'Coco' Officially Unveiled at D23 Expo

One of the most exciting parts of last week's D23 Expo was arguably when Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3, and Darla K. Anderson, producer of Toy Story 3, walked on stage during the expo's animation panel to introduce their latest film; Coco. The film will center on a 12-year-old boy named Miguel and delve into the colorful world surrounding the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Early concept art from 2012

Though the film was announced back in 2012, we had heard virtually nothing about the project since, leading many to believe that the film had perhaps been shelved. All fears of that being the case, however, were struck down last week when Pixar officially unveiled the film, and its title, to the world.

This was my reaction upon hearing the good news:

THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS MOVIE. IT LIVES. #D23Expo

— Al (@PixarCorner) August 15, 2015

A clip featuring some test animation was shown for attendees of the expo. The scene starts in a graveyard with people paying their respects to those who have passed away before jumping to a vibrant street populated by singing and dancing skeletons. A skeleton mariachi band appears; one of its members, it turns out, is the film's protagonist, Miguel, in disguise. The clip ends with an aerial shot of the colorful streets where the celebration is taking place, which from the shape of a skull.

Unkrich and Anderson also talked briefly about the film and the themes it will explore, as well as the inspiration behind the project.

"I'd seen it portrayed in folk art," said Unkrich of Día de los Muertos. "It was something about the juxtaposition of skeletons with bright, festive colors that captured my imagination. It has led me down a winding path of discovery. And the more I learn about Día de los Muertos, the more it affects me deeply."

Though they certainly found the iconic visuals of Día de los Muertos incredibly appealing, Unkrich and Anderson explained that, above all, "it was the celebration's core themes of family, remembrance and connection across generations that resonated within and truly inspired [them]." They explained how "Día de los Muertos is as singular as the Mexican culture, while at the same time completely universal in its message."

The two went on to talk about the film's story, in which "the celebration of Día de los Muertos serves as the perfect backdrop for [the] main character to ask where he comes from, what his place is within his family, and how families stay woven together across time through the simple act of remembrance."

This is still very little information to go off of, but I am already sold. Not only will Coco be undoubtedly breathtaking to look at, but it already sounds like it will touch on some very powerful and emotional motifs.

Lee Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson introduce Miguel (Photo credit: Inside the Magic)

Since the announcement last week, many have noted the peculiar nature of the film's title. What does "Coco" mean?

"El Coco" is, in fact, a mythical monster, much like the bogeyman, derived from Hispanic folklore. Given the new film's theme, this could very much be what the title alludes to. Perhaps the story will tie "el Coco" to Día de los Muertos somehow. Coincidentally, the word "coco" is also a word for "skull" in Spanish. Skulls, of course, are prominent in the Día de los Muertos holiday. The title could be referring to either of these two meanings, if not both. Though Coco won't hit theatres for another two years, we may learn more about why this particular title was chosen as the film's release date draws closer.

This may just be the Pixar film I am most excited for as of right now. It may be a while before we hear anything new about Coco given that it is currently scheduled for November 22, 2017, but stay tuned.

Pixar Gives Sneak Peek at 'Toy Story 4' at D23 Expo

This past November, Pixar surprised the world by announcing that they are currently working on a fourth installment in the beloved Toy Story franchise. Though many believed that 2010's Toy Story 3 would be the final chapter of the series, Toy Story 4 has been in production since 2012 and will hit theatres in the summer of 2017. We learned a little about the film's plot at D23 Expo last week.

Before the animation panel at D23 started last Friday, Toy Story 4 director and Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter revealed that the upcoming film, which we had previously known would be a love story, will revolve around Woody and Bo Peep.

To fans of the Toy Story films, this was a surprising reveal. Bo Peep, of course, was Woody's love interest in Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Though she was an important character in the first two films, she was absent from Toy Story 3, which takes place about a decade after Toy Story 2. In that time period, Bo Peep eventually parted from the rest of Andy's toys and was presumably sold off at a yard sale or donated. During Pixar's presentation at D23, Lasseter revealed that Toy Story 4 will see Buzz and Woody going off on a quest in search of Bo Peep.

