Finding Nemo Set To Be Spectacular In 3D

This Finding Nemo 3D featurette was recently posted online, and after watching it, I am probably ten times more excited to see the classic animated film in cinemas next month.

Watch as Andrew Stanton, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, and other Pixarians talk about how Nemo is "the perfect film in 3D".

When I first heard about the Finding Nemo 3D re-release, I knew right from the start that the entire film would look breathtaking in the 3D format. But the thought about the "particulate matter" found in the ocean that John Lasseter talks about in the video had never crossed my mind. Nemo was a beautiful-looking film before being converted to 3D, so expect to be blown away by it when it returns to theaters in the third dimension.

"Sea it like never before" on September 14.

Partysaurus Rex: New High-Res Stills

Two pics from the upcoming Pixar short film, Partysaurus Rex, were released online the other day, and were brought to us in good ol' high-resolution. Everyone loves a great image that you can zoom in on without it getting pixelated, am I right?

The first of the two new stills (pictured above) showcases a handful of Bonnie's bathtub toys, surrounded by heaps of foamy bubbles. These new toys fit right in the vibrant and colorful Toy Story universe.

The second features the majority of Bonnie's toys all in a circle formation, excluding Mr. Potato Head and Rex, the star of the short, who are both in the middle. Maybe Potato Head is giving the timid tyrannosaurus a little talking-to. After all, the walking tater does have quite a mouth on him - but luckily it's removable.

This second image has been my desktop wallpaper for the past couple of days.

See the new Toy Story Toon, Partysaurus Rex, in theaters September 14 when it plays in front of Finding Nemo 3D.

Monster News: MU Plot Details, Monsters Inc 3D Poster

As the year of 2013 quickly approaches, the excitement for Pixar's Monsters University builds up in the hearts of hard-core fanatics of both the original Monsters, Inc. and the famed animation studio.

Billy Crystal, voice of the lovable walking green eyeball Mike Wazowski, recently spoke with EW and spilled a few plot details about the upcoming Monsters prequel.

"[Mike and Sully] end up in the same fraternity where they have this scare competition — like Greek Games in college. They have to mobilize a group, sort of like Revenge of the Nerds-monsters, and get them ready to be scary.”"

Sounds legit.

Monsters, Inc. remains one of my favorite Pixar films to date, and is, in my opinion, one of their funniest films. I can only imagine how hilarious Monsters University will be, with all the hysterical pranks that Mike and Sulley will be pulling on each other.

Speaking of the original Monsters, the teaser poster for the film's 3D re-release hit the web the other day. It's quite unfortunate that Mike won't be able to enjoy the film in the third-dimension.

Monsters, Inc. returns to theaters in 3D on December 19, and Monsters University will arrive a few months after that on June 21, 2013!

(via A113Animation/BigScreen Animation)

Pixar Home Video Update: 'Brave' & Pixar Shorts - Volume 2

This year, the holiday season will, as always, see the arrival of several Pixar films on home video. Of course, we have Brave coming to Blu-ray on November 13, but that's not all. The Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 2 will arrive on the same day.

The list of bonus features that will be included on the Brave Blu-ray has been released, and it sure is a pleasing sight - if you're a Pixar fan, that is.

I am a big fan of the bonus material on Pixar home video releases, and Brave sure seems like it is overflowing with special features, which will no doubt keep me and many other fans occupied for ours.

Also, it appears the studio is returning to its old tradition of including an all-new short in every home video release, featuring characters from that year's feature film.

Here is the list:

BLU-RAY – DISC 1 INCLUDES:

• La Luna Theatrical Short — Fans will love this charming short that accompanied the film in theatres. It follows a young boy on his first night working the family business alongside his father and grandfather.
• The Legend of Mor’du Short — This rousing new bonus short film will give fans the chance to delve deeper into the legend behind Mor'du, as told by the eccentric witch who transformed him.
• Brave Old World — Fans will watch as members of the “Brave” production team investigate Scotland, exploring its land, culture, people and dialects. The research they gathered was brought thrillingly to life in the film. Also, fans will hear what actress Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor) thinks of Pixar’s take on her homeland.
• Merida & Elinor — With the creation of Merida and Elinor, the Pixar filmmakers delved deep into the relationship between mother and daughter. Highlighting contrasts in character design, clothing, animation, voicing, even hairstyle, watch how the filmmakers explored this most important of relationships.
• Bears — Take a look inside the art and design behind the bears in Brave. Each of the bears, gentle Mum-Bear and terrifying Mor’du, demanded a different approach to creating their physical appearance and personality.
• Brawl in the Hall — A fascinating and hilarious inside look at the process of creating Brave’s fighting Scots, through animation, crowd simulation and fight choreography — not to mention a room full of grunting men whose vocal chortles added authenticity to the raucous scene.
• Wonder Moss – Fans will explore how Brave’s technical artists examined the real Scottish countryside and studied the laws of nature, then turned these findings into computer codes that would blanket Merida’s Scotland in lush moss, lichen and bracken.
• Magic — The magic and mystery of Scotland is revealed to fans in this charming feature about the legends — from mystical potions to the will-o’-the-wisps – seen in Brave.
• Clan Pixar — At Pixar, getting into character is a team effort. From making Haggis to Kilt Fridays to celebrating the Scottish poet Robert Burns, fans will see how the Brave production crew truly embraced Scottish themes and customs fueled the Pixar crew throughout the creation of Brave.
• Once Upon A Scene — A closer look at the evolution of the storylines throughout the production of the film, including alternative openings to the film and many deleted scenes.
• Extended Scenes — Three separate scenes are highlighted in their extended form. Director Mark Andrews discusses the decision making process that led to the shortened versions of these scenes.
• Director Commentary

