New deluxe costumes and an assortment of accessories and embellishments allow this year's trick-or-treaters to immerse themselves in the folklore surrounding Disney's magical characters. Disney Store will continue to offer costumes that are durable, well-made, and comfortable enough that kids will want to wear them year-round! Parents will be pleased to learn that many of this year's costumes offer separately-sold hard-constructed shoes that are character-individualized, much more comfortable and awesome for trick-or-treating indoors and out.

As an exclusive Disney Store bonus, all deluxe costumes also come with a storybook hangtag providing history and insight in to the character.

For Girls

Disney's most popular princesses will receive the royal treatment this year with enhanced fabrics and even more of the glitter and glamour that little girls crave. These revamped, deluxe versions of Cinderella, Belle and Ariel (SRP $79.50/$99.50 Canada) are the embodiment of Disney's Princesses, bringing the enchantment and fantasy alive for every little girl that wants to be a Disney Princess!

To recreate the Cinderella ballroom gown, designers have researched in depth the classic 1950 film to develop an authentic costume that includes an elegant brocade bodice highlighted with a neckline featuring an inset rhinestone, a peplum graced with a tie back bow, a shimmering crystal organza skirt, and as a finishing touch, luxurious long, silver gloves.

On September 25, to commemorate the release of The Little Mermaid 2-disc Special Edition DVD, Disney Store will present an exclusive Ariel costume inspired by the film, featuring a glittered organza wavy tail that shimmers like the magical mermaid herself.

To complete the fantasy, your princess can add on Princess dress shoes for all princess costumes which provide the sturdiness, support and comfort girls need for a long night of trick-or-treating and year-round play (SRP $12.50-$16.50 U.S./$22.50 Canada). Also sold separately, exclusive accessory sets such as glittering tiaras and sparkling necklaces offer little princesses even more dress up options.

Disney's other popular princesses such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty also enjoy upgraded designs and fabrics, including glittery, character icon-bordered prints featuring themes and iconic art from the films (SRP $39.50/$49.50 Canada). Dress up any princess costume with a crown and a light-up wand providing extra trick-or-treating magic.

Belle, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty costumes, including separately sold shoes and accessories, will arrive in Disney Stores in early August. The deluxe Cinderella and Belle sets, as well as, Jasmine, Snow White, Mulan, Tinker Bell, Kim Possible, Minnie Mouse and Pocahontas costumes will be available by August 20 (SRP $39.50/$49.50 Canada). All costumes are available in sizes XXS-L, except for deluxe styles and Kim Possible which are available XS-L.

For Boys

In response to the high-demand generated by this summer's blockbuster sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, Disney Store will offer its first deluxe costume for boys - Davy Jones. Based on the film character that morphs into a sea monster, the cursed Davy Jones includes a tentacle beard, a right hand claw, dimensional and textured barnacles and a garment-washed jacket that looks like it rose straight from the ocean's briny depths. Additionally, Disney Store will offer an authentic Captain Jack Sparrow costume enabling boys to take on the persona of this charming rogue. Optional accessories for both pirate costumes include a spyglass and eye patch.

Younger boys can safely and comfortably navigate trick-or-treating this year in the fully padded, suspender-upheld Lightning McQueen costume. For boys with minds for fantasy, Disney Store will offer Peter from The Chronicles of Narnia, presented in all his heraldic glory. The superhero in every young man will enjoy dressing up as Dash from The Incredibles along with Red Power Ranger from the Mystic Force television show.

All boys' costumes are available for a suggested retail price of $39.50 ($49.50 Canada) except Davy Jones deluxe costume, which retails for SRP $79.50 ($99.50 Canada). Costumes are available in sizes XXS-L, except for Pirates costumes which are available XS-L.

