Disney Animation Update: Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, and......"Prep and Landing"

Today, a special Disney Animation update, and we will begin with some pictures of the Disney Animation Panel at San Diego's Comicon on July 24.



Legendary director Hayao Miyazaki was there too - his last movie "Ponyo" will be released soon in the U.S - and here he is with John Lasseter who consider Miyazaki as his "master".





On the next picture: Director Ron Clements, Director John Musker, Director Hayao Miyazaki, John Lasseter, Director Kirk Wise and Director Lee Unkrich at the Disney Animation Panel.



On this last one John Musker, John Lasseter and Ron Clements at the San Diego Convention Center.



And talking about John Musker and Ron Clements, the two directors of Princess and the Frog, here is a great "pencil test" video that was shown during the Comicon.




Also, a series of - for some of them new - pictures from this awaited movie.























Let's talk now about another 2D animated feature, Rapunzel, as new pictures were released recently, and all this looks pretty interesting as you will see. Here they are.









A good surprise may also come from another new Walt Disney Animation project called "Prep and Landing" directed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers. Here is the pitch: "After working tirelessly on Prep and Landing for 227 years, an Elf named Wayne is upset when he doesn't receive an expected promotion to be the "director of naughty list intelligence".
Instead Magee the North Pole Christmas Eve command center coordinator partners Wayne with Lanny, an idealistic rookie who has an undying unthusiasm for Christmas. during their Christmas Eve mission, Wayne and Larry encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits.
Will the elves be able to guide Dasher, Dancer and the rest of the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh through a raging snowstorm to ensure a Merry Christmas for all?"

Don't need to be a genius to guess that this new movie will be released more than probably on Christmas!

Here are some pictures of "Prep and Landing" and apparently this one seems to be done in 3D animation.







Okay, that's all for today, have all a great week-end!


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


Hat Tip to Blue Sky Disney for the good links.

All pictures and video: copyright Disney - Getty images

Spectacular " Walking with Dinosaurs " show now arriving in Europe

If you live in the UK and love dinosaurs - but who don't love dinosaurs? - then i have a real good news for you, as the spectacular "Walking with Dinosaurs show is now on Tour in Europe, beginning by United Kingdom.



After its tour in the U.S last year where it was applauded by more than 3 Million people, the show will play in many UK cities, and then in Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and France (Paris-Bercy 23-27 Dec 2009). All infos about the European tour HERE.





Here is a CNN video report filmed yesterday or so in England.



A little bit more now about how-do-they-do-it: This incredible "Walking with Dinosaurs, The live experience" 9 million $ show is inspired by the BBC documentary series, filmed in the video below at the Brisbane Entertainment centre. The creative team, with Sonny Tilders as Head of Creature Design, made 15 life-size animatronic/puppet dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus and the Flying Ornithoceirus 'the largest creature to ever take wing... with a maximum wing-span of 12 metres (40 feet) and up to 3 metres tall when standing on all fours'. The creatures came to life at the world premiere on 10 Jan 2007 at the Acer Arena in Sydney.

One of the producers, Malcolm C Cooke, has previously been involved with other puppetry productions including "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and the second production of "The Hobbit" in 2000.

This first video show you the workshop, the creation of these amazing dinosaurs...



And this second one shows some parts of the show itself filmed in Australia where the world tour began.

I bet you that when you will see it you will think: what the hell is Disney waiting for to create a show using this half-Audio-Animatronic half-pupetteer technique (Edited: See in the comments an answer from D&M readers to this question!)
Instead of the Animal Kingdom "Nemo, the musical" show - that should fit better in a fantasyland theatre - this is what they should do - and, hey, this Animal Kingdom theatre is only 100 yards from Dinoland!

The only thing that Disney will have to improve a bit from this "Dinosaurs live experience show" is the stage decor itself. But, good news, that's the easy part. Anyway, watch this, you're gonna love it!




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

Videos: copyright CNN.com, Walking with Dinosaurs.

Islands of Adventure Original Artwork and video tribute

As Islands of Adventure is now under works for the awaited Harry Potter land, i thought it was a good time to look back to the original concept of the park, including some areas that will disappear forever.

When Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park opened, everybody was stunned: So, Universal was able to build a theme park with a theming as good and detailed as Disney?
Yes, and there were good reasons for that : some of the creators of the park were former Disney Imagineers, and they did a real good job on IOA.

Anyway, the park is indeed beautiful, and here is a "portfolio" of some of the art-work done for each land of the park. As always, click on each picture to see them in bigger size.

These two first renderings show an overview of the park and the entrance.





The artworks below is for Seuss Landing and the Cat with a Hat attraction.







At the entrance of Lost Continent, the giant arm of the broken statue.



The entrance of the Eight Voyages of Sindbad stunt show.



This next artwork was created for a scene of Dueling Dragons queue.



Below, two other renderings for Dueling Dragons, the second one show the queue decor. The coaster will be transformed in a Harry Potter coaster ride.





Three artwork for the Jurassic Park land, including the Jurassic Park attraction and the Pteranodon Flyers. A Disney and more reader who worked on the park's creation just left in the comments an interesting story about the first rendering below. Here it is: "Regarding the rendering you have featuring the overview of Jurassic Park, you can see an attraction in the background which was designed and put on hold, which still has not been realized in the park. It is the building with the helicopter perched on a rooftop landing pad. This attraction was to be called Helicoptours and was a simulator attraction, which flew visitors over the world of Jurassic Park ending in a crash landing in a dinosaur filled jungle. It was a great attraction, but one which is doubtful will ever be constructed now that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is encroaching on some of the real estate planned for the attractions footprint."







In Toon Lagoon, the Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls attraction.



An artwork for the Popeye and Bluto's Blige-Rat Barges raft ride.



A night overview of Marvel Super Hero Island.



A rare early concept for the Incredible Hulk coaster.



Without any doubt, one of the best ride in the world: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman.



And, to do things perfectly, you'll find below you tube videos of the Cat in the hat attraction, as well as those of "Poseidon's fury " attraction - that probably will be removed for their future Harry Potter's land - , Jurassic park river adventure, and the not-to-be-missed Spiderman ride.













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


Artwork: copyright Universal Studios

Michael Jackson, in all intimacy - Rare home videos

I know, we're all overdosed of Michael Jackson news, but the two videos you will watch below are just fascinating. Why? Because these home videos filmed at Neverland more or less 10 years ago shows a Michael Jackson like we never saw him before. A "Normal" guy with his children, if i can say. In this first rare home movie released for the first time today, Michael is here with his two first children - Prince and Paris - and apparently it was filmed for Paris birthday. I can't stop thinking that if the world would have seen this video before, may be he wouldn't have been considered as a "freak" by the rest of the world...



On this second video, the first part is also at Neverland (with a huge kind-of Disneyland castle in the living room!) - and the second part is at Disneyland Paris in his DLP Hotel suite with Mickey, Baloo etc... The video quality is so and so, but it was shoot before the digital era!



First video: copyright Splash news

Editor's Note: Looking for the latest news about D23 Expo ? You'll find them below after the UP! video game review!

UP! Video Game review

Designed by THQ the UP! video game is now available in a french version for MAC users - and it's of course also available in a Windows version. The game was released in May in the U.S but is now released in France as the movie open in french theatres last week. As i didn't talk about it before, this give me a good opportunity to do an article on this game with quite good graphics.



The Up video game will take players on an exotic adventure with Carl Fredricksen and his young sidekick, Wilderness Explorer Russell, as they set off on a wild journey through the undiscovered jungles of South America. Players will be able to experience all four main characters from the movie - Carl, Russell, Dug the lovable dog or Kevin the prehistoric bird - while playing as a single-player or with a friend cooperatively throughout the entire game. Players will encounter exciting, new environments as they navigate through treacherous jungle terrains, battle dangerous creatures and trek the slippery slopes of the Amazonian Tepuis. In addition, the game also features multi-player game modes, including an epic level that will allow up to four players to compete in aerial combat.



You'll see below a very good quality video review. One last thing: apparently, if you have kids, the game may be a little difficult for kids under 10. Price for European MAC or PC is version is 29.99 euros. Also available for Playstation, PSP, etc...




Pictures: copyright Pixar - THQ