Teaser for Disney Short "Feast"

I'm a sucker for both adorable puppies and delicious food (as you well know), so I'm ready to be delighted by Disney's latest short, Feast, about a puppy's food-slash-life journey. They recently released this teaser for it, which only confirms my pre-delight:



The animation style is really rich and enjoyable, as well. As /Film points out, it's reminiscent of 2012's Paperman but with color and a puppy!

[via /Film]

Tiny Disney Waistlines are More than a Tiny Bit Scary

A Buzzfeed artist adjusted the waistlines of some Disney princesses to be more realistic.

If you look at the photos on the right first, you'll think "those aren't such tiny waists" then you look at the photos on the left and realize, "Oh my God, those princesses have the rib cage of a hummingbird!" It really makes you feel like the original Disney ones are the ones that have been Photoshopped.

An excellent case of showing not telling disproportionate body standards. See them all on Buzzfeed.

Little Mermaid

Tiny Organ-less Mermaid

More 'Moana'!

Makes me miss Hawaii

Disney's big 2016 animated feature, Moana, is about a seafaring teen navigator from the South Pacific islands who goes on an adventure to a fabled land. Apparently there will be demi-gods and sea monsters and all kinds of mythology! Neat! You can read more about the new movie over at /Film.

FIrst Look at Disney Short, "Feast"

Goodness gracious - just take one gander at how flipping adorable this little B-Terrier is in Disney's new short, Feast. What a cute wee beastie!

Who wouldn't want to squeeze that little pup? What a cutie. I can't wait to watch it when it comes out along with Big Hero 6 this November!

[via /Film]

Glen Keane's "Duet" is a wonderful short film

I love a good short film - and I love a good short animated film even more. This short, Duet, from legendary Disney animator Glen Keane (think: Ariel, Tarzan - which you can really see in the male character - Pocahontas, Aladdin, Rapunzel) is simple and beautiful. If you're not an animation lover, you'll enjoy the story and the music. If you are an animation lover, you will see why this guy is a master of the art:



So pure and lovely. And, needless to say, the hand-drawn quality is so refreshing.

Here's a synopsis (though why do you really need one of a short? I have no idea):

Animated in its entirety and directed by Glen Keane (former Disney animator and creator of such beloved characters as Ariel, Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Tarzan and Rapunzel), DUET tells the story of Mia and Tosh and how their individual paths in life weave together to create an inspired duet. The unique, interactive nature of the story allows the viewer to seamlessly follow the journey of either of the two characters from birth to adulthood.

And here's a cool "making of" video:




[via /Film]

Ladies Can Write Marvel Movies, Too!?!

Apparently so! The co-writer of Guardians of the Galaxy opening this week is Nicole Perlman. Considering this is her first produced movie, her career is starting off on a pretty high note. The enormous amount of praise the movie's been getting before its release couldn't hurt, either. Let's hope that a) the movie lives up to the hype and b) Marvel takes the hint and continues to invest in this and other writers who happen to be women. Considering that women make up a majority of moviegoers these days, I'd say it's a smart investment. You can read an interview with Nicole at THR.

Delightful Disney D-Medley

The a cappella group Voices put out this lovely Disney medley, combining three songs about the joy of flight:



Sometimes it's nice hearing a group that performs old-timey songs - really reminds of how that kind of music sounded, since they did so often use choruses in Disney's early musicals. Oddly enough, it makes me want to go watch Lady & The Tramp.

[via HuffPo]

Tim Burton's "Frozen" (Not Really, But Close!)

To lighten things up a bit, I bring you artist YOKO, who created these lovely Tim Burton-inspired Frozen illustrations.

What's cooler than being cool? These awesome drawings. You can see the rest at their Tumblr.

[via Neatorama]

Jennifer Lee of "Frozen" Delivers Graduation Speech

Jennifer Lee, writer and director of the I think now fifth-highest-grossing-movie, Frozen, gave a commencement address to UNC a few weeks ago. Here it is:



Solid advice!

[via HuffPo]

Frozen: Highest-Grossing Animated Film Of. All. Time.

If breaking all animation records and two Oscar wins and spawning a thousand-thousand YouTube covers isn't enough to prove that women-directed, women-centric filmmaking is still no different than men-directed, men-centric filmmaking, I don't think anything else ever will be. 

Jennifer Lee, I hope this is enough to get you the ability to write and direct anything else you ever want to ever. You, too, Bobby and Kristen Anderson Lopez! Go, team!

"Let It Go" in 25 Languages

Thank you, Disney. I can't get over how fantastic this is.



SO lovely.

Fun Theories about Disney's New Princess

Disney's next princess is Moana, a Pacific Islander woman with a quest and killer navigational skills to boot. Already, pre-fans are gearing  up to be excited about it. Love the prethusiasm, gang!

'Frozen' to Return to Theaters with Single-Along Version

I can't say I won't go to this.

Renegade Cut: Disney Gender Roles

Below is an interesting discussion on Disney's gender roles through the years, both male and female:



It's not saying anything entirely new, and I wish they had included Frozen, but I still think it's always good to talk about this kind of stuff, and a good discussion-starter.

