Tuesday, October 6, 2009

First five minutes of Princess and the Frog !



The first five minutes of Princess and the Frog were released on Youtube today. Apparently it was not released by Disney as the Youtube video was removed, but i found the same one on Daily Motion Actually only the half of these five minutes are totally finished, the other half is an interesting "work in progress". Have a look, enjoy and let us know what you think about it!









Picture and video: copyright Disney

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New Princess and the Frog Trailer and All you need to know to attend the L.A and N.Y special release



Disney released a new Princess and the Frog trailer, and 75% of it are new shots of the movie! It looks more exciting than ever, and i have a strong good feeling on the musical part, i.e the songs written by Randy Newman.

Also, this new trailer introduce many new characters - humans or animals - and i did some gret screen shots for you that you will see below, after the trailer itself.

But there is more: A special release of the movie will happen from Nov 25 to Dec 13 in N.Y and L.A. All you need to know about these special events after the screen captures.




The trailer looks great, doesn't it? Here are the screen captures, click on each to see them in big size.




































And now, all about the N.Y and L.A "exclusive engagements" with the official press release. For reservations for the L.A and N.Y special release please go HERE.

BURBANK, Calif. & NEW YORK — In celebration of Disney’s newest animated musical “The Princess and The Frog,” Walt Disney Studios is opening its Burbank gates to the public for a once-in-a-lifetime advance special engagement, welcoming Disney fans to experience its newest animated musical comedy Nov. 25-Dec. 13, 2009. The advance special engagement will also be featured in Clearview’s historic Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. Following the film, fans on both coasts will also be treated to The Ultimate Disney Experience, an exciting extravaganza that will feature—for the first time ever—all nine of the Disney princesses (including the film’s Princess Tiana, Disney’s newest princess), as well as exciting Bayou games, movie archives, how-to presentations from Disney animators, Studio tours (for L.A. guests) and more. Tickets went on sale at midnight last night.

“We’re welcoming families to our Studio to see where Walt Disney made real movie magic,” said Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “Our Studio is not open to the public, so it’s an unprecedented opportunity for Disney fans to experience a movie right here on the Disney lot where we’ve filmed Disney classics like ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Princess Diaries,’ ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and many more. In fact, Walt built the original theater on the Studio lot back in 1940; it opened just in time for special audiences to view his ‘Fantasia.’ With a newly renovated, state-of-the-art theater, the Studio will open its gates once again, inviting audiences to not only see our newest animated musical, but to take part in a one-of-a-kind experience after the movie. We’re bringing the same exciting experience to New York City at the historic Ziegfeld Theatre and Roseland Ballroom.”



Themed to the film’s setting, New Orleans, The Ultimate Disney Experience will feature something for the whole family.

* PRINCESS POWER – All nine of the Disney princesses will come together for the first time ever, welcoming Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Mulan and of course, Disney’s newest princess, Tiana.

* FUN ‘N GAMES — The Experience will feature opportunities to swing on ropes, climb trees, play games and race through the Bayou Adventure, plus a New Orleans’s Bead Toss, Naveen’s Leap Frog, video games and more.

* HOLLYWOOD HEIRLOOMS — Disney movie archives will be on display for the first time ever, including props and costumes from a variety of films like “Mary Poppins,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy and more.

* MOVIE MAGIC – Guests can learn movie magic from real Disney animators who will be on hand teaching guests how to draw a character from the film.

* PICTURE THIS – Guests can put themselves in the movie at Kodak photo locations. Kodak photographers will capture guests’ images and place them in a scene from the movie.

* INSIDER’S GLIMPSE — Burbank guests will also have the rare opportunity to tour the Studio lot.

Several shows will be presented daily on both coasts from Nov. 25-Dec. 13; show times are 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a 9:30 p.m. show available select dates. Tickets go on sale at midnight Sept. 8, featuring three options for Disney fans wishing to experience “The Princess and The Frog” and The Ultimate Disney Experience in New York or Los Angeles. Group general admission tickets (for groups of 20 or more) are $20 each, general admission tickets are $30 each, and royal seating (a reserved seat, “The Princess and The Frog” Mardi Gras beads and an exclusive limited-edition collectible lithograph from “The Princess and The Frog”) is $50 per ticket. Guests can call 1-800-DISNEY6 or log onto www.princessandfrogtickets.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Pictures and video: copyright Disney

Friday, August 28, 2009

John Lasseter Q&A videos series - Part two

It's a special "John Lasseter videos" today and yesterday, the Disney Living channel on Youtube released this first video of John talking about the upcoming "ultimate" Toy Story toys. This new toys will be great and i can't wait to see tne next videos with John probably introducing each of them. Have a look to this first video, next one should be post next week.