I have to wonder, will the Bo Peep in Toy Story 4 be the same one from Toy Story and Toy Story 2? Surely others were made. If that were the case, it would make for a very interesting story. How would Woody react to finding the one that he loves, only to realize she has no recollection of ever having known him?

From left to right: John Lasseter, Will McCormack, Josh Cooley, Galyn Susman

The film's story, Lasseter explained, was inspired by him and his wife, Nancy. WALL-E and Finding Dory director Andrew Stanton penned the film's initial treatment, and Rashida Jones and Will McCormack were later brought on to work on the script. Galyn Susman will produce and Josh Cooley, director of the new short Riley's First Date?, will co-direct.

I'll admit, it took me a while to warm up to the idea of a fourth Toy Story. The original three films form what is one of the greatest trilogies of all time, and like many people I thought Toy Story 3 wrapped things up beautifully. Doing a fourth one is risky business, considering it has three phenomenal predecessors to live up to. However, Pixar knows this, and I have to believe that they truly are making another installment in the series because they have a story that demands to be told. The little information that we got out of D23 certainly has me intrigued, and there sure seems to be a lot of love being poured into the film, which is very reassuring.

To celebrate the original Toy Story's 20th anniversary this year, the presentation finished off with a live performance of "You've Got a Friend In Me" by Randy Newman himself. Green Army Men descended from the ceiling and were joined on stage by other Toy Story characters as confetti erupted around the stage, ending the panel with a bang.

You can watch Inside the Magic's brief recap of the presentation here:

Toy Story 4 arrives in theatres on June 16, 2017.

'Finding Dory' Makes a Splash at D23 Expo

I'd like to first of all apologize for that irresistible pun in the headline.

Though it's been two years since Finding Dory, the highly-anticipated sequel to Finding Nemo, was announced, Pixar has remained tight-lipped on the film and we have heard little about it. Thanks to D23 Expo, however, a couple of new details about the film have been unveiled.

From left to right: Lindsey Collins, Angus MacLane, Andrew Stanton 

During Pixar's presentation at D23 Expo on Friday, John Lasseter welcomed director Andrew Stanton, who also directed the original Nemo, to the stage, as well as Finding Dory co-director Angus MacLane (BURN-E, Toy Story of Terror) and producer Lindsey Collins. Stanton said that he had always wanted to delve deeper into the character of Dory and explore her history, which is precisely what Finding Dory will do.

From left to right: Ed O'Neill, Ty Burell, Kaitlin Olson, Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres, voice of Dory, then walked on stage to introduce her co-stars. Ed O'Neill (Modern Family) plays a seven-tentacled octopus (or septopus) named Hank, Ty Burell (Modern Family) voices a beluga named Bailey, who is convinced he has a massive head injury, and Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia) lends her voice to Destiny, a whale shark who considers herself a whale despite being a shark. Additionally, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy play Dory's parents, Jenny and Charlie. Of course, Albert Brooks will return as Marlin, and it was announced for the first time that Hayden Rolence will replace Alexander Gould as the voice of Nemo. Since the film is set just six months after the events of the original, Gould, now 21, is too old to reprise his role, but Rolence's performance reportedly sounds impressively similar to the original voice.

The audience was given a first look at the movie as some clips were screened. In one of them, Dory finds herself "sleep swimming" and dreaming about her family, which leads to her wanting to go out and find them. The ever worrisome Marlin objects, but eventually decides to help Dory find her parents. She eventually ends up at the Monterey Marine Life Institute, where she meets the new cast of characters and her parents.

Darla's cameo in Finding Dory

During the presentation, Pixar released the still seen at the top, which gives us a look at Dory and Hank, the septopus, in the marine life facility. Those with keen eyes may also notice a picture of Darla, the cold-blooded fish murderer from the original film, in the background of the still.

Inside the Magic has some brief footage of the Finding Dory presentation from Friday:

So far, it sounds like Finding Dory will be a whole lot of fun, and hopefully a worthy successor to Finding Nemo, which I consider to be one of Pixar's best. The film is less than a year away, so a trailer shouldn't be far behind; it is likely we'll see it attached to The Good Dinosaur in November.

