
THE STARS OF WALT DISNEY AND PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS COME TOGETHER AT D23 EXPO 2017 FOR THE BIGGEST ANIMATION CELEBRATION OF THE YEARÂ
John Lasseter Joins Filmmakers and Voice Talent to Share Details and Surprises about Upcoming Film Slate
Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios convened at D23 Expo 2017, revealing new details about their upcoming movie slates and introducing key voice talent, including Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez, Josh Gad, Kristen Bell, Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson, Huck Milner and Sarah Silverman. And in an unforgettable moment, Auliâi Cravalho, Kristen Bell, Mandy Moore, Kelly MacDonald, Anika Noni Rose, Irene Bedard, Linda Larkin, Paige OâHara and Jodi Benson came together on stage in a celebration fit for a princess.
John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, teamed up with the stars and filmmakers from both studios to present new details, footage, behind-the-scenes looks and images from a host of upcoming films. âIâm so excited about our upcoming movies; they are all hilarious, emotional, beautiful and make you think,â said Lasseter, who serves as executive producer on all animated titles. âIt’s a great mix of incredibly creative and surprising new worlds and characters and stories we love returning to. Our filmmakers are putting so much heart into these films â I can’t wait for people to see them.â
Following, in the order of release, are the films presented on behalf of both studios.
Guests were treated to the first-ever public performance of âRemember Meâ from Pixar Animation Studiosâ upcoming feature film âCoco.â Anthony Gonzalez, who provides the voice of Miguel in the film, and Benjamin Bratt, who lends his voice to Ernesto de la Cruz, teamed up to perform the song written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Capping the animation presentation, the grand finale featured more than 160 performers who descended upon Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center, including the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles under the direction of Kareli Montoya, and the GrammyÂŽ-winning Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band.
âOur film embraces a broad landscape of music,â said director Lee Unkrich. âWe were fortunate to have Kristen and Bobby create âRemember Meââitâs the signature song made famous by Ernesto de la Cruz, and it embodies the key theme in our story: the importance of remembering loved ones both in life and beyond.â
Unkrich, co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina and producer Darla K. Anderson shared details about the original story with the crowd. In theaters Nov. 22, 2017, âCocoâ introduces Miguel, an aspiring musician whose family long ago banned music. Desperate to prove his talent and follow in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel makes a fateful decision and finds himself in the Land of the Dead, where he meets his extended family and charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael GarcĂa Bernal). Together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
âCocoâ features an original score from OscarÂŽ-winning composer Michael Giacchino (âUp,â âRogue Oneâ) and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco (âDope,â âShovel Buddiesâ) and Molina. Also part of the team is musical consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound.
Fans in attendance all received an exclusive âCocoâ poster depicting the filmâs iconic skull guitar.
OLAFâS FROZEN ADVENTURE
Kristen Bell, the voice of Anna, introduced fans to the new âFrozenâ holiday featurette, âOlafâs Frozen Adventure.â Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, surprised the crowd with a live performance of the all-new original song âThat Time of Year,â written by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. The song is part of Walt Disney Animation Studiosâ new 21-minute featurette, which hits the big-screen in front of Disneyâ˘Pixarâs âCocoâ on Nov. 22, 2017.
Joining Bell and Gad in the featurette are Idina Menzel as the voice of Elsa, and Jonathan Groff as the voice of Kristoff.
The featurette is directed by the EmmyÂŽ-winning team Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton (âPrep & Landingâ) and produced by OscarÂŽ winner Roy Conli (âBig Hero 6â).
INCREDIBLES 2
Lasseter, whoâs looked forward to the return of everyoneâs favorite family of superheroes since âThe Incrediblesâ was still in production, was excited to share with fans a look at what the fashion world thinks of super-suit stylist Edna Modeâthe petite-but-powerful character introduced in Pixar Animation Studioâs 2004 OscarÂŽ-winning feature. Showcasing fashion phenoms from Heidi Klum and Kendall Jenner to Zac Posen and Rachel Zoe, the video can be viewed here.
