Pixar’s Newest Kid Adventure Gets Intergalactic in ‘Elio’ Trailer

June 13, 2023June 14, 2023 Michael Lee

As Disney and Pixar prep for the release of Elemental, they are already starting to launch the marketing for their next film, Elio. And now, the studio has released a brand new trailer teasing an all-new and original story that follows a young boy who heads off into space and meets aliens. The only thing is that the aliens believe the kid to be “uuhh-Earth’s” ambassador. As you can imagine, this has the potential to be hilarious but also very problematic.

Animation, Movies

‘Elemental’ Clip Paints the Ground Below and the Sky Above

May 30, 2023June 1, 2023 Michael Lee

Elemental made a big splash over the weekend with its international debut at the Cannes Film Festival. There, the main voice cast of Leah Lewis (Ember) and Mamoudou Athie (Wade), plus members of the French-language voice cast Adèle Exarchopoulos (Ember) and Vincent Lacoste (Wade) tonight on the beach joined director Peter Sohn, producer Denise Ream, and EP and CCO of Pixar Pete Docter. And now, the studio has released a brand-new clip showing what a meet cute looks like between fire and water.

Animation, Interview, Movies

Andrew Stanton on the Legacy of ‘Wall-E’ and Joining the Criterion Collection

November 22, 2022November 24, 2022 Michael Lee

The purpose of the Criterion Collection is to restore and distribute classic and contemporary films. In essence, it preserves films of cultural impact and importance. And while cinephiles can find an assortment of gems, there is almost no animation titles in its collection. That is until they announced that Wall•E would be a part of their November 2022 release slate.

Animation, Trailers

Pixar’s Romantic ‘Elemental’ Trailer Has Fiery Potential

November 18, 2022November 19, 2022 Michael Lee

Generally, the elements of fire and water do not mix, with the latter extinguishing the other. But such a dichotomous relationship could prove to be interesting. And Pixar director Peter Sohn wants to showcase that in Elemental. Now, after getting a small sneak peek at the D23Expo, the animation studio has revealed the first look at the upcoming film featuring the voices of Leah Lewis as the voice of Ember Lumen, and Mamoudou Athie as the water-based Wade Ripple.

Interview, Movies

‘Lightyear’ Composer Michael Giacchino on Storytelling Through Music

June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 Michael Lee

A movie score is one of the emotional hooks that draws audiences into that world. Whether the film is a sci-fi thriller or romantic comedy, it’s the kind of music that connects you with what’s going on within the frame. But for Lightyear composter Michael Giacchino, the score is much more than an assembly of notes that makes a movie sound good. It’s also something that tells a story.

Animation, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: Decent ‘Lightyear’ Doesn’t Quite Reach Infinity and Beyond for Pixar

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 Mike Manalo

At the beginning of this movie there’s a disclaimer briefly explaining that this was the movie Andy saw, loved, and became obsessed with when he got his first Buzz Lightyear action figure. Andy really needs to see more movies.

Animation, Movies

Pixar Releasing ‘Elemental’ in Summer 2023

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022 Michael Lee

Pixar’s success is built on its original storytelling. From their Toy Story flagship franchise all the way to Turning Red, audiences around the globe have seen the human experience through fantastical stories of the life of toys, monsters, and emotions. But the studio’s latest reveal teases they are going Elemental.

Animation, Movies

NOC Exclusive: Creating Panda Mei in BTS ‘Turning Red’ Clip

May 2, 2022May 2, 2022 Michael Lee

Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red was a smashing hit on the studio’s exclusive streaming platform. I know I’m guilty of watching it more than a couple of times since its release. But now, the animated film is ready for its home entertainment release. And to celebrate its recent digital platform launch and its 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 3, The Nerds of Color partnered up with Disney and Pixar to share an exclusive one-minute behind-the-scenes featurette about Panda Mei.

Animation, Movies1 Comment

Subscribe on YouTube and Win a Digital Copy of ‘Turning Red’

April 29, 2022July 14, 2022 Keina C

Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red debuted this week on all major digital platforms and will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 3, with never-before-seen bonus material including seven deleted scenes, three featurettes and audio commentary with Director Domee Shi. Plus, we’re giving subscribers to our YouTube channel a free digital copy of the movie!

Animation, Movies

Pixar’s Approach to Making ‘Lightyear’ a Sci-Fi Epic

April 21, 2022April 19, 2022 Michael Lee

Pixar may be known for its originals, but the animation studio has also produced a few sequels and prequels for its unforgettable films. While the Toy Story films may have given us a glimpse at Woody’s history, Lightyear serves as the definitive origins story for the brave space ranger that we all know and love. But rather than follow the character as a toy, the spinoff is presented to us as one of Andy’s favorite Sci-Fi films. As such, director Angus MacLane assembled a group of talented artists to achieve that cinematic look and feel that one gets when watching a Sci-Fi movie like Star Wars and Aliens.

Animation, Movies

Pixar’s NASA Research Trip Helped Influence the Look and Feel of ‘Lightyear’

April 21, 2022April 19, 2022 Michael Lee

In 1995, Disney•Pixar would release the first of four Toy Story films, not to mention countless other shorts and TV specials, making them the premier animation studio. And throughout these films, we’ve seen Woody and Buzz in all sorts of adventures. Though we’ve seen glimpses of “Woody’s Roundup,” the show that inspired the cowboy doll Andy played with, Buzz’s story remained untold. That is until Pixar decided to make Lightyear, an all-new Sci-Fi epic adventure that would be the movie Andy watched in 1995.

