Trusting The Brain...

The Lamp confirmed that Bob Peterson is no longer directing its next film...

I wonder what prompted them to speak up about it?  You woundn't know by the article, thanks LA Times, we can always count on you being classy.  Everyone here knows where it came from.  Still, the article had some revelations which weren't known yet about the evolving "The Good Dinosaur".

Like the fact that they haven't chosen a director to replace Bob with yet (he is an extremely talented and nice to a fault person, btw). It appears now that four of Pixar's "Brain Trust" will be in charge of various scenes, making sure that the picture has a cohesive direction while they search for someone to finish directing it.

From what I hear, there will likely be decisions soon as to who will take over the film's production.  Likely in the next two or so weeks. it is unknown as to who Lasseter will choose for certain, but odds are that Peter Sohn or Mark Andrews may get the go.  If not them, word is it could be an outsider.

Now, this isn't final, it's not written in stone. It's just the vibe the Bothans are getting from other Pixar employees as to who they are betting on in their Fantasy Film Maker Pool. And these are only a few rumblings I'm hearing.  Some speculation, I'm waiting for more info on.

Everything is still fluid in this situation.  It all depends on who John and Ed get a feel has the right handle on the scenes they 're working on.  So think of what is going in now as a test for the future director of the film.

Soon, we'll know who passed....

Not Extinct, But Evolving... (Exclusive)

The animation business can be a very chaotic experience...

The Lamp has had many films in production that would either shut down (Newt) because of similarity to another project (Rio), or drastically changed (Ratatouille) to make the release date. Word from my Bothans is that there is another having such difficulties.  It's not a good thing, but it is a normal, yet chaotic process.  Which film?

The Good Dinosaur.

The producer and director of the film had been removed, but the film is not as of yet in turnaround. John Lasseter has reportedly taken Bob Peterson off the film, and is attempting to still meet the 2014 release date.

This will not be an easy task, but they're hopeful that another director will be able to bring the project back in to better focus as the story wasn't coming together.  The meteor that killed the dinosaurs hasn't yet destroyed this film, but it has put it in jeopardy.

Developing...

A Better Tomorrow...

We now have a clearer idea of what Brad Bird's "Tomorrowland" will be...

With an official press release from Disney about the beginning of shooting in Vancouver, a new synopsis has been released.  It gives a much more expansive description of what the film will be, while still shrouding the story in enough mystery to make everyone wonder what Bird and Lindelof have in store for us.  Here is the release;

DISNEY’S “TOMORROWLAND” BEGINS FILMING IN VANCOUVER
STARRING ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER GEORGE CLOONEY, HUGH LAURIE, BRITT ROBERTSON, RAFFEY CASSIDY AND THOMAS ROBINSON 

Burbank, Calif. (Aug. 26, 2013) —Principal photography has begun on Disney’s mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” starring two-time Academy AwardÒ winner George Clooney (“Michael Clayton,” “Syriana”), Hugh Laurie (“Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Arthur Christmas”), Britt Robertson (“Under The Dome”), Raffey Cassidy (“Dark Shadows,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”) and Thomas Robinson (“The Switch”). 

The film is directed, produced and co-written by two-time Oscar® winner Brad Bird (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “The Incredibles”). Damon Lindelof (“Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Prometheus”) and Jeffrey Chernov (“Star Trek,” “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol”) are also producers. The screenplay is written by Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof from a story by Lindelof & Jeff Jensen and Brad Bird. 

Jeff Jensen and John Walker (“The Incredibles”) will executive produce with Bernard Bellew (“Les Misérables,” “28 Weeks Later”) and Tom Peitzman, VFX producer (“Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,” “Alice in Wonderland”) serving as co-producers. 

Bound by a shared destiny, a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor jaded by disillusionment embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as “Tomorrowland.”   

Bird has gathered a great team behind the lens with Oscar® winning director of photography Claudio Miranda (“Life of Pi,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), production designer Scott Chambliss (“Star Trek,” “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Cowboys & Aliens”), Oscar® nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (“Inception,” “Ocean’s Eleven”) and Academy Award®-winning editor Walter Murch (“The English Patient,” “Cold Mountain”). 

