First Look: LEGO WALL-E Set Coming This December

In February, LEGO announced that a LEGO-built model of the lovable, titular robot from Pixar's WALL-E, designed by Pixar employee Angus MacLane, would be coming to stores later this year. MacLane designed and built the model while working on the actual WALL-E film and uploaded it to LEGO Ideas, a site where fans can share their own LEGO creations and, potentially, have them made into real LEGO sets.

The WALL-E model was approved by LEGO in February, and today we have our first official look at the finished product that will be on store shelves by Christmas. The model has been tweaked here and there from its original design to meet LEGO'S standards, and now even includes the iconic plant from the film. It will retail for approximately $40 and is expected to be released in early December, according to Smyths Toys. An official statement from LEGO regarding the pricing and release date of the set should be coming in the next few weeks, if not within the next couple of days.

I, for one, being both a huge LEGO fanatic and a Pixar aficionado, will be picking this set up the instant I see it. It's a must-have for fans of the beloved film and the studio, no doubt.

Look forward to getting your grabby paws all over a LEGO WALL-E this winter.

LEGO WALL-E Set Approved for Production

If you're a LEGO fan, you have likely heard of the website LEGO Ideas, formerly known as LEGO CUUSOO. The site allows builders around the world to submit their own ideas for potential LEGO sets. If their creation garners 10,000 supporters, it advances to the lengthy review stage, during which LEGO painstakingly examines the set to determine whether or not it is apt for mass production. In late 2013, Pixar employee Angus MacLane submit a LEGO model of Pixar's own WALL-E to LEGO Ideas, which reached 10,000 supporters this past summer.

WALL-E director Andrew Stanton poses with MacLane's model

Those familiar with Pixar and its employees will know that MacLane, director of  Pixar shorts BURN-E and Small Fry, as well as 2013's Toy Story television special Toy Story of Terror, is a huge LEGO buff - he even snuck in a LEGO Bunny of his own design into the aforementioned TV special. He built the WALL-E model while actually working on the film WALL-E way back in 2005 - almost a decade ago! After having met the required number of supporters on LEGO Ideas, the project entered the review stage, which takes several months, in July. Today, the LEGO Group announced which of the eight sets that were being reviewed up until now will be coming to stores. Rejoice, for WALL-E has emerged victorious!

Watch the official announcement video here:

According to LEGO, the pricing and release date, as well as the finalized design for the model, are currently being worked on, but expect this delightful plastic brick-built interpretation of the curious little robot to hit store shelves sometime next year, if not this year. Being both a big Pixar and LEGO fan myself, I was thrilled to hear this news and will be picking up the set as soon as it arrives.

Congratulations to the insanely ingenious Angus MacLane! If you're interested on some more background info on his WALL-E model, head on over to The Brothers Brick for a nearly seven-year-old interview with the man himself, and be sure to support his other project on LEGO Ideas - a 100% screen-accurate replica of the LEGO Bunny seen in Toy Story of Terror!

'Toy Story of Terror' Delivers on all Fronts

Last Wednesday night, fans were treated to Pixar's first ever television special, the spooky Toy Story of Terror, and needless to say, it did not disappoint.

Toy Story of Terror is essentially everything you loved about the Toy Story films packaged into a 22-minute short. It's fast-paced and filled to the brim with witty humor, quirky writing, references to classic horror films, and even character development. That's right! Character development in a television special! Under all the laughs and hijinks there is some actual depth to this short.

The story revolves around Jessie and her withstanding fear of being trapped inside boxes. Without giving too much away for those who have yet to see the special, she must muster up all the courage she can in order to confront her fear to save her friends and return safely to Bonnie.

I was amazed at all this short managed to accomplish in such a short amount of time. It took the already very fleshed-out character of Jessie and added yet another layer to her, which is exactly what these new Toy Story shorts and television specials should be doing, and it excites me to see Pixar pulling it off so well. We get to revisit this phenomenal cast of characters and see parts of them we've never seen before, all without ruining an already perfect trilogy. Brilliant.

We're also introduced to a wide array of fantastic new characters, including Combat Carl (voiced by Carl Weathers), who hilariously refers to himself in the third person. A personal favorite of mine, however, was his 1/3 scale counterpart, Combat Carl Jr., also voiced by Carl Weathers, albeit in a slightly modified, higher pitched voice. I'm a sucker for squeaky voices. All the new characters are a welcome addition to the Toy Story universe, and I really do hope we get to see more of them in the future.

Michael Giacchino provides an excellent score that adds a hint of spookiness to that classic Toy Story-esque music we're used to.

Other highlights include the always entertaining Mr. Pricklepants, who really steals the show here, and the gorgeous animation, which is, well, pretty much flawless.

All in all, Toy Story of Terror is a delight in practically every aspect, and destined to become a Halloween classic in the years to come. Also, between this and Small Fry, I'm starting to become a pretty big fan of Angus MacLane's work.

Angus MacLane: A Creative Mastermind

The folks over at Pixar Post spotted a nifty little "Blocumentary" posted on the official LEGO YouTube channel. The video focuses on none other than Pixarian Angus MacLane, director of BURN-E and the Small Fry. MacLane gives us a closeup look at his admirable collection of LEGO, and he shares with us plenty of his CubeDude creations, inspired by all sorts of famous characters. Naturally, he's got plenty built to resemble some of the most iconic Pixar personas, as well as characters from the Star Wars universe and your favorite Marvel heroes.

