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Even a whopping eight years after the original "Moana" first hit theaters and instantly became a modern Disney classic, it sure seems like there's no telling how far the sequel will go (see what I did there?) in its quest to capture that lightning in a bottle all over again. For the nerds among us, the early box office tracking is pointing towards another Thanksgiving weekend juggernaut, much like what happened with its predecessor back in 2016. As far as general audiences are concerned, the marketing for "Moana 2" -- with trailers foregrounding the fan-favorite title character, the return of Dwayne Johnson's chaotic demi-god Maui, and those lovable coconuts -- has been as on-point as we'd expect from a major Disney production. All signs are pointing up as we sail headfirst into the final days before release ... but how about what critics have to say?

With the animated blockbuster set...

Moana 2 Box Office: Advance Booking Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Moana 2 is prepping for the big day, which is just a few weeks away. It has already set a new record for this year. On Monday, the advance booking for the Walt Disney Animation Studios tentpole surpassed this year’s biggest blockbuster, Inside Out 2, in terms of pre-sales. The movie will arrive along with two other big movies, Wicked Part 1 and Gladiator II. Scroll below for the deets.

For the unversed, it is the sequel to the 2016 movie, which was directed by Chris Williams and Don Hall. It was praised by the critics, and financially, the movie was a big success. Fans have waited long for the sequel, and the popularity is so high that another live-action remake is being developed. Dwayne Johnson returns as the voice of Maui and Auli’i Cravalho in the titular character’s voice.

At some point or another, most children view their parents as monsters — but for Princess Ellian (Rachel Zegler), a spell really did transform her royal parents (Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem) into monsters in the upcoming animated Netflix film “Spellbound” (streaming November 22). Watch the new trailer below.

The second animated feature from John Lasseter-led Skydance Animation (part of the impending Paramount-Skydance Media merger), the musical fantasy from director Vicky Jenson (“Shrek”) is a modern fairy tale that takes place in the mythical kingdom of Lumbria as Princess Ellian embarks on “an invigorating quest” to break the spell. Boasting bright, eye-catching animation from Skydance Animation Madrid, the look of Lumbria (production designed by Brett Nystul) was influenced by the iconic architecture of ancient Spain, known for its domed rooftops and Moorish arches.

There is a decidedly Disney-esque musical spectacle propelling this modern fairy tale, led by eight-time Oscar...

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The Wild Robot is an animated sci-fi survival adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Sanders. Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by author Peter Brown, the 2024 film follows Roz, a service robot whose ship crash lands on an uninhabited island and now she must make herself familiar with her new surroundings and the local wildlife. Roz soon makes an unlikely connection with an orphaned goose named Brightbill. The Wild Robot’s voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O’Hara, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames. So, if you loved the vibrant visuals, emotional and hilariously heartwarming story, and compelling characters in The Wild Robot here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Iron Giant (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Warner Bros.

The Iron Giant...

Another day, another former Disney creative leaves the studio to join another. This time, it is Don Hall, perhaps best known for his directorial work on films such as Big Hero 6, Moana, and Raya and the Last Dragon.

When he joined the studio his first major project was 1999’s Tarzan. He would go on to work on films such as The Emperor’s New Groove, Brother Bear, and Chicken Little.

He eventually climbed the ladder and wrote the screenplay for 2007’s Meet the Robinsons. His directorial debut finally came with 2011’s Winnie the Pooh. He would make back-to-back hits with Big Hero 6 in 2014 and Moana in 2016. His later films, such as Raya and the Last Dragon and Strange World, however, left much to be desired.

In addition to writing and directing, Hall would also be part of the creative leadership team on films such as Zootipia, Ralph Breaks the Internet,...

Skydance Animation is getting into business with Oscar-winning filmmaker Don Hall.

Hall, known for such Disney movies as Big Hero 6 and the original Moana, has closed a deal with the company. The pact will see him create, develop and produce an original animated feature for Skydance, although project details are not currently available.

The filmmaker launched his career with Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he worked on such features as Tarzan (1999), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) and Chicken Little (2005). Later, he was credited as head of story on Meet the Robinsons (2007) and The Princess and the Frog (2009) before directing the animated musical movie Winnie the Pooh (2011).

Hall directed the 2014 Disney film Big Hero 6, in addition to serving as executive producer for its Disney+ spinoff series Baymax! He earned an Oscar alongside fellow director Chris Williams and producer Roy Conli when the title prevailed for best animated feature at the 2015 Academy Awards ceremony.

