Disney & Pixar announce future features

[Kinoo]

Here is the press release:



DISNEY'S 'FAIRIES' DIRECT-TO-DVD FRANCHISE WILL ALSO DEBUT

NEW YORK, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Studios unveiled a diverse and ambitious slate of 10 new animated feature films from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios to be released through the year 2012 at a New York press conference held today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

The line-up includes new films from Disney and Pixar's accomplished team of filmmakers, and features vocal performances by such top celebrity talents as John Travolta and Miley Cyrus ("Bolt"), Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson ("The Bear and the Bow"), Anika Noni Rose and John Goodman ("The Princess and the Frog"), as well as return engagements by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and the rest of the "Toy Story" vocal ensemble ("Toy Story 3"). The roster of new animated features includes six new films from Pixar Animation Studios, four from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first four in a series of direct-to-DVD films featuring Disney Fairies from DisneyToon Studios. Starting later this year with the release of Disney's "Bolt," all Disney and Pixar animated features will be presented in state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3-D(TM). Additionally, newly converted 3-D versions of the beloved classics, "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," are set to debut in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Among the upcoming animated films on the 2008 release schedule are "WALL*E" (Pixar) from Academy Award(R)-winning director/writer Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo") opening nationwide June 27th; "Bolt" (Disney) from the talented new directing team of Chris Williams and Byron Howard, due in theatres on November 26th; and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell," the first in a new franchise of original entertainment set in the world of Fairies, on October 28th. The Studio's 2009 animated slate includes the summer release of Pixar's first 3-D feature, "Up," from director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson, the Christmas Day release of Disney's original animated fairy tale "The Princess and the Frog" from acclaimed veteran Disney directors John Musker and Ron Clements ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Hercules,") and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell North of Never Land" (working title). 2010 brings the highly anticipated return of Buzz and Woody in the Disney Digital(TM) 3D summer release of Pixar's "Toy Story 3" directed by Lee Unkrich ("Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc."); followed by the Christmas arrival of Disney's version of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," featuring the directing debuts of animation legend Glen Keane and directing partner Dean Wellins, and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell A Midsummer Storm" (working title).

In the summer of 2011, Pixar's "newt" marks the directing debut of multiple Oscar(R)-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom. Christmas 2011 brings Pixar's first fairy tale, "The Bear and the Bow," from acclaimed filmmaker/writer Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt"). The Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell A Winter Story" (working title) also debuts in 2011. The year 2012 will mark the return of Lightning McQueen, Mater the tow truck, and an international cast of favorite and new car characters in Pixar's "Cars 2," directed by Brad Lewis (producer of "Ratatouille"). Scheduled for Christmas 2012 from Walt Disney Animation Studios is "King of the Elves," an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story, directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker ("Brother Bear").

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "We couldn't be more proud and excited about our upcoming line-up of feature projects. With so many great films literally on the drawing boards and computer screens, we felt that now was the perfect time to give moviegoers all over the world an update on the state of our art. In a year when our Studio is marking the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, the character that started it all for us, it seems especially timely to share our plans for the future of animation. With John Lasseter and Ed Catmull guiding our creative efforts both at Emeryville and in Burbank, this is as exciting a time as any in our history."

Lasseter added, "This is an amazing time for animation at Disney and Pixar, and it's a thrill to be working on such a diverse and original group of films with such an all-star team of filmmakers. The thing I love best about my job is that I get to work at both Disney and Pixar with filmmakers who are passionate about their projects and who are the absolute best in the business. We're excited to be pushing the boundaries of 3-D and computer technology to tell our stories in the best possible way. At the same time, we're drawing on our past to emphasize memorable characters, original edge-of-your-seat stories, and believable worlds. Walt Disney and his creative team taught us how to blend comedy, powerful emotion, and action-filled excitement in our films, and this group of incredible filmmakers is bringing their own originality and sensibilities to the
process."

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS/ PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS RELEASE SCHEDULE
2008 -- 2012:

2008:

WALL*E (Domestic Release Date: June 27th, 2008)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Stanton
Producer: Jim Morris
Co-Producer: Lindsey Collins
Sound and Character Voice Designer: Ben Burtt
Composer: Thomas Newman, with an Original Song Performed by Peter Gabriel Voice Talent: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, John
Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy

What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn off the
last robot?

Academy Award(R)-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton ("Finding
Nemo") and the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar
Animation Studios transport moviegoers to a galaxy not so very far away for
a new computer-animated cosmic comedy about a determined robot named
WALL*E.

After hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for, WALL*E
(short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new
purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek
search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL*E has inadvertently
stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to
report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that
it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL*E chases EVE across the galaxy
and sets into motion one of the most incredible comedy adventures ever
brought to the big screen.

