Disney Animation Studios at D23 Expo 2022

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Disney’s D23 Expo kicked off on Friday with a panel featuring all the new movies coming soon from Disney Animation, Pixar, and Disney’s live action movies. Wrapping up the panel, Jennifer Lee, the Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation Studios, introduced the upcoming projects from the studio.

Jennifer Lee speaks about Disney Animation at D23 Expo
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Jennifer Lee, CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studios, speaks onstage D23 Expo 2022 at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on September 09, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Zootopia+ Series

The first Disney Animation Studios project discussed was Zootopia+, a six-part series due to debut on Disney+ November 9, 2022. The series of shorts will feature multiple characters from the original movie as they go about their lives in Zootopia.

Iwájú

Next, the new series Iwájú. This will be Walt Disney Animation’s first original series and has been made in collaboration with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali Media. Iwájú will follow the characters Tola and Kole in a coming-of-age story set in a futuristic Nigeria.

the first look a Iwaju as seen at Disney Animation at D23 Expo
“IWÁJÚ” is all-new original long-form series created in collaboration with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali. Kugali filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku call the series a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria. Their futuristic depiction is bursting with color, unique visual elements and technological advancements is inspired by the spirit of Lagos, which is physically divided into an island and a mainland separated by both water and socio-economic status. The coming-of-age story introduces Tola, a young heiress from the wealthy island, her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert and loving son from the mainland, and Tola’s calculating robotic pet lizard, Otin. “Iwájú” streams on Disney+ in 2023.

Filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim, and Tolu Olowofoyeku were welcomed to the D23 Expo stage to discuss the project further. The team were inspired by “the spirit of Lagos”, a city comprised of a island and a mainland that is physically and socio-economically divided. Tola comes from the wealthy island and a well-to-do family while her best friend Kole comes from the mainland and is a self-taught tech expert and a loving son to his family.

Strange World

Releasing November 23, 2022, Strange World is Disney Animations 61st and next theatrical release. An all-new trailer debuted at D23 Expo and has not yet been shared with the public, though a teaser trailer did feature in front of recent Disney movies. Strange World will follow a family of explorers who have to work through their differences so they can save a new world full of dangers and surprises.

“IWÁJÚ” is all-new original long-form series created in collaboration with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali. Kugali filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku call the series a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria. Their futuristic depiction is bursting with color, unique visual elements and technological advancements is inspired by the spirit of Lagos, which is physically divided into an island and a mainland separated by both water and socio-economic status. The coming-of-age story introduces Tola, a young heiress from the wealthy island, her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert and loving son from the mainland, and Tola’s calculating robotic pet lizard, Otin. “Iwájú” streams on Disney+ in 2023.

The cast, Jake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade), Dennis Quaid (Jaeger Clade), Jaboukie Young-White (Ethan Clade) and Lucy Liu (Callisto Mal), also made an appearance and shared a clip from the movie.

Strange World is directed by Don Hall, alongside co-director and screenwriter Qui Nguyen.

Wish

Wrapping up the panel at D23 Expo, Disney Animation revealed their 2023 feature film, WishWish will tell the story of how the iconic “wishing star” of Disney fame came to be- a sweet story to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary! The movie will feature new original music by Julia Michaels, as well as a blend of watercolor-style and 3D CGI animation.

HOW DID THE WISHING STAR, UPON WHICH SO MANY CHARACTERS WISHED, COME TO BE? — Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original fairytale adventure “Wish” is an all-new story is set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, an optimist with a sharp wit and a deep caring for her community, turns to the sky in a moment of need, and makes a wish. Asha’s plea is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy, Star. Together, they will face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars – wondrous things can happen. The voice cast includes Ariana DeBose as Asha and Alan Tudyk as the pajama-wearing goat, Valentino. Featuring original songs by Julia Michaels, “Wish” is helmed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes. The feature film releases Fall 2023.

Wish‘s protagonist will be a character named Asha, voiced by Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose. She will be joined by Alan Tudyk voicing the goat Valentino, and the newly-formed wishing star, well, Star! Star appears when the 17-year-old Asha makes an appeal to the stars to help her community Rosas, the kingdom of wishes.

The movie will be directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasuthorn with Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes producing.

Attendees at the D23 Expo were treated to a first listen of “More For Us”, one of the film’s original numbers as sung live by Ariana DeBose.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Ariana DeBose performs onstage during D23 Expo 2022 at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on September 09, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Stay with Temple of Geek all weekend long as we bring you more news and updates from D23 Expo!

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