Unveiling the Enchanting Magic Behind Disney's Illusion Island

Highlights

Disney's Illusion Island is a new game from Dlala Studios featuring beloved characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in a Metroidvania-style adventure.

The creative director considered working with Disney a significant milestone and felt privileged to have been entrusted with these beloved characters. While Dlala had the freedom to be creative with the story, Disney ensured that the fundamental traits of the characters were preserved. Animation proved to be essential in upholding the unique identity of each character, as the animation team effectively depicted their distinctive personalities through their movements.

Dlala Studios, known for their popular game Battletoads released in 2020, brings a brand new gaming experience called Illusion Island. This exciting title takes players on a Metroidvania-style adventure with familiar Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy. The game features imaginative maps, challenging boss battles, and enjoyable abilities. If you're eager to join the fun of Disney's Illusion Island, you can grab a copy for the Switch now.

In a recent interview, Game Rant had the opportunity to chat with AJ Grand-Scrutton, the creative director, about collaborating with Disney and how he and his team crafted a fresh story while staying true to the essence of these beloved characters.

New World, New Story, Same Characters Everybody Loves

Illusion Island begins by introducing The Fab Four, a group consisting of Mikey, Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy, who receive an invitation to visit the village of Monoth. Initially thinking it's a vacation invitation from one another, they soon realize that they have been called upon to assist the town in recovering three powerful stolen books of magic.

In order to retrieve the stolen tomes, players will journey through three distinct environments, pursuing the thieves and engaging in challenging boss battles to reclaim what was taken. These environments are designed with Metroidvania-style exploration in mind, offering a range of enjoyable and interactive abilities for players to experience either solo or in cooperative play with up to three additional friends.

Being entrusted with four iconic characters is a tremendous honor in both my personal and professional life. Working with Disney was a standout experience, filled with excitement and a deep sense of privilege. Only a select few individuals in the past century can claim to have had this opportunity. Surprisingly, despite Disney's global dominance, their control over the production process was not as stringent as anticipated.

The core personalities of each character had to remain intact, as any major changes would not be allowed by Disney. However, apart from that, Dlala had the freedom to shape the story as they wished. Surprisingly, Disney supported their ideas and allowed them to implement impressive features. This collaboration was facilitated by constant communication with internal Disney employees, including lead writer and narrative designer Chris Painter from Disney games. He guided Dlala's team to ensure that the personalities of The Fab Four were maintained in their new story.

"One of our key objectives for the project was to create an authentic Disney experience with a distinct touch of Dlala's creativity."

The animation team at Dlala worked tirelessly to maintain the distinct identity of each of the Fab Four through animation. They ensured that the game was filled with fresh animations that were unique to each character's personality and showcased their individual movements within the game world.

To accomplish this, the team assigned a specific object to each character:

Mickey - Bouncy Ball

Minnie - Paper Airplane

Donald - Slingshot

Goofy - Slinky

The animation team ensured that the movements of each character captured their unique personalities. In addition, they created various abilities that players can unlock, such as Minnie's graceful paper airplane-like movements or Goofy's clumsy and playful motions, reminiscent of a slinky trying to catch up with itself.

Illusion Island offers a fresh and enjoyable take on The Fab Four that appeals to everyone. Whether playing alone, with friends, or with family, Dlala delivers a new story while staying true to the cherished identities of these beloved characters.

Disney’s Illusion Island is available to play now on Switch.