Two New Brave Clips

Two new sneak peeks at Pixar's latest film have been released this week. Check them out below!

This first one shows a conversation between Queen Elinor and King Fergus, as he gives her his finest advice on how to speak to Merida. He even does a quite entertaining impression of his teenage daughter. I especially love Elinor's face at the very end; priceless.

This second clip introduces the sons of the three Lords to us, as they are presented to the royal family of DunBroch. Each of the clans get their moment, and may very likely make you chuckle.

Tomorrow is already June, which means there are only 22 days left until Brave finally makes its way into North American theaters!!!

Finding Nemo: On Blu-ray This December

This is it, folks. The moment we've all been waiting for. This holiday season, you'll be able to own ALL of Pixar's beloved films, from Toy Story to Brave, in glorious high-definition! Andrew Stanton's classic Finding Nemo, the only film from the studio that hasn't already hit the Blu-ray format, is set to arrive in Blu on December 4 this year.

A Blu-ray 3D version will also be released, considering the film is also having its theatrical 3D re-release this year. Other than finally being to enjoy the classic tale is beautiful HD, there's really not much to expect from this release, although there is a chance we may see some new bonus features. If no new material is added however, I won't be too disappointed; the original DVD release from 2003 already had as many special features as there are fish in the sea.

What I find a bit odd is how this is apparently being released in early December rather than early November. Pixar's films normally hit home video during the first few days of November, and are usually accompanied by some other Pixar release. Toy Story 3 arrived on DVD and Blu-ray the same day that the Cars Toons collection did, Monsters, Inc. made its Blu-ray debut alongside Up, and so forth. The Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 2 will surely come on the same day as Brave this year, in early November. Maybe Pixar just wanted us to have something to look forward to in the month of December too?

In case you missed it, here is the trailer that was released in October for the Blu-ray release of Nemo:

Mark your calendars - December 4!

New 'Brave' TV Spots & Featurettes!

The marketing for Brave has been going crazy lately, and a lot of cool vids have been released. In case you missed any of it, here's what's new:

A TV spot entitled "One Family" was released, and later an extended version of it followed. In the first one, I'm pretty sure the guard announcing Merida's arrival is John Ratzenberger! We also get to hear the voices of Lords MacGuffin and Macintosh for the first time, which is quite exciting as well. Oh, and don't miss Young MacGuffin and his incomprehensible Scottish accent. I found that quite amusing.

Some awesome featurettes have also met the light of day lately. They won't be in the finished film, but they give us spectacular insights into the characters and their relationships with one another.

Lastly, here is another spoof featurette mocking popular television ads, like the "Kilt" one we saw a while ago. This one is an ad for the new album "Freedom Broch". Some of the titles for the songs are simply hilarious.

June 22 gets closer by the minute, and the anticipation just keeps building...

Finding Nemo 3D: New Trailer!

Pixar has released the first full-length trailer for their 3D re-release of Finding Nemo, set to arrive in theaters in September later this year. Sometimes, I just don't see the point in all the 3D re-releases that seem to be taking place lately, but Nemo is a total exception. Can you imagine seeing that gorgeous underwater landscape in the third-dimension? I have high hopes for Nemo 3D, so this new trailer greatly excites me.

"Sea it like never before"

Pixar Shorts Volume 2: Coming in November!

A German flyer showcasing the new shorts collection

I recently wrote an article about when we'd see Pixar's short, Small Fry (which was released in theaters in November 2011 with Disney's The Muppets) on home video. My top prediction had been that the short would apper on the Brave Blu-ray and DVD, but I had talked about the possibility of the short showing up on a Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 2.

Pixar Talk tells us how this second bundle of Pixar shorts is set to arrive in November; very likely on the same day Brave will hit the home video format. Small Fry will surely be on this collection, and you can also expect it to have all Pixar shorts starting at Your Friend the Rat (2007) all the way to La Luna (2011), which will also be premiering on home video for the first time alongside Small Fry.

So you can mark your calendars and start looking forward to November!