Plush Bubble Costumes For Infants And Toddlers

Disney Store will carry a completely new line of "bubble plush" costumes for children ages 6-36 months designed to transform them into cute and cuddly stuffed animals based on Disney's most adorable characters (SRP $24.50/$34.50 Canada). These new costumes come with plump, round foam padding, plush character hoods, booties and mittens. New designs include Mickey, Winnie-the-Pooh, Lumpy and Nemo. Additionally, Disney Store will offer a non-padded Chicken Little costume and a Jack-Jack (from The Incredibles) bodysuit sleeper (SRP $19.50/$24.50 Canada). Back by popular demand, the Minnie Mouse costume will also be available.

For the first time, parents can turn their infant girls into Disney's most popular princesses. These mini versions of the Tinker Bell and Cinderella dresses (SRP $24.50/$34.50 Canada) are replete with beautiful detail including that special Disney magic.

Costumes are scheduled arrive in stores on August 20 nationwide. For store locations in the U.S. and Canada, call 800-757-5933.

 
Posted: Tue 8/1/2006 7:05p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Disney Cruise Lines Disney TV Disney Channel Books Disney Store Kim Possible Chicken Little The Incredibles Narnia Pirates of the Caribbean 2 Other Destinations Movies Merchandise

DIS: Tickets on Sale for Incredibles in MK Ice Show in MS Aug 31 - Sep 4

Disney on Ice's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure follows the family's vacation to the Magic Kingdom highlights include "it's a small world", Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. Tickets sales begin today July 21 for the performances in Tupelo, MS August 31 - September 4.

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Posted: Fri 7/21/2006 3:14p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Disney on Ice Magic Kingdom Disneyland Resort Headlines DL's Small World The Incredibles Disneyland Walt Disney World Other Destinations Movies

EXPO2006: Pixar Storytelling - Saturday October 21

The annual screenwriting expo in Los Angeles will feature Pixar storytellers. Andrew Stanton will deliver the keynote "Understanding Story" or "My Journey of Pain." Various Pixar artists will participate in panel discussions and the evening will conclude with a presentation by Brad Bird and Mark Andrews on the creation of The Incredibles.Link spotted on CartoonBrew.com

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Posted: Tue 7/18/2006 12:00a • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Headlines The Incredibles Movies

Gulfnews: Meet and greet your favourite Disney characters

The Mall of the Emirates will host the Disney Magic event on July 15 from 10:30a - 10p. The event will include screenings of Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Chronicles of Narnia, Chicken Little and Toy Story 2 as well as a Pooh house exhibit, a Disney workshop where artists illustrate the craft of bringing Disney characters to life, and more.

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Posted: Mon 7/3/2006 2:31p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Disney Cruise Lines Headlines Chicken Little Finding Nemo The Incredibles Monsters, Inc. Toy Story Other Destinations Movies

LATimes: Disney to License Name for Children's Drinks

The Los Angeles Times reports Cott Corp. will sell a line of beverages featuring Disney/Pixar characters including Finding Nemo(TM) purified drinking water and The Incredibles(TM) fortified flavored water with five added vitamins.
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Posted: Wed 6/14/2006 3:55p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Headlines Finding Nemo The Incredibles Movies

World Premiere of Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show A New Way to Experience Disney Magic

Led by Master Magician Mickey, an all- star cast of Disney celebrities will step into the spotlight today for the world premiere of Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show. This brand new show, featuring world class illusions and produced by Feld Entertainment, will launch its traveling showcase at the National Theatre in Washington, DC, May 18th.

In partnership with First Book -- an international non-profit organization dedicated to making sure every child has the opportunity to read and own their first new book -- Disney Live! will kick off Making Books Appear Wherever We Go at a special VIP reception prior to the opening night performance. Through Making Books Appear Wherever We Go, Disney Live! will promote literacy and raise funds to provide new books to children across the country. The program will begin with an initial donation of $5,000 to Washington, DC-based First Book, and over the course of the show's run, this national partnership will donate more than $40,000 to First Book programs to fund thousands of new books for children in need.

Disney's fabulous five -- Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy -- take the stage with professional illusionists Brad Ross and Alex Gonzalez, and together they showcase a stunning sequence of magical acts. From the breathtaking levitation of Minnie and Aladdin's Princess Jasmine to the transformation of Cinderella's rags into riches, the illusions will astound children and adults alike.

"Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show gives children the opportunity to believe, to wonder and to imagine a world where anything is possible," said Kenneth Feld, producer of the Disney Live! shows and producer of the most successful live illusion show of all time, Siegfried & Roy. "And, because of our partnership with First Book, not only will our show give families a whole new way to experience Disney magic, it will also give children the chance to discover the magic of reading."

"We're thrilled to partner with Disney Live! to promote literacy throughout the country," said Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book. "Disney has been a core supporter of First Book throughout our history, and we're excited about this latest facet of our relationship. Partners like Disney help us to get those vitally-needed books into the hands of underserved children."

The importance of this issue is paramount. A 2006 study by Susan B. Neuman and David K. Dickinson indicated that only 1 out of 300 children from low-income families own a book of their own, versus an average of 13 books owned per child from middle-income families. Additionally, research by Jeff McQuillan shows that children who own their own books have much higher literacy rates.

To bring Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show to the stage, Kenneth Feld had the talents of an elite creative team up his sleeve. The team consisted of:

• Director Jerry Bilik, who has been a member of the creative team for every Disney On Ice and Disney Live! production since their inception, and has been involved in the creation of each new edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ®. Bilik is the recipient of the Annual Composers' Award from ASCAP and has scored songs for the movies Real Life and Best Man. A former professor, he arranged music for a number of television series, including "Starsky and Hutch" and "Charlie's Angels";
  
• Production Designer James Youmans who has constructed sets for Broadway, off-Broadway and Regional productions, in addition to Barry Manilow's Showstoppers tour and NBA all-star halftime shows;
  
• Costume Designer Scott Lane, whose credits include Disney On Ice -- Disney presents Pixar's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure, Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo, Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc., and seven years with the Tournament of Roses Parade;
  
• Lighting Designer John Morgan, winner of two Emmy ® Awards for Outstanding Lighting Direction and six Emmy ® Award nominations, whose projects span from awards and comedy shows, live events, and concerts to the Olympic Games, Fox's American Idol, and shows for magicians David Copperfield, Brett Daniels and Lance Burton.
  
• Illusion Designer Jim Steinmeyer, who has consulted for such talents as Siegfried & Roy, David Copperfield, and Lance Burton. In addition, Steinmeyer has earned critical acclaim for his work in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and was the youngest person ever to receive The Creative Fellowship award by "The Academy of Magical Arts;" and
  
• Choreographer Bart Doerfler, a former dancer whose work extends from television, music videos and tours to film and stage; he recently coordinated the movements in the 134th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey.

 
Posted: Thu 5/18/2006 3:27p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Disney Cruise Lines Disney on Ice Magic Kingdom Books Finding Nemo Beauty and the Beast The Incredibles Monsters, Inc. Walt Disney World Other Destinations Movies

LPLatest: Cars Newest Sponsor of Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

Cars, a fast-paced comedy adventure set inside the world of cars from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studio (The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc.) has joined the sponsor family of the upcoming 32nd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

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Posted: Thu 4/6/2006 2:10p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Headlines Cars Finding Nemo The Incredibles Monsters, Inc. Movies

Disney/Pixar's Upcoming Summer Film "Cars� Newest Sponsor of April 7-9 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

"CARS," a fast-paced comedy adventure set inside the world of cars from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studio ("The Incredibles," "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc.") has joined the sponsor family of the upcoming 32nd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Directed by Academy Award-winning director John Lasseter, "CARS" tells the story of "Lightning McQueen," a hot-shot rookie race driver driven to succeed, who discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. The film is scheduled to open June 9.

En route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's off-beat characters who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.

The all-star vocal cast includes free-wheeling performances by Owen Wilson, Newman/Haas Champ Car Racing team co-owner Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy and Bonnie Hunt, along with Cheech Marin, George Carlin, NASCAR racing legend Richard Petty, Michael Keaton, Tony Shalhoub and John Ratzenberger.

