Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale? Directed by Andrew Stanton and produced by Lindsey Collins, the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton. “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

The new story will bring back our favorite characters from Finding Nemo and introduce us to new characters including Hank, Destiny, Bailey and the Otters. You can introduce your kids to these new friends with the Finding Dory Activity Pack Free Download which includes coloring pages, a maze and some dot-to-dots. Did you know that Hank has actually appeared in every Pixar film? They let the proverbial cat out of the bag last week with this post on Oh My Disney. I love searching for all of the Pixar Easter Eggs. Now I need to go back and search for Hank.

Finding Dory swims into theaters June 17, 2016. Until then you can stay up-to-date on the movie by joining them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and their official website.

The post Finding Dory Activity Pages appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Finding Dory

When Dory said “just keep swimming” in 2003’s Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo,” she could not have imagined what was in store for her (not that she could remember). Ellen DeGeneres, voice of the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, revealed details today about Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory”—an all-new big-screen adventure diving into theaters on Nov. 25, 2015.

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory.”

Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”

According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life.

“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature; the film was nominated for three additional Oscars® (Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Music, Original Score; Best Sound Editing). It was also nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made. At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time. It’s currently the fourth highest grossing animated film worldwide. The film has more than 16 million Likes on Facebook, and Dory—with more than 24 million—is the most Liked individual character from a Disney or Disney•Pixar film.

DeGeneres’ distinctive comic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearances through her work today on television, in film and in the literary world. Her syndicated talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” is in its 10th season and has earned 38 Daytime Emmy® Awards. DeGeneres has won 12 People’s Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedian for three consecutive years. Additionally, her show won two Genesis Awards and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode. For her unforgettable turn as Dory, DeGeneres was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

Like Finding Dory on Facebook and Follow Disney/Pixar on Twitter.

The post Finding Dory Slated for 2015 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” dives back into homes this coming holiday in breathtaking Blu-rayTM. The must-“sea,” must-own Oscar®-winning underwater adventure—featuring the unforgettable Marlin, his forgetful friend Dory and the lovable young Nemo—swims into living rooms for the first time ever in high-definition Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and Digital platforms on December 4, 2012.

The film fully immerses viewers in the stunning underwater world of Finding Nemo! From the creators of Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., Disney•Pixar’scritically acclaimed and heartwarming tale splashes off the screen with brilliant digital picture, high definition sound and breathtaking 3D bonus features that transport you beyond your imagination.

“Finding Nemo,” first released in theaters in 2003, earned the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature Film and remains the fifth highest grossing animated film worldwide. In 2008, the American Film Institute named ―Finding Nemo‖ among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made, and it is the second highest grossing Pixar film to date (behind “Toy Story 3”).

The Blu-ray 2D and 3D debuts mark the first time ―Finding Nemo has ever been available in these hi-def formats. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of interactive features and bonus features including 3D Virtual Aquariums, 2D Virtual Aquariums, CineExplore, A Filmmakers’ Roundtable and more.

The hi-def home entertainment release of “Finding Nemo” will be available as a 5-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition (2 Blu-ray 2D + 1 Blu-ray 3D + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy), 3-Disc Collector’s Edition (2 Blu-ray 2D + 1 DVD), 3D Digital & High-Definition Digital formats.

BONUS FEATURES:

Blu-ray 3D Disc:

• 3D HD Aquariums

Blu-ray Disc One:

• Knick Knack‖ Theatrical Short Film (Rated: G)
•  Aquarium
•  CineExplore
•  Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable
• Reinventing the Submarine Voyage
•  Deleted Scene: “Alt Opening”
• A Lesson in Flashbacks

Blu-ray Disc Two:

• Aquariums
•  Art Review
• Classic Content (Making Nemo, Exploring the Reef , Studio Tour, Old School, Outtakes, Deleted Scenes, Publicity Pieces, Mr. Ray’s Encyclopedia)

DVD:

• Knick Knack‖ Theatrical Short Film (Rated: G)
• Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable
• Aquarium

Digital:

