Third Model Of Popular Automobile...

It appears someone has let out the secret that the Lamp has "Cars 3" in development...

Really?  This is shocking news?  You weren't thinking that all those  "untitled" films would remain that way forever, we're you?  Now, it's not an official release confirming the film.  It is a statement from the Sheriff, and you need to respect the law officials here at Blue Sky (and Radiator Springs).

The news comes courtesy of an interview with Michael Wallis, a historian who also happens to be the voice of the police car in the two Cars films.  It's doubtful we'll hear an official confirmation for a while.  It is apparently in the early stages, and we don't know if John Lasseter will be back as director or will simply guide the film as producer when they take the cars out for a spin.

The Lamp has a mixture of films in development right now.  No, from what I hear no "Incredibles 2" yet.  Brad Bird is a busy man, and it will all have to come with his approval.  Even if his ideas are ready to be put in development it doesn't mean he will be director, but it will require his blessing.  Each Pixar film is filled with so many layers I look forward to whatever they want to show me .

If Pixar has a car show, I'm there...

The Rebellion's Dawn...

So we now have our first look at this nasty Rebel Alliance...

By now I'm sure you've seen Lucasfilm's teaser(really a micro-teaser) for "Star Wars Rebels" that'll premiere on the Mouse's Disney Channel next fall.  Hopefully most fans won't be disappointed in its shortness. You have to remember that this thing is just being animated right now and not much is in a fished enough state to show.

We probably won't get a decent trailer showing the narrative until the beginning of the new year since there is so much to animate.  It doesn't mean that we won't get news. In fact, I think will be seeing artwork and character designs before you know it.  I've heard impressive things about the designs of the show.  Really looking forward to watching it unfold piece by piece, rebel by rebel, ship by ship.

The Force is strong with this one…

A Shortage Of Shorts...

Animated shorts are a wonderful entertainment medium...

From the earliest stages of my childhood, I remember watching shorts.  From Sundays watching the Wonderful World of Disney, to afternoons viewing Warner Bros. shorts, I grew up getting my fix on short narratives of iconic characters that entertain me both day and night.  I especially loved Disney shorts, because they were so rare.  Unlike Warner Bros. cartoons, the shorts from the Mouse rarely aired as often and were much more cherished then the daily dose of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck that I was overdosed on after school every weekday.

Disney still makes great shorts, as you'll see this fall when "Get A Horse!" comes out in front of "Frozen" in theaters.  It's a perfect example of how shorts are still relevant in these modern times.  And the Lamp was the only animated studio that kept the shorts alive for the most part since the mid 90s.  There have been other shorts, but they were few and far between until the public began to notice The continual inclusion of shorts in front of each new Pixar film.  It became a habit, and the habit became a standard.  And when John Lasseter took over Walt Disney Animation Studios, he started a shorts program that began to put them into production for future animated films.  Slowly, they're becoming standard for the Hat Building's features as well. And that's a very good thing.

But it's not enough.

A couple of shorts a year is simply inadequate for entertainment consumption.  Sure, a short from a Pixar film and a short from a Disney film are great to watch, but never enough.  What about all the other live-action films that Walt Disney Studios makes?  Remember when "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" had the Goofy animated short "How To Hook Up Your Home Theater" in front of it?  It added a lot of value to seeing the film.  Not that it was a bad movie, but it was an additional part that justified seeing it and getting more for your money.

Imagine shorts in front of every, or at least most of Disney's films.  It would differentiate itself from the competition by adding extra value to each film.  While other film studios would only give you the movie, Disney would give you the movie and a bonus as well.  And they all don't have to be from Mickey or Luxo.  Remember, the Walt Disney Company has many divisions even within the film division.

Pixar's Cars Toons:

Consisting mostly of shorts about Mater and his imaginary adventures, the World of Cars as much room for growth.  As well as having Maters Tall Tales, there could be other adventures in Radiator Springs or around the world with Lightning McQueen and other mechanical creations.  And from what I hear there will be, but not soon enough or enough in quantity.

