'Finding Dory' Gets A Final Trailer

As Pixar gears up to finally release Finding Dory in just 17 days, the studio released a final trailer for the highly anticipated sequel last week, offering fans one last glimpse at the film before it swims into theaters. Check it out below.

Two clips from the film were also released, featuring the surfer sea turtle Crush, voiced again by director Andrew Stanton and newcomer Hank the septopus, voiced by Ed O'Neil.

All signs point to this being yet another delightful and heartfelt entry into the Pixar catalog, one which hopefully does right by its predecessor. In any case, it will be great just to see Marlin, Nemo, and Dory on the big screen again for the first time in over a decade. Today, coincidentally, marks the 13th anniversary of Finding Nemo.

Finding Dory hits theaters on June 17. You can buy tickets now!

New 'Finding Dory' Posters Emerge

A handful of colorful new posters for Finding Dory have surfaced in the past couple of weeks, including the main theatrical poster pictured above. This one puts Dory right in the center surrounded by the film's diverse cast of sea creatures, including a school of regal tangs. The poster is reminiscent of the theatrical poster for Finding Nemo from thirteen years ago.

Four additional posters were released last month, all with the motif of literally "finding Dory".

Lastly, a couple of international posters have also popped up, namely a Japanese version and one for the UK.

via Pixar Post

Finding Dory hits theaters June 17.

Delve Into Dory's Past In Latest 'Finding Dory' Trailer

With just three months to go until the anticipated sequel's release, Pixar dropped the second trailer for Finding Dory this month. Check it out below!

Much like how Toy Story 2 uncovered Woody's backstory, Finding Dory looks to do the same for the forgetful but lovable regal tang, who played the role of the comedic sidekick in the first film.

Though relatively brief, the trailer does give us a first look at some of the new locales the film will explore and introduces some new characters, including Hank the septopus (voiced by Ed O'Neill) and Dory's old friend, Destiny the whale shark (Kaitlin Olson). Fans of the original film will also be happy to see a couple of familiar faces, including Mr. Ray and the surfer sea turtle Crush.

This trailer focuses mainly on comedy, but I expect the film will be just as heartfelt as its predecessor. It is a Pixar movie, after all.

Finding Dory swims into theaters on June 17.

First Teaser Trailer and Poster for 'Finding Dory' Debut

Anticipation for Pixar's upcoming Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory, has been growing ever since the voice of Dory, Ellen DeGeneres, announced the film on her talk show two years ago. Few are more excited for the film than Ellen herself (she famously begged and pleaded for a sequel to Nemo for years), so naturally she was given the honor of debuting the first teaser trailer for the film Tuesday morning on her show and social media, following the reveal of the official teaser poster (above). Watch the teaser below:

Like most Pixar teaser trailers, it's brief and to the point, but wets your appetite and builds excitement for the film. The opening with the sentimental Thomas Newman score paired with the stunning and familiar underwater visuals is sure to strike a soft spot with fans of the original film. Watching it, I felt like it was 2003 again. The trailer goes on to establish the film's basic premise, throwing in a bit of classic Dory humor; she is still the forgetful but lovable regal blue tang you remember. In terms of plot, the trailer tells us what we already know; Dory suddenly remembers her family and sets off to find them, with Nemo and Marlin joining her on the way.

This also marks our first time hearing newcomer Hayden Rolence as the voice Nemo. Rolence takes over for Alexander Gould, who voiced the young clownfish in the original film but is now too old to play the part. From the sound of it, though, Rolence perfectly captures the essence of the character. Albert Brooks reprises his role as Nemo's paranoid father Marlin, and of course, Ellen DeGeneres is finally granted her wish of being able to voice Dory again. Though he doesn't appear in the trailer, Willem Dafoe will also return as Gill.

Ultimately, it's just a sheer delight to see these beloved characters again after more than a decade. It's also refreshing to see that the film will not be a rehash of the original, but will tell a new story and continue to flesh out the characters we know and love, as all good sequels do.

Andrew Stanton returns to helm this second venture into the vivid undersea world from Pixar's 2003 hit, with Angus MacLane (Toy Story of Terror) co-directing. Finding Dory swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

'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.

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

John Lassester Previews Upcoming Pixar Films

Inside Out is just around the corner and has been receiving rave reviews so far, but let us not forget about all the other treats Pixar has in the oven right now. Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter gave a brief preview of the studio's upcoming slate, sharing minor plot details about the much anticipated The Good Dinosaur as well as Finding Dory, the sequel to 2003's Finding Nemo.

