The Walt Disney Studios welcomed fans this weekend to Destination D23 — a three-day event at Walt Disney World Resort this weekend celebrating all things Disney — with a special showcase that offered moviegoers an insider’s look at the studio’s upcoming slate. Presented by Lug, Destination D23 welcomed fans to Central Florida to celebrate alongside the studios as Disney marks 100 years of sharing beloved movies, series and shorts. Attendees to the sold-out event heard from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, Disney Live Action, Pixar Animation Studios and Marvel Studios.
Here’s a rundown of the animated highlights:
Clark Spencer, two-time Academy Award-winning producer and President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, kicked off the presentation reminding the audience that the studio will mark 100 years on October 16, 2023.
“For several years now, everyone at the studio has been dreaming about this incredible milestone,” said Spencer. “There were great conversations around what we could create that would both pay tribute to the artists who came before us and to thank everyone who has connected with our films over the past century.” The executive shared two upcoming projects with the audience that were born of this inspiration.
Once Upon a Studio – Directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy introduced fans to the new hand-drawn and CG-animated short that features an all-star ensemble of beloved Disney Animation characters who come together for a spectacular group photo in an entertaining and emotional nod to the hundred-year milestone. The Studio Showcase audience became the first in the U.S. to see the short that offers a special look inside the studio where the magic happens.
Wish – Directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn shared details about Disney Animation’s 62nd feature, an all-new original musical adventure that centers on one core belief: There is no greater power in the universe than someone with a true wish in their heart.
Opening in U.S. theaters on November 22, Wish takes place once upon a time in Rosas — a fantastical, fictional island where wishes can literally and magically come true. When Asha (Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, learns a hard truth, she makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Alan Tudyk voices Asha’s pet goat, Valentino.
Asha, who will soon be coming to EPCOT, Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris, joined Buck and Veerasunthorn on stage. The excitement was amplified when filmmakers surprised fans with 10 minutes of footage from the film that included two of the seven all-new original songs penned by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice.
Disney and Pixar’s Elemental director Peter Sohn appeared virtually, reminding the audience of last week’s news that the fiery young woman Ember (Leah Lewis) and go-with-the-flow guy Wade (Mamoudou Athie) from the original feature film are heading to Disney+ beginning September 13 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on September 26. Having opened in theaters this summer, Elemental is among 2023’s top 15 highest-grossing films worldwide, earning more than $480 million in global box office to date.
Good Chemistry: The Story of Elemental, which also hits Disney+ September 13, takes viewers on a humorous personal journey through the inspiration behind the movie. Sohn shared a clip of the documentary, which traces his parents’ voyage from Korea to New York, explores his dad’s former grocery shop in the heart of the Bronx, and delves into his choice of a career in animation, rather than the family business.
Marvel Studios’ presentation began with a sweet treat from the beloved troublemaking twig, Baby Groot, who returned to Disney+ September 6 with five new episodes of I Am Groot. The tree of few words explores the universe beyond the Guardians’ spaceships, coming face-to-face — or nose-to-nose (he gets a nose in Episode 2) — with new and colorful creatures and environments. Attendees watched Episode 4, “Groot’s Sweet Treat,” in which he scours the ship for coins as an intergalactic ice cream truck approaches. Audience members aptly received a dining card redeemable for a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar
The Walt Disney Company also announced today the release of the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, featuring 100 animated films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, packaged together in a hardbound, self-standing three-volume set that unfolds into a storybook.
As part of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, a limited number of sets will be available for pre-order only on Walmart.com beginning September 18, each including a numbered certificate of authenticity. The sets will be released on November 14.
The set includes 100 animated titles on Blu-ray, digital codes for each title, features the original theatrical poster art, a collectible lithograph from Disney Animation’s all-new musical comedy Wish and a collectible crystal Mickey ears hat with exclusive Disney 100 engraving.
This special collection features a stunning array of Disney Animation and Pixar classics including Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, The Lion King, Toy Story, Frozen and Encanto. Select Pixar titles also includes a bonus disc of extras.
Included in the set are:
1. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
2. Pinocchio (1940)
3. Fantasia (1940)
4. Dumbo (1941)
5. Bambi (1942)
6. Saludos Amigos (1943)
7. The Three Caballeros (1945)
8. Make Mine Music (1946)
9. Fun And Fancy Free (1947)
10. Melody Time (1948)
11. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
12. Cinderella (1950)
13. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
14. Peter Pan (1953)
15. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
16. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
17. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
18. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
19. The Jungle Book (1967)
20. The Aristocats (1970)
21. Robin Hood (1973)
22. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
23. The Rescuers (1977)
24. The Fox and The Hound (1981)
25. The Black Cauldron (1985)
26. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
27. Oliver & Company (1988)
28. The Little Mermaid (1989)
29. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
30. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
31. Aladdin (1992)
32. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
33. The Lion King (1994)
34. A Goofy Movie (1995)
35. Pocahontas (1995)
36. Toy Story (1995)
37. James and the Giant Peach (1996)
38. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
39. Hercules (1997)
40. Mulan (1998)
41. A Bug’s Life (1998)
42. Tarzan (1999)
43. Toy Story 2 (1999)
44. Fantasia/2000 (2000)
45. The Tigger Movie (2000)
46. Dinosaur (2000)
47. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
48. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
49. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
50. Return to Never Land (2002)
51. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
52. Treasure Planet (2002)
53. The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
54. Piglet’s Big Movie (2003)
55. Finding Nemo (2003)
56. Brother Bear (2003)
57. Home on the Range (2004)
58. The Incredibles (2004)
59. Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005)
60. Chicken Little (2005)
61. Cars (2006)
62. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
63. Ratatouille (2007)
64. Wall•E (2008)
65. Tinker Bell (2008)
66. Bolt (2008)
67. Up (2009)
68. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
69. Toy Story 3 (2010)
70. Tangled (2010)
71. Cars 2 (2011)
72. Winnie the Pooh (2011)
73. Brave (2012)
74. Frankenweenie (2012)
75. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
76. Monsters University (2013)
77. Planes (2013)
78. Frozen (2013)
79. Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)
80. Big Hero 6 (2014)
81. Inside Out (2015)
82. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
83. Zootopia (2016)
84. Finding Dory (2016)
85. Moana (2016)
86. Cars 3 (2017)
87. Coco (2017)
88. Incredibles 2 (2018)
89. Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
90. Toy Story 4 (2019)
91. Frozen 2 (2019)
92. Onward (2020)
93. Soul (2020)
94. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
95. Luca (2021)
96. Encanto (2021)
97. Turning Red (2022)
98. Lightyear (2022)
99. Strange World (2022)
100. Elemental (2023)
The Destination D23 announcements also covered details on the next D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which will be bringing an expanded experience to multiple locations across Anaheim, California from August 9-11, 2024. The one-of-a-kind event will celebrate like never before with spectacular shows, new venues and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and more.
Highlights will include:
- Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium, where D23 fans are invited to attend the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game.
- Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort.
- Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Shopping, exhibits, panels and presentations will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day, with the fun extending into the evening at the Honda Center, the bigger home to marquee shows.
Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale in Spring 2024, with ticketing options to be announced later for access to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Admission for D23 Day at Angel Stadium and the D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort will be available as separate ticketed events. Additional details for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be announced in early 2024.
