magicblog, the blog by Photos Magiques dedicated to Imagineering and Disneyland Resort Paris’ history, takes a closer look at the new Toon Backlot area, part of Toon Studio.

Did you know that the common theme of the backlot area is the large backdrops for each attraction? Find out more today at magicblog!

A stroll around Toon Backlot

Over just a few years, many changes have been made at the former Animation Courtyard. We’re comparing two photos from 2004 and 2007 to highlight the changes.

Other major change was the addition of the Toon Backlot area (the location where Crush’s Coaster and Cars Rally is build). The old location, visual from the Flying Carpets photo platform, was empty and really made the Walt Disney Studios Park feel like an empty carpark. But that has changed…

Did you know that a short toon-styled music is played when a character comes on scene at Toon Studio? We’ve captured a short video of it!

Remy and Emile, the lead stars in Disney-Pixar’s Ratatouille are coming to Walt Disney Studios Park very soon!

Alternating with Mr. and Mrs. Incredible will both Remy and Emile perform their sets daily at the dedicated character location.

From 14th July to 26t August,from 10.00am to 13.00pm and 14.30pm to 16.00pm.

More photos at Photos Magiques.

We’ve uploaded a video to YouTube from the new Toon Studio Plaza at night!

Magicforum moderator Flor has send in some great photos from the Toon Studio placemaking, most importantly from the Toon Town backdrop and the details surrounding it!

Enjoy the photos below and check out the dedicated Photos Magiques album here for even more photos.

La Roquine on Disney Central Plaza posted an amazing piece of concept art on the Disney Central Plaza forum! The artwork features the large Toon Town backdrop with the Toon Studio gate and a security booth next to it. An information board with hours for the park’s shows and spectacles is also featured. On the far left cracks can be seen in the wall, caused by Goofy crashing his car against the wall. His silhouette can still be seen going through one of the backdrop buildings.

Alain Littaye on the other hand has posted a current construction photo of the Toon Town area showing the nearly finished backdrop and the Toon Studio letters on the gate.

More construction photos at Alain’s blog.

…The hillside lettering, that is! The new backdrop to the Toon Studio expansion area has continued to grow this week with rolling, green hills behind the colourful Toon buildings, all nestled behind the yellow studio wall and neatly covering the ImagiNations Costuming building behind.

The most noticable step was the installation yesterday of the piece of hillside where the “Toon Town” lettering will soon appear. The outlines of the letters are cut into the hillside, hinting that they will likely be 3D, similar to the inspiration for the backdrop at Toon Town in Disneyland, California.

More Interactive Fun — “High School Musical on Tour”, ”The Robinsons”, “Ratatouille” Meet ‘n Greets

The hottest dance moves and the biggest hit songs from one of the Disney Channel’s most popular entertainment phenomenon come to life in “High School Musical On Tour”, a new immersive show for teh whole family at Walt Disney Studios Park.

Debuting on a rolling outdoor stage June 16 and performing through Aug. 26, a multi-talented world of East High, a place where best friends break into elaborate musical numbers like magic.

Theme Park guests may even find themselves shooting basketball or joining in as the whole street turns into a party while great songs fill the air.Performed in several languages, it’s a showcase of sing-a-along fun that will invite all ages to be part of a new kind of live excitement inspired by the highest rated TV movie in Disney history.

Also this summer at Walt Disney Studios Park, guests can meet the characters from the newest animated Disney-Pixar film. Beginning June 16 in Toon Studio, meet the stars of Disney-Pixar’s upcoming animated feature “Ratatouille”: Rémy, an adorable rat who dreams of becoming a great French chef, and Emile, his roguish friend. And this fall in Toon Studio, meet 12-year-old boy genius Lew Robinson and the mysterious boy name Wilbur Robinson who whisks him away to the future in the comedic “Meet the Robinsons”.

A brand new floor, Toon Town façade and more blue. These are some of the great ingredients for the Toon Studio cocktail.

Let’s start with first things first, the new flooring.
Construction fences were removed past Saturday, revealing the new flooring consisting out of large squares of grey and red paving stones and black tarmac. Rumours are insisting that the latter should be replaced by fiber optic tiles or painted blue.

A big blue world!
What would a Toon Studio update be without reporting more blue paint? Painters were caught in the act while repainting the façade of Art of Disney Animation and traces of blue could be seen behind the Animagique scaffolding.

Toon Town style
Here comes the fun part! The first pieces for the Toon Town backdrop were brought on scene yesterday and installed on the metal structure in front of the Imaginations (costuming) building. The wall in front of the backdrop is currently being repainted in the old Walt Disney Studios yellow. More great additions have been added to the area, like the Toon lampposts, similar to the ones at Toon Town in Disneyland California.

More photos at Photos Magiques!

A new concept art for the Toon Studio area has been released showing the overall look of the transformed Animation Courtyard and the integration of the new attractions.

This artwork by Christian Hope differs from the previously released drawings:

• The concrete has been replaced by tiles on different ground levels.
• A small fountain is located in front of Animagique.
• The Toon Town backdrop seems to be larger and features now a sun.

Sources are insisting that this artwork was part of the early concept ideas, so it’s not a given thing that we will see all of these cool features when the project is finished.

La Roquine brings the latest news from the Toon Studio project on Disney Central Plaza:

Parts of the Art of Disney Animation facade, on the Studio Tram TOur side is in progress of being repainted in clear blue, including the toiletes.I think the results is a lot better, as it breaks the monotonous colours of the building. [...]

Work on the Toon Town photolocation has started as well, as ground breaking has start.

We’ll update the news as soon as possible when photos are on hand.