Despite being popular for some of the highest quality animation in various movies, LucasFilm and their various departments have never ever tackled a proper animated movie. That’s all about to change however, with Strange Magic. First look after the jump.
Set for a release in January 2015, Strange Magic is an almost completed film that features the vocal talents of Alan Cumming, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya Rudolph, Alfred Molina and Elijah Kelley. Gary Rydstrom directs off of a story that was penned by George Lucas, who hopefully learnt a lesson or two after making Willow. Loosely based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the project was originally in the hands of Brave co-director Brenda Chapman before being handed down to Rydstrom, as Chapman explained to SlashFilm:
I have been working on a project with Lucas for quite some time — about six months. When Lucasfilm was handed over to Kathleen Kennedy, she asked me to consult on the film to help solve its story problems. It was an opportunity for me to work with her. I felt honored to be asked by her, after what happened at Pixar. DreamWorks was very generous to me in postponing my start date with them so that I could work with Kathleen, also. My work on the project is done. My good friend, Gary Rydstrom, is directing it now.
Well it certainly looks detailed. I’m actually keen to see if Disney has another animated winner on their hands here. Here’s the press release, copied and pasted below:
“Strange Magic,” a new animated film from Lucasfilm Ltd., will be released by Touchstone Pictures on January 23, 2015. “Strange Magic” is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion. Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic, which created the CGI animation for 2011’s Academy Award®-winning film “Rango,” bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects.
Last Updated: November 13, 2014