The Q&A short videos series is going on on the Pixar channel, and John Lasseter is answering to interesting questions as you will see in the videos below.

In this first video John Lasseter answers to the question "When will we see a female lead?" in an animated picture, and John reveal that there is one coming soon in an upcoming Pixar movie!



Did you ever wonder if "the Pixar lamp is a mama lamp, or a daddy?". John will give you the answer in the video below!



Somebody else asked John an interesting question: "What Does A113 Mean?". Have a look at the video to get the answer to this apparently strange question!



The next question to John Lasseter is just as strange and it's "Do You Like Monkeys?".
As you will see John is not alone this time to answer the question!



In this last video, Lasseter explain "who wrote the story of UP!"



New videos are posted regularly on the PIxar channel, so have a look at Pixar's page on Facebook or Daily Motion. And enjoy!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Walt and El Grupo documentary chronicles 1941 Disney artists South America trip - Released in theatres Sept 11



It's a major event, in terms of Disney history: the documentary "Walt and El Grupo" presented by the Walt Disney Family Foundation will be released by Walt Disney Pictures on September 11.

Why? Because the amazing footage of Walt and El Grupo "chronicles the amazing ten-week trip that Walt Disney and his hand-picked group of artists and filmmaking talent (later known as “El Grupo”) took to South America in 1941 at the behest of the U.S. Government as part of the Good Neighbor Policy. During this time, the Roosevelt administration had growing concerns about Nazi and Fascist influence in Latin America, and the rest of the world was slipping further into war."



"In stark contrast to these trying times, Disney and his colorful group of artists found themselves on a lively trip full of hope and discovery as they explored various South American cities, spending the majority of their time in the countries of Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The group was saddled with an unusual assignment – while gathering story material, immersing themselves in the culture, befriending local artists, meeting political leaders and attending countless functions, their journey was also a de facto diplomatic mission, and as a result, the studio produced the classic films “Saludos Amigos” and “The Three Caballeros.”



"Shot on film in five countries, Walt and El Grupo is a tale that still resonates on both sides of the equator. The film time travels in Walt Disney’s footsteps through the use of personal letters and stunning artwork from the trip, remembrances by descendants and survivors, and extraordinary never-before-seen footage."



"Walt and El Grupo brings together an intertwined story of art and politics, the poignancy of a bygone age, and a legendary artist during one of his most trying times."



Disney and more readers may remember the fantastic "Walt Disney and Animation Artists in South America" pictorial article some months ago. These LIFE magazine pictures were shot during the same trip. In "Walt Disney and El Grupo movie, you'll see them "live" whether it is Mary Blair making portraits of Chili villagers...





Or Walt Disney filmed practicing lasso, footage that will be used for the making of the Goofy sequence.





Another sequence shows Walt Disney (on the right) with the animators in Argentina Pampa.





The movie will be released in NY Quad theater, LA Westwood Landmark Regent theatre and at Anaheim AMC Downtown Disney on Sept 11 (which proves that something good can happen on that date!). The movie will then be released in Seattle at SIFF Cinema on Sept 25, in San Francisco at AMC Loews Metreon, and in Orlando, Boston, Chicago and Washington DC later... probably for a limited time, so if you live in these areas, this is a not-to-be-missed Disney event! In the meantime, here is the official trailer!





Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Pictures and trailer: copyright Disney and the Walt Disney Family Foundation

John Lasseter answers to fans questions with videos



Pixar fans were asked what questions they would ask John Lasseter if they were able to attend Comic-Con. And a few lucky fans had their questions chosen and answered by John himself. New videos of John Lasseter answering questions of the fans appeared recently, and here they are.

This first video will delight Jungle Cruise fans as John answers to the question: "What was your favorite joke you told on the Jungle Cruise" (when he was a Jungle Cruise skipper).



In this next video, John Lasseter explain "What's the secret to bring inanimate objects to life?".



