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Disney+ has given us another look at the upcoming “Big Hero 6” spinoff animated series “Baymax!”

In the latest trailer for the series, which you can watch above, Hiro (Ryan Potter) wakes up to realize that his friendly robot is nowhere to be found. It turns out, Baymax (Scott Adsit) is roaming the city of San Fransokyo trying to help others.

As a medical companion robot, Baymax often seeks out people (and creatures) who have physical ailments, like a woman who sprains her ankle and another who hurts her back. He also tries to save a cat, which doesn’t go as planned when he tells the animal to “remain calm” and instead it pokes several holes in his body.

But, he soon learns that some of their problems go much deeper than the surface. “I guess a hero’s job is never done,” Hiro says.

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Watch Baymax...

Disney’s upcoming Southeast Asian animated feature, “Raya and the Last Dragon,” has a new lead voice actress in “Star Wars” breakout Kelly Marie Tran, according to an individual familiar with the project.

Tran, who rose to prominence portraying Rose Tico in Rian Johnson’s 2017 blockbuster “The Last Jedi,” is taking over lead voice acting duties from former “Degrassi: The Next Generation” star Cassie Steele, who was initially cast in the role and helped promote the film at last summer’s D23 convention.

Tran will play the title role of Raya. The animated film, due in theaters on March 12, 2021, also stars Awkwafina as Sisu, the aforementioned last dragon. The film was co-written by “Crazy Rich Asians” co-writer Adele Lim, who is joined by “Vietgone” playwright Qui Nguyen.

Oscar-winning director Don Hall directs the film alongside “Blindspotting” director Carlos López Estrada.

Also Read: 'Star Wars' Actress Kelly Marie Tran on How...

Kelly Marie Tran is making history. Deadline has confirmed that the Star Wars alum has joined Walt Disney Animation Studios’ forthcoming animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon as the titular heroine, marking the first Southeast Asian to lead a Disney animated film.

Tran replaces Cassie Steele, who was originally announced as the voice of Raya last year at D23 Expo. Raya and the Last Dragon is set in the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra and follows a warrior who teams with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world. Tran joins Awkawafina, who plays a dragon in human form named Sisu.

Also joining the Raya and the Last Dragon team are Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting) as directors, as well as playwright Qui Nguyen (Vietgone) who will join Adele Lim as co-writer.

Disney announced on Monday morning that it will move the release dates for two of its upcoming animated films, Pixar’s “Soul” and Disney Animation’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” in response to ongoing theater closures due to the coronavirus.

“Soul,” which was slated for release in June, will now be released on November 20. “Raya and the Last Dragon,” which was slated for release on Thanksgiving weekend, will now be moved to March 12, 2021, filling a slot held by an untitled Disney live action film that has now been removed from the schedule.

The move for “Soul” has long been expected as all other major releases for June have been moved back, including Warner Bros.’ “Wonder Woman 1984” and “In the Heights.” Movie theaters are not expected to open until July at the earliest, and the possibility remains that they could stay closed for even longer if the coronavirus continues...

Disney is pushing their Pixar feature Soul from June 19 to Nov. 20, the Thanksgiving holiday period where their animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon was originally scheduled to open. Technically that pic was to go on Nov. 25, and now Raya and the Last Dragon moves to March 12, 2021.

That early March period is where Disney has capitalized on spring breaks, with the launches of Zootopia, Captain Marvel and recently Pixar’s Onward, which many believed had an opening weekend that was partially slowed by being lackluster fare, partially the early worries of Covid-19 among moviegoers.

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Soul, directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers,...

This year, Pixar and Disney get back to originals with greater inclusion and diversity, Sony returns with another stylistic experiment from Oscar-winning producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), and two-time Oscar nominee Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon tackles an Irish adventure about the secret of wolves.

In addition, Netflix has three new releases, Warner Bros. launches a Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe, SpongeBob, The Trolls, and Gru and the Minions are all back, and “Bob’s Burgers” makes its big-screen debut.

More from IndieWireThe Most Shocking Discoveries About 'Slumlord' Jared Kushner in Netflix's 'Dirty Money''Soul' Trailer: Jamie Foxx Jazzes Up Pixar's Feel-Good Summer Comedy

Note: All release dates were accurate at this writing, but could change in response to the coronavirus.

