Returning to their roles as Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack lead the cast of immediately recognizable toys come to life characterizations made famous in the 1995 globally popular film ‘Toy Story’ and its subsequent sequels (‘Toy Story 2’, 1999; and ‘Toy Story 3’, 2010) in ‘Toy Story Of Terror’, a new adventure that finds these beloved characters up against all new adeversaries during a frightful roadside motel stopover with new owner Bonnie (introduced to audiences in ‘Toy Story 3’). Vociferous vegetable Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), cringing dinosaur Rex (Wallace Shawn) and omniscient porcupine Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) ride shotgun with Woody, Buzz and Jessie this time out as the six strong gang of animate toys take on a particularly troublesome new villain while running into a few more new and old friends along the way.
It’s been almost 100 years since Edgar Rice Burroughs created the character John Carter and the story “A Princess of Mars” which has lived through time as a truly transmedia tale from novels to comic books, artwork to animation, TV and now Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton and Walt Disney Pictures bring “John Carter” to life on the silver screen.
This story follows a former military captain, John Carter (played by Taylor Kitsch), who is sick of war, but then finds himself transported to a different world, set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter finds this new world on the brink of collapse, and during all of the chaos around him, he rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
Like the other movies that Stanton has been part of, Disney/Pixar’s WALL-E (winner of an Academy Award and Golden Globe), and “Finding Nemo” (Academy Award winner), they follow characters who are “out of their element” and face challenges both good and bad during their journey.
“John Carter” is an epic adventure, filled with action, romance and political intrigue with an impressive cast led by Taylor Kitsch (NBC’S “Friday Night Lights”, “X‐Men Origins: Wolverine”) in the title role, Lynn Collins (“50 First Dates,” “X‐Men Origins: Wolverine”) as the warrior princess Dejah Thoris and Oscar® nominee Willem Dafoe (“Spider‐Man,” “Shadow of the Vampire”) as Martian inhabitant Tars Tarkas.
Here are some interesting factoids about “John Carter”
Famous for Tarzan: Edgar Rice Burroughs, born in Chicago and is well-known for writing and creating Tarzan—still one of the most successful and iconic fictional creations of all time.
“John Carter” is based on Burroughs’ first novel, “A Princess of Mars.”
Academy Award®–winning director/writer Andrew Stanton was one of the four screenwriters to receive an Oscar nomination in 1996 for his contribution to “Toy Story,” and went on to receive credit as a screenwriter on subsequent Pixar films “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” and “Monsters, Inc.”
Production Designer Nathan Crowley was Oscar®- nominated for both “Dark Knight” and “The Prestige,” and Costume Designer Mayes Rubeo’s work is showcased in “Avatar” and “Apocalypto.”
Pulitzer Prize winner, Michael Chabon, is a co-writer on the screenplay.
Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino who has worked on Disney•Pixar films “Up” (Oscar® winner, Best Original Score; BAFTA winner, Best Music; Golden Globe® winner, Best Original Score for a Motion Picture; GRAMMY® Award winner, Best Score Soundtrack Album), “Ratatouille” (GRAMMY Award winner, Best Score Soundtrack Album; Annie Award winner, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production; Oscar nomination, Best Original Score) and “The Incredibles” (Annie Award winner, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production; GRAMMY nomination, Best Score Soundtrack Album).
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, with Thomas Haden Church and Willem Dafoe Director: Andrew Stanton Producers: Jim Morris, Colin Wilson, Lindsey Collins Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton & Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon (credit not final) Based on the story: “A Princess of Mars” by: Edgar Rice Burroughs
“Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation” Now Playing Exclusively with CARS 2
“Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation” is set in new owner Bonnie’s bedroom and features Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) and Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) along with the rest of the “Toy Story 3” toys as they create the ultimate Hawaiian vacation for Ken (voice of Michael Keaton) and Barbie (voice of Jodi Benson). Looks like Ken badly miscalculated their travel arrangements, so they help create a dream getaway in Bonnie’s Midwestern bedroom—in the middle of winter.
“Hawaiian Vacation” also features the voices of Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Blake Clark, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Garlin and John Ratzenberger.
La Luna is the timeless fable of a young boy who is coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances.
Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the little boy as he discovers his family’s most unusual line of work.
Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa?
Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions?
We know our audience likes to see video clips – but this is not a feature film, it’s a short. Yes, it’s a short film with a total run time of just under 7 minutes long.
Meet Enrico Casarosa, Director / Head of Story, Pixar Animation Studios
This short film was directly by Enrico Casarosa who joined Pixar Animation Studios in January 2002. Enrico began working as a story artist on “Cars”and the Academy Award-winning feature “Ratatouille.” Casarosa’s next project was as story artist on Disney•Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning feature film, “Up.” Most recently, Casarosa made his directing debut with the short film, “La Luna.” Currently, Casarosa is working as head of story on an upcoming Pixar film.
What do story artists do?
As a story artist, Casarosa creates visual sequences from the script. Story artists also generate new ideas and gags, and provide feedback regarding the plot, characters and overall story of the film. With help from story artists, the film’s director finds the story they want to tell and the best cinematographic way to tell it.
Where did Enrico learn how to do animation? What influenced his style?
Casarosa found early influences in Hayao Miyazaki’s work and grew up watching Miyazaki’s television series in Italy. Born and raised in Genoa, Casarosa moved to New York City in his twenties, to study animation at the School of Visual Arts and Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
What did Enrico do before he came to Pixar?
Before coming to Pixar, Casarosa worked as a storyboard artist at Blue Sky Studios on “Ice Age” and “Robots.” He also worked as a background designer and storyboard artist for a number of Disney Channel Television Series’ including “101 Dalmatians” and “PB&J Otters.”
Where does Enrico live?
Casarosa lives in San Francisco, California with his wife Marit and their little daughter Fio Giulietta.
Here’s a video with some of the highlights of what’s new at Disney – including a sneak peek at La Luna! Enjoy
Mingle Media TV Network 