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Disney Animation

First Look at Pixar’s LIGHTYEAR!

27 October 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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Earlier this year, Disney/Pixar announced the new pseudo-prequel to the beloved Toy Story character, LIGHTYEAR. Today, we get our first look at the film in this exciting teaser!

The sci-fi action-adventure presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans.

The film – which stars Chris Evans in the titular role – is scheduled to release June 17, 2022. No word yet on whether the film will debut on Disney+ Premier Access – something that Disney’s most recent releases have not been doing.

We know we’re excited to see what this story has in store, so be sure to stick around here for more updates on the film!

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Filed Under: Disney News, Latest News, Movies & Books Tagged With: animated disney movie, Buzz Lightyear, Disney Animation, Disney movie, Disney Pixar, lightyear, lightyear movie, lightyear trailer, Pixar, Pixar animation, pixar movie, pixar news, pixar trailer, Toy Story

Teaser Trailer Released for Disney and Pixar’s TURNING RED

13 July 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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Pixar fans who can’t get enough after last month’s Luca are in for a treat this morning as Disney and Pixar release the first teaser for their next project.

Slated for 2022, TURNING RED is the all new original feature film from Pixar Animation Studios’ director Domee Shi, who won an Academy Award for her 2018 short film, “Bao.” Young actress Rosalie Chiang lends her voice to Mei Lee, a 13-year-old who suddenly “poofs” into a giant red panda when she gets too excited. Sandra Oh (“The Chair,” “Killing Eve”) voices Mei Lee’s protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, who is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager.

Check out the teaser below.

Fans of Bao, which released alongside Incredibles 2 in 2018 will recognize the director’s style immediately. And those excited for Turning Red after this teaser can expect the film in 2022. We’ll have more updates on the film as they are released!

Check out some of our other Pixar updates here.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Movies & Books Tagged With: bao, Disney, Disney Animation, Disney movie, Disney trailer, domee shi, Pixar, Pixar animation, pixar movie, pixar short, pixar teaser, pixar trailer, sandra oh, turning red, turning red trailer

Trailer and Posters for Disney’s Encanto

8 July 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I just watched the trailer for Encanto, and wow, what a feast for the eyes! I hadn’t really heard much about this movie since its first announcement but the visuals are completely amazing! The new Encanto posters and trailer are a must-see!

If you haven’t heard about it either, here is the official info from Disney: Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto,” the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The all-new original film features the voice of Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel, an ordinary 15-year-old who’s struggling to find her place in her family. “Mirabel is a really funny, loving character who also deeply yearns for something more,” says Beatriz. “She’s also not afraid to stand up for what she knows is right—something I love and relate to very much.

Encanto poster

“I’m Colombian on my father’s side, and playing this role fills me with immense pride,” continues Beatriz. “As a Disney kid, I’d burn through my VHS tapes and adored every single magical story that the world of Disney introduced me to. I learned in those that stories that anything is possible, especially if you believe in magic and the goodness rooted deep inside us all.”

In the film, the magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. The voice cast also includes María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, Jessica Darrow, Rhenzy Feliz and Carolina Gaitan.

Encanto poster

“COLOMBIA, MI ENCANTO”

The new Encanto trailer includes an original song from the film, “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” performed by 17-time GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY winner, singer, songwriter and actor Carlos Vives, who’s a native of Santa Marta, Colombia. “This song is a celebration of the magical diversity of Colombia,” says Vives. “I can’t wait to see how the music will blend with the images and the characters inspired by the ‘encanto’ of Colombians.”

The film features all-new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”) and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino. Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film. The filmmakers were deeply inspired by their research trip to Colombia during early development of “Encanto,” as well as their continuous work with a group of expert consultants assembled through the course of the film’s production. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” opens in theaters November 24, 2021.

Follow along here, and of course stay tuned to Zannaland for more info and a review when it comes out! Are you excited to see this new Disney animated film? Let us know in the comments!

www.instagram.com/encantomovie

www.twitter.com/encantomovie

https://www.facebook.com/EncantoMovie

 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movies & Books, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney animated feature, Disney Animation, Disney Encanto, Disney movie, Encanto, Encanto poster, Encanto trailer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephanie Beatriz, Walt Disney Animation

DisneyPixar’s Luca Teaser Trailer

25 February 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Disney Pixar Luca poster I will admit, this movie snuck up on me! I had no idea this was in the works, so it was exciting to see a new image released yesterday and now a teaser trailer. If you haven’t heard what Luca is all about, here’s the scoop so far:

Disney and Pixar’s upcoming original feature film “Luca” is a fun and heartwarming story about friendship, stepping out of your comfort zone and two teenage sea monsters who experience a life-changing summer. Directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (“La Luna”) and produced by Andrea Warren (“Lava,” “Cars 3”), “Luca” features a remarkable voice cast.

