Disney News

Category: Disney

  • Disney Names New Animation and Pixar Chiefs After John Lasseter’s Announced Exit

    Disney Names New Animation and Pixar Chiefs After John Lasseter’s Announced Exit

    Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn announced last Tuesday that Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter will be succeeding Disney animation and Pixar chief John Lasseter, who is leaving the company at the end of the year amid allegations of misconduct.

    Both Oscar-winners and veterans of the Walt Disney Company, Lee, who co-directed “Frozen,” has been named chief creative officer for the Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Docter, who is best known for “Up” and “Inside Out,” is now the chief creative officer for Pixar Animation.

    Despite being credited with reviving Disney’s animation offerings and helping create film classics such as “Up” and “The Incredibles,” Lasseter is leaving the company under a cloud. Last fall, he took an extended sabbatical after allegations broke that he engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior. Earlier this month, Disney announced that Lasseter would leave the studio at the end of the year. He is consulting for Disney, but will not have an office at the animation headquarters.

    In announcing their appointments, Horn said, “Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter are two of the most gifted filmmakers and storytellers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. Pete, the genius creative force behind Up, Inside Out and Monsters, Inc., has been an integral part of Pixar almost since the beginning and is a huge part of its industry-leading success. Jenn, in bringing her bold vision to the boundary-breaking Frozen, has helped infuse Disney Animation with a new and exciting perspective. Each of them embodies the unique spirit, culture and values of these renowned animation studios, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have them to lead us into the future.”

    Lee won an Oscar for co-directing Frozen with Chris Buck, and since joining the company in 2011 as the co-writer of Wreck-It Ralph, she’s worked on Disney projects like Zootopia and A Wrinkle in Time. She’s currently in production on Frozen 2, which is scheduled to hit theaters Nov. 27, 2019.

    “I am deeply grateful to everyone at Walt Disney Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Company for this opportunity,” Lee said in a statement. “Animation is the most collaborative art form in the world, and it is with the partnership of my fellow filmmakers, artists and innovators that we look ahead to the future. My hope is to support the incredible talent we have, find new voices and work together to tell original stories. The great films of Disney Animation — the films I loved as a kid and my daughter has grown up loving — are magical, timeless and full of heart, and it is our goal to create films that carry on and grow this 95-year legacy for future generations.”

    Docter is also an Oscar winner, for Up and Inside Out, and he’s a longtime Pixar employee who joined the studio in 1990 and has contributed to hits like Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and WALL-E.

    Docter said in a statement of his own, “I am excited and humbled to be asked to take on this role. It is not something I take lightly; making films at Pixar has been my chronic obsession since I started here 28 years ago. I am fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented people on the planet, and together we will keep pushing animation in new directions, using the latest technology to tell stories we hope will surprise and delight audiences around the world.”

    Despite the bad headlines involving Lasseter, Disney’s animation team continues to deliver hits. Last weekend, “The Incredibles 2” opened to rave reviews and scored the biggest animated debut in history, earning a massive $182.7 million.

  • Disney and TOMS New Princess Collection Has Fans Royally Obsessed

    Disney and TOMS New Princess Collection Has Fans Royally Obsessed

    Disney and TOMS shoe company have released a Cinderella-inspired collection that has Disney Princess fans going crazy!

    The Cinderella collection is the first of a series of Disney x TOMS collections, with Sleeping Beauty and Snow White collections to follow in July and August. Toms says, the 30-piece capsule collection is “for those who break glass ceilings in glass slippers”

    Disney Toms Princess Collection

    The collection honors the female artists who worked behind the scenes on classic Walt Disney films by bringing never-before-seen sketches from Disney’s former all-female Ink and Paint Department to life. The California-based company dug deep into the storied Walt Disney archives to create a 30-piece capsule of women’s and kids’ shoes featuring original never-before-seen character sketches from the classic films.

    Disney Toms Princess Collection Disney Toms Princess Collection Disney Toms Princess Collection

    All of the Toms and Disney products will come in specially designed packaging. Retail prices will range from $64.95-$75 for women’s footwear, $49-$59 for kids’ footwear, $170-$190 for women’s eyewear and $90 for kids’ eyewear.

    As is the case with all TOMS products, for every pair of shoes you buy, a new pair will be donated to a child in need. The brand has already donated more than 75 million pairs of shoes to children in need around the world.

    The Cinderella inspired shoes and glasses debuted on June 21. Sleeping Beauty styles will follow on July 19, and then Snow White styles will be available on August 23. In addition, a special six-piece holiday capsule collection of shoes will be unveiled on Oct. 18.

  • First Teaser Trailer For Tim Burton’s Live Action Dumbo Released

    First Teaser Trailer For Tim Burton’s Live Action Dumbo Released

    Disney has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Tim Burton’s live-action “Dumbo” remake and it will warm your heart.

    The reimagined story expands on the beloved classic story where, as Disney puts it, “differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight.”  The trailer, which features Norwegian popstar Aurora singing Baby Mine, features clips of Dreamland as well as Dumbo taking flight for the first time.