In this third video, John answer the question: "Why did the movie UP! have such a serious beginning?"



Apparently, new videos will be posted regularly, so keep a look at Pixar's page on Facebook or Daily Motion. And enjoy!

Videos: copyright Pixar

Saturday, August 1, 2009

New Toy Story - Toy Story 2 3D Trailer !



Toy Story and Toy Story 2 will be released in 3D on October 2 in U.S theatres- and only for two weeks!

Pixar did a special trailer for this new TS/TS2 release and U.S audiences of G-Force will enjoy it in 3D. But as you will see below the 2D doesn't stop it to be fun and fully enjoyable.




Picture and trailer: copyright Disney-Pixar

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

An Incredible Treasure: Disneyland 1954-55 construction videos !



You will love these amazing Disneyland construction videos! Frankly, it's an amazing treasure, and as all treasures its find happened with a bit of luck with the discovery of a reel box with "Disneyland movie" written on it. Inside, all - or almost - the 1954-55 building of Disneyland, thanks to cameras that were placed up on towers at different places of the park. Using time-lapse and traditional eye-in-the-sky photography, this is a dazzling piece of history, presenting how the fearless construction crews had Disneyland up and running in just under a year.



It's totally fascinating, really. A pure miracle, as you would have never expect to see one day what you will see now. A Disneyland fan dream-come-true! What is the most surprising for me is that these Youtube videos were uploaded 8 months ago and nobody noticed them before! Anyway, better too late than never, especially when it's a treasure like this with - on the third video - a commentary by Tony Baxter and Ed Hobleman and Walter Magnuson.

So, get a drink and some good tapas, sit well and enjoy the movie, you won't believe your eyes.














Edited: In fact, some of you told me that all this wonderful footage is part of the special features of the Disney Trasures DVD: Disneyland - Secrets, Stories & Magic.
So, it is not as rare as i thought (!) but it's great anyway!


Pictures and videos: copyright Disney

Many many thanks to theeditor84 for this unbelievable treasure!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

A closer look to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland trailer



You know how are the trailers, they always go too fast, right?. I know, it's done on purpose, as they don't want us to see too much. Still, it's frustating, isn't it? And in the case of the awaited Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, it's VERY frustating!

So, i succeed to find a trailer in enough good resolution to have good screen captures - click on each to see them in big "wallpaper" size. And as you will see, it is very interesting to see clearly the details. A little warning, though, as there may be some spoilers ahead!

Soooo, the beginning of the trailer shows Alice running in the British countryside, until she's attract by this hole in the tree...





A little bit too close, and she falls...



We then have the scene where she drinks the bottle on the table and then shrinks...





In the next shot - by the way, may i remind you that in the trailer they are not necessarily in chronological order - we find Alice in the enchanted garden...



And then walking through a giant mushroom forest with the white rabbit and TweedleDee and TweedleDum.



In the next shot she's on the top of what appears obviously to be a castle, with the "white queen" played by Anne Hathaway, and water falls in the background.



The Cheschire Cat appears then, magically, in a forest...



And the next shot introduce...the King of heart?



For sure it's the Red Queen in the next one - played by Helena Bonham Carter



Then arrives the shot with a monstruous beast, apparently in fight with some of the "cards" guards...



We find back Alice with TweedleDee and TweedleDum, seconds before they being attacked by an eagle...



...leaving Alice alone in a typical Tim Burton forest.



Doors of a the Red Queen castle hall now open with the help of two frogs - and we can see the Mad Hatter prisoner of the cards...



It's at this point in the trailer that Johnny Depp - the mad hatter - appears in a close shot...



...and walk on his unbirthday party table to meet Alice.







Cut on the movie title, and we see again Johnny and the white rabbit...





And the last shot show the mad hatter, probably in his workshop...





I think it's fair to say that the atmosphere of each scene looks really "Tim Burtonesque" and we better await a different kind of Alice in Wonderland, much different than the Disney movie. But i have a good feeling with this new version.

By the way, here is again the trailer in better definition. It is now also available on Apple Trailers and the best is of course to watch it in full screen!





Let's end with this video of the surprise appearance of Johnny Depp two days ago at the Comiccon. As you will see girls became hysterical instantly!




Pictures and trailer: copyright Disney

Trailer thanks to Wired.com