Pixar and Disney started the year with “Onward” (March 6) the studio’s first magical fantasy. Director Dan Scanlon got semi-autobiographical about losing his father when he...

The making of “Frozen 2” (November 22) came at a tumultuous time for Disney Animation, as the film’s writer-director Jennifer Lee succeeded John Lasseter as chief creative officer. You could say that she went from being Anna to Elsa in her rise to the top. “But you don’t know if that’s a good thing or not — you haven’t seen the rest of the movie,” Lee told IndieWire, laughing, after introducing about 30 minutes of footage.

What we do know is the sequel to the Oscar-winning “Frozen” mega-blockbuster continues the adventures of siblings Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) by unlocking the mystery of Elsa’s magical icy power and why their parents died in a shipwreck at sea. It’s all connected to an enchanted forest and the elemental forces of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth, animated in a dazzling display of effects and character work, joined together...

Actress Awkwafina is all set to reunite with "Crazy Rich Asians" co-writer Adele Lim to bring to life an animated film "Raya and the Last Dragon".

Walt Disney Animation Studios on Saturday announced a new film "Raya and the Last Dragon" with Awkwafina as Susi the Dragon and Cassie Steele as Raya. Jennifer Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, made the announcement at Disney's biennial fan expo D23 here.

Also Read:?Angelina Jolie feels fighting for beliefs sign of strength

Directors Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins, producer Osnat Shurer and writer Lim joined Lee on stage to set up the film, which introduces Raya, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra who teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world. Inspired by the beautiful and diverse cultures of Southeast Asia,...

At D23 today, Disney revealed details about its newest animated feature film, Raya and the Last Dragon. Keep reading to find out the details! The panel for Raya and The Last Dragon included directors Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins, along with writer Adele Lim, who all set out the major plot points of the film. […]

The post Disney Reveals Details About ‘Raya and The Last Dragon’ appeared first on Cinelinx.

Disney announced a brand new animated fantasy adventure film project they are developing at the D23 Expo today. It’s called Raya and The Last Dragon and it looks like it’s going to be another incredible movie from the studio.

The film will be set in southeast Asia and features themes from that part of the world. The story is set in a realm called Kumandra, which is described as “a reimagined earth inhabited by an ancient civilization that venerated the mythical dragons for their power and their wisdom.”

It’s explained that there are five distinct clans from the Land of the Dragon, but the dragons are gone and Kumandra has been invaded by a dark, sinister force. Raya is a lone warrior on a quest to save her world, determined to find the last dragon, who she believes, has the power to save Kumandra.

The film stars...

Walt Disney Animation Studios has taken the wraps off its next project, unveiling at the D23 Expo on Saturday Raya and the Last Dragon, which will star Cassie Steele and Crazy Rich Asians standout Awkwafina. A November 25, 2020 release date has been set.

Awkwafina adds to her Disney credits that soon will include Shang-Chi and the live-action The Little Mermaid. Steele is best know for starring on Degrassi: The Next Generation and also voices Tammy on Rick & Morty.

Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins are directing with Moana‘s Osnat Shurer producing. Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians) penned the script. The plot: a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world.

Judging by the three-minute clip shown in the room, the epic fantasy is informed...

In 2018, some details began to leak online about a possible new Walt Disney Animation project rumored to be called Dragon Empire. We knew that Disney story artists Paul Briggs (Frozen) and Dean Wellins (Zootopia) were attached to make their directorial debut, with Moana producer Osnat Shurer overseeing and Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians) writing the script. Now that project has officially […]

The post ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Announced by Walt Disney Animation, Check Out Some Concept Art [D23] appeared first on /Film.

Disney treated fans at D23 Expo Saturday to their first look at “Raya and the Last Dragon,” a new animated film starring Awkwafina and written by Adele Lim, co-writer of “Crazy Rich Asians.”

Onstage at the expo in Anaheim, California, Awkwafuna, co-star Cassie Steele (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”), producer Osnat Shurer and Lim, explained that the film is inspired by Hong Kong action films with a setting inspired by Southeast Asia.

