Here’s another set of illustrations which show a whole different side to princesses. For sure, many will appreciate the edge that the illustrations give these gals, but somehow, I am not sure that their respective fathers (or father figures) will have a lot to smile about. Take a look at these punk princesses.

Punk Ariel

Punk Ariel

Punk Cinderella

Punk Cinderella

CORRECTION: She is Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Thanks to our lovely commenters for pointing this out!

Punk Esmeralda

Punk Esmeralda

CORRECTION: This one is Megara. Again, thanks to our readers!

Punk Pocahontas

Punk Pocahontas

Punk Mulan

Punk Mulan

So which of the punk princesses do you like best? Are they better than the originals or not? For more of these, check out Thaeger.

Pixar has posted the first full-length trailer online for Brave, which you can also watch on the big screen if you go see The Muppets. Given that everything Pixar creates is something special… What is Brave, and what’s it about?

Setting Brave apart from every Pixar film before it are a number of things. Most prominent among them: Brave is the first Pixar film where the protagonist is female. It’s the first Pixar film to be set in Scotland. And for a while, it was the first to be directed by a woman, Brenda Chapman (Mark Andrews, who wrote and directed the Pixar short film One Man Band, took over for her a while back for undisclosed reasons).

The film tells the story of Merida, the impetuous daughter of Scottish Highland royals, who are expected to take on the traditional woman’s role in the world. But Merida, a skilled archer, has a wild heart and wants to follow her own path and earn her place as a warrior. But her headstrong actions accidentally put the entire kingdom at risk when she’s granted a dangerous wish by an eccentric old Wise Woman.

Brave stars Kelly Macdonald as Merida and Emma Thompson as her mother, Queen Elinor, whom she squares off against, regarding what’s expected of her as a princess. Brave all-star cast includes Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, and Julie Walters.

Disney/Pixar’s Brave hits theaters June 22, 2012.

So why write about it? Because Jirka Väätäinen has done such a jaw-dropping job of drawing some Disney characters. Jirka’s work is no ordinary depiction. Quite far from it. The idea was to draw them as they would appear if they were for real. The title of the gallery says it all: “Envisioning Disney Characters in Real Life”.

No need to tell you who this pretty girl is supposed to be, right?

Real Ariel

This one’s an image of Ariel’s nemesis, the sea witch Ursula.

Real Ursula

Now I am not 100% sure about this next drawing, but I am willing to bet it is Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Real Belle

This last one, I can’t figure out.

Who is she?

In any case, don’t you think that these pictures are wonderfully rendered? I am crossing my fingers that Jirka will go back to the drawing board and feature other characters in the future. The near future.

James Cameron's announcement with Walt Disney Parks

It looks like the success of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter hasn’t gone unnoticed by others in Hollywood, because now James Cameron is teaming up with Disney to bring Pandora, the alien world from Avatar, to life at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Disney’s press release indicates that the partnership will first result in a themed “land” at Animal Kingdom in Florida, but that other parks will eventually get Avatar-themed lands of their own. In addition, with Cameron working on two more Avatar movies, Disney will eventually expand their corresponding attractions to incorporate elements from those new films.

Might this be like what Disney World visitors will experience?

Cameron says that he intends to “bring Pandora to life like never before,” with the goal of going “beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of Avatar with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

Animal Kingdom was chosen because Disney and Cameron saw similarities between the two and how they both emphasize “living in harmony with nature.” Construction will begin on the Animal Kingdom attraction in 2013, with no projected opening date yet announced.

Do you suppose Disney’s Imagineers will find a way to replicate the floating mountains? Will there be Disney “cast members” on stilts, dressed as Na’vi? “Home Tree” seems like a no-brainer as some kind of ride or attraction, but what about the human settlement? Will it be represented as well? Will there be a “Scorpion Chopper” ride?

But here’s the bigger question. Disney remade Pirates of the Caribbean in the image of the Johnny Depp movies. Universal Orlando transformed a significant part of its theme park into Hogwarts. And now Avatar is coming to Disney World. Is this kind of marriage with Hollywood the future of mega-theme parks? And if so, what major Hollywood property will be next? Lord of the Rings? Marvel? Star Wars? (Frankly, I’m amazed that George hasn’t invested in a full-on Star Wars theme park already.)

Disney’s official descriptions are included with each film, along with release dates and imagery.

