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D23 Expo 2017 Recap: Exciting Announcements and Upcoming Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Movies

Disclosure: This event and trip to LA was an all expense paid journey sponsored by Disney. All thoughts, experiences and opinions are 100% my own!

D23 Recap: Exciting Announcements and Upcoming Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Movies

My head is still spinning from spending the last few days in Anaheim, California attending the D23 Expo. This event is epic for Disney fans, and it is safe to say that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This event is so much Disney rolled into a few days, your mind can barely take it all in. No worries, I handled it just fine and loved every moment although I must say, it was a roller coaster of emotions at times. Disney does that to me!

About D23 Expo 2017

D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which will take place July 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2017 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.

I’ll be sharing quite a bit here in the next few days but today I wanted to share with you the amazing things that we will be seeing from Pixar and Disney Animation Studios in the near future. Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter took the stage to bring us announcement after announcement of great things that we have to look forward to, and I’m excited to share it all with you:

COCO
Coming November 22, 2017

Photo Credit: © 2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

I was excited to learn more about this new Disney Pixar film called COCO. We were able to watch a clip and it looks like it is going to be a very unique movie, and this character is going to be a hit with kids and adults alike. The scenery and beautiful colors in this movie are so stunning, and I love the fact that the theme of the film is family. We enjoyed a wonderful clip from the film and then we were treated to a wonderful fiesta of dance and song, which included a special performance by Benjamin Bratt. Aye Yai Yai. It was awesome.

Photo credit: Charley Gallay – 2017 Getty Images
Photo credit – Jesse Grant, 2017 Getty Images
Dancer Kareli Montoya (L) and actor Benjamin Bratt


Disney Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Coming November 22, 2017

Photo credit: ©2017 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

This little presentation started out with the adorable Kristen Bell (voice of Anna) sharing with us what we could expect from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure but all of a sudden, the sound equipment started to fail and …. what do you know!?

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images

Her good buddy Olaf … err Josh Gad came to the rescue and did a live performance of the all-new original song “That Time of Year,” written by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. The song is part of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new 21-minute featurette, which hits the big-screen in front of Disney•Pixar’s COCO on Nov. 22, 2017.

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images


Ralph Breaks the Internet
Coming March 9, 2018

This presentation was probably my favorite. It was so unexpected and quite frankly: epic! Read on.

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images

Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston hit the stage at D23 Expo 2017, introducing Emmy®-winning actress and comedian Sarah Silverman, who returns as the voice of Vanellope von Schweetz. That was pretty amazing. But things quickly went from amazing to words I don’t even have to describe amazing times a billion.

Photo credit: Jessie Grant 2017 Getty Images – Actor Jodi Benson (Ariel/THE LITTLE MERMAID) and  John Lasseter
Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images – Actor Irene Bedard (POCAHONTAS) and  John Lasseter

One by one. The princesses just kept coming. My mouth was on the floor. THE FLOOR!! It was insanity. By the end of the presentation the stage was an epic collection of amazing women. The real life Disney Princesses!!

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios John Lasseter, actors Paige O’Hara (Belle/BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Irene Bedard (POCAHONTAS), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel/TANGLED), Auli’i Cravalho (MOANA), Sarah Silverman (Vanellope von Schweetz/RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2), Kristen Bell (Anna/FROZEN), Kelly Macdonald (Merida/BRAVE), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana/THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG), Linda Larkin (Jasmine/ALADDIN), and Jodi Benson (Ariel/THE LITTLE MERMAID)

You might be wondering. Why? What does this have to do with Wreck-it Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet?
It turns out that this sequel to Wreck-it Ralph includes on of the very funniest (maybe THE funniest) Disney moments that I have ever seen and it’s definitely a mind blowing one. We were able to screen it, and I don’t want to spoil it for you but let me tell you this: Those princesses have nothing on Vanellope Von Schweetz and never in a million years would I have dreamed that they would end up in a movie together but I promise you, it’s fantastic. Pure: FANTASTIC.


Disney Pixar Incredibles 2
Coming June 15, 2018

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images

INCREDIBLES 2 director Brad Bird—who lends his voice to Edna—joined Lasseter on stage to welcome to the festivities the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (newcomer Huck Milner) and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson).

