D23 Expo to Spotlight ‘Frozen,’ ‘Aladdin,’ and ‘Silly Symphonies’

The D23 Expo approaches and, as it inches nearer, news is teeming. Where animation is concerned, the convention will focus on four primary areas: upcoming projects, Frozen (of course), Aladdin (in honor of the film’s highly anticipated Diamond Edition release this October), and short films (a pleasant surprise).

Upcoming Projects

• Every Story Is a Journey: Friday, August 14, 3:00 p.m., Hall D23
  • Hosted by John Lasseter, this star-studded presentation (regarded by many as the highlight of each D23 Expo) will include filmmaker guided peeks at Disney Animation’s Zootopia and Moana, as well as Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory. The presentation promises “surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by the films’ star voice talent.” This is the presentation where Idina Menzel first performed “Let It Go” in 2013, so the bar is raised high!
• Welcome to Zootopia!: Saturday, August 15, 1:30 p.m., Stage 28
  • A peek at March 2016’s Disney Animation flick with insight from directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer, and animators.
• Animation Show Floor Exhibition
  • Featuring live demonstrations, presentations, and autograph signings from Disney and Pixar talent.

Frozen

• Frozen Album Signing: Saturday, August 15, 10:30 a.m.
  • Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, as well as Frozen soundtrack producer Tom MacDougall, will meet and greet guests who purchase Frozen: The Songs or Frozen Picture Disc at the Disney Music Emporium on the exhibition floor.
• Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration!: Sunday, August 16, 3:00 p.m., Hall 23
  • Hosted by Walt Disney Music President Chris Montan and Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, sing along with beloved songs from the movie and hear stories about the creation of the film’s iconic music. Anna and Elsa themselves will also make an appearance.

Aladdin

• Aladdin – The Making of a Classic: Saturday, August 15, 6:00 p.m., Stage 28
  • This unprecedented presentation will include discussion from directors John Musker and Ron Clements, animators Eric Goldberg (Genie) and Mark Henn (Jasmine), and voice actors Scott Weinger (Aladdin speaking), Linda Larkin (Jasmine speaking), and Brad Kane (Aladdin singing).
• An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg
  • On the exhibition floor, see some of the legendary Eric Goldberg’s artwork, from Aladdin to Moana. This exhibit celebrates the new book An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters.

Short Films

• Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration: Sunday, August 16, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Stage 23
  • Leonard Maltin hosts this extremely unique concert experience, a screening of Silly Symphony cartoon shorts accompanied by live, synced performance from a 32-piece orchestra. The orchestra will perform the music to the shorts exactly as it would have been recorded in Walt’s era… which likely means many fascinating contraptions and sound effects tools!
• The Shorts of Walt Disney Animation Studios: from Paperman to Prep & Landing, Feast to Frozen Fever: Sunday, August 16, 11:30 a.m., Stage 28
  • Just in time for the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (releasing to Blu-ray August 18), get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the shorts from the filmmakers themselves.

New Documentary

• The Tunes Behind the Toons: Sunday, August 16, 6:00 p.m., Stage 28
  • In a presentation spotlighting a new movie that we’re not even sure we knew about until now, D23 attendees will see an advanced screening of the documentary The Tunes Behind the Toons. The new films tells the stories of music in animation and features interviews with Alan Menken, Randy Newman, Richard Sherman, and more. The screening will include a Q & A panel with director/producer Dave Bossert and surprise guests.

What a line-up… and that’s just for animation! Every aspect of Disney, from parks to television and everything in between, will also be represented in one way or another at the D23 Expo.

This year’s Expo is August 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, just minutes away from Disneyland in California. The D23 Expo is hosted by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. The convention takes place once every two years as a celebration of all things Disney for the company’s many fans.

Tickets can be purchased at D23Expo.com.

Are you going to the D23 Expo? Which of these events would you most want to attend?

Edited by: Hannah Wilkes