Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Short Circuit has been delivering creative shorts to audiences for the past ten years. The program gives anyone at the studio the chance to pitch an idea in the hopes of being selected to bring their own project to life.
Continue reading “How Disney Animation’s Short Circuit Turns Personal Stories Into Powerful Shorts”
Yvette Nicole Brown is part of a special group. While some talents have earned EGOT status by winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, Brown has her own pop culture distinction as a DMPL, having appeared in a Disney, Marvel Studios, Pixar, and Lucasfilm project. Now the actor shares her thoughts on the recognition, being in Zootopia 2, as well as an update on the Community movie.
Continue reading “Yvette Nicole Brown on ‘Zootopia 2’ and the Status of the ‘Community’ Movie”
With Zootopia 2 now on Digital and Blu-ray, the BAFTA-winning sequel arrives with new bonus extras, including a peek inside Walt Disney Animation Studios, recording-booth behind-the-scenes, a Shakira music spotlight, and deleted scenes. In this interview, The Nerds of Color speaks with director Byron Howard and producer Yvette Merino about the film’s global impact, its emotionally resonant and timely themes, and that mysterious after-credits feather.
Continue reading “‘Zootopia 2’ Creators Discuss the Film’s Global Success and After Credit Scene”
To say that Disney’s Zootopia is just another animated feature with anthropomorphized animals would be completely reductive. It’s a buddy cop comedy full of laughs and pop culture references, threaded with themes of tolerance, bias, and who gets to feel safe in a city that prides itself on being for “anyone” and “anything.” Asking Zootopia 2 to match, let alone surpass, that mix of vibrant visuals, sharp humor, and pointed social commentary feels like a tall order, yet somehow the sequel rises to it and then some.
Continue reading “‘Zootopia 2’ Twists the Buddy-Cop Formula Without Losing Social Commentary”
When the first Zootopia hit theaters in 2016, it turned out to be more than an animated menagerie about predator and prey sharing a city peacefully. It was stealth social commentary about bias, belonging, and who gets to feel safe. Zootopia 2 dials that up with more humor, more banter, and another timely message. And the directors and cast talk about what it means to carry the franchise’s legacy forward.
Continue reading “‘Zootopia 2’ Stars on Creating Something Wildly Entertaining and Thought Provoking”
Zootopia 2 marks Walt Disney Animation Studios’ return to the bustling animal metropolis nearly a decade after the original. The Nerds of Color caught up with directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, as well as the creative team behind the film, to discuss expanding the world, creating new characters, and bringing the film’s themes of empathy and connection to life.
Continue reading “‘Zootopia 2’ Creators Break Down the Sequel’s Themes and Animation”
The first Moana was a journey of self-discovery for the title character (Auliʻi Cravalho) who teamed up with the awesome fishhook-wielding and shapeshifting and sometimes self-centered demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Tefiti. Eight years later, audiences are reunited with the characters they love in Moana 2, a sequel that’s worthy of your time.
Continue reading “‘Moana 2’ is a Beautiful Sonic and Visual Feast”
To celebrate the forthcoming release of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Moana 2, fans are invited to join Disney, National Geographic Pristine Seas, and Polynesian Voyaging Society to celebrate the explorer and Moana in all of us and answer the call to protect our oceans together. And they have released a featurette to help inspire the conservationist in us all.
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Post-production is essential to completing any film, especially an animated one like Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2.
Continue reading “Sound and Animation Team Talk New Sights and Sounds of ‘Moana 2’”
In 2016, Walt Disney Animation Studios released Moana, an animated musical based on Polynesian mythology. The studio strived to make the film’s details more authentic to Polynesian cultures through research and the help of Oceanic Story Trust. Now Moana 2 takes the next steps to advance off-screen representation by bringing two filmmakers of Samoan-heritage on as directors.
Continue reading “‘Moana 2’ Directors and Producers Talk Off-Screen Representation”
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana was more than a commercial and critical hit of 2016; it was also a celebration of the Polynesian culture. Set on the fictional island of celebrates Motunui, the film followed the title character (Auliʻi Cravalho) who embarks on a oceanic adventure with the mighty demigod Maui (Dwyane Johnson) to save her village from a blight.
Continue reading “‘Moana 2’ Footage Reaction: Disney’s Latest Sets Sail for a New Adventure”
Disney has released the newest TV spot for Moana 2, which gives a sneak peek of the newest song: “We’re Back.”
Continue reading “New ‘Moana 2’ TV Spot Teases “We’re Back” Song”
Iwájú is a wonderful and heartwarming coming-of-age story that blends the artistic talents of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali with Afrofuturism ideals.
Continue reading “NOC Review: ‘Iwájú’ Illuminates a Bright Future for Animation”
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+.
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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.
Continue reading “Disney Announces ‘Wish’ Digital and Blu-ray Release Dates”
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.
Continue reading “Full ‘Wish’ Soundtrack is Out Today”
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.
Continue reading “Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine on Captivating Hearts Through Music in ‘Wish’”
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.
Continue reading “‘Wish’ Delivers a Magical and Inspirational Gift for Generations of Disney Fans”
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.
Continue reading “‘Wish’ Creatives on Celebrating Disney’s 100th Anniversary”
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.
Continue reading “Disney’s ‘Wish’ Wednesdays Reveals “Knowing What I Know Now””