Tickets for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, running this Friday through Sunday and featuring six racing events including the opening round of the 2006 Champ Car World Series, can be purchased from the Grand Prix ticket office by calling the toll-free ticket hotline at (888) 82-SPEED. A handy ticket brochure - which includes circuit map, grandstand and parking locations, ticket prices and order form - can be obtained by calling the ticket hotline. Tickets are also available online at longbeachgp.com or ticketmaster.com.

Ticket prices range from $35 for Friday/Saturday general admission up to $115 for a three-day ticket that includes Saturday and Sunday reserved seats in upper levels of the grandstands. Pre-paid parking packages are also available when ordering through the Grand Prix Ticket Office. Handicapped seating, Bosch Champ Car Garage passes, super photo tickets and a variety of hospitality club packages are also available.

 
Posted: Wed 4/5/2006 10:17p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Finding Nemo The Incredibles Monsters, Inc. Movies

Cars World Premiere at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 26th

First-Ever Multi-Screen Digital Cinema Premiere; Vocal Cast From Film Along with Racing Legends and 30,000 Guests to Attend Benefit Event Sponsored by Kodak

Disney•Pixar's exciting new computer-animated feature "CARSâ€? will stage its World Premiere on May 26th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina in one of the most unique and elaborate movie events of all-time, it was announced today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip, and others from the voice cast of the film will be joined by a host of stars from the racing world and 30,000 guests that are expected to attend the "CARSâ€? World Premiere, taking place at the same location as that weekend's famous Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race. The screening of the film represents the first multi-screen digital cinema premiere ever, with Texas Instruments and its DLP Cinema ® technology serving as Disney's event technology partner in providing the digital cinema projectors. A series of four giant custom-built outdoor movie screens (115-feet wide and 50-feet tall) will be constructed at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Turn #2 of the track. Each screen will have three DLP Cinema 2K digital projectors dedicated to it. A state-of-the-art sound system is also being created and installed for the event. Academy Award ®-winning filmmaker John Lasseter ("Toy Story,â€? "A Bug's Life,â€? "Toy Story 2â€?), who directed "CARSâ€? will also be attending along with producer Darla K. Anderson ("A Bug's Life,â€? "Monsters, Inc.â€?), and other key players from Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Studios.

Tickets for the premiere will be made available for purchase by the general public starting today. Proceeds will benefit Speedway Children's Charities, and Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. For tickets, call 1- 800-455-FANS, visit the Lowe's Motor Speedway box office, or order online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

To cap off the weekend, the #96 DLP HDTV car will be wrapped as the film's lead character "Lightning McQueenâ€? for the NEXTEL Cup series race in Charlotte the same weekend. Commenting on the announcement, Lasseter said, ʺWe're thrilled to bring the premiere of ‘CARS' to Lowe's Motor Speedway and excited to share this film with such a great community of race fans. Humpy Wheeler, the president and general manager of Loweʹs Motor Speedway, has become a great friend and helped all of us at Pixar when we were developing the story and characters for the film. In fact, Humpy provides the voice of Tex, a 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. I have loved automobiles and the world of racing for a long time and ʹCARSʹ is a very personal story to me. This premiere event is the perfect way to debut our film to racing and movie enthusiasts.ʺ

Cook added, "Pixar has captured the feel and excitement of the racing world in their latest film, ‘CARS,' and we felt that it would be great fun to stage the premiere in a setting that would do justice to the film. John Lasseter has done an amazing job bringing the world of cars and racing to the big screen, and combining it with that magic Pixar story sensibility that appeals to absolutely everyone. With the proceeds of this benefit going to two fantastic children's charities, we hope to launch the film in grand style and help some worthy institutions at the same time.�

Humpy Wheeler said, "It's a great honor to be working with Disney, John Lasseter, and his colleagues at Pixar in hosting the World Premiere of ‘CARS.' This is a fantastic film that celebrates everything that we love about cars, and it also gives us a unique view of the world of competitive racing. All of us at Lowe's are looking forward to the big event on May 26th, and are delighted that we have been chosen to participate.�

After taking moviegoers magically into the realm of toys, bugs, monsters, fish, and superheroes, the masterful storytellers and technical wizards at Pixar Animation Studios ("The Incredibles,â€? "Finding Nemo,â€? "Monsters, Inc.â€?), and Academy Award ®-winning director John Lasseter ("Toy Story,â€? "Toy Story 2,â€? "A Bug's Lifeâ€?), hit the road with a fast-paced comedy adventure set inside the world of cars. A Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film, "CARSâ€? is a high octane delight for moviegoers of all ages, fueled with plenty of humor, action, heartfelt drama, and amazing new technical feats.

Lightning McQueen (voice of OWEN WILSON), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters -including Doc Hudson (a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, voiced by PAUL NEWMAN), Sally (a snazzy 2002 Porsche voiced by BONNIE HUNT), and Mater (a rusty but trusty tow truck voiced by LARRY THE CABLE GUY) - who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.

The all-star vocal cast also includes free-wheeling performances by Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, Cheech Marin, George Carlin, Katherine Helmond, and John Ratzenberger. Delivering more fun and authenticity to the cast for "CARS� are vocal performances from some of the all-time greatest names from the racing world including the legendary Richard Petty, plus "drive-on� roles by Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Darrell Waltrip (who holds the record for five-wins at the NASCAR Coca Cola 600), and Michael Schumacher, the ace German Formula 1 racing legend, who is a seven-times world champion, and is widely considered to be the best Grand Prix racing driver of all-time.

-winning filmmaker John Lasseter ("Toy Story,� "A Bug's Life,� "Toy Story 2�), who directed "CARS� will also be attending along with producer Darla K. Anderson ("A Bug's Life,� "Monsters, Inc.�), and other key players from Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Studios.

Tickets for the premiere will be made available for purchase by the general public starting today. Proceeds will benefit Speedway Children's Charities, and Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. For tickets, call 1- 800-455-FANS, visit the Lowe's Motor Speedway box office, or order online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

To cap off the weekend, the #96 DLP HDTV car will be wrapped as the film's lead character "Lightning McQueenâ€? for the NEXTEL Cup series race in Charlotte the same weekend. Commenting on the announcement, Lasseter said, ʺWe're thrilled to bring the premiere of ‘CARS' to Lowe's Motor Speedway and excited to share this film with such a great community of race fans. Humpy Wheeler, the president and general manager of Loweʹs Motor Speedway, has become a great friend and helped all of us at Pixar when we were developing the story and characters for the film. In fact, Humpy provides the voice of Tex, a 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. I have loved automobiles and the world of racing for a long time and ʹCARSʹ is a very personal story to me. This premiere event is the perfect way to debut our film to racing and movie enthusiasts.ʺ

Cook added, "Pixar has captured the feel and excitement of the racing world in their latest film, ‘CARS,' and we felt that it would be great fun to stage the premiere in a setting that would do justice to the film. John Lasseter has done an amazing job bringing the world of cars and racing to the big screen, and combining it with that magic Pixar story sensibility that appeals to absolutely everyone. With the proceeds of this benefit going to two fantastic children's charities, we hope to launch the film in grand style and help some worthy institutions at the same time.�

Humpy Wheeler said, "It's a great honor to be working with Disney, John Lasseter, and his colleagues at Pixar in hosting the World Premiere of ‘CARS.' This is a fantastic film that celebrates everything that we love about cars, and it also gives us a unique view of the world of competitive racing. All of us at Lowe's are looking forward to the big event on May 26th, and are delighted that we have been chosen to participate.�

After taking moviegoers magically into the realm of toys, bugs, monsters, fish, and superheroes, the masterful storytellers and technical wizards at Pixar Animation Studios ("The Incredibles,â€? "Finding Nemo,â€? "Monsters, Inc.â€?), and Academy Award ®-winning director John Lasseter ("Toy Story,â€? "Toy Story 2,â€? "A Bug's Lifeâ€?), hit the road with a fast-paced comedy adventure set inside the world of cars. A Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film, "CARSâ€? is a high octane delight for moviegoers of all ages, fueled with plenty of humor, action, heartfelt drama, and amazing new technical feats.

