Releasing your video game controllers and picking up a book hasn’t been easier since the release of Chronicle Books’ recent coffee-table beauty The Art of Wreck-It Ralph. It’s game on to explore this eye-catching, mind-blowing, and precisely-designed volume of exquisite artwork!

Disney’s attractive attention to detail carries through in this work from Chronicle Books. The Wreck-It Ralph touch literally permeates through each of the thick, glossy 160 pages. To the book’s benefit, the filmmakers behind the groundbreaking action-adventure flick serve as its writers. Disney-Pixar’s John Lasseter lends a kind, thoughtful preface to director Rich Moore‘s reflective foreword. Jennifer Lee, Wreck-It Ralph co-writer, and Maggie Malone, director of development at Walt Disney Animation Studios, seamlessly translate all of the fascinating film content to each portion of their co-authored book.

Originally planned as a direct-to-video release, Walt Disney has decided to lock in a theatrical release date for their movie Planes, which is inspired by the world of Pixar’s Cars, and follows…you guessed it, airplanes.

Disney has reserved the August 9, 2013 spot for the movie, which will be made by DisneyToon Studios, not Pixar. Pixar legend and Cars director John Lasseter, however, will oversee the project, as he does for all DisneyToon and Walt Disney Animation titles.

Wreck-It Ralph smashed box office records for a Disney animated film in its opening weekend, and won over critics and audiences no less. With its creativity, heart and passionate storytelling, Wreck-It Ralph signals Walt Disney Animation Studios is back in the game, so to speak. This edition of Disney In Depth will explore what has led up to this new hit for the studio, as well as what awaits.

Many individuals say the Disney Renaissance began with 1989’s The Little Mermaid, with following entries Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King reaching even greater heights – everyone seems to leave out the forgotten The Rescuers Down Under. Regardless, this represented a period of unparalleled imagination and inspiration within the studio, continuing for several years to follow. Then came the slump. Audiences were no longer interested in musicals, so it seemed, and Disney animation switched gears into the sci-fi realm with productions like Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Treasure Planet. Computer animation emerged, and with that advent Disney entered the new arena with misses like Chicken Little and the awkward-yet-smart Meet the Robinsons. None of these performed all that wonderfully. It had appeared as though Disney lost its touch. But the studio had some exciting developments up their sleeve.

Secret of the Wings
Blu-ray l DVD
Directed by Peggy Holmes, Bobs Gannaway
Starring Mae Whitman, Lucy Hale, Lucy Liu, Raven-Symoné, Megan Hilty, Pamela Adlon, Matt Lanter, Timothy Dalton, Anjelica Huston, Debby Ryan, Angela Bartys, Grey DeLisle
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 23, 2012

Every once in a while, a critic must suck up his pride and cover a film that would have never registered on his radar. For me, that is what I experienced with the latest entry in the Disney Fairies series, Secret of the Wings. Though this Tinker Bell-themed movie presents nothing new to the direct-to-video blueprint, I must admit that this “flitterrific” film offers pleasant amusement. Let’s fly right into this review.

At the bi-annual Destination D event at Anaheim’s Disneyland Hotel last week, the Disney D23 Official Disney Fan Club hosted a series of events that focused on the legendary history of Disney animated features. Hundreds of Disney fans gathered inside the resort’s convention center to obtain exclusive access to lectures, concerts and footage. Over the coming weeks inside Disney In Depth, I will cover some of those topics featured in the fascinating presentations held at Destination D. As for now, this edition will focus on the exciting future of the division we know as Disney animation.

Walt Disney Animation Studios appears like it is entering that third renaissance we have all been waiting for. With the beautiful The Princess and the Frog and delightful Tangled leading the way, the studio that suffered from creative missteps like Home on the Range is now producing hit films that resonate with audiences and appeal to critics to boot. During “Inside Walt Disney Animation Studios Today,” animator Darrin Butters hosted an appealing round-up of the studio’s newest projects.

Warning: This edition contains some spoilers of details mentioned at the event.