Can't wait for the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort in 2015? Meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and all their friends at the city's largest Disney exhibition at the Shanghai Super Brand Mall.

The exhibition invites visitors to have a taste of the Disneyland under construction, according to the organizer. Many of the exhibits have been transported from the Walt Disney Family Museum in Los Angeles, like the manuscripts of early animation producers.

The center of the mall's third floor has been transformed into a magic house with a giant Mickey above, greeting visitors. Classic cartoon figures, created by the company and its sub-companies over the past 90 years, are presented, including Winnie the Pooh.

Visitors can enjoy one of Disney's earliest film, Steamboat Willie. The film, which was screened in New York city in 1928, was considered the first fully synchronized sound cartoon. It was also the first time that Mickey and Minnie first appeared.

Visual and audio technologies have been applied to make the exhibition interactive.

In the Snow White section, a magic mirror on the wall astonishes visitors. Like the evil queen in the fairytale, visitors can stand before the mirror and ask: "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" One can see images of Snow White appear in the mirror.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, produced by the company, was considered the world's first full-length animated featured film.

In the Lion King section, stand at a designated position and enjoy the songs from the film in surround sound. The Lion King, Disney's 32nd full-length animated film, was one of the most successful Disney films and was turned into a Broadway opera.

Still the most charming star of the exhibition is Mickey Mouse, while the brightest of all is a Mickey Mouse model inlaid with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals.

Four young artists, Yan Wei and Guan Chun from the Chinese mainland, and Dorophy Tang and Kenny Wang from Hong Kong, created different series of Mickey Mouse models with their personal styles.

Besides Disneyland, in 2015, the Walt Disney Company China will open the world's largest Disney Store, which will cover about 5,000 sq m in Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial hub.

wuni@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/19/2014 page9)