    Tim Burton helms the live action “Dumbo” which is inspired by the 1941 animated film. It’s written by Ehren Kruger and has an all-star cast including Eva Green, Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Alan Arkin, and Danny Devito.

    The story begins when circus owner Max Medici played by Danny DeVito who enlists former star Holt Farrier played Colin Farrell and his children to care for a newborn elephant. “We’re all family here,” they tell a frightened Dumbo. “No matter how small.”

    Disney has continued its dominance at the box office in with a slew of live-action remakes of its animated classics, including “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Jungle Book,” and last year’s $1.25 billion worldwide grossing “Beauty and the Beast.”

    Tim Burton’s Dumbo flies into theaters March 29, 2019.

  • VIDEO: New Kingdom Hearts 3 Release Will Feature Frozen World & Characters

    VIDEO: New Kingdom Hearts 3 Release Will Feature Frozen World & Characters

    Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series have been anxiously awaiting the next instalment in the franchise and after Microsoft’s E3 press conference yesterday we have some chilling new details. It was revealed that Kingdom Hearts 3 will feature a world based on Disney’s Frozen.

    Kingdom Hearts III is an upcoming action role-playing game, developed by Square Enix and published by Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is the ninth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The beloved game is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series’ plot centers on the main character Sora’s search for his friends and his encounters with Disney characters (and a few others) on their worlds.

    A new trailer, featuring the theme song “Don’t Think Twice” by Utada Hikaru, was released during the conference that showcased the new world. Watch it below:

    In addition to Frozen, the confirmed Disney worlds in the game are Tangled, Big Hero Six, Hercules, Toy Story, and Monsters Inc. Some other characters you will get a chance to meet also include Wreck-it Ralph and Ratatouille.

    The game was confirmed to be in development during E3 2013 and it is set to be released on January 29, 2019.

  • “Incredibles 2” To Premiere On Disney Cruise Line Ships At The Same Time As On Land

    “Incredibles 2” To Premiere On Disney Cruise Line Ships At The Same Time As On Land

    Next weekend, the long-awaited sequel to Disney•Pixar’s animated hit “The Incredibles” blasts into theaters, and guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line won’t have to wait until they get home to find out what our favorite family of supers have been up to since we last saw them. “Incredibles 2” will premiere in Disney cruise ship theaters at the same time as on land!

    Incredibly guests can can also relive the excitement of the original film from the comfort of their staterooms! “The Incredibles” is available on-demand aboard all Disney Cruise Line ships, along with a massive line-up of Disney animated and live-action films. For guests sailing over the next week, an in-room viewing party complete with milk and cookies from room service is the perfect way to celebrate the return of Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash and Jack Jack.

    The littlest sailors can even get in on the action during Jack Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dash, a high-speed crawling race named for the youngest Parr family hero. During the dash, babies don their race numbers and crawl to the finish line of a specially themed 20-foot track, fueled by rousing music from the film and the cheers of an atrium full of spectators. This super fun event is offered year-round, and it’s a blast for guests sailing with and without crawling cruisers of their own.

    Will you be catching up with the Incredibles on land or at sea next weekend? Either way, it’s sure to be “totally wicked!”

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!

  • BREAKING: John Lasseter Out at Disney at the End of This Year

    BREAKING: John Lasseter Out at Disney at the End of This Year

    John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studio and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, will exit the company at year’s end, the Walt Disney Corporation announced Friday, after accusations of repeated misconduct that led to a six-month leave of absence last fall.

    Disney CEO Bob Iger gave Lasseter a glowing review in a statement released today and announced that he will assume a consulting role at Disney until December 31, 2018, at which time he will depart.

    “John had a remarkable tenure at Pixar and Disney Animation, reinventing the animation business, taking breathtaking risks, and telling original, high quality stories that will last forever,” Iger said in the statement. “We are profoundly grateful for his contributions, which included a masterful and remarkable turnaround of The Walt Disney Animation Studios. One of John’s greatest achievements is assembling a team of great storytellers and innovators with the vision and talent to set the standard in animation for generations to come.”

    Lasseter also released a statement with some parting thoughts as he looks toward the future. “The last six months have provided an opportunity to reflect on my life, career and personal priorities,” said John Lasseter. “While I remain dedicated to the art of animation and inspired by the creative talent at Pixar and Disney, I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges. I am extremely proud of what two of the most important and prolific animation studios have achieved under my leadership and I’m grateful for all of the opportunities to follow my creative passion at Disney.”

    Disney did not announce a replacement for Lasseter at either studio. Jennifer Lee, the writer-director of “Frozen,” is rumored to be the frontrunner at Walt Disney Animation Studios, while Pete Docter, the director of “Inside Out” and “Up,” is the top contender at Pixar.