âIncredibles 2â director Brad Birdâwho lends his voice to Ednaâjoined Lasseter on stage to welcome to the festivities the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (newcomer Huck Milner) and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson). Bird revealed details of the upcoming caper, which puts the family into an expanded universe that includes new allies and a brand-new villain. ââIncredibles 2â is really a family film, itâs just that the family happens to have super powers,â said Bird. âThey may have super speed or super strength, but they experience the same problems as any family.â
âBobâs actually home with the kids this time and Iâm the one out fighting crime,â added Hunter.  She joked, âIâve been working out 13 hours a day!â
âIncredibles 2â hits theaters on June 15, 2018.
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2
Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston hit the stage at D23 Expo 2017, introducing EmmyÂŽ-winning actress and comedian Sarah Silverman, who returns as the voice of Vanellope von Schweetz.
Fans were the first to see the global debut of a scene from the film that pays hilarious homage to the Disney Princesses. Lasseter revealed that filmmakers had asked the original voice actresses behind the Princesses featured to reprise their roles for the sequence, and  in a moment no Disney fan will forget, Auliâi Cravalho (âMoanaâ), Kristen Bell (Anna in âFrozenâ), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in âBraveâ), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in âTangledâ), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in âThe Princess and the Frogâ), Irene Bedard (âPocahontasâ), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in âAladdinâ), Paige OâHara (Belle in âBeauty and the Beastâ) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in âThe Little Mermaidâ) were welcomed on stage for the largest gathering of Disney Princesses in history.
Walt Disney Animation Studiosâ follow-up to 2012âs âWreck-It Ralphâ leaves the arcade behind, venturing into the expansive universe of the internetâwhich may or may not survive Ralphâs not-so-light touch. Outcasts-turned-BFFs Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz are reuniting with Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer) and Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch). Filmmakers revealed a new character, Yesss, an algorithm who plays an important role in Ralph and Vanellopeâs journey within the internet. Golden GlobeÂŽ-winning actress Taraji P. Henson (âEmpireâ) lends her voice to the character. âYesss is a new character who owns the website Buzzaholic,â said Henson. âYesss knows about everything cool and on trend. And she does spell her name with a triple âs.â Yesss is very savvy, smart and sexy.â
Produced by OscarÂŽ winner Clark Spencer, âRalph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2â hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.
UNTITLED DISNEYTOON STUDIOS FILM
John Lasseter kicked off the presentation by announcing Disneytoon Studiosâ original new animated movie, âUntitled DTS Film.â Directed by Klay Hall and Bobs Gannaway, and produced by Ferrell Barron, the theatrical feature film explores the future of aviationâtaking moviegoers to the edge of discovery in the airâand beyond. âUntitled DTS Filmâ opens in theaters on April 12, 2019.Â
TOY STORY 4
Lasseter invited Pixarâs Josh Cooley (âRileyâs First Date?â short) to the stage, revealing that Cooley has assumed full director responsibilities for âToy Story 4.â The pair brought with them a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the directorâs life at the Northern California studio. Produced by Jonas Rivera (âInside Outâ), âToy Story 4â is slated for release on June 21, 2019.
FROZEN 2 (TITLE TBA)
Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and produced by Peter Del Vecho, Walt Disney Animation Studiosâ feature-length follow-up to 2013âs OscarÂŽ-winning film âFrozenâ is slated for theaters on November 27, 2019. Bell, Gad, Menzel and Groff are reprising their roles in an all-new story. Lasseter, Bell and Gad shared with âFrozenâ fans a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the filmmakersâ recent research trip to Norway, Finland and Iceland. Â
UNTITLED DAN SCANLON MOVIE
Director Dan Scanlon, who helmed Pixarâs âMonsters University,â joined Lasseter to share a few details about an all-new original feature film currently in production at Pixar Animation Studios. According to Scanlon, who lost his father at a very young age, the film is inspired by the question heâs always asked: who was my father? The story is set in a world with no humansâonly elves, trolls and spritesââanything that would be on the side of a van in the â70s,â said the director. âIn the film, weâre going to tell the story of two teenage elf brothers whose father died when they were too young to remember him. But thanks to the little magic still left in the world, the boys embark on a quest that will allow them a chance to spend one last magical day with their father.â Kori Rae (âMonsters Universityâ) will produce.