“Tomorrowland” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on December 12, 2014.

The trailer for this is going to be so welcome...

Big Six...

 

So after "Frozen" comes out the Mouse moves in a very different direction...

And today at the D23 Expo guest got a tease of how different that would be with the news about "Big Hero 6".  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there this year. I have the real world pressing me so I had to make other plans. But luckily, I've seen what everyone else saw today.  And if you look around the web, you've noticed a reaction from people that have seen the clips and the concept art.  It is definitely Disney, but it is also different.

I've known about this for a while (I mean, what did you think Blue Sky meant when we said Don Hall was directing a marvelous film?), but they finally revealed the list of characters that are going to be in the film. And they're mostly from the second volume of the comic book, not the original comic. Keep in mind that these are adaptations of those characters, and they aren't exactly the same as the ones in the comics.  Don Hall wanted characters that weren't as well formed in the minds of comic book fans so that he could play with the characters more. He didn't want fans screaming at him that you didn't include this or you changed that.  So if you've read the comic, you'll enjoy the movie, but it will not exactly be the same.

Here are the list of characters in the film.  For those that know, and don't know:



Hiro Hamada  - Based on the comic character Hiro Takachiho, a brilliant teen with computer skills far beyond his age.

Baymax - The character is basically the same as the comic, he's almost like a robotic best friend, and is largely like the character in the comic, slightly Disneyfied.

Go Go - Known in the comic as GoGo Tomago, she is the bad girl of the group; the one with attitude and reflecting as an outsider in the group.  In the film she's a bike messenger.

Wasabi No Ginger - An assassin chef that is an expert knife thrower, think Bullseye if he were a cook.

Honey Lemon - She is the possible love interest for Hiro in the film, a chemist that he has a slight crush on.

Fred - Known in the comic as Fredzilla, he has the ability to transform into monstrous creature, thus explaining the name.  In the film he is a comic book geek.



A little note, if you watched the atmosphere teaser that came out a while ago, if you look inside the trolley going down the streets you can see Hiro's inside.  Just a little detail that you didn't know and might like.

And just wait until you see the first trailer…

Tommorow, Today..

This is a very important week for film fans...

It marks the start of filming of another Brad Bird film.  And I always say that any time that that man is making a film it's a momentous occasion.  Each work of his is a joy to behold. A little jewel, a cinematic treasure really, given to us to enjoy for two hours that allow us to step away from the world that is into a world That could/would be.  From his first, best film "The Iron Giant", to his stepping into live-action with the thrill filled fun of "Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol", Bird has never not amazed me.

This marks the first week of shooting of "Tomorrowland", a new film from Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Brad Bird from a script that Damon Lindelof co-wrote based on his own idea.  I expect nothing short of greatness from this film.  I've never been disappointed by his work, and I don't expect to be by this one.  Even with all the hype amd mystery that has surrounded it, I still have lofty expectations for this film.  With his amazing list of actors in it including George Clooney, Hugh Laurie and others, I look forward to an amazing experience.  And with each passing day, I expect us to get snippets of the supersecret story as more spy pictures come in and more details emerge.

I have to wonder how much, if any will be shot at Disneyland in Tomorrowland?  Or perhaps it will just be a metaphor for something very Disneyesque?  Bird is an accomplished and skilled storyteller who knows structure like very few directors do, much less screenwriters do. So if Lindelof's script piqued his interest, then it'll definitely peak mine.  If I were Alan Horn, I'd sign him up to an exclusive agreement for years so that every work of art he made had the Magic Kingdom's castle in front of it.

If the Bunny can have a Governor, then the Mouse should have a Bird…

Man Of U.N.C.L.E...

Well, now we know who might be taking the Solo role Tom parachuted out on...

So instead of just having the man that played secret agent Ethan Hunt taking on the part of secret agent Napoleon Solo, we'll have Kal-El play him?  That sounds interesting.  Word is the buzz surrounding "Man of Steel" is so positive among the Bunny Suits that Warner feels Henry Cavill can lead another iconic franchise.