Arriving on the heels of “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” — a true milestone of superstar transparency where Jennifer Lopez expressed a clear-eyed view of her current career status — “Atlas” feels like an underwhelming return to the kind of projects that have maintained Lopez’ place in the Hollywood firmament, but not the ones that catapulted her there in the first place.

One of her few science fiction-themed films, its novelty alone should make it stand out, especially with Brad Peyton, a reliable purveyor of large-scale spectacle in the director’s chair. But a dearth of original ideas undercuts the appeal of “Atlas,” leaving Lopez to fend for herself in much the same way her character is forced to in the film’s formulaic story.

Lopez plays the title character, a coffee-addicted, “rigid and hostile” data analyst whose mother Val (Lana Parilla) developed the first artificial-intelligence being, Harlan (Simu Liu), when Atlas was just a child.

Mexican-us filmmaker Carlos López Estrada will deliver Sundance Film Festival: London’s keynote address at the festival’s third annual industry programme, with further speakers confirmed from Studiocanal, BFI, BBC Film, Film4, Bafta and Sky.

The festival runs at London’s Picturehouse Central from June 6-9.

López Estrada’s director credits include his feature debut Blindpostting which opened Sundance in 2018, and animation Raya And The Last Dragon, which he co-directed with Don Hall.

As a producer, he is founder of Antigravity Academy, a production company specialising in creating opportunities for emerging talent. Antigravity’s first produced project, Dìdi (弟弟), written and directed by Sean Wang,...

Moana is returning to the big screen. Disney on February 7 announced the surprise release of “Moana 2,” a sequel to the 2016 Disney animated classic.

The film will open wide in theaters November 27, 2024. It is an animated feature and is separate from the live-action “Moana” film starring original animated star Dwayne Johnson that remains in the works for a summer 2025 release. Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the news on CNBC ahead of the company’s earnings call on Wednesday.

“Moana 2” was previously developed as a Disney+ series, but it will now be made into a feature film with a theatrical release. It’s unclear which (if any) cast from the original animated hit is involved.

Check out the first look and a teaser trailer below:

Per an official Disney release, “Moana 2” is “another animated musical that takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers.

Disney Boss Bob Iger announced today that Moana 2 is coming out as a feature — this November. Iger exclaimed the news in a CNBC interview before the studio’s Q1 earnings on how the studio was turning a Moana TV series into a feature sequel. This despite the fact that a live-action version with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role of Maui from the original 2016 film is also planned for a theatrical release on June 27, 2025.

Note, Disney books the Thanksgiving five-day Wednesday-Sunday stretch with an animated movie annually. It always had a November 27 release date set for a toon feature.

“Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise,” said Iger, “and we can’t wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when Moana 2 comes to theaters this November.”

Related: ‘Percy Jackson’ Renewed For Season 2 By Disney+

Part 2 will take audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers.

“Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme.” The magic of Disney Princess movies is indeed timeless. These films, from “Cinderella” to “Moana,” have captivated audiences worldwide with their enchanting tales, breathtaking animation, and unforgettable characters. But which are truly the best? Which ones stand the test of time, enchanting audiences young and old? In this article, we’ll present the best Disney Princess movies in order, based on viewer ratings and critical acclaim.

Related: 20 Best Disney Movies For Toddlers

Over the years, IMDb ratings, popularity indexes, Metascores, and more have painted a picture of the impact of each film. Whether you’re revisiting these classics or discovering them for the first time, let this guide illuminate the magic and wonder of Disney’s most beloved heroines.

10 ‘The Princess and the Frog’ (2009)

IMDb: 7.1/10 159K | Popularity: 1190 | Metascore: 73

Duration: 1h 37m | Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements

Cast: Anika Noni Rose,...

Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers will bypass a theatrical run in France and go straight to Prime Video.

Amazon in a June 19 statement said the tennis-themed movie — which stars Zendaya, The Crown’s Josh O’Connor and West Side Story breakout Mike Faist — will launch exclusively in France on Prime Video as it skips a release in French theaters.

The announcement came as Prime Video unveiled nine new original productions for the streaming platform in France, including Le Stupéfiant Noël des Silestone, Sulak and Tigres et Hyènes, and five new acquisitions, including the second season of Coeurs Noirs.

The decision to skip a French theatrical release follows the country introducing strict windowing regulations that require a 17-month period between a film’s theatrical release and its debut on a streaming platform in France. That compares to an average window of around 45 days between theatrical release and SVOD bow in most territories worldwide.