Pixar Fan Videos

You never know what the creative fans of Pixar will create...

A couple of weeks ago, the same dudes who are working on the ambitious project of transforming the first Toy Story into live-action posted their live-action take on the heartbreaking yet heartwarming finale scene from Toy Story 3. They did an unbelievable job:

Also, Toystructor, a reader of this blog, emailed this fantastic video of a remote-controlled Mater crashing into a wall of Jenga blocks - in slow motion. Everything is cool in slow motion, but this...this will blow your mind.

It's amazing what all the imaginative folks out there can create, don't you think?

The Avengers: Pixar Style

I had the chance to finally watch Marvel's The Avengers on Friday, and I also happened to stumble upon this neat little Pixar Avengers mash-up. There's really not much to say, other than that the artist did an incredible job in dressing up beloved Pixar characters as the beloved group of superheroes.

How do you like this Pixar/Avengers mash-up? Who is your favorite Pixar Avenger from the mash-up? Have you gotten the chance to see The Avengers yet?

Trailer for Brave Video Game

The video game adaptation of Brave will hit store shelves this year, and here is the first trailer for the game.

I have to admit, it does not look as good as the Toy Story 3 and Cars 2 video games did, and I have a feeling it has to do with the fact that this one isn't being developed by Avalanche Software, as the TS3 and Cars 2 ones were. And also, I haven't heard a lot about Pixar being closely involved with the development of this one, so it may turn out to be like any standard video game adaptation of a movie. The Toy Story 3 and Cars 2 games are, without a doubt, the best video games based on a movie that I have ever played. I could be wrong about this Brave one though, so I will give it a try.

Of course, this video game doesn't one bit affect my intense excitement for the actual movie!

Hilarious 'Brave' Clips Feature Merida's Family

Two clips from Brave have made their debut online. They give us a closer look at Merida's family members.

In this first one, the triplets (up to no good as usual) steal a little stash of sweets from a woman. It's hit and run for these little criminals.

The next one shows us the family dinner scene from the film, where Fergus tells the story of his risky encounter with the beast Mor'du. Be sure to pay attention to what the triplets are doing in this clip as well.

The triplets steal the show, I must say. I literally laughed out loud in the second clip. These three wee guys have now officially become some of my favorite Pixar characters. I can't wait to see more of their shenanigans.

Only a little bit over a month left!

First TV Spot For Cars Land!

We get our first look at the completed new expansion to Disney's California Adventure today. Watch the hilarious new TV spot for Cars Land, when Mater and McQueen, somewhat unintentionally, reveal the finished product of this astounding new attraction.

Wow! Is it just me, or does this look incredibly accurate to what is in the actual film? My excitement for this just keeps building, I hope I get to visit Cars Land soon. Don't you?

Heartwarming Brave Promo, Merida Arrives at Disney Parks

To celebrate Mother's Day, Pixar released a new promo for its new film Brave today. I can honestly say that it is the most touching of all the trailers/TV spots, and pretty much proves that Brave will be another tear-jerker. And for the first time, we get to see a young Merida, and she is just absolutely adorable.

I am already extremely fond of the characters in Brave, and the story completely captivates me. And after seeing this promo, I can tell that I most likely won't leave the theater with dry eyes. Those guys at Pixar sure are masters at inducing deep emotion into their precious stories, which is part of why their stories and characters are so loved around the world.

Also, Merida has been beginning to make appearences at Epcot in Orlando, Florida. She seems very energetic, and I would give a lot just to get to meet her there in person. I'd probably be a little speechless, though. Take a look at these videos below and see how Merida interacts with guests.

Brave takes aim at theaters on June 22!

Brave: New 'Kilt' Featurette, Film Rated PG by MPAA

A new Brave featurette was released today, and focuses on the kilts that the bold Scottish men wear in the film. Watch it, and ask yourself the question: "Are you brave enough to wear one?"

Brave sure looks like it is going to be quite the funny movie. I found myself chuckling a couple of times when watching this featurette. I honestly think, though, that while the goofiness of the lords will not fail to amuse, the triplets will generate the most laughs.

