Dad of Divas

One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

A Heartwarming Animated Adventure That Nature Lovers Will Love

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Hoppers

In this animated comedy adventure, animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to ‘hop’ her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she makes amazing discoveries, Mabel befriends a charismatic beaver and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major, imminent human threat.

Bonus Features*

  • The Critter Diaries: Wander behind the scenes with director Daniel Chong and the Pixar creative team as they explore Yellowstone, study wildlife, and find real-life inspiration for our favorite new animated characters from Hoppers.
  • Hopping In: The Making of Hoppers: Hop into the making of the movie as filmmakers, cast, and crew share how their ideas, collaboration, and creative process brought the story, animation, and lovable characters to life in Pixar’s Hoppers.
  • “Meet King George” Scene Breakdown: Dive deep with director Daniel Chong and the filmmaking team as they reveal the craft of making King George’s Superlodge. Get insight into the directing process, editing, VFX, animation, and production design.
  • Beaverton Revealed: Explore Hoppers to find surprising Pixar film cameos, hidden references, and plenty of fun, behind-the-scenes facts.
  • Dam Good Bloopers: Laugh along with your favorite voice actors from Hoppers as they have fun bringing their characters to life in the recording booth.
  • Deleted Scenes: Check out these scenes that didn’t make the final cut, as introduced by director Daniel Chong and editor Axel Geddes.
    • Cold Open
    • The Glade
    • The Mission
    • Kings Arrive
    • George’s Bachelor Pad
    • Helicopter Ride

My Take on the Movie

As someone who lives in Michigan and spends a lot of time enjoying our own wildlife and natural spaces, Hoppers really struck a chord. Directed by Daniel Chong, this animated adventure blends humor, heart, and an environmental message in a way that feels both entertaining and meaningful. The story follows Mabel, who uses new technology to connect with animals in a completely unexpected way, leading to friendships and discoveries that drive the film forward.

The animation is vibrant and full of personality, especially in the way the animals are brought to life. There’s a warmth to the storytelling that makes it easy to connect with, whether you’re watching as a parent or just someone who appreciates a good animated film. While the central conflict may feel somewhat familiar, the emotional moments and lighthearted humor help carry it through.

For anyone who loves nature—or just a feel-good story—Hoppers offers a fun, thoughtful experience that lingers after the credits roll.

Elio: A Cosmic Adventure About Belonging and Imagination

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Elio

Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

Elio

Bonus Features*

  • Inside the Communiverse: The World and Characters of Elio – Launch behind the scenes with the cast and crew to get an in-depth look at the design and development of our meteoric main characters, as well as the making of all the celestial environments that make up Elio‘s universe.
  • Out of This World: An Astro Q&A – Calling all space enthusiasts! Voice actors Yonas Kibreab (Elio) and Remy Edgerly (Glordon) meet with a real-life astronaut to discuss space travel, possible alien life on other planets, and why it’s important to study space.
  • Astronomic Art Class: Ooooo and Glordon – Join Nicolle Castro, the lead story artist, as she shares her role on the film and guides viewers through drawing a couple of the film’s interstellar characters, Ooooo and Glordon.
  • Extraterrestrial Easter Eggs and Fun Facts – Uncover the references and characters from some of your favorite Pixar films hidden throughout Elio, along with other fun facts.
  • Galactic Gag Reel – Discover the fun inside the recording booth with the starry voice actors from Disney and Pixar’s Elio as they bring their characters to life with some entertaining laughs.
  • Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut:
    • Bike Chase
    • Garden Party  
    • Carver Legend
    • Questa’s Second Test
    • Home Visit

*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer

Elio

Review

Watching Elio felt like stepping into a colorful daydream that balanced both silliness and heart. From the opening scene, I found myself grinning at Elio’s boundless imagination, and by the time he was mistaken for Earth’s leader, I was hooked. The mix of quirky alien characters and big cosmic adventure reminded me of the kind of movies that first made me fall in love with Pixar.

What stood out most for me was the emotional core. Beneath the laughs and space antics, Elio captured something deeply familiar—the feeling of not quite fitting in and longing to find your place. I caught myself reflecting on those moments in my own childhood, which made the film resonate even more.

The pacing wasn’t perfect, but the visuals were stunning, the humor genuine, and the message uplifting. Elio may not top Pixar’s greatest hits, but it left me smiling and hopeful.