Bird shared with us details of the upcoming film which promises new adventures, an expanded universe that includes new allies and a brand-new villain. “‘Incredibles 2’ is really a family film, it’s just that the family happens to have super powers,” said Bird. “They may have super speed or super strength, but they experience the same problems as any family.

And Edna Mode fans will appreciate this fun Incredibles’ Edna Mode video, I’m thinking we’ll be seeing even more of Edna in the neat future:


Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images

Toy Story 4
Coming June 21st, 2019

John Lasseter invited Pixar’s Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?” short) to the stage, revealing that Cooley has assumed full director responsibilities for TOY STORY 4.

The pair brought with them a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the director’s life at the Northern California studio. We didn’t get a whole lot of info on this one, and it really left me wanting to beg for more but I am also confident that this one won’t disappoint. I could tell how emotionally invested they are in this film so we’ll all just wait patiently for the final product! Produced by Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out”), TOY STORY 4 is slated for release on June 21st, 2019!


 

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images

Disney Frozen 2 (Title TBA)
Coming November 27, 2019

Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and produced by Peter Del Vecho, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ feature-length follow-up to 2013’s Oscar®-winning film FROZEN is slated for theaters on November 27th, 2019!

Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff are reprising their roles in an all-new story. John Lasseter, Bell and Gad shared with FROZEN fans a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the filmmakers’ recent research trip to Norway, Finland and Iceland. It is so amazing to think that this is really going to happen. I can’t believe that I’m going to say this, but I’m ready for round two!! (we had FROZEN fever bad here. We must have watched that movie 500+ times!)


 

Photo credit: © 2017 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Unnamed Disneytoon Film
To be announced…

Along with all of the details of upcoming projects, there were also a few “hints” and things to come. This unnamed Disneytoon film was one of them. We got a very short glimpse at it and it appears to be some sort of Disney PLANES type film – fast flying jets maybe? It was such a quick glimpse and I’m giving you my best guess, but I will say, it looked like something full of speed and excitement and I’m sure: lots and lots of new characters and collectibles!

Photo credit: Jesse Grant – 2017 Getty Images -Director Dan Scanlon

Untitled Dan Scanlon Movie

Another little tidbit that they shared with us was that a new untitled Dan Scanlon movie is in the works.
Director Dan Scanlon, who helmed Pixar’s “Monsters University,” joined Lasseter to share a few details about an all-new original feature film currently in production at Pixar Animation Studios.
Scanlon shared with us that he had lost his father at a very young age, and that the film is inspired by the question he’s always asked: who was my father? The story is set in a world with no humans—only elves, trolls and sprites—“anything that would be on the side of a van in the ’70s,” said the director. “In the film, we’re going to tell the story of two teenage elf brothers whose father died when they were too young to remember him. But thanks to the little magic still left in the world, the boys embark on a quest that will allow them a chance to spend one last magical day with their father.” Kori Rae (“Monsters University”) will produce.
That looks like it could be a very unique and exciting storyline, so I’m excited to hear more about this one as well!


Recap Video of the Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios Press Event at D23 Expo

Here’s an AMAZING recap of how insanely awesome this session at D23 Expo was. Make sure to watch it. You’ll see a peek at Josh Gad singing his new Olaf Song, along with all of the celebrity moments captured LIVE as we were seeing them. I still can’t believe that I was in this audience… goose bumps over and over the entire time!!

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

How to become a D23 Member

Fans can join D23 at Gold and General Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

And stay tuned for more awesome D23 Expo 2017 updates… I’m not even close to done talking about this awesome event, I have so much more to share with all of you!!

Meet the author – Keri Lyn

The creative and frugal mind behind She Saved for over 12 years now, Keri Lyn shares her adventures in parenting along with her love for family travel, country living and brand marketing. A self-proclaimed “brand loyalist”, Keri Lyn is known for her strong and enthusiastic voice when it comes to the products and brands that she loves. She Saved has become a community for like-minded consumers who appreciate saving money, time and sanity by getting the best deals on quality products and experiences.

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