Animation, Interview, Movies

‘Lightyear’ Artisans on Film’s Themes and Achieving the IMAX Experience

April 21, 2022April 20, 2022 Michael Lee

Time is a construct of which we are all familiar. It’s the universal truth that there is simply never enough of it. Which makes it the perfect theme for Pixar’s Lightyear. Billed as their first Sci-Fi epic, the Toy Story spinoff is an origins story — and film that Andy watched as a kid — for the title character who accidentally maroon’s his entire crew on an uninhabited planet.

Animation, Movies

‘Lightyear’ Footage Goes “To Infinity and Beyond”

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022 Michael Lee

It’s been 27 years since Pixar released the first Toy Story in 1995. Since then, the animation studio has told us stories about innovative bugs, family fish, a lonely geriatric man and his flying house, not-so-scary monsters, romantic robots, our inner emotions, and 13-year-old Chinese Canadians who turn into red pandas. Audiences everywhere have connected with each title emotionally while being wowed at the incredible visuals. So with Lightyear hitting theaters later in June, we will get to see the man that made the beloved toy.

Animation, Movies

‘Turning Red’ Cast Gets Real about Friendships, Concerts, and Growing Pains

March 4, 2022March 4, 2022 Michael Lee

Unlike some of the one-dimensional female friendship and coming of age films of the past, Disney•Pixar’s Turning Red takes an honest look at the connections we have with our friends. What’s more, the film does it through the lens of a Chinese Canadian 13-year-old.

Animation, Movies, Music

Billie Eilish and Finneas Release Original Song for ‘Turning Red’

February 26, 2022February 28, 2022 Michael Lee

Disney•Pixar has released their first new single, “Nobody Like U,” and an accompanying lyric video for Turning Red. was written by sibling musical duo Billie Eilish and Finneas; the song is reminiscent of the boy bands of the early 2000s in terms of musical stylings and lyrics.

Animation, Movies1 Comment

‘Lightyear’ Trailer is Not Pretending to Go to Infinity and Beyond

February 8, 2022 Michael Lee

It all started with a cowboy and a space ranger in Pixar’s Toy Story. Nearly 30 years later, the studio will be releasing Lightyear, its first spinoff film based on the Toy Story film franchise, that follows the man that inspired the Buzz Lightyear space ranger toy. While previous trailer slightly teased a journey to the unknown, We are getting a better sense of the story in a brand new action-packed trailer that mixes high-stakes space exploration with futuristic humor.

Animation, Movies

Pixar’s First Animated Boy Band will Steal Hearts and Bring Nostalgia in ‘Turning Red’

February 8, 2022February 4, 2022 Michael Lee

The late ’90s and early 2000s pop culture scene were full of jelly bracelets, Tamagotchis, music CDs, flip phones, and, of course, boy bands. And Pixar’s Turning Red captures the spirit of that time by weaving in nostalgia with cultural specificity and a profoundly resonating coming-of-age story.

Animation, Movies

‘Turning Red’ Blazes a Trail for Female Animators and Storytellers

February 7, 2022February 4, 2022 Michael Lee

Pixar has changed the way we see animated films since they released Toy Story, their first theatrical feature, in 1996. But, while they have made great strides to change the visual and narrative language of animated cinema, the studio has also affirmed its commitment to be more inclusive and deliver content that reflects the world we live in today. That’s why shorts like Sanjay’s Super Team and films like Coco and Soul are crucial because those films feature people of color in lead roles as real people with real stories that authentically reflect their lives and not cliched characters.

Animation, Movies1 Comment

‘Turning Red’ Reimagines the Coming-of-Age Story Through Cultural Specificity

February 7, 2022February 4, 2022 Michael Lee

Pixar’s Turning Red is a film unlike any other. Directed by Domee Shi, the film centers on Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian girl torn between being the dutiful daughter to her mother (Sandra Oh) and navigating the chaos of adolescence. But her life gets turned upside-down when she discovers she turns into a giant red panda if she gets too excited.

Animation, Movies

Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ Promises Teenage Angst and Red Panda Transformations

November 17, 2021November 19, 2021 Michael Lee

Disney•Pixar has released the latest trailer for their forthcoming animated feature Turning Red. From the mind of Academy Award-winner Domee Shi, the coming-of-age film follows the teenage Mei (voice of Rosalie Chiang) who goes through a unique kind of growing pain that’s different from any other teenager. Anytime Mei exhibits a strong emotion, she turns into a giant red panda. So, think of a cuter and cuddlier version of how Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk.

Animation, Movies, Sci Fi

Star Command is Calling! Teaser and Poster for ‘Lightyear’ Lands

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 Mike Manalo

Back in 1995, when Andy went through his “Buzz Lightyear” phase, didn’t you wonder what all the fuss was about? Well Pixar, leaving no stone unturned, is finally going to show you! And they’re bringing out Steve Rogers from retirement to do it!

Animation, Interview

‘Twenty Something’ Director Aphton Corbin Inspired By Her Youth for SparksShort

September 8, 2021September 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Director Aphton Corbin is excited and surprised to see her Disney-Pixar SparksShort Twenty Something come to life on Disney+.

“My inspiration was my own 20s journey through life where I just feel like a new director — the panic and stress of ‘oh my gosh, did they pick the wrong person?’ I’m just barely figuring out how to be a functional adult in life,” said Corbin during a Zoom interview with The Nerds of Color. It was a fun insecurity to dig into of what was making me feel this way.”

Animation, Streaming

Disney+ Just Dropped the Trailer and Key Art for Pixar’s ‘Dug Days’

August 26, 2021August 26, 2021 Sophia Soto

To celebrate International Dog Day, Disney+ has shared the official trailer and key art for Pixar Animation Studios’ Dug Days! Bob Peterson, the voice of Dug then and now as well as a screenwriter and co-director on Up, wrote and directed the new series of five shorts. Kim Collins serves as producer.