Welcome to Zootopia!

Surprisingly, Zootopia is one of the best Disney animated films I have seen in awhile. It very much runs in the same category of Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero Six, and Bolt, that is to say, it's incredible. We were lucky enough to be invited to an exclusive viewing of Zootopia in 3D in Chicago by the lovely people at Disney Infinity.

At the event we checked in and received our swag bag! Not only did we receive a super awesome star stamp on our hands, but we got a Disney Infinity 3.0 character, Jody Hopps! Plus a new Captain America poster! We also had the honor of being some of the first people to see Zootopia and watch an exclusive preview for Disney Infinity 3.0 (which happened to be the same preview from earlier on Tuesday during the live event at noon).

Zootopia takes place on a world populated only by animals, well, only by mammals as far as I could tell. The movie opens with a cute intro explaining how this is and the magic and mechanics of this new world. Some of my very favorite and funny moments happen in this 10 minute sequence.

Then the movie takes a turn into a harsh reality that is Zootopia. We don't do spoilers here so I'll speak in general, but Zootopia covers some heavy hitting topics such as overcoming what people think you should be, succumbing to society, and racism. Clear and abundant throughout the movie, these topics never let up and never get sugar coated. Zootopia is an animated adult crime drama with animals. I think Zootopia is one of the most important animated films Disney has made in the last few years. It comes at a time where these topics are prevalent and need to be discussed. Also, no one will let Disney forget "The Song of the South," and I think this movie offers a wonderful contrast to how times and people have changed.

The humor is elevated, often hysterical, and I was enjoying every moment. Kids will enjoy the pretty colors and animals, but the adults will enjoy the overall message, puns and word play, and the witter banter of Judy and Nick.

There is a wonderful shout out to Jim Henson. I won't spoil it here but listen for it and you'll know!

Overall, Zootopia is an excellent movie. Filled with heart, controversial topics, and a sly sense of humor. It definitely deserves a place among the newer Disney family of movies and is more inline with a Pixar feature than Disney. I hope you all go see it and enjoy the world of Zootopia!

Also, go out and get Nick and Judy for Disney Infinity 3.0!

The Good Dinosaur Trailer #2

Disney and Pixar has released the 2nd US trailer for The Good Dinosaur and it looks incredible! The first trailer for any Pixar movie generally just shows of the concept. The second actually dives into story and we get to see that in this second trailer. Arlo and Spot are also coming to Disney Infinity 3.0, with Spot as a playable character and Arlo and the rest of the cast as mounts. We cannot wait to see and play The Good Dinosaur this fall!

Review: Inside Out

Review: Inside Out

Inside Out is the latest film from Disney*Pixar. They have taken us to so many wonderful places and told amazing stories. This time they take us inside the mind of an eleven year old girl who is is moving from one stage of her life into the next, and has to deal with a ton of emotional baggage. That's where this movie really shines.

Meet the voices inside your head: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. They reside in the
headquarters (pun intended, I'm sure) and help to form your responses to everyday occurrences. Imagine you see broken glass on the ground. That's where Fear might take the controls to help you stay safe. Broccoli? Disgusting, right? You don't get the toy you want at the store? Anger takes the controls and lights a fire under you! All of them work together to make you.

What makes this movie so interesting and fun is the visual representation of the mind and your personality. What makes you you. We all have different personalities and coping mechanisms. What emotion is driving us? Is it fear? Anger? Joy? What aspects of our lives form our personalities? For Riley, we get to see her Five Islands of Personality. The five things that make her who she is. Each one helps us understand who she is. We dive even deeper into her mind and explore what happens to memories, where imagination lives, and what resides in our subconscious.

The title of the movie really implies how the movie is set-up. We see Riley and who is she is not so much by her actions in the film, but by how she comes to those actions before she carries them out. We get to know the main character from the inside out. Instead of her just making a disgusted face to her parents, we see how she comes to make that face. We know all of her actions before she is even going to do them, thanks to her emotions. It's a very different way to experience a film.

I thought Anger was the strongest character in the film. Not only was he animated superbly with over-the-top expressions and actions, but he was really developed into a full character with his own emotional story arc. He also leads us to a critical moment in Riley's life, one he later comes to regret. Fear is visually wonderful and has a great scene when he is watching Riley's dream. Disgust was kind of along for the ride, but didn't really speak to me as a character. Joy and Sadness, who form the core story of the film, work really well together. And, as we find out, are inseparable. We also get to meet Bing Bong, Riley's imaginary friend (voiced by Richard Kind), and some other fun characters. But I don't want to spoil it for you!

