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Thursday, July 8, 2021

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS INTRODUCES “ENCANTO”

 


Watch a new trailer introducing you to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto,” 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.

 

“I’m Colombian on my father’s side, and playing this role fills me with immense pride,” continues Beatriz. “As a Disney kid, I’d burn through my VHS tapes and adored every single magical story that the world of Disney introduced me to. I learned in those that stories that anything is possible, especially if you believe in magic and the goodness rooted deep inside us all.”

 

In the film, the magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. The voice cast also includes María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, Jessica Darrow, Rhenzy Feliz and Carolina Gaitan. 



The new trailer includes an original song from the film, “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” performed by 17-time GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY winner, singer, songwriter and actor Carlos Vives, who’s a native of Santa Marta, Colombia. “This song is a celebration of the magical diversity of Colombia,” says Vives. “I can’t wait to see how the music will blend with the images and the characters inspired by the ‘encanto’ of Colombians.”

 

The film features all-new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”) and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino. Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film. The filmmakers were deeply inspired by their research trip to Colombia during early development of “Encanto,” as well as their continuous work with a group of expert consultants assembled through the course of the film’s production. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” opens in theaters November 24, 2021. 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

DISNEY DEBUTS “JUNGLE CRUISE” “BIG ADVENTURE” FEATURETTE JAM-PACKED WITH FUN & THRILLS

 


Watch the new “Big Adventure” featurette for Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” and join stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for an inside glimpse at the adventure of a lifetime.

 

“Jungle Cruise” will release simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on Friday, July 30.


NEW FEATURETTE SPOTLIGHTS MARVEL STUDIOS’ “BLACK WIDOW” & THE FUTURE OF THE MCU

 


Just days ahead of the much-awaited launch of Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow,” Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz and Kevin Feige, producer, president of Marvel Studios, and chief creative officer of Marvel, weigh in on the story of Natasha Romanoff’s past and the role the film plays in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Black Widow”—the first film in Phase Four of the MCU—will launch simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets this Friday, July 9, 2021. 

 

Purchase Advance Tickets: https://www.fandango.com/black-widow-2021-221823/movie-overview

Pre-order Premier Access on Disney+ for $29.99: http://www.disneyplus.com/blackwidow

 

Saturday, July 3, 2021

DISNEY+ REVEALS ALL SEVEN JAPANESE ANIME STUDIOS BRINGING “STAR WARS: VISIONS” TO LIFE

 



Today at Anime Expo Lite, Disney+ announced the names of the seven Japanese anime studios bringing their unique talent and perspective to “Star WarsVisions”—a collection of animated short films from Lucasfilm that will stream exclusively on Disney+—and offered fans an exciting special look.

 

The anime studios revealed were Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio (Twin Engine), Studio Colorido (Twin Engine), Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Science Saru, and Production IG. Each studio will use their signature animation and storytelling styles to realize their own visions of the galaxy far, far away. 

 

Lucasfilm’s Jacqui Lopez (Executive Producer), James Waugh (Executive Producer), Josh Rimes (Executive Producer), and Qubic Pictures’ Justin Leach (Co-Executive Producer) and Kanako Shirasaki (Producer) were on hand at the event to reveal each studio and give fans a special look at the environment and concept art as they debuted the title and first details of each short.

 

Kamikaze Douga - The Duel 

Geno Studio (Twin Engine) - Lop and Ochō

Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) - Tatooine Rhapsody

Trigger The Twins

Trigger - The Elder

Kinema Citrus - The Village Bride

Science Saru - Akakiri

Science Saru - T0-B1

Production IG - The Ninth Jedi

 

As a first formal venture into anime, each “Star Wars: Visions short bears a unique Japanese sensibility, which in many ways aligns with the tone and spirit of Star Wars storytelling. From the beginning, stories told in the Star Wars galaxy have counted Japanese mythology and the films of Akira Kurosawa among their many influences, and these new visions will further explore that cultural heritage through the unique animation style and perspective of each anime studio. 

 

All episodes of “Star Wars: Visions will be released on Disney+ September 22, 2021. 


For more on “Star Wars: Visions,” visit StarWars.com.