For Disney, the CARS franchise has been one of their most successful. You’re immersed into a world where there are no people, the vehicles are the characters. This works not only because of the technical marvel that is Pixar Animation, but because of the personalities that come to life via the voice acting. In this latest installment we’re introduced to a few new players, one of whom is a raucous, demolition derby driving school bus named Miss Fritter. Played by the award-winning actress LEA DELARIA (“Orange is the New Black,” “Californication,” “The Oblongs,” “First Wives Club,” “Dear Dumb Diary” and “Edge of Seventeen,”) Miss Fritter is instrumental in helping Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and his new race technician Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo) figure out their places in the ever-changing CARS 3 world.
When CARS 3 is released digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD on October 24 and Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray on November 7th, it will include among other extras an exclusive new mini-movie: Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool. Viewers will enjoy blindsided testimonials from the Crazy 8’s, touting the transformative impact Miss Fritter’s Racing School has had in reshaping the direction of their lives.
Disney granted us the opportunity to speak with Lea about her role, thoughts about the project, the creative process, and much more. What follows are the highlights from that conversation:
Q: Thanks for meeting with us!
LD: I’m so excited. I love you guys. You’re always so much fun.
Q: We’re kind of a fan of you too.
LD: Aw, that’s so cool. That’s so cool. Thank you.
Q: We’ve seen the movie short.
LD: It’s so good. I shouldn’t say that, it’s my own short. But, oh my god. [laughing] It’s so good though.
Q: So when did you get the call that there was going to be a mini-movie?
LD: The racing school? Um, was that in June? I think it was like June. And I was so, like, the movie hadn’t been released yet, and when they called us they said “we got this idea we want to do this DVD extra”, and we’re like, really? I mean, that was exciting, right? So yeah, and then we went in and recorded it. I mean, making any Pixar movie, I imagine, is probably very akin to what my experience has been. My experience has been awesome and fun-loving. I mean, what a great place to work. Honestly, if this acting thing doesn’t work out for me I’m going to Pixar, [laughing]. It’s just so kind and there’s so much fun, and eveybody’s having a good time, so it took us- I don’t know, I think my work was done in about two hours. Yeah, I do work fast. I mean, people generally say that to me.
Q: How much of it is script and how much is improv?
LD: It’s kind of a combination of all of that, and the entire thing is filmed like that. They hand me a script, but they have, generally ten alternate lines that they want to do, and then the writers, directors, producers they’ll go, try this, try this, try this. Hey, Lea, do you have any ideas? And then I’ll do it, and it’s often that line ends up being a combination of all of it. You know?
Q: What goes through your head when you get told, Pixar called?
LD: Oh, what went through my head? I’m buying a house! [LAUGHTER] No- oh honey, I jumped up and down, just- I can’t even tell you. We were so excited when they called. I mean, I love Pixar. I love cartoons, I’m a big fan of animation, and I’m a huge fan of Pixar’s. Always have been. I’ve seen all of their movies. So, when we got the call it was like- that’s like bucket list stuff for any actor. There’s not an actor on the planet that doesn’t want to do that, you know what I mean