Toy Story Toons:

With a fourth Toy Story film well off into the future, John Lasseter and Ed Catmull have found a way to continue the adventures of these beloved characters for audiences across the world.  The three shorts (Hawaiian Vacation, Partysaurus Rex, and Small Fry) done so far have been in next way of extending the franchise beyond the most perfect trilogy ever made on film.  The new Halloween special "Toy Story of Terror" is another way to have a longer form animated short, while still building on the stories.  One other short is actually in production now, and at least one more is being developed. I hope that they continue and hopefully expand the shorts for their endearing quality is greatly desired. After all, Pixar Canada needs more work right?

Walt Disney Animation Studio Shorts:

The Hat Building has slowly, but steadily been making shorts available for each of the current animated features.  While "Get A Horse!" is the latest creation, it's simply the latest in a line of jewels that has come out of the main division.  From "Tick Tock Tale" to  the longer form "Prep & Landing" specials, or the charming "Paperman" the work coming out of WDAS is top notch.  Now if they'll just make another hand drawn one as we'll crafted as "The Ballad of Nessie" I'll line up.  Perhaps a new Mickey Mouse cartoon, or is it dreaming too much for a Donald Duck short?  Animators start knocking on John's door a little louder please.

Pixar Animation Studios:

The Lamp is the one that gets the credit for making shorts cool again.  Not that they weren't, but suits at Disney and elsewhere would simply stick the shorts made at festivals and not even think about placing them before a film.  Pixar changed that.  They proudly put them in front of their latest release and audiences became use to that special feeling of getting something more, even when the film was enough.  From "Geri's Game" to "The Blue Umbrella", the shorts from up in Emeryville have pushed the technology to show why animation is such a unique medium.  More is a good thing here.

Marvel Studios:

Marvel already does shorts with its One Shot program, but they tend yo be extras on the DVD/Blu-Rays.  While I loved the "Agent Carter" short, it was about fourteen minutes long,  That might be too long in front if a feature, but a five or six minute animated adventure of Blade, Daredevil or Luke Cage might hit the right spot.  They've had success so far with their live-action ones, maybe it's time to gauge the publics interest with some other characters not seen yet (hello, The Runaways anyone?). Remember that two of their shorts, "Item 47" led to the series, "Agents of Shields" and a potential series, "Agent Carter" based on the short.  More Marvel magic could/should happen.



Lucasfilm:

Disney's newest acquisition doesn't have any plans for making shorts, but they should.  Imagine a short in either live-action or animation featuring adventures in that galaxy far. Far away.  I believe seeing a live-action one , but an animated one would be awesome.  The current craze at Disney North is CG, but I'd prefer a hand drawn short.  I know that there is a lot if talk about a Han Solo film, but without Harrison Ford I wouldn't find it believable in live-action.  But an animated short of Han Solo meeting Chewie for the first time?  Yeah, that I'd buy.  And they could also make shorts featuring a certain archeologist if they wanted.  I'd be in line to see that.  Or even an animated Boba Fett short in a stylized Anime design.

The possibilities are infinite...

Paper Trail...

Everyone is panicking about several recent events that have happened in the past few days...

From Bob Peterson being removed from "The Good Dinosaur", which actually occurred a while ago, to the recent news about John Kahrs' departure from WDAS.  Some are frightened the wheel are coming off.  The halo around John Lasseter has swollen his ego.  The Disney Suits are squashing the freedom and creativity that putting John and Ed in charge of animation was intended to foster.  Is this true?  Is the end nigh?

Absolutely not.

Far from it.  In fact, moral at the Hat Building is very high.  The lay offs and rehires that used to go on rarely happen and the work flow is running smoother than it has in a decade.  The success of films like "Tangled" and "Wreck-It Ralph" have created a confidence that was missing for years.  The feeling that their younger sibling was was getting all the credit is no longer something you might hear in th cubicles around the departments.