Disney and Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 – is out today at digital retailers

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Inside Out 2

 

Make room for new emotions because Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is now available at digital retailers (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home). The highly anticipated heartwarming sequel has already proven to be a blockbuster smash hit, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, currentl the 10th highest grossing film in global box office history, and the fastest animated film to reach $1 billion globally.

Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ and celebrated by critics as “absolute perfection, hilarious” (Jazz Tangcay, Variety) and “an unforgettable experience” (Landon Johnson, Awards Watch), the historic box office run has also established Inside Out 2 as Pixar’s top-grossing movie of all time globally.

Fans can continue the emotional roller coaster with exclusive content featuring an all-new documentary, an alternative opening, deleted scenes and much more.

Social Media
Twitter: @pixarinsideout
Facebook: @pixarinsideout
Instagram: @pixarinsideout
#InsideOut2

INSIDE OUT 2 – Comes to Digital Retailers on Aug. 20 and on 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD on Sept. 10

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Inside Out 2

Make room for new emotions when Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 arrives to digital retailers (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) on August 20 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on September 10. The highly anticipated heartwarming sequel has already proven to be a blockbuster smash hit, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, the fastest animated film to reach $1 billion globally, and is currently the 10th highest grossing film in global box office history.

Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ and celebrated by critics as “absolute perfection, hilarious” (Jazz Tangcay, Variety) and “an unforgettable experience” (Landon Johnson, Awards Watch), the historic box office run has also established Inside Out 2 as Pixar’s top-grossing movie of all time globally. Fans can continue the emotional roller coaster with exclusive content featuring an all-new documentary, an alternative opening, deleted scenes and much more. The 4K Blu-ray will be available in a Limited-Edition Collectable SteelBook™ release.

Film Synopsis
  • Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen.
Bonus Features*
  • New Emotions – With Riley’s imminent puberty, the story of Inside Out 2 always suggested that there would be a party of new emotions complicating Riley’s world—and throwing a wrench into Joy’s hard-won stability. But exactly what those new emotions could be was a big question mark. Casting the new emotions in Riley’s mind was a fun exploration into the shifting mindset of a teenager, and was also informed by some of the discarded scenes and characters from the original film. In this documentary we’ll discuss that process of creating Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy—from narrowing them down from a long list of possible emotions, to the design, animation, and voicing of these new, hilarious, and strangely recognizable characters.
  • Unlocking the Vault – In a kind of visual commentary, a group of central creatives watch and discuss the scene “The Vault.” As they stop and start—and refer to various IP versions of the scene—we’ll hear about the inspiration for Riley’s repressed memories like Bloofy and Lance Slashblade, the development of the scene in Story, and the technical challenges of creating 2D characters that exist in the CG world of Riley’s mind.
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Cold Open – In this alternate opening, a now 13-year-old Riley awkwardly fumbles her way through an original song she wrote for a school audition.
    • Broken Joy – After momentarily being unable to drive the console, Joy worries that she might be starting to malfunction.
    • Pool Party – After Riley tries too hard to be fun at an older teen’s party – resulting in utter embarrassment – her “Anxiety” becomes “Self-Loathing” who then ousts our hero emotions from headquarters.
    • Puberty Park – After seeing their faces printed on “wanted posters,” Joy and the others rogue emotions race through a puberty-themed amusement park while being chased by mind worker cops.
    • Shame Spiral – At a lock-in with some cool, older girls, Riley and friends play a game of “Never Have I Ever” that goes a bit too far – wreaking havoc in Riley’s mind.
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailerCast
Amy Poehler as Joy
Maya Hawke as Anxiety
Lewis Black as Anger
Phyllis Smith as Sadness
Tony Hale as Fear
Liza Lapira as Disgust
Ayo Edebiri as Envy
Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui
Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment
Kensington Tallman as Riley
Lilimar Hernandez as Valentina
Diane Lane as Mom
Kyle MacLachlan as Dad
Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green as Bree
Grace Lu as Grace
Yvette Nicole Brown as Coach Roberts
Sarayu Blue as Margie
Flea as Jake
Ron Funches as Bloofy
Dave Goelz as Mind Cop Frank
James Austin Johnson as Pouchy
Bobby Moynihan as Forgetter Bobby
Frank Oz as Mind Cop Dave
Paula Pell as Mom’s Anger
Paula Poundstone as Forgetter Paula
John Ratzenberger as Fritz
Kendall Coyne Schofield as Hockey Announcer
June Squibb as Nostalgia
Kirk Thatcher as Foreman
Yong Yea as Lance SlashbladeProduced by
Mark Nielsen

Executive Producers
Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera and Dan Scanlon

Written by
Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein

Directed by
Kelsey Mann

Tickets on Sale Now for Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2

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Tickets are now on sale for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming theatrical release, “Inside Out 2,” which welcomes new Emotions to now-teenager Riley’s mind. Advance tickets are available on Fandango, https://www.fandango.com/InsideOut2, and wherever tickets are sold. Also available today to download and share are exclusive posters for IMAX, Dolby and RealD.

