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Lover of film, music, and theme parks. Plant based. Senior screenwriting major with a minor in creative and cultural industries at Chapman University.
Prop Culture is a brand new series on Disney+ that was created and produced by Jason C. Henry and Dan Lanigan. The series follows Lanigan revisiting classic Disney films through the lens of movie props. In a surprising turn of events, Disney dropped the entire series on May 1st for all you bingers out there. Is Prop Culture worth a binge watch? Yes, and then some. It’s a MUST WATCH for Disney fans and movie fans in general.
To begin, Prop Culture is a heartwarming, nostalgic, and interesting look at the world of movie making. The basic episode structure is as follows: Dan discusses his connection to a certain Disney film, he visits the Walt Disney Archives where we can see preserved props from the film, he interviews crew members of the film about their experience, and he reconnects the cast/creator with long lost props. This episode structure is entirely effective and engaging. The episodes only run around 30-35 minutes and they are paced perfectly. The show gives equal amounts of time to each individual segment within the episode, and by the end of it the viewer feels very fulfilled.
Prop Culture is a gorgeously put together show, especially the episode about Pirates of the Caribbean. The Pirates episode is a little bit different because Dan visits the location where the movie was filmed, St. Vincent island. During his visit, he takes many boat rides around the island and locals point out key places where the movies were filmed. The shots are grand in scope and fully show off the beautiful landscape of the island. It’s easy to see why Jerry Bruckheimer and company picked this island to film at. In every episode, the shows creators really take their time to get visually interesting and beautiful shots. They do a wondrous job of holding your attention and immersing you into the world of the movie being discussed. For a show about old historical objects, it certainly is beautifully filmed.
The show wouldn’t be what it is without the creator and host, Dan Lanigan. Dan is incredibly charming from the moment we meet him, and you can tell he truly cares about the films he’s discussing. Additionally, he’s a terrific interviewer and the guests always seem to be having a great time. He’s so knowledgeable about the movies and their production’s, that it almost feels like the guests are just hanging out with a friend. I think I speak for every Prop Culture fan when I say that I want to grab lunch and hang out with Dan. He’s a very interesting person and a terrific television host.
The most surprising aspect of the show is how emotional it can become. Based on the pitch alone, one might expect this show to just be interesting. But Prop Culture is so much more than that. When the cast or creators of the movies are reunited with iconic props, it often leads to an emotional reaction. The process of making a movie is long and grueling, but rewarding at the same time. For instance, when Karen Dotrice, the actress who portrayed little Jane Banks, was reunited with her costume from Mary Poppins, she was brought to tears. This show really is something special in the way that it operates. Dan essentially reconnects long lost friends. When the cast members are rejoined with their props or costumes, you can see the memories flooding back. It’s truly a beautiful thing to see.
With a charming host, great premise, and surprisingly emotional moments, Prop Culture is a perfect example of what Disney+ could, and frankly should, be. The platform is quite literally sitting on a goldmine of potential content. The storied history of the Walt Disney Company and its films is something that people would eat up if given the chance. With this show alone, the viewer is swept up into the nostalgia and reputation of Disney, and it’s just about the objects used in the movies. Imagine a show where the audience gets a detailed and descriptive look into the production of some of their favorite Disney classics. It would be phenomenal. For now, we just have Prop Culture, but lucky for us it’s terrific. Here’s hoping for a second season.
9/10
Have you had a chance to check out Prop Culture? What did you think?
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Lover of film, music, and theme parks. Plant based. Senior screenwriting major with a minor in creative and cultural industries at Chapman University.
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