Toy Story Trio Goes 3-D

    BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Studios is
 taking the latest advances in digital 3-D technology "to infinity and
 beyond" with ambitious plans to debut new Disney Digital 3-D(TM) versions
 of Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story" on October 2nd, 2009, and "Toy Story 2" on
 February 12th, 2010, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt
 Disney Studios. Both of these beloved animated features are being newly
 converted to 3-D in advance of the June 18th, 2010 release of
 Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story 3," which is being produced as a 3-D motion
 picture and will represent the state-of-the-art for the genre. Veteran
 Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director "Toy Story 2") is directing.
 
     Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first
 two "Toy Story" films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar
 Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D
 conversions for "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" with his acclaimed team of
 technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion
 process.
 
     Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "We are committed to
 bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we
 think they're going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the
 wonderful 'Toy Story' cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling
 way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and
 hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we're
 excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere."
 
     Lasseter added, "The 'Toy Story' films and characters will always hold
 a very special place in our hearts and we're so excited to be bringing this
 landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the
 latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short
 of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With
 'Toy Story 3' shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and
 the gang from Andy's room, we thought it would be great to let audiences
 experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D
 offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will
 continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best
 possible way."
 
     In converting "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" to state-of-the-art 3-D
 films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital
 elements and rebuilding them in 3-D.
 
     Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, "Toy Story" was
 the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John
 Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar(R) nominations for Original
 Score, Original Song, and Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special
 Achievement Award "for the development and inspired application of
 techniques that have made possible the first feature-length
 computer-animated film." "Toy Story 2" was released in 1999, and reunited
 voice talents Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in their roles as Woody and Buzz.
 The film became one of the most popular animated features of all time, and
 received an Academy Award(R) nomination for Original Song.
 
 
 

SOURCE Walt Disney Studios