Disney Releasing ‘Wish’ Songs Every Wednesday Until November 22, Tickets On Sale Now

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Walt Disney Animation Studios will release “This Wish” from their upcoming film “Wish” on Wednesday, October 18. They shared a clip of the song on X, embedded below.

“This Wish” is performed by Ariana DeBose as Asha. Disney will release a new song from “Wish” on every Wednesday until the film’s release on November 22, 2023.

Tickets are now on sale for “Wish.”

Wish

wish movie poster asha

“Wish” uses a mix of 2D and 3D animation as an homage to Disney’s animation history. It features original songs by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, and a score by David Metzger (“Tarzan,” “Frozen,” “Frozen II”).

It’s directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, from a script by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore. Buck and Lee previously directed both “Frozen” films. It will be Veerasunthorn feature directorial debut. It’s produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes.

Buck said of the film, “Our heroine, Asha, lives in Rosas, known as the kingdom of wishes. People come from everywhere to give their wishes to a magical king who promises to grant their deepest desires—someday. Only he can decide which wishes will come true and when.”

destination d23 asha wish

Asha will appear at Disney Parks after the film’s release. She made her live-action debut at Destination D23.

Veerasunthorn added, “We have been inspired by so many iconic films over Disney Animation’s 100 years, especially stories where we explore the power of someone with a wish, combined with the conviction to make that wish come true. Being able to honor that legacy with this incredible story and these amazing characters has been a joy for our entire team.”

Buck and Veerasunthorn said the film will feature many “legacy nods” to classic Disney films. “Wish” seeks to answer the question, “How did the wishing star upon which so many of our beloved characters wish come to be?”

20 minutes of “Wish” was played at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June. “Once Upon a Studio” also premiered at the festival, receiving a standing ovation. The animated short also uses a combination of 2D and 3D animation, along with live-action footage. Disney brought back more than 40 voice actors to reprise their roles and pulled from the archives to use dialogue from past actors like Robin Williams as the Genie. “Once Upon a Studio” will play in front of “Wish” when the movie opens in theaters.

Walt Disney Animation Studios Producer Passes Away

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Unfortunately, the Walt Disney family lost a beloved member of its animation department. Randy Fullmer was a long-time admired and successful Walt Disney Animation Studios Producer and Effects Animator. Throughout his career, Randy Fullmer made significant contributions to the animation industry, helping to bring memorable characters and stories to life. His work played a crucial role in shaping the success and impact of Walt Disney Animation Studios. He was 73.

Throughout his life, Randall Wyn Fullmer was a film producer known best for his work in animation. Primarily working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, he was involved in various successful and now iconic projects. As a producer, Fullmer collaborated with renowned directors like Ron Clements and John Musker, while contributing to the creation of beloved Disney animated films.

Some of his notable credits include working as an associate producer on The Little Mermaid (1989), as well as producing films like Aladdin (1992) and Mulan (1998). Fullmer also held positions such as a production manager on the critically acclaimed Beauty and the Beast (1991). Randy Fullmer worked on effects animation on Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and eventually was an artistic coordinator on The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Fullmer was a graduate of CalArts, a school known for birthing animation genius, and ran his own business providing educational content for Sesame Street. He started what would be his 18-year-long career with Walt Disney Animation Studios working on Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1987.

One of Randy Fullmer’s biggest successes was saving Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove. Disney animation honored his legacy with this tweet today,

In commemoration of Randy Fullmer’s life of many talents and interests, we share this iconic moment from The Emperor’s New Groove. Randy was producer for The Emperor’s New Groove and Chicken Little, and played a key role in guiding the studio through significant technological shifts in the ’90s. He bridged the artistic and technical departments in multiple films, including The Lion King, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.

Fullmer retired from animation after Chicken Little and produced a documentary, Restrung, about his new passion – making beautiful bass guitars and satisfying his artistic creativity in a new medium.

First trailer drops for new Disney+ ‘Frozen’ series: ‘Olaf Presents!’

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Via DisDining.com

Disney’s Frozen is arguably the most popular and most successful animated film of the 21st century, and we think we know why.

