Disney Animated Shorts Collection on DVD & Blu-ray August 18th

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney's Frozen Fever, starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo (Best Animated Short, 2004).  The Short Films Collection includes contemporary shorts starring classic characters, such as the groundbreaking 2013 Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse! And the holiday treat Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa, as well as celebrated Oscar winners Paperman (2012) and Feast (2014). Enjoy them together for the first time in this must-own collection with all-new extras including an inside look at the Disney Animation shorts, featuring introductions and interviews with the acclaimed filmmakers themselves.

Sweet Suite 2015: Build-A-Bear Takes on Star Wars, Minions & More

When is the last time you went to Build-A-Bear Workshop at your nearest mall? For me, it was when I was dating this awesome girl who's birthday was coming up. We made a monkey and put him in a pinstripe suit with matching top hat and cane..and called him Benny. If you get the reference, I love you. Since then, BAB has been adding many licensed characters to its adorbale plush lineup. A quick run through their website and I found Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon, all 4 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a small herd of My Little Ponies and even Frosty the Snowman from the old holiday cartoon. At Sweet Suite, we got a glimpse of their latest additions...

STAR WARS!! Chewbacca and Darth Vader kick off Build-A-Bear's customizable plush offerings from a galaxy far, far away (cuz the mall is never close). Both include a sound chip for effects from each character and Vader comes with his Lightsaber that lights up. Light up plush confuses me...and I don't know why. These new squeezables will be available this week, so be on the lookout.

D23 2015: Disney's Upcoming Projects and Legacy

Walt Disney Animation Studios today announced its most exciting presence at D23 EXPO yet. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place August 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

CALENDAR OF KEY PRESENTATIONS/ PANELS/ EVENTS:

Every Story Is a Journey: The Upcoming Films of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios
Friday, August 14, 3:00 pm  - Hall D23
After meeting the Emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old, taking a trip to San Fransokyo where a boy genius and his robot save the world, and falling in love with a queen with icy powers who wants to “let it go,” come see where Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios plan to take you next. In what has become a D23 EXPO must-see, host John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, presents “Every Story is a Journey.” Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation’s Zootopia and Moana. The event will include surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by the films’ star voice talent. Cell phones, cameras and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation.

Toy Fair 2015: JAKKS Preview with Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, DC, Nintendo & More

The New York stop for Toy Fair 2015 is now 2 days away (give or take), so we have shifted into "getting ready" mode ...but we'd never neglect you! Let's run through some news from our favorite companies starting with Jakks Pacific and their powerhouse lineup of killer licences and giant toys that will literally crush the tiny action figures on your shelves!!

Toy Fair 2015: The "Best New Toys" List with Jurassic World, Minions, LEGO, Nerf & More

The winners of the Toy Fair Best New Toy Awards were announced for the seventh year this morning at the annual Toy Fair, predicting some of the top new toys for 2015. Winners range from household names such as Hasbro with their Nerf Rebelle Arrow Revolution Bow and LEGO® with their Disney Frozen: Elsa's Sparkling Ice Castle to impressive new tech toys such as the Quadcopter  “Rayvore” from Revell or the I-Que Intelligent Robot from Vivid.

The twelve categories, which produced 36 winning toys, from 26 different toy companies - were unveiled this morning by the London Toy Fair organisers, the British Toy & Hobby Association. Toy Fair is the UK’s only dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition, playing host to more than 260 exhibitors launching thousands of new products.

The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic Airing September 2nd

“The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic” is an all-new, original special in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Lincoln Square Productions and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The special ventures behind-the-scenes for an exclusive look at the origins and evolution of the Academy Award®-winning film “Frozen,” now the biggest animated feature of all time. A breathtaking and fantastic saga, the special tells the real story of making a modern movie based on a timeless tale that nearly overnight became a cultural touchstone for legions of fans.

SnapCo's Blockbuster Cup-Topper Lineup

Snap Creative and their in-theatre division Snapco are telling a new type of Toy Story this summer with the release of five major collectible promotional toy programs at movie theaters worldwide for the top summer blockbusters. Their expansive licensed portfolio for kids and ultra-fans are rolling out all summer long for the hottest summer releases that have an estimated box office of over $3B, including Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon 2, Paramount and Hasbro’s Transformers: Age of Extinction, Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Paramount and Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

“These programs are an innovative way for studios to extend brands and reach fans of toy collectibles, especially in the wake of shrinking shelf space for action figures at many retailers,” states Bill Howard, CEO of Snap Creative. “These in-theater collectibles are an extremely effective sales and marketing tool for studios and exhibitors alike. On average, there’s a 20% lift in sales for the branded collectibles and popcorn “speed-packs” compared to the non-branded popcorn packages. We also had a hugely successful program for the Disney hit Frozen earlier this year. These packs help audiences connect with brands on a whole new level.”

