Disney & Pixar Animation Panel Review at the D23 Expo

The D23 Expo kicked off earlier today but just a little bit ago one of main panels of the expo in the Disney & Pixar Animation Panel hosted by Head of Disney Animation himself, John Lasseter. We got some news on several films including 'Wreck-it Ralph 2', 'Incredibles 2', 'Coco', 'Toy Story 4', and more. First up though was news on a new untitled DisneyToons film that is due to be released in 2019.

The film will be about supersonic jets in space. It will be directed by Klay Hall and Bobs Gannaway, it is due out April 12, 2019. Next up, was an update on "Olaf's Frozen Adventure" which will return all 21 voices of the original cast. Kristen Bell (Anna) and Josh Gad (Olaf) showed up and sang one of the new original songs from the 21-minute short that will premiere before Pixar's "Coco."

Guests at the D23 Expo were then treated to the first trailer for "Wreck-It Ralph 2" (it has not been put up on the internet yet). Sarah Silverman (Vanellope Von Schweetz) along with directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston were on hand to help debut the trailer. Also brought on was a new character named Yesss voiced by Taraji P. Henson. 

"Wreck-It Ralph 2" tells the story of Ralph and Vanellope breaking the internet to find the pieces to fix Sugar Rush. The clips they showed Ralph and Vanellope visiting OhMyDisney.com, which looks a lot like Disneyland. Stan Lee among other things make cameo appearances in the scene including the likes of Disney Tsum Tsums, Buzz Lightyear, and C-3PO. 

The biggest news however was that all the Disney Princesses will lend their voices for the film. That list includes: Paige O'Hara (Belle), Jodi Benson (Ariel), Linda Larkin (Jasmine), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel), Irene Bedard (Pocahontas), Kelly MacDonald (Merida), Kristen Bell (Anna), and Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), who all appeared on stage. 

The scene plays out like this with Vanellope saying this about Merida, "I can't understand her." With the Disney princesses responding, "She's from the other studio." This film looks hilarious and I can't wait until next March.

Next up, was the "Incredibles 2" which opened up with a tribute to Edna Mode. 

Edna Mode is always a la mode. One of the world’s most visionary designers is back in Incredibles 2. #BravoEdna. pic.twitter.com/OPAxuh9aoc

— Disney•Pixar (@DisneyPixar) July 14, 2017

 Director Brad Bird and the cast including Samuel L. Jackson took the stage to talk about the film. The film takes place right where the first film left off. The movie shows how the Incredibles are more human. The clip that was shown where Baby Jack-Jack faces off with a raccoon. Jack Jack discovers his powers in the film.

"Incredibles 2" flies into theaters June 15, 2018.

New up was "Toy Story 4" which the most shocking news was that John Lasseter has stepped back from directing the film. Josh Cooley will now direct the film, with Lasseter mentoring him. Guests got a first look at a new paper doll-like character named Lulu from the film. The storyline right now could be involved around an RV trip. The film is due out Summer 2019. 

Pixar's next new film which does not have a release date is set in a suburban fantasy world and will be directed by Dan Scanlon. Scanlon said he drew inspiration on how he wanted to know who his father was and how he was like him. More details on this untitled film will be released at the next D23 Expo in 2019.

The final movie previewed during the panel was Pixar's "Coco" which will hit theaters in November. A new image of the film was released plus a longer look at the film showing the rich beauty of the film and  how it explores the family aspect of Miguel's passion for music.

A new song called "Remember Me" was revealed as it is written by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez. Another clip was shown of Miguel exploring the Land of the Dead. The song "Remember Me" was then performed to end the panel by Benjamin Brett who plays the character Ernesto. 

Stay tuned throughout the weekend for more news out of the D23 Expo. 

Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Panel Amazes Including Announcements of 'Gigantic' and 'Coco'

The Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Panel was hosted by John Lasseter started off with a bang as he began firing Hawaiian shirts out of a canon into the audience. This was just the beginning as Walt Disney Animation and Pixar previewed their upcoming films.

Zootopia:

Walt Disney Animation began with their preview of their next animated film, "Zootopia." Directors Byron Howard and Richard Moore along with producer Clark Spencer arrived on stage with Ginnifer Goodwin who voices Judy Hopps. Goodwin greeted fans with saying, "I'm not a Disney fan, I'm a Disney addict." Some casting notes singer, Shakira, will voice the role of Gazelle. Other notes included about the film include that sloths will run the DMV (Department of Mammal Vehicles) in the film. "Zootopia" opens up in theaters March 4, 2016.

Gigantic:

Clearly the breaking news of this part of the presentation was Lasseter announcing that Disney would be making its own version of the fairytale classic Jack and the Beanstalk with a film called "Gigantic." The film will take place in Spain during the 'age of discovery.' The film is set to debut in theaters in 2018. At the Animation pavilion they even hinted at the film with a giant beanstalk model. 

Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Oscar-winning writers from "Frozen," will also give a hand in writing songs for the film.

Moana:

"Moana" was the next film to be previewed. Directors John Muskar and Ron Clements as well as producer Osnat Shurer took the stage. The surprise guest however was Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson who will be lending his voice for the demigod Maui in the film. He greeted fans inside the panel by saying, "We're All Family." "Moana" will be about wayfinder in the South Pacific searching for a long-lost island. Footage was shown as well as a song from the film performed by Te Vaka as Johnson the led the audience in an ancient Samoan call. The film is due out in theaters on November 23, 2016.

