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Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrick Star in Dreamworks Trolls!

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Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrick in Dreamworks Trolls!

By Erin

*I was invited as a guest to this press event hosted by 20th Century Fox & DreamWorks Animation*

Trolls-Banner2

Do you remember Trolls from back in the day? I remember having quite a few of them myself. I loved their crazy colorful hair and sparkly jeweled bellies. Many people all over the world (including myself) have been waiting for the big news that Trolls is coming this November, just in time to make the holidays a little brighter and to help you find your happy place to get in the spirit. Both kids and adults are going to love this colorful, music-filled comedy.

Find Your Happy Place November 4th!

From the creators of Shrek comes the most smart, funny, irreverent animated comedy of the year, DreamWorks’ Trolls. This holiday season, enter a colorful, wondrous world populated by hilariously unforgettable characters and discover the story of the overly optimistic Trolls, with a constant song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomach. Featuring original music from Justin Timberlake, and soon-to-be classic mash-ups of songs from other popular artists, the film stars the voice talents of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Russell Brand, James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Ron Funches, Icona Pop, Gwen Stefani, and many more.

Director: Mike Mitchell

Co-Director: Walt Dohrn

Producer: Gina Shay

Dreamworks Trolls-Press-Junket

I had the honor to sit in on an interview with the Director of Trolls, Mike Mitchell, Co-Director Walt Dohrn, Producer Gina Shay and the stars of Trolls, Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick. Director Mike Mitchell, who also directed DreamWorks’ SHREK, explained to us that this film has the kind of magic that both parents and kids will find themselves laughing at the same parts and sharing a love for both new and classic songs. What else did we learn?

Here are some of the fun facts we learned about Trolls!

  • The story development for Trolls is very different from Shrek. Trolls is not based on any previous story. They had a completely clean slate to work with for Trolls.

  • There is a theme of happiness that applies to everyone.  There’s a big idea here that we’re all born with happiness.  We just–sometimes we need someone to help us find it, but we’re all born with this ability to be happy.  

  • A new kind of animation is used with the creation of this film. You will be able to see “texture” on the animation when you go to see the movie in 3D.
  • Trolls is the first film that Justin Timberlake is an Executive Music Producer for.

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  • The movie has been created with original songs like, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ but also includes many music adaptations from classics that we grew up listening to like: ‘True Colors’ and ‘The Sound of Silence.’ 
  • The music really helps to tell the story and is an integral part of the storytelling.

Justin Timberlake Trolls

  • +1,000 songs were picked out for Trolls. To make the final cut, besides being cleared to use the song, the song had to fit the story, fit the tone of the movie, and it had to have kind of this everlasting feel.

  •  Big challenges? Glitter!  The computer couldn’t understand the glitter. It’s a glitter taskforce, typing code. They thought the big challenge would be the hair because the hair does everything in this film. It changes color.  It changes shape.  It stretches like a monkey tail and it holds onto stuff.  But, it was the glitter that gave them the biggest challenge. Watch for Guy Diamond. That’s where the glitter is.

Star-Studded Cast

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This movie has such an amazing and talented cast:

Justin Timberlake as Branch

Anna Kendrick as Poppy
Gwen Stefani as DJ Suki
James Corden as Biggie
Russell Brand as Creek
Junal Nayyar as Guy Diamond


DreamWorks’ TROLLS is a fresh, broad comedy filled with music, heart and hair-raising adventures. On November 4th  of 2016, nothing can prepare you for the new Troll world! 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation are proud to unveil their first trailer for this highly anticipated feature film,  arriving in theaters November 4th. Just in time to put you in a happy mood for the holidays!

Official Website #DreamWorksTrolls
Dreamworks Trolls Facebook
Dreamworks Trolls Twitter
Trolls Instagram

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Group Photo at the Trolls Press Event by: Jason Bush

Finding Dory is Here at Last!

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Finding Dory is Here at Last!

By Erin

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Have you seen her? Finding Dory has finally found her way into theaters after all this time. 13 years of waiting is over! The reunion of everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin is finally here.  Finding Dory is back and ready to swim into your heart. Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory finds Dory living happily in the reef with Marlin and Nemo about a year after their life-changing adventure. When Dory suddenly remembers that she has a family out there who may be looking for her, she recruits Marlin and Nemo for a life-changing adventure across the ocean to California’s prestigious Marine Life Institute (MLI), a rehabilitation center and aquarium. Be ready for the ride of your life as you follow this lovable bunch on their quest across the ocean to find Dory’s family.

