Learn What Goes into Making Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ‘Wish’

Wishing is a common theme for almost all Disney protagonists with dreams of wanting something better. That thematic legacy goes as far back as 1937, when Snow White was first released, with the star element being added later to the iconic Pinocchio song “When You Wish Upon a Star” — a song that became an icon of the company itself and used in the present day openings.

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‘Wish’ Producers Discuss Bringing Julia Michaels to Write Seven Songs

Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Wish is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. And with good reason. Just in time to celebrate the studio’s 100th anniversary, Wish is a hybrid of two different animation styles. The 2D watercolor techniques combine with modern CG technology. And it creates for a unique look that has been tested many times through their shorts.

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Discover the Origins of the Wishing Star Through Animation and Song in ‘Wish’ Trailer

Walt Disney’s animated musicals are built upon a legacy of rich innovation, resonating storytelling, and heartfelt songs. So for Wish, its 62nd feature, which also celebrates the studio’s 100 anniversary, Disney veteran director Chris Buck and first-time director Fawn Veerasunthorn, using a script written by Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, are delivering audiences a celebration of the visual storytelling medium. Now a new trailer gives us a better look at how 2D watercolor techniques and 3D animation work in tandem to create something that’s a century in the making.

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‘Wish’ Directors on the Power of Making Wishes and Honoring Old and New Animation Techniques

Disney recently held a special presentation of their forthcoming Wish for a select group of journalists. And we walked away from the experience feeling excited to see generations of visual artistry and wonderful music merging together to commemorate the studio’s 100th anniversary. So it seems fitting that Chris Buck (Tarzan, Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (story artist for Raya and the Last Dragon) be paired to direct Wish. And we got to talk to Buck and Veerasunthorn about the upcoming film and what it means to celebrate such an occasion.

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‘Wish’ Footage Celebrates Generations of the Classic Disney Animated Musical

The wishing star is a timeless way to make your dreams come true. It is also the source of visually stunning and recurring thematic magic for almost all Walt Disney Animation Studio features, past and present. So, it only makes sense that Disney would be celebrating its centennial anniversary with Wish. The studio’s 62nd film is an all-new original animated musical that honors when you wish upon a star while blending watercolor techniques and contemporary 3D animation to create a unique look 100 years in the making.

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From the Outside Looking In: On Navigating Hollywood’s Double Strikes

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract. While it now needs to go to a ratification vote, the 148-day long WGA strike — the second longest in the union’s history — has come to an end.

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Author John Ridley Breaks Down DC’s ‘GCPD: The Blue Wall’

Academy Award winner, John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) can do it all! He can explore the harsh reality and truths of history. And he can even take a trip into the fantastical worlds of gods and heroes within the DC Universe.

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NOC Review: ‘The Creator’ is a Colossal Disappointment

Yes, it’s true that big budget original sci-fi films are rarely made this day and age. And I will admit, if you’re going to give any director a shot at one in this climate, Gareth Edwards, who in general I consider to be a terrific filmmaker, deserves it more than anyone. But (and I’ll probably be in the minority here) I found The Creator to be a massive and somewhat pretentious mess.

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The Coming of Filipino Horror Short Film ‘Mosquito Lady’

With its world premiere at the prestigious genre festival Beyond Fest on October 7, its East Coast premiere at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, and Midwest Premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival, Mosquito Lady is an incredible horror short film that features the manananggal, a terrifying fetus-eating creature from Philippine folklore.

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‘The Creator’ Director Gareth Edwards on Filming Locations and Cast Dynamics

Gareth EdwardsThe Creator is a fascinating blend of sci-fi elements with intriguing contemporary themes, which makes for a complex examination of the lives we live today and our relationship with technology, particularly A.I. With the release just a few days away, The Nerds of Color had a chance to talk to Edwards about the guerrilla filmmaking style that helped shape the film to what it is now, the conversations audiences will have after watching, and the cast dynamics.

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Disney’s ‘Launchpad’ Producers on What to Expect from Season 2

When Disney’s Launchpad debuted in 2021 on Disney+, it offered a slew of storytelling from diverse perspectives that aren’t usually in the mainstream. From American Eid showing the struggles of a Pakistani Muslim immigrant family, to The Last of the Chupacabras showing the magical realism of an aging Mexican woman, to several more, Launchpad offers an opportunity for lesser known filmmakers to have their work on the large platform Disney+ offers, and hopefully find more work after.

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Super Smack and the Universal “Man Booty!”

After the celebration that was Orange Chicken’s release party, Super Smack and I went our separate ways for about a month. He went to Los Angeles for songwriting sessions and music industry events, continuing his multi-month process of building his album, while also visiting some college friends. But for me? I stayed home. Nothing screams relaxation than in front of a computer screen and ungodly amounts of multiplayer video games. 

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Director Brian Duffield Talks ‘No One Will Save You’ and Character-Driven Stories

Brian Duffield wrote, directed, and produced the new sci-fi psychological thriller, No One Will Save You. The movie is officially streaming, exclusively on Hulu, and this interview will contain spoilers.

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Director Albert Hughes Sets the High Table for ‘The Continental’

John Wick may be done for now. But his world lives on in the epic three-part mini-series event, The Continental, streaming only on Peacock starting September 22. The Continental comes to us from director Albert Hughes, who brought us such classics as Menace II Society and Dead Presidents. But now, Hughes takes on the world of assassins and hotel management. We had a chance to sit down with Hughes about joining the world of John Wick.

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‘Elemental’ Director Peter Sohn on Bringing His Personal Story To Life

Peter Sohn’s Elemental is set in the fictional city of Element City, where anthropomorphic elements of nature: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air co-exist. The story follows Ember (Leah Lewis) a tough, witty, and hot-headed fire element who has trouble controlling her emotions, and Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), a go-with-the-flow water element who is overly emotional has no trouble expressing his emotions openly.

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Designing the Deadly with the Action Director and Production Designer of ‘The Continental’

If there’s one thing a John Wick movie is known for, it’s the action. And when creating a show like The Continental, the latest project in the John Wick franchise premiering on Peacock September 22, it’s important to keep true to the look and spirit of that action.

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New Avengers Vault Opens at Disney California Adventure

Disney California Adventure guests get to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe at Avengers Campus every time they visit. They can interact with some of their favorite heroes during meet-and-greets, and go on adventures with them. And with the opening of the new Avengers Vault, they can bring back a little piece of Avengers Campus home with them as they can shop for superhero gear or Infinity Saga relics.

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‘Loki’ Season 2 Gets a New Date and Time

Season 2 of Marvel Studios’ Loki just time-slipped into a new launch date: 6:00 PM PT on Thursday, October 5! To celebrate, Disney+ has shared a new featurette with Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Ke Huy Quan, and executive producer Kevin R. Wright discussing what it means to be Loki in this upcoming season.

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