And speaking of the younger sibling, Pixar is not crumbling because of micomanaging involvement.  The biggest concern for the Lamp, as well as the Hat, is story.  It has to work no matter how much you like the guy directing it.  If it's not working out, you have to find someone that can make it work. There are hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.  Not to mention diminishing time.  John Lasseter goes with how he sees a project is progressing.  If it's not, after numerous attempts, something has to be done.  If the project can be saved, you have to bring in people to do it.  If the project can't be saved, then it will be canned or allowed to whither on the vine (see the article below this for proof).

So what about John Kahrs leaving Disney Animation?

It comes down to one word.  Slots.  With all the success that the studios are having, there are really only so many projects available.  And with all these talented people there comes a time when you have to move on and expand your wings.  And when you won an Oscar for Best Short there are going to be opportunities opening up for you.  There are only so many project at each company that need directors.  But there are other companies/opportunities out there.

John is simply one of those spreading his wings...

Doo Over...

As much as I love the Mouse, the Bunny has a lot of love to offer...

Putting aside the fact that I'm a DC Guy (while loving all things Disney), not a Marvel Guy, there are many properties they own that I love.  And just like Disney, Warner has a great deal of IP that it has acquired.  While the Walt Disney Company has bought everything from Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. bought DC Comics in the 70's and through other mergers took control of major parts of my childhood.

One in particular would be Hanna-Barbera.

Most people today think of Batman as Warner, as well as the Flinstones or Johnny Quest (my fav HB property, btw) as always being a Warner Bros. property.  One of the most beloved of all HB series was Scooby-Doo (my second fav).  Kids today that pay attention wouldn't know the difference, but when I grew up it was HB that owned them.  And owned Saturday mornings across America.

Kids today might be more familiar with the "Scooby-Doo" 2002 film and the "Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed" 2004 sequel.  Those films, particularly the first were decent although half-hearted attempts at bringing to life these beloved animated characters.  The law of dismissing returns after the second film put the brakes on what could have been a trilogy.  There have many animated series and animated films based in the characters, including the latest series, "Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated".  That one was a high point over many of its predecessors.

But old characters never die.  Not when suits can take something proven and offers less risk.  Now, Warner Bros. has decided to move forward with an animated feature of the famous Great Dane and his beatnick crew.  The medium which it'll be animated in isn't known yet.  Several have speculated that it will be computer animated, although it wasn't clear if it would be CG or hand drawn from Variety's article.  Personally it would suit me to see it hand drawn styled like the classic 1969 "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" series with more detail and higher quality. Everything doesn't have to have a 3D dimensional look to be good.  It needs a good writer with a strong story/script.

Which will it be?  Will the writers and producers try to achieve a film that pays homage to the original while moving forward for new audiences?  Will they hire the right director?  What animation division inside Warner will animate it?

That sounds like a mystery that the gang can try and solve...

The Other Disney Fairies...

It looks like the Mouse is going to give Tinker Bell a few siblings...

It's been rumored that Lucasfilm Animation was working on a fairy film for a few years, but of late the talk around the water coolers have virtually vanished.  No one has heard anything in the past couple of years about the project.  Some have thought the film was dead or had sadly been put into turnaround.

That appears now to not be the case.  Kathleen Kennedy has been busy behind the scene doing more than just Star Wars apparently.  In addition to working with J.J. Abrams on "Episode VII", she's also determined to make sure Lucasfilm isn't known only for Luke Skywalker and that far off galaxy he lives in.

It seems once one door closes, another opens.

Once the production of Pixar's "Newt" was shut down a couple years ago, its director found himself ready to make a film that was no longer there because of similarities to a competing film.  Luckily for him, when Kathleen Kennedy took the top job at Lucasfilm, she went through the inventory of projects in development at Skywalker Ranch and saw potential in the musical about fairies that had been languishing in development for the past few years.  She realized it needed a new direction and a director to take it there.  Right place, right time.  Gary Rydstrom found himself being asked to helm the film, and before you know it, Brenda Chapman was brought in to help focus on the story structure (she's known for strong characters, particularly female characters).

Don't expect to hear much about the film right at this moment, but there'll probably be more focus on it, as well as a possible announcement of it next year, should the creative process not hit anymore speed bumps before then.  It'll be nice to see some of the creativity of George's company expanding beyond its most famous piece.  There are several other properties the division owns that could still make amazing entertainment for years or decades to come.