So if this rings true then Cavil will be Solo to Armie Hammer's Russian spy Illya Kuryakin.  That will be a comely duo for Guy Ritchie to have some fun with.  Will "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." be a present day adventure, or a period-centric 60's spy pic?

We may need a secret agent to find that out...

Giving Tomorrow A Past...

There's been a great deal of mystery surrounding Brad Bird's next film...

It was untitled, then it was called "1954" or "Tesla" depending on who you talked to.  Finally it was announced that it would be known as "Tomorrowland" to the confused looks of film and Disney fans alike.

The guys over at Grantland have released a very entensive interview with Damon Lindelof (I urge you to read the entire interview because it's a facinating look inside the mind and process of a writer.) where he talks about several projects that he's been connected to, but he unpacks the origins of his script which Brad Bird is now getting ready to start directing:

I’ve always been fascinated by Disneyland and Disney World, and my favorite part of the park was always Tomorrowland. But there’s no story there. Like, if you go into Fantasyland, there’s just story happening all around you everywhere, whether it’s sort of a direct kind of connection to a movie that you know or a fairy tale that you know, and the same with, like, Frontierland, or when you go in the Haunted Mansion. My son, who’s 6, when he went on Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time, Jack Sparrow is a part of that ride. He’s going to see the movies in two years, when he’s old enough, and he’s going to think that the movies were the inspiration for the ride, versus the other way around. I would love to do that for Tomorrowland, you know? I would love to give Tomorrowland a story, because right now, Tomorrowland is kind of being taken over by Star Wars — which is great, but it’s called Tomorrowland. Star Wars is a galaxy a long time ago, far, far away. Star Wars is not about our future. 

And there’s this Neil deGrasse Tyson speech — you can YouTube it — and he gave an eloquent and beautiful talk about how the abandonment of the space program after we landed on the moon is responsible for the fact that we no longer have an optimistic view of our future. I just said, “There’s a movie in there somewhere.” And that was the beginning of me curating this rather fascinating “is it or isn’t it?” Disney history in this kind of Dan Brown, Da Vinci Code way. Like, all these things that I didn’t know about, the history of Tomorrowland in the park, and could that be the basis of something? Even though the movie is not about the park — I will say this exclusively to you, that none of the movie takes place in a Disneyland park. It doesn’t, but that history became the inspiration for this amazing story. I brought Jeff Jensen in, who had come up with all these amazing theories about Lost while it was on, some of which were just so much better than what we were coming up with in the room. I said, “Come in and look at this stuff and talk to me about it,” and then we started coming up with the germs of a really cool story, and then at the same time, I was hanging out with Bird, because we were both in the Bad Robot universe; he was posting Ghost Protocol as we were working on Into Darkness. I kind of got my hooks in him because I started asking him all these questions about Disney, because he worked there for a number of years and was basically trained by a couple of the original Imagineers, and he was like, “Why are you asking me these questions?” and I said, “I’m working on this project regarding Tomorrowland,” and then he was in. And then we went and picked up George Clooney, and we were off to the races.

It's a fascinating walk through the process for coming up with the story that became so interesting that it made Bird turn down an offer to direct "Episode VII".

Now that has to be a powerful story...

 Hat Tip to /Film.

Rebellion...

It seems that Star Wars fans have an answer as to what will follow "The Clone Wars" animated series...

Starting in the fall of 2014 "Star Wars Rebels" will debut on Disney XD.  It'll start out as a one hour special on The Disney Channel and then move over to XD after the roll out.  The great appeal of the show is that it will exist between the timelines of EP III and EP IV, meaning that we'll get a look that's more representative of the original trilogy.

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV -- an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen.Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Even better is in an announcement video, Dave Filoni, who was the man behind the Clone Wars series will be in charge of this show.  He described the look as being something like computer representations of Ralph McQuarrie's pre-production paintings.  Now that would be awesome because his artwork looks likes the Star Wars universe, but slightly off.  If they're able to translate that look and feel into animation, it should appear stunning.

Filoni and Greg Weisman will executive produce the series along with Simon Kinberg, who will also be writing the pilot for the show in addition to the screenplay of his own Star Wars spin off.  This will go a long way toward restoring good will among the fans.  It also sets up the chance that we might see characters from the original trilogy in this one as well.  An older Obi-Wan, Yoda, or even Darth Vader in flowing black cape and all.