Disney is setting sail with Moana once again, this time in vibrant live action. The studio has teamed with Dwayne Johnson to develop a live-action remake of its 2016 animated musical sensation.

Johnson plans to return to the role of Maui, the grandiose demigod of the wind and sea. He will produce via his Seven Bucks Productions along with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia. Beau Flynn produces via Flynn Picture Co. Jared Bush, who wrote the screenplay for the original movie, is back to write the remake, along with Dana Ledoux Miller. No director is involved at this stage of development.

Disney CEO Bob Iger and Johnson shared the news during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting Monday.

“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength,” said Johnson. “I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this...

Burny Mattinson, a Disney animator, director, producer and story artist, died on Monday, Feb. 27, in Canoga Park, Calif., following a short illness. He was 87.

Mattinson’s death was confirmed by The Walt Disney Company, his longtime employer. Mattinson was the longest-serving Disney employee and was set to receive the first ever 70th-anniversary service award this June.

Born in San Francisco on May 13, 1935, Mattinson was first inspired to pursue a career in animation after seeing “Pinocchio” at age 6. He began drawing in hopes to recreate the Disney animation style. By the time he finished high school, Mattinson joined The Walt Disney Company and in just six months moved from the mailroom to an animation in-betweener on “Lady and the Tramp.”

Academy Award-winning Disney director Don Hall said, “For almost 30 years, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ to ‘Big Hero 6’ to, most recently,...

Animator, director, producer and story artist Burny Mattinson, who joined the Walt Disney Company at the end of its first great run of films, when Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942) were new and an in-his-prime Walt Disney was just 42 years old, died today. He was 87. He was the last full-time Walt Disney Studios employee who had worked at the company when Walt Disney still ran it.

Seeing the studio’s Pinocchio at the age of six convinced Mattinson he wanted to work in animation. “Ever since I saw that film, this was my dream—to work in this business,” he recalled years later. “So I worked every day, drawing.”

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Burny Mattinson, a Disney Legend who served as an animator, producer, director and story artist in his nearly 70-year career with the studio, died Monday at the age of 87 following a short illness. Disney announced his death on their official website.

The story goes that Mattinson, who was born in San Francisco in 1935, was transformed when his mother took him to see Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio” at the age of 6. He knew what he wanted to do. As Don Hahn, who produced some of Disney’s most beloved movies during the Disney Renaissance, said of Mattinson’s life: “His life could be a Disney movie: teenaged kid shows up at the Disney gate with his portfolio under his arm and stays for 70 years. He was our story sensei, a brilliant draftsman who showed us what it was like to grind on a story until it was right.”

Mattinson’s first...

Jake Gyllenhaal has unfinished business to resolve in the first trailer for director Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film The Covenant.

The MGM military thriller, hitting theaters April 21, stars Gyllenhaal as Army Sergeant John Kinley, who is rescued during a tour in Afghanistan by his interpreter, played by Dar Salim. The footage shows Kinley grappling with whether to put himself back in harm’s way to rescue Ahmed.

“If it wasn’t enough for him to carry me across those mountains, now he’s hiding in a hole somewhere,” Gyllenhaal’s character says somberly in the trailer. “I should be in that hole.”

He later adds, “Ahmed and his family are in trouble. I am gonna have to get him out myself.”

The cast also includes Alexander Ludwig, Antony Starr, Jason Wong, Bobby Schofield, Sean Sagar, Sina Parvaneh, Emily Beecham, Cyrus Khodaveisi and Christian Ochoa.

Initially entitled The Interpreter, Ritchie wrote...

This story about “Strange World” first appeared in the Awards Preview issue of TheWrap awards magazine.

“Strange World” is an atypical movie for Walt Disney Animation Studios. There aren’t any princesses or enchantments, and the one song is very brief and more of a gag than anything else. It follows the Clade family, a group of explorers always pushing up against what is possible. After Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) goes missing, his son Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) winds up with an even bigger discovery: Pando, a farmable energy source that turns their sequestered kingdom into a technological powerhouse. But when the energy source starts to falter, Searcher must embark on a journey to uncover the mystery and save his world. To save the world he must journey within it.

Their descent into the strange world of the film’s title is one of the most gripping in the movie. Their airship,...