BLU-RAY DISC 2 INCLUDES:

• ‘Fergus & Mor’du’ An Alternate Opening — Once upon a time, “Brave” had a different opening scene. Eventually cut from the film, fans can see it in its entirety in this bonus feature narrated by the film’s director Mark Andrews.
• Fallen Warriors Montage — A selection of deleted shots that were cut from the film late in production are presented to fans in various stages of completion through a video montage narrated by director Mark Andrews.
• Dirty Hairy People — Fans will enjoy this uproarious bonus feature discussing the development of Brave’s Scots – including the design of their hair, attire, and dirt-crusted physiques.
• It is English…Sort Of — This bonus feature helps fans interpret some of the more Scottish lines in the film, thanks to the real Scottish actors who play the key characters and contributed their own dialects and sayings.
• Angus — A look at Merida’s most trusted companion, Angus, a mighty Clydesdale.
• The Tapestry — Fans will learn the story behind this embroidered emblem of family unity, which was lovingly crafted by Brave’s team of artists.
• Promotional Pieces — This bonus includes promotional clips for Brave, including: ‘Feast Yer Eyes,’ ‘Relics,’ ‘Clan DunBroch,’ ‘Launch,’ and more.
• Art Gallery — A selection of breathtaking art from the creation of the film, showcasing characters, sets, scenes and stunning landscapes.
• Wee Gaffes – A video montage of simulation, animation and shot bloopers.
• Renaissance Animation Man – Get a look at Director Mark Andrews’ love of Scotland, sword-fighting, music and more!
• Teasers and Sneak Peeks

BLU-RAY 3D DISC INCLUDES:

• La Luna Theatrical Short

Callum O'Neil, the voice of Wee Dingwall in Brave, recently talked to Female First about the short that will accompany the film's home video release:

"There is a short film in the Brave DVD, that is being put in there as an extra, it is about two minutes long and is a scene between my character and Julie Walters' character the witch.

Now Julie Walters and I have never met even though we are in the same scene together - she was in the studio between the 5pm and 7pm and I was in the studio from 7pm until 8pm."

I can hardly wait. Not only will we learn more of the demon bear Mor'du, but expect the new short to be jam-packed with humor and fun.

The Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 2 is also now available for pre-order on Amazon and will include every Pixar short from Your Friend the Rat up until La Luna, as well as the first two Toy Story Toons. It remains unknown if Partysaurus Rex will join the collection. Stitch Kingdom also tells us that the collection will include student short films made by Pixarians before joining the company. Such shorts include John Lasseter's Nitemare and The Lady and the Lamp. This Blu-ray/DVD is a must-buy for any Pixar fanatic.

Be sure to set some money aside for November 13, when Brave and the Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 2 hit store shelves.

Monsters University: First Posters

Anticipation is growing for next year's prequel to the Pixar classic, Monsters, Inc., which takes monsters Michael Wazowski and James P. Sullivan back to their days in college, when they weren't exactly the inseparable duo shown in the original film.

An Argentinian movie poster website named Cine 1 recently debuted two high-resolution posters for the upcoming Monsters University, along with the banner seen at the top.

The posters showcase Mike and Sulley showing off their very best scary monster poses for the camera. Now the question is...who is the scarier monster here? I can see how this could lead to a typical rival vs. rival argument between the two monsters in the film, but I'm sure the creative minds at Pixar will have come up with a much more clever and entertaining reason for them to quarrel.

The amount of detail shown in these two fairly simple posters is also unbelievable. Sulley's fur looks absolutely breathtaking, miles ahead of what was seen in the original Monsters (which at the time happened to be ground-breaking), and if you look closely you can see that Mike's cap looks a bit damaged, almost as if someone had taken a small bite out of it. You can also clearly see the large retainer in his mouth.

Monsters University enrolls in theaters June 21, 2013.

New 'Partysaurus Rex' Clip

A 40-second clip from the new Toy Story Toon has been posted onto the official Disney/Pixar YouTube channel.