Finding Dory swims into theatres June 17, 2016.

'The Good Dinosaur' Plot Details Revealed at D23 Expo

In just three months, Pixar will finally release their sixteenth feature-length film, The Good Dinosaur. The film has undergone a troubled production, having had its original director replaced and release date pushed back 18 months. Fortunately, the filmmakers at the studio have been working hard to ensure they release a quality film, and it certainly seems as if they've gotten the project back on track.

Pixar screened a couple of clips from the movie for D23 Expo attendees this past Friday; some audience members were reportedly moved to tears. One of the clips showed an emotional scene in which Arlo the Apatosaurus and the human boy Spot bond, drawing in dirt to communicate their feelings to one another. Another clip introduced the horned dinosaur seen briefly in the film's trailer, who believes the animals perched on his head give him power.

Photo credit: Inside the Magic

Director Pete Sohn also explained the role that the three T-Rexes in the film will play. Though menacing in appearance, the T-Rexes are actually friendly and "help Arlo find a way through his personal fears and ultimately teach Arlo what he's truly made of.” Sam Elliott voices Butch, the leader of the trio and father to Nash and Ramsey, voiced by A.J. Buckley and Anna Paquin, respectively.

The Good Dinosaur hits theatres November 25.

'Riley's First Date?' Premieres at D23 Expo

A long-running Pixar tradition is that of including an original short based on the latest theatrical Pixar feature on the home release for said feature. The Incredibles had Jack-Jack Attack, Cars had Mater and the Ghostlight, WALL-E had BURN-E, and so forth.

Inside Out is the latest film to receive a home media short film, and Pixar took advantage of this weekend's D23 Expo to screen the new short, Riley's First Date?, for attendees.

Photo credit: Inside the Magic

The short is reportedly very funny and was received warmly by the crowd. Director Josh Cooley, who is also co-directing Toy Story 4, took the stage alongside Inside Out director Peter Docter and producer Jonas Rivera to introduce the short, which they say was inspired by every father's fear of having their daughter show up one day with a boy. The short sees Riley's parents having to deal with this very issue, and hilarity ensues.

Fortunately the rest of the world will not have to wait long to see Riley's First Date? as it will, of course, be included on Inside Out's DVD and Blu-ray releases, which hit stores November 3, less than three months from now.

Pixar Previews Upcoming Slate at D23 Expo

This weekend was jam-packed with excitement for Disney, Pixar, and animation enthusiasts alike, as Disney hosted its fourth biannual D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. The expo's animation panel, featuring looks at upcoming films from both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, took place on Friday, and Pixar certainly did not come empty-handed.

The three-hour panel got off to a rousing start when Pixar and Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter took the stage wielding a shirt cannon. Known for wearing his signature (and custom-made) Hawaiian shirts, the animation honcho proceeded to gleefully bombard the crowd with, yup, Hawaiian shirts.

Pixar's presentation provided further details and looks at the upcoming The Good Dinosaur and next year's Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory. Additionally, the studio surprised the crowd in officially unveiling an all-new original film; Coco. The film was announced back in 2012 as "the untitled Pixar movie about Día de los Muertos," but we had heard little about the project since then. Many even believed the film to have been abandoned, but fortunately this is not the case. Coco will arrive in theatres in the fall of 2017. Lastly, Pixar previewed the recently-announced Toy Story 4 and gave new details regarding the film's plot. The presentation ended with a live performance of "You've Got a Friend In Me" from Randy Newman as Toy Story characters hit the stage in celebration of the original Toy Story film's 20th anniversary this year.

Full posts about each of the films previewed at the expo are on the way; stay tuned.

Cars 3 and The Incredibles 2, though present on the studio's poster slate on the expo floor pictured at the top, were absent from the presentation since they are still both in the early stages of development and will not be released until after 2017. We did, at the very least, get a look at those two films' logos.

All in all, it was an exhilarating day that left fans eager to experience what the future of Pixar has in store.