Like a particular Archeologist's animated adventures...

News From The Rebellion...

So now we have a tiny bit more on the coming Force...

At the Star Wars Celebration in Europe, Executive Producer Dave Filoni gave the audience a tease of what to expect from "Star Wars Rebels" when it premiers next year.  That's the logo up above, and there were several other promising pieces that he showed as well. 

What was shown?

Quite a lot surprisingly, from a Rebel Alliance ship known as the Ghost that will play a prominent role in the film, to battles with Tie Fighters, a Star Destroyer, interior/exterior, to a stylize Storm Trooper were all seen by those attending.  

One thing they all shared in common: a heavily influenced style based on original Star Wars artist, Ralph MacQuarrie. And it was pretty cool to see this is going to be the stylized look of the show.  It appears that Filoni is trying to branch out from "The Clone Wars" and give the series it's own feeling and look in the expansive universe of this famous galaxy. 

Hopefully, the story/scripts will be as attractive as the art that was presented...

Gelè...

The seasons are changing and before you know it, winter will be here...

And with that, Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Frozen" will be released.  Not just in America, but the world as well.  Disney's marketing department is well underway promoting this about the world.  There are beautiful posters in every country across the world, beautiful campaigns, amazing banners and entertaining trailers to melt the heart of every Disney Animation fans.

While I can't wait to see the Scandinavian posters, the ones we've seen so far are quite beautiful.  These French posters are quite lovely to look at, and when you placed them together you get a surprisingly magical image.  It's nice to have Disney Magic back, isn't it?

And just wait until you see some of the posters for Big...

Cold Story...

I know many were not thrilled with the teaser for WDAS's  "Frozen" when it came out...

But it was just a scene from the film.  Not a full teaser, or trailer.  It was meant to show you that a new animated film was coming from the Mouse.  And it was supposed to let you know that it was funny.  Well, not everyone liked it.  Don't worry, the next trailer, and yes, it is a trailer, will give you much more.

The first actual trailer for the film will be out before you know it, and it's a much better look at the story.  In fact it actually tells you what the story is.  It fleshes out the narrative and lets you get to get a better look at the world and who lives in it.  For those that wanted a real look at the film, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

This actual trailer won't leave so many in the cold...

University Lessons...

The Lamp's latest film was number one at the box office this week...

"Monsters University" beat out a horde of zombies and an Alien from a dead world to be on top in theaters over the weekend.  And if you've seen the film then you know that it didn't blaze the trail with a new concept, just an old fashion story that's been told many times before.  But this time it was told by Pixar.

If you've seen films like "Revenge of the Nerds" or "Real Genius," then you've watched the premise of the film.  But that doesn't mean it's not worth watching.  The way the crew up in Emeryville take the beloved characters from the original film and transfer then into the setting of a college party film is an entertaining little jewel.  It was wonderful fun and a textbook example of why any film from Pixar is better than ninety percent of most live-action films.

John Lasseter and his crew know how to tell a story.  They can take a simple tale and fill it with emotion and narrative that brings characters to life.  They truly live up to the word animate.  The stories that they invite us to watch are compelling examples of life that audiences connect with.  And even though some might decry the fact that this is an unnecessary film, it's not.  So long as it's enjoyable, there is no reason it shouldn't have been made.  Going back to the world of "Monsters Inc." to see the characters we all fell in love with is only part of the beauty of rediscovering this unique world.

If you want original, then the next couple of years will be a feast.  From what I've heard from the Bothans, "Inside Out" is shaping up to be a very original animated film.  And then of course, next year we have the Lamp's take on dinosaurs which I can't wait to see.

And you'll get a glimpse of it this fall...

Beware, Batfans...

 
Cartoon Network is bringing out yet another animated version of the Caped Crusader...

"Beware the Batman" is a computer generated attempt to both pay homage to, and yet, walk away from the epicness of Batman: The Animated Series.  They've released a new trailer that shows off the action with appearances by minor/obscure villains in an effort to show the series is different.  While the animation looks fine, the modeling and texture of scenes leaves something to be desired.