This short sneak peek at Partysaurus Rex sets the stage for what we can expect to see in the new Toon. Rex, wanting to shake up his reputation a little bit, helps the bathtub toys (who all lack arms and limbs) get their "party" started by filling up the tub with water and, of course, bubbles! The dried-out bathtub quickly becomes the stage for a bright, loud, and colorful bubble-filled rave! Watch the exhilarating clip below.

I'm already loving the sound of BT's score for the short, and cannot wait to see it in action next month when the new Toon arrives with Nemo 3D. Speaking of Finding Nemo, the starfish seen jumping into the tub in the clip has striking resemblance to Peach the starfish.

This short film also happens to be the second Pixar short scored by Grammy-nominated musician BT, who previously did the music for Tokyo Mater.

Partysaurus Rex premieres September 14 alongside Finding Nemo 3D!

Pixar Cruises Set Sail This Fall!

Are you a Pixar fanatic looking for the perfect getaway? If so, the Disney Cruise Line has the perfect vacation for you.

This fall, the Disney Wonder will take you on a journey like no other. Watch the video below where John Lasseter explains all this cruise has to offer.

Words cannot express my strong desire to go on one of these Pixar-themed Disney cruises. Every aspect of it sounds absolutely thrilling, and not only will there be more Pixar-related activities than I could ever wish for, but the cruise will stop in San Francisco; one of my favorite cities in the world. And Emeryville, the town in which Pixar's campus is located, also happens to be in the surrounding San Francisco area.

Learn more at the official Disney Cruise Line website.

Will you be sailing on one of the Pixar cruises this autumn?

First Glimpse: Toy Story Toon 'Partysaurus Rex'

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Some rumors had been going around lately about a new entry into the Toy Story Toons series entitled Partysaurus Rex. On Thursday, Entertainment Weekly debuted two exclusive images from the new short film, which will play in theaters in front of Finding Nemo 3D.

This will mark the third of the Toy Story Toons, after Hawaiian Vacation and Small Fry, and will focus mainly on the lovable and not-so-fearsome dinosaur from the films, Rex. Wallace Shawn, who voiced the character in all three films and the first two Toons, explains that Rex is "sick of being the angel of goodness and sensibleness and caution and fear".

It sure looks like this is going to be an extremely bright, colorful, and bubbly short film, as we get to see what bathtime is like from a toy's point of view. Sounds superb.

Pixarian Mark Walsh will get his shot at directing a short with this new Toy Story Toon. "If you’re a bath toy you get really intense playtime. It’s like a party," he says.

As always, the amount of detail Pixar is putting into this new short is breathtaking. In the second image with Bonnie in the bathtub, you can even see a few of those classic hidden Easter eggs. The toilet seat cover does somewhat resemble a certain monster from a previous Pixar film...

Also, the decorations on the bathtub might be references to some of the fish from Finding Nemo. After all, Partysaurus Rex will be playing before Nemo 3D next month.

That's all for now, but be sure to check out the whole article over at EW.

Partysaurus Rex arrives in theaters September 14 alongside Finding Nemo 3D!

John Lasseter Makes Appearence In Disney's 'Wreck-It Ralph'

Disney's upcoming computer-animated feature film Wreck-It Ralph has been creating quite a buzz on the web lately. Though it is not a Pixar film, I am quite excited to see it as the plot intrigues me and from what I have seen it looks like it is going to be an absolutely marvelous film.

Some concept art for the film has been put up on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios (replacing the Brave exhibit that had been there previously) and among the artwork you'll see a familiar face.

Let's see...short brown hair, rounded glasses, Hawaiian shirt. This is without a doubt a cartoon version of Pixar and Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer, John Lasseter. Here the Hawaiian shirt-wearing Pixar honcho appears to be designed similarly to the Nicelanders; the inhabitants of the arcade game that the film's protagonist, Wreck-It Ralph, is the villain of. Ever since Lasseter took his current position as CCO at both Pixar and Disney animation studios in 2006, things at Disney Animation definitely seem to be going uphill with films such as Tangled and Winnie the Pooh, so including him in Wreck-It Ralph is likely a sort of homage, and similar to how a car named John Lassetire appeared in Cars 2.

Of course, this is only concept art and we can't be 100% sure that the Nicelander version of John will appear in the finished film, but I'd say there's a good chance that he will.

Wreck-It Ralph hits theaters November 2, and this is one movie I wouldn't dare miss!

(via The Pixar Times)

Finding Nemo 3D TV Spot: "My Son"

With Pixar's classic Finding Nemo hitting theaters in 3D next month, Disney has released the first TV spot advertising the film's 3D re-release.

Check it out here:

The closer Finding Nemo 3D gets, the more my excitement grows. I absolutely loved Nemo when I first saw it in 2003 (I remember seeing it twice in theaters), so I am hyped to relive the experience of seeing it on the big screen once again, as I am sure many fans are.

Finding Nemo 3D arrives September 14.

(via A113Animation)