Disney Adds 2010 Debut of Newly Re-Rendered Disney Digital 3-D(TM) Version of 'Beauty and the Beast' to Its Growing Slate of 3-D Releases

Singapore, November 19 (ots/PRNewswire) -

Further demonstrating its commitment to quality 3-D motion
picture entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios has begun re-rendering
its Oscar(R)-winning animated favorite, "Beauty and the Beast," in
preparation for its Disney Digital 3-D(TM) debut on the big screen in
2010, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures Group. The announcement was made today in
Singapore at 3DX: 3D Film and Entertainment Technology Festival, the
industry's first conference devoted to the latest advances in 3-D
technology and exhibition. The addition of "Beauty and the Beast" to
its schedule brings the total number of Disney Digital 3-D releases
to 11 for 2009-10.

Next year's 3-D schedule includes "Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert
Movie" (2/27/09), Disney-Pixar's "UP," (5/29/09), "G-Force" from
Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films (7/24/09), the newly re-rendered
Disney Digital 3-D debut of Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story" (10/2/09), and
"Disney's A Christmas Carol," from director Robert Zemeckis (11/6/09)
and starring Jim Carrey in multiple roles. In addition to "Beauty and
the Beast," Disney's 3-D offerings for 2010 include Disney-Pixar's
newly re-rendered 3-D version of "Toy Story 2," Tim Burton's "Alice
in Wonderland" starring Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, the debut of
the all-new "Toy Story 3" from Disney-Pixar, Disney's enchanting new
animated fairy tale, "Rapunzel," and from Touchstone Pictures the
dance phenomenon "Step Up 3" (2010).

Creating a Disney Digital 3-D version of "Beauty and the Beast,"
which won two Oscars(R) and is the only animated feature to ever
receive a Best Picture nomination from the Motion Picture Academy,
will be handled entirely in-house at Walt Disney Animation Studios,
and will utilize innovative proprietary software, along with the
latest techniques and advances in 3-D technology. Overseeing the
project from the creative end will be the film's original team of
acclaimed filmmakers -- producer Don Hahn, and directors Kirk Wise
and Gary Trousdale. A team of technical experts at Walt Disney
Feature Animation will be headed by Sara Duran-Singer, senior vice
president of Worldwide Post Production. The re-rendering is expected
to take about nine months to complete, and will require a painstaking
frame-by-frame analysis of the film's original computer files in
order to create new images for each eye.

Commenting on the announcement, Zoradi said, "Disney is proud to
be a pioneer in creating spectacular 3-D motion picture experiences,
and we have a great lineup of animated and live-action features to
satisfy moviegoers of all ages. The re-rendering of our animated
classic 'Beauty and the Beast' into Disney Digital 3-D is another
exciting step for this medium, and further proof of our commitment to
the art and technology of 3-D filmmaking. With our animated feature
'Bolt' set to hit 3-D theaters later this month, and eleven more 3-D
features on the schedule over the next two years, our Studio is
taking the lead position in bringing quality 3-D entertainment to
moviegoers all over the world. Disney has created some fantastic new
proprietary software to make the 3-D imagery better than ever, and we
think audiences are going to love experiencing these films in a whole
new dimension."

Don Hahn, producer of the original "Beauty and the Beast" feature
as well as the upcoming Disney Digital 3-D version, adds, "It's a
real thrill to be reunited with the film's original directors, Kirk
and Gary, in bringing new magic to this beloved animated classic. By
going back to the original animation files, which have been carefully
archived for 17 years, and using the separate background, effects and
character animation elements, we're able to come up with a fun and
unique 3-D experience for existing and new fans of the film. With its
exciting story, dazzling musical numbers, and landmark computer
animated ballroom sequence, 'Beauty and the Beast' lends itself
particularly well to the 3-D process, and moviegoers will feel more
connected than ever with the fairy tale world of Belle, Beast and the
castle's enchanted objects. It's wonderful to revisit some of our
favorite animated friends, and to bring them to life in a whole new
way."

Originally released in 1991, "Beauty and the Beast" proved to be
a major success at the box office (the first animated feature to
cross the US$100 million plateau in its initial release), a favorite
with moviegoers all over the world and an important milestone for the
art of animation. In addition to its unprecedented Oscar(R)
nomination for Best Picture, it received five other nominations from
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (and won trophies for
Best Song and Best Original Score). The film also won a Golden Globe
Award for Best Comedy/Musical and garnered two Grammy Awards. A
Broadway stage musical, based on the film, played from 1994 through
2007, and became the sixth-longest running production in Broadway
history with 5,464 performances.

ots Originaltext: The Walt Disney Studios
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Heidi Trotta of The Walt Disney Studios, +1-818-560-7280,
Heidi.trotta@disney.com