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Disney has announced their major movie lineup for the 2013 D23 Expo, this year splitting up the cinematic entertainment between two packed presentations. The grand opening of the event will begin with a welcome from Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, followed by the first of two Arena presentations hosted by The Walt Disney Studios at the Anaheim Convention Center.
On Friday, August 9, The Walt Disney Studios will offer fans sneak peeks of the slate of upcoming animated films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and Disneytoon Studios, hosted by Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter.
Art and Imagination: Animation at The Walt Disney Studios will take place at 10:00 a.m. featuring filmmakers and star talent taking guests on a journey through The Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming animated features, including Frozen and Pixar Animation Studios’ The Good Dinosaur. Plus, the D23 Expo will host the U.S. debut of the new Mickey Mouse short Get A Horse!, major movie announcements, and a special live musical performance.
Then on Saturday, August 10 at 10:30am, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn will host The Walt Disney Studios live action Arena presentation which will pull back the curtain on upcoming releases from Disney Live Action and Marvel Studio with exclusive clips and behind-the-scenes footage, filmmaker discussions, and surprise celebrity appearances.
Let the Adventures Begin: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios will include Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks and Tomorrowland, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World, and much more.
Among the named talent to be appearing at the Studios’ presentations will be Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel (Frozen), Dane Cook (Disney’s Planes), Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak (Saving Mr. Banks), Ty Burrell (Muppets Most Wanted) and other surprise Marvel and Disney/Pixar stars.
Throughout the weekend, fans will also have the opportunity to go behind the scenes with the animation artists at Disney and Pixar with several featured panels, including:
* Inside the Ice: The Art of Disney’s Frozen – Walt Disney Animation Studios’ big-screen comedy adventure Frozen, with its icy setting and colorful cast of characters, presented breathtaking opportunities, plus a few challenges for filmmakers. Join the team behind the movie for an exclusive look at the art and animation of Frozen. (Saturday, August 10, 10:30 a.m.)
* The Art of The Good Dinosaur – Pixar Animation Studios’ latest feature explores what might have happened if the cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct. Take a closer look at this imaginative world of possibility and the artistry and production design behind it. (Saturday, August 10, 3 p.m.)
* Toy Story OF TERROR! and the Motivation Behind Pixar’s Short Form Content – From toys on vacation to tow-riffic four wheelers, Pixar keeps some of their most beloved characters alive and well through short-form content. Angus MacLane, director of Toy Story OF TERROR!, a new adventure featuring Woody, Buzz and the Toy Story gang set for release on TV this fall; producer Galyn Susman; and other Pixar short-form filmmakers share their experiences and discuss the exciting challenges of expanding the worlds of these characters loved by audiences across the globe. (Saturday, August 10, 5 p.m.)
* Pixar: Doing Our Homework – Research is an integral part of the filmmaking process, and with a story in hand, Pixar artists set out to become experts, immersing themselves in places, people and experiences that inspire and inform their filmmaking, whether it be spirited Scots, delectable French cuisine, or deep sea adventures. (Friday, August 9, 6 p.m.)
* Women of Pixar – Jessie. Dory. Sally. Merida. Although they never cross paths and exist in different worlds, these iconic Pixar females have one thing in common: girl power. Meet a dynamic group of women from Pixar, whose experience and success at the studio have helped craft some of the most memorable animated films in recent history. They will share stories from their journeys and the lessons they have learned along the way. (Sunday, August 11, 1 p.m.)
Saving Mr. Banks is already rated PG-13 by the MPAA, suggesting that the film is essentially complete, so D23 Expo attendees could be treated to quite a lot, if not all, of the highly-anticipated movie. (Maybe… even an appearance by Tom Hanks as Walt Disney?) Likewise, the ongoing Disney alternate reality game The Optimist seems to have ties to the film “Tomorrowland” and promises to conclude its gameplay at the D23 Expo, perhaps during this Studios presentation. (And perhaps… an appearance by its star George Clooney?)
The 4,000-seat arena, the largest venue at The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, will for the first time feature a 2,000-seat overflow theater where guests will be able to watch these once-in-a-lifetime happenings though a live feed. And, of course, stay tuned to Inside the Magic for access to all the most exciting happenings at the 2013 D23 Expo.