  • Jacob Tremblay (“Room,” “Wonder”) lends his voice to Luca Paguro, a bright and inventive 13-year-old sea monster with endless curiosity—especially when it comes to the mysterious world above the sea.
  • Jack Dylan Grazer (“We Are Who We Are,” “Shazam”) voices Alberto Scorfano, an independent, free-spirited teenage sea monster with unbridled enthusiasm for the human world.
  • Emma Berman provides the voice of Giulia, an outgoing and charming adventurer who befriends Luca and Alberto.
  • Maya Rudolph (“Bridesmaids,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Big Mouth”) voices Daniela, Luca’s mother.
  • Marco Barricelli voices Massimo, Giulia’s father.
  • Jim Gaffigan (“The Pale Tourist,” “Troop Zero”) voices Lorenzo, Luca’s father.

Fun fact, I almost named my son Gio Luca but settled on Giovanni with the understanding that he’d be called Gio. But I have always loved that name, probably since Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” back in 1987, but I’m dating myself haha. Anyway, here’s the Luca trailer:

 

 

What I find very interesting is the art style for Pixar has kind of morphed a little. To me, this definitely has a look similar to Sony Animation’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs style. It looks very pretty to look at and the story definitely seems fun.

Disney Pixar Luca

Here’s some commentary from director Enrico Casarosa from a recent Variety interview:

“This is a deeply personal story for me, not only because it’s set on the Italian Riviera where I grew up, but because at the core of this film is a celebration of friendship. Childhood friendships often set the course of who we want to become and it is those bonds that are at the heart of our story in ‘Luca,’” Casarosa said in a statement. “So in addition to the beauty and charm of the Italian seaside, our film will feature an unforgettable summer adventure that will fundamentally change Luca.”

Disney Pixar Luca
Concept art from Pixar

“Luca” releases Summer 2021. What do you think of the new trailer for Luca?

You can follow along on their social channels:

http://instagram.com/pixarluca/

https://twitter.com/pixarluca

http://facebook.com/pixarluca

Hashtag: #PixarLuca

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movies & Books, Official Disney Tagged With: Disney Animation, Disney Luca, Disney Pixar Luca, Disney|Pixar, DisneyPixar trailer, Luca, Luca trailer, Pixar Luca

Top 10 Underrated Disney Animated Films – Up the Waterfall Episode 28

15 June 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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This week on Up the Waterfall, we take a lighthearted look at our favorite Underrated Disney Animated Films. Will our picks match yours? Did we forget a favorite animated feature that you think deserves some more love? Let us know!

If you missed last week’s episode on Jules Verne’s influence in Disney Parks and Films, in it I brought up one of my favorite animated films, Atlantis, and how that definitely had a Jules Verne feel to it. That sparked the idea for this week’s show: Underrated Disney Animated Films! Scott and I each share our top 5 picks, and of course, some runners-up along the way.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire
image via Disney

 

Our criteria for “underrated” may differ from yours, so we welcome discussion once you hear and see our picks. It definitely made us both want to head to Disney+ and watch all of these beloved films once again.

We also mentioned some books from Scott’s library at the end of the show, so I’ve listed them below in case you want to give them a look.

A quick note and apology…

Each week we record the audio separately from the video of our show and our producer, Christian uploads the audio and matches it to our 3 camera angles of video for the video version of the show. Unfortunately this week the audio file was corrupted and short of re-recording, we could not fix that track. So, we had to use the camera audio, which isn’t too terrible on its own, but when we switch cameras, there is a quick moment where the audio is noticeably different.

We do apologize for that, I really didn’t want to re-record the show because I kind of loved this one and how it unfolded. I didn’t want to ‘fake’ that magic by re-recording, so I hope everyone understands and bears with us for this week. We’ll have it fixed next week!

Thank you as always for listening or watching!