Also, the end of the featurette reveals the rating that the Motion Picture Association of America, or MPAA, has placed on Brave. The film has been rated PG, as was speculated by many, given the dark tone that has been shown to us in the trailers, as well as the little bits of crude humor. This marks the third time a Pixar film is given a PG rating, after The Incredibles and Up.

44 days to go and counting...

(via The Pixar Times/Kyle's Animated World)

Merida Is a Swordfighter in New 'Brave' Stills

Pixar released even more stills from Brave recently, and they are honestly two of my personal favorites. We had already learned that Merida was an amazing archer, but now in these new pics she proves her skills when wielding a sword.

In the first one (see above), Merida and her father Fergus have a friendly duel outside the DunBroch castle, and meanwhile Queen Elinor, a strict woman, frowns down upon them.

This second still seems to be taken from later on in the film, and again shows Merida with a sword, as a group of people, including Lord Dingwall, tie up a helpless bear. This will surely turn out to be a very suspenseful scene in the film.

The wait will soon be coming to a close, as June 22 comes closer and closer each day. Brave is almost here, everybody.

When Will We See 'Small Fry' on Home Video?

The second Toy Story Toon after Hawaiian Vacation, entitled Small Fry, hit theaters in November with Disney's The Muppets. Now, Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang have made their way onto DVD and Blu-ray, but Small Fry is nowhere to be found on the home release of the film.

This doesn't very much shock me, however. While Pixar may sometimes premiere their shorts in front of non-Pixar films (Tokyo Mater first debuted with Disney's Bolt), these short films will never show up on the actual home video release of the film with which they were released with in theaters. So when will we get the chance to see Small Fry on our own televisions?

Some people expect it to be on the Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 2. Volume 1 showcased all of Pixar's short films from the company's first 20 years (1986 to 2006). Fans are anticipating Volume 2 to be released sometime in the near future, and see it as a possibility for Small Fry to debut on the home video format. Of course, it has not yet been announced when Volume 2 will arrive, and it could be a fairly long time away.

Another possibility, which I see as a much more likely one, is Small Fry being on the Brave home release. Last year Cars 2 had Hawaiian Vacation, so I don't see why they couldn't put Small Fry with Brave this year. And Pixar almost always includes two short films with each of their films, so Brave would probably come with La Luna and Small Fry.

I guess only time will tell when Small Fry will come home, but I have high hopes for early November of this year with Brave!

Mission Impossible 4: The Pixar Connections

Do you recognize the code on this ring?

I recently had the chance to watch the fantastic Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and aside from the fact that it was directed by former Pixar director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), there were some other connections to Pixar in the film, which made it even more exciting to watch.

The image above is a screencapture from the film, where I couldn't help noticing the peculiar code on Ethan Hunt's ring; A113. This code is well-known to Pixar and animation fans, as it was a classroom number at CalArts, the university which several Pixarians and filmmakers, such as John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Brad Bird, attended. The code has since appeared in several films and TV shows, such as The Simpsons (on which Brad Bird worked on multiple times), The Iron Giant (also directed by Bird), and every Pixar film to date.

A113 appeared more than once throughout the film, actually. One scene involves Ethan Hunt mentioning a "rendezvous at Alpha 113" during a phone call.

The other Pixar reference that was found in the film was the voice of Pixarian Teddy Newton, who recently directed the Pixar short Day & Night. He's voiced multiple characters in Pixar films, including the Chatter Telephone in Toy Story 3. His most recent role was the voice of Mini Buzz in Small Fry, the Toy Story Toon which debuted in November. Newton's role in Mission Impossible, while not a very big one, also involves him speaking through a phone. Watch a clip of his cameo here:

Pretty cool cameo, huh?

Brad Bird may have left Pixar, but he still seems to be carrying a little part of the animation studio inside him. I also hear that A113 may be appearing in The Avengers, which hits theaters in the US and Canada this Friday, although I'm not sure how or why it got there...