Edit: Disney posted a great brief recap on Twitter of all that went down during D23 Expo's animation panel. Check it out:

Paws what you're doing and get a glimpse of what @disneyanimation and @disneypixar presented at #D23EXPO. https://t.co/pGEJnmX8CG

— Disney (@Disney) August 18, 2015

D23 Madness! Part 3: Finding Dory

Concept art from Pixar's Finding Dory

Pixar really shocked us all back in April when they announced that the beloved Finding Nemo was getting a sequel, scheduled for release in November of 2015. I mean, sure, there had been some rumors flying about prior to the big reveal, but I had personally taken them with a grain of salt. It took a while for me to accept the fact that this was happening (for years I had dreaded the idea of a second Nemo film), but I've really warmed up to the idea now. Whereas some people will cry out "Why? Why, Pixar? Why?", I try to instead ask, "Why not?". Finding Nemo introduced us to an amazing cast of characters who lived in a magnificent setting that looked absolutely glorious in an animated film, so I'm actually now quite looking forward to diving back into the big blue with Nemo, Marlin, and of course, the adorable Dory, who just so happens to be the lead this time around. In Finding Dory, we'll learn more about the forgetful fish's origins and along the way, meet some of her long-lost loved ones. Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres are set to reprise their roles as Marlin and Dory, respectively, but the aquatic sequel will see some great new additions to the cast as well.

• Diane Keaton voices Dory's mother, Jenny
• Eugene Levy voices Dory's father, Charlie
• Ty Burrell voices a beluga whale named Bailey

Nope, no Bill Hader in this one. No word yet on who will provide the voice of Nemo, although it's probably a safe bet to assume Alexander Gould (now 19 years old) will not return to voice the curious clownfish, as Finding Dory is set only one year after the events of the original film, so having Gould back would make for quite the awkward transition between films. Unless, of course, clownfish age really fast...

The plot details that were dropped at the Expo last month really grabbed my attention. As previously mentioned, the film takes place just a year after the first movie and sees Dory now living with Marlin and Nemo (whether she lives inside or outside the anemone is a mystery to me) when a traumatic event occurs that causes her homing instincts to kick in and hence go on a journey across the sea, determined to find her family.

With what seems to be an interesting premise for a sequel and Andrew Stanton back as director, I think Finding Dory is on track to being a worthy follow-up to one of the greatest animated films of all time. Will it be as good as or better than its predecessor? Maybe, maybe not. Who knows. But that's a relatively tall order. As long as it's a solid continuation that complements the original and allows us to spend some more time with these amazing characters, it'll be fine.

D23 Madness! Part 2: Inside Out

Concept art from Pixar's Inside Out

Known as the filmmaking mastermind behind beloved works like Monsters, Inc. and Up, Pete Docter is back in the director's chair in the highly-anticipated Inside Out, set to hit theaters June 19, 2015. Audiences will delve into the peculiar world inside the human mind, or more specifically, the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. Her various emotions make up much of the film's array of characters. The voice cast is as follows:

• Amy Poehler voices the emotion of Joy
• Phyllis Smith voices Sadness
• Bill Hader (Whaddaya know!) voices Fear
• Mindy Kaling voices Disgust
• Lewis Black voices Anger

Again, another phenomenal bunch of voice talent. I've always admired Pixar for never selling out and hiring big, extremely well-known celebrities just for the sake of drawing more people to their film (*ahem* Epic, anyone?). I mean, sure, every now and then they do hire famous A-list actors and actresses (Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, etc) to voice characters in their films, but that's only when the filmmakers feel the actor actually suits the character. Also keep in mind, when they do hire famous celebrities, these celebrities are always actual actors. They would never go out and hire, I don't know, Pitbull perhaps? Nicki Minaj? Anyway...

