For 100th anniversary, Disney's most famed characters will be commemorated on Vans shoes
Disney has partnered with footwear company Vans to release a line of sneakers and apparel that will feature some of its most beloved characters and infamous villains.
Available Friday, the assortment of Disney-themed clothing and footwear for both adults and children is the latest tie-in to celebrate the Walt Disney Company's 100th anniversary. As the centennial milestone approaches on Oct. 16, the company has planned numerous special events and releases to mark the occasion.
"The Disney100 celebrations this October will be unlike any party Disney has held before," the company said in a news release.
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Photos: Mickey, Donald, more featured on Vans shoes
The collection includes six footwear styles featuring artwork of classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, as well more recent characters like Stitch and modern princesses such as Moana.
But those with a taste for the wicked won't be feeling left out: the collection also includes sneakers embroidered with images of classic villains like "Lion King's" Scar, "Sleeping Beauty's" Maleficent, "The Little Mermaid's" Ursula and "Aladdin's" Jafar. Flipping Scar's shoe over showcases a neat detail on the bottom: Scar’s face split between the two outsoles.
One other standout of the villainous choices is the pair inspired by "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The platform sole shoe with red velvet includes as a lace attachment the Evil Queen’s bony hand holding the fruit as well as embossed text on the heel: “Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?"
If you've got enough sneakers already, the collection also includes a range of apparel and accessories sporting your favorite Disney characters, from bomber jackets to cardigans, hoodies and even backpacks.
The Disney collection will be available Friday at Vans retail locations and at vans.com. Pricing is not yet available.
Fans will also be able to design their own footwear through Vans' customs platform, which includes five prints at vans.com/customs.
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Other Disney100 plans: Re-releases, a 100th anniversary celebration
Streaming service Disney+ has already updated its logo and previously announced its plans to feature a collection of films and series from throughout the decades.
On Oct. 15, Disney will air a short film titled "Once Upon a Studio" that will feature both classic characters like Mickey Mouse, as well as modern ones like Moana. The film will make its broadcast debut on ABC during a special televised event, "The Wonderful World of Disney: Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration," hosted by Kelly Ripa.
Disney fans will also be able to see two animated favorites in theaters this month when the "Lion King" (1994) and "Moana" (2016) are re-released in select cinema complexes as part of its Disney100 special engagements. "The Lion King" runs September 29 to October 12 and "Moana follows" from October 13–26.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
