Disney preparing exclusive looks at John Carter, The Avengers and more during D23 Expo |

Exclusively at Disney’s D23 Expo from August 19-21, 2011, Disney film fans will go behind the scenes to explore the roster of projects on the horizon at Walt Disney Studios, with panel discussions, sneak peeks and exhibits. D23 takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center.

On Saturday, August 20th, Rich Ross, chairman of Walt Disney Studios; Sean Bailey, president of production at Walt Disney Studios; John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Disney and Pixar; and Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, will present a look at The Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming film slate, which includes Disney’s The Muppets, John Carter, Disney•Pixar’s Brave, Marvel’s The Avengers, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, Oz The Great and Powerful and more.

The special presentation will feature never-before-seen footage and appearances by Jason Segel, Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd, Jennifer Garner, Jack McBrayer, Sarah Silverman, along with other surprise guests.

In celebration of 25 years of moviemaking magic, five sessions will be devoted to the artistry and technical wizardry of Pixar:

A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team – Enjoy a rare opportunity to spend some time with the key figures responsible for Pixar’s unprecedented success, including John Lasseter (chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), Jim Morris (general manager, Pixar Animation Studios), Pete Docter (director, Monsters, Inc., Up), Andrew Stanton (director, Finding Nemo, WALL-E), Bob Peterson (co-director, Up), Lee Unkrich (director, Toy Story 3), Mark Andrews (director, Brave) and Dan Scanlon (director, Monsters University).
The Characters of Monsters University – Director Dan Scanlon and Production Designer Ricky Nierva discuss how they combine hair, horns and a lot of heart to bring the wonderful Monsters University characters to life.
Michael Giacchino’s Music of Pixar – In this musical presentation, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino explores his early influences through the creation of modern-day classic scores from Ratatouille, Up and Cars 2.
The Art of Brave – Production Designer Steve Pilcher and Shading Art Director Tia Kratter show how they and their team put paint to canvas and fingers to computer keys to create the stunning visuals of Scotland for Disney•Pixar’s upcoming film Brave.
Pixar Shorts – This retrospective screening of the animation studio’s legendary short films will be followed by a panel discussion with several of the filmmakers, including Ralph Eggleston (director, For the Birds), Andy Jimenez (director, One Man Band), Angus MacLane (director, BURN-E), Pete Sohn (director, Partly Cloudy), Teddy Newton (director, Day & Night), and Enrico Casarosa (director, La Luna).

Expo attendees will also have access to advance screenings of an all-new 3D version of The Lion King, presented by RealD 3D, coming to theaters and homes this fall, and the upcoming ABC holiday special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

On the Expo floor, fans can explore the world of The Walt Disney Studios, including a Walt Disney Studios Animation Pavilion, Walt Disney Studios In-Home Entertainment Pavilion, and a Pirates of the Caribbean Film Prop Collection.

The name “D23” pays homage to the wonder and excitement that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official community for fans in Disney’s 88-year history, giving members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication Disney twenty-three, a website at, The Walt Disney Archives Collection; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Find out more about The D23 Expo at D23Expo.com.