The Muppets

Release Date: November 23, 2011

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, Disney’s The Muppets hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

The Muppets poster

The Muppets poster

The Muppets poster

The Muppets poster

The Muppets poster

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets

The Muppets w/ Jason Segel

The Muppets w/ creative crew

John Carter

Release Date: March 9, 2012

From Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes John Carter — a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

John Carter poster

John Carter concept art

John Carter concept art

The Avengers

Release Date: May 4, 2012

Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s The Avengers is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when Marvel’s The Avengers assemble in summer 2012.

The Avengers poster

The Avengers

Brave

Release Date: June 22, 2012

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, Brave is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and the signature Pixar humor enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Brave poster

Brave

Brave

Brave concept art

Brave concept art

Brave concept art

Brave concept art

Frankenweenie

Release Date: October 5, 2012

From creative genius Tim Burton comes Frankenweenie, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life — with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers, and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A stop-motion animated film, Frankenweenie will be filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which will elevate the classic style to a whole new experience.

Frankenweenie logo

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Release Date: October 15, 2012

Academy Award®-nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?) brings enchantment to the screen with The Odd Life of Timothy Green, an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim — and their small town of Stanleyville — learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green poster

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Wreck-It Ralph

Release Date: November 2, 2012

Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emmy®-winning director Rich Moore (TV’s The Simpsons, Futurama) take moviegoers on a hilarious, video-game-hopping journey in Wreck-It Ralph, the story of an arcade game Bad Guy determined to prove he can be a Good Guy.

Wreck-It Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) longs to be as beloved as his game’s perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer). Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. But they do love heroes… so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch), Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan — win a medal — but soon wrecks everything, and accidently unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade. Ralph’s only hope? Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman), a young troublemaking “glitch” from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy. But will he realize he is good enough to become a hero before it’s “Game Over” for the entire arcade?

Wreck-It Ralph, an action-packed, visually stunning CG comedy set in contrasting worlds that are like nothing ever before seen on the big screen, is produced by Clark Spencer (Lilo & Stitch, Bolt). Taking fun and games to a whole new level, the film smashes into theaters Nov. 2, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D® in select theaters.

Wreck-It Ralph logo

Oz the Great and Powerful

Release Date: March 8, 2013

Walt Disney Pictures’ fantastical adventure Oz the Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Oz the Great and Powerful logo (recently found on Twitter)

Planes

Release Date: Spring 2013 (direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray)

Dusty lives in the small town of Propwash Junction, and the single-prop agriculture plane could not be further from the lean, mean, trophy-winning machines he idolizes — and his co-workers remind him constantly. His mentor Skipper is convinced that Dusty has the engine to compete with the best, and helps encourage him to pursue his lifelong dreams. But if Dusty wants to make his dreams a reality, he’ll need to push himself further than he ever imagined. With the help and support of a crew of all-new and hilarious characters, Dusty wings his way into the biggest challenge of his life.

Planes, set to introduce audiences to an entirely new and hilarious crew of daredevils from every corner of the globe, draws inspiration from the immensely popular world of Disney/Pixar’s Cars. Created, written, and produced by DisneyToon Studios under the creative leadership of John Lasseter and directed by Emmy-nominated Klay Hall, Planes takes off with an international cast of the fastest air racers around, in a comedy packed with action and adventure.

Planes logo

Planes

Monsters University

Release Date: June 21, 2013

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Screaming with laughter and fun, Monsters University is directed by Dan Scanlon (Cars, Mater and the Ghostlight, Tracy) and produced by Kori Rae (Up, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc.). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Monsters University logo

Untitled Pixar Film

Release Date: November 27, 2013

What if the cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? This hilarious, heartfelt, and original tale is directed by Bob Peterson (co-director/writer, Up; writer, Finding Nemo) and produced by John Walker (The Incredibles, The Iron Giant).

Untitled Pixar Film

Release Date: May 30, 2014

Pixar takes audiences on incredible journeys into extraordinary worlds: from the darkest depths of the ocean to the top of the tepui mountains in South America; from the fictional metropolis of Monstropolis to a futuristic fantasy of outer space. From director Pete Docter (Up, Monsters, Inc.) and producer Jonas Rivera (Up), the inventive new film will take you to a place that everyone knows, but no one has ever seen: the world inside the human mind.

Critter #1 from Big Dog Ink

And I don’t mean the movie franchise of questionable quality that crossbred Gremlins with Tribbles to bring yet another dimension to pest control.

I don’t tend to enthuse about the titles from Big Dog Ink. Despite some very good covers which raise my expectations, tingling my ‘new universe sense’, I have always found the contents disappointing. Not always even the stories, there was some good, if fairly standard, ideas, but the scripting has always let them down, making the characters appear incredibly two-dimensional.

