Just when you thought Disney animation reached a new high in creativity with Wreck-It Ralph comes Zootopia, a newly-announced feature that will land in theatres in 2016. The new film was announced on Friday at the Animation panel at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA.

Zootopia (the working title), directed by Byron Howard of Tangled fame and written by Jared Bush, is a buddy action-comedy where humans don’t exist. This world is inhabited, constructed, and ruled by animals.

Howard, who grew up and loved Robin Hood, said he had always wanted to develop a film focused around animals wearing clothes. No joke. It looks like he will execute that in fine film fashion, constructing a society that has as much originality as it does details.

Get ready for some Marvel Comics inspiration in a Disney animated film! Big Hero 6 will detail what happens when the imagination and innovation from those two atmospheres collide.

Director Don Hall (Winnie the Pooh), enchanted by both Disney and comic books growing up, spoke to the audience on Friday at the Animation panel at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA, describing Big 6 Hero as “inspired by the culture of Japan… mashed up with America.”

Set in San Fransokyo, a mesh of two major cities of the world – San Francisco and Tokyo – draws influences from both metropolitan areas. It is an “origin story of not-so-super heroes,” focused on a 14-year-old named Hiro Hamada, who loses his older brother and connects with a robot to “heal his broken heart.”

The Journey Into Imagineering exhibit at this year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA, takes attendees into the various components of Walt Disney Imagineering. Past, present and future are all covered inside this massive venue, flooding with artistry and the artists who have made them a reality. Each area of the exhibit features Imagineers, many of whom have worked on projects, including the recent Disney California Adventure theme park expansion.

Check out our photo gallery here below from the exhibit, which includes perhaps the “geekiest” touches one could appreciate: hints of Marvel, Avatar, and Star Wars making their way to the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts!

Captain America greeted his legions of fans in the Marvel Academy-themed space. The concept art on the walls depict a future kids club area of the Disney Magic ship aboard Disney Cruise Line. “The First Avenger” will be appearing soon, and made his inaugural Disney experience at D23 Expo. Salute to the Captain!

Tom Hiddleston fans, get ready for seeing – or rather hearing – The Avengers star like never before… as the voice of a young Captain James Hook. The announcement was made during the mega animation presentation today at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA.

The talented actor will provide the voice of James, a cabin boy, who eventually ends up being Captain Hook in the new Disneytoon Studios’ Disney Fairies animated film The Pirate Fairy. Mad Men star Christina Hendricks will voice Zarina, a fairy who leaves Pixie Hollow and heads off to Never Land, befriending pirates like James along the way.

Hiddleston drew among the loudest and most passionate applause – especially from fangirls – at the entire three-hour event, which was filled with many other major announcements. He said he has loved Disney from a very young age, considering Baloo from The Jungle Book a “spiritual godfather.” When Hiddleston mentioned he used to sing the classic “Bare Necessities” tune, the crowd encouraged him to belt out the ditty. And how he did. Hiddleston snapped his fingers, as did audience members, as he sung a bit of the tune.

A new Monsters University short, titled Party Central, was shown today at the Animation panel at this year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA, and was met with a favorable response from the crowd.

Party Central, which will premiere in theaters in front of Disney/Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur in 2014, is ridiculously funny. We were shown the entirety of the short, which finds the Oozma Kappa gang sad that nobody came to their party. But Mike and Sulley bring the fun to their house – literally. Through the magic of carefully-arranged doors and some creativity, the pair share the fun atmosphere with everyone.

Extremely witty and smart, I have no doubt audiences will fall in love with this short. The crowd at D23 loved it!