If you compare Frozen to its other Disney animated film counterparts, there’s not a massive difference. In fact, the similarities are quite obvious. Each one, for the most part, is one part fairy tale, one part Disney-esque retelling, and one part life lesson. The story of Princess Anna and Queen Elsa doesn’t stray too far from the original recipe.

It does, however, add in a special ingredient that makes the film even more irresistible–and his name is Olaf. Has there ever been a more loving and lovable character? We think not, and apparently, Disney has quite the affinity for the lovable snowman as well because he’s landed his very own Disney+ series, called Olaf Presents.

The series was talked about when Bob Chapek declared November 12 “Disney+ Day” last month. (It is, after all, the anniversary of the platform going live in 2019.)

The new series promises to give us more of the adorable snowman we love as he retells some of Disney’s most beloved stories–and with a flair all his own! Take a look.

We think we like Olaf’s impersonation of Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid the best, so far.

This won’t be Olaf’s first time to retell the story from a Disney feature film. After all, he did a pretty good job of retelling the story of Frozen in Frozen 2.

From the clips in the first trailer for Olaf Presents, we can see that he’s been practicing his take on Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Moana, and we can’t wait to see which other Disney tales get an Olaf makeover!

You can stream Olaf Presents beginning Friday, November 12 on Disney+.

Disney Legend, Ruthie Tompson Passes Away at Age 111

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Today we are learning the sad news that Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson has passed away at 111 years old. Ruthie dedicated nearly 40 years to The Walt Disney Company and worked on virtually every Disney animated feature from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs up through The Rescuers, then retired in 1975. Ruthie celebrated her 111th birthday on July 22nd, 2021.

Ruthie was quoted saying “I used to walk by the Disney Bros. storefront,” she once recalled. “I was curious and snooped around, and, finally, they invited me in for a look. After that, I’d visit quite often. I remember sitting on the bench and watching Roy shoot the animated cels onto film.” “Once Roy asked us, neighborhood kids, to play tag in the street, while he photographed us with a movie camera,” she continued. “I suppose it was for the Alice Comedies; he paid each of us a quarter, which I was glad for because I could buy licorice.”

According to D23, Walt Disney offered 18-year-old Ruthie a job as a painter in the Ink and Paint department, where she helped put the finishing touches on the Studio’s first full-length animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which premiered in 1937. She was soon promoted to the final checker, reviewing the animation cels before they were photographed onto film. By 1948, Ruthie again transferred to animation checking and scene planning. As a result of her adept skill at guiding camera movement for animated films, in 1952 Ruthie was invited to join the International Photographers Union, Local 659 of the IATSE. She was one of the first three women to be admitted into the Hollywood camera union.

“Ruthie Tompson’s technical mind led her to be named supervisor of the Scene Planning department at The Walt Disney Studios. There, she helped to establish the camera mechanics used to photograph animated scenes and background art onto film. As Bob Broughton, a Disney Legend and former Disney supervisor of special photographic effects, recalled, “Ruthie was mechanically inclined. She was excellent at figuring out the mathematical and mechanical logistics of camera moves.”

The Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, took to social media on October 11 to share: “RIP Ruthie Thompson…a true animation legend. Her contributions to Disney—from Snow White to The Rescuers—remain beloved classics to this day. While we will miss her smile & wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work & pioneering spirit will forever inspire us.”

Disney Releases First “Encanto” Trailer

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Walt Disney Animation Studios has dropped the first teaser trailer for Disney’s newest animated film, “Encanto”! This newbie won’t be arriving until November but with this new trailer, we’re left eager to know and see more about the film.

As shared by Disney: “You’re invited into the exceptional, fantastical and magical Casa Madrigal. Watch the new trailer for Disney’s Encanto now! See the movie this November. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto,” is the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The all-new original film features the voice of Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel, an ordinary 15-year-old who’s struggling to find her place in her family. “Mirabel is a really funny, loving character who also deeply yearns for something more,” says Beatriz. “She’s also not afraid to stand up for what she knows is right—something I love and relate to very much.”