Next up in the panel was the Pixar preview of the presentation. Some notes included for the first time ever two Pixar animated originals will be released this year with recently "Inside Out" being the first and "The Good Dinosaur" set to be released on Thanksgiving.

Fans were treated first with Joy, Sadness, Pete Docter, and Jonas Rivera took to the stage. They started off with a premier of their new animated short, "Riley's First Date." The short features our favorite "Inside Out" emotions as it ventures into the minds of Riley's parents when a boy shows up on their front door to see Riley. The short will be part of the bonus features when "Inside Out" is released digitally on October 13 and on Blu-Ray on November 3. 

The Good Dinosaur:

"The Good Dinosaur" is due out in theaters this Thanksgiving and Director Pete Sohn and Producer Denise Ream were there on stage previewing the film. Ream said, "In our story, nature is a character itself." Arlo, an apatosaurus, must face his fears and 3 t-rexes in the upcoming film. The three t-rexes will be voiced by AJ Buckley, Anna Paquin, and Sam Elliot. "The Good Dinosaur" premieres November 25, 2015.

Finding Dory:

Tons of news for "Finding Dory" with so much casting news. Director Andrew Stanton and Producer Lindsey Collins were welcomed to the stage by Lasseter. "On a deeper level, I felt Dory needed more development," Andrew Stanton said on what brought on the sequel. A hilarious montage of Ellen DeGeneres (Dory) complaining that their needed to be a sequel to "Finding Nemo" and to the crowds surprise Ellen shows up to the expo. In casting news, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy will voice Dory's parents in the sequel. Ed O'Neill (Modern Family) will voice Hank, a grumpy septopus. Ty Burrell (Modern Family) will also voice a character in the movie as a beluga whale. Also joining the cast will be Kaitlin Olson. "Finding Dory" will be released in theaters in the Summer of 2016. 

Coco:

Pixar's version of the Mexican holiday Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) now has a name in "Coco" this was the breaking news from Pixar along with "Gigantic" from Walt Disney Animation. Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) will direct and Darla K. Anderson will produce the film. The story line will be about 12-year old Miguel (a spirited boy) growing up in rural Mexico with a big family. A clip was shown with people lighting candles in a cemetery, when suddenly dancing and singing skeletons appear to begin a party. A skeleton mask falls off of Miguel and the other skeletons gasp. No release date has been set but Pixar has slots for November 2017 and November 2018.

Toy Story 4:

It is the 20th Anniversary of "Toy Story" and what would the expo be without news about "Toy Story 4." Lasseter introduced himself as the director of the film. Galyn Susman will be the producer and she said, "It's going to take Toy Story in a very new and exciting direction." Co-writer Rashida Jones said it was a dream come true to be writing this film. It was then revealed that "Toy Story 4" will be a love story between Woody and Bo Peep. Music will be written by Randy Newman (You've Got a Friend in Me). Newman was then joined on stage by Toy Story characters as he performed the song "You've Got a Friend in Me" to end the presentation. 

OH Wait there's more, Pixar revealed it is working on sequels to these Pixar films, FINALLY:

Posters in the Pixar pavilion show Pixar is working on sequels with "Cars" and "The Incredibles" in "Cars 3" and "Incredibles 2" both coming soon.

Recap of Disney's 2015 Annual Shareholders' Meeting

Well another Disney shareholders' meeting has come and gone and Disney has made waves after today's with some breaking news. Disney CEO Bob Iger started the meeting off with some Star Wars news. Meeting began with a re-watch of the teaser trailer for the upcoming "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" that will open in December. After that is when Iger broke the news that the first standalone Star War film will be called "Rogue One". In other Star Wars news Episode VIII will be released on May 26, 2017.

For other Disney movie news, the average Marvel movie (Disney has released) makes is about a billion dollars each. Shareholders were treated to a scene from Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Shareholder's were also treated to the trailer for the upcoming "Tomorrowland" film. Pixar CCO and director John Lasseter joined Iger on stage next for Pixar. They will have two films coming out in 2015 "Inside Out" this summer and "The Good Dinosaur" later this year. 

After a viewing of Disney's animated short "Frozen Fever" that will be released tomorrow before Disney's live-action film "Cinderella" is when Disney dropped more big news. Josh Gad (Frozen's Olaf) joined Iger and Lasseter on stage to announce that Disney Animation is in the works for the production of "Frozen 2", no release date was announced. Frozen 2 will reunite directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee along with producer Peter Del Vocho. 

Iger then briefly discussed now COO Tom Staggs promotion and the business portion of the meeting got under way. Nothing really to report from the business side of the shareholder's meeting. Next, was the start of the open questioning portion of the meeting. First question to Iger is if Figment and Dreamfinder would reunite at Epcot's Imagination pavilion. Iger answered while the new comics are impressive at this time there is no plans to re-imagine the pavilion or attraction. The big question however came from a 6-year old shareholder about a name change to Hollywood Studios. Iger answered with the following reply: "No...... Well we are doing a lot of work there that may result in a name change, wait we haven't announced that yet have we? Can we announce that? Ok, how about this, we will confirm that we will be changing the name of the park, but not tell you the new name, we will announce that later." So Hollywood Studios will be no more just as MGM Studios is no more.

What's Next?

That is a wrap on the 2015 Disney Annual Shareholders' Meeting. What does everyone think of Frozen 2 finally being announced? Again I can't tell you how excited I am about Star Wars and what Disney will bring to the table for the franchise. Last but not least Hollywood Studios is getting a new name. What do you think it will be? Rumor has it will be: Disney's Hollywood Adventure.