D23: Disney Unveil 'Gigantic', Reveal more about 'Zootopia' and 'Moana'

As well as Pixar, Friday was also the day that Walt Disney Animation Studios shared more fresh details on their in-production films at the 2015 D23 Expo Event in Anaheim. Their presentation featured not only more details on the films we knew were on the way but also a completely new movie was revealed in the form of Gigantic.

Gigantic is set to be a fresh take on a classic fairy-tale- it's inspired by Jack and The Beanstalk, much as Tangled was based on Rapunzel, and Frozen began life as The Snow Queen. As with those earlier films, it looks to be taking a slightly unusual twist on the tale. Here, Jack lives is Spain in "the Age Of Exploration", but rather than the traditional set-up he will befriend a giant. And the extra twist? That giant is an 11-year-old girl. The pair will come up against some less than friendly -and much bigger- giants known as "Storm Giants", The film will be helmed by Tangled's Nathan Greno and will have songs written by Frozen's team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. It will be released in 2018. See the first concept art, below  [source]

Next up from Disney though is Zootopia (aka Zootropolis in the UK), due early 2016. A sort of buddy cop movie featuring talking animals, the film comes from Rich Moore (Wreck It Ralph) and Byron Howard (Tangled). Lucky attendees were given the chance to see clips of the film and given an insight into the creative process. It was also revealed the world-famous pop star Shakira was joining the cast, as the (canny casting here) world-famous pop star Gazelle. More details also emerged about the plot.

The film will centre around talking rabbit Jenny Hopps, who's ambition is to join Zootopia PD. For the time being she's stuck in traffic division, but she aspires for something greater. And she may just get that when she ends up pairing with a wily fox named Nick Wilde, despite them being natural enemies. Wilde has some information about a missing Otter, and the scene is set for a buddy movie you've never seen be-fur.  Zootopia hits cinemas in March 2016. [source].

Audiences were also treated to a preview of 2016's other Disney flick, Moana. Coming from the veteran team of John Musker and Ron Clements, the south-pacific set tale apparently wowed those lucky attendees. The film will follow the titular teenager, a plucky navigator, who sets off in search of a legendary island.  Alongside her pet pig Pua, she meets a Demi-God by the name of Maui- voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. You can find a much more detailed breakdown of what was revealed over at SlashFilm.

Moana is set to be released in November 2016