Just no kid Han Solo please...

Big Hero Secret...

Well the Mouse has finally announced the first animated Marvel film's release date...

If you've read our reports on Walt Disney Animation Studios, we were teasing that the studio was working on a "Marvelous" film.  The Bothans asked us not to reveal which one and we kept a lid on it till the Grid released the info about the project later in the year.  So now you all know about "Big Hero 6" for 2014.  And here is the first scene of what it will look like (this is one of a few test shots done for the film.) from the official site.

The director of "Winnie the Pooh", Don Hall is working on making a film that fits the mold of Disney, but falls within the world of comics.  But he wanted a project that didn't come with such a large built in fan base.  One where the animators could take the project and work it into a film that is classic Disney.  Don says:

“I was looking for something on the obscure side, something that would mesh well with what we do. The idea of a kid and a robot story with a strong brother element, it’s very Disney….Marvel properties take place in the real world. We were looking for something to do where we could make our own world — bring in the Japanese influences,  have recognizable landmarks mashed up with a Japanese aesthetic.”

If there was a film based on "Daredevil" or another established character, the fans would pick it apart for what it wasn't.  That's why they went with comic characters that had a lighter footprint in the Marvel universe.  Marvel's Joe Quesada is very involved in the story sessions and has been working on providing ideas for the story.  Here is the studios press release:

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Big Hero 6,” an action comedy adventure about brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who finds himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—Hiro joins forces with a reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their city. Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action and all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the CG-animated “Big Hero 6” hits theaters in 3D on November 7, 2014.

The film has gone through a couple screenings and Lasseter is very happy with the direction of the film, although several Bothans I talked to weren't as warm to the story.  But, animated films change monthly, as Lasseter's notes and the Story Trust work to refine the elements of the picture.  The first screenings of "Tangled" were very different from the final product.  And if you'd seen the original "Finding Nemo" it would be almost unrecognizable to the finished film.

But now Disney animation fans will get their first chance to step into the Marvel world...

World Of Tomorrow...

And so the film keeps getting curiouser and curiouser...

Yeah, I know.  The grammatics of that sentence just don't work (or this one for that matter).  But it does describe the reaction and feelings to Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof's "1951" film.

Or as it's now known as: "Tomorrowland"

A little strange, isn't it?  I know that the Mouse was trying to see if they could come up with a film based on this famous land of Disneyland; recently, with The Rock connected to it, but this ain't it.  In fact, it doesn't revolve around that concept at all.

It appears that Lindelof came to Burbank with the unique pitch, and they signed off on him developing it.  He had mentioned it to Bird, who took a spark to it, and eventually Lindelof asked him if he'd like to direct it.  It's obviously a clever enough story for him to say yes, and commit to it as his next film.  Of course, that tells us nothing about it really.  Looks like we won't find out for sure till the holidays in 1952.

Oops, I mean 2014...

Back From The Dead...

A film about the dead, rising from development hell...

Or maybe it should read dead stop-motion, live-action...

The film version of Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" continues to move along in production at the Mouse.  Just not as a stop-motion film by Henry Selick anymore, but a live-action film directed by Ron Howard.  According to a scoop by The Hollywood Reporter, it appears that Howard is in talks to take the directing chair, and change the direction of the project as well.

I had always hoped that Henry Selick would try and do the project live-action, since they never actually said that it was a stop-motion film.  It was only his other film that was confirmed as a animated film.  It now appears that it will indeed be live-action, just not with Selick.  It's a loss to not get him to do this film, but hopefully Disney will find a project that they can both agree to work on.

For those of you that don't know, the book is a twist on Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" with the character being taken to a graveyard instead of a jungle and ghosts instead of wild animals taking care of the boy.  It's a very sweet story, told through a dark prism with an affirming take on what it is to be alive.  It won the Newberry Medal, the Hugo Award, the Carnegie Medal, and was nominated for several others.  It'll be a great tale for the screen if Howard gets a good screenwriter, and will be a classic Disney film when it comes out.

It appear this project about the dead is very much alive...

Asking/Getting Directions...

