Editor's note: For somebody who was supposed to take some rest and stop new topics every day, i must say that i look a little bit ridiculous as i keep posting new topics almost every day! I'm sure none of you will complain about this, but this doesn't mean i will keep posting every day, in fact all this depends if i have a fast internet connection available where i am, or not. Until now, i always succeed to find one, which is perfect for my ( and your ) blog addiction!
Anyway, don't miss the new Wall-E "Meet the characters" video below! TAlso, the first reviews by lucky people who saw the full movie are excellent, which is good news and don't surprise me!
And, if you want to see pictures of Universal Studios after the fire, go on Miceage.com. Sad news, Universal announced that the King Kong attraction which has been destroyed by the fire won't be re-built but will be replaced by a brand new attraction.

Wall-E : "Meet the characters" new Video !

A new video was released by Disney introducing the Wall-E main characters. As usual, it is supposed to be the Buy N' Large company - the fictitious company manufacturing the robots in the "future" - that introduce them.

Here is the video below, and it's great!



Photo and youtube video: copyright Disney

Less than 23 days to wait before...

,,,The highly-awaited release of Wall-E in the USA. And to keep you waiting, here is two new high-res pictures released by the WDC. Double-click on the one above to see how it looks gorgeous.

So, ready to pack your bag and get in the line - just like Wall-E below?



More new images to discover on the /Film.com web site HERE

By the way, let's not forget the short animated "Presto" with a new image released on Anne Thompson's Variety blog.



I have a very very good feeling about this short, i think these five minutes are going to be reeeeally funny!

And so let's end with the new Presto poster designed like the old magician posters of early last century



All photos: copyright Pixar

Universal Studios Fire Update

Finally, this huge fire at Universal Studios was much more destructive than i thought previously as there is, very unfortunately, a total loss of the backlot areas that include the N.Y. Streets, much of Courthouse Square and the King Kong attraction.

If you want to see what has been lost forever, do not miss Al Lutz update on Miceage.com where Al show pictures of all the decors - pictures shoot, of course, before the fire.

Also below a Youtube video of yesterday's fire. All this is very sad, really...

Universal Studios at Los Angeles on fire !

Not a happy news today, but the theme park part of Universal City in Los Angeles was, thanks god, not the part on fire, "only" a Studio Lot. However some of the flames reach the height of 30 meters ( 90 feet ) which, i must say, is quite high...

After the picture below, the Variety article about it.




Fire rages at Universal Studios
More than 200 firefighters battling blaze
By TIMOTHY M. GRAY, DANA HARRIS / Variety

A fire broke out at the Universal Studios backlot before dawn this morning, spreading to encompass more than two city blocks.
While the fire has been nearly contained, the studio's video vault was damaged and still burning as of 9:30 am PST. A Los Angeles Fire Dept. spokesman said he expected that the blaze would require another hour's work before it could be exinguished.

The studio's film vault, which is lined in concrete and lead and contains irreplaceable film negatives, was not affected.

The fire destroyed many sets, especially those in the lot's New York section, as well as the King Kong amusement that is featured on Universal Studios' backlot tram tour.

More than 200 firefighters were called to the scene. Three firefighters have been sent to the hospital with what was described as minor injuries, including heat exhaustion.

"They are our real heroes," said Universal Studios president and chief operating officer Ron Meyer at a Sunday morning press conference. "I can't thank them enough."

Meyer dismissed reporters' inquiries about the possibility that a bomb threat had been called in shortly befor the fire began. "None of us have heard this," he said.

The fire began on the lot's New York soundstage and quickly spread. Universal Tours spokesman Eliot Sekular said the theme park's opening will be delayed until noon today, with the tour resuming Monday. He said the hotels, restaurants, theaters and other venues at the theme park and its adjoining CityWalk were not affected, and the MTV Awards will be held as scheduled.

However, Meyer confirmed that the fire damaged two sets for the CBS drama "The Ghost Whisperer" and "completely destroyed" a set that most recently housed "The Changeling," a Warner Bros. Pictures feature directed by Clint Eastwood that had it premiere at tlast month's Cannnes Film Festival.

Meyer also confirmed that a commercial had been shooting this weekend on the lot's New York street.

According to fire department spokesman, the fire fighting may have beein initially compromised by problems with insufficient water pressure. He praised the fire fighters' "innovative and creative" solutions, which included drawing water from the backlots' ponds and lakes. The fire consumed 18,000 gallons of water per minute.

