The Walt Disney Studios unveiled new details about its upcoming animation slate this morning at the D23 Expo, showcasing new imagery, signature music and behind-the-scenes stories surrounding the roster of upcoming animated adventures. The presentation included information about the just-announced feature film “Zootopia” (working title) from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the newest film in Disneytoon Studios’ Disney Fairies franchise, plus never-before-shared voice cast announcements for upcoming Disney•Pixar titles that include Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris and Diane Keaton, among a host of others.
“It’s
a fantastic, exciting time for animation at Disney and Pixar,” said
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar
Animation Studios. “The filmmakers at our three studios are so
talented—their films are all so touching and beautiful, but so
different. I am truly excited to share these films with everyone.”
· Lasseter surprised fans with a screening of the first 10 minutes of Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story OF TERROR!” The D23 Expo audience was the first ever to see footage from the
spooky new 30-minute special that features favorite characters from the
“Toy Story” films. What starts out as a fun road trip for the “Toy
Story” gang takes an unexpected turn for the worse when the trip detours
to a roadside motel. After one of the toys goes missing, the others
find themselves caught up in a mysterious sequence of events that must
be solved before they all suffer the same fate in this “Toy Story OF
TERROR!” From director Angus MacLane and producer Galyn Susman, “Toy
Story OF TERROR!” premieres on ABC Oct. 16, 2013.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen,” directed by Chris Buck (“Tarzan”) and Jennifer Lee (“Wreck-It Ralph”- screenplay by), and produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog”), shared never-before-seen film footage, introduced by “Frozen” stars Kristen Bell, voice of Anna, and Josh Gad, voice of Olaf. Fans were also treated to a show-stopping live performance of the film’s powerful new song “Let It Go,” sung by Broadway’s Tony® Award-winner Idina Menzel, who provides the voice of Elsa in the film.
In
“Frozen,” fearless optimist Anna (voice of Bell) teams up with rugged
mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer
Sven in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical
trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf (voice of Gad) in
a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa (voice of Menzel), whose icy powers
have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. In theaters Nov. 27, 2013.
· “Get A Horse!” made its U.S. premiere at the D23 Expo. Featuring
Walt Disney himself as the voice of Mickey Mouse, this black-and-white,
hand-drawn theatrical short follows Mickey, his favorite gal pal Minnie
Mouse and their friends Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow as they
delight in a musical haywagon ride—until Peg-Leg Pete shows up and tries
to run them off the road. This groundbreaking short from Walt Disney Animation Studios is directed
by Lauren MacMullan (TV’s “The Simpsons”) and produced by Dorothy McKim
(“Prep & Landing” trilogy, “Meet the Robinsons”), “Get A Horse!”
opens in front of “Frozen” on Nov. 27, 2013.
Disneytoon Studios’ “The Pirate Fairy” brought
pixie dust to the festivities, unveiling the newest and most exciting
adventure in the Disney Fairies franchise. Director Peggy Holmes
(“Secret of the Wings”) introduced Christina Hendricks, who gives voice
to Zarina, and Tom Hiddleston, tapped to voice a young James aka Captain
Hook.
When
a misunderstood dust-keeper fairy named Zarina steals Pixie Hollow’s
all-important Blue Pixie Dust, and flies away to join forces with the
pirates of Skull Rock, Tinker Bell and her fairy friends must embark on
the adventure of a lifetime to return it to its rightful place. However,
in the midst of their pursuit of Zarina, Tink’s world is turned upside
down. She and her friends find that their respective talents have been
switched and they have to race against time to retrieve the Blue Pixie
Dust and return home to save Pixie Hollow. With comedy, heart and epic
thrills for the whole family, “The Pirate Fairy” sets sail Spring 2014.
Disney•Pixar’s heartfelt and hilarious “The Good Dinosaur”
roamed the convention center this morning. Co-director Peter Sohn and
producer Denise Ream ( “Cars 2,” “Up”- associate producer) were on hand
to announce key members of the voice cast, including Lucas
Neff, voice of Arlo; Bill Hader, voice of Forrest; Judy Greer, voice of
Ivy; Neil Patrick Harris, voice of Cliff; John Lithgow, voice of Poppa;
and Frances McDormand, voice of Momma.
Neff and Greer appeared on stage, alongside Hader, whose voice was also heard in Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University.”
“The
Good Dinosaur” asks the generations-old question: What if the
cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed
the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? In
theaters May 30, 2014,
the film is a humorous and exciting original story about Arlo, a lively
70-foot-tall teenage Apatosaurus with a big heart. After a traumatic
event rattles Arlo’s tranquil community, he sets out on a quest to
restore peace, gaining an unlikely companion along the way—a young human
boy named Spot.
The crowd roared when their favorite monsters returned to the big screen as Disney•Pixar’s short “Party Central” scared up six minutes of fun at the D23 Expo. In the short, Mike and Sulley are back at Monsters
University for a fun-filled weekend with their Oozma Kappa fraternity
brothers. The gang is throwing their first party, but no one’s showing
up. Luckily for them, Mike and Sulley have come up with a plan to make
sure “Party Central” is the most epic party the school has ever seen. In
theaters May 30, 2014, with “The Good Dinosaur.”
