Disney

The name “Disney” brings to mind images of fair princesses, charming princes, magical fairy tales, and simple happily ever afters. In recent years, though, Disney has begun rethinking their classic properties, and releasing more thematically complex versions of their famous films. Sleeping Beauty became Maleficent, which turned a wicked witch into a sympathetic anti-hero; a whole mess of fairy tales turned into Into the Woods, where happily ever after preceded a whole bunch of death and tragedy. The ranks of Disney Princesses grew to include women like Merida, the bow-slinging heroine of Brave, and Anna and Else from Frozen, who rescued each other from an prince, rather than the other way around. Every value and concept that Disney had established and reinforced through decades of repetition was seemingly up for reconsideration and revision.

With their new Cinderella just days away, Disney is continuing its streak of turning its animated classics into live-action features with the news, via the Wall Street Journal, that Dumbo is ready to make the transition from animated elephant to ... well, still-animated elephant surrounded by live-action actors. If that idea doesn’t get your ears flapping, maybe this will: the Journal says Tim Burton will be the man who’ll direct the new Dumbo.

If you saw Big Hero 6, you fell in love with Baymax, there's just no way around it. He doesn't just save the day, he’s also lovable and sweet and cuddly. And, that's no accident. Disney animators based a lot of Baymax’s look on a young child. His walk was specifically modeled after a toddler with a full diaper. These are just some of the super duper facts packed into the latest episode of You Think You Know Movies, which returns to Disney and Marvel's Big Hero 6!

You love ‘Frozen’, but you've already seen the movie and listened to the soundtrack an infinite amount of times. What to do? Well, just keep counting down the days until March 13, when an all-new ‘Frozen’ adventure—‘Frozen Fever’—opens in theaters with Disney's ‘Cinderella’.

As if James Earl Jones’ return as Darth Vader and Frank Oz’s Yoda weren’t enough to remind you ‘Star Wars Rebels’ takes place in an era closer to the original trilogy, Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian will seal the deal. The galaxy’s smoothest smuggler will make his debut on an upcoming episode of the Disney XD animated series, but does it mean a trip to Cloud City is in order?

In the fall of 2013, APCO Worldside surveyed 70,000 people about the world’s biggest brands. They measured their responses in eight different ways—“understanding, approachability, relevance, admiration, curiosity, identification, empowerment, and pride.” The number one most loved company out of 600 choices: Disney.

Recent weeks have seen excitement for Disney XD’s ‘Star Wars Rebels’ somewhat eclipsed by revelations of ‘The Force Awakens’ trailer, but it seems the animated series will seek to establish yet another major connection to the films. Not only will Master Yoda pop up in a future ‘Star Wars Rebels’ installment, but the character will be voiced by his original portrayer and puppeteer, Frank Oz.

Guess what, parents? You're going to see Disney's live-action 'Cinderella' remake in theaters. Possibly more than once. Because that is when you, and more importantly the kids in your life, will be able to see the next 'Frozen' adventure—the short film "Frozen Fever"—for the first time.

Disney's upcoming roster of animated pictures already includes projects like Pixar's long-awaited 'The Good Dinosaur,' 'Inside Out,' and 'Finding Dory.' Now the company has officially dated two more projects from its Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Even though we were told, once upon a time, that Disney and Pixar had no plans for 'Toy Story 4,' it seems that those plans have changed. After a series of short films that kept us up to date with the adventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear and friends, Disney CEO Bob Iger has just announced that we'll finally be getting a 'Toy Story 4' after all, and it has an official release date and everything.