Sing Sweet Nightingale

The Princess and the Frog Poster

/Film got an exclusive look at this new poster for Disney's new 2D musical, The Princess and the Frog. I actually like the teaser poster a bit better, but this one works well with the Holiday release (December 11). Looks like we'll have plenty of new characters to (hopefully) fall in love with this winter.

Drawing Inspiration

Yesterday I decided to take a break from all the heavy films I'd been watching of late. After 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, I just did not have the energy for any more thematic elements. I curled up last night to watch The Rescuers, a vastly underappreciated Disney gem.
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If you've seen it, you remember Madame Medusa, one of the most hysterical Disney villains ever. For some reason last night when I saw her I was strongly reminded of someone. I thought perhaps I was just remembering her from all the times I watched this movie growing up, and so I tried to put it out of my mind.
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But the feeling that I knew someone like her was persistent. And then it hit me:

It's uncanny. The vibrant red hair and green eyes, the floppy, sagging anatomy and ill-fitting dresses, the drunken manner in which they stumble about, the get-rich-quick schemes that involve kidnapping youngsters, the bossy, inconsiderate attitudes toward the men in their lives. Julia and Medusa could be sisters.
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If Tilda Swinton announced that Madame Medusa was an inspiration in tackling the role of Julia, I would not be surprised.

THE RESCUERS

Based on the series of books by Margery Sharp
Story by Larry Clemmons, Ken Anderson, Frank Thomas, Vance Gerry, David Michener, Ted Berman, Fred Lucky, Burny Mattinson and Dick Sebast
Directed by John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman and Art Stevens

Bob Newhart
Eva Gabor
Geraldine Page

Premiere date: June 22, 1977
G

Shy but brave mouse Bernard and his glamorous partner Miss Bianca are two tiny heroes on a big mission to save Penny, a young girl who has sent an urgent call for help! Taking off on the wings of the albatross Orville, together they soar to the marshy swamp of Devil's Bayou. There, they find themselves on the riverboat hideout of the hilariously evil Madame Medusa, who wants to use Penny to steal the world's largest diamond!

National Board of Review
Special Citation

1 Academy Award Nomination
Best Original Song - "Someone's Waiting For You"

News from the Mouse House

A Disney Animation Showcase took place in London this morning and several big announcements were made. Some spoilers, of course, so take heed.
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First we have the cast and story outline of the new CGI Rapunzel, which is scheduled for release on Christmas Eve 2010. Rapunzel will be voiced by singer-actress (actress-singer, actress?) Mandy Moore, while Zachary Levi will voice a dashing bandit who rescues her. According to Empire magazine, which had some representation at the showcase his morning, Rapunzel uses her long hair as an ''Indiana Jones-style whip." Interesting. Apparently Rapunzel is a musical feature, with Alan Menken and Glenn Slater providing the songs.
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Next was the announcement that Timothy Dalton - a former 007 for those of you who don't know - has joined the cast of Toy Story 3. He'll be voicing a character named Mr. Pricklepants, a toy porcupine who considers himself quite the thespian. Accompanying this news was a clip from the movie. The clip had its debut at the Venice Film Festival a few days ago. Empire has a description up at their site, so check it out there.
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Pixar also revealed the plot and a new character from Cars 2. Lightning McQueen and Mater the Towtruck are back as the leads, and a new character named Finn McMissile will be along for the ride. Apparently Finn McMissile is an Aston Martin with a secret agent vibe, though casting for the character was not discussed. The film involves Mater getting sucked into a "Hitchcockian case of mistaken identity," but no one believes him. Cars 2 is being directed by Cars producer Brad Lewis and is slated for release in summer 2011.
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Some concept art was shown for Pixar's fairy tale The Bear and the Bow, the first film from the studio with a female protagonist and also the first directed by a woman. Brenda Chapman is on board to helm the project. You may remember Chapman's stunning The Prince of Egypt, which was, as it happens, the first feature-length animated film directed by a woman. Chapman is breaking barriers left and right, it seems.
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The Bear and the Bow centers on the mother-daughter relationship between a 10th-century Scottish princess, Merida (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), and her mother (Emma Thompson). Merida gives up her family name for her dream of becoming an archer, resulting in peril for her father's kingdom and her mother's life. Merida then struggles to set things right. Other cast members include Billy Connolly and Julie Walters as an evil witch.
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The last bit of news pertained to Disney's new Winnie the Pooh film. Some production art was shown and the story is said to include five stories from A.A. Milne's library that have not yet been filmed. No news on which ones, though. That film is looking at a spring 2011 release date.
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And that's it. As a Pixar fangirl I'm anxiously awaiting Toy Story 3 and The Bear and the Bow. Cars 2 is leaving me just a little bit cold at this point, but who knows? Any news you're partcularly excited about?

Meet the Next Disney Villain

The Princess and the Frog certainly has a lot riding on it. As Disney's return to the hand-drawn musical, its reception will probably determine whether or not animation will ever go the 2-D route again. I grew up during Disney's second Golden Age, so for the sake of my childhood traditions I'm hoping this film a) is great, and b) makes money.

Below is a featurette about the movie's villain, Dr. Facilier. I had no idea Keith David was providing voice work here, but I am beyond thrilled to hear it. If you've seen Coraline, you've heard David's voice before. He did excellent work there as the Cat.