Walt Disney Animation Studios Announces ‘Moana 2’ for a November 2024 Release

February 7, 2024February 8, 2024 Michael Lee

When Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana first hit the shores in 2016, it was critical and commercial smash that brought Polynesian culture and a contemporary sound from singer and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda onto the big screen in a way that could only be described as magical. Now, the studio hopes to replicate that once more with Moana 2, a newly announced sequel that is set to arrive in theaters November 2024.

Animation, Theme Parks

Pixar Place Hotel Celebrates Storytelling While Making You Feel Like a Guest

January 30, 2024January 31, 2024 Michael Lee

Disney has a different way of making you feel like a guest at one of their hotels. And with the new opening of the Pixar Place Hotel, they can expect to be fully immersed in the creation and production of their favorite Pixar films, all the while feeling like a character in one of those stories.

Music, Theme Parks

Disneyland Resort Celebrates Black History Month with “Celebrate Gospel” Concerts

January 24, 2024January 25, 2024 Michael Lee

February is Black History Month, and to celebrate Disneyland Resort is hosting “Celebrate Gospel” concerts at Disneyland Park as well as offering a limited-time Celebrate Soulfully feast of delicious eats and sips honoring Black heritage and culture.

Music, Theatre

Win Tickets to See ‘Disney Princess – The Concert’

January 23, 2024January 26, 2024 Michael Lee

Disney animated musicals and princesses have shaped pop culture for generations. It’s hard to name a favorite, considering how many there are and what they mean to fans. So, the Disney Princess – The Concert brings the most iconic princesses together on one stage to sing their unforgettable signature songs by Broadway and West End stars.

Theme Parks

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Behind-the-Scenes Tour Attraction Celebrates Milestone

January 23, 2024January 24, 2024 Michael Lee

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Backlot Tour attraction continues to be a fan favorite for fans of movies and movie-making. Guests would board the iconic Glamour Tram, where they would be taken across the park for a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the studio’s biggest blockbusters are made. And now, that same attraction is celebrating its 60th Year.

Theme Parks

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Disney California Adventure Park

January 23, 2024January 23, 2024 Michael Lee

Disney California Adventure Park’s Lunar New Year celebration is back. It’s the year of the Dagon, and starting from January 23, through February 18, 2024, park guests can enjoy the limited-timed festivities which pay tribute to to Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean traditions through vibrant décor, joyous entertainment, and an array of special menu items inspired by Asian cuisines only at Disney California Adventure.

Animation, Streaming

Disney and Kugali’s ‘Iwájú’ Debuts in February

January 22, 2024January 23, 2024 Michael Lee

All six episodes of Iwájú, a Walt Disney Animation Studios’ collaboration with Pan-African entertainment company Kugali, will make its official streaming debut on February 28, 2024, exclusively on Disney+.

Animation, Trailers

‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Trailer Sees Animals of the Chinese Zodiac Face a Great Evil

January 16, 2024January 17, 2024 Michael Lee

Paramount+ has unleashed a brand-new trailer for The Tiger’s Apprentice, a new animated film based on the popular children’s book series of the same name by Laurence Yep which inserts the mythology of the Chinese Zodiac into a modern-day story about a teenager who discovers that he comes from a long-linage of mystical protectors known as the guardians.

Animation, Movies

Disney Announces ‘Wish’ Digital and Blu-ray Release Dates

January 11, 2024January 12, 2024 Michael Lee

Walt Disney Animation Studio has announced the digital and Blu-ray release dates for their latest animated musical, Wish. The film, which hit theaters yesterday, becomes available from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu on January 23 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD March 12. Of course, for those that want more than just the movie will be happy to know that it comes with a ton of bonus features.

Conventions

Tickets for D23 Go on Sale in March

January 10, 2024January 11, 2024 Michael Lee

During Disney Advertising’s Global Tech & Data Showcase at CES® 2024, The Walt Disney Company announced that tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event go on sale starting March 26. Plus, D23 is headed to Brazil.

Animation, Interview

‘SELF’ Director Searit Huluf on Celebrating Ethiopian Identity Through Stop-Motion Animation

January 8, 2024January 9, 2024 Michael Lee

Pixar’s SparkShorts Program is designed to discover new storytellers, explore new storytelling techniques, and experiment with new production workflows. These shorts are unique because they aren’t anything like the animation studio has released theatrically. As such, it provides an opportunity to unlock the potential of individual artists and their inventive filmmaking approaches on a smaller scale than the studio’s normal fare.