Set in Kumandra, a fantasy world with five lands and a sea shaped like a dragon, the film follows Raya (Steele), a lone warrior on a quest to find the last dragon, whom she believes can save Kumandra from a so-far unrevealed evil force. Awkwafina, meanwhile, plays Sisu, the last dragon, who has become trapped in a human body and needs Raya’s help to find the power to return to her dragon form.

Also Read: All 15 Disney Live-Action Remakes of Animated Classics,...

Exclusive: Disney is in development on an untitled fantasy-adventure animation film with Crazy Rich Asians screenwriter Adele Lim and Moana producer Osnat Shurer.

Disney story artists Paul Briggs (Frozen) and Dean Wellins (Zootopia) are attached to make their directorial debuts on the project which is being set up at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Plot is being kept under wraps but I understand the movie has an Asian element running through it and a female protagonist. It is a theatrical feature rather than one for Disney’s upcoming streaming service and the team is currently going through the casting process for the lead.

Disney development exec Shurer was previously head of Pixar’s short films output. She then produced Disney’s Oscar-nominated hit Moana, which crossed $640M at the worldwide box office. It sounds like this new movie could have some thematic similarities to that film, which followed the strong-willed daughter of a Polynesian village chief.

Tangled 3D (3D Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack)Walt Disney Home ENTERTAINMENT2010/Rated PG/Running Time 100 minsList Price: $49.99 – Available March 29, 2011With the recent regime change at Disney, great things appear to be brewing at the house of the mouse. 2009's The Princess and the Frog was a step in the right direction as not only Disney's first traditionally animated film in many years, but one with a great story, memorable characters and a fantastic soundtrack. Tangled happens to be their 50th animated feature and while Pixar studios may reign supreme with their CG masterpieces, that doesn't mean Disney's main animation division is shying away from crafting some of their own.Boasting a $260 million price tag, it seems clear that Tangled was constantly revised during its six year long production period. The film's original directors Glen Keane and Dean Wellins would ultimately step down to be replaced by Byron Howard and Nathan Greno,...

[1] We've got lots of beautiful concept art for you on this Monday evening from two separate projects: Walt Disney Animation's upcoming short Tick Tock Tale, and Pixar's canceled feature Newt. I've been looking forward to Tick Tock Tale since we got our first look [2] at some clips and images, so I'm finding the concept art interesting to look at. But the Newt images are just making me sad all over again that we'll never get to see the finished product. Prepare to get happy, then sad, after the jump. Tick Tock Tale was slated to premiere in front of 2009's The Princess and the Frog at one point, but those plans were changed. The film has yet to get a real release, although as Animatie [3] points out, it's already played at events like Annecy. The film is directed by Dean Wellins, a three-time Annie Award nominee whose resume includes The Iron Giant,...

Cartoon Brew has debuted the list of the thirty-three films up for consideration in the Best Animated Short category for the upcoming 2011 Oscars and I have done my very best to find a video for each and every one. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find anything for Rao Heidmets's Inherent Obligations or Don Hertzfeldt's Wisdom Teeth so if anyone out there can help find video for those either let me know in the comments or shoot me an email.

Otherwise, spend some time over the next three pages to preview some really cool videos. I had a chance to preview a few of them while putting this article together, but have yet to check them all out. So let me know which ones are your favorites and which ones don't really do it for you.

Additionally, if any of the people that made these films are reading this...

Hey gang! Here we have a first look at Disney's new animated short film, Tick Tock Tale. The short was directed by Dean Wellins, a three-time annie award nominated animator who's worked on animated film projects such as The Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones, Treasure Planet, Chicken Little, Bolt and The Princess and the Frog.

Synopsis:

A funny little clock (something out of Geppetto’s workshop, really) is picked on by the more refined time keepers in a London store, only to find a chance at redemption when a thief breaks in one night.

I'm not sure when we will get a chance to see the full short, but it looks entertaining.

Click on the image below to watch the first video.

Here's the second video.