[via /Film]

New Details on Way-Distant 'Moana' Film

Looks like Disney may actually be serious about diversifying its films, if the rumors about its not-as-of-yet-officially-disclosed feature, Moana, are correct. Sources are saying that it's going to center around a young Polynesian explorer and chief's daughter who must help her family, presumably by setting sail (maybe by discovering Hawaii?). The not-necessarily-official concept art is certainly interesting, and the story sounds like a really cool idea (and not just because I just honeymooned in Hawaii!). Also, I guess it doesn't have to involve Hawaii. That's probably me just Americanizing it. If it just straight-up takes place with the Polynesians sans Hawaii, it'll probably be even better. Anyway, don't get too excited yet, because even though it's being directed by the legendary John Musker and Ron Clements, it's not set to hit until 2018, and, as we all know, there's plenty of time for it to get canceled between now and then.

Frozen's "Let It Go"

This might be my favorite sequence from the new Disney movie Frozen:



While I agree with the critiques that this movie's musical numbers are a little too pop-anthem-focused at times (someone said they felt pre-packaged to be covered by your Carrie Underwoods and such), I absolutely love this sequence.

Her whole life, Elsa's been told her conceal her talent, and finally she gets a chance to explore and revel in her powers. The animation is spectacular, and it feels revolutionary to have a Disney Queen (not a princess) both have powers and not be evil for having them (even if others make her feel guilty and evil for them). It reminds me how much this film critiques previous Disney classics' ideas of romantic love (at first sight!) and women in power (jealously trying to destroy the younger, more beautiful/innocent girl). It's basically the Disney-fied version of "Defying Gravity" complete with booming, Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel vocals. And she brings it in a big way.

Awesome Snow Demo Video from Disney

Unless you're well-versed in computer animation or general physics, don't expect to understand the first minute or so of this video. However, once that's over, watch all the cool snow demo's that display all different kinds of snow types and reactions that Disney used in Frozen. It's super cool!



Whaaaaa? How did they even do any of this? I love it! Makes me want to watch the super snowy scenes in Frozen again in slow-mo... or should I say, "snow-mo" am I right???? I'm not right? Ok.

[via /Film]

'Catching Fire' and 'Frozen' Kick Box Office Ass + Thoughts on 'Frozen'

'Hunger Games: Catching Fire' and Disney's new 'Frozen' have proven (for the billionth time) that having well-rounded female protagonists in big studio movies pays off. Both are on track to break all kinds of records - Catching Fire is the third movie ever to break $250 million on or under eight days (the other two: The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers - so basically, Katniss is equal to the entire Avengers team) and Frozen may pull in $100 million in its first five days, shattering Thanksgiving weekend records.

What makes me even more happy about this is that both films are really good! I've already commented on Catching Fire (though I could go into further detail: I haven't even mentioned Jena Malone's perfect depiction of Johanna!). I just saw Frozen this afternoon, and I really loved the strong story of sisterhood, the delightful takedown of traditional Disney princess romances, and the way the hero, Anna, completely leads the film. She is not a passive protagonist: She constantly makes bold choices and gets herself into and out of trouble. Without spoiling anything, the ending proves this point to the nth degree. An extra perk? The movie passes the Bechdel Test within the first five minutes.

Bonus! Jennifer Lee, the screenwriter/animator behind Wreck-It Ralph wrote and co-directed Frozen. She's the first female director of a Disney animated movie, and I think the influence is both clear and welcome. I say this not to take away from Ms. Lee's individuality as a writer/director (I'm sure Kathryn Bigelow would HATE it if someone said that her directing clearly had a "female influence"), but simply as a woman who has experienced a lot of the same emotions, relationships, and thought-processes that I saw onscreen today that have not been present in any previous Disney features, which makes me think (logically) that Ms. Lee may have had something to do with that.

Sidenote to anyone else who saw Frozen: how much did you love the "You fell in love in one day!?" takedown (yes, I realize Anna and Kristoff kiss at the end of the film, but they have a very different "one day" than Anna and Hans, plus they only kiss and aren't getting married or anything rash like that)? And Anna telling Kristoff, most assuredly, that the way to end the eternal winter was simply to talk to her sister (and work things out like two normal human beings, instead of blowing the whole thing out of proportion like they'd do in another movie)? Loved it.

Oh! And I'm SO HAPPY that Kristen Bell is finally in a good movie. That lady deserves it!! Way to go, Woman Formerly Known as V-Mars!

First Trailer for Disney's 'Malificent'

Disney released the first trailer for its darker, Snow White and the Huntsman-esque take on Sleeping Beauty, Malificent.



The film's supposed to be from the (apparently) used-to-be-good-turned-evil fairy Malificent's point of view. The trailer doesn't give us any of that, instead showing us the live-action version of the original Disney animated movie. I hope that's just to keep all the fun parts of the movie from being spoiled. Despite so many movies (Hunstman again)/episodes of Once as evidence to the contrary, I still think the darker, fleshed out, feminist re-tellings of fairy tales can work. Maybe this one will do it, maybe it won't. This trailer's not giving us enough information to make a guess either way, but maybe that's the point.

New 'Frozen' Trailer

Below is the new trailer for Disney's Frozen. 



What do you think? I'm still hoping it's great (Kristen Bell deserves to be in a good movie and co-director Jennifer Lee wrote last year's delightful Wreck-It Ralph), but this trailer does not look super promising. The snowman character? Blarg. Let's hope it's just a bad trailer hiding a great - or at least good - movie.

[via /Film]