Books we discussed on the show:

Click to view them on Amazon – as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

 


As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast! Thank you!

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Feel free to comment below with your opinions on ANY of these hot button topics, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Disney Parks fans!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movies & Books, Up the Waterfall Podcast Tagged With: Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Brother Bear, Disney Animation, Emperor's New Groove, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Make Mine Music, Melody Time, Tarzan, Top 5 Underrated Disney films, underrated animated films, Underrated Animated movies, underrated disney animated films, Walt Disney Feature Animation

REVIEW: Frozen 2 Stays Warm

21 November 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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If you were to read all of my other reviews on here and make an assumption as to what I thought of Frozen II, you would probably guess that I didn’t like it. And I’m happy to say that would be very incorrect!

I’ll start by saying that I had no expectations at all. I liked the original Frozen, but I certainly wasn’t obsessed with it or anything. I didn’t think it was anywhere near their best animated feature, but it was enjoyable. Fun and funny and fresh and new. Deep down somewhere, I was probably a little worried for Frozen II, because the previous animated film before this was another sequel, and worse, it was Ralph Breaks the Internet. I knew it couldn’t get worse than that, at least. 

Luckily all of these slight worries were immediately sheltered in Frozen II. I thought that it too was fun and funny, and despite being a sequel to one of the most popular movies of the decade, it felt very new too. The characters we quickly came to love (or come to appreciate via Stockholm Syndrome of their impact on the company) are back, and they feel just like they did 6 years ago. I guess Some Things Never Change (cue theme of using the song titles in this post).

Frozen was certainly a notable moment in Disney history, and I think Frozen II was a very appropriate successor. 

From the Academy Award®-winning team—directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, and producer Peter Del Vecho—and featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, and the music of Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2019.
©2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

All Is Found

The biggest factors that contribute to this are twofold. Technically, this movie is stunning. It’s incredibly beautiful, and it’s the first Disney movie I had seen in this IMAX theater that I actually thought really benefited from that format. The backgrounds are crazy intricate, and the characters even better. The environments feel very breathable, and despite a lot of them being very new, they immediately feel welcoming and real.

The Frozen 2 soundtrack is the other key factor here. It’s no surprise that Frozen had a great soundtrack, that, like it or not, produced some of the most prolific Disney songs in recent memory. I can only speak for myself here, but I think the new film matches that and then some. I never knew I needed Jonathan Groff singing an 80s rock ballad with a bunch of reindeer, but apparently I did, and I don’t know how I lived without it. Obviously I can’t predict whether they will all be hits or not, but I can very easily imagine that being the case.

REINDEER GAMES — – In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2,” Kristoff and Sven find themselves among a herd of reindeer. Featuring Jonathan Groff as the voice of Kristoff (and Sven), “Frozen 2” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2019. © 2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Even the musical motifs that are carried through the length of the film are incorporated so masterfully that they connect all of the songs together, or even connect some songs to songs in the original film. I was *very* impressed. 

The Next Right Thing

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Ralph Breaks the Internet more though – that is to say, why I think this movie succeeds where that one did not at all. Ralph 2, for me, (and for Zannaland herself) felt like it lacked any real purpose, and didn’t gain it by the end. It showed a story we didn’t care about, with characters we didn’t need to hear more from, and was comprised largely of elements that just didn’t work together right for me. Ralph 2 got Lost in the Woods, but Frozen 2 stayed the path through and through.

The biggest issue, though, (and where I think Frozen II shines brightest) was that Ralph 2 felt incredibly un-Disney. Frozen II is a Disney movie through and through, and one that I know I will happily watch again and again, which I think I can say about exactly zero other Disney sequels. And, oh yeah, it was FUNNY! There were a lot of moments where I genuinely laughed, which is a nice change of pace from, say Maleficent 2, where I laughed more out of fear that it would never end.

Overall, Frozen II was great fun, and I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to go back to listening to the Panic! at the Disco cover of ‘Into the Unknown’ for the 300th time. INTO THE UNKNOOOOOOOOWN!