Ethan (Strange World) Ethan in Strange World

French and Belgian comics inspired the characters in Disney Animation’s Strange World, which follows three generations of explorers, including teen Ethan. “He’s designed to have more realistic proportions, in contrast to other, wiry Disney teens like Hiro Hamada or Mowgli,” explains director Don Hall. “He’s biracial, and we wanted his skin tone to reflect both his mother, Meridian, and father, Searcher, and our team worked with Black hair experts to get his locks just right.” Textiles, he adds, took a cue from woven fabrics from environments like the Himalayas, with buttons and ties instead of zippers. “Given Ethan’s journey from unsettled teen to conservationist, we opted for a kind of laid-back, ‘granola’ vibe, with his green cutoff farm pants being the only subtle clue as to his internal conflict with his father’s expectations for him.” His vest is deep blue with red trim.

After working on Moana, director Don Hall was left thinking about the world he is leaving behind for his children. This thought gave birth to Strange World, an adventure story with an environmental theme. The film follows the legendary Clade family, as they explore the unknown regions of Avalonia. Jaeger (Dennis Quaid), Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) are three generations of the family, each with different opinions that conflict and threaten their latest mission. Producer Roy Conli was drawn in by the story of generational conflict between three generations of a family.

Deadline: Where did the idea for Strange World come from?

Strange World, from left: Callisto Mal (voice: Lucy Liu), Jaeger Clade (voice: Dennis Quaid), Searcher Clade (voice: Jake Gyllenhaal), Splat, Ethan Clade (voice: Jaboukie Young-White), Meridian Clade

Don Hall: The idea came around 2017, I was just coming off of Moana and thinking...

2022 has made it very clear that we are living in a golden age of animation.

The wildly different styles of animation, a wide variety of stories being told and an equally wide array of audiences being targeted (and not just children!), 2022 felt like an adventurous, experimental time for the medium, where even major studios like Pixar and DreamWorks were embracing new techniques and aesthetics. (And 2023 looks even more adventurous!)

Here are the very best animated features of 2022:

10. Strange World Disney

It’s rare for a movie that was only released a few weeks ago to feel unfairly overlooked, but in the case of “Strange World,” it’s the truth. Granted, the movie wasn’t the easiest sell – it is set in a pre-industrial world that becomes technologically complex thanks to a magical vine, only when that vine starts to die it leads to a desperate mission underground. And every...

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu | Written by Qui Nguyen | Directed by Don Hall

A journey deep into an uncharted and treacherous land, where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades – a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest, and by far most crucial, mission.

It’s extremely disappointing to see how Disney’s new animated feature Strange World came out. It’s the sixty-first film released by the juggernaut studio, following the immense success of their previous projects such as Encanto and the wildly popular Frozen II.

Although director Don Hall definitely had some bold ideas for where this film could go, he ultimately ended up crafting a massively forgettable film that strangely forgets to inject the heart and joy into the story, which is a hugely important aspect of any Disney movie.

Despite the fact that this movie focuses on some crazy,...

As awards season shifts into high gear, acclaimed directors, actors, producers, screenwriters, composers, animators and more — headlined by the likes of directors Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Ryan Coogler — joined Variety for the virtual FYC Fest, dedicated to highlighting this year’s most celebrated films. Over the course of multiple panels, Variety editors and writers spoke with the creatives behind some of this year’s biggest awards season contenders about how their critically-lauded films came to be.

Here are the six biggest takeaways from this year’s virtual FYC Fest.

‘Big’ Movies Don’t Have to Be Action Blockbusters

During the Making of “The Fabelmans” panel, director Steven Spielberg was joined by many of the film’s creatives, such as producer Kristie Macosko, editor Michael Kahn and more, to talk about how they brought the longtime director’s autobiographical story to life. During the conversation, they discussed the film’s...

Click here to read the full article.

Disney Animation’s Strange World, which took inspiration from adventures such as King Kong and Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, is about discovery and family, and the characters learning that their world is just as much a living thing as they are.

The story centers on three generations of a family: Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), a farmer who as a teen discovered a plant-based power source that changed the world; Searcher’s dad, Jaeger (Dennis Quaid), a legendary explorer; and Searcher’s son Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), a 16-year-old who helps on the farm but is unsure about following in his father’s footsteps. Their home, in Avalonia, is in trouble — the power source is fading — setting in motion a journey beneath the surface into a fantastical, colorful world to find the root of the problem. This world includes...

Disney’s Strange World is heading to Disney+ on December 23, the streamer announced Monday.

The animated family film has been a disappointment at the box office, grossing 30.4M domestically since its weak opening over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and 50.4M worldwide.