We'll see if this is a good day for the Mouse...

Slowly, we are getting a look at what the new Walt Disney Studios will be...

The slim, and disappointing slate of pictures from Rich Ross were a sign of his taste as well as lack of experience when it comes to the film industry.  So to will be the line up of pictures that Alan Horn will line up.  We've seen very few clues as to what will turn into his first projects, but we do have the list of films made under his watch at Warner Bros.  and it's hopefully a promising sign of the future.

Today we have one of the first pick ups that he's put into production: "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".   Based on the award winning, classic children's book by Judith Viorst, and directed by Lisa Cholodenko with Steve Carell attached to star, this is one of the first steps in the new direction the Mouse is on with its film division.

The project, which was in turnaround at 20th Century Fox, but supposedly executives got cold feet over the budget.  The book tells the story of a young boy named Alex, who recounts the events of a very, very bad day.  Once Fox let it go, several other studios vied for the rights with Disney finally securing the rights.  It'll be interesting seeing how a full script for a small children's book turns out.  And as always, there is franchise material with two other sequel books.

This is an early glimpse into the mind and taste of Horn.  The full plan for what he'll have in the pipeline for Walt Disney Pictures, and the rest of the studio will likely not be known till early next year, but this is a peek into the window of what Mickey will show us in 2014/2015.

Now, I'm still waiting to know what he thought of Guillermo del Toro's "Haunted Mansion" pitch...

Haunted Possibilities...

999 ghosts, 999 possibilities...




Frosty over at Collider has been releasing parts of an hour long interview he did with Guillermo del Toro....

It's a great look into how the man works, the process he's taking with "Pacific Rim," and the progression on many of his projects. But until now, he hasn't mentioned the remake of "Haunted Mansion" that he was working on.

Until now.

Del Toro is asked about the status of the project and tells Collider:

I delivered my last draft five weeks ago. I have a meeting with them in three weeks. I know they like the screenplay. I need to meet with them in three weeks. That’s what I know. I know their reaction to the draft was good. We have a bunch of conceptualist art, but you never know, to predict anything else is hard for me to know. I should have called them and said, “Hey.” Usually, it’s very hard for me to predict what a thing like that means.

A great interview. He goes on to mention a little more about the adaptation of the attraction, as well as share his feelings on the Harry Potter novels/films. If you haven't seen/read the others, we posted them here and here.

Hopefully, Alan Horn and his band of Suits can convince him to make Haunted Mansion his next project...

First Look At A Dark Fairy...

Your Ad Here

But is she a good, dark fairy, or a bad one...










Walt Disney Pictures, or as marketing calls it, Disney Pictures has something for you...

Your first look at Angelina Jolie as Maleficent has been released by the Mouse. And she looks like a very enchanted dark fairy. Still, I pictured her, more uhm, greenish? I am looking forward to seeing the sets and design of this world, particularly her castle. Will the film be good, stunning, a classic even?

We'll have to wait till 2014 to find out...

Of King & Kingdom...

A whole new world...










It's amazing what a couple of years and a blockbuster can do to a studio...

The Hat Building is flying on all cylinders and things are a buzzing. But not everything is going well in the Happiest Studio in Burbank.

Later this year, "Wreck-It Ralph" will debut and show audiences that "Tangled" wasn't a fluke. From the stories I've gotten, it sounds like they really have a heart filled tale that will have everyone seeing this film over and over again. What "Toy Story" did for toys, this does for video games. And the nostalgia for those that grew up on 8-bit games as well as those that love the 90's games are going to be in love with this film. And boys, will eat this up. Get that? "Boys," the marketing demo that the Suits seem to be worried about.

After that, next year we go back to classic fairy tales. Minus the names that tell you they're royalty, of course. But one tale that won't be happening anytime soon is about Elves. That's right, "King of the Elves" was racing with "Frozen" to be the 2013 release and it still has too many story structure problems to make it across the finish line. So many in fact, that Chris Williams is now off the project and going back to work on other projects (not as a director, but story boarder). It seems the script for Snow Queen aka: "Frozen" is in much better shape and it got the release date for next year, while KOTE got put on the shelve. Again.

