Nothing gets our hearts racing like news from Disney, and two big announcements about upcoming kids' movies are sure to have your kids jumping up and down! First up is a report that the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk will come to life in animated feature, Gigantic. With Tangled director Nathan Greno and Frozen songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez on board, this is one to watch out for.
Joining the list of kids' movies adapted from children's books, Gigantic is set in Spain during the Age of Discovery, following brave explorer Jack as he uncovers a kingdom of giants residing high above the clouds. No word on the release date yet, but kids will love meeting the 60-foot-tall eleven year old named Inma and parents will dig the original music—with the Oscar-winning couple heading up the film's score, this flick might spawn more earworm tunes like "Let It Go."
Can you believe it's been 20 years since The Lion King debuted? Your youngsters can enjoy a sequel to the Disney favorite when The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar airs in November. The Disney Channel animated movie brings back beloved cast members like James Earl Jones as Mufasa and Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, and introduces Robe Lowe as Simba, Gabrielle Union as Nala and Max Charles as the main character, Kion.
As Simba's son, Kion is charged with protecting the Pride Lands along with a team of animals known as The Lion Guard. He recruits his non-feline friends, including a honey badger, an egret, a cheetah and a hippo to join the ranks, each equipped with unique characteristics and skills to help with the challenges that arise. The short-form film will serve as a lead-in to animated series The Lion Guard in 2016, so your family will have plenty of time to get to know the characters. For even more fun with The Lion King, treat the kids to a Disney on Broadway walking tour!