The Walt Disney Animation Studios pic centers around a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob called Splat; Legend, the family dog; and a slew of ravenous creatures.

The A-list voice cast is led by Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission, and Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger, along with Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old, adventure-seeking son, Ethan, Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal,...

Something strange is coming to Disney+ on December 23. Prepare yourselves for an adventure spanning strange worlds, and countless stars, with no limits to where your imagination can go. I’m excited to report Disney’s Strange World is heading to the mouse-eared streaming service in time for the holidays on December 23!

Per Disney’s official press release:

Disney’s Strange World introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob called Splat; Legend, the family dog; and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast includes Academy Award- and Tony Award-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Emmy- and two-time Golden Globe-nominee Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; comedian, actor, writer, filmmaker, and musician Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old,...

This post contains spoilers for "Strange World."

"Strange World" is full of adventure and heart. /Film writer Josh Spiegel called it "singular and unforgettable," and for good reason. "Strange World" is a magnificently detailed world that immerses the audience in wonder, a real visual treat. Co-written and co-directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, the adventure fantasy follows the Clades clan in their community of Avalonia. Surrounded by craggy, snow-capped mountains, they desperately need to "make a discovery that could change Avalonia," as the character Jaeger (Dennis Quaid) says in a pivotal early scene. Their village is barely getting by and residents humbly accept their modest lifestyle, if not headstrong for something more.

Beneath the shiny exterior, "Strange World" pulses with rich themes spanning capitalism, inherited toxicity, and existential questions about purpose. Kids will most assuredly not pick up on many of these nuanced conversations, which also include what it...

Click here to read the full article.

“This year, it’s very telling that all the animated movies are concerned with death. And also fathers, sons, daughters, mothers. Really, two themes unifying all our movies,” Guillermo del Toro observed as he and his fellow animators gathered to talk shop in a virtual roundtable on Nov. 2. In the stop-motion Pinocchio, directors del Toro and Mark Gustafson reimagine the oft-told tale of the puppet who yearns to be a real boy in 1930s Fascist Italy, while Joel Crawford’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish continues the adventures of another familiar character as he confronts his ninth and possibly final life. Henry Selick’s stop-motion Wendell & Wild revolves around an orphaned girl who teams up with two demons from the underworld; Nora Twomey’s My Father’s Dragon, based on the children’s novel, tells of a young boy who joins forces...

Click here to read the full article.

As December approaches, Netflix is giving the well-reviewed Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio a high-profile debut.

Netflix Animation — despite its challenging year on the business side — has a strong and varied slate of animated feature contenders, the most notable being del Toro’s moving stop-motion retelling of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, which is having a limited theatrical rollout ahead of its Dec. 9 streaming debut.

Netflix burst onto the animation scene in 2019, releasing its first original animated feature, the Christmas movie Klaus, directed by Sergio Pablos, as well as French film I Lost My Body, from Jérémy Clapin. Both movies earned Oscar nominations in 2020, and Netflix has had at least one category nomination each year since. It did win an animated short Oscar in 2021, for If Anything Happens I Love You, but the streaming service is still vying for its first animated feature category win.

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“Strange World” landed with a thud this past weekend — its underwhelming 19 million gross contributed to the worst Thanksgiving in box office history. But those who ventured to see Disney’s latest animated feature might have a different onomatopoeia on their minds: Splat, as in the sci-fi adventure’s mischievous scene-stealer. The blue blob comes off as a cross between The Magic Carpet from “Aladdin” and Stitch from “Lilo & Stitch,” with a little Mickey Mouse thrown in as well. It’s also the film’s most complex character, given that it’s faceless, can’t talk, and communicates with the aid of its seven tentacles.

Also, director Don Hall was adamant that Splat couldn’t shape shift. For the animators, it was like playing charades with balloon animals. “I was hopeful that it would be a fun, pantomime character, but they took it to a whole other level,” Hall told IndieWire.

This post contains spoilers for "Strange World."

It's been said that "life imitates art," but the expression also works the way around in terms of "writing what you know." Taking inspiration from your own lived experience has been responsible for some of the most powerful stories of the ages like "Almost Famous" by Cameron Crowe, Steven Spielberg's latest masterpiece "The Fabelmans," or the upcoming Disney+ series "American Born Chinese," which is based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. But I'm not sure that too many people out there want to relive the lockdown period of an ongoing pandemic through their entertainment just yet. There have definitely been recent projects that have tackled the topic in unique and inventive ways like the "Mythic Quest: Quarantine" special or Bo Burnham's "Inside," but it's probably better to put a general moratorium on movies about viruses or pandemics for a few years.

