Disney - Misan Harriman immortalizes the power of friendship with Mickey and friends

By Mulder, 05 august 2021

Photography is a medium that I have been passionate about for many, many years. Taking a picture is in a way to stop time and engrave a moment forever. Whether it's during my many trips back and forth between Paris and Los Angeles, my coverage of press events (I can't wait to get out of this pandemic and get back to my press conferences in Paris, to be able to cover many events...)..

We can only support this collaboration between Disney and the famous British photographer Misan Harriman who joined forces for a series of photos on the theme of friendship. The exhibition "Mickey and friends: the power of friendship", whose casting has just been launched, has been unveiled. It is a participatory casting the public, in addition to being photographed, was encouraged to share their stories about friendship on the platform What We See. 

Disney and photographer, filmmaker and cultural resource manager Misan Harriman revealed the first portraits from the highly anticipated photography series Mickey and Friends: The Power of Friendship. The artist photographed celebrities and accompanied her work with previously unpublished anecdotes collected through a special call to share stories of inspiring friendships. The stars posed with their own friends and loved ones on World Friendship Day, benefiting Disney's UK partner MediCinema, a non-profit organization that provides access to movies for people in hospital.

Misa Harriman, a storyteller renowned for her evocative photographic work, has composed images that celebrate the power of friendship in its many forms, inspired by Mickey's gang: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy. Misan Harriman follows in the footsteps of artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Charlie Chaplin, who have been inspired by these iconic characters for over 90 years.

This series of carefully selected photographs highlights the diversity of friendships: childhood friends, brothers, mother and daughter, colleagues or allies, all of the models have agreed to pose in support of those who are making their voices heard to change the culture for us. Among the duos photographed are Laura Whitmore and her mother Carmel; Olly Murs and his friend James; Reggie and Cobbie Yates, and many others. Famous acting duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, patrons of MediCinema, are also featured in the series, as well as Leigh-Anne Pinnock, photographed alone as an ally, symbolizing the importance of supporting others.

As part of the three-year Mickey and Friends: Stay True campaign, the entire portrait series will be unveiled to the public in a virtual exhibition this September. The exhibition will also include authentic stories of friendship shared via the What We See cultural platform, whose mission is to highlight and provide a wider audience for uplifting, inspiring and diverse stories. The exhibit will also give center stage to the friendships and anecdotes of Disney and MediCinema partner hospitals, immortalized in photographs. For more than 20 years, Disney has supported MediCinema and its efforts to improve the quality of life for hospitalized patients and their families through the power of a shared movie experience and the magic of film. With this long-standing partnership, Disney and MediCinema are working together to create meaningful resources and unforgettable experiences for hospitalized children and their loved ones. The goal is to help them build emotional resilience, break their loneliness
and encourage people to connect with each other, with a little help from their favorite Disney movie characters.

To highlight the work MediCinema is doing, the portrait series Mickey and Friends: The Power of Friendship will also feature the touching story of 8-year-old Lucas, who has been in and out of the hospital since he was very young and has developed a strong bond with two MediCinema volunteers, Billy and John, whom he considers his best friends. By supporting charities like this, Disney is committed to creating moments that matter and bringing comfort to sick children by reducing their isolation. Misan Harriman says, "It's been really exciting for me to capture all these incredible stories of friendship from around the world, both in real life and virtually. I hope that when people see the photos we are unveiling today, they will feel as much hope as I did when I took them, and also the joy of discovering what brought these individuals together. There are so many moving stories that prove how strong the power of friendship is - as seen with Mickey and his friends - and that have given the people pictured moments that matter."

Misan Harriman and Disney have revealed the first images from the Mickey and Friends photo project: The Power of Friendship, featuring Leigh Anne Pinnock, Laura Whitmore, Naomi Scott, Sabrina Elba, Ella Balinska, Lila Moss, Reggie Yates, Rochelle Humes, Olly Murs, HRVY, Damson Idris, and friends This portrait series is accompanied by stories of friendship from around the world, including inspiring stories shared by Disney partner MediCinema, a British nonprofit

Mickey and Friends: The Power of Friendship featuring :
- Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, actors and patrons of MediCinema
- Singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock
- Actress Naomi Scott
- Model Lila Moss and her friend Ella Richards
- TV host Laura Whitmore and her mother, Carmel
- Actress Ella Balinska and her friend Fejiro
- TV host, children's best-selling author and entrepreneur Rochelle Humes
- Former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and her partner Ella Baig
- Actor Damson Idris
- TV host Miquita Oliver and her mother, chef and TV host Andi Oliver
- Radio and TV hosts Yasmin Evans and Clara Amfo
- Singer HRVY and his mother Nicky Cantwell
- TV and radio host Reggie Yates and his brother, costume designer Cobbie Yates
- Singer and TV host Olly Murs and his friend James Mace
- Actress and Rising Star BAFTA Award winner Bukky Bakray and her friend Precious
- Activist Amika George and her friend Grace Warren
- Model Sabrina Elba and a friend
- Young Lucas with MediCinema volunteers Billy and John who supported him
- Tommy (95) and Aoife (25), a duo of Scottish friends
- Anisha and Kiren, two friends from the East Midlands (England)

Some of the friendship stories featured in the series:

Anisha & Kiren

When Anisha discovered Vakhri Punjabans, the British women's traditional Indian dance circle Bhangra and Gidha, founded and run by Kiren, it changed her life. Thanks to Kiren's kindness and her love for the Punjabi culture of which she is a passionate ambassador, Anisha has experienced unforgettable moments of dance and friendship over the past five years.

Tommy and Aoife

This simple friendship story begins in an incongruous place: the Scottish equivalent of a PMU, where Tommy used to go to place small bets to fill his days. Aoife was working there part-time after moving to this small Scottish town to study fashion. Soon a friendship developed between these two strangers and for the past six years they have been sharing homemade meals, shopping trips and even driving lessons!

Laura Whitmore

TV host Laura Whitmore and her mother Carmel celebrate the special friendship between mother and daughter. Laura says, "The mother-daughter relationship is unique. Your mother, she's your first friend, and she's a friend for life."

Naomi Scott

Actress Naomi Scott and her friend Tiffany Pope celebrate the power of friendship. Naomi and Tiffany are not only cousins, but also best friends, and they have always been able to count on each other.

Some of the photos may even be selected for the virtual exhibition, which will feature both stars and complete strangers. The photos will show the power of human relationships, from joyful reunions, to tenderness and encouragement between friends. People from all walks of life will participate to highlight the universality of friendship.

The entire series of photographs, with its celebrity portraits and authentic stories of friendship, will be presented to the public in a virtual exhibition in September 2021. The goal of the event is to raise awareness of the work of MediCinema and Disney's partner hospitals Several celebrities from the film world also lent themselves to the game.

(Source: press release)