Finally, the company has bucked the trend with Critters #1, which recently came into my possession. There’s no deep dark origin story, heck, there’s no origin story at all. Just a young girl with super-powers and a tad of a family rift leaving home to go to the big city as a student and junior super-hero.

Written and created by Tom Hutchinson, Cassia Crawford is immediately likable, surrounded by dialogue that goes from the emotional poignant to easily flowing and natural banter. The issue covers a series of small events, from leaving home, to the first battle where she gets injured, to her recuperation; interspersed by meeting the inhabitants of her dorm. There’s no cliffhanger, no artificial enticement to come back to the next issue. It simply stands on its own merit.

I cannot recommend it enough, and I am really pleased to be able to do so for Big Dog Ink. I love it when the smaller companies come out with a winner. Critter Cassia Crawford is very nearly as cool as Squirrel Girl. (And if you’ve read this week’s issue of New Avengers or remember her time with the Great Lakes Avengers, then you know what I mean.)

In the meantime, Spider-Island kicks off for good this week, with Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Island: Cloak And Dagger. Although not a regular Spider-Man reader, I have always been impressed with the quality of the title when drawn by whatever mega-crossover led me there. Some of the supporting cast is new to me, but this seems like a great jumping on point. So far, it reminds me of Maximum Carnage, only done a lot better. Then again, Spidey is a lot more connected nowadays than back then, so the team-ups are less forced.

Finally, Newsarama announced on Wednesday that Disney has put an end to the Italian company Panini created original content for the British market using British creators. It must all now be generated in the U.S.

Hmmph. Parochial much? Although Marvel UK created quite a few misses, it had numerous hits such as the Zoids, Zenith or some of the Transformers material; which brought some of the biggest names in comics to the forefront. Alan Moore, Alan Davis, Grant Morrison (commence angelic music soundtrack). If it wasn’t for Britain, there would be no Psylocke in the X-Men. No Flex Mentallo.

How dare they? Instead, there are more freelance creators on the dole queue. What, we British are not allowed to make Disney money in our own country? Where the hell is the logic in that? While I’m hardly going to quit buying Marvel over this, I think this is an atrocious move, and I can only hope that Boom, IDW or Zenescope jump into the vacuum that has been created. No one can miss the contribution the U.K. has made to the global comics market, and if Disney wants to miss out on whatever is generated here next, then that is their prerogative. And their loss.

Today Disney announced a new platformer called Disney Universe, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Mac. The premise is that for the first time, a Disney game is mixing together elements — locations, characters, etc. — from all of their properties. That includes the works of Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the live-action Walt Disney Pictures.

Cutesy avatars (is it just me, or do they look kind of… Sackboyish?) “suit up” as iconic characters from more than 40 Disney properties. Disney Universe is playable as up to 4-player co-op, so you could conceivably play “dressed” as such disparate characters as Buzz Lightyear, Sam Flynn (Tron: Legacy), Captain Jack Sparrow, or Cinderella. Six separate worlds will be explorable within the game, all of which are inspired by major Disney films. There are objectives to complete and enemies to fight, but the overall thrust of the game hasn’t yet been explained.

One draw of the game is that when you select a Disney character to “suit up” as, you gain not only that character’s appearance, but any powers and abilities they possess as well. After launch, Disney Universe will get lots of purchasable DLC in the form of new worlds/levels, character costumes, and more.

I saw the four posters at FilmoFilia, and boy, do they look awesome! The new Cars movie is all about Lightning McQueen and Mater going around the world to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix – perhaps not unlike the F1 today. ;)

The movie will take McQueen and Mater to the streets and tracks of Europe and Japan, hence the retro posters. Without further ado, I give you the posters.

This might very well be my poster of choice, if only because of that green, white, and red bar. ;)

I think McQueen looks a little too metrosexual in this poster, but then again, he always had that tendency, didn’t he?  (If cars can be metrosexual, that is.)

For good measure, here are a few images from the official web site of the movie.



If that doesn’t get you excited, then I don’t know what will. June 24?

Disney XD has released a first trailer for TRON: Uprising, its upcoming animated series based on TRON: Legacy.

Personally, I was surprised to find out that the series — which stars an eclectic voice cast that includes Elijah Wood, Lance Henrikssen, Mandy Moore, Paul Ruebens, and Bruce Boxleitner — takes place before Legacy, and not after it. Uprising follows a resistance leader named Beck, who tries to free his home and friends from CLU. Beck gets his training from Tron, and eventually even takes on the Tron “mantle” to rally the enemies of CLU. (I’m guessing he’s not all that successful, since CLU goes on to be the villain of Legacy.)