“Strange World” director Don Hall was thinking about his children and the world they would inherit when he got the idea for Disney’s latest animated feature. Hall, whose credits include “Raya and the Last Dragon,” says he wanted to tell a story about the environment. “This idea of the world existing on a back of a living thing was cool,” Hall says.

Hall and the team of animators looked into the body, the nervous system and even a body’s digestive system through a microscopic lens. He says, “We started seeing landscapes in actual microscopic imagery and I got really excited.” Hall says he let production designer Mehrdad Isvandi run wild with ideas over what the world could look like.

Screenwriter Qui Nguyen adds that while Hall had mapped out much of the story, it was pitched as “Indiana Jones meets National Lampoon’s Vacation.” But this was also about...

Five of the creative talents behind animated films looking to gain traction in this year’s Oscar race sat down with Gold Derby recently and discussed subjects including what inspired them to get into animation and what they’d like to see from the medium in the future. This was all part of Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel on Film Animation that included Pierre Perifel (“The Bad Guys”), Peggy Holmes (“Luck”), Mark Gustafson (“Pinocchio”), Joel Crawford (“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”) and Don Hall (“Strange World”).

You can watch the film animation group panel above with the people behind these five projects. Click on each person’s name above to be taken to each exclusive video interview.

For Holmes, it wasn’t a particular movie that made her fascinated with animation but an encounter she had when she used to work as a choreographer. Two music executives...

For “Strange World” director, Don Hall, creating the film’s incredible realms was definitely a challenge but one he saw as a beautiful challenge. “We did a lot of research into different biomes and living systems. Ultimately, what I really wanted is just to kind of create a blank space,” he tells Gold Derby during our recent Meet the Experts: Film Animation panel (watch the exclusive video interview above).

He brought the blank canvas to the animators over at Disney and they let their imaginations go wild. “I was just sort of the cheerleader, you know, ushering them to go weirder, go stranger and just embrace the limits of their creativity, which was boundless. It led to a really unique, specific and beautiful world.”

See Oscar Best Animated Feature Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Awards History

“Strange World,” which is currently in theaters, focuses on the Clade family which is made up of legendary explorers.

Click here to read the full article.

Kelly Marie Tran and her Raya and the Last Dragon director Carlos López Estrada (who helmed the Oscar-winning animated feature alongside Don Hall) are officially coming together professionally.

The pair have launched production company Antigravity Academy, which will develop and produce movies, television, theater and short-form content from and about people from historically excluded communities.

Aga has tapped Winsor Yuan, previously vice president of film and television at Jared Stern’s A Stern Talking To, to run its film and TV division, while short form (which includes music videos, commercials and branded content) will be headed by Doug Klinger, who co-founded the Internet Music Video Database and was most recently an agent and executive producer at Reprobates, whose roster of music video directors includes López Estrada.

In addition, Aga will run an incubator, led by former Sundance Institute director of Artist Community Abiram Brizuela,...

You know how the saying goes: If you build it, they will come. So when a studio does the exact opposite of "build it," well, I guess we can't be too surprised by the inevitable outcome.

The release of "Strange World" (you can read /Film's review by Josh Spiegel here) should've been cause for celebration. Not only is any project from the vaunted halls of Walt Disney Animation Studios worthy of our attention (especially at a time when animation as a medium struggles to receive its due), but doubly so for one that comes from such pulpy roots and features a bounty of family-friendly messages, too. Unfortunately, the animated film ended up making history for much less enviable reasons.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, "Strange World" debuted to a paltry amount of box office receipts after a noticeable lack of marketing. As the smoke clears, it's become apparent that the Don Hall...

Disney Animation's "Strange World" is now in theaters, and the movie about three generations of the Clade family finding themselves in a land unlike anything they've ever seen makes for a delightful film to see with your own family over the Thanksgiving holiday.

If you've seen "Strange World," you also know there's some surprises in store for the Clades as well as for the audience. I talked with director Don Hall and writer/co-director Qui Nguyen about that major reveal (and where they got inspiration for it), the movie's score and its "Raiders of the Lost Ark" feel, and how the game in the movie actually exists in our not-so-strange world. I also got to ask Nguyen about another Disney project he's working on with Ryan Reynolds.