Joining WALL*E on his fantastic journey across a universe of
never-before-imagined visions of the future is a hilarious cast of
characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning
misfit robots.



BOLT (Domestic Release Date: November 26th, 2008, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Producer: Clark Spencer
Voice Talent: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with
adventure, danger and intrigue -- at least until the cameras stop rolling.
When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his
Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet
-- a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the
delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help
of two unlikely traveling companions -- a jaded, abandoned housecat named
Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball
named Rhino -- Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero.
Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") brings her vocal talents to the role of
Penny, Bolt's human co-star on the television series.



TINKER BELL (Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: October 28th, 2008)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Bradley Raymond
Producer: Jeannine Roussel
Enter the magical world of fairies and meet the enchanting creatures of
Pixie Hollow, who "nurture nature" and bring about the change of the
seasons. Changing the colors of the leaves, moving a sunbeam to melt snow,
waking animals from their winter slumber, or giving a patch of sproutlings
a sprinkle of water are all within the realm of these seasonal specialists.
Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a "tinker" isn't as special or
important as the other fairies' talents. But when Tink tries to change who
she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her
friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa, Tink learns the key to
solving her problems lies in her unique tinker abilities ... and discovers
that when she's true to herself, magical things can happen.



2009:

UP (Domestic Release Date: May 29th, 2009, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Writer: Bob Peterson Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Jordan
Nagai

From the Academy Award(R)-nominated team of director Pete Docter
("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic
adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen
spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life
to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a
twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named
Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling
journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains
and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer -- look "Up."



TOY STORY in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: October 2nd, 2009)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace
Shawn, John Ratzenberger

Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, "Toy Story" was
the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John
Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar(R) nominations for Best
Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay, and
earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award (Oscar(R)) "for the development
and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first
feature-length computer-animated film." The 3-D version of this landmark
film is being personally overseen by Lasseter with his acclaimed team of
technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion
process.



THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2009)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
Producer: Peter Del Vecho
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman
A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, "The
Princess and the Frog" marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of
traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker,
creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar(R)-winning
composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told ...
with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator.

TINKER BELL NORTH OF NEVER LAND - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2009)


DisneyToon Studios
Director: Klay Hall
Producer: Sean Lurie
In autumn, Tinker Bell is entrusted with crafting a great treasure that
can rejuvenate the Pixie Dust Tree. But when her friend Terence offers to
help, Tink's temper and stubbornness get the better of her, shattering both
her creation and her friendship with Terence. To set things right again,
she must embark on a journey far North of Never Land ... and along the way,
she will discover an even greater treasure.



2010:

TOY STORY 2 in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: February 12th, 2010)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Co-Directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don
Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger

Originally released in 1999, "Toy Story 2" went on to become one of the
most popular animated features of all time. The film picks up as Andy is
heading off to Cowboy Camp and the toys are left to their own devices. When
an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (owner of Al's Toy Barn)
kidnaps Woody, and Woody learns that he's a highly valued collectable from
a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup," the stage is set for a daring
rescue attempt by the gang from Andy's room. The film introduced such other
memorable characters from "Woody's Roundup" as Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye
the horse, and the Prospector.

TOY STORY 3 (Domestic Release Date: June 18th, 2010, Disney Digital
3-D(TM))


Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Lee Unkrich
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
Writer: Michael Arndt
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace
Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty

The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and
bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our
favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director
of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film,
and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award(R)-winning screenwriter of "Little
Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the
proceedings.



RAPUNZEL (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2010, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Glen Keane, Dean Wellins
Producer: Roy Conli
In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences
will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic
tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl
with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair ...
lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010
holiday.

TINKER BELL A MIDSUMMER STORM - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2010)


DisneyToon Studios
Director: Carolyn Gair
Producer: Margot Pipkin
After being confronted by her antagonist Vidia, an irritated Tinker
Bell retaliates by taking a photograph of Vidia ... without considering the
consequences. Now, the two must set aside their differences and cooperate
to prevent evidence of the existence of fairies from falling into human
hands.



2011:

NEWT (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2011, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Gary Rydstrom
Producer: Richard Hollander
Writers: Gary Rydstrom, Leslie Caveny
What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts
on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they
can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes
of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award(R) winner for sound
Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted."
Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover
that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one
choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.

THE BEAR AND THE BOW (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2011, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))


Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brenda Chapman
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Voice Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's
action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired
Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a
great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a
reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom
and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of
nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director
Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the
storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this
rich Highland tale.

TINKER BELL A WINTER STORY - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2011)

DisneyToon Studios

Producer: Sean Lurie

The fourth, as-yet-untold story of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends
will take place in winter, completing the cycle of the seasons.