Ron & John's new project is going through story development and could wind up being the 2014/15 slot, but it's still deep in the early stage so time will tell what happens. A lot of people have commented that this will be the duo's first computer animated film. As of now, there are development test going on for traditional, hybrid and computer examples, and no decision has been made. This decision won't be made for quite a while. Just like Pixar, the focus is on story, story, story. Not, the medium it's presented in.

The projects competing for 2014/2015 are the uber-secret film from Don Hall, which will be a marvelously unexpected project if it ever gets the green light, and Nathan Greno and Byron Howard's films which are deep in development. These are projects that are busy working out the story elements so that the films live up to John Lasseter's high Pixar standards. The one that gets the release slot will be the one whose story is deemed ready to actually animate. Not a bad concept, right?

There are a couple other projects in concept form and many more animators are lining up for pitch sessions with John for a chance to develop their ideas. Slowly the culture has changed over the past half-decade to the point where many animators and artist actually are having fun again. And many are hoping that they will be part of the Third Golden Age of Disney Animation. That is a very good thing.

Those of you that are fans of "Prep & Landing" will be interested in knowing that the ratings for last Christmas' "Naughty Versus Nice" special weren't where ABC/Disney wanted them to go, and any plans for a third special have been put into a holding pattern as the Suits figure out what/where or even when/if it should go forward. It's possible that the advertising schedule didn't exactly set the mark for giving people the information for when it would be broadcast. So Burbank is factoring in merchandise, ratings and other elements to see if there is any viability in creating another special. I certainly hope so, because there was talk of taking all of them and combining the into a film with original footage along the lines of "Winnie the Pooh."

And when talking about animation, if you follow WDAS then you know there was talk of moving down toward Glendale a while ago to be next to WDI. Those plans were canned and plans moved to trying to find a place on the lot to build a new animation building. Well, now the goal is to take the existing animation building and rework it, kind of the way Disney California Adventure had an extreme makeover done to it. And just like DCA was kept open as guests went about their way, so would be the same for artists in the Hat Building. It's nice to know that in addition to screwing up Disneyland's Second Gate, Eisner was capable of screwing up the animation building as well. But thankfully, it's all getting fixed.

But it's great to see the majority of news coming out of the Hat Building to be positive...

Untitled Road...

Don't stop, go, go, go...








A lot has been happening in the Hat Building over the past six months...

After all, at the end of last year saw the release of "Tangled," which was a huge film for the studio. Not only did it relieve a bit of pressure to perform by the Disney animators, it also made way for a lot of projects to move further into development. Many have complained that there wasn't much in development over the past few years, causing many an animator/artist to get a layoff notice.

I am happy to tell you that that is not the case now. Of course, the development slate is nowhere near as large as DreamWorks Animation, which has a very large and long list of projects, but it is getting fattened up, and it's still growing.

First off, we know that Walt Disney Animation Studios next film is the hand-drawn sequel "Winnie the Pooh," which comes out as counter programing to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2." But where does the road take us after that?

Well, come 2012 we know that Rich Moore's "Wreck-It Ralph" will be the studios' animated offering. I hear that the project is very different from the last few films, but still shares the same, Disney heart. If some of the hysterically dark scenes I heard make it though the cut then this one will get an unusually rare, PG13 rating for the 52nd animated feature from Disney Animation. But we'll have to wait and see what final form it arrives in.

As of 2013, the next project to be moving down the pipeline is newly re-envisioned "King of the Elves," which has been chugging along under the direction of Chris Williams (something we reported exclusively last year). The storyboarding has been going on, new scenes are being written and the story structure is being tightened up. This CG animated feature should tentatively arrive during the holidays unless a kink in the production process pops up. I've heard many people asking if rumors of it being out of development were true and from what I know, it has continually been moving forward since last year.

Now for 2014, it gets a little murkier, as these projects are in a more fluid state of development, so changes could happen. But as of now, this is what you are likely to see.