Family is a key theme in Finding Dory.  Dory can’t remember where she’s from, but she has to have a family, right? Dory finds herself asking ‘Where are they?’–there’s a sad truth to that and she is curious and determined to find out where they are.

LOST AND FOUND — In "Finding Dory," everyone's favorite forgetful blue tang Dory finds herself lost in the kelp forest while searching for answers about her past. Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Lost & Found — Everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang Dory. ©2016 Disney•Pixar.

In the effort to find her mom and dad, Dory gathers the help of three of the MLI’s most fascinating residents: Hank, a cantankerous octopus who frequently gives employees the slip; Bailey, a beluga whale who is convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark. Navigating their way through the complex inner workings of the MLI, Dory and her friends discover the magic within their flaws, friendships and family.

I don’t want to ruin any of the magic for you in Finding Dory, so I will leave you with some fun facts and some fun numbers to know to get you ready to swim on over and go see this adorable film!

FINDING DORY. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Ready for a field trip at school! ©2016 Disney•Pixar.

Dory Fun Facts

A New Voice for Nemo – Alexander Gould, who was the original voice of Nemo in 2003’s Finding Nemo is all grown up and turned 22 in May, so filmmakers had to recast the character, calling on 12-year-old Hayden Rolence to voice the junior clownfish in Finding Dory. Gould, who won filmmakers’ hearts 13 years ago, can be heard in the new movie as the voice of a truck driver. Rolence, who was cast long before recording began, was told that he couldn’t tell anyone about the role. You can imagine how rough this was for a young kid who wanted more than anything to share the news with his grandma.

Comedian Albert Brooks Returns–as the voice of clownfish Marlin in Finding Dory. Filmmakers say Brooks is all about improv, infusing his iconic comedy into the character. While Marlin carried a big emotional load in Finding Nemo, he’s been freed up in Finding Dory, allowing Brooks a lot more improvisational leeway this time.

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Finding Dory: All Things Hank!| #FindingDoryEvent

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Finding Dory: All Things Hank!

By Erin

*I was invited to Monterey courtesy of Disney • Pixar for a media event. All opinions are my own*

FINDING DORY – When Dory finds herself in the Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center and aquarium, Hank—a cantankerous octopus—is the first to greet her. Featuring Ed O'Neill as the voice of Hank and Ellen DeGeneres as the voice of Dory, "Finding Dory" opens on June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Hank—a cantankerous octopus—and Dory.  ©2016 Disney•Pixar

We are now just days away from the release of Finding Dory! Are you excited yet? You may remember that earlier this year I was up in Monterey for a very special Finding Dory media event. During this time, we had the pleasure of meeting one of Dory’s new friends, Hank.  Hank is the cantankerous yet lovable octopus in Finding Dory voiced by Ed O’Neill. Created from initial character design to being animated to his final look in the film by a very talented team that included Supervising Technical Director John Halstead, Character Art Director Jason Deamer, Supervising Animator Mike Stocker, Character Supervisor Jeremie Talbot.  We had the chance to sit down with some of the designers to learn about some of the new characters that you will see in this lovable new film. Here, I will share with you about all things Hank!

FINDING DORY – Hank Design (Concept Art) by Character Designer Jason Deamer. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Hank Design (Concept Art) by Character Designer Jason Deamer. ©2016 Disney•Pixar

One of the first things we learned was that Hank the Septopus was one of the most challenging and rewarding characters that they have ever worked with. Ever wonder how a new character is developed? They shared with us how they develop a new character from scratch and what developing and animating a new character that is an animal that they have never animated before looks like.

Jason Deamer (Character Art Director) presents at the Finding Dory Long Lead press day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, CA. Photo by Marc Flores. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Jason Deamer (Character Art Director) presents at the Finding Dory Long Lead press day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, CA. Photo by Marc Flores. ©2016 Disney•Pixar

Here are some fun things we learned about this special guy, Hank!

*All Things Hank*

*Dory’s New Friend– Hank is an octopus, or rather a “septopus” as he lost a tentacle—along with his sense of humor—somewhere along the way. But Hank is just as competent as his eightarmed peers. An accomplished escape artist with camouflaging capabilities, Hank is the first to greet Dory when she finds herself in the Marine Life Institute.

*Lucky Number 7 – When designers were working on Hank, the cantankerous octopus in “Finding Dory,” they created tapered tentacles for the cephalopod. The tentacles were modeled separately from the body, but when they tried to attach them, only seven would fit. Filmmakers later decided that it made sense that Hank would have an affliction, so they worked it into the script. Designers gave Hank 50 suckers per arm for a total of 350 suckers.

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