Lasseter Reveals Exciting New Details About the Studios’ Upcoming Animated Film Slate During London and D23 Expo Presentations
John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Animation Studios, made several announcements regarding upcoming animated motion pictures while presenting at the Odeon Leicester Square in London (9/10/09) and at the D23 Expo at the
Anaheim Convention Center (9/13/09).
The news coming out of Lasseter’s presentations at both events include:
Timothy Dalton, Ned Beatty, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeff Garlin and John Morris joining the talented voice cast of Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story 3 along with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson and Michael Keaton. Directed by Lee Unkrich and produced by Darla K. Anderson, this comedic and heartwarming adventure in Disney Digital 3D(TM), brings moviegoers back to the world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters as Andy prepares to leave for college. “Toy Story 3″ opens in theaters June 18, 2010.
Walt Disney Pictures’ Rapunzel has found its lead voice in singer/actress
Mandy Moore (“Saved,” “American Dreamz”) starring in the title role along with Zachary Levi (hit TV series “Chuck,” “Big Momma’s House 2″) as the dashing bandit. This action-packed, swashbuckling, animated musical comedy about the girl behind 70 feet of magical, golden hair who takes off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade with the help of a dashing bandit directed by Byron Howard and Nathan Greno, produced by Roy Conli with music by Alan Menken. This Disney Digital 3D(TM) adventure opens in theaters Holiday2010.
Disney-Pixar’s Cars 2 combines thrills, intrigue and high octane comedy as
Lightning McQueen and his trusty-but-rusty friend Mater race across five
countries – England, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – where they face a host of new and worthy competitors. “Cars 2″ is being directed by the producer of the Oscar-winning animated feature “Ratatouille” Brad Lewis and produced by Denise Ream. This Disney Digital 3D(TM) race begins in theaters June 24, 2011.
The fifth film in Disney’s enormously popular fairy film franchise is Tinker
Bell and the Race through the Seasons. Veteran Disney writer/producer/director Bobs Gannaway (“Stitch! The Movie,” “House of Mouse”) is set to direct. The second entry in the popular direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray series, “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure,” is due for release on October 27th, 2009. In this latest adventure, all the fairy talents compete in a challenging and traditional leap year race through the four seasons of Pixie Hollow. With Tinker Bell’s help, Clank and Bobble enter the race and all the hopes of the Tinkers rest on their shoulders. But the pressures of competition and Bobble’s desire to impress a beautiful lightning fairy threaten Clank and Bobble’s longtime friendship. In the end, will Bobble place winning a race above losing a best friend?
Winnie the Pooh marks the first time in more than 35 years that a feature film
staring Disney’s beloved characters is being produced at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Under the supervision of John Lasseter and producer, Clark Spencer (“Lilo & Stitch,” “Bolt”) the movie is due out in theaters spring 2011. Steve Anderson (“Meet the Robinsons”) and Don Hall (head of story on “The Princess and The Frog”) will co-direct this heart-warming motion picture that reunites five stories from the original books by A.A Milne with Disney’s classic, hand-drawn art style. Tidbit: Burny Mattinson, who worked as an animator on the original “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree” featurette in 1964, will serve as the lead story artist on the project.
“Unidentified Flying Mater,” the latest in a series of Disney-Pixar animated
shorts called Cars Toons, is set to debut on Friday, November 20th on Disney
Channel, Disney XD, and ABC Family. Directed by Academy Award(R)-winner John Lasseter with Rob Gibbs co-directing, the film stars Lightning McQueen’s loyal pal, Mater. Additional shorts – “Monster Truck Mater,” “Heavy Metal Mater,” and “Tokyo Mater” will debut in 2010.
SOURCE Walt Disney Studios
Stay Up-to-date with Disney’s D23 Expo from Your Home!
Are you like me and can’t attend the awesome mega convergence of Disney goodness at the inaugural Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA?
Fear not! You can keep up-to-date on all the exciting happenings from your home or work!
Twitter is all ablaze with updates and pictures from the event. Bloggers and podcasters are reporting first-hand reports from the Anaheim Convention Center.
Here’s who I suggest following for D23 Updates. Actually I recommend following these cool Tweeps besides just for D23 information! I enjoy having them as Twitter friends. They are listed in alphabetical order, with some additional notes, where necessary.
- AllEarsDeb
- AllEarsNet
- beci_mousefan
- D23Expo_Al
- DarthGoofyIsD23
- DisneyD23 – Official Twitter Account of D23; you can also find Official Expo updates on the D23 web site.
- disneyfan2008
- DisneyORama
- disneyshawn
- DonaldDuckDad
- findingmickey
- gsorvig
- HeavenisDisney
- loumongello – Host of the WDW Radio Show podcast who’s streamling LIVE at Expo! Check it out!
- macmantoo
- medarcie
- michaelkreagan
- nancybroadway
- NDM_1
- NextJenn_1701
- NWOL – posted some GREAT TwitPics of Disney Channel stars!
- otisney
- stitchkingdom – Blogger providing AWESOME on-the-scene updates. Go read them!
- themouseforless
- TouringPlans
Although Jessica (lady_aurora on Twitter) isn’t attending, she is one of the most eager follow-alongers of the D23 happenings online. I must credit her for giving me the idea for this blog entry. I had already amassed my D23 Expo Twitter resources in a group in TweetDeck so once I saw that Jessica had written a blog entry with her resources, I figured I should follow suit! So DAP to you, Jessica!!! 
Definitely check out Jessica’s blog, The True Disney Fan Blog and read her blog post on D23 Expo Away From the Expo as she has some resources I might’ve missed.
LOST to have Two Interactive Booths at Disney’s D23 Expo
Francois Chau “Dr. Pierre Chan” and Sterling Beaumon “young Benjamin Linus” will represent the hit ABC TV series LOST at an Exclusive Trading Card Signing, Saturday, September 12th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm!
Fans can also see authentic show props, costumes and real set pieces at two interactive booths on the floor of the Anaheim Convention Center at the Disney D23 Expo.
DocArzt and Friends’ LOST Blog also reports:
Also, right next door, view a sneak peek of campus life and see what it’s like to be at LOST U! There will be a booth displaying LOST U life and how you can be a part of this live experience on Bluray! And, last but not least, Saturday from noon-2pm, there will be Lost Trading Cards and autograph signings from two special cast members – and don’t forget to pick up your Lost exclusive pin! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any true fan.
I’m a huge LOST fan! I’d would love to check out all this LOST goodness. Anyone want to send me an extra LOST pin?
We’re asking those that are going to the D23, to send us in reports from the Expo.
Call the voice mail line at 206-350-2422!!!
E-mail us at podcast@magicneverends.
Send us a Twitter update at twitter.com/MagicNeverEnds!!
Be our on-the-scene correspondent!
