News & Press Releases

Cooper Hewitt to Present Exhibition “PIXAR: The Design of Story” This Fall

Published

8 years ago

July 22, 2015

Jim Hill

Pixar: The Design of Story

Examining
the collaborative design process behind Pixar Animation Studios, Cooper
Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum presents “Pixar: The Design of
Story,” from Oct. 8, 2015 through Aug. 7, 2016.
Featuring original artwork, including rarely seen hand-drawn sketches,
paintings and sculptures, the exhibition reveals how Pixar develops
popular characters, fosters emotional connection to its films and,
ultimately, how the design process is at the studio’s core.

Through concept art from films such as Toy Story, Wall-E, Up, Brave, The Incredibles and Cars,
among others, the exhibition will focus on Pixar’s process of
iteration, collaboration and research, and is organized into
three key design principles: story, believability and appeal. The
exhibition will be on view in the museum’s immersive Process Lab-an
interactive space that was launched with the transformed Cooper Hewitt
in December 2014-whose rotating exhibitions engage
visitors with activities that focus on the design process, emphasizing
the role of experimentation in design thinking and making.

“The Process Lab offers dynamic and participatory experiences for
visitors of diverse ages and abilities, showing how designers develop
ideas through testing, prototyping, and finding inspiration in the world
around them,” said Caroline Baumann, director of
Cooper Hewitt. “With Pixar’s two film releases this year, it is the
perfect time to go behind the studio’s practices and investigate how
they arrive at design details, such as Merida’s fiery red hair in Brave and the ‘mind world’ in Inside Out,
while also showing how they serve a particular story.”

Ricky Nierva, Riley and Emotions, “Inside Out,” 2015. Reproduction of watercolor and marker on paper.

“At Pixar, the visual design process and the story development process
work hand in hand from the very earliest stages,” said John Lasseter,
chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios. “We’re very excited
to work with Cooper Hewitt on this exhibition,
which will give people an inside look at one of the studio’s most
important relationships.”

Pixar architectural research for feature film Up Examples of work on view include architectural research that informed the structure and characterization of Carl’s house in Up; colorscripts and storyboards from The Incredibles, which chart the emotional arc of the story through color;

Lou Romano, colorscript, “The Incredibles,” 2004. Digital painting.

sculptures
of Woody from Toy Story; and model packets and detailed drawings from Wall-E, showing the iteration process that increased the believability of Wall-E’s mechanical functions. Interactive
stations in the gallery will focus on the three
design tools of research, iteration and collaboration.

Jay Shuster, WALL-E Arm Option, “WALL-E,” 2008.
Reproduction of correction fluid, ink and marker on paper.

Visitors will
also be able to engage with an 84-inch touch-screen table and explore
more than 450 pieces of artwork from Pixar, as well as learn about
related objects from Cooper Hewitt’s collection.

Tia W. Kratter, Ornament Valley, “Cars,” 2006. Reproduction of acrylic on board.

In part of the Process Lab once occupied by Andrew Carnegie’s office, the museum will be screening Luxo Jr.,
Pixar’s groundbreaking short film from 1986, allowing visitors to see
the origins of Pixar’s design process that remain in place today.

Throughout the fall, a suite of public programs will be offered in
conjunction with the exhibition, including a conversation with John
Lasseter Nov. 12, and a week long series of hands-on workshops for all ages led by creative staff from Pixar, as part of the
museum’s ongoing Design by Hand series.

Co-published by Cooper Hewitt and Chronicle Books, a children’s activity book, Design of Story: A Pixar Design Activity Book,
will share Pixar’s design principles, tools and stunning art as well as
tips and techniques from designers that will prompt hours
of creativity. With a foreword by John Lasseter and introduction by
award-winning designer Michael Bierut, the book will be available at SHOP Cooper Hewitt in October 2015, and distributed widely by Chronicle in spring 2016.

Process Lab is made possible by major support from Alice Gottesman.

Design by Hand is made possible by the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.

News & Press Releases

Disney Will Bring D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California in August 2024

Published

10 hours ago

September 9, 2023

Nancy Stadler

Expanded Disney Fan Experience Will Feature New and Exciting Events Across Multiple Locations, Including a D23 Takeover of the Happiest Place On Earth, Evening Entertainment at the Honda Center, D23 Day at Angel Stadium, and Much More

Fan Favorites Including Exhibits, Panels, Shows, and Shopping Will Dazzle Disney Enthusiasts at the Anaheim Convention Center

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a one-of-a-kind fan experience like never before with spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more!

Highlightswill include:

Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium, where D23 fans are invited to attend the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game.
Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort.
Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Shopping, exhibits, panels, and presentations will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day, with the fun extending into the evening at the Honda Center, the bigger home to marquee shows.

Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale in Spring 2024, with ticketing options to be announced later for access to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Admission for D23 Day at Angel Stadium and the D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort will be available as separate ticketed events. Additional details for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be announced in early 2024.

You can get updates by staying connected to D23 via social media (@DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X), D23.com, and our weekly D23 FanFare email (sign up for free as a D23 General Member at JoinD23.com).

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s nearly 100-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic year-round through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; the latest news and stories on D23.com; member-exclusive offers and discounts; the popular D23 Inside Disney podcast; and special experiences for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99/year), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99/year), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.

News & Press Releases

Star Wars Spoof: Space Robots in Outer Space Ep X: Battle for the Halcyon: The Last Starcruiser

Published

4 months ago

May 4, 2023

Jim Hill

Sure, Star Wars is cool and all. But let’s not forget about that other multi-part sci-fi cinematic spectacular, “Space Robots in Outer Space.” In fact, Hank Lonely (Hollywood’s ultimate hyphenate — actor / producer / director / writer / guy who makes sure the Porto Potties are kept squeaky-clean) just announced that there’ll soon be a 10th installment of this … Well, not exactly beloved. How about we say “admired from afar” instead? … series coming to a theater near you. In fact, here’s the highly anticipated teaser trailer for that project. Which is supposed to be titled “Space Robots in Outer Space X — Battle for the Halycon: The Last Starcruiser.”

Okay. Now the real story … In honor of Star Wars Day (i.e., May 4th. As in “May the Fourth Be With You”), Len Testa and I are sharing something that we produced with the help of all the nice folks who joined us last month aboard the Halycon.

We turned the Galactic Starcruiser as well as Black Spire Outpost into the backdrop for an affectionate send-up of all things Stars Wars. We hope that you (more importantly, the legal team at Lucasfilm) take this faux trailer in the spirit with which it was intended. Special thanks to Aaron Adams for so skillfully stitching all of this footage together. Also thanks to the team at Storybook Destinations, Touring Plans and the talented cast & crew aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” for making this “Disney Dish” fan event so memorable.

News & Press Releases

Disney’s New Trailer Reveals How Ralph & Vanellope Get to the Internet in “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2”

Published

5 years ago

June 4, 2018

Jim Hill

When “Wreck-It Ralph” opened on Nov. 2, 2012, it turned in the highest opening weekend ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release. Now Disney is hoping Ralph will not only break the Internet but the 2018 Thanksgiving boxoffice records as well.

The film re-teams the original director, producer and co-writer behind “Wreck-It Ralph.” The screenplay is currently being written by Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon. Director Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer, and co-writer Phil Johnston partnered with fellow director Byron Howard and co-writer/co-director Jared Bush to create the Academy Award®-winning blockbuster feature “Zootopia.”

ROYAL REUNION – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz-along with her best friend Ralph-ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film (below), features several of the original princess voices, including Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). Featuring Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope, “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2” opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21, 2018.