Kathleen Sarnelli Kapukchyan is the writer of the Mickey Mouse Funhouse episode., "Vardavar!," which aired on March 1, 2024.
The episode centers entirely on the traditional Armenian festival Vardavar, marking the first-ever representation of Armenian culture at Disney. Armenian Film Society shared the news about the episode several days before its airing, which received a lot of positive attention in the Armenian community and beyond.
Armenian Film Society spoke with Kathleen Sarnelli Kapukchyan about her background, how the episode came together, and Disney's incredible support for the episode.
Armenian Film Society: Can you share some information about yourself for our readers?
Kathleen Sarnelli Kapukchyan: I am a mixed Latina who grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Glendale when I was about 12 years old. I went to the local public school Glendale High School. During my time at Glendale High School, I met my husband and we both ended up at Glendale Community College and surprisingly loved attending the local community college. After GCC, we transferred to UCLA. During my time at UCLA, my husband and I made a Los Angeles Drought Documentary and that led us to making a Tibetan Plateau Documentary. After some time and a lot of job applications, I finally got into Disney where I slowly made my way into becoming a Staff Writer with Mickey Mouse Funhouse.
AFS: How and when did you become a writer for Mickey Mouse Funhouse?
KSK: I first started on Mickey Mouse Funhouse as a Production Department Secretary. It was a great job because it really set the foundation of understanding the process of making an animation episode. I really wanted to become a Writer and luckily Disney had an Apprentice Writer program that not only helped hone my skills as a writer but allowed me to work closely with the writing team to get feedback and advice. Thankfully, through that program I slowly transitioned from an Apprentice Writer to a Staff Writer!
AFS: What episodes have you written for the show?
KSK: So far, five of my episodes have aired on Mickey Mouse Funhouse. Season 2: "The Heroic Games," "Día de los Muertos," "The Lost Party Rings," and "Santa's Crash Landing." Season 3: "Vardavar!" More episodes will soon be announced so be on the lookout!
AFS: How did the “Vardavar!” episode come about?
KSK: The Vardavar episode came about mostly because of my visit to Armenia in 2018. I was inspired by the people, the food, the architecture, and the overall hospitality of everyone. My husband proposed to me underneath the Garni Temple and I knew that one day I wanted to showcase the wonderful Armenian culture. One day, at Verdugo Park in Glendale, I saw a Vardavar celebration. I saw kids and grandparents young and old celebrating together and having fun splashing each other. I asked my husband about the event and he told me it was Vardavar, a holiday where people splash each other. This sparked the idea that I needed to write a Mickey Mouse Funhouse episode showcasing this fun holiday!
AFS: Was there any hesitation on Disney’s part on doing an episode on Vardavar or Armenian culture?
KSK: None at all! Phil Weinstein (executive producer), Thomas Hart (co-executive producer), Mark Drop (story editor), and all of the Mickey Mouse Funhouse crew were super supportive. I am grateful that they were excited about sharing the fun Vardavar holiday.
AFS: The episode includes many cultural references. How did you decide what to include?
KSK: I wanted Astghik to first have an Armenian Taraz. I wanted her to look Armenian and have the traditional attire so little girls and boys can see the rich cultural wardrobe that is important to Armenian culture. I also wanted to include Armenian khorovats and tahn because food is important part in uniting different cultures and it’s some of my favorite food and my husband's family too. A good khorovats on the weekend is a great way for friends and family to connect. Not to mention Garni! It is one of the oldest Armenian temples!
AFS: What was your reaction when you saw the episode for the first time? What has this meant for your family?
KSK: My family and friends were super emotional watching the episode because they felt like they were finally seeing more representation for the Armenian community at Disney. The Armenian community around the world is small but mighty! Astghik is bigger than me and what she represents to the world is positivity and kindness.
AFS: This marks the first-ever representation of Armenian culture on Mickey Mouse Funhouse. Why do you feel that is important for Armenians around the world? Why was this important for you?
KSK: It is important to Armenians around the world because seeing someone who speaks and looks like them makes them feel heard and celebrated. This was super important for me because I knew as a mom I wanted to point up at the screen and tell my son there is someone who is Armenian like you and your culture is celebrated.
AFS: What are your hopes for the future in regards to representation for Armenians?
KSK: I hope that we see even more Armenian representation because that is something I will always continue to advocate for.