Watch the video below:

Angus' library of CubeDudes now consists of a walloping 355 different figures, and the best part is, you can view them all on his Flickr page.

First Look at 'Small Fry'

Mini Buzz meets Woody in 'Small Fry'

Ironically, today I was thinking to myself, 'Hmm, Pixar hasn't released any clips or stills from Small Fry yet'. Then, I go on my computer a few hours later and I find two never-before-seen images from the upcoming short film, along with some new facts about the plot.

Small Fry revolves around Buzz being left behind at a fast food restaurant, while an irritating miniature version of himself takes his place in Bonnie's bedroom. Our favorite space ranger then has to deal with a gang of "Happy Meal" like toys, including a mermaid voiced by Glee's Jane Lynch.

The mermaid's name has been announced to the public; Neptuna. Judging by the picture seen below, she may be the leader of the rejected toys at the restaurant.

Angus MacLane, director of the short, talked with USA Today about Small Fry.

MacLane describes the short as "the Prince and the Pauper tale for toys" only that "one of them happens to be 3 inches tall".

He tells how Small Fry is about how these miniature fast food meal toys feel unloved after always being discarded right after all the food has vanished from the table.

"These toys' existence is about being really popular before the meal and then being totally forgotten about. And sometimes they don't even get played with."

Most of the cast from the short has been confirmed. Tim Allen and Tom Hanks are set to return as Buzz and Woody, respectively, Joan Cusack reprises her role as Jessie the cowgirl, and John Ratzenberger is back as the voice of Hamm the piggy bank. Neptuna the mermaid is voiced by Jane Lynch, and guess who has been cast as the cheeky Mini Buzz...

Teddy Newton, director of Day & Night and voice of the Chatter Telephone in Toy Story 3. Now that I think of it, he does sound like the perfect voice for a naughty little 3-inch Buzz. His voice work should be hilarious! Also, Angus MacLane, the director of the short, will voice several of the fast food restaurant toys, including T-Bone and Super Pirate.

Pixar wants audiences to remember to just "give these guys a little bit of love", 'these guys' being the little toys you get with your burger and fries.

Small Fry hits theaters November 23 with Disney's The Muppets. The new film starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Kermit the Frog, and all the other awesome characters looks incredible all on its own already, so the latest Toy Story Toon is just another bonus! Plus, there are rumours that the next Brave trailer will also play with the film, so it's even better!

Angus MacLane's LEGO Creations!

All Pixarians have their own little hobby. For example, John Lasseter loves collecting toys, and has mounds of them in his famous office at Pixar. Today we're going to be taking a closer look at one specific Pixarian's special hobby.

Meet Angus MacLane, directing animator of WALL-E, and director of the two shorts, BURN-E and the upcoming Small Fry. Angus loves LEGO, and is known to have made many unique pieces of art made out of the iconic building blocks. Here are a few...

Pixar's icon, the hopping Luxo lamp.

WALL-E, the adorable little robot.

Carl Fredricksen, the old man who was so determined that he soared the skies without ever leaving the warmth of his home.

The inseparable monster duo, Mike and Sulley.

BURN-E, the little bot from the short that Angus himself directed.

Of course, Angus doesn't just make Pixar characters out of LEGO, but he builds many others. Two of my favorites are his takes on R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Pretty impresive, huh? This is proof that Pixar employees have many other talents apart from animation and storytelling.

Do you have a special talent or hobby? If so, please do share it in the comments section!

Upcoming Toy Story Toon Titled [BIG UPDATE!]

The news about a second Toy Story Toon coming in November attached to Disney's The Muppets broke way back in February, but no plot details or even a title were announced until very recently at D23 Expo.

The short film will be called "Small Fry" and will focus mainly on everyone's favorite space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, just like how Hawaiian Vacation was essentially about Ken and Barbie.

At first when I saw the title of the short, I wondered whether it would have something to do french fries, but I thought it would be a little strange for a Toy Story short film to be centered around a popular side dish served with ketchup. I guess we'll have to wait a little longer to find out what "Small Fry" means.

Catch Toy Story: Small Fry on November 23 alongside The Muppets!

UPDATE: The Pixar Times, having been present at D23 Expo, has stated the plot for the upcoming short film. It will involve Buzz getting left behind at a fast food restaurant (think McDonald's) and meeting a group of "Happy Meal" toys, including a mermaid toy voiced by Jane Lynch from Glee. So as it turns out, Small Fry actually will have something to do with french fries. Silly me.

Also, the short will be directed by Angus MacLane, who I believe was in the picture which Tom Hanks once posted on Twitter of himself doing voicework as Woody for the Toy Story Toons next to "3 directors". Considering Bobby Podesta and Mark Walsh were also in Tom Hanks' photo, expect to see them directing their own Toy Story short sometime soon. Angus has previously directed BURN-E. In further news regarding Pixar shorts, La Luna has been confirmed to play in front of Brave next year. I can't wait to see all these new Pixar shorts, they all sound so creative.