• Knick Knack‖ Theatrical Short Film (Rated: G)
• Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable
• Deleted Scene: ―Alt Opening‖
• A Lesson in Flashbacks
• Art Review
• Classic Content (Making Nemo, Exploring the Reef, Studio Tour, Old School, Outtakes, Deleted Scenes, Publicity Pieces)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Those who would like to stay connected with the exciting “Finding Nemo” release are encouraged to:

•  “Like” the  Finding Nemo Facebook page 
• Follow DisneyPixar on Twitter 
• Visit the official Finding Nemo website

My Review

I already loved the movie and it looks stunning in Blu-ray, so I focused on checking out the bonus features and they are A-Mazing! Yes, I am a Disney film geek but I am so happy to finally own the Pixar short “Knick Knack” Aside from that, I love learning about the process of movie making and the bonus features on “Finding Nemo” gave me plenty to enjoy. I haven’t made it through the entire CineExplore yet, but Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable, Reinventing the Submarine Voyage, Deleted Scene: “Alt Opening” and A Lesson in Flashbacks are all entertaining and educational. I honestly don’t get the Aquariums, maybe they are just too passive for me.

The other night I was chatting with a fellow Disney geek and he told me he hadn’t purchased “Finding Nemo” on Blu-Ray and he didn’t plan to (he always buys every Disney movie on Blu-ray on release day). I told him about all of the awesome bonus features and he decided he would go out the next day and buy it, just for the bonus features! Take a look at one of my favorite Bonus Features.

“Finding Nemo” Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack will make a great Christmas gift for any child or Disney fan on your list!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack for the purpose of this review. All opinions are 100% mine.

The post Holiday Guide-Finding Nemo Blu-Ray appeared first on The Mom Maven.

On the heels of the phenomenal success of The Lion King 3D – which crossed the $80 million mark at the domestic box office – The Walt Disney Studios has announced limited theatrical engagements for four of its classic films for the first time in 3D. The following titles from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will be released in 2012 and 2013:

• Beauty and the Beast – January 13, 2012
• Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo – September 14, 2012
• Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. – January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013)
• The Little Mermaid – September 13, 2013

“Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we’re fortunate to have a treasure trove of both,” said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. “We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen.”

Originally released in 1991, Beauty and the Beast is a classic “tale as old as time” that follows the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman imprisoned in the castle of a mysterious beast and his enchanted staff, who must learn the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture, earning an additional five Oscar® nominations and winning two. It has grossed $380.4 million worldwide.

First released in 2003, Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo takes audiences into a whole new world in this undersea adventure about family, courage and challenges. When Marlin, an overly cautious clownfish living in the Great Barrier Reef, helplessly watches his son get scooped up by a diver, he must put aside his fears of the ocean and leave the safety of his coral enclave to find Nemo. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a forgetful but relentlessly optimistic fish, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero in a seemingly impossible land-and-sea rescue.Finding Nemo won an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for three others. With a total of $867.6 million worldwide, it was the second highest-grossing film of 2003.

In 2001, Disney•Pixar released Monsters, Inc. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it’s up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.Monsters, Inc. shattered every DVD-era home entertainment sales record when 11 million DVD/VHS copies were sold during its first week of release. It won an Academy Award® for Best Song and has grossed $526.9 million worldwide.

Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid, stars Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true and save her father’s beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula. One of the most celebrated animated films of all time, The Little Mermaid was nominated for three Academy Awards®, winning two. It has grossed $228.9 million worldwide.

The post Disney and Disney•PIXAR Favorites to Return to Theaters in 3D appeared first on The Mom Maven.

The resort will be themed around 4 very popular Disney and Disney-Pixar Films.

• Finding Nemo
• Cars
• The Lion King
• The Little Mermaid

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will cater to families with 1120 family suites and 864 regular rooms. The resort is expected to open at the end of 2012, I’ll keep you posted as new information is released.

Please answer this poll question and feel free to leave your more detailed thoughts in the comments.

The post Disney World Unveils New Resort appeared first on The Mom Maven.