D23: Hoppers, Moana 2, Win Or Lose, Toy Story 5 Incredibles 3 and More

D23 is billed as "the ultimate Disney fan experience." The bi-annual event brings fans everything Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Parks and everything a Disney fan could possibly want. This year's event took place in Anaheim, California, and here's all the major animation news from the show

Pixar

Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter revealed the release date for Win Or Lose, the first full length original television series from Pixar Studios. The series is coming to Disney+ from December 6, and is directed. written and executive-produced by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, and produced by David Lally. The series "reveals what it feels like to be in the shoes of eight different characters—the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, even a lovesick umpire—as they prepare for a championship softball game." Will Forte appears as the coach.

Pixar's next original feature film Elio has added Zoe Saldana to its cast. The film is a sci-fi adventure about a young boy who finds himself beamed up into an intergalactic equivalent of the U.N. and mistaken for Earth's representative. Saldana will play Elio's aunt, joining other cast members America Ferrara, Jameela Jamil, Brad Garret and Jonas Kibreab, Adrian Molina is directing the film, which is due June 23, 2025.

An Inside Out spin-off TV series is coming to Disney+. Dream Productions. The series is set in between the first and second films in Riley's dream production department. The location is like a movie studio where dreams are produced every night- on time and on budget. Some memories need extra processing, so they are sent to Dream Production.

Incredibles 3 is in development, and writer/director Brad Bird is returning at the helm. No other details (plot, casting, potential release date) have been announced yet.

The first details were revealed about 2025's Toy Story 5. Andrew Stanton (Wall E, Finding Nemo) is writing and directing. Although he has never directed a Toy Story flick before, Stanton has been heavily involved with writing the other four. Toy Story 5 will involve the traditional toys having to go head to head with electronics. Can they overcome this threat to their way of life? We'll find out next summer!

Pixar's newest original film is Hoppers, a body swap comedy from Pixar-newcomer and We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong. The film deals with a little girl will the ability to swap her mind into a robot beaver, with the goal of infiltrating the animal kingdom. She befriends a royal beaver King George, and helps unite the animal kingdom against the plans of a real estate developer. John Hamm will voice a greedy mayor who wants to get his hands on the land. The film will also star Bobby Moynihan and Piper Curda. Hoppers is due 2026

Disney

Disney revealed a new trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King their upcoming prequel to 2019's original The Lion King, which is the highest-grossing animated film of all time (however much Disney for some reason wants to pretend that it isn't). The new trailer gives us a better idea of the plot of the film, which is directed by Barry Jenkins, director of Oscar-winning Moonlight. The film covers the early years of Mufasa and his "brother" (and eventual mortal enemy) Scar.

Disney also unveiled a first proper trailer for the surprise sequel Moana 2. The TV series turned movie looks like it's going to be action-packed if this trailer's anything to go by. It features  the return of fan-favourite characters, critters and demi-gods as well as new characters, challenges and what looks like the franchise's first villain. This sequel has a lot to live up to, with the original a much loved part of Disney's modern history.. but this looks to be headed in the right direction. Moana 2 is due this Thanksgiving.

 

Exclusive footage was also screened from the upcoming Zootopia 2 (Presumably to be titled Zootropolis 2 in thr UK. As well as plenty of returning animals including Nick and Judy Hopps, the sequel will include a veritible zoo's worth of new animals, including the introduction of reptiles. One of which is to be voiced by newly announced cast member Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Indiana Jones) as a snake nameg Gary.  Early footage showed Nick and Judy visiting a new part of town Marsh Market, where the semi-aquatic animals live, Zootopia is set to hit cinemas in November 2025.

It was also revealed that four new episodes of The Simpsons will air exclusively on Disney+. This will include a two-part Christmas episode O Come All Ye Faithful, which will air on December 17, marking the 35th anniversary of airing of the very first episode. The other two new episodes The Past And The Furious and Yellow Planet will air "in the months ahead".