Magical and larger than life, Elsa is the perfect mythic character—but she can’t help but wonder why she was born with powers. What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? Featuring Idina Menzel as the voice of Elsa, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” opens on Nov. 22, 2019. © 2019 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Animation, Frozen 2, Frozen 2 review, Frozen 2 soundtrack, Frozen II, Frozen II review, Frozen review, Frozen sequel, jonathan groff

REVIEW: Zootopia is a Whole New World of Disney Animation

3 March 2016 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Zootopia D23 Expo I will admit it, when I first heard about and saw snippets about Zootopia, I wasn’t super excited. “Another movie about animals that can talk,what will make this one any different,” I thought. I then saw the sloth DMV scene at the D23 Expo, laughed, and thought it had some promise. I do love Jason Bateman, and hearing him as the voice of Nick Wilde for over an hour couldn’t be too bad, right? Once home from the D23 Expo over the summer, I kind of forgot about it until recently, when I was able to attend a screening. I had seen a few little promo pieces about it, and saw that they were trying to make the Zootopia universe relatable by changing common things we were used to with “Z” words (zoogle rather than google, zuber rather than uber, etc.) I was then worried that it would be too corny, trying too hard. But really, that’s only in the marketing. In the actual movie, I was relieved to see, the gags and puns are little rewards for keen-eyed observers.

As a side note, I’ve found, in recent years, Disney marketing does tend to go a little overboard on the jokes of site gags found within its animated films, as if trying to ensure these things catch on and “go viral.” While I totally understand this is a necessary evil of marketing on this scale, it’s no less annoying, to me personally, and really makes me wish I could just watch things sight un-seen and make my own judgments from there. But then again, I’m not a typical movie-going Disney fan. I don’t laugh at all the jokes I’m supposed to, and do tend to like more subtle attempts at both humor and any moral-of-the-story lessons. So, maybe it’s just me.

In any event, I was proven wrong in my pre-judgment of Zootopia. Very wrong. I loved it and I think it has the true distinction of being engaging and relatable to everyone and every age. In addition, the universe created for the film and the city of Zootopia is absolutely amazing and so infinitely detailed, I want to live in each of the distinct little areas of their world. The opening scene of the movie tells all the backstory you need to know about both our main character, Judy Hopps, and the world of Zootopia itself. The different neighborhoods are perfect homes for the various types of animals best suited to that environment; Sahara Square for desert animals, the Rain Forest District for those used to jungle environments, Tundratown for polar bears and other cold-weather animals, along with Bunnyburrow, where Judy is from, and Little Rodentia, for the tiniest mammals (the scenes in this area are among my favorite in the movie), while the downtown area Savanna Central, is a bustling city environment where animals from every climate and environment come together to work and live.

Zootopia56d772a3802de Zootopia56d77268dd883 Zootopia

Judy Hopps is, at the end of the day, a glass half full kind of bunny. She is an eternal optimist, not only in life, but in her own self-confidence. Despite the motto of Zootopia being “where anyone can be anything,” there is a sort of unwritten rule that in certain situations (when bunnies want to become police officers for example), that isn’t really the case. Judy is determined to prove them wrong, and most importantly, prove to herself that she can be and do anything, and do it well. What follows when Judy does graduate as the first bunny from the police academy, is, at the heart of it all, a buddy comedy. I can actually picture the storyline of Zootopia (minus some animal-specific aspects) translating to a live-action film with humans rather than animals, and that’s perhaps the best compliment for the writing and strength of the plot.

Another major-yet-more-subtle subplot to the movie is the idea of prejudice, profiling of different types of people (or animals in this case). As mentioned above, the animals in Zootopia may claim to be evolved and accepting of all different types of species and allowing them to be anything they want, but there are several lines and situations within the film that directly correlate to our own real-world racial profiling and embarrassingly stereotypical actions – “other bunnies can call each other cute, but other animals can’t call a bunny cute” for example. This may go over the average kid’s head as a funny throw-away line, but adults watching know where it’s coming from, and if it sparks conversation among parents to their kids, all the better. In any event, I love when “kids movies” don’t pander to kids and leave modern and important themes out of the mix. It is possible to have a fun story, animated characters, and important life lessons in one film. Zootopia does that with ease.

Zootopia

I won’t drone on with (much) more analysis of plotlines and characters, but I will say (again) that I loved Zootopia, I loved the message that it tells, and how it tells it. There was not a princess in site, and there was absolutely no feeling of “oh, this is a female empowerment theme” because the whole point of the story is literally, anyone can do anything, and that they should, if they want to. That we shouldn’t judge others based on preconceived notions, and although someone may do something differently than us, it doesn’t mean it’s any less right or valid. And I loved that take-away. I took my 7 year-old son to the screening I saw, and I love that he was exposed to those messages probably without even realizing it. Judy Hopps failed a few times, but kept going, learning all along the way. Nick Wilde lived his life one way because he thought that’s how he had to, and learned that he could and should do more.  I hope it sticks in his little sponge-like brain to – as pop sensation Gazelle (played by Shakira) sang in the movie – “Try Everything.”