Based on the current state of projects, a CG version of "Snow Queen" directed by Chris Buck is likely to see release sometime during the year. The story structure problems that popped up in the last hand-drawn version seem to be ironed out and storyboarding has moved forward with Chris' unique take on the material. And for those of you wondering if it'll be faithful to the original story? I can only say that it'll be as faithful to it as the Mouse was to "The Little Mermaid." Presuming that another film gets released that year, it is likely to be the new hand-drawn film from John Musker and Ron Clements. And no, I'm not talking "Mort" as the rights to that would have required the Mouse to purchase the entire series, which it didn't want to commit to. So this new project is something else that the duo has pitched Lasseter. All that is known, is that it will be hand-drawn.

After that, in the 2014/2015 range will be the untitled project coming from Nathan Greno & Bryon Howard's. Not much is known about this film, but the duo hit it off on "Tangled" and have apparently pitched a project that Lasseter thinks will be great. If their project is not ready, then Dean Wellins' project will fill the slot. His is a story that will be very different from the mold we picture Disney animated films and this is a project that is aimed at all those boys that don't like princess movies.

Sometime around this point in the schedule, Don Hall's super secret project may have been greenlit and far enough down the line to be penciled in for a 2015/2016 release. That project, once announced will generate a lot of buzz in certain geek communities, as it's going to surprise a lot of people for what it is and what it's not. But it's in the very early embryonic stage and it depends on how well the project is received upon the presentation that is being prepared for John and Ed.

After that, there are several ideas that are being prepared for pitches which could compete for time on the release slate, but as of now there you have it. It will be interesting seeing how Disney's marketing department deals with some of these titles as they are out of what we normally picture for a Disney film. Even some of the ones you would think are in the classic mold, are really not.

Although several of these films have titles, they are very much temporary ones and are as much in flux as is the schedule itself. The development track expanding in the last year is a very positive step and Lasseter's trust in the talent is also a very reassuring development as well.

The greatest contribution about last years hit is not the box office it generated, but that it may have untangled the restrictions that had been placed on the company's animation future...

Dreaming A Future...

Dream a big, little dream...


The Mouse's main competition announced their animated film slate through 2014 today...

Jeffrey Katzenberg, who happened to have ran WDAS during the Second Golden Age has created a very formidable rival in DreamWorks Animation; something that many thought was impossible. Year after year, he's been able to create another hit. While the story and tone of DWA films sometimes draws snarks and name calling, the thing that stands out is how much Katz is a survivor, and a successful one at that. It's not easy to make it in Hollywood, it's not something that everyone can do, even though many try; most fail. I have to commend Jeffrey and his Suits for putting together a large collection of very talented animators (that may or may not include Keane, whenever he decides on that offer) and the collection of hits they've had in a very competitive industry.

So as I mentioned, today the Moon gave everyone a peek at what to expect between now and the next three years. It's a very crowded schedule.

Here's the official announcement:

GLENDALE, Calif., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced its feature film release slate through 2014.

The Company's current plan features six original films and is anchored by three sequels based on its hit Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon franchises.

DreamWorks Animation's theatrical release schedule is currently planned as follows: Kung Fu Panda 2 for May 26, 2011 and Puss In Boots for November 4, 2011; Madagascar 3 for June 8, 2012 and Rise of the Guardians for November 21, 2012; The Croods for March 1, 2013, Turbo for June 7, 2013 and Me and My Shadow for November 8, 2013; Mr. Peabody & Sherman for March 21, 2014 and How to Train Your Dragon 2 for June 20, 2014.

"At DreamWorks Animation, our creative ambition has never been greater and the release schedule we're unveiling today is designed to give our movies the time and resources they need to realize their full potential so each one can become a true event for our audiences," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation. "Thanks to the extraordinary talent base at DreamWorks Animation today, our feature film slate is full of both original story ideas and exciting new franchise chapters that will form a solid foundation for the studio's creative output through 2014," added Bill Damaschke, the Company's Chief Creative Officer.

