Another year, another series of packed cinemas and streaming records broken for Disney+. Put aside for a moment every single other company owned by Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, 20th Century Studios etc and let’s focus on Walt Disney Animation Studios. By combining masterful artistry and groundbreaking storytelling we are introduced to the Disney original animations of today.
This year itself we will be seeing 5 new Disney original animations. 2 films and 3 new series that are pushing boundaries and breaking barriers. Here’s a look at what Disney has in store for 2023.
They say opposites attract, and that proves to be true in Disney and Pixar’s new original film, Elemental.
The film follows the journey of an unlikely pair, Ember (Leah Lewis) and Wade (Mamoudou Athie), in a city where fire, water, land and air residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common. This film is very much a lovestory, and this will be Pixar’s third romantic Pixar movie after WALL-E, and Toy Story 4.
The film is directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Pete Docter. Elemental is scheduled to be released on June 16, 2023.
Win or Lose
Disney is taking their storytelling to another level with Win or Lose. In the only Pixar TV show on this list, we see Will Forte as Coach Dan in a new series that follows a middle school softball team in the week leading up to their championship game.
Courtesy of Disney
The uniqueness of this show is each episode is told from the perspective of a different character. This will be Pixar’s first original long-form series.
Written and directed by Michael Yates and Carrie Hobson. This is the first Pixar series not be based on a movie.
Iwájú is a Yoruba word that loosely translates to “future.” Based in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, Iwájú explores themes of class, inequality, innocence and challenging the status quo in a comic-style animated sci-fi series that explores the futuristic world through the black community. It was created and directed by Ziki Nelson and produced by Toluwalakin Olowofoyeko.
Courtesy of Disney
Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the African entertainment company, Kugali. Olowofoyeko said that the story was inspired by the city of Lagos, Nigeria, due to Lagos being “the culture capital of Nigeria”, and due to both its mainland and island areas having “a unique, distinct feel” that the creative team felt provided “an interesting base for the story”. Nelson said that the series would be an “opportunity to give people a more holistic view of Nigeria” though it’s “strange but wonderful city”. Producers worked with several nations for the series, while head of story Natalie Nourigat described having a “virtual story room” composed of both Kugali and Disney employees as “a great way to introduce new people”.
In this musical series we see Tiana return and continue to explore New Orleans as she sets off for a grand new adventure as the newly crowned Princess of Maldonia, but a calling to her New Orleans past isn’t far behind. Starring Anika Noni Rose as the voice of Tiana. The series is a sequel of the 2009 animated Disney film The Princess and the Frog.
Courtesy of Disney
With this series, Tiana will be the first Princess to have both a film and TV series. Written and directed by Stella Meghie, Tiana will mark the first Walt Disney Animation Studios production to be helmed by an African-American director.
Ever wonder what would happen if everytime you made a wish, it came true? 17-year-old Asha voiced by Ariana De Bose and her goat Valentino voiced by Alan Tudyk live in the magical kingdom of Rosas, the kingdom of wishes, where wishes can literally come true. Wish asks the question: “How did the wishing star, upon which so many Disney characters wished, come to be?” Asha is an optimist with a sharp wit who deeply cares about her community. When Asha turns to the sky in a moment of need and makes a wish, her plea is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they 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.
Courtesy of Disney
Wish will be the first hand-drawn Disney animated feature film since Winnie the Pooh in 2011. Wish is scheduled to be released on November 22, 2023 and will be the 62nd animated feature by Walt Disney Animation. The film will be written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
Disney is known for bringing us universal stories, set in imaginative worlds, filled with compelling characters. Over the years, we have seen boundless creative shows with our favorite characters – as well as original shows set in all-new worlds. Disney continues to push the limit when it comes to their spectacular animations. We are in for some special adventures this year.
Fangirl and Writer with a huge passion for entertainment.