Lightning McQueen (voice of OWEN WILSON), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters -including Doc Hudson (a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, voiced by PAUL NEWMAN), Sally (a snazzy 2002 Porsche voiced by BONNIE HUNT), and Mater (a rusty but trusty tow truck voiced by LARRY THE CABLE GUY) - who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.

The all-star vocal cast also includes free-wheeling performances by Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, Cheech Marin, George Carlin, Katherine Helmond, and John Ratzenberger. Delivering more fun and authenticity to the cast for "CARS� are vocal performances from some of the all-time greatest names from the racing world including the legendary Richard Petty, plus "drive-on� roles by Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Darrell Waltrip (who holds the record for five-wins at the NASCAR Coca Cola 600), and Michael Schumacher, the ace German Formula 1 racing legend, who is a seven-times world champion, and is widely considered to be the best Grand Prix racing driver of all-time.

" >   -winning filmmaker John Lasseter ("Toy Story,â€? "A Bug's Life,â€? "Toy Story 2â€?), who directed "CARSâ€? will also be attending along with producer Darla K. Anderson ("A Bug's Life,â€? "Monsters, Inc.â€?), and other key players from Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Studios.

Tickets for the premiere will be made available for purchase by the general public starting today. Proceeds will benefit Speedway Children's Charities, and Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. For tickets, call 1- 800-455-FANS, visit the Lowe's Motor Speedway box office, or order online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

To cap off the weekend, the #96 DLP HDTV car will be wrapped as the film's lead character "Lightning McQueenâ€? for the NEXTEL Cup series race in Charlotte the same weekend. Commenting on the announcement, Lasseter said, ʺWe're thrilled to bring the premiere of ‘CARS' to Lowe's Motor Speedway and excited to share this film with such a great community of race fans. Humpy Wheeler, the president and general manager of Loweʹs Motor Speedway, has become a great friend and helped all of us at Pixar when we were developing the story and characters for the film. In fact, Humpy provides the voice of Tex, a 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. I have loved automobiles and the world of racing for a long time and ʹCARSʹ is a very personal story to me. This premiere event is the perfect way to debut our film to racing and movie enthusiasts.ʺ

Cook added, "Pixar has captured the feel and excitement of the racing world in their latest film, ‘CARS,' and we felt that it would be great fun to stage the premiere in a setting that would do justice to the film. John Lasseter has done an amazing job bringing the world of cars and racing to the big screen, and combining it with that magic Pixar story sensibility that appeals to absolutely everyone. With the proceeds of this benefit going to two fantastic children's charities, we hope to launch the film in grand style and help some worthy institutions at the same time.�

Humpy Wheeler said, "It's a great honor to be working with Disney, John Lasseter, and his colleagues at Pixar in hosting the World Premiere of ‘CARS.' This is a fantastic film that celebrates everything that we love about cars, and it also gives us a unique view of the world of competitive racing. All of us at Lowe's are looking forward to the big event on May 26th, and are delighted that we have been chosen to participate.�

After taking moviegoers magically into the realm of toys, bugs, monsters, fish, and superheroes, the masterful storytellers and technical wizards at Pixar Animation Studios ("The Incredibles,â€? "Finding Nemo,â€? "Monsters, Inc.â€?), and Academy Award ®-winning director John Lasseter ("Toy Story,â€? "Toy Story 2,â€? "A Bug's Lifeâ€?), hit the road with a fast-paced comedy adventure set inside the world of cars. A Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film, "CARSâ€? is a high octane delight for moviegoers of all ages, fueled with plenty of humor, action, heartfelt drama, and amazing new technical feats.