I think the greatest thing about this movie is the sense of introspection you are left with after the film ends. Suddenly, you are aware of what drives you. What pushes you forward. How you react to situations. Maybe it'll make better humans of us all. After all, look at what happens when Anger gives us ideas . . .

Final Thoughts:
Inside Out is a must-see film. It is visually splendid, moves along at a good pace, and takes us to places we've never been before. Listen carefully for a nod to a Disney Parks attraction. The humor is wonderful. It let's us laugh together as an audience and at ourselves. Most of all, it will leave you a little wiser and perhaps give you some perspective.

Pixar's Emotional Characters

So . . .This Happened This Week

So, These Things Happened This Week

Miss Piggy Receives Award

This past week, Miss Piggy accepted a First Award from the Elizabeth A. Sackler center for Feminist Art. She made a short acceptance speech at the Brooklyn Museum, along with Kermit the Frog. The Sackler Center said on its website that it was honoring "performer, actor, writer, and icon Miss Piggy, for more than 40 years of blazing feminist trails with determination and humor." She certainly deserves it! Way to go, Piggy!

When the award was announced at the end of April, Miss Piggy was credited with saying "Moi is thrilled but frankly, not surprised to be receiving this Sackler Center First Award. It is truly wonderful to be celebrated and share this honor with fellow legends, role models and pioneers of female fabulosity."

Teaser for The Good Dinosaur

Disney-Pixar released the teaser trailer for The Good Dinosaur, a production troubled little film. The teaser doesn't really show much, hence teaser, and I'm not sure how excited we are, but it's a fun little trailer that shows us some of the visuals and the main idea behind the film - What if the dinosaurs didn't go extinct?

Tangled to Series

Disney Channel announced that Tangled will be coming to series. The series will include most of the original voice cast and Alan Menken and Glenn Slater returning to do songs. It's pretty darn awesome that the series will be from most of the original folks who made the film. The series will take place between the events of Tangled and Tangled Ever After. 

Hot Toys releases images of Scarlet Witch

Hot Toys continues to produce the best collectible action figures around. Scarlet Witch is no exception. This beautifully sculpted figure captures the likeness perfectly and comes with a ton of accessories. Now we just need to see Quicksilver!

Yoda in Disney Infinity

An article from USA Today has an interview with Jeff Bunker, studio art director at Avalanche/Disney Interactive Studios and the man in charge of the distinct visual look of everything Infinity. Personally, I wish they had gone with more of the classic Yoda look. But we still can't wait to play with him in the toy Box!!!

Disney Trailer Round Up

We've seen a lot of new trailers recently from Disney, now you can watch them all right here!

Cinderella

March 13, 2015

Another of the live-action retellings of Disney animated stories. This time, Cate Blanchett plays Lady Tremaine and Helena Bonham Carter is the fairy godmother. Looks fun.

Inside Out

June 19, 2015

Go inside a young girl's mind and meet her emotions. The visuals seem really cool and the characterizations of emotions seems pretty funny.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

December 18, 2015

What more can I say about this trailer than this - Millennium Falcon. Desert landscape and clunky looking machines. A new lightsaber. Let's see what you got J.J. 

Inside Out Teaser Trailer

Disney*Pixar has finally released a little more about Inside Out! This time, in teaser trailer form. In true Pixar trailer fashion, we get a quick recap of why we love Pixar movies so much and then jump into the  new film.

It's a fun trailer that doesn't tell us too much, but does show some neat visual representations of the mind. Such as orbs that contain memories that are somehow moved and stored in the brain. We're looking forward to this movie!

Directed by Pete Docter and with a cast that includes Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, and of course, John Ratzenberger, with music by Michael Giacchino (one of our favorites!), Inside Out premieres on June 19, 2015.

A Bug's Life Power Discs

Power Disc Wish List - A Bug's Life

A Disney/Pixar property that seems to get very little love but would be great to see in Disney Infinity is A Bug's Life. This film is so visually splendid and would allow for some great Toy Box games. Who doesn't want to shrink down to the size of a bug?! Spider-Man would feel right at home! Imagine the incredible collectable adventures you could construct or the races around giant plants!

Flik's Ant Island Sky

This sky would feature the wonderful clear blue above Ant Island. In the distance the tree would stand tall and proud on the horizon. Large clovers and other grasses would line the horizon, creating the feeling of being small. "A Bug's Life Suite" would play as you search for secrets among the pebbles and plants.

Flik's Among the Flowers

This power disc would make you feel like an ant, literally. The ground would be a cracked and dry river bed. The water tranquil and blue, lined with tall grasses, would wind throughout the Toy Box. Gigantic plants, like clovers and roots of the great tree, could be placed to make characters feel as if they are truly walking among the flowers at a bug's height. "The Flik Machine" by Randy Newman would be the music included in this disc.