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Disney Announces George Lucas' Animated Musical ‘Strange Magic’

Inspired by Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream,’ new animated feature is a madcap fairy tale musical from a story by George Lucas.

Strange Magic, a new animated film from Lucasfilm Ltd., will be released by Touchstone Pictures on January 23, 2015. Strange Magic is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.

Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic, which created the CGI animation for 2011’s Academy Award-winning film Rango, bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects.

With a story by George Lucas, Strange Magic is directed by Gary Rydstrom (Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation, Lifted), produced by Mark S. Miller (associate producer Mars Attacks!) and executive produced by George Lucas, with a screenplay by David Berenbaum (Elf), Irene Mecchi (Brave, The Lion King) and Rydstrom.

An extraordinary roster of film, television and Broadway stars lend their voices to Strange Magic, including Alan Cumming (CBS’ The Good Wife, Broadway’s Cabaret), Evan Rachel Wood (The Ides of March), Kristin Chenoweth (Broadway’s Wicked), Maya Rudolph (Big Hero 6Bridesmaids), Sam Palladio (ABC’s Nashville), newcomer Meredith Anne Bull, Alfred Molina (Chocolat), Elijah Kelley (Hairspray, The Butler), Bob Einstein (HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Peter Stormare (Fargo). Well-known music producer Marius de Vries (Moulin Rouge) serves as both the musical director and composer.

Source: Walt Disney Studios

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.