Below is additional detail on the feature films that comprise DreamWorks Animation's theatrical release schedule:

Kung Fu Panda 2 will be released on May 26, 2011. It is being directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda), produced by Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger (Kung Fu Panda). It stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong and Michelle Yeoh. In the sequel, Po is living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins... only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

Puss In Boots will be released on November 4, 2011. It is directed by Chris Miller (Shrek the Third) and produced by Joe Aguilar (Merry Madagascar) and Latifa Ouaou (Monsters vs. Aliens). It is being written by Tom Wheeler (The Cape). Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) are serving as executive producers on the film, which stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris. Way before he ever met Shrek, the legendary Puss In Boots goes on a heroic journey, teaming up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs. It's the adventure of nine lifetimes!

Madagascar 3 will be released on June 8, 2012. It is directed by Eric Darnell (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) and produced by Mireille Soria (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) and Mark Swift (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa). It is being written by Noah Baumbach (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and once again stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer and Andy Richter. Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent – Madagascar style.

Rise of the Guardians, based on the forthcoming books by William Joyce, will be released on November 21, 2012. It is directed by Peter Ramsey (Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space) and co-directed by Joyce. The film is being produced by Christina Steinberg (Bee Movie, National Treasure) and Nancy Bernstein, long-time head of Production at DreamWorks Animation. Rise of the Guardians is being written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and Michael Siegel. It stars Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher and Jude Law. More than a collection of the well-known childhood legends, Rise of the Guardians is an epic adventure that tells the story of a group of heroes – each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.

The Croods will be released on March 1, 2013. It is being written and directed by two-time Academy Award® nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch) and Kirk DeMicco (Space Chimps) and produced by Kristine Belson (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jane Hartwell (Shrek). It stars Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke and Cloris Leachman. The Croods is a comedy adventure that takes us back to a previously undiscovered era in the history of our planet known as the Croodaceous, when nature was still a work-in-progress... full of never-before- seen creatures and landscapes. Audiences will relate to the hilarious family antics as an imaginative and resourceful newcomer helps the Croods navigate their way through the fantastic world beyond their cave.

Turbo will be released on June 7, 2013. It is being directed by David Soren (Merry Madagascar), who first brought the project to the studio, and produced by Lisa Stewart (Monsters vs. Aliens). It is being written by Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After) together with Soren. Turbo tells the story of an ordinary garden snail with an impossible dream: to become the fastest snail in the world. When a freak accident gives him extraordinary speed, Turbo sets out to try to make this dream come true.

In Me and My Shadow, which will be released on November 8, 2013, the studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of both CG and traditional animation techniques seamlessly together throughout the film. The film is directed by Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor's New Groove) and produced by Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) and Teresa Cheng (Shrek Forever After, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron). It is being written by Tom Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart). Me and My Shadow tells the story of Shadow Stan, an extremely frustrated shadow who yearns for a dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world's most boring human. Finally pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World – "They lead, we follow" – and takes control of Stanley!

Mr. Peabody & Sherman will be released on March 21, 2014. It is directed by Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little, The Lion King) and produced by Jason Clark (Monster House, Stuart Little) and Denise Nolan Cascino (Megamind). It is being written by Craig Wright (United States of Tara, Six Feet Under). Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Bullwinkle Studio's Tiffany Ward and Classic Media's Eric Ellenbogen are serving as executive producers on the film, which stars two-time Academy Award® nominee Robert Downey Jr. Based on Jay Ward's classic cartoon, Mr. Peabody is the world's smartest person who happens to be a dog. He and his "pet" boy Sherman discover that someone has stolen their time traveling WABAC machine and is changing moments in history to disastrous and comical results. It's up to this most unexpected of father-son teams to somehow put a stop to this villain before his actions destroy the space-time continuum in Mr. Peabody & Sherman.

How to Train Your Dragon 2, the sequel to the Academy Award®-nominated original film from 2010, will be released on June 20, 2014. It is being directed and written by Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon) and produced by Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon). Also based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, the sequel is being executive produced by Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon) together with DeBlois. How to Train Your Dragon 2 again stars Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, TJ Miller and Kristen Wiig.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques.

Busy company, hmmm? While it's been noted that WDAS slate was thin (it was), things have started to pick up as we've reported here. Slowly they're putting together a list of films, steadily building a collection of stories that can work their way through the production line. Eventually a film should/could come out ever year to a year and a half depending on how smoothly things go over the next year as plans become more defined.

But I'm sure it's not coming together as fast as some would like to hold the talent there though...