The Good Dinosaur, which Lasseter says will put a "unique Pixar spin on the dinosaur world" will follow the Apatosaurus Arlo, voiced by Lucas Neff, and a boy named Spot on a venture home to the Clawed-Tooth Mountains. On their journey, the unlikely duo will encounter a variety of different dinosaurs, including a Pterodactyl, a Velociraptor, and of course, a trio of T-Rexes (perhaps playing a similar role to the trio of sharks in Finding Nemo?), to name a few. The film is described as "a boy and a dog story, but the roles are reversed. Arlo, the dinosaur, is the boy in the story and Spot is the dog."

In the story, which takes place in an alternate universe in which the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs never struck, dinosaurs can speak whereas humans cannot, which should make for an interesting dynamic between the two lead characters. Pixar is reportedly taking a more photo-realistic approach to the movie's look; “the level of believability we’re striving for in this film is going to be breathtaking,” raved Lasseter.

With the film a mere six months away, the first teaser for The Good Dinosaur could drop any day now; expect to see it for sure by the time Inside Out hits theaters next month.

Following The Good Dinosaur next summer is a sequel that, when it was first announced, most were not expecting to ever see. In 2016, Pixar will dive back into the colorful world of the ocean to meet up once again with Marlin, Nemo, and of course, the forgetful but endearing Dory, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. Finding Dory will delve deeper into the titular regal blue tang's origins and will not focus on her literally getting lost, but rather on her finding herself—and her family. The new film, set in the waters of the Pacific Ocean just six months after the events of Finding Nemo, will introduce Dory's parents (voiced by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy), as well as a whale-shark named Destiny who "thinks she’s a whale, but [is] actually a shark” and an octopus.

Finding Dory arrives in theaters June 17, 2015.

Lastly, Lasseter very briefly spoke about Toy Story 4, which he is directing and is scheduled for a June 2017 release. He described the film as "not as much a continuation of the past films, but a brand new chapter in the Toy Story world," which should be reassuring to those worried that a fourth film in the series would taint what is regarded as a near-flawless trilogy.

With all this and even more in store, the future is looking bright for Pixar. Though the first of these films is still six months away, Inside Out will be here in less than three weeks to help ease your appetite for Pixar goodness.

via Variety

A Year Without Pixar...

Pixar's The Good Dinosaur is now scheduled for release in Fall 2015

It was bound to happen. The upcoming Pixar feature The Good Dinosaur recently lost its original director, Bob Peterson, and no new director was announced. The Pixar veteran soon took to Twitter to share a few words on how he was doing after being removed from the project:

Been a tough time, but I am good - thankful for family and hilarious friends. On to future projects. Long live TGD. It's gonna be great!

— Bob Peterson (@bob__peterson) August 31, 2013

Fortunately, Peterson is still with the studio and reportedly working on a new project, but nonetheless, the upcoming dino flick was left out in the cold without a set director and a  fast-approaching release date less than a year away. So I guess we all should have anticipated that the film would eventually end up being pushed back.

The news broke on Wednesday that The Good Dinosaur had been pushed from its original release date of May 30, 2014 all the way to November 25, 2015. The new date was previously held by Finding Dory, which has now consequently been moved to summer 2016 (boy, Ellen sure isn't going to be too happy). Pete Docter's Inside Out remains untouched and is still scheduled for release on June 19, 2015 and is now the next Pixar film that we can expect to see hit theaters.

So what does this mean? Yes, folks, there will be no Pixar film released next year. 2014 will be the first Pixar-less year since 2005. And while it all does seem very sad, I very much trust the studio's judgement. They wouldn't just push back a film many are dying to see just for the sake of it. If this decision benefits the finished product, then I think another 18 months of waiting is worth it. Pixar president Ed Catmull puts it perfectly:

"Nobody ever remembers the fact that you slipped a film, but they will remember a bad film. Our conclusion was that we were going to give the film some more time."

I think we can all agree that we'd much rather have The Good Dinosaur not come out until 2015 and have it be absolutely magnificent as opposed to seeing it this coming May but having it turn out a mediocre effort. John Lasseter once said, "Quality is the best business plan", and I think it's refreshing to see the studio sticking to that philosophy, even if it means have a Pixar-sized hole in next year's movie schedule.

So let's focus on the bright side of things, shall we? Now the studio has time to nurture all of their upcoming projects to perfection. Also, 2015 will now see the release of two original Pixar movies! That's right, two films within the same year, and two original ones no less! Pretty freaking exciting, isn't it? And if you're still bummed out that you won't be able to go on a new Pixar adventure until 2015, just think of all the other promising movies coming out next year - Disney's Big Hero 6, DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon 2, and many, many more.