Zootopia D23 Expo This was a movie I instantly wanted to see again, and cannot wait till I can do just that. The animation itself is gorgeous, robust and detailed. The character acting is great too, Idris Elba as the Chief of Police is so fun to listen to, as is J.K. Simmons as the mayor, and Nate Torrence as the lovable police station cop, Clawhauser.

I’m excited for Zootopia to be released and have a presence in Disney parks. A meet and greet has already been announced for Disney California Adventure, and Judy and Nick will join the “Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It!” Street Party at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, both happening this spring. My son has already asked for a Zootopia backpack and lunchbox, so that means the movie has reached Star Wars level approval ratings in our home.

I’d love to hear what you think if you see Zootopia this weekend!

 

Disclaimer: I attended a free screening of this film in order to write this review. As you can see, my thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Animation, Disney movie review, Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba, Jason Bateman, Judy Hopps, movie review, Nate Torrence, Nick Wilde, Walt Disney Animation, Zootopia, Zootopia review

Disney’s Polynesian Princess Moana Art: Fact or Fiction?

24 January 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Disney's Moana This little bit of news slipped under my radar when first announced back in July on Rotoscopers. There was more discussion back in December when a supposed piece of concept art was released, then pulled for not being official. That artwork is now making the rounds again, which is how I saw it on twitter yesterday. The artwork made me excited, official or not, and I thought if nothing else, getting the word out there to share interest in this upcoming film and its subject, couldn’t hurt. So what is Moana going to be about? Think Tiki!

According to BlueSkyDisney.com:

“After a short break we’ll finally get Ron [Clements] and John [Musker]’s next feature, “Moana” which will be a Polynesian tale involving the island folk and the idols made famous the world over.  It will also mark the directing duo’s first computer animated film, or at least computer hybrid animated film (think “Paperman”).  Following that, if story issues are worked out Dean Wellin’s teenage space race animated film will rush to the screens.  Wellin’s film is an unusual story that is different from most Disney Animation, just as Big Hero 6 marks a change in perception of what comes from the Mouse.”

More details, from BleedingCool.com were first broken in October:

“…it’s an epic, or even mythic, adventure set around 2000 years ago and across a series of islands in the South Pacific.

The lead character, Moana Waialiki is the only daughter of a Chief in a long line of navigators. She’s really a bit of nerd, but a nerd about sea voyaging, and when her family need her help, she sets off on an epic journey. Some of the other characters are demi-gods and spirits drawn from real mythology.”

Given those details, I may be on board with the following image not being official or from Moana at all. Being obsessed with navigating the sea doesn’t seem to match with splashing around on a rock in a grotto…but it is pretty nonetheless! It reminds me instantly of Shag‘s work, but concept art has surprised us before, so who knows. This image below is reportedly by artist Sue Nichols.

Not Moana

 

More than just the artwork controversy above, I can’t wait to see this tale unfold. I think tiki culture is something that has intrigued us for decades; its mysterious, tropical allure has survived for centuries and certainly risen to the heights of pop culture since the 1950’s. I look forward to another potential princess that doesn’t have her future gift-wrapped for her by way of a magic wand, and hope Disney has learned from the successes of Merida in Brave and Anna in Frozen (and to an extend Rapunzel too). And obviously, any time Disney can use its platform to explore, educate and promote other cultures and backgrounds, and give little girls (and boys) someone to identify with, I’m all for it.

As far as the tiki gods and their role in the story, I hope we get a reverent history lesson rather than bathroom humor and goofy sidekicks. This is something which Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have done for years and years with great success. Proof that animation can be for adults as well as children and we don’t need to rely on some formula of strife + main character + comic relief + happy ending = the only way. If the story is good, audiences will come. Anyway, I’ll get off my fangirl soapbox for now and just hope we get a Polynesian Princess we can all be proud of.

Moana will be a musical, with music composed by Mark Mancina, responsible for music arranging on The Lion King, Tarzan, and Brother Bear among many others.

