In the late '90s, I was working on portrait and mural concepts for the Hotel Miracosta in Tokyo DisneySea. My design parameter was to create a series of portraits featuring Disney characters in famous artworks. I sketched out hilarious parodies on works from da Vinci to Warhol.
Months later, I finally presented them to the team so they could choose the ones that would fit the space. The meeting included the resident "character police" at Imagineering—the person in charge of ensuring character integrity. As she surveyed my drawings, she grimaced. She didn't like the concept of Goofy in Van Gogh's "Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear." That would never be approved.
When I asked her why not, she said, "Goofy just wouldn't do that to himself."
I waited for the laughter, but none came. She was serious. Apparently, there is a psychological profile that fits Goofy—and self-abuse does not fit within that persona (even as parody). I reminded her that he's a cartoon and the ear would grow back in the next frame, but she was not amused.
Years later, I was tasked with more character-in-famous-artworks for a different project, and I re-submitted the concept. That art director loved it. And so, I finally got to paint "Van Goof" with a bandaged ear for the Disney Cruise Lines.