Here's to crossing our fingers that the writing is good...

Frozen Assets...

I'm sure you've all seen the teaser that's been released for the Mouse's next animated film...

Many have complained about the fact that the humor reminded them of something like "Ice Age" more than it did a Disney animated film.  Well, remember that this is just a scene showing off the secondary characters and it doesn't show you the full scope of the magical world that the animators have brought to life.

The characters are really quite classic, but with a bit of a modern edge, the way "Tangled" was.  But the Bothans seem to like the way the story is moving and they're proud of the work they've done.  If you've enjoyed what has come over the past few years then you won't likely be disappointed in this one.  Plus you have that the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in a long time placed right in front of it. 

But that's a horse of a different color...

Unplugged...

And here we have another game cancellation from the Mouse...

Only it's a game that never was intended to exist.  If you saw "Wreck-It Ralph" last year then you remember the gaming environments that Ralph got to experience.  From the Donkey Kong-like world of Fix-It Felix Jr. that he inhabited, to the Mario Cart feel of the sickeningly sweet world of Sugar Rush, to the Halo inspired world of Hero's Duty.  But there was another gaming world that didn't make the cut.

Extreme Easy Living 2, a fictional game that appears in a scene that audiences never actually saw, it was never actually rendered because it was cut well before that process could begin.  Here you can watch an animatic of the exclusive scene courtesy of Total Film (their exclusive, not ours).  It has a unique charm to it, but I agree with the cut.  It didn't add anything else to the story and would likely have slowed down the story.  Something that really wouldn't work for the ADD minds of the film going audience.

You know, the ones that would actually be the audience to play these games...

Blue Sky Buzz: The Coming Magic From The Hat...

What a difference a few years make...

Remember how DreamWorks Animation was firing on all cylinder and hiring people left and right?  It was the place to be with a long production schedule that meant a long tenure and job security.  And then the economic hardship that happened last year?  There have been a few layoffs at Disney over the past year or so, but not that many.  It's actually a fairly lean machine right now.

The Walt Disney Animation Studios has had a good bit of success over the past few years.  The dry spell that was a decade worth of films that topped off the Eisner years was over with the arrival of "Bolt"  It was a bit of a hybrid, coming from a story that Chris Sanders had conceived called "American Dog", up until he was sadly let go.  Lasseter brought in a fresh crew and they reworked the story more to his taste and what he felt audiences would like.  Then came "The Princess and the Frog" which hearkened back to the glory of the early 90's musicals in form, and glorious hand drawn, but with limited box office results.

Then came the first fully formed film of the Lasseter generation at Disney: "Tangled", which went on to become a huge success both critically, and financially.  This was the success that animators working in the Hat Building had been waiting for.  Many were tired of their younger sister up north getting all the credit for the great animated films coming out of the company.  They knew they could make them if just given the chance and this was their moment to shine.  But don't think that the new films of Disney Animation would just be fairy tales.  When you wish upon a star can mean more than just a tiara and a carriage made from a pumpkin.

The thoroughly modern, totally hip, and culturally relevant "Wreck-It Ralph" came out last year and showed that the films of the Mouse don't all have to be classic in approach as well.  But the times since Eisner left have resulted in Disney working on creating a better branding of itself.  Pixar has an identity that is clear when you see Luxo Jr. hopping across the screen.  You know what you're going to get.  With Disney, it used to be that way, but from the later 90's on it became less clear.  Some people had trouble defining what is and what should be a Disney animated feature.  Glen Keane has said it best I think (paraphrased):  Pixar's motto is "Wouldn't it be cool if" and Disney's motto is "Once Upon A Time".

This year we go back to the classic appeal of a fairy tale with WDAS's "Frozen", a story inspired by "The Snow Queen", but not a literal adaptation.  As Tangled wasn't exactly "Rapunzel", neither will this film be to the Hans Christian Andersen story.  That being said, it will be entertaining, lovely, funny and absolutely Disney.  The Disney that was started when John Lasseter was brought in.  It's taken a while to get the entire place moving as an organization that has a unique culture.  Especially since the 90's fractured that culture, and it takes time to rebuild it.  And you have to want to construct it back in the right way: the Disney way.