Universal's New York street was destroyed by fire once before, in 1990. The set was rebuilt with reengineered facades that were meant to offer fire retardation and protection, but a fire department spokesman said that today's blaze overwhelmed those safety measures.

Text: copyright Variety

Buzz Lightyear goes infinity and beyond......TODAY !

Guess what? Buzz Lightyear is REALLY going into space, and he will blast off from Cape Canaveral today may 31st aboard Space Shuttle Discovery! Me who always dreamed to go into space, i know what i have to ask for in my next life: to be reincarnate in a toy - a space toy!

More seriously, here are details about this buzz Lightyear space flight in the press release after the event "trailer" below.




To Infinity and Beyond! Disney Parks and NASA Send Buzz Lightyear into Space

- Mission Coincides with "Launch" of New Educational Initiative and the Debut of Toy Story Mania! at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts -

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 29 /CNW/ - It's a dream come true for Buzz Lightyear as Disney Parks and NASA send the 12-inch-tall action figure "to infinity and beyond!" Buzz Lightyear will blast off aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124. Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET on May 31.
Buzz's dream of going "to infinity and beyond" will finally come true during the mission when - with the help of the crew - he will fly in zero gravity inside the International Space Station as part of NASA's "Toys in Space" initiative. Through this program, Buzz will help introduce fun elements from space into science and math classrooms across the country.
With Buzz will launch the aspiration of millions of school children who dream of space travel. STS-124 will coincide with the kickoff of the Space Ranger Education Series - part of NASA's "Toys in Space," an educational program for teachers and students. The program builds on NASA's educational goals of encouraging students to pursue studies in science, technology and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which are vitally important in sustaining U.S. economic competitiveness and technological leadership.
Developed by Disney and NASA, "Toys in Space" features materials for educators to download and integrate into their classroom curriculum as well as online, educational games linked to each key component of the mission. The series, hosted at www.nasa.gov, will be available throughout 2008.
"NASA is excited to help students understand the science and engineering currently underway on the International Space Station," said Dr. Joyce Winterton, NASA Assistant Administrator for Education. "The educational games and resources from this partnership will allow students to explore the science and math behind space exploration with a beloved character."
Buzz's groundbreaking mission into space also coincides the launch of his latest debut on earth in Toy Story Mania!, Disney Parks new attraction that opens May 31 at Walt Disney World in Florida and June 17 at Disneyland Resort
in California.
"The Space Ranger Education Series will give teachers an opportunity to incorporate a fun and engaging moment into the classroom with a character that children really love," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "We're pleased to join NASA in creating a program that can help keep kids excited about math and science."

BUZZ'S SPACE ITINERARY

Buzz will spend several months in space at the International Space Station (ISS) testing the limits of zero gravity before returning home to a hero's welcome at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida later this year. While in space, Buzz will participate in an experiment flying in zero gravity and appear in a video downlink from the ISS.
The Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-124 will travel with seven astronauts to install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) and the lab's robotic arm system.
For additional information about the educational series and NASA programs, guests may visit www.nasa.gov.

Let's end with another video where Veteran astronaut Buzz Aldrin mentors Buzz Lightyear, co-star of the Disney-Pixar Toy Story films. Buzz (the toy) is headed to the International Space Station aboard Space Shuttle Discovery to commemorate the opening of "Toy Story Mania!" at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.



Photo: copyright Pixar

Only 30 more days to wait before the release of TWO new Pixar movies !

I know, i am supposed to have some rest according to my previous announcement, but i enjoy so much doing this blog that i can't stop self-transgression! To come back to the title of this topic, yes, in 30 days we will have not one, but two new Pixar productions! You all know the first one - the big movie - i.e " Wall-E ", but as usual with each new long animated feature, there will be a " short " animated, and this one is called " Presto ". And we all know how good the Pixar shorts can be - remember " Lifted " last year?



As Bill Desowitz excellent article learn us " Presto is a slapstick ode to Warner Bros. and Tom and Jerry toons, in which a turn-of-the-century magician finds himself in a hilarious onstage feud with his hungry rabbit. Talk about a carrot and stick reversal. Presto, the magician, has never experienced such humiliation, as the crafty rabbit, Alec, gives him a taste of his own supernatural hocus pocus."



Much more to read about this Presto short directed by Pixar animator Doug Sweetland in this great article on the Animation World Magazine web site HERE



All pictures: copyright Pixar