This interview contains spoilers for "Strange World" and was lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

'Not In A Hippy Dippy Way, But In A Real,...

"Resident Alien" star Alan Tudyk has had a number of memorable roles throughout his career. In terms of movies, long-time fans look back fondly on the parts he played in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," "A Knight's Tale," and "Tucker & Dale vs Evil." He even had that memorable guest spot on an episode of "Frasier" as the new owner of Kacl that Dr. Crane takes under his wing. Although, his most beloved role to date is probably still the fun-loving pilot Hoban "Wash" Washburne from Joss Whedon's "Firefly" and its feature film sequel "Serenity."

However, to many members of his modern fanbase, Tudyk is likely more known for his voiceover work. He can be heard in "Ice Age," "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," "Young Justice," "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," and HBO's "Harley Quinn," among many other projects across film, TV, video games, and more. But...

Strange World Review — Strange World (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, written by Qui Nguyen and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, Jaboukie Young-White, Lucy Liu, Karan Soni, Alan Tudyk, Adelina Anthony, Abraham Benrubi, Jonathan Melo, Nik Dodani, Francesca Reale, Emily Kuroda, Katie Lowes, Lanisa Renee [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Strange World (2022): Disney’s Latest Animated Movie Works Best When it Focuses on Family-Related Themes...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the movie "Strange World."

"Strange World" tests the bonds of love and the importance of family through a sci-fi adventure. Director Don Hall and writer/co-director Qui Nguyen have sculpted an extraordinary world full of bizarre creatures. In crafting such a magnificent world, the creative team sought out pulp fiction and films like "The Matrix," approaching the environment with an eye toward flipping expectations. Instead of crafting your usual landscapes littered with trees and rocks, production designer Mehrdad Isvandi wanted to bring a sense of whimsy and playful colors to the screen. In the way Isvandi uses "every color except green ... our brains don't know how to feel." Isvandi adds, "We challenged ourselves to design a world that felt otherworldly yet grounded and relatable, and also not too beautiful to be distracting."

With a voice cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Lucy Liu, and Dennis Quaid,...

The directors of the newly released Disney film Strange World have explained the big twist.

Strange World focuses on the Clades, a family of renowned explorers who must work together to journey across a mysterous land and save a powerful resource called the Pando.

However, all is not quite as it seems – towards the end of the film, the Clades learn something about their world which usurps all expectations.

Spoilers follow for Strange World – you have been warned!

As it turns out, the region of Avalonia in which the Clades live is actually situated atop the shell of a huge turtle, swimming around the oceans.

What’s more, the creatures the Clades encounter attacking the Pando in the “Strange World” are in fact aspects of the turtle’s immune system.

The Pando plant around which Avalonia has structured its society is poisonous to the giant turtle – leading the Clades to...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on Wssr-fm on November 23rd, reviewing the new Disney animated film “Strange World,” in theaters beginning November 23rd.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Jaeger Clade (voice of Dennis Quaid) and his son Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) are explorers in the land of Avalonia, a land-locked territory surrounded by mountains, and the inhabitants have never been outside of it. When Searcher discovers a cash crop called Pando while on one of the explorations, he abandons his father and goes back to Avalonia to raise the crop and settle down. After marrying Meridian (Gabrielle Union) and having a son named Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), a disruption in the planting season forces him back as an explorer, where all his past will be present.

“Strange World” opens in theaters on November 23rd. Featuring the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Gabrielle Union, Jaboukie Young-White, Dennis Quaid and Lucy Liu.

The box office woes are far from the whole story about the three awards-worthy films that opened or expanded over Thanksgiving weekend – MGM/Uar’s “Bones and All,” Sony Pictures’ “Devotion” and Walt Disney’s “Strange World.” Despite low financial returns, the studios are forging ahead in their bids for Academy Awards attention, as they should.

The cannibal feature “Bones and All” struggled to bring audiences to the theaters despite the star power of Timothée Chalamet. Still, for those who love it (spoiler alert: me), it’s one of the year’s best films, with its bloody embodiment of teenage love, meticulous crafts and high-caliber performances that elicit a passionate response.

It might not work for voters who are squeamish about severed fingers and blood dripping on nice furniture, but the film won prizes for its director Luca Guadganino and best young actress for star Taylor Russell when premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Strange World."