TRON: Uprising is set to be a 10-episode series that airs Summer 2012. It’s being produced by the director and writers of the film, along with Samurai Jack producer Charlie Bean. Production is being handled by Disney‘s own TV animation arm.

I know what you’re thinking. This must be some official piece of Toy Story 3 artwork, from Pixar and Disney, right?

Wrong.

Even harder to believe is that it was drawn entirely by hand on an iPad, using an $8 app called Brushes. Granted, it was done by artist extraordinaire Kyle Lambert, who specializes in artwork made using an iPad. But it’s just too good.

I wouldn’t believe it myself if not for this video, showing his Lambert’s process (at high speed) from on-screen sketch to finished product.

Amazing, right? (And I bet it’s Steve Jobs’ favorite video ever. Talk about corporate synergy.) Head over this way to see more of Lambert’s work.

Now that Disney and LEGO have forged an alliance, a whole treasure trove of properties could potentially get the LEGO video game treatment, a la LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Batman. First up: LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, which will accompany a new collection of branded Pirates LEGO brick sets taken from the film series.

Just announced today in a press release from Disney Interactive Studios, TT Games — the company that makes all of the LEGO video games (except for LEGO Universe) — will be producing the game for a release alongside the next Pirates movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, next May. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean will allow players to play through the locations, stories, and characters of the first three movies, as well as a few moments from the forthcoming film.

More than 70 characters from the films will be playable throughout the exploration-friendly levels, which Disney says will tally above 20 in all. The usual two-player coop will be available, along with story mode and freeplay mode.

It will be available simultaneously for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, PSP, and Nintendo DS.

How you feel about the LEGO games? My family and I adore them. Many hardcore gamers despise them for their lack of variety, since each game is basically a variation on the exact same game mechanics, but we love the cheeky humor and inescapable fun of interacting with a fully LEGO world.

As much fun as LEGO Pirates sounds, I’m more excited for what other Disney properties might get LEGO-ized. What do you think TT Games might make next? LEGO Toy Story seems like a no-brainer, but I don’t think they could go wrong with any Pixar property. The one I most want to see is LEGO Tron.

How about you?

Follow @FGgamer on Twitter for the latest gaming news.

You have to admit, most of the Disney princesses can kick butt. Not only are they beautiful, they also have this oomph factor, character-wise. Seriously, though, these girls are something else. Take a look for yourself.

First up, a group image of the artist’s – JosephB222 – favorite Disney girls: Belle, Jasmine, and Ariel. I don’t need to name the Disney movies that they are from, right? And, I am sure you can easily figure out what/who they are dressed up like!

It’s kind of hard for me to pick my favorite image, as they all rock, but I would have to go with Ariel as she is my favorite Disney princess.

Here’s another one of Jasmine, which is a commissioned piece. According to the artist, this gal is bringing quite a good bit of business down his way. Not surprising, as I think Belle is one of the strongest of the princesses.

Of course, I cannot end this post without Ariel’s solo image.

Red and black – how can you go wrong? This is also commissioned by the same person who commissioned the image of Jasmine. I think they are supposed to be dueling each other. Now that should be an interesting duel. Who do you think would win? Jasmine’s armor rocks, but Ariel’s spikes just might win. ;)

Now who would have thought Disney princesses and Star Wars actually go together?

Okay so it’s not the full length version of the Daft Punk song “Derezzed” which will make it’s full debut in the Tron: Legacy movie, but the short amount of footage shown in the video [below] offers up some never before seen footage and proves that Daft Punk was the perfect choice to add a bit of high-speed techno flair to the movie.

Please pay special attention to Olivia Wilde in that awesome skin tight getup, damn thing makes me miss her on House M.D. even more!

Here’s the video:

Everything I see from Tron: Legacy makes me want to see the movie even more, damn you Disney and your marketing machine.

No doubt this is further evidence of Marvel’s ongoing assimilation into the Disney empire.

Disney believes that the look of  Tron: Legacy is the future of fashion accessorizing, and is ready to make the future today. Hence, this collection of fine jewelry and couture inspired by the movie.

Disney Consumer Products has partnered with high-end designers like Rousseau, Hayden-Harnett, Rotenier and TomTom to create what they call “luxury accessories for women,” many of which are based on the look of Tron‘s female lead, Quorra (played by actress Olivia Wilde). And when I say “high-end,” I mean it: prices start at $90 and go up to $2,600.

