Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) returned to this year’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival with in-person presentations of the studios’ latest projects.
Oscar-winning producer Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled) treated attendees to the debut of over 10 minutes of footage from the highly anticipated animated feature Strange World. Coming to theaters in November, the original story takes viewers into an uncharted and treacherous land where “fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest—and by far— most crucial mission.”
The studio revealed key voice cast members joining previously announced actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who lends his voice to Searcher Clade, a farmer who finds himself thrust into an adventure in a strange world.
The newly announced all-star cast includes:
- Dennis Quaid as Jaeger Clade, Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father.
- Jaboukie Young-White as Ethan Clade, Searcher’s 16-year-old son who longs for adventure beyond his father’s farm while navigating a school crush.
- Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, a pilot and natural leader, Ethan’s mom, and Searcher’s wife.
- Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, the head of the land of Avalonia and the leader of exploring the strange world.
During the Disney Animation presentation, Oscar-winning filmmaker and chief creative officer Jennifer Lee received the Festival’s Honorary Cristal Award from Annecy Festival artistic director Marcel Jean. In her remarks to the audience, Lee thanked the festival and those at Disney Animation. “We look ahead, together,” she said. “The ‘we’ is more important than ever as our studio can only truly shine when everyone feels welcome, feels the pride and responsibility of our legacy, and feels inspired to create, together.”
Audiences were also treated to a surprise appearance by two-time Academy Award winner and Disney Animation president Clark Spencer, with the world premiere of episodes from Disney Animation’s series, Baymax! which releases 29 June on Disney+, and Zootopia+, which Spencer announced would debut on Disney+ on 9 November 2022.
Baymax! returns to the fantastical city of San Fransokyo where the affable, inflatable, inimitable healthcare companion, Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit), sets out to do what he was programmed to do: help others.
Zootopia+, a short-form series, heads back to the fast-paced mammal metropolis of Zootopia, diving deeper into the lives of some of the feature film’s most intriguing characters, including Fru Fru, the newly married arctic shrew; Gazelle’s talented tiger dancers; and the sloth full of surprises, Flash.