Lightning McQueen (voice of OWEN WILSON), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters -including Doc Hudson (a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, voiced by PAUL NEWMAN), Sally (a snazzy 2002 Porsche voiced by BONNIE HUNT), and Mater (a rusty but trusty tow truck voiced by LARRY THE CABLE GUY) - who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.

The all-star vocal cast also includes free-wheeling performances by Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, Cheech Marin, George Carlin, Katherine Helmond, and John Ratzenberger. Delivering more fun and authenticity to the cast for "CARS� are vocal performances from some of the all-time greatest names from the racing world including the legendary Richard Petty, plus "drive-on� roles by Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Darrell Waltrip (who holds the record for five-wins at the NASCAR Coca Cola 600), and Michael Schumacher, the ace German Formula 1 racing legend, who is a seven-times world champion, and is widely considered to be the best Grand Prix racing driver of all-time.

"
Posted: Thu 3/23/2006 10:20a • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Cars Finding Nemo The Incredibles Monsters, Inc. Toy Story Movies

Pixar Reports Record Results for 2005

Pixar Animation Studios today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. For the year, Pixar earned $152.9 million, or $1.24 per fully diluted share, on revenues of $289.1 million. This compares to earnings of $141.7 million, or $1.19 per fully diluted share, on revenues of $273.5 million for the year ended January 1, 2005.

For the fourth quarter of 2005, Pixar earned $30.9 million, or $0.25 per fully diluted share, on revenues of $55.6 million. This compares to earnings of $55.2 million, or $0.45 per fully diluted share on revenues of $108.9 million, achieved in the fourth quarter of 2004.

"2005 marks Pixar's tenth year as a public company and, I'm pleased to report, our most profitable year ever," said Pixar CEO Steve Jobs. "With the proposed merger of Pixar and Disney, this will likely be our last report as an independent public company, and I'd like to thank every Pixar shareholder for their support over the past decade in helping us build this amazing company."

Results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, were driven by film revenue of $274.8 million, primarily from The Incredibles and Finding Nemo. This included $151.7 million from The Incredibles, largely from worldwide home video and consumer products licensing, and $58.3 million from Finding Nemo, mainly comprised of worldwide home video, worldwide television and consumer products licensing. The company's library titles contributed approximately 23% of its total film revenues, generating $63.0 million during the year, largely from worldwide home video sales, worldwide television and consumer products licensing. In addition to film revenue, software licensing contributed $14.4 million to full year 2005 revenue.

Results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005, were driven by film revenue of $51.9 million, primarily from Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. This included $22.6 million from Finding Nemo, largely from worldwide television licensing and home video, and $10.2 million from The Incredibles, mainly comprised of consumer products revenue and worldwide home video sales. The company's library titles contributed approximately $19.1 million in the quarter, largely from continuing consumer products revenue and worldwide home video sales, including the domestic DVD re-release of Toy Story 2 and the international DVD re-releases of Toy Story and Toy Story 2. In addition to film revenue, software licensing contributed $3.7 million to fourth quarter 2005 revenue.

Cost of revenue was $39.4 million for fiscal year 2005 compared to $29.9 million in 2004, and primarily represents amortization of capitalized film costs. Gross profit margin for fiscal year 2005 was 86% compared to 89% in 2004. The decrease in gross profit margin from 2004 to 2005 is attributable to a higher proportion of revenues from The Incredibles, which had a higher amortization percentage as compared to Finding Nemo in the prior year. For the fourth quarter of 2005, cost of revenue was $4.1 million, representing a gross profit margin of 93%, compared to $13.3 million and 88%, respectively, for the comparable period in 2004. The increase in gross profit margin from the fourth quarter of 2004 to the fourth quarter of 2005 can be attributable to a higher proportion of revenues from Finding Nemo, which had a lower amortization percentage as compared to The Incredibles and relative to Finding Nemo's amortization rate in the prior year.

