When Disney announced most recently their upcoming animation slate through 2018 for both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, there were multiple release dates with “untitled” films attached to them. Courtesy of the fantastic Disney blog Blue Sky Disney, we have some information about what the upcoming films from Walt Disney Animation Studios most likely will be.
On March 4, 2016, the Disney animated feature will be Zootopia, directed by Byron Howard, co-director of Disney’s 2010 hit animated film Tangled. This is the rumored film that has actor Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) attached to star in. Honor Hunter referred to Bateman as “very foxy,” which makes us wonder if he might be voicing an animated carnivorous mammal character with a long bushy tail.
For the November 23, 2016 release date, look for Giants, an animated feature that’s “a new twist on fairy tales” directed by Nathan Greno, the other co-director of Tangled. (Marc Vibbert and I were wondering if Willie the Giant from the Disney classic Fun and Fancy Free might be making a cameo appearance…)
There are no animated features from Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2017 (but there will be two features from Pixar that year, most likely an original film and then a sequel. For the March 9, 2018 release, the film will be Moana, “a Polynesian tale involving the island folk and the idols made famous the world over” (I’m hoping he means tikis!). Directing the feature is the veteran Disney animation team of Ron Clements and John Musker, the duo that brought us The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet and The Princess and the Frog. We’ve read that the film is being done in a hybrid CG style ala Disney’s wonderful Paperman short.
Last but not least for the November 21, 2018 date is an untitled “teenage space race animated film” directed by veteran story artist and animator Dean Wellins (The Iron Giant, Tick Tock Tale, Tangled). No other details about this film were mentioned other than it’s “an unusual story that is different from most Disney Animation, just as Big Hero 6 marks a change in perception of what comes from the Mouse.”
We’re excited about the new and varied films coming from Walt Disney Animation Studios. What are your thoughts?
Animation Fascination 
I’m kinda excited to see Clements and Musker bring back a new animated feature!
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