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as Headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment show up. The voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paul Walter Hauser and Yvette Nicole Brown. “Inside Out 2” is directed by Kelsey Mann, produced by Mark Nielsen and executive produced by Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera and Dan Scanlon. The film features a screenplay by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein and story by Mann and LeFauve. With music by Andrea Datzman, the all-new feature film releases only in theaters June 14, 2024. Access available press materials:  https://dam.gettyimages.com/thewaltdisneystudios/insideout2.

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Hashtag: #InsideOut2

Inside Out 2 Garners Biggest Animated Trailer Launch in Disney History

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Inside Out 2

Disney and Pixar just debuted the first look at the highly anticipated Inside Out 2, and excitement over the new film was felt everywhere.

The first look at the sequel to the 2015 blockbuster was the biggest animated trailer launch in Disney history. The trailer—which brings viewers back into the mind of the now teenage Riley as her emotions try to keep up with her new feelings—garnered 157 million views in 24 hours. The previous record holder was 2019’s Frozen 2.

“We are thrilled so many people have tuned in to check out the new trailer for Inside Out 2,” said Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer of Pixar. “When the first film came out, we knew that by telling a story where we could see our emotions—those little voices inside your head—there would be so much more to explore than we could possibly fit into one film.”

Docter added that director Kelsey Mann and team “have done such a great job with Inside Out 2, expanding the world and introducing new emotions that we’re very anxious for audiences to discover.”

“We couldn’t be more grateful to see the kind of response the trailer has received so far,” he said. “Thank you to all who have checked it out — we can’t wait for everyone to see the film when it comes to theaters next summer.”

The film was especially a big hit on TikTok bringing in 78 million views on the social media platform in the past day. Disney announced a first-of-its-kind content hub with TikTok last month to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary.

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons that Inside Out 2 was so popular was due to the introduction of the brand-new emotion, Anxiety.

The frazzled, but lovable orange emotion—who is voiced by Maya Hawke—will join Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust.

Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 releases exclusively in theaters on June 14, 2024.

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X:  https://twitter.com/PixarInsideOut

Hashtag: #InsideOut2

Disney and Pixar Animation Studios’ Elemental – a Film For the Whole Family

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Elemental

Welcome to Element City, where the fiery Ember Lumen and the go-with-the-flow Wade Ripple are about to discover what happens when fire meets water in Pixar Animation Studios’ dazzling and imaginative Elemental, which debuts on all major digital platforms (Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, etc.) August 15 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD September 26.

Described as “stunning” (Joey Magidson, Awards Radar), “beautiful and immersive” (Belen Edwards, Mashable), Elemental is and Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ with “Pixar’s signature blend of vibrant revolutionary animation and imagination” (Luke Harfield, Awards Watch). Fans can be the first to watch at home by adding the film to their Pixar movie collection, and access bonus content including exclusive deleted scenes, featurettes, an audio commentary, and the widely popular all-new short, “Carl’s Date.”

Film Synopsis

Elemental is an original feature film set in Element City, where residents of Fire, Water, Earth and Air live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. Directed by Peter Sohn (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Partly Cloudy” short), and produced by Denise Ream (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Cars 2”), Elemental features a screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh, and stars the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade.

Bonus Features*

Short Film

  • Carl’s Date – Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, this all-new short, “Carl’s Date,” finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend —but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends — if you’re a dog. “Carl’s Date” opened in theaters in front of Disney and Pixar’s Elemental.