·
Disneytoon Studios’ “Planes: Fire & Rescue”
landed on stage at the D23 Expo, welcoming Dane Cook, the voice of
Dusty in “Disney’s Planes,” the action comedy adventure that landed in
theaters today. Cook, who returns to voice the character in the
follow-up, joined director Bobs Gannaway (“Secret of the Wings”) on stage. Julie Bowen was announced as the voice of Lil’ Dipper, and fans were treated to story details for “Planes: Fire & Rescue,” plus character images, concept art and footage from the film.
“Planes:
Fire & Rescue” features a quirky crew of elite firefighting
aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a
raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Cook)
learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must
shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty
joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and
his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’
Dipper (voice of Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military
transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known
as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive
wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
“Planes: Fire & Rescue” ignites July 18, 2014.
· Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Big Hero 6”
hit the D23 Expo in style, welcoming director Don Hall (“Winnie the
Pooh”) to the stage with a story presentation, including concept art and
a sizzle piece designed to build excitement for the action comedy
adventure.
“Big
Hero 6” features brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who finds
himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the
fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his
closest companion—a robot named Baymax—Hiro joins forces with a
reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their
city. Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring
comic-book style action and all the heart and humor audiences expect
from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the CG-animated “Big Hero 6” hits
theaters in 3D on Nov. 7, 2014.
· Disneytoon Studios director Steve Loter revealed plans for “Legend of the NeverBeast,”
which takes the Disney Fairies on an epic action adventure that’s full
of heart and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Fun and talented animal fairy
Fawn believes you can’t judge a book by its cover—or an animal by its
fangs—so she befriends a huge and mysterious creature known as the
NeverBeast. While Tink and her friends aren’t so sure about this scary
addition to Pixie Hollow, the elite Scout Fairies set out to capture the
monster before he destroys their home. Fawn must trust her heart and
take a leap of faith if she hopes to rally the girls to save the
NeverBeast. Directed by Steve Loter, “Legend of the NeverBeast” roars to
life in Spring 2015.
Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” brought Joy to fans—literally—revealing members of the voice cast, including Amy
Poehler as the voice of Joy, Lewis Black as the voice of Anger, Mindy
Kaling as the voice of Disgust, Phyllis Smith as the voice of Sadness,
and Bill Hader as the voice of Fear. The audience met two of the film’s
five starring emotions, Sadness and Fear, when Smith and Hader appeared
on stage to greet fans and fuel excitement for the 2015 film.
·
Director
Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and producer Lindsey Collins
(co-producer “WALL•E”) shared exciting voice cast announcements for Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory.” Joining Ellen DeGeneres, who provides the voice of Dory, are Albert
Brooks as the voice of Marlin, Diane Keaton as the voice of Dory’s mom
Jenny, Eugene Levy as the voice of Dory’s dad Charlie, and Ty Burrell as
the voice of Bailey.
Pixar
fans also delighted in a surprise appearance by the studio’s “lucky
charm” John Ratzenberger, who was ceremoniously paraded on stage by the
Disneyland marching band. Ratzenberger joined Hader in a hilarious duel
of one-upmanship over the multiple Pixar characters each has voiced.
· Walt Disney Animation Studios’ director Byron Howard (“Tangled”) and writer Jared Bush shared plans for the upcoming comedy adventure ”Zootopia” (working title).
In the animal city of Zootopia, a fast-talking fox who’s trying to make
it big goes on the run when he’s framed for a crime he didn’t commit.
Zootopia’s top cop, a self-righteous rabbit, is hot on his tail, but
when both become targets of a conspiracy, they’re forced to team up and
discover even natural enemies can become best friends. In theaters in 2016.
Veteran Disney Filmmaker Celebrates 60 Years with Walt Disney Animation Studios
Burny Mattinson counts
60 years with Walt Disney Animation Studios this year, and the
milestone was marked with a surprise celebration at the D23 Expo.
Mattinson is one of the few remaining Disney artists who worked with
Walt Disney and is still on staff at Walt Disney Animation Studios. His
career is highlighted by helming the Academy Award®-nominated 1983
animated featurette “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” which returned Mickey
Mouse to the big screen for the first time in 30 years. In 1984, wrote,
produced and directed “The Great Mouse Detective.” Mattinson’s credits
include “Sleeping Beauty,” “101 Dalmatians,” “The Sword in the Stone,”
“The Jungle Book,” “The Aristocats” and “The Rescuers.” He served as a
key member of the story team on Disney’s contemporary classics including
“Aladdin,” “Beauty & the Beast,” “The Lion King, “Pocahontas,”
“Mulan,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Tarzan,” and was senior story artist on 2011’s big-screen adventure “Winnie the Pooh.” Mattinson joined Disney in 1953 at age 18 with no formal art training; within six months, he was working as an in-betweener on “Lady and the Tramp.”
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