Animation, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

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

September 20, 2023September 22, 2023 Michael Lee

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.

Conventions

Disney Announces D23 Expo 2024 Dates and Fan Events

September 10, 2023September 10, 2023 Michael Lee

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a biennal one-of-a-kind fan experience like never before with spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. Now, the studio has announced the dates and plans for the week-long event that will happen in August 2024.

Animation, Movies

‘Elemental’ Cast and Crew Open Up About Animating and Emoting the Elements

June 15, 2023June 15, 2023 Michael Lee

Disney and Pixar’s Elemental is anything but a simple love story about opposites attracting. The studio’s latest animated film is a nuanced exploration of culture clashes and the immigrant experience told through science and set in a world where elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air co-exist.

Animation, Movies, Trailers

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, Trailers

‘Carl’s Date’ Trailer Teases ‘Up’ Hero on a Dating Adventure in Pixar’s Newest Short

June 12, 2023June 12, 2023 Michael Lee

Pixar’s Up is considered one of the best-animated features of all time. And the studio is honoring the film’s legacy with a brand-new short that follows Carl Fredricksen (voiced by the late Ed Asner), who goes on a brand-new life-changing adventure with his loyal dog companion Dug (voiced by Bob Peterson).

Animation, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

NOC Review: Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ is a Sweet and Colorful Treat

June 10, 2023June 12, 2023 Mike Manalo

It’s true that the best days of Pixar may be behind us. From modern day classics like Up, Wall-E, and Ratatouille, to more mediocre fare like Lightyear and Onward, the studio has essentially gone from “great” to “okay” after more than 20 years.

Animation, Movies

Pixar Releases New ‘Elemental’ Original Song From Lauv

June 2, 2023June 3, 2023 Michael Lee

Hot off the releases of its Cannes debut, and poster and featurette drops earlier this week, Pixar has unveiled the original song “Steal the Show” for their upcoming original feature Elemental.

Animation, Movies

‘Elemental’ Featurette and Posters Mix Cast Chemistry and Theatrical Experiences

June 1, 2023June 2, 2023 Michael Lee

With the release of Pixar’s Elemental just a few short weeks away, the studio has dropped some incredible marketing pieces from its massive debut at Cannes to a clip. Now, they have dropped a few new posters teasing the theatrical viewing experiences you can watch and an all-new featurette of the cast and crew talking about the recording process.

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, Movies1 Comment

Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Experience Goes on a Mall Tour

May 16, 2023May 17, 2023 Michael Lee

Pixar’s Elemental is set to hit theaters soon, and to help celebrate, Disney is launching a one-of-a-kind immersive experience that invites fans to dive into a world that only the studio can create. The exciting multi-city mall tour, which starts in New York and goes across the country before ending in San Fransisco, offers an immersive thematic environment for visitors of all ages. This means guests will feel the elements of Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth in fun and interactive ways.

Animation, Movies

Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ to Close Out 76th Cannes Film Festival

April 19, 2023April 20, 2023 Michael Lee

Pixar Animation Studios has announced that Elemental, their 27th feature film, will close out the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 27, 2023. Elemental will be the fourth Pixar film to close the festival, after Up, Inside Out, and Soul.

Animation, Interview, Movies

‘Elemental’ Director Peter Sohn Talks Representation and Science of Organic Awkwardness

March 30, 2023May 15, 2023 Michael Lee

On the surface, Pixar’s Elemental looks like a fun play on the classic opposites attract story, where two unlikely characters are thrown together and develop an unexpected relationship. But digging deeper, director Peter Sohn tells us that story along with delivering an appreciation for the parents who made great sacrifices for a new life in a new world with next to nothing but the clothes on their backs and their family. And we had the chance to talk to Sohn about Pixar’s upcoming animated film and what it means to him to share his story with the world.

Animation, Movies

‘Elemental’ Director Peter Sohn on Sharing His Personal Story Through Animation

March 30, 2023April 1, 2023 Michael Lee

Pixar is at its element when they are delivering original storytelling. It’s something that they pride themselves in doing. And while sequels expand upon some of their classics, nothing beats a Pixar original. Especially when those stories come from a personal place, like director Peter Sohn‘s Elemental.

Animation, Movies

‘Elemental’ Footage Reveals a Culture Clash Story Bursting with Color and Emotion

March 30, 2023March 31, 2023 Michael Lee

From director Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur), Elemental is Pixar Animation Studios’ 27th feature film. While the themes of opposites attract are quite literal, the film also explores the experiences of growing up as a child of first-generational parents. And The Nerds of Color joined their fellow journalists to preview some footage at Pixar Animation Studios. There, we learned about how Sohn’s latest film and how culture clashes and opposites attract play into it.

Animation, Movies, Trailers

‘Elemental’ Trailer Showcases Pixar’s Take on the Rom-Com Genre

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 Michael Lee

The concept that opposites attract has been the basis for our favorite rom-com films. Of course, as humans, we are more alike than we are different. So, Pixar put a creative elemental spin on that for their forthcoming animated film, Elemental. And now, the newly released trailer shows us what happens when two elemental forces like Fire and Water come into each other’s lives.

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.

Animation, Interview, Streaming

‘Cars on the Road’ Cast and Crew on Lightning McQueen and Mater’s Latest Adventures

September 6, 2022 Michael Lee

Disney•Pixar’s Cars on the Road follows Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) as they embark on an epic road trip and head east to attend a wedding for Mater’s sister.

Animation, Interview, Movies

‘Lightyear’ Cast Talk Pixar’s Relentless Pursuit of a Perfect Story

June 16, 2022June 16, 2022 Michael Lee

Buzz Lightyear has come a long way since Pixar introduced him first as a space ranger action figure in Toy Story. Voiced by Tim Allen, the character was the believable hero, but also served as comic relief throughout the films, sequels, shorts, and TV specials. However, Lightyear is different. Instead of telling another chapter of the long-running Toy Story film franchise, director Angus MacLane wanted fans to see the Buzz (Chris Evans) with a new perspective, one that shows nuances to his heroism, ambition, humor, bravery, and maturity.

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, Interview, Movies

‘Lightyear’ Creative Team Discusses its Place within the ‘Toy Story’ Universe

June 10, 2022June 14, 2022 Michael Lee

Lightyear is not exactly what you’d call a prequel. Its opening exposition tells us it is based on the toy that Andy got as a gift for his birthday, and that it was from his favorite movie. So for the first time, audiences everywhere will get to see the title space ranger’s origins story.

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.