The Future of DIsney/Pixar

Well this news is a day old, but for anyone who hasn't heard, Disney and Pixar just announced their upcoming films in a press release. Here's it is distilled down to the interesting stuff...

Pixar:

Up
Release date: 29 May 2009
Synopsis: "Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life."

My hunch is that this will be like Ratatouille - well-made, but a little on the slow side.

Toy Story 3
Release date: 18 June 2010
Synopsis: "The creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in Toy Story 3."

Not much of a synopsis, but you can't really go wrong with a Toy Story story.

Newt
Release date: Summer 2011
Synopsis: "What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other? Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science."

From any other studio I'd expect a lot of awkward jokes to come from a premise like that, but Pixar can handle it.

The Bear and the Bow
Release date: Christmas 2011
Synopsis: "A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's action-adventure The Bear and the Bow. The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right."

They're being a little coy with the plot details, but this sounds pretty epic.

Cars 2
Release date: Summer 2012
Synopsis: "All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the Cars saga."

Wow, I didn't know Cars was a saga! Actually, Cars has been my least favorite Pixar film so far, but that doesn't mean much... That's like trying to pick your least favorite Beatles song.


Disney:

Bolt
Relese date: 26 November 2008
Synopsis: "For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue -- at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet -- a cross-country journey through the real world."

Hmm... talking dogs, a cross-country journey? Sounds a bit like Homeward Bound, eh? At least Disney is copying its own movies...

The Princess and the Frog
Release date: Christmas 2009
Synopsis: "A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker, creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar®-winning composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told ... with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator."

This is actually my favourite of this pack. I'm not the biggest Randy Newman fan, but I can't wait for another classic fairy tale in hand-drawn animation.

Rapunzel
Release date: Christmas 2010
Synopsis: "In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses."

I think it's too early to tell on this one, because there are so many directions they could take it. But just the word "mysterious" gives me hope.

King of the Elves
Release date: Christmas 2012
Synopsis: "Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king."

We're going way into the future here, but I'll just say that this sounds amazing. I really think Disney is slowly getting it's mojo back.


For more details, you can check out the full press release here.