New Disney Rapunzel Photos

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August 3, 2009

In Disney’s New Disney Rapunzel Photos new telling of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant her and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden hair. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hairâ€¦ lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday. A small batch of new concept art photos (that are not representative of the final CGI look of the film) have popped up over on the official Walt Disney Animation Studios website (via SlashFilm) recently. We’ve included all of the photos below for your viewing pleasure.

Rapunzel has been in development for a long time at Disney. Rapunzel is being voiced by Broadway actress Kristin Chenoweth. The animated film is being co-directed by story artist Nathan Greno and Bolt director Byron Howard. The voice cast is also rumored to include David Schwimmer, Matthew Gray Gubler New Disney Rapunzel Photos , Dan Fogler, and Peter Sallis. I’m not sure if this is still the case, but originally Rapunzel was supposed to look and feel like a traditional hand-drawn animated Disney film, but in full 3D.

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Disney Confirms Sequel to Monsters, Inc

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Chip

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July 31, 2009

Disney went on a domain buying spree yesterday (July 29th), snapping up a bunch of Internet addresses for possible upcoming projects. So which projects were on the purchase list? Details after the jump.

Among the new domains purchased was MONSTERS2.com, the possible future location for the highly rumored sequel to Pixar’s Monsters Inc. At a recent licensing fair, Disney officials supposedly told attendees behind closed doors that Pete Doctor would be following Up with Monsters, Inc 2. We asked Disney head John Lasseter about the rumors last weekend at Comic-Con, but as expected, he wouldn’t comment. The domain purchase seems to be an admission by Disney that they are developing a sequel, or at very least thinking about it.

Another interesting purchase was the domain TheTigerKingMovie.com, which we can only assume is a spin-off based on The Lion King. With the word Movie in the domain name, we know it is a feature film but we don’t know if it is a new animated feature film or a direct-to-dvd production. Some of you might remember that when John Lasseter became Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios when the Mouse purchased Pixar in January of 2006, he was quick to kill many of the companys direct-to-dvd sequels and spin-offs, because he believed the productions hurt the studios brand. The Aristocats 2, Chicken Little 2 : The Ugly Duckling Story, Meet the Robinsons 2: First Date, and Disneys Dwarfs were among the productions which were trashed. I find it hard to believe that Lasseter would approve of a Lions King spin-off titled The Tiger King, unless it was for theatrical release. But you never know?

Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3D Trailer

By

Chip

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July 30, 2009

Enjoy!

Disneyland to bring back Captain EO

By

Chip

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July 30, 2009

Report from Miceage:

Just in the past week, Disneyland President Ed Grier and his TDA planners have held a few meetings to consider another element for this year’s HalloweenTime promotion; a return engagement of Captain EO to the Magic Eye Theater in Tomorrowland. This idea was of course prompted by the sudden death of Michael Jackson, and the waves of nostalgia Disneyland fans suddenly felt for that salute to 1980’s music video kitsch. The decision on whether or not to bring Captain EO back for HalloweenTime has not yet been made, but TDA is now pulling together the numbers and feasibility on what it would take to give the theater a quick Captain EO overlay and retheme.

There’s actually quite a bit of work that would need to go into this temporary changeover, with WDI approved signage and testing and training involved, not to mention the pesky issue of Kodak’s sponsorship that mandates that Honey I Shrunk The Audience themed commercial to play in the waiting area. But since attendance at this venue has plummeted in recent years to the point where it only hosts a tiny fraction of its daily capacity, a return of Captain EO would be a great shot in the arm for this almost forgotten facility. And of course there would be swarms of Annual Passholders flooding the park to see this attraction one more time.

Disney “Epic Mickey” Game

By

Chip

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July 29, 2009

The concept art for the project, code-named “Epic Mickey,” featured some recognizable Disney iconography in a surreal, steampunk. Well, now the concept art has surfaced, and it’s pretty damn awesome. What’s particularly cool about it is that, despite being called “Epic Mickey,” the iconic Mouse is nowhere to be found in these drawings – instead, we see some other well-known Disney imagery. Ever imagine a seafaring dreadnought made up of a ruined Epcot Center and Monstro the whale from Pinocchio, You have now. Here are the rest of the pictures.