2012:

CARS 2 (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2012, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brad Lewis
All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms
back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's
fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the
"Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find
themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic
escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis,
producer of the Oscar(R)- winning film "Ratatouille."

KING OF THE ELVES (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2012, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))


Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Chuck Williams
Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only
experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and
imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta,
whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to
name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they
attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new
leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers
and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.

[Macaluso]

I'm kind of disapointed that they're actually making a Cars 2. But Up and Newt sound like they are going to be fun rides.

[Dan]

Excited about The Bear and the Bow as well as King of the Elves. Some very intriguing projects there.

[Vernadyn]

The long-awaited Brenda Chapman project finally arrives--with a female as the central character! I hope The Bear and the Bow will be something special, even by Pixar standards. Looking forward to the return of Musker and Clements and Keane's debut as well. The majority of Pixar's slate makes up for the questionable Cars 2. That said, it is admittedly a bit early to be speculating about the quality of these projects. Although I will be staying as far away from the Tinker Bell "films" as possible.

[Ben]

You guys are missing the <I>really</I> impressive news here:

Princes And The Frog and Rapunzel will be good ol' classic Disney CHRISTMAS RELEASES after all!

Yay!

It'll be interesting to see if any of those others will be hand-drawn features, but the rest of the slate - sans Cars 2, natch - sounds pretty exciting!

[Meg]

Some new images here:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=43815

[Kinoo]

Let's not forget that Zemeckis A Christmas Carol and Tim Burton's Frankenweenie will also be Disney releases. That's pretty impressive amount of movies!

NEWT sounds like an hilarious trip, 2 newts forced to mate save their kind and they can't stand each other? Ge-NIUS!!

[Dacey]

Wow. A lot of that is very exciting news. It's great that Pixar will be making a fairy tale, and "King of the Elves" sounds like an interesting film.

[EricJ]

And so far, this's the only group/board I've seen that HASN'T been thinking we'll get the Tinkerbell videos, seeing as John Lasseter shut down ToonStudios last year--

I'm suspecting this's a cumulative list of all pre-productions from the past two years, and someone forgot to update a few obvious exceptions.

[Kinoo]

Lasseter didn't shut down ToonStudios but Circle7. He said cheapquels are over and that DisneyToonStudios' focus was TinkerBell films... No surprises here!

[Rosengeist]

Hi guys, long time lurker who's never posted before

I just wanted to point out, and this may be minor, but I think it's interesting in light of all the other changes that have been made to this film, that Tiana's costume has apparently changed in the new image Meg linked too. Now she has a sleeveless dress with arm length gloves.

Also, I find it quite exciting that Brenda Chapman is being given the opportunity to direct a film for Pixar, especially since it seems that with "Wall-E", "The Bear and the Bow" and "Newt" they will be branching away from the whole "buddy comedy" thing that they are so fond of. Not that they haven't done some wonderful stories based on that idea, but it can become kind of formulaic after a while.

[droosan]

No mention whatsoever of John Carter of Mars..? I had heard that was in the early story stages .. but I guess I either heard 'wrong', or it's so early in development that they haven't yet given it even a 'tentative' release date.

----------------

I'm really a bit surprised by the Cars 'hate' that I've seen on several sites today .. I thought it was a fun film. Not Lasseter's best .. but it does hold up well to repeat viewings, IMO .. and, as James pointed out (in a different thread), it's one of the very few films -- animated or otherwise -- which is still generating new (and fast-selling) toys, two years after its release.

----------------

I rather liked a lot of the concept/development art that was done for Fairies (which is now Tinkerbell). I kinda wish it were being done with 'traditional' hand-drawn animation, though; the CGI trailer on the Enchanted blu-ray 'drained' a lot of the earlier enthusiasm I'd had for this project.

[Meg]

No mention whatsoever of John Carter of Mars..? I had heard that was in the early story stages .. but I guess I either heard 'wrong', or it's so early in development that they haven't yet given it even a 'tentative' release date.

Well, Carter is a live-action project, so it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to release information about it in a press release concerning animated films.

[droosan]

Live-action..? Bah, there goes half my interest in JCoM, already.

It could've been an absolutely 'kick-butt' animated pulp-adventure film.

[eddievalient]

This is great news, especially "King of the Elves" (I've always liked Phillip K. Dick's sci fi stories, so it'll be interesting to see a fantasy from him, even with all the inevitable changes made in the transition to film). One thing though: in the story on the front page, did anyone else notice the remark about announcing "the future of animation"? To me, that comes off as a little arrogant. It's as if they think they're the only ones doing it and everyone else is a poser or wannabe and that just isn't the case. Still, this does sound like a good lineup (aside from the Tinkerbell stuff, which I'm choosing to ignore since what I've seen hasn't impressed me). We're in for an interesting next few years.