Disney and Pixar Animation Studios' Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter Reveals Exciting New Details About the Studios' Upcomin
15 September 2009 - 7:47AM
PR Newswire (US)
BURBANK, Calif, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 -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.
DATASOURCE: Walt Disney Studios CONTACT: Heidi Trotta of The Walt
Disney Studios, +1-818-560-7280,
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