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Disneyworld Candlelight Processional Schedule

By

Chip

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July 29, 2009

This schedule for this year’s Candlelight Processional narrators has been tentatively announced. Presented at America Gardens Theatre in Epcot at 5, 6:45 and 8 p.m. nightly, November 27 through December 30, the Candlelight Processional features celebrity narrators who retell the joyous Christmas story. New celebrities set to perform in the annual holiday presentation include Isabella Rossellini, Vanessa Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg. The schedule so far (subject to change) is as follows:

November 27-29 — Isabella Rossellini
November 30, December 1-2 — John O’ Hurley
December 3-5 — Steven Curtis Chapman
December 6-8 — TBA
December 9-11 — Andy Garcia
December 12-14 — Vanessa Williams
December 15-17 — Abigail Breslin
December 18-20 — Whoopi Goldberg
December 21-23 — Brian Dennehy
December 24-26 — Edward James Olmos
December 27-30 — Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance

Toy Story 3 News

By

Chip

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July 29, 2009

In 2005, in a development befitting the Mouse House, Pixar and Disney got their happy ending with a marriage that saw Pixar’s John Lasseter installed as head of Walt Disney Animation. The non-Pixar Toy Story 3 — which reportedly would have seen Woody (Tom Hanks) attempt to rescue a recalled Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) — was scuttled, and Lasseter approached Director Lee Unkrich to start from scratch.

“We made a point of staying away from all that and not getting involved in it, even after it got worked out,” Unkrich says. “We didn’t want it to colour the movie we had.”

And just what is that?

Plot details are predictably closely guarded. But Unkrich does confirm the story begins as Andy, who has owned the toys since he was a child, moves away to college. Unkrich also reveals there will be “a lot of new characters,” with some reports suggesting Michael Keaton will voice Ken opposite Barbie, who gets a more substantive role this time around. One thing fans shouldn’t expect, however, are toys that are too high-tech.

“So much of the fun of Toy Story is the nostalgia. Not necessarily what’s cool now but what we all remember from when we were kids — both people my age, or people in their 20s now who saw Toy Story when they were a little kid.”

Tron Legacy Trailer!!!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 28, 2009

Tron Legacy Trailer!!!!

Unwrapped: Walt Disney World

By

Chip

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July 28, 2009

This particular special talks about the secrets and stories that go into creating the food at the Walt Disney World Resort every day. Hosted by Marc Summers and shown on Food Network. There are 6 parts in all, I hope you enjoy them!

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New Twenty-Three Magazine Arriving

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 28, 2009

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For D23 members, the new Twenty-Three magazine is being delivered now. Expect to see yours soon. The theme for this issue is the Haunted Mansion! Here is the cover and back. Note that a collectible patch comes with this issue.

Building Disneyland – Time Elapsed Video

By

Chip

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July 28, 2009

Archival footage of the park’s birth. Using time-lapse and traditional eye-in-the-sky photography, this is a dazzling piece of history, presenting how the fearless construction crews had Disneyland up and running in just under a year. Again: just under a year. commentary by Tony Baxter, Ed Hobleman, and Walter Magnuson, who discuss the frantic construction of the park. Courtesy of Walt’s persnickety insistence to document everything.

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Wandering World Showcase by Lou Mongello from WDW Radio

By

Chip

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July 27, 2009

Join Lou Mongello from WDW Radio as he takes you on a virtual tour of Epcot’s World Showcase in Walt Disney World. He takes you around the promenade and through all 11 pavilions and shows you some of Walt Disney World’s hidden treasures and overlooked experiences. There’s more to explore in Walt Disney World than you might know – to find out more, visit WDWRadio.com