 

Featurettes

  • Ember and Wade – Take a deeper look at the development of main characters Ember and Wade, from early designs to final effects, and learn how the complex work of the technical and character teams brought these characters to life.
  • Next Stop: Element City – Explore how Element City is built to accommodate its different inhabitants. Director Peter Sohn and crew members share insights about the evolution of the designed world, as well as some of the research that inspired its unique look.
  • Paths to Pixar: The Immigrant Experience – Hear from first-generation filmmakers on the Elemental crew as they share their journeys to Pixar.  Discover how Elemental’s real-world themes of sacrifice and identity, amongst many others, reflect or diverge from their own lived experiences.

Deleted Scenes

Director Peter Sohn introduces five scenes that are storyboarded, set to music, timed, and voiced, but are not included in the final version of Elemental.

  • Intro Ember – An alternate opening in which our hero Ember helps a newly immigrated Fire family navigate through, and acclimate to, Element City. Scene introduced by director Peter Sohn.
  • Mom Rejects Wade – Ember’s traditional parents learn that she’s enamored with watery Wade…and it doesn’t go well. Scene introduced by story supervisor Jason Katz.
  • Dante Challenge – In an attempt to keep Ember apart from Wade, Bernie tasks her with finding a place to live for newcomer Dante, who Wade finds himself rather enamored with. Scene introduced by story artist Nira Liu.
  • Brook Dinner – Ember joins Wade for dinner at his home, in this abandoned storyline in which Wade’s mother, Brook, is revealed to be the villain diverting water into Firetown. Scene introduced by story artist Anna Benedict.
  • Beach Proposal – Sharing a tender moment on the beach, Ember and Wade propose marriage to each other. Scene introduced by story artists Yung-Han Chang and Le Tang.

Audio Commentary

  • Elemental Filmmaker Commentary – Join director Peter Sohn, supe tech Sanjay Bakshi, supervising animator Mike Venturini, and directing animator Gwendelyn Enderoglu as they provide insight into the making of this remarkable animated feature while you watch it.

 

My Take on the Film

While this movie followed a similar theme to some of the other recent films, I have to say that it was a wonderful story that brings in a lot of themes about love, friendship and more. I loved that the film brought in perspectives surrounding different types of love, such as familial love, romantic love, and friendship love. The characters in the film are memorable and there are many moments where I found myself laughing. All-in-all this was a truly enjoyable film that I would recommend to any family! 

Disney and Pixar’s Elio

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Jameela Jamil and Brad Garrett to Join Previously Announced Voice Talent America Ferrera and Yonas Kibreab

 Pixar Animation Studios’ 28th Animated Feature Opens in Theaters on March 1, 2024

Disney and Pixar’s “Elio”

 

 

About the Movie

An out-of-this-world teaser trailer, poster and images for Disney and Pixar’s 28th feature film, “Elio,” are now available. Revealed this morning are additions to the voice cast: Jameela Jamil and Brad Garrett join previously announced America Ferrera and Yonas Kibreab in the intergalactic misadventure that is scheduled to take off next spring—March 1, 2024. Check out the trailer, poster and images and please share with your readers.

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar’s all-new movie “Elio,” the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

Directed by Adrian Molina (screenwriter and co-director of “Coco”) and produced by Mary Alice Drumm (associate producer of “Coco”), the film features the voices of America Ferrera as Elio’s mom, Olga; Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa; Brad Garrett as Ambassador Grigon; and Yonas Kibreab as the title character. “Elio” releases in theaters March 1, 2024.

Disney and Pixar’s “Elio”

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Check Out New Trailer Celebrating Pixar Animation Studios’ New Short “Carl’s Date”

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Carl’s Date

Check out a brand-new trailer celebrating Pixar Animation Studios’ “Carl’s Date.” Opening exclusively in theaters June 16 in front of Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental,” the all-new short marks a return to the studio’s tradition of pairing its feature films with animated shorts on the big screen. Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, “Carl’s Date” goes home with Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner) and his lovable talking dog, Dug (voice of Peterson), who were introduced in Pixar’s Oscar®-winning feature “Up.” Moviegoers will catch up with Carl as he reluctantly agrees to go on a date with a lady friend—but admittedly has no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends—if you’re a dog.

Carl’s Date Carl’s Date

View the trailer here: 

Disney Live Action, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Upcoming Slate Wows Thousands at D23 Expo 2022

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The Walt Disney Studios turned up the volume in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center today where thousands of fans gathered at D23 Expo 2022 to be the first to hear big announcements, new details and future plans for Disney Live Action, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The showcase began in true Disney style with a look back at special moments in Studio history and Cynthia Erivo’s breathtaking performance of the classic Disney song “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Disney’s all-new live-action version of “Pinocchio,” now streaming on Disney+.