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Filed Under: Disney News, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Animation, Disney Moana, Disney's Moana, John Musker, Moana, Moana concept art, mythology, Polynesian mythology, Polynesian princess, Ron Clements, Spring 2018, Tiki, Tiki gods, Walt Disney Animation

Wreck-It Ralph Goes Turbo on Blu-ray and DVD – Review of Bonus Features

5 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Wreck-It Ralph is, aside from Tangled, one of the few Disney releases that I have willingly watched again and again. It’s just a delight to watch and my whole family feels the same way. After having seen it at a Disney Parks Blog meet-up, a media screening, on the Disney Dream cruise ship, and most recently at the Orlando Science Center, it’s kind of fun to watch it in the comfort of my living room.

Wreck-it Ralph

When watching the bonus features on the Blu-ray, I discovered some interesting facts about the production of the film. My favorite tid-bits were how the Sugar Rush universe and architecture was actually inspired by Spanish architect Antoni GaudÍ, one of my favorites. Once I heard the animator explain this, it made perfect sense! Do a google image search to see some of his amazing work and see the similarities in the buildings of Sugar Rush. Another fun note was how John Lasseter told animators to watch the opening of Saving Private Ryan as well as Aliens, to get a feel for the kind of frenzied, chaotic game environment to throw Ralph into when he game jumps to Hero’s Duty. I loved this insight into the film-making process.

 

The only thing missing was the cool 8-bit opening Castle scene for the Disney Pictures splash screen, I thought that was such a fun detail in theatres! I also wish there had been a complete run-down of all the homages and hidden Easter eggs of video games past within the movie. I know I look for more each time I see it, but I’d love to know if I’ve found them all! The deleted scenes were kind of crazy to see where the film may have gone. I definitely like the finished version.

Wreck-it Ralph now brings the wonderful story of redemption, friendship, and good vs. bad into your home, and with the Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy, you can watch Wreck-it Ralph anywhere. Of course also on the discs is the Emmy award-winning short, Paperman, beautifully animated and composed, it gets me every time.

Wreck-it Ralph is a definite addition to any Disney collection, or video gaming fan. It is available now – and I highly recommend the soundtrack too, which I’ve been listening to for months now. The Sugar Rush theme song is my ring tone!

In addition, there are some great apps for the kids to expand their wrecking fun with two fully interactive iOS apps “Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe” and “Hero’s Duty Interactive Comic,” along with print books and ebooks One Sweet Race and Wreck-It Ralph Read-Along.

Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe ($6.99)
Ralph, Felix, Vanellope, and other favorite characters from Wreck-It Ralph star in this exciting Storybook Deluxe app. Follow Ralph as he wrecks his way through the arcade in search of a hero’s medal—and ends up finding much, much more. – My 4 year old LOVES this app. The storybook part is great on its own, but the extra games and interactive elements keep him entertained without a peep!
Hero’s Duty Interactive Comic ($1.99)
A fantastic prequel to the upcoming movie, readers are able to venture into the Hero’s Duty game to discover Dr. Brad Scott, Tammy Calhoun, the Space Marines, and the infamous cy-bugs as they fight on the unnamed planet.
ONE SWEET RACE ($15.99 – available wherever books and eBooks are sold)
Explore the charming video-game world of Sugar Rush, from Disney Animation Studio’s latest film, Wreck-It-Ralph. This jacketed picture book features an original story about the film’s spunky heroine, Vanellope von Schweetz, as well as illustrations by one of the artists who worked on the film.
WRECK-IT RALPH READ ALONG STORYBOOK AND CD ($6.99 – available wherever books are sold, eBook available at Barnes & Noble and iTunes)
Jump into the action of the latest Walt Disney Animation Studios film Wreck-It Ralph with this exciting storybook and CD set! Video-game bad guy Wreck-It Ralph wants to be as beloved as his game’s good guy, Fix-It Felix. But when Ralph tries to prove he’s a hero by winning a video game medal, his actions spell disaster for the entire arcade! Featuring sound effects and the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch, this thrilling read-along brings the action of Wreck-It Ralph to life!

Vanellope You're My Hero Medal

Another great way to learn more about Wreck-it Ralph is visiting the The Magic of Disney Animation over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There you can see amazing concept art from the film as well as get your photo with Ralph and Vanellope in the meet and greet location, which is chock full of more gaming details.