A New Poster for Disney's Frozen

..and mention of a trailer coming on the 26th! I know I'm supposed to be a horror loving, super hero fact slinging action figure dork, but Disney movies make me happy too. Can't be helped.

Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio behind “Tangled” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” presents “Frozen,” a stunning big-screen comedy adventure. Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) sets off on an epic journey—teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven—to find her sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf (voice of Josh Gad), Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

D23 Expo: New Animation Titles Announced

The Walt Disney Studios unveiled new details about its upcoming animation slate this morning at the D23 Expo, showcasing new imagery, signature music and behind-the-scenes stories surrounding the roster of upcoming animated adventures. The presentation included information about the just-announced feature film “Zootopia” (working title) from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the newest film in Disneytoon Studios’ Disney Fairies franchise, plus never-before-shared voice cast announcements for upcoming Disney•Pixar titles that include Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris and Diane Keaton, among a host of others.

“It’s a fantastic, exciting time for animation at Disney and Pixar,” said John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “The filmmakers at our three studios are so talented—their films are all so touching and beautiful, but so different. I am truly excited to share these films with everyone.”

Disney's D23 Expo Opens!

With Disney swallowing up both Marvel Comics and Lucas Films, the anticipation for this year's D23 Expo went through the roof. Saturday tickets are sold out and lines were at San Diego Comic-Con levels this morning, so we are expecting a similar level of frenzy on the show floor, minus the mad scramble to snap up exclusives from every booth. Disney took some time before the doors opened to shoot the convention while you could...you know..actually SEE the booths! We'll share the highlights with some bits we hope our crew will give us a closer look at sooooon ...

Disney in 2013

This time of year you'll see list after list of the things folks loved and hated...cheered for and wanted to set themselves on fire in protest towards. It's all very dramatic and I know for a fact a good half of the sites would rather not write them at all...but the hungry animal called society demands their lists. Today, I come not to feed the beast but to look forward (as we have been with our Toy Fair build up beginning 2 months early) as we glance into Disney's movie slate for 2013!! (providing we survive tomorrow's world ending kerfuffle, of course.)

Oz The Great and Powerful: Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well. When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great wizard—and just maybe into a better man as well. March 8, 2013

Disney Rolling Out "FROZEN” November 2013

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents an epic tale of adventure and comedy in “Frozen,” a computer-animated feature film slated for the big screen in November 2013. Directed by Chris Buck (“Tarzan,” “Surf’s Up”) and produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog”), “Frozen” features the vocal talents of film/TV/stage star Kristen Bell as Anna, a young dreamer about to take the adventure of a lifetime, and Tony Award ®-winning actress Idina Menzel as Elsa the Snow Queen. The movie will feature original songs by Broadway greats Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

In “Frozen,” a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, so Anna (voice of Bell) must team up with Kristoff, a daring mountain man, on the grandest of journeys to find the Snow Queen (voice of Menzel) and put an end to the icy spell. Encountering Everest-like extremes, mystical creatures and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.

Bell has starred in a variety of films, including the comedies “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Couples Retreat,” and the upcoming films “Hit & Run,” “Some Girls” and the Farrelly Brothers’ “Movie 43.” On the small screen, Bell is currently starring in the Showtime series “House of Lies” alongside Don Cheadle; she has also starred in “Heroes” and “Veronica Mars.” Broadway credits include “The Crucible” and “Tom Sawyer.”

Menzel, who won a Tony Award® as Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Elphaba in Broadway’s “Wicked” (2004), landed her first role on Broadway in 1995 in the Tony Award-winning musical “Rent.” Film credits include “Enchanted” and the feature film “Rent.” She has appeared in a recurring role on TV’s “Glee” and recently released “Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony,” a live concert with an orchestra led by composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch. Menzel is currently on a North American concert tour.

Robert Lopez is a three-time Tony Award®-winning writer of the Tony and Grammy® Award-winning musical “The Book of Mormon,” which was co-written with Trey Parker and Matt Stone (“South Park”), and the musical “Avenue Q,” which ran for six years on Broadway and four years in London’s West End. Lopez teamed with wife Anderson-Lopez, whose Drama Desk-winning show “In Transit” is Broadway-bound, to write original songs for 2011’s “Winnie the Pooh,” a stage version of “Finding Nemo” and a new musical called “Up Here.”

NOTE: 'Planes' will now release in Fall 2013 (from Spring 2013) on Blu-ray and DVD
Disney Fairies 'Quest For The Queen’ will now release Spring 2014 (from Fall 2013) on Blu-ray and DVD