Inside Out follows the aforementioned Riley as she moves to San Francisco and has to adjust to her new life while trying to make new friends. Meanwhile, we are taken inside her head and see how her different emotions react to her everyday experiences. Now here's where it really gets interesting. Riley's emotions apparently all work inside her mind in some sort of headquarters (Get it? Headquarters? Because it's all in her head?) and each character has a screen that allows him or her to see Riley's perspective. Here they perform various tasks, such as storing memories and adjusting her emotions. The mind has many different sections, such as Dream Production, Imaginationland (described as a Disneyland-esque amusement park), and Long-Term Memory. Everything is connected by the Train of Thought, which is, of course, portrayed by an actual train. The plot is set in motion when Joy and Sadness get the boot and are made to leave the headquarters, which means it's up to Fear, Anger and Disgust to operate Riley.

All I can say is...wow. This sounds absolutely flabbergasting just by reading about it! Anyone still convinced that the folks over in Emeryville have lost their "touch"? No? Good, that should mean everyone here is sane. Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves. Because in 2015 Pixar is treating us to what could very well be the most original film in years.

D23 Madness! Part 1: The Good Dinosaur

Concept art from Pixar's The Good Dinosaur

This is one film I'm extremely pumped for. Pixar's fifteenth feature The Good Dinosaur, scheduled for release on May 30, 2014, showcases another one of the fascinating "what if" scenarios that the studio is known for expanding upon in their pictures. This time, we'll get a look at what the world would be like if the dinosaurs had never gone extinct. Prior to the Expo, we knew relatively little about the film, but the folks at Pixar decided to treat us to some juicy plot details, voice cast announcements and astounding concept art from the film.

• Lucas Neff voices our protagonist, an apatosaurus named Arlo
• John Lithgow voices Arlo's father, Poppa
• Frances McDormand voices Arlo's mother, Mama
• Bill Hader voices Arlo's brother, Forrest
• Neil Patrick Harris voices Arlo's other brother, Cliff
• Judy Greer voices Arlo's sister, Ivy

That's quite the voice cast, huh? This will be Bill Hader's second role in a Pixar production as he also previously voiced the poor little "I can't be late on the first day!" slug monster in Monsters University. Now, onto the plot details.

We learned that in the alternate reality the film portrays, dinosaurs have become the dominant species on the planet and they are farmers, who use their different physical characteristics as farming tools. The protagonist, Arlo, is the odd one out in his family as he is dazzled by bugs, whereas everyone else just seems to want to get rid of them. He soon encounters a young human boy named Spot, whom he mistakes for a large beetle upon first glance. Interestingly enough, the dinosaur characters in this film talk, while the human, Spot, does not. The film apparently follows the unlikely duo of Arlo and Spot leaving the farm and going on a journey across several different climates and terrains.

Now, I had previously expressed my fascination with The Good Dinosaur, but after these announcements, it has grown...well, larger than a dinosaur. Granted, I probably say that for pretty much every new Pixar film at some some point, but I find this one project exceptionally intriguing. Bring on 2014!

D23 Madness!

This month was a huge, exhilarating one for animation aficionados across the globe, as both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios made a splash at this year's D23 Expo. We got awesome first looks at most of the films on the both studios' slates, and let me just say, they all look pretty freaking amazing. In the next three blog posts, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the Pixar-related news that broke this month, regarding the studio's batch of upcoming projects. Stay tuned!

Footage from D23 Pixar Panel!

From left to right: Brad Bird, Ronnie del Carmen, Peter Sohn, Dan Scanlon, Bob Peterson, Mark Andrews, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Jim Morris, John Lasseter

Even though it's already been a while since D23 Expo took place, I recently stumbled upon a really cool video with actual footage from the Question/Answer period with the Pixar "brain trust" panel from the event. And here's the best part: it has the whole entire event on camera. I'm sure all you Pixar fans who could not make it to the event would love watching this, as it shows pretty much all of Pixar's best (excluding Lee Unkrich, who was set to attend but, unfortunately, could not make it to the event at the last moment) and they talk a bit about some of Pixar's upcoming films, so I wouldn't miss out on that. Here's the down side: the video is about and hour and a half long, so it might feel like forever until you get caught up on everything from the panel, and since there's nothing like actually being there in person, it does lack that exhilarating feeling of being in the presence of some of the best film makers of our generation. But I do suggest you watch it, even if not all of it, or some of it today, the rest another day, but it's up to you.