Total operating expenses decreased to $34.3 million in fiscal year 2005 from $34.9 million in 2004. For the fourth quarter of 2005, operating expenses decreased to $10.1 million from $11.4 million in the corresponding period last year. For both the full year and the fourth quarter, the decrease in operating expenses over the prior-year was due primarily to a reduction in research and development costs, partially offset by increases in sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses.

Interest and other income was $26.2 million in fiscal year 2005, up from $12.4 million in 2004, and consisted primarily of interest income on investments. For the fourth quarter of 2005, interest and other income was $8.2 million, up from $3.9 million in 2004. The increases in 2005 compared to 2004 were primarily due to higher average cash, cash equivalents, and investment balances earning interest at higher average rates.

The overall effective tax rate for fiscal year 2005 was 36.7%, which was lower than the statutory rate due to a number of factors including the tax benefit associated with certain income earned outside the U.S., a tax deduction related to income attributable to domestic production activities and certain tax-exempt investment income. Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were approximately $1.0 billion at the end of the year, representing an increase of $185.8 million over the company's 2004 year-end balance. This was mainly attributable to cash received from Disney for Pixar's share of film revenues, as well as proceeds from stock option exercises and interest income, offset by film production costs, taxes and capital expenditures.

Capitalized film costs at December 31, 2005 were $182.1 million versus $140.0 million at the end of 2004, reflecting production spending on current film projects, offset by amortization of capitalized film costs of $38.6 million.

Further information regarding these results will be available through the company's 2005 annual report on Form 10-K, accessible through Pixar's Web site at http://corporate.pixar.com/edgar.cfm

 
Posted: Tue 3/7/2006 8:22p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Finding Nemo The Incredibles Toy Story Movies

Disney Issues 'Traffic Alert' for March 9th World Premiere of New Theatrical Trailer for Pixar's 'Cars'

Movie fans revved up to catch a sneak peek at Pixar's exciting new computer-animated feature, "Cars," will get their chance on Thursday, March 9th, as Disney offers the World Premiere of the new theatrical trailer on a variety of broadcast outlets, basic cable channels, internet sites, and in person at the Disney Theme Parks, ESPN Zones, Disney Stores (in over 300 mall and shopping center locations across the U.S. and Canada), and on the ABC SuperSign in Times Square, it was announced today (3/7) by Oren Aviv, president of marketing, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing.

The trailer, featuring new footage from the highly-anticipated summer release, will be broadcast in primetime on such major Disney-affiliated broadcast and cable outlets as Disney Channel, Toon Disney, ABC Family, SOAPNet, Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNews, and ESPNU.

 
Posted: Tue 3/7/2006 8:20p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Tokyo Disneyland Children's Place Corporate Deals Toon Disney Disney TV Disney Channel DCA Disneyland Resort Disney Store ESPN Finding Nemo The Incredibles ESPNZone Monsters, Inc. Toy Story Other Destinations Movies Merchandise Disney Corporate

DetNews: The Incredibles hit the ice at Palace

Disney on Ice: Pixar's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure is currently performing at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit.

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Posted: Fri 3/3/2006 3:28p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Disney on Ice Magic Kingdom Headlines The Incredibles Walt Disney World Other Destinations Movies

Grammys: Disney Grammy Winners

Gordon Goodwin won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangment for his arrangment of The Incredits from The Incredibles Soundtrack. Disney's Lyric Street group Rascal Flatts won the Grammy for Best Country Song for Bless the Broen Road. Other Disney nominees in various categories included composer Michael Giacchino, composer The Incredits and for best score soundtrack for The Incredibles, Roy Dotrice for the Children's Spoken Word Album Pooh's Heffalump.

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Posted: Thu 2/9/2006 3:59p • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: Headlines The Incredibles Movies

Disney Grammy Winners

Gordon Goodwin won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangment for his arrangment of The Incredits from The Incredibles Soundtrack. Disney's Lyric Street group Rascal Flatts won the Grammy for Best Country Song for Bless the Broen Road.

 
Posted: Thu 2/9/2006 12:17a • permalink • Discuss It
Tags: The Incredibles Movies

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