Pixar's Tasha Sounart on the New Coco Scene in Mickey's PhilharMagic

Comic-Con and Event Landscape

• 🎙️ The show was recorded on July 23rd, 2021, with hosts Drew Taylor and Jim Hill discussing the shift in major fan conventions like Comic-Con due to the pandemic.
• 🗓️ They noted that while in-person Comic-Con was canceled, events like D23 Expo and Star Wars Celebration were being planned, raising questions about future con attendance and safety protocols.

Paramount+ and Animated Series

• 🚀 Trailers were released for Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2 and Star Trek: Prodigy, highlighting the growing slate of animated Star Trek content.
• 📺 Other animated series discussed included The Harper House and Adventure Time: Distant Lands (specifically the 'Wizard City' special).

Animated Film Releases and Accolades

• 🌟 Mamoru Hosoda's animated feature Belle received a 14-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, signaling strong anticipation for its release.
• 🎬 Earwig and the Witch, a Studio Ghibli and NHK co-production, was discussed, with mention of a potential theatrical re-release with added scenes.
• 🏀 Space Jam: A New Legacy was reviewed, with praise for its animation but mixed feelings on its storytelling and overwhelming crowd scenes.
• 🎬 Netflix's animation slate was highlighted, including the upcoming film Vivo and the prequel movie The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.
• 🏆 The Mitchells vs. The Machines was celebrated as Netflix's biggest animated film to date, while Luca continued to top streaming charts.

Pixar's 'Up' and Mattel Collectibles

• 🐦 A new, highly detailed 12-inch figure of Kevin the Bird from Pixar's 'Up' was announced by Mattel Creations, featuring movable joints and accessories.
• 💰 This collectible was highlighted as a desirable item for fans, especially given the limited merchandise available for 'Up' upon its initial release.

Mickey's PhilharMagic and the 'Coco' Sequence

• ✨ Tasha Sounart, Associate Creative Director for Theme Parks at Pixar, discussed the creation of the new Coco sequence for Mickey's PhilharMagic at Disney Parks.
• 🎶 The 'Coco' segment was chosen due to the film's musical nature and its popularity, fitting seamlessly into the attraction's existing structure.
• 🛠️ The team utilized existing sets and character rigs from the film, adapting them for the attraction's wraparound screen, with new costumes created for a band scene.
• 💡 The new sequence drew inspiration from an early Pixar 'diorama' concept, incorporating its energy and camera movement, though assets had to be rebuilt due to changes in rigs and unfinished buildings.
• 🤝 A significant challenge was integrating Donald Duck from Disney Animation into the Pixar-created 'Coco' world, requiring a unique pipeline and collaboration between the two studios.
• 🤯 The 'circle dance' and 'tower of skeletons' scenes were noted as particularly challenging animation sequences due to complex character interactions and head animations.
• 🍕 An Easter egg was hinted at: the Pizza Planet truck may be hidden within the new sequence.

Pixar's Approach to Theme Park Experiences

• 🎮 Sounart emphasized how her background in interactive gaming informed her approach to theme park creative direction, focusing on guest interaction and feedback.
• 🎢 She highlighted the importance of quickly establishing character relationships and evoking the emotional core of films within the limited time of theme park attractions.
• 💡 The use of VR for pre-visualization, as seen with Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, was crucial for aligning elements like eyelines and set design across different locations.
• 🖼️ Sounart also shared insights into her work on Lamplight Lounge at Pixar Pier, detailing the creation of a backstory to guide the design of the space.