Disney is also launching a store in November in Los Angeles that they’re calling the “Tron Pop-Up Shop.” All of the items in these new product lines will be for sale there, along with other limited-edition merchandise based on the movie.

Click on the thumbnails below for high-res pics and details on each new product.

As the whole world knows, Pixar is the holy grail of animated film. They can do no wrong. Every film they’ve made has been a #1 hit, and an instant classic.

But because they have such a reputation for excellence, we never hear about their failures. But as every genius will tell you, brilliance is achieved only on the backs of countless failures. One of Pixar’s failures is a movie called Newt.

Newt was announced a few years back as being one of Pixar’s many movies in the pipeline, but since then it’s been canceled for unknown reasons. (My theory: Pixar simply couldn’t make the story live up to its standards, and rather than release something subpar, they scrapped it.) The story was to involve the last two animals of their kind — a male and a female newt — who scientists needed to get to mate to save their species, but who can’t stand each other. Cue adorable romantic hijinks.

Anyhoo, Newt‘s been canceled for whatever reason, but Pixar today posted 30 concept images from the film. And as with all things Pixar, the concept art alone is gorgeous, sweet, and utterly amazing. Check out the full gallery on Pixar’s Facebook page.

In the trailer promo they say we’ll be taken away to the magical lands of Alderaan, Bespin and Endor, which sounds awesome, except for one teeny tiny fact, on Disney’s blog they specifically state that those destinations may not be included.

Here’s Disney’s official statement:

“We cannot confirm that you will travel to any of the destinations shown in this video …”

Now take a look at the promo:

So what is it Disney, are those the official destinations for the new attraction or are we all going to be dropped off in a parking lot somewhere with a Star Tours t-shirt.

Yesterday, Disney showed off the trailer for the new TRON movie. Titled TRON: Legacy, the movie is set to be released on the 17th of December this year. I know that’s still a long way off, but to keep you happy for a little while, check out the trailer below.

If this trailer is any indication of what the movie will be like, I think we’re all in for something awesome. How can you go wrong with flashy motorcycles and glowing flying objects? The effects that technology allows creators to play with today are nothing short of astounding. Oh, and it’s all going to be in 3D. Of course, the good looking cast members contribute to the whole viewing experience.

This teaser is probably nothing compared to the 8-minute show that Disney treated Comic-Con goers to, but I think it’s good enough to watch over and over again.

To fill up your TRON meter even more, visit the official TRON site.

Star Tours has been one of Walt Disney World’s most popular rides since it premiered in 1987. Disney is planning to bring Star Tours to an end later this year, so it can be reimagined and relaunched next year as a whole new experience with modern technology. But before that happens, Disney is offering one final chance to enjoy a nostalgic trip on the old ride as part of a “decommissioning party” that they’re calling “Last Tour to Endor.”

Last Tour to Endor takes place Saturday, August 14th, during Lucasfilm’s Star Wars Celebration V (which obviously, is also being held in Orlando). If you’re willing to pluck down $75 for a ticket, you’ll get access to the attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during this special party from 8:pm to 1:am, as well as lots of other Star Wars-themed goodies like ”themed intergalactic party zones,” Star Wars shows, a Death Star Disco, and more. The big event ends with “Symphony in the Stars,” a big fireworks display themed around Star Wars.

Now I’m not going to pretend that Lucasfilm and Disney aren’t a pair of empires that expertly market their franchises and get fans to pay tons of money for things they don’t need. We’ve all fallen prey to the “need” for a toy lightsaber or an Incredibles DVD. So the cynic in me knows that this is just a Lucas/Disney money-grab timed around a theme park attraction’s final day in service. But… ah, crap, I can’t help it — it just sounds cool!

Man, I’m such a follower.

When the whole world and there three nephews were still discussing Disney’s acquisition of Marvel, we brought you Marvel Land in Dubai. That’s how we roll. And how we continue to roll.

Another thing to cool not to report is “Epic Misney” by John T. Campbell.

The ultimate Marvel-Disney cross-over.

Picture stolen without authorization, but THIS, this we consider NEWSWORTHY! And you should go ahead and buy your print from T Campbell!

Apparently, I’m on trailer duty this week. First Iron Man 2, now the sequel to the cult classic Tron, Tron Legacy. The newest trailer is out now, and it’s definitely worth the 2:20 run time, because this movie brings me back.

