“Soar Beyond Imagination” by Netflix won the Craftsman Trophy in the 2017 Rose Parade. It depicted images from the film The Little Prince.
by Laura Berthold Monteros
Dole Packaged Foods once again won the Sweepstakes Trophy for “most beautiful entry in parade with outstanding floral presentation and design,” its sixth in seven years of Rose Parade participation. Newcomer Netflix took home the Craftsman Trophy for “exceptional achievement in showmanship and dramatic impact for floats longer than 55 feet” with a two-part creation in the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 2, 2017, “Echoes of Success.”
Be sure to check out the gallery below for detailed descriptions of flowering and riders.
“Soar Beyond Imagination,” designed by John Ramirez and built by AES, was essentially a promotion for The Little Prince, a family-friendly feature produced for Netflix. The float reflected the charm of the book on which the film was based and the whimsy of the film. The front float
“Spirit of Hawaii” by Dole Packaged Foods won the Sweepstakes Trophy, the sixth for Dole. The volcano shot real 20-foot flames and emitted smoke, and steam, and look closely for the fire Pele holds in her hands.
presented the Little Prince on his personal planet with his beautiful red rose. The second float is straight from the movie, with the aviator from the book now an aged man, living with his memories. The theme was chosen “because success and imagination are inextricably linked,” Netflix says, “And, of course, you can’t ignore that a main character in The Little Prince is The Rose!”
“Spirit of Hawaii,” like previous Dole Packaged Foods floats, honors the places where Dole products are grown. Many of the materials used in the decoration came from Hawaii, including the fresh leis and head leis for the dancers, drummers, and riders. Designed by Stanley Meyer and built by Fiesta Parade floats, the float celebrated the history and legend of Hawaii with a 10-foot copy of the statue of King Kamehameha, bedecked with fresh leis, and the fire goddess and creator Pele holding flames in her hands. A 28-foot-tall working volcano and several waterfalls, including a 10-foot-wide cascade, created excitement. Unfortunately, the waterworks were not running as it went by camera corner. For more about Dole, including interviews, read “Dole Packaged Foods give employees a taste of Hawaii.”
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Nestled in clouds of 8,000 iris, 3,000 carnations, and 300 bunches of gypsophila were Asteroid B612 and other “planets” from The Little Prince, inhabited by The King and The Businessman. The Aviator’s plane, decorated in silverleaf, ground orange lentil and onion and cranberry seed, is flown by The Little Girl. The plane rocked back and forth and the propeller rotated.
Thousands of branches, leaves, and grasses were used on the rear float, along with 500 square feet of sod to create the rather ill-kempt yard of The Aviator on the Netflix float “Soar Beyond Imagination.” The weather vane on the roof spun.
The Aviator’s home is a combination of lettuce seed, crushed walnut shells, poppy seed and pepper, with accents of carnation petals, lunaria, cut statice and ground split pea.
Asteroid B612, the home of The Little Prince, was created with more than 10,000 pink, hot pink, lavender and white roses. The Prince and The Rose were overheight and dropped down into the planet to avoid overpasses and wires.
Mark Osborne, who directed the Netflix film, and his son Riley, who voiced The Little Prince, sit on a bench in front of a tree with a paper bark trunk and canopy of magnolia branches. The garden overflows with tulips, amaryllis, daffodils, hyacinth, daisies, and snapdragons. Snuggling with them is The Fox doll from the film.
The Aviator from the film The Little Prince waves from his perch. Behind him is the telescope he uses to stargaze, and to “Soar Beyond Imagination.” Greasy prints on his costume indicate he’s been working on his plane. The Aviator bears quite a resemblance to his voice actor, Jeff Bridges.
Sea turtles frolic in floral waters and colorful parrots perch overhead on “Spirit of Hawaii” by Dole Packaged Foods. Beneath a canopy of 10,000 purple dendrobium orchids and specialty carnations, a 10-foot-wide waterfall flowed. Gardens of 20,000 hot pink Topaz roses and thousands of anthuriums, cypripedium, and vanda orchids created a lush paradise, along with Kimi, Curcuma and Torch ginger, King and Pink Mink protea, Angusta, Bihia, Lobster Claw, Sexy Pink, Pagoda and fuzzy King Kong hanging heliconia.
Pele, the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes and creator of the Hawaiian Islands. rose to a height of 16 feet from the mist of the tropical gardens. The cups in her hands filled with fire. Lava was created with 8,000 vivid florescent orange roses.
Three Pahu drummers kept the beat for the six dancers on the float and another 10 on the street, performing a fusion of traditional and modern Pacific dances.
Sitting in the center is Bonnie Atmore, President & CEO, FOOD Share, part of Feeding America. FOOD Share is Dole Packaged Foods’ non-profit partner for the 2017 Rose Parade. Dole collected non-perishable items at its headquarters and the float barn during the Rose Parade season. Food on the float included bananas, pineapples and mangoes grown and provided by Dole Packaged Foods.
Sculptured Cattleya and Phalaenopsis orchids, hanging heliconia, colorful yellow hibiscus (the state flower of Hawaii), and a lei of dainty sculptured plumeria frame graced the Dole float. Ten dancers performed a fusion of traditional and modern Pacific dances.
