Pixar Announces Latin-Themed Film, Dino Film Given Title

All us Pixar fans were overwhelmed Tuesday evening with the loads of Pixar-related news that tumbled onto the web. So let's get started this massive blog post...

We had heard in September that Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3, was now working on a new film at the studio. No plot details whatsoever were revealed at the time, just that fact that Pixar was beginning a new project and that Lee would be the one directing it. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we know what Unkrich is up to. Ever heard of Día de los Muertos? Well, in case you haven't, it translates to "Day of the Dead", and it's essentially a Mexican holiday which is celebrated in early November in remembrance of those who have passed away.

Lee Unkrich tweeted:

So excited to finally reveal my next movie at Pixar: a story set in the world of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos.

Disney and Pixar have also confirmed that TS3 producer Darla K. Anderson will produce the new "Día de los Muertos" film. No release date has been given yet, but expect sometime in 2015 or 2016; the film seems to have started production not too long ago, and most Pixar films take an average of four years to be completed.

Next, the new Bob Peterson-directed film, which, until Tuesday, was known as "The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs" has now been given a title and a new release date. The film has been given the simple name of The Good Dinosaur, and is now scheduled for release on May 30th, 2014. Pete Docter's project which "takes you inside the human mind" remains untitled, but it is now set for June 19th, 2015.

Here is the official synopsis for The Good Dinosaur:

What if the cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? This hilarious, heartfelt and original tale is directed by Bob Peterson (co-director/writer, “Up;” writer, “Finding Nemo”) and produced by John Walker (“The Incredibles,” “The Iron Giant”).

And for the 'Human Mind' film:

Pixar takes audiences on incredible journeys into extraordinary worlds: from the darkest depths of the ocean to the top of the tepui mountains in South America; from the fictional metropolis of Monstropolis to a futuristic fantasy of outer space. From director Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and producer Jonas Rivera (“Up”), the inventive new film will take you to a place that everyone knows, but no one has ever seen: the world inside the human mind.

And finally, for Lee's 'Day of the Dead' film:

From director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla K. Anderson, the filmmaking team behind the Academy Award®-winning "Toy Story 3," comes a wholly original Pixar Animation Studios film that delves into the vibrant holiday of Día de los Muertos.

Even after all this excitement, Pixar was not finished with their explosion of news. The audience at CinemaCon was treated to the new teaser trailer for the upcoming prequel Monsters University. The teaser, I've heard, revolves around a younger Sulley pulling a sort of prank on a sleeping Mike in a dorm room. The whole audience is said to have been laughing. A Pixar employee confirmed on Twitter that we will see this trailer in June when Brave hits theaters. I am super excited to see it.

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. “Monsters University” unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Screaming with laughter and fun, “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”) and produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

It seems I've covered everything...

Pixar's calendar seems loaded with nothing but awesomeness, and they seem to be exploring completely new worlds and possibilities, which excites me even more.

So if someone asks you, "Do you know what Pixar is working on right now?", you can tell them, "Yup. They're taking us back to when Mike and Sulley were in college, then showing us what the world would be like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct, followed by a vivid journey into the human mind, and later an immersive story set in the world of the Día de los Muertos holiday." How awesome is that answer?