After this year's film, the studios next one is the most unusual story for a Disney film.  "Big Hero 6" has been in development for some time and if you've read our updates then you know that we've given you hints (marvelous new film) about it over the last couple of years.  But we couldn't reveal too much for the safety of our Bothans.  If you've seen the test shot that was released then you realize that this film is going to be headed in a different direction that what you're used to when you think of the name Disney.

And that is what you can expect over the next slate of Disney animated films.

They won't be from the same mold everyone is used to.  They will be absolutely Disney though.  Just remember that what we talk about here is "blue sky", which means it's what is planned and not what you will finally or necessarily get.  Things change during the development and certain films, or their ideas will have been changed by the time they make it to the big screen.  And the release dates are simply guide post, they're not written in stone and a few may change, but the list we gave you last week is the map ahead.  Barring any obstacles, it should remain mainly a consistent clue to the direction Disney Animation is headed for the foreseeable future.  Now you know that BH6 is the 2014 release and the list that was announced the other day started in 2016.  Did they forget to include the 2015 release?  No, they didn't.

There is no WDAS film for 2015.

This could change, but as of right now, the next film after 2014, is the new film from Byron Howard in 2016. This is the film you've heard the rumors about Jason Bateman starring in.  While I can't say much about it, lets just say that the story is evolving into a very funny, sweet take on wildlife from a different point of view.  After that the schedule isn't set, but several projects will be in a race to get that next slot at the end of 2016.

Right now Dean Wellins has a genre-hybrid film that he's working on that is lined up with Bob Iger's strategy of getting more of the young male demographic to seeing Disney films (Marvel and Star Wars were bought for this purpose).  But if it makes it in 2016 is entirely up to how the story is developing by then, and any trouble by Lasseter and his Story Trust (WDAS version of Pixar's Brain Trust) would mean that another film would get called up to the slot.  What other film could be next?  Or if not then, which one would be the next one released for 2018?

Another prime candidate would be Ron & John's new film.  If it's ready, it could be the later 2016 film, but as of now it's more likely to be the first 2018 release.  Their new film is of the Polynesian persuasion shall we say.  And it could turn out to be the duos first computer animated film.  It's not in concrete now, so don't everyone get upset.  They're currently working on the story for the most part, but test are being done to see how the characters act and look in computer form as well as a hybrid solution (think: Paperman).  A while ago, Ron and John pitched two different ideas to John and the Story Trust and this particular story they're working on was the one the Creatives gave the green light.  It's gone through several versions and will likely go through a few more before given the approval to move forward into actual production.

And before anyone asks, there is/was no movement on "King of the Elves" at this time.  It doesn't mean there won't be any, but as of right now, Chris Williams is busy helping on other projects right now and John and everyone feels that they'll just let this story sit for a while.  It doesn't mean that it's dead, I mean, look how long it took for "The Snow Queen" to actually make it into production.  And what it became is miles from where it started out, so who knows what it'll look like when/if it makes it to the silver screen.  Animated film take a long time to come together.  It doesn't mean that you won't see it be one of these films, but it's not one as of right now.

There are a couple other projects that are in very, very early stages that Lasseter has signed off on to develop, but not much will be known about these until they've been run through several story sessions.  So no news to report on these films since they're more of an idea at this point.

So that, in as brief an update as I can give you is what's happening with the current state of the current slate at the Hat Building.

Now, if they'll just approve a few more shorts to make for in front of those films...

Enrolling Soon...

The final trailer for the Lamp's prequel to "Monsters Inc." is out...

Pixar's "Monster University" will be out June 21 and the word from people who've seen it is that it's good.  It's remarkably fresh and entertaining, with a surprising amount of heart.  Now, is it really surprising that a Pixar film has heart?

The great thing about the Emeryville Campus of Disney North, is that John Lasseter and his Brain Trust run it.  They are the heart surgeons that created this little bit of animated Nirvana.  And thankfully, he's well on his way to making the Hat Building a place filled with heart as well.  Animationally speaking, of course.