My first experience with Tron wasn’t in the theaters, it was at the local arcade, just off of Route 9 in my hometown of Framingham, Massachusetts. Once a week, my father and I would head down there to plunk down $5-10 playing games. I’d be playing the arcades, while he’s play pinball, as per his pinball wizard dreams. I remember very specifically when the Tron game first came to our arcade, because there was a line to play it and it took me a while to finally break through the ranks to get in to play the game. When I finally got a chance at the stick, you couldn’t break me off of the game to save my life. I recall quite a few moments with my irritated father looking over my shoulder, tapping his foot because he was hungry and wanted to go to Papa Gino’s next door. Ah, memories.

Tron is one of those movies that I saw when I was a kid, but I never really “got it” the way my folks did. I was probably too young at the time to get it, which is why I’m going to get the DVD prior to the release of Tron Legacy so I can catch up. Regardless, if the movie looks as good as the trailer, I’m in.

In our roundup of five Valentine’s Day gifts for your geek we featured Hallmark’s Valentine’s Day cards featuring sound. That’s fairly old hat now, so three years on and Hallmark has upped its game by creating a limited edition video card that plays some of Disney’s most famous screen kisses.

No, it’s not a YouTube link or a card sent by email. This is a real card which contains a small video screen on which the romantic video is played.

Here’s the rub: in the UK, just 1,500 of these cards have been made and, at just £20 each, demand is likely to be high.

Video clips include moments from Lady and the Tramp, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin, and this could be one card that doesn’t end up in the trash soon after February 14th.

(If it does, you’re not allowed to rescue it and give it next year… to anyone)

If you’re in Britain and you want one, you’ll need to get yourself to a Clinton’s store in early February to see if you can bag yourself one.

Otherwise, here are some more Valentine’s gift ideas.

This Drossel nendoroid is one of the more recent nendoroids to be released and it contains quite a few more features than a standard nendoroid. If you’re not familiar with Drossel, she’s the main character of Disney’s “Fireball” series. Her full name is Drossel von Flugel and she’s the robot princess of a future world controlled by machines.

I’m sure a lot of people have noticed major similarities between Drossel and virtual pop idol Miku Hatsune, but it’s all probably a part of Disney’s plan to gain a larger presence in the Japanese market, and the fact that there’s now a nendoroid must mean that it’s working. The inclusion of some rather impressive accessories (for a nendoroid) will probably increase Disney’s Japanese fan base even further. I’ve taken a few pictures of Drossel with some of her special equipment below:

If you’ve seen the Fireball series, then you’ll recall one episode where Drossel installed a new hairstyle which actually turned out to be a jet pack. Well, they’ve decided to included that jet pack with this figure. Like in the show, the jet pack looks like some weird hairstyle, but with the press of a button the jet engines will spring out and you can fold out the wings. Unfortunately, Drossel doesn’t actually fly, but it’d be cool if she could.

The back of the jet pack has some nice flower decorations on the back along with Drossel’s family name “Flugel” in gray. There’s also some extremely small German writing (or so I assume) on the bottom which says “Vorslcht! Spitze Gegenstande machen die knie weich!” anyone care to translate?

Drossel also comes with this second headpiece. I thought it was kinda cute, but there doesn’t appear to be any buttons like on the jet pack.

My favourite part about this nendoroid would have to be the light-up eyes. Drossel’s head is hollow so the makers were able to place a battery and some lights inside. The switch to turn on the lights is on the back of the head, near the neck. In the Fireball series, when Drossel found out that she had nightvision installed in her eyes and tried them for the first time, they were extremely bright. I thought the creators of this nendoroid did a good job duplicating that; the eyes are a lot brighter than I would have expected. In the dark, Drossel’s eyes look about as bright as a cellphone’s display.

Overall, I’d say this is one of the best nendoroids out there. Although there are no interchangeable facial features (it’s a robot after all), I think the different “hairstyles” and the light-up eyes more than make up for that. It’s certainly more playable than other nendoroids which are meant more for display.

The accompanying article complains mostly about the violence in the new generation of cartoons featuring the “weirdies”, the Super-Heroes. While the piece does mention both sides of the argument about the effects of violence on children it comes down in favor of the classic and presumably more kid-friendly characters from animation. The author seems to have forgotten how incredibly violent the old cartoons were. They were astonishingly brutal even with the heavy editing that was performed prior to network broadcast to ensure all the explosions and maiming of bunnies at the hands of crazed opera singers were not shown and all the horror occurred between scenes or off-screen.

Read more at That’s My Skull, but do not forget to admire the illustration in the article.