I hope that shock that came as a result of that Toy Story 4 announcement has worn off, because we now have movie news from Walt Disney Animation Studios (courtesy of Screen Rant).
Not long after Big Hero 6 bowed to a successful opening weekend, Disney has announced the 2016 release dates for upcoming films Zootopia and Moana. Granted, people had already predicted that these would be the dates since Disney snags dates early in advance, but still, official confirmation is still good to have.
Zootopia will arrive on March 4, 2016. That puts it on the same day as Tim Burton’s adaptation of the YA Horror-Mystery novel Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. It also places it a week and a half before the release of DreamWorks Animation’s Boss Baby on March 16.
The South Pacific-inspired mythic adventure film Moana is slated to arrive on November 23, taking up a spot that was originally saved for Giants, which is now expected to release on March 8, 2017. It also places it well in front of the release date of the Harry Potter spinoff film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (November 18th). Also releasing that same month is DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls adaptation on November 4th.
Zootopia is directed by Byron Howard (Tangled) and based on a script written by Jared Bush (Who Wants to Marry My Dad?, All of Us). The plot concerns a fast-talking fox who has to team up with a police officer rabbit if he wants to survive being the target of a larger conspiracy.
Moana is directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and concerns a teenage sea navigator who set-sails on a voyage to rescue her family with the help of a demigod. Steeped in South Pacific culture and Polynesian mythology, the film will apparently feature a new, ‘painterly’ style of CG, which is evident from the concept art.
It’s worth noting that Disney Animation has no film lined up for 2015. Much like how Pixar did in 2014, they will be sitting out 2015 while Pixar makes their return to the big screen. Nonetheless, that will give Disney Animation an extra year to put the work into making these films as great as they can be.
What do you think? Which movie are you excited for? Are you looking forward to both?
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