D23 EXPO 2015 – Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios presentation recap!

This past weekend at the D23 EXPO in Anaheim, CA, numerous talent and filmmakers from PIXAR and WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS introduced fans to array of new stories and characters—from a lost dinosaur to a
master wayfinder, a scheming fox to a forgetful fish. The audience of 7,500 was treated to sneak peeks, musical performances and appearances from stars like ELLEN DEGENERES, KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ and ROBERT LOPEZ, GINNIFER GOODWIN, DWAYNE JOHNSON, RANDY NEWMAN and TY BURRELL, among others. How fun does that sound!? If you couldn’t make it out, don’t worry! I have the scoop for you!

Here are the Disney Pixar movies you have to look forward to in the near future:

THE GOOD DINOSAUR #GoodDino

Anticipation for Disney·Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR was amplified when DIRECTOR PETER SOHN and PRODUCER DENISE REAM shared breathtaking sequences with fans, including never-before-seen footage of a trio of T-Rexes in action.
In theaters on NOVEMBER 25, 2015, the film introduces audiences to Arlo, a sheltered Apatosaurus who finds himself far from home, and Spot, Arlo’s unlikely human friend. “Arlo and Spot journey through a world
that has been greatly inspired by the American Northwest,” said Sohn. “It is epic in scope, soul-enriching and simultaneously beautiful and treacherous. In this world, we meet up with a very special family of T-Rexes, who help Arlo find a way through his personal fears and ultimately teach Arlo what he’s truly made of.”

ZOOTOPIA #Zootopia

International superstar SHAKIRA is lending her Grammy®-winning voice to Gazelle, the biggest pop star in ZOOTOPIA, D23 EXPO fans learned via a taped message from SHAKIRA today. GINNIFER GOODWIN (ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” “Something Borrowed,” “Walk the Line”), the voice of the film’s rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps, saluted fans alongside DIRECTORS BYRON HOWARD (“Tangled”) and RICH MOORE (“Wreck-It
Ralph”), and PRODUCER CLARK SPENCER (“Wreck-It Ralph”). Hilarious new scenes from the film were unveiled, plus a tease of the all-new original song, “Try Everything,” written by singer-songwriter Sia and songwriting duo Stargate, and performed by SHAKIRA.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ZOOTOPIA opens nationwide MARCH 4, 2016.

FINDING DORY (#FindingDory)

ELLEN DEGENERES (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show”), the voice of everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, took a dip with D23 EXPO attendees this afternoon, celebrating Disney·Pixar’s upcoming film FINDING DORY. Joining DeGeneres on stage this afternoon were ED O’NEILL (“Modern Family”), who lends his voice to Hank, a
cantankerous octopus; TY BURRELL (“Modern Family”), the voice of Bailey, a misguided beluga whale; and KAITLIN OLSON (“Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), who voices Destiny, a kind-hearted whale shark.
Oscar®-winning DIRECTOR ANDREW STANTON (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”), CO-DIRECTOR ANGUS MACLANE and PRODUCER LINDSEY COLLINS (co-producer “WALL•E”) offered details about the all-new story,
which reunites Dory with friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
Disney·Pixar’s FINDING DORY swims into theaters JUNE 17,  2016.

MOANA #Moana

DWAYNE JOHNSON (“San Andreas,” “Furious 7,” HBO’s “Ballers”), who lends his voice to the mighty demi-god Maui in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ MOANA, hit the stage at D23 EXPO this afternoon. Renowned DIRECTORS JOHN MUSKER and RON CLEMENTS (“The Little Mermaid,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Aladdin”), and PRODUCER OSNAT SHURER (Oscar®-nominated Pixar shorts “One Man Band,” “Boundin’”) shared dazzling early test footage and revealed plans for the film’s inspired music and the extraordinary team behind it.
Tony®-winner LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA (Broadway’s hottest new hit “Hamilton,” Tony-winning “In the Heights”), Grammy®-winning composer MARK MANCINA (“Speed”, “Tarzan” “The Lion King”) and OPETAIA FOA’I (founder and lead singer of the world music award-winning band Te Vaka) blend their diverse and dynamic talents to
help tell the tale of a spirited teenager who sets out to prove herself a master wayfinder.
Moana sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.

TOY STORY 4 / TOY STORY 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION #ToyStory4

Pixar Animation Studios marks the 20th Anniversary of TOY STORY this year. Said Lasseter, “All the characters from ‘Toy Story’—especially Woody and Buzz—are so close to us. They seem more like family members than just creations. Not only do we dearly love the characters, but we also love the world of ‘Toy Story’—the world where toys come to life when people are not in the room has always been rich with many story possibilities.”
Lasseter, who’s one of Pixar’s three founders, celebrated 20 years since TOY STORY transformed the animation industry and the art of storytelling. He welcomed to the stage iconic two-time Oscar®-winning songwriter and longtime Pixar collaborator RANDY NEWMAN, whose Pixar credits include “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story
2,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Cars.”
Also joining in the celebration were TOY STORY 4 CO-DIRECTOR JOSH COOLEY (“Cars 2,” “Ratatouille”) and PRODUCER GALYN SUSMAN (“Toy Story OF TERROR!”). SCREENWRITERS RASHIDA JONES and WILL MCCORMACK (“Celeste & Jesse Forever”) joined Buzz, Woody and Bo Peep for the celebration. “I’m very proud of our films,” said Lasseter. “When we made the first three TOY STORY films, we didn’t realize what we had
done was to change the genre of each of the films’ story. For TOY STORY 4, we are doing a type of story we have not done before: a love story. It’s a story about a relationship between Woody and Bo Peep. ” TOY STORY 4, which will be directed by Lasseter and produced by Susman, is slated for release on JUNE 16, 2017.

GIGANTIC #Gigantic

Things are looking up at Walt Disney Animation Studios – way up. GIGANTIC, Disney’s unique take on “Jack and the Beanstalk,” will feature music from Oscar®-winning SONGWRITERS KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ
and ROBERT LOPEZ, who greeted D23 EXPO fans in signature style—in song—alongside DIRECTOR NATHAN GRENO (“Tangled”) and PRODUCER DOROTHY MCKIM (“Get A Horse!”).
Set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, Disney’s GIGANTIC follows adventure-seeker Jack as he discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds. He hatches a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl, and agrees to help her find her way home. But he doesn’t account for her super-sized personality—and who knew giants
were so down to earth? GIGANTIC hits theaters in 2018.

COCO #Coco

DIRECTOR LEE UNKRICH (“Toy Story 3”) and PRODUCER DARLA K. ANDERSON (“Toy Story 3”) revealed the title of their upcoming film: Disney·Pixar’s COCO is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion.

Which upcoming movie are you most excited to see!?