And without further ado, here is the video:

Don't you just love the excited "whoot"s and applauses at the beginning?

Photo credit: The Pixar Times

First Look at "Monsters U"

I don't know about you, but ever since Monsters University was announced, I've been dying to see something, anything, having to do with the upcoming prequel. Luckily, we recently got our first look at some concept art and character designs for Monsters U and I am as happy as ever.

The concepts were revealed at D23, and luckily The Pixar Times and /Film were there to get us the scoop on some of the masterpieces.

Mike and Sulley look fantastic; when you look at these characters now it really shows just how much the technology has improved since 2001. At first glance, the two characters look pretty much the same as they did a decade ago, but if you look closer, you start to see some slight changes on Sulley and Mike. After all, the two monster buddies rivals are quite a bit younger than they were in the original film. For starters, you can see Mike's retainer in his mouth now, his eyeball seems slightly bigger, his horns are a tad less pointy, and he's also a bit shorter. As for Sulley, he seems slimmer, shabbier, and his eyes are rounder.

Check out The Pixar Times' gallery here, and /Film's gallery here. They've both got some really cool coverage of all the concept art that was presented at D23. Here is one of my favorite pieces:

It could be a while until we get some more info on Monsters University, but not to worry, the wait to June 21, 2013 will be over before you know it!

Photo credit: The Pixar Times, /Film

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.

Pixar at D23 Expo

At last, some Pixar news to share with you all.

You've probably heard of D23 Expo, often called "The Ultimate Disney Event for Fans and Families". This year, for the first time ever, Pixar will be present at the event, and it seems that it will be pretty hard to ignore Pixar's presence at D23.

Many Pixarian "celebrities" will be present at the event, such as Kelly Macdonald and Kevin McKidd from Pixar's upcoming release, Brave, Ricky Nierva, production designer for Monsters University, Jim Morris, general manager of the Pixar studios, and best of all, a group of almost all of Pixar's directors, from John Lasseter, all the way to Dan Scanlon! Not to mention, legendary Pixar composer Michael Giacchino will be there too. Wow, if I was lucky enough to be attending the event, I'd probably pass out from all the excitement.

Here is an official list of all the Pixar-related panels to enjoy at the giant event:

A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team

Enjoy a rare opportunity to spend some time with the key figures responsible for Pixar’s unprecedented success, including John Lasseter (chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), Jim Morris (general manager, Pixar Animation Studios), Pete Docter (director, Monsters, Inc., Up), Andrew Stanton (director, Finding Nemo, WALL-E), Bob Peterson (co-director, Up), Lee Unkrich (director, Toy Story 3), Mark Andrews (director, Brave), and Dan Scanlon (director, Monsters University).

The Characters of Monsters University

Director Dan Scanlon and Production Designer Ricky Nierva discuss how they combine hair, horns, and a lot of heart to bring the wonderful Monsters University characters to life.

Michael Giacchino’s Music of Pixar

In this musical presentation, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino explores his early influences through the creation of modern-day classic scores from Ratatouille, Up and Cars 2.

The Art of Brave

Production designer Steve Pilcher and shading art director Tia Kratter show how they and their team put paint to canvas and fingers to computer keys to create the stunning visuals of Scotland for Disney•Pixar’s upcoming film Brave.

Pixar Shorts

This retrospective screening of the animation studio’s legendary short films will be followed by a panel discussion with several of the filmmakers, including Ralph Eggleston (director, For the Birds), Andy Jimenez (director, One Man Band), Angus MacLane (director, BURN-E), Pete Sohn (director, Partly Cloudy), Teddy Newton (director, Day & Night), and Enrico Casarosa (director, La Luna).

So not only will many Pixar celebs be there, but we'll probably get our first peek at Monsters University, and see more concept art from Brave! This is sure shaping up to be one heck of an event!

Visit D23's official website for further details, and if you are interested in attending, you can buy tickets there as well.