In the new Disney Animation film, "Strange World," the Clade family lives in a land nestled in the center of a mountain range. The mountains are unpassable ... not that Jaeger Clade (voiced by Dennis Quaid) believes that. He and a group of explorers set off to try to find out what's on the other side of the range, but when his son Searcher (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal) finds a plant that can bring electricity to the land, he and the rest of the group turn back. Jaeger isn't seen again for 25 years.

When things start going wrong with their powers source, the land's leader, Callisto (voice of Lucy Liu), calls on Searcher — now a farmer of these plants — to help her discover the issue. They along with his wife, Meridian (voiced by Gabrielle Union), their son, Ethan (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White), and the family's three-legged dog,...

Every so often, Disney Animation veers from the path.

Veteran Disney producer Don Hahn said he called it “turning left at the castle.” His analogy was built on theme park geography: instead of heading through the castle to Fantasyland, you would veer left, into Adventureland – an area full of hidden danger, wild creatures and very few songs.

This week, Walt Disney Animation Studios turns left again with their 61st feature “Strange World,” a story set in a mythological realm that follows three generations – manly adventurer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid), his more intellectual son Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Searcher’s teen son Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) – as they explore a world beneath our own full of bizarre, deadly creatures and equally odd geography. They’re there in an attempt to save our world but uncover a threat that could destroy both.

TheWrap talked to producer Roy Conli, director Don Hall and...

’She Said’, ‘Strange World’, ‘Bones and All’ and ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ all debut.

Sony’s hoping to be top of the class this weekend at the UK-Ireland box office, with BFI London Film Festival premiere Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical playing in 670 sites.

The musical feature is directed by Matthew Warchus, with Dennis Kelly writing and Tim Minchin composing, and is based on the stage musical created by the same trio. Working Title produces, with Netflix releasing around the rest of the world from December, and in the UK in summer 2023.

It boasts a cast including...

To celebrate the release of Strange World, the latest animation from Disney, we had the pleasure of chatting with some of the stars and filmmakers behind this epic new adventure.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-packed adventure “Strange World” introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures.

Chatting to Jake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade) and Jaboukie Young-White (Ethan), we speak about the lure of the film, the messages at the heart of the film and how it pushes boundaries, their love of a good Greggs (watch to find out why this came up) and why fans of Inner Space will love the film.

Next, we chat with filmmakers Don Hall and Qui Nguyen about the long genesis of the film, why the timing was...

With the holiday season quickly approaching, one of the best things to do with the family around this time of the year is to watch movies together. While there are certainly staples featuring the likes of Charlie Brown, the Miser Brothers, Buddy the Elf, or Jack McClane, it can sometimes be difficult to find a movie that truly appeals to the whole family. Well, Walt Disney Pictures has the solution for that problem with their great new film called "Strange World."

Inspired by the pulp adventures of the early 20th century, the film follows the legendary Clade family, who are known to be innovators and adventurers. When their homeland of Avalonia is in danger, they must embark on a treacherous expedition through uncharted land to get to the bottom of their problems. But in order to do that, they must also confront their unresolved issues with each other and get...

Disney’s newest animated family film is out just in time for Thanksgiving weekend. “Strange World” is the first new film from Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2021’s “Encanto,” and hails from some of the same filmmakers as “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Here’s all you need to know to watch the movie, which is from co-directors Don Hall and Qui Nguyen (who also wrote the screenplay).

When Does “Strange World” Come Out?

The animated film opened on Nov. 23.

Is “Strange World” Streaming or in Theaters?

Disney released the film exclusively in theaters, so as of right now the only way to see it is in a movie theater. Check your local listings.

That said, expect it to be streaming on Disney+ sooner rather than later. Perhaps maybe in time for Christmas, like how Disney released “Encanto” on Disney+ just 30 days after it hit theaters.

Who Is in the “Strange World” Voice Cast?...

Disney Animation's latest feature, "Strange World," hits theaters today. The film is an adventurous romp that focuses on themes of father-son relationships and taking care of where you live -- not only for yourself, but for future generations. It also has some twists and surprises that I highly recommend you avoid finding out about before you see the movie.

In "Strange World," we follow the Clade family — grandfather Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid), father Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), mother Meridian Clade (Gabrielle Union), and 16-year-old Ethan Clade (Jaboukie Young-White). Along with their town's leader, Callisto Mal (Lucy Liu), they go on a journey underneath their land and find themselves in a very strange world indeed.

I recently spoke once more with "Strange World" producer Roy Conli before the feature's release. We veered away from major spoilers in the film, but touched on the characters (and the actors who play them), how...