young children.
About Goldie and Bear
Disney Junior and the Disney Channel brought the timeless stories we all know and love to the hearts of our children in a whimsical fairy tale, folklore and Mother Goose mashup which made its debut in November.
Created for children ages 2-7, the series is set in the magical world of the Fairy Tale Forest where Goldie and her friend Bear (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) seek out fun and adventure with their neighbors (who are of course other fairy tale characters) like Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf and Humpty Dumpty.
My Take on the Show
As The Fairytale Traveler I feel a strong obligation to keep these great stories alive. I get excited for their adaptations, especially when they speak to young children. Of course this is why I enjoy doing so much work with Disney, as they have been the foremost film company to keep these stories alive. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to interview Executive Producer Chris Gilligan. I wanted to learn more about his ties to the greatest tales of all time, the animated filmmaking process, and why Goldie & Bear is special apart from the hoards of animated entertainment available today.
Maria Tatar (series consultant), chair of Harvard University’s Folklore and Mythology program says,
When we are stumped, a story often provides the answer – not in the form of a one-liner but in a conversation about the things that mattered to us in the tale.
Even in our fast-paced culture where many two-year-olds know how to run an iPad before they can read, fairy tales, folk tales and nursery rhymes and their moral and ethical takeaways have remained alive and as vital as ever, and the through line that connects multiple generations.”
My Exclusive Interview with Executive Producer Chris Gilligan
TFT: First I’d like to say I am a huge fan of some of the projects which you’ve worked on. I’m a product of the 90’s and a big fan of the Celebrity Death Match, so I’m a little fangirl over all of this ha! I also love James and the Giant Peach (which my 7 year old is addicted to) and Frankenweenie. I err on the side of pop culture and dark art, so way cool.
CG: Thanks Christa, likewise! I checked out your website and thought it was kindred and inspired…think I’ve got a unicorn galloping around in my head too (at least I hope that’s what that noise is!)
TFT: You have a pretty broad range of projects, how would you say these have come to fruition in your work on this series?
CG: The common thread is that I’m always on the lookout for great characters and interesting worlds to explore when choosing projects, so when Nancy Kanter, Joe D’Ambrosia and Lori Mozilo at Disney Junior approached me with Goldie & Bear, it was a lucky day! The rich