Disney has helpfully released its animated movie lineup through the year 2012 and the news looks great.
* "Up," set for release May 29, 2009, will be Pixar's first 3-D title, and thereafter every Pixar toon will be produced in 3-D. Disney has been an early proponent of the format, starting with 2005's "Chicken Little," and all its own toons going forward will use the format as well. Lasseter noted he is such a fan that his wedding pictures were done in 3-D. Along with its new pics, Disney is also releasing Pixar classics "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" in digital 3-D in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
* Larry the Cable Guy, who voiced Mater in "Cars," took the stage to announce that "Cars 2" is going into production, with a planned release date of summer 2012. It's being directed by "Ratatouille" producer Brad Lewis and is the first sequel for Pixar outside the "Toy Story" franchise. Though "Cars" didn't do as well at the box office as some other Pixar titles, it has been a licensing bonanza for the Mouse House.
* Miley Cyrus will be a lead voice opposite John Travolta in Thanksgiving's "Bolt," formerly titled "American Dog." About 15 minutes of footage of the pic screened to some of the heartiest applause of the day.
* "Toy Story 3" will be released June 18, 2010. Plot details for the third part remain under wraps, though the filmmakers said it begins with Andy (owner of Woody and Buzz) about to head off to college. A Ken doll will be the franchise's newest toy.
* Anchoring the Disney side of things is the hand-drawn musical "The Princess and the Frog," from "Aladdin" and "Little Mermaid" helmers John Musker and Ron Clements, who were lured back to Disney by Lasseter. It's set for a Christmas 2009 release. Stills were shown, and star Anika Noni Rose performed a song live, as did Randy Newman and his eight-piece New Orleans combo.
* Disney's long-in-development CG version of "Rapunzel" finally has a release date: Christmas 2010. It's directed by studio vet Glen Keane and Dean Wellins.
* Pixar will have two original films in 2011: "Newt," a romantic comedy directed by Oscar-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom, and "The Bear and the Bow," a magical tale set in Scotland and helmed by Brenda Chapman, who previously directed "The Prince of Egypt" for DreamWorks. The first Pixar feature from a femme helmer will star the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson.
"I love sincere fairy tales," Lasseter said.
* Last release on the slate for Disney Animation Studios is Christmas 2012's "King of the Elves," directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker, based on the short story by sci-fi scribe Dick.
It was rumored for a long time and it's finally great to see some confirmation on "Toy Story 3". It won't be the same without the late Jim Varney's Slinky Dog, though. Also looking forward to the "Cars" sequel, as the original really won me over and is still the only Larry the Cable Guy movie that I'll ever sit through.
There's a lot of hype behind "The Princess and the Frog", as it debuts Disney's first black princess. Between that and the fact that it's Disney's first hand-drawn animated feature in a VERY long time (I believe "Lilo & Stitch" was the last one, though I could be wrong), it looks like it's worth seeing with a date or with the kids.
I'm happy to hear they are going back to traditional animation and we are getting Toy Story 3 as it should be.
Too bad they wouldn't make an animated version of Aieda though. I guess that ending wouldn't play too well with audiences, even though the broadway show is basically a Disney production.
I also liked Cars, and I'm happy its getting a sequel. Cars did do better business than Ratatouille though.
I'm a little disappointed no Monsters' Inc. is in development. I mean if Pixar did it, no question it would be awesome.
(edited by The Vile1 on 11.4.08 1303)
Don't make the Professor angry. You wouldn't like him, when he's angry.
Ok, Home on the Range was the last FEATURE LENGTH traditionally animated movie. The animation in Enchanted was the first work they'd put out since that movie that wasn't CGI or of direct to video/lower quality.
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