Monster University should be a lot of fun, not to mention the trailer in front of it...

Short From Krypton...

Zach Snyder is teaming with the incredibly talented Bruce Timm to honor Kal-El's beginning...

Superman's Seventy-fifth anniversary is marked by the new "Man of Steel" film, and Warner Bros. has teamed the director of that film with the producer of "Superman: The Animated Series" for a short that will pay tribute to the character and his history in film and comics.

The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision reports that Snyder envisions the short as one continuous take that explores the character's history and impact on comics.  Snyder and Timm will be joined on the project by Jay Oliva (storyboard artist on MOS), Geoff Johns (DC creative head), Mike Carlin (DC writer), and Peter Girardi (WB Animation).  The finished product is supposed to debut at Comic-Con this year.

The short is one of many events that will coincide the anniversary of the first superhero...

An Untitled Slate...

Walt Disney Pictures has announced the line up for its major animation studios...

The studio has given a list of the release dates of both the Mouse and the Lamp.  The five year plan for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios was put out to lay claim to those weekends.  Now, only the dates were published, not the titles.  That will only come as we get closer to the release date, and those dates are subject to change.  Nothing is chiseled in stone:

2016

Untitled Walt Disney animated film 3/4/16 in 3D.

Untitled Pixar animated film 6/17/16 in 3 D.

Untitled Walt Disney animated film 11/23/16 in 3D.

2017

Untitled Pixar animated film 6/6/17 in 3D.

Untitled Pixar animated film 11/22/17 in 3D.

2018

Untitled Walt Disney animated film 3/9/18 in 3D.

Untitled Pixar animated film 6/15/18 in 3D.

Untitled Walt Disney animated film 11/21/18 in 3D.



Now all we have to do is let the stories unfold...

Telling Tails...

If you're a fan of classic fantasy stories then this is for you...

That poster you see is the teaser for the upcoming animated film adaptation of Tad Willaims' "Tailchaser's Song".  It's an epic fantasy that is told through the eyes of a society of cats.  If you're rolling your eyes, please don't.  It's an enchanting tail, um tale about a particular cat that has to go on a quest to find out the who is killing cats.  It's sweet and haunting, involving cat gods, strange worlds and bizarre adventures.  Crazy, beautiful stuff.  It's been described as "Watership Down with cats", but that doesn't do the story justice.

Animetropolis Productions along with IDA and EFG-Renascence are in the process of animating it right now, so it'll probably be out around 2015, although there's no official release date yet.  But if the animation is good then this film could be a great film.  They already have great source material that is epic.

Not every animated film can start off with a great story, but this one does/can...

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool.

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...

The Grid On Netflix...

"Tron: Uprising" is one of the most creatively underrated animated series created...

And the chaotic schedule that the Mouse put in on gave fans of the series a hard time finding it.  It also made it difficult for a potential growing audience.  So there was/has been no announcement of a new season following the original run.  But if you liked the show, there's a new way to see it; especially if you don't have Disney XD.

Netflix.

Disney, as part of their expanding deal with the streaming Juggernaut  have announced that the entire season of the show will be available on demand for all its subscribers.  The show along with four others ("Jake and the Never Land Pirates", "Handy Manny," "Special Agent Oso" and "JoJo's Circus,"), increase the company's content on Netflix.  Will this result in more shows?

There has been no announcement of a season two of the show, and we don't know if they will continue it on XD.  But what about Netflix?  They have brought other shows back to life based on viewing habits.  Could Disney Television Animation get another season together by proxy?  Having Netflix decide to pay to have more seasons available on demand?  It would be a way for The Walt Disney Company to continue to have more episodes while defraying the cost of such an expenditure.

Netflix is looking to add more family entertainment recently (Turbo F.A.S.T.).  Could this be a way to broaden the Tron universe by partnering with Netflix?  It could be a business friendly way to increase content and exposure for a franchise that has a sequel in development.  It would be a great way to remind the public that the Grid is still alive.

And it's on Netflix...