Wreck-it Ralph Hollywood Studios

Disclosure: I was provided with a 3-disc combo pack for review as well as a code for the Wreck-it Ralph Storybook app. My opinions are my own. 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: 8-bit, Antoni Gaudi, Bonus Features, Disney Animation, disney collection, Fix-It Felix, game environment, Hero's Duty, hidden easter eggs, John Lasseter, paperman, sugar rush, Wreck-it Ralph apps, Wreck-it Ralph bonus features, Wreck-it Ralph DVD Blu-ray, Wreck-it Ralph soundtrack, Wreck-it Ralph storybook app, Wreck-it-Ralph

The Tale As Old As Time Returns To Theatres-Beauty & The Beast 3D

12 January 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Beauty and the Beast 3D PosterThe story of Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairy tales. I remember reading books and of course watching the television series with Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton. I was in high school at the time, and when I wasn’t doing homework, my days were filled with drama club daydreams of Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast and Labyrinth. So when Beauty and the Beast came out from Walt Disney Animation, if fit right into my fandoms and I was very excited. It was also the very first Disney film my then boyfriend (now husband) and I saw together in the theatre. Twenty years later, we are still together and the film is now a wonderful momento of our first year together.

I remember what a big deal it was that Beauty and the Beast featured those great computer animated scenes during Be Our Guest and the ballroom dance. It was exciting for audiences to see computer animation move beyond what we’d seen in Tron, this time in a more realistic albeit completely animated setting. It was impressive. Of course the music was also a big deal, the team of Ashman and Menken having made such a splash with the Little Mermaid soundtrack. Howard Ashman passed away before the release of the film, but his work lives on and the score and original songs for Beauty and the Beast are some of the most well-known Disney songs around.

All of that praise behind it, I must admit I was a bit nervous about seeing a media preview last weekend, and what the 3D treatment would do to one of my favorites. I hoped that the computer animated scenes would translate seamlessly and it would all work out. And for the most part, it did.

I guess what Beauty and the Beast has working against it is the hilarious short preceding the film, Tangled Ever After. This short was a quick encore of what audiences loved so much about Tangled, Maximus the horse and Pascal the chameleon. See a clip below:

They are the official ring-bearers for Rapunzel and Eugene’s wedding, and hijinx ensue as they lose the rings and attempt to bring them back. The animation in this short is, of course, flawless. You see state of the art well, art, and the whole thing is just a delight to look at. Then, the 20 year old movie starts.

Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate the classics, and part of what endears Dumbo to me so much is that you can actually see the sketchy style of animation. But when you go from 2011 animation directly into 1991 animation, the differences stand out. I was actually distracted by the facial expressions and a lot of the main characters and kept comparing them in my head to Rapunzel and Flynn. Maybe that’s just me, but that’s how I felt watching it.

Many of the 3D effects were great and fit right in, the opening scene zooming into the stained glass windows, the landscapes and computer animated scenes were fun to see “pop” at you. At the end of the day, however, it wasn’t necessary to enjoy this classic animated story. I would’ve seen Beauty and the Beast as a re-release, regardless of the 3D effects. I’m sure many parents in my age range, or younger folks that grew up with the film would feel the same, and will see it in 3D too, but the film stands on its own, without need for gimmicks. It is a history lesson of sorts, a visual timeline of how far we’ve come in animation, including styles and design.

One of the previews let us know that Finding Nemo will be the next to receive the 3D treatment, which perhaps makes more sense, since the film is entirely computer animated. I know Disney is constantly looking for ways to bring classic films to a new generation, and of course looking to make money, they are a business after all. But where the Lion King excelled in bringing us breathtaking African landscapes in 3D, Beauty and the Beast falls short of really benefiting from 3D. I still enjoyed it, my children (who had never seen the film in theatres) loved it, and the tale truly is as old as time. I do recommend seeing the film, I just implore Disney not to feel like they have to 3D-ize every film in their vault. They can stand on their own.

Beauty and the Beast 3D opens in theatres nationwide this Friday, January 13 and is worth it to see Tangled Ever After alone!

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Filed Under: Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: 3D, 3D animation, Animated classics, Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and the Beast 3D, Disney Animation, Disney movies, Finding Nemo 3D, Movie Reviews, Tangled Ever After, Tangled short, Walt Disney Animation

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