Walt Disney World’s Villains-Themed Land to Utilize ‘Conjured Architecture,’ Inspirations Revealed at Destination D23

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Walt Disney Imagineering stopped by Destination D23 to reveal new details about the upcoming Villains-themed land, including that the team created the term ‘Conjured Architecture’ to describe how they are utilizing “the magical, fluid, and organic appearance of both the animated villains and the Art Nouveau style of construction” to build this new space.

Alongside Disney Parks Blog, we were able to hear from Imagineers Wyatt Winter and Caroline May at Destination D23’s Villains panel, and they shared how the team is bringing the yet-unnamed Villains-themed land to life. As with many of Disney’s features, the team embarked on a research trip to find the right styles to do justice to the likes of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Scar, Ursula, Jafar, Hades, and Cruella de Vil.

For this project, the choice was to travel to Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain, to study Art Nouveau, which was in full swing in the late 1800s. From Paris, they took with them “the way natural motifs and swirling designs there make nature appear to be ‘cursed’ like magic has frozen it into place.”

For Barcelona, its style was actually called Modernisme, and it has “less natural patterns but gives architecture an otherworldly, unnerving appearance.” May even added that the buildings seem as though they are “melting with subliminal shapes and faces.”

One of the big surprises for the team during this trip was how much color was used. Seeing colorful stained-glass windows and painted metals inspired the team and helped see how they could “bring the beautiful, deep jewel tones of the animated villains to life in the land’s buildings.”

This all led to the previously mentioned term ‘Conjured Architecture,’ which mixes the classic style of the beloved Disney Villains and the Art Nouveau style of construction, which “refers to the blend of historical components and fantastical worlds that have merged to ultimately create something wicked.”

The other big news was that Disney Legend and former animator Andreas Deja will be serving as a consultant on the project. For those unfamiliar, Deja was integral in creating Gaston, Jafar, Scar, and so many more.

For Deja, he knows this land will incorporate the villains’ “big personalities, bold visuals, and rich backgrounds.”

It was also teased that Disney wants this land to be highly immersive, allowing guests to experience these villains like never before, including with some villainous meetings in a wonderfully wicked crossover of Disney films kind of way.

For more, check out all the big news from Destination D23’s Walt Disney Studios Showcase, how Walt Disney is getting an Audio-Animatronics figure in Disney World’s Carousel of Progress, and when D23 is taking place next year.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.