Disney’s latest fairytale effort has been in the works since at least early 2005. But this version of the Brothers Grimm’s Rapunzel hasn’t exactly enjoyed the smoothest route to the screen. Now it looks like it’ll finally arrive, since the teaser trailer, featuring the voices of Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore, is online and you can see it below.Way back in the distant, misty past of the mid 21st century (about five years ago), this was still called Rapunzel, was going to be directed by Disney veteran Glen Keane Dean Wellins, the hero was called Bastian, and the lead voices were Kristin Chenoweth and Dan Fogler.How things change – fast-forward a few years and, with Disney Animation overseers John Lasseter and Ed Catmull in place, the movie has undergone a fairly hefty transformation. The original title has been ditched, partly because Catmull and co worried it...

With their 50th Walt Disney Animated Classic (not including Pixar movies), the Mouse House is returning to what they do best: fairy tale musicals. Based on the story by the Brothers Grimm, Rapunzel tells the story of a fair maiden (Mandy Moore) banished to a high tower with a single window. The witch (Donna Murphy) and later a dashing prince (Zachary Levi) gain access to Rapunzel by climbing her long hair.

Dean Wellins (Iron Giant) and Mark Kennedy (Tarzan, Hercules) developed a modern take on the traditional tale. Rapunzel is a more independent heroine who uses her 70-foot locks for more than just a ladder, like whipping and tying people up. Why she doesn’t tie the witch up remains to be seen.

The image below, scanned from the magazine Studio Cinelive by French site DisneyPixar.fr (via Slashfilm), gives a great look at the visual style Disney is working to achieve for this film.

Disney grabbed onto a huge chunk of Mandy Moore’s hair, casting her as the voice for the fair princess in the animated movie Rapunzel. Along with her is Zachary Levi, lending his voice as the dashing bandit who finds himself on the road with the rebellious, teenage hair apparent. The story revolves around the princess, famous for her 70 feet of golden hair, after she’s been stolen from her parents’ castle as an infant and imprisoned. Now a teenager, Rapunzel escapes and goes on the run with a bandit as her captor pursues them (THR).

Nathan Greno and Byron Howard are both directing the feature, based off of Brothers Grimm fairy tale, penned by Dean Wellins. Produced by Roy Conli, the film is expected to be released in December of 2010. Walt Disney Pictures would then most likely dominate the month, joining the animated tale along with the science fiction action flick Tron Legacy.

In a sad bit of news for Disney animation fans such as myself, it looks like animation legend Glen Keane and directing partner Dean Wellins won’t see their names under the ‘Directed By’ credit on Disney’s long-in-production Rapunzel. According to the always-in-the-know Disney gossip site Jim Hill Media, Keane and Wellins “will be turning the reins of the adaptation over to Byron Howard & Nathan Greno, who were the co-director and head of story on Bolt respectively.” The site goes on to inform us that, “For five years now, the word of this Glen Keane production has always been that it had the potential to be the most beautiful picture that Wdas would ever produced but that this film’s storyline was a snooze. Which is why—in the end, even though Lasseter has been Keane’s friend for over 20 years now—for the good of that project, John...

Disney will be carting out a new version of Rapunzel two years from now, or at least that's the hope. The project has spent over five years already cultivating ideas to make the story more palatable for modern movie audiences, and it just took a right turn where that's concerned.

Jim Hill Media reported last week that the directors of record, Glen Keane and Dean Wellins, have been secretly replaced by Folger's crystals...I mean the creative team of Byron Howard and Nathan Greno.

Howard and Greno are also the guys who cleaned up Disney's new animated flick, Bolt, which once upon a time, was called American Dog. It also used to have a different director, so perhaps these guys are Disney's fixers or something. Hill reports that progress had been made when Wellins joined Keane but that ultimately, the heads of animation at Disney still felt like the story didn't connect with audiences.

Glen Keane, a veteran animator who has worked for Disney since the late 1970s, has had to drop out of directing Rapunzel. The talented animator, one of the first artists at Disney to embrace the computerization and digital options, has a non-threatening ailment but has had to cut back his work.

Stepping in to complete the project, expected in late 2010, are Bolt’s director Byron Howard and Bolt's storyboard director Nathan Greno. They step in to replace Keane and Dean Wellins as directors and according to Ain’t it Cool News, it has as much to do with Keane’s health as the disappointment Disney has in the creative direction.

Keane is the son of Family Circus creator Bil Keane and his credits include The Rescuers, Pete’s Dragon, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Tarzan.

An in-house memo said, “Glen will step back as a...