“What a way to kick off the show,” said Alan Bergman, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “Of course, ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ was first heard in the animated film ‘Pinocchio’ in 1940. It’s a motto about dreaming big, dreaming the impossible and making those dreams come true. And that’s something we try to do each and every day at the studio.”

Fans in Hall D23 were among the first to see a brand-new logo introduction of the iconic Disney castle—now platinum in honor of Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder celebration. Created by Disney Studios and Industrial Light & Magic, and featuring an all-new arrangement of “When You Wish Upon a Star” by award-winning composer Christophe Beck (“Frozen,” “WandaVision”), the new Disney castle introduction will play in front of all Disney theatrical and streaming releases starting this fall.

Bergman called on Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production (Disney Live Action); Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios; and Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios to walk fans through a powerful lineup of streaming and theatrical titles. The event included the following highlights.

 

DISNEY LIVE ACTION

Sean Bailey greeted excited fans with a nod to Erivo’s stunning performance and this week’s Disney+ debut of the beloved tale of the wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy. “PINOCCHIO” stars Tom Hanks as Geppetto and Erivo as the Blue Fairy, and features the voices of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio, respectively. Bailey reflected on the Studio’s incredible live-action history, “My team and I feel so lucky that we get to continue that tradition.”

Bailey queued up three more streaming titles: “We love making movies for the big screen and we have some incredible ones coming up,” he said. “But what’s so exciting about Disney+ is that it gives us a lot of freedom to tell an even bigger range of stories. We continue to explore reimaginings that honor our Disney legacy, and we can also create the next generation of Disney original stories. And of course, we have the chance to explore new chapters of stories we all know and love.”

 

  • Fans got a wicked greeting from “HOCUS POCUS 2” stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, who appeared magically via video to surprise the room with a new trailer. It’s been 29 years since the 17th-century sisters have been resurrected and they are looking for revenge. It’s up to three high-school students (Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham) to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve. Directed by Anne Fletcher and produced by Lynn Harris, “Hocus Pocus 2” also stars Sam Richardson, Tony Hale and Hannah Waddingham. It debuts exclusively on Disney+ Sept. 30.  Trailer, poster, film stills and event imagery are available to download and share.

  • Up next, Bailey welcomed to the stage stars from “DISENCHANTED,” including Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Maya Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Yvette Nicole Brown and Jayma Mays. Featuring music from Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, the musical comedy picks up 15 years after Giselle (Adams) and Robert (Dempsey) get married when their family heads to suburbia in search of happily ever after. Fans were among the first to see the first trailer of the film, which is directed by Adam Shankman, produced by Barry Josephson, Barry Sonnefeld and Adams, and features new music from the greats, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. “Disenchanted” streams on Disney+ beginning Nov. 24. Trailer, key art and event imagery are available to download and share. 
  • “PETER PAN & WENDY” spotlights iconic characters in a whole new way. Joining Bailey on stage were cast members Alexander Molony (Peter Pan), Ever Anderson (Wendy), Alyssa Wapanâtahk (Tiger Lily) and Captain Hook himself: Jude Law. The new film dives deeper into Wendy’s story as she joins the boy who refuses to grow up on a magical journey to Neverland and reveals the history behind Peter Pan’s rivalry with one of Disney’s most memorable villains. The cast discussed what fans can expect from the new film and revealed an exclusive first look at the film for the D23 audience. Directed by David Lowery and produced by Jim Whitaker, the live-action reimagining of the 1953 animated classic begins streaming on Disney+ in 2023. Key art and event imagery are available to download and share.

Strange World

Bailey concluded his presentation with four highly anticipated titles heading to theaters in 2023 and 2024:

  • “HAUNTED MANSION” director Justin Simien—who actually used to work at Disneyland—joined Bailey to discuss the ghostly adventure. Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. They shared a sneak peek of the film exclusively with the D23 Expo crowd, then welcomed the queen of scary movies, Jamie Lee Curtis, who made an unforgettable entrance aboard a Haunted Mansion doom buggy. Curtis plays Madame Leota in the film, which releases next year. Title treatment and event imagery are available to download and share.
  • “MUFASA: THE LION KING,” a prequel to “The Lion King,” won’t release until 2024, but director Barry Jenkins was on hand to show a never-before-seen sneak peek and share a little about the film, which is currently in production. Told in flashbacks—Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa tell the story of Mufasa to a young lion cub—“Mufasa” reveals the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands. Title treatment and event imagery are available to download and share. 
  • “SNOW WHITE” is a live-action reimagining of the classic tale starring Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as Snow White’s Stepmother, The Queen. The film’s two stars joined Bailey to talk about their roles and to share a very early glimpse at the iconic characters in the 2024 film, which is directed by Marc Webb, produced by Marc Platt and features new songs by Tony®-, Grammy®- and Oscar®-winning songwriters Pasek and Paul. Title treatment and event imagery are available to download and share.
  • “THE LITTLE MERMAID” director Rob Marshall took a break from post-production under the sea to share more about the live-action version of the beloved tale. He played the “Part of Your World” sequence for fans in Hall D23 and invited on stage Ariel herself, Halle Bailey, who shared her excitement about her new role. Marshall concluded by introducing the new teaser trailer, available worldwide today. Featuring fan-favorite songs plus four new songs penned by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the feature film also stars Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as Triton. “The Little Mermaid” swims onto the big screen next summer. Teaser trailer and event imagery are available to download and share. 

 

PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS 

Pixar’s Pete Docter was excited to share the upcoming slate for the Emeryville-based animation studio. “These last few years have been a time of great change in the world,” said Docter. “And it’s led us at Pixar to think about the future. Or, if I’m channeling my inner Joe from ‘Soul,’ I’d ask: ‘Why are we here? What’s our purpose?’ Well, for us, it’s to tell great animated stories. Whether those are theatrical feature films, streaming series or shorts, we think telling stories is foundational to who we are as people. They really define us. And we believe in the power of animation to capture and reflect the stories of our own lives.”

Elemental

First up, filmmakers Peter Sohn and Denise Ream joined Docter on stage to discuss “ELEMENTAL,” an all-new, original feature film releasing on June 16, 2023. Sohn, who directs the film, shared the personal inspiration behind the film—a story of immigrants pursuing dreams in beautiful neighborhoods where language and cultures come together. Filmmakers introduced the characters in “Elemental,” which is set in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. Ember is a tough and fiery young woman, and Wade is a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy. Helping bring them to life are Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, who were warmly welcomed to the Hall D23 stage. Audience members got an exclusive look at the film and received a mini-poster featuring Ember and Wade. Film still and event imagery are available to download and share.

“WIN OR LOSE” directors Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates provided a closer look at Pixar’s first-ever long-form series and what inspired it. “Win or Lose” follows the Pickles, a co-ed middle school softball team, in the week leading up to their championship game. Each episode takes place that same week, highlighting the perspective of a different main character—players, their parents, the umpire—each reflected in a unique visual style. Hobson and Yates revealed that Will Forte will voice Coach Dan in the series, and shared a shout-out Forte recorded for the occasion, followed by a special clip just for fans. “Win or Lose” streams on Disney+ in Fall 2023. Key art and event imagery are available to download and share.

Following flickering lights and an ominous message reading “Bring Us Your Leader,” Docter welcomed to the stage director Adrian Molina and producer Mary Alice Drumm to showcase for the first time ever plans for the original feature film “ELIO.” In the story, 11-year-old dreamer Elio is artistic, creative and an avid INdoorsman who finds it hard to fit in. Meanwhile Mom Olga, who runs a top-secret military project, is working to decode a strange signal from outer space. But it’s Elio who makes contact, gets beamed into space and is subsequently mistaken for an intergalactic Ambassador for Earth. The voice of smart and super-confident Olga, America Ferrera, was invited on stage alongside Yonas Kibreab, who lends his voice to Elio himself. Kibreab revealed to the audience that “Elio” releases Spring 2024. Concept art and event imagery are available to download and share.

Before Docter could wrap Pixar’s portion of the show, he heard a voice from inside his head. Fortunately, it was actually the voice of Joy, Amy Poehler, who arrived on stage to huge applause—especially when she informed the audience that “INSIDE OUT 2” is in the works at Pixar. Director Kelsey Mann, producer Mark Nielsen and writer Meg LeFauve are hard at work on the all-new adventure inside the head of now-teenager Riley—who may or may not be feeling all kinds of new Emotions. “Inside Out 2,” the follow-up to 2015’s Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winning feature film, is slated for release Summer 2024. Event imagery is available to download and share.

Wish