  • Newest Disney Vacation Club Resort Named ‘Best of the Best’

    Newest Disney Vacation Club Resort Named ‘Best of the Best’

    Sometimes, what happens in Vegas shouldn’t stay in Vegas. I’m pleased to report that Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge took home the biggest prize at the recent ARDY Awards at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

    Presented by the American Resort Development Association, the annual ARDY Awards honor outstanding achievements in the resort industry. Chief among those honors are ACE (ARDA Circle of Excellence) Awards recognizing those who “have attained the very highest level of excellence in the resort industry, and whose accomplishments and dedication spur the industry to new heights.”

    Copper Creek Villas & Cabins took home the prestigious ACE Project of Excellence Award, recognizing the newest Disney Vacation Club Resort as the “best of the best” in a variety of disciplines, from resort design and sustainability to community impact, to sales and marketing (the resort also took home an ARDY Award for best Multimedia Marketing Campaign) to day-to-day operations.

    Aside from being a matter of pride for the Disney Vacation Club Cast and every Disney Vacation Club Member who calls this rustically elegant resort “home,” the award demonstrates an unexpected power of Disney magic…allowing one to leave Las Vegas feeling like a winner.

  • New ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2’ Trailer is Full of Disney Princesses

    New ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2’ Trailer is Full of Disney Princesses

    Disney dropped the newest trailer for “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2″ today and for some it’s a dream come true!  This is not your ordinary fairytale, but all the Disney Princesses make an appearance in the trailer.

    The highly-anticipated animated sequel picks up six years after the original. This time around, after their old-fashioned arcade is connected to a Wi-Fi router, they find themselves on an adventure that takes them across the world wide web.

    Check out the new trailer below!

    The trailer is highlighted by Vanellope meeting all the Disney Princesses including Auli‘i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Kelly Macdonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”).

    “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2” leaves Litwak’s video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of the internet—which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet—the netizens—to help navigate their way, including a webite entrepreneur named Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site “BuzzzTube.” Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Cedar Rapids,” co-writer “Zootopia,”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt”).

    The original film made $471.2 million worldwide. “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2” the follow-up to the 2012 hit, hits theaters on Nov. 21.

  • Celebrate Disney’s ‘Peter Pan’ 65th Anniversary Edition Release

    Celebrate Disney’s ‘Peter Pan’ 65th Anniversary Edition Release

    In celebration of the 65th anniversary Walt Disney Signature Collection release of Disney’s “Peter Pan,” Walt Disney World Resort guests will be treated to special entertainment and activities this Saturday, June 2nd.

    At 1:30 p.m. at Magic Kingdom Park, Peter Pan, Wendy and the Lost Boys, will “Follow the Leader” along with invited DisneyBounding guests up and down Main Street, U.S.A. in a mini-parade. Be on the lookout for pirates led by the nefarious Captain Hook too!

    That evening, Guests of Walt Disney World Resorts can also cozy up under the second star to the right for a showing of “Peter Pan” during Movies Under the Stars and receive a special “Peter Pan” 65th Anniversary Walt Disney Signature Collection poster, while supplies last.

    The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of “Peter Pan” invites adventurers of all ages to believe in magic once again and experience a timeless treasure from Disney’s Golden Age of Animation. “Peter Pan” has stirred the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers worldwide since its original 1953 release. The Signature Collection edition offers over two hours of classic bonus features plus never-before-seen extras, including the latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office,” which explores Walt’s love of flying and the company planes; a nostalgic reunion between Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John); and new “Oke” renditions of the classic song “You Can Fly” and deleted song “Never Smile at a Crocodile” accompanied by on-screen lyrics and the film’s unforgettable animated characters.

    The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of “Peter Pan,” is available on Digital and Movies Anywhere now and releases on Blu-ray June 5th.

  • ‘Roseanne’ Canceled By ABC After Star’s Racist Tweets

    ‘Roseanne’ Canceled By ABC After Star’s Racist Tweets

    “Roseanne,” ABC’s hit revival sitcom, was canceled today just hours after the show’s star Roseanne Barr’s posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.

    Barr’s post early Tuesday morning, which has since been deleted, said that Jarrett, who is African-American, was a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and “Planet of the Apes” — “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” She has since apologized.

    Barr’s comparison of Jarrett, a longtime Obama family confidant, to an ape and claiming that she has a connection to the organization Muslim Brotherhood drew immediate backlash on social media. You can see the deleted tweet below.

    roseanne-barr-tweet

    The tweet also immediately brought criticism from “Roseanne” star Sara Gilbert. It also prompted Wanda Sykes, a consulting producer, to quit the show in the lead up to the cancellation.

    “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” said Channing Dungey, the president of ABC Entertainment, in a statement.

    In a tweet, Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of Disney, said there was “only one thing to do.”


    Iger called Jarrett before publicly announcing that the show was canceled. Barr deleted the initial tweet and apologized hours after the original comment.

    In her apology, Barr called the tweet a “bad joke about her politics and her looks.” She also said she was “leaving Twitter,” but didn’t specify if that meant deleting her account.