Disney/Pixar Reveals Upcoming Slate of Films

ANAHEIM, CA - Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios introduced D23 EXPO 2015 fans to an array of new stories and characters-from a lost dinosaur to a master wayfinder, a scheming fox to a forgetful fish.

The audience of 7,500 was treated to sneak peeks, musical performances and appearances from stars like Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dwayne Johnson, Randy Newman and Ty Burrell, among others.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, led the presentations, calling on a host of filmmakers from both studios to introduce the upcoming slate of films. We really have an unbelievable range of movies in production at our studios right now, said Lasseter. The stories are dynamic, fresh and so much fun; the characters new and old are so appealing. I'm excited to share some of our long-held secrets for the first time at the D23 EXPO.

RILEY'S FIRST DATE?

Pixar Animation Studios heads back inside the mind with an all-new short. Riley's First Date? made its world premiere this afternoon at D23 EXPO. Director Josh Cooley, along with Inside Out filmmakers Pete Docter ( Up, Monsters, Inc. ) and Jonas Rivera ( Up ), introduced the short, which revisits Riley, now 12. Riley's First Date?' ventures into the minds of Riley's parents when a mysterious boy shows up at the front door, said Cooley. Having a daughter myself, it was a lot of fun to mine my own feelings to show this emotional time in a parent's life.

The short will be included as a bonus feature in the digital HD & Blu-ray releases of Disney Pixar's Inside Out, which will be available digitally Oct. 13 and on Blu-ray Nov. 3, 2015.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR

Anticipation for Disney Pixar's The Good Dinosaur was amplified when director Peter Sohn and producer Denise Ream shared breathtaking sequences with fans, including never-before-seen footage of a trio of T-Rexes in action.

In theaters on Nov. 25, 2015, the film introduces audiences to Arlo, a sheltered Apatosaurus who finds himself far from home, and Spot, Arlo's unlikely human friend. Arlo and Spot journey through a world that has been greatly inspired by the American Northwest, said Sohn. It is epic in scope, soul-enriching and simultaneously beautiful and treacherous. In this world, we meet up with a very special family of T-Rexes, who help Arlo find a way through his personal fears and ultimately teach Arlo what hes truly made of.

ZOOTOPIA

International superstar Shakira is lending her Grammy -winning voice to Gazelle, the biggest pop star in Zootopia, D23 EXPO fans learned via a taped message from Shakira today. Ginnifer Goodwin (ABC's Once Upon a Time, Something Borrowed, Walk the Line ), the voice of the film's rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps, saluted fans alongside directors Byron Howard ( Tangled ) and Rich Moore ( Wreck-It Ralph ), and producer Clark Spencer ( Wreck-It Ralph ). Hilarious new scenes from the film were unveiled, plus a tease of the all-new original song, Try Everything, written by singer-songwriter Sia and songwriting duo Stargate, and performed by Shakira.

Said Howard, For the role of Gazelle, Zootopia's most beloved superstar, there was only one person on our wish list: Shakira. Luckily for us, she said yes. Her immense talent and charm bring Gazelle and her song, Try Everything,' to life.

Walt Disney Animation Studios' Zootopia opens nationwide March 4, 2016.

FINDING DORY

Ellen DeGeneres ( The Ellen DeGeneres Show ), the voice of everyone's favorite forgetful blue tang, took a dip with D23 EXPO attendees this afternoon, celebrating Disney Pixar's upcoming film Finding Dory. Joining DeGeneres on stage this afternoon were Ed O'Neill ( Modern Family ), who lends his voice to Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Ty Burrell ( Modern Family ), the voice of Bailey, a misguided beluga whale; and Kaitlin Olson ( Always Sunny in Philadelphia ), who voices Destiny, a kind-hearted whale shark. Oscar -winning director Andrew Stanton ( Finding Nemo, WALL E ), co-director Angus MacLane and producer Lindsey Collins (co-producer WALL E ) offered details about the all-new story, which reunites Dory with friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Said Stanton, In Finding Dory,' we can expect to address the one emotionally open-ended issue that remained from the first movie: Where is Dory's family, and will this overly-optimistic fish with short-term memory loss ever be able to find them again? Her issue has also given us the opportunity to travel to very different locations, on land and sea, and meet a variety of new sea creatures that expand the world of Nemo, Marlin and Dory.

Also featuring the voices of Albert Brooks, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton, Disney Pixar's Finding Dory swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

MOANA

Dwayne Johnson ( San Andreas, Furious 7, HBO's Ballers ), who lends his voice to the mighty demi-god Maui in Walt Disney Animation Studios' Moana, hit the stage at D23 EXPO this afternoon. Renowned directors John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog, Aladdin ), and producer Osnat Shurer (Oscar -nominated Pixar shorts One Man Band, Boundin') shared dazzling early test footage and revealed plans for the film's inspired music and the extraordinary team behind it. Tony -winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Broadway's hottest new hit Hamilton, Tony-winning In the Heights ), Grammy -winning composer Mark Mancina ( Speed , Tarzan The Lion King ) and Opetaia Foa'i (founder and lead singer of the world music award-winning band Te Vaka) blend their diverse and dynamic talents to help

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