Theme Parks

Disney Parks Celebrating a Historic Year of Make-A-Wish

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023 Michael Lee

For over 40 years, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disney have helped make life-changing wishes of children with critical illnesses and their families come true. This year, Disney helped grant its 150,000th Make-A-Wish request — all while continuing to find new and uniquely Disney ways to grant wishes through first-of-their-kind events at parks and resorts across the globe.

Theme Parks

Disneyland Bringing Nighttime Spectaculars and Magical Parades Back in 2024

December 21, 2023December 22, 2023 Michael Lee

Disneyland Resort has announced some of the entertainment offerings for the 2024 season, some of which are making their return. Parades like the Magic Happens parade will once again bring moments of magic from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios films to life at Disneyland Park, beginning February 2.

Animation, Movies, Trailers

‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Trailer Teases Po’s Quest Towards Spirituality

December 13, 2023March 7, 2024 Michael Lee

For the past 15 years, DreamWorks Animation has expanded the Kung Fu Panda franchise with fun and entertaining sequels as well as a more than a few televised series. Now, the studio has released a brand new trailer for Kung Fu Panda 4.

Theme Parks

Disneyland Resort Reveals After Dark Themes and Dates

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023 Michael Lee

Disneyland After Dark events offer guests a fun way to experience the park in a way that they couldn’t if they went on any ordinary day. Recent Star Wars nights and Throwback nights have proven very popular amongst guests. Now, the park has more to offer and they have released the themes and dates for their After Dark events of 2024.

Animation, Movies

Disney Gives Proper Theatrical Releases to ‘Soul,’ ‘Turning Red,’ and ‘Luca’

December 5, 2023December 6, 2023 Michael Lee

For the past three years, Soul, Turning Red, and Luca — three of Pixar’s biggest films — made their way to Disney+ due in large part to the pandemic. While the move took away the theatrical experience, it was imperative for public safety then. Now Disney has plans to re-release all three on the big screen for a limited time.

Theme Parks

Disneyland Resort Announces Special Ticket Prices for Southern California Residents

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Michael Lee

Disneyland Resort has announced a limited-time special ticket price offer exclusive to Southern California residents.

Animation, Theme Parks

Disney Brings ‘Wish’ to Life with Asha Character Greetings at Disneyland Resort

November 27, 2023November 28, 2023 Michael Lee

Wish is now playing in theaters, and Disneyland Resort wants to celebrate the film’s theatrical run by inviting guests to meet Asha for a limited time.

Animation, Movies, Music

Full ‘Wish’ Soundtrack is Out Today

November 17, 2023November 17, 2023 Michael Lee

For the past five weeks, Disney has held a Wish Wendsday campagin, where they would release one track from the Wish soundtrack. With Wish hits theaters next Wednesday, and for many Disney fans — including ourselves — that day cannot come soon enough.

Animation, Interview

Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine on Captivating Hearts Through Music in ‘Wish’

November 17, 2023November 17, 2023 Michael Lee

Wish, Walt Disney Animation Studio’s 62nd film, which also celebrates the studio’s 100th anniversary, is an original animated musical fairy tale story that explores the origins of Wishing Star. The visual storytelling captures captures a stunning illustrative watercolor feel and pops off the screen thanks to CG technology. While achieving the look and feel wasn’t easy, finding the voices that would honor the legacy of animation would be even more of a challenge. And Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose, who voices Asha; and Chris Pine, who voices King Magnifico bring voices to the characters that feel timeless.

Animation, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘Wish’ Delivers a Magical and Inspirational Gift for Generations of Disney Fans

November 17, 2023November 17, 2023 Michael Lee

Disney animated musicals have made achievements and advanced breakthroughs in visual storytelling since 1923. So, to celebrate its centennial anniversary, the studio honors its legacy with Wish, an all-new animated musical that tells the origin story of the Wishing Star.

Animation, Interview

‘Wish’ Creatives on Celebrating Disney’s 100th Anniversary

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 Michael Lee

Since the 1980s, Walt Disney Animation Studio’s opening theme has enchanted audiences with “When You Wish Upon A Star.” It’s a theme that continues to resonate with all who look to the stars to guide them. And so, Wish directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, co-writer and Disney Animation CCO Jennifer Lee, along with producers Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones set out to pay homage to the classic Disney animated features that came before it, while embracing the new techniques and technologies of the future.

Animation, Movies, Music

Disney’s ‘Wish’ Wednesdays Reveals “Knowing What I Know Now”

November 15, 2023November 16, 2023 Michael Lee

Disney has released the fifth and final song of their Wish Wednesday campaign ahead of the full soundtrack release on Friday. Fans anticipating the film and soundtracks release can now listen to “Knowing What I Know Now” on on SiriusXM’s Disney Hits Channel 133, on SiriusXM’s Disney Hits Channel 133, YouTube, Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and all digital service providers.