Turn that frown upside down, Pixar is merely taking a quick break so that they can provide us with the best film they can give.

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.

Nemo & Co. Swimming Back Into Theaters In 2015

No, this is not some elaborate, belated April Fool's joke. Although I originally thought so myself when I first read this news.

Rumors first surfaced this past summer that a sequel to Pixar's critically acclaimed and commercially successful masterpiece Finding Nemo was in the works, with reports that director Andrew Stanton would return to helm the film and that stars Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks were in talks to reprise their roles. Today, Disney and Pixar have stepped out to declare that the rumors are indeed true.

On November 25th, 2015, prepare to immerse yourself once again into the world of Nemo, Marlin and Dory when they swim onto the big screen once again in an all-new undersea adventure, Finding Dory.

From the official press release:

When Dory said “just keep swimming” in 2003’s Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo,” she could not have imagined what was in store for her (not that she could remember). Ellen DeGeneres, voice of the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, revealed details today about Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory”—an all-new big-screen adventure diving into theaters on Nov. 25, 2015.

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory.”

Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”

According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life. 

“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature; the film was nominated for three additional Oscars® (Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Music, Original Score; Best Sound Editing). It was also nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made. At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time. It’s currently the fourth highest grossing animated film worldwide. The film has more than 16 million Likes on Facebook, and Dory—with more than 24 million—is the most Liked individual character from a Disney or Disney•Pixar film.

DeGeneres’ distinctive comic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearances through her work today on television, in film and in the literary world. Her syndicated talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” is in its 10th season and has earned 38 Daytime Emmy® Awards. DeGeneres has won 12 People’s Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedian for three consecutive years. Additionally, her show won two Genesis Awards and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode. For her unforgettable turn as Dory, DeGeneres was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

Now, I'm one of the people that, for many years, dreaded the idea of a second Nemo film. I simply did not think it necessary; the original told the story of an overprotective father (who just so happened to be a clownfish) and his son, and finished off beautifully and flawlessly. But then again, no film needs a sequel. There are films that beg for a sequel, but no film needs one. Toy Story certainly didn't need one, and yet we still got two unbelievably good follow-ups to it. And yes, Finding Nemo did conclude with the words "the end" written across the screen, but it may have been the end of that particular story, and that doesn't mean a new one can't begin.

Why exactly is this happening though? Many believe that its purpose is to overwrite the Nemo sequel that was originally planned by Disney when it appeared that the Mouse House and Pixar would split (head on over to Kyle's Animated World for some great insight on that). Others say it's only a chance for Andrew Stanton to compensate for his live-action debut John Carter bombing at the box office so that Disney will give him another shot at directing another live-action film, although I find this notion ridiculous. First of all, it wasn't even Stanton's fault that the film performed poorly, and I find it hard to believe that he would agree to make a sequel just for the sake of, say, John Carter 2, or whatever else he may have in mind. He's an incredibly talented writer, director, and filmmaker, so for the time being I refuse to believe he is simply treating Finding Dory as his ticket to continuing with his live-action career.

"I'm glad I got that off my chest," as Dory would say.

I have to say, I've fallen in love with the story that was announced today. It sounds like the film won't be about Dory literally getting lost, but about her finding herself and who she is, and there are countless of wonderful things Pixar could do with this. And who doesn't love Dory? Plus, this is not only a chance to explore one of the most beloved characters to ever emerge on the big screen, but it's a great way to revisit the other characters without doing something ridiculous like having Nemo get lost again. And just imagine, if the original 2003 film was one of the most visually stunning films Pixar has ever produced, just think what they could accomplish 10 years afterward! What's more, Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks are both returning! Seeing as the film is supposed to take place just one year after the original, it's pretty much certain that Alexander Gould (now 18 years old) will not be returning to voice little Nemo, so it'll be interesting to see who they recast as the lovable handicapped clownfish.

Ellen is obviously thrilled, and made the announcement today on her show after several years of politely demanding Pixar make a sequel to Nemo. I can't imagine her reaction when she was told Dory would in fact be the main focus of said sequel! Watch her announce Finding Dory to an ecstatic audience in the clip below:

Well? What are your thoughts on today's big reveal? Are you excited, or maybe not so much? What do you think of the plot? Why do you think this movie is being made? Do share your opinion in the comments!

Finding Dory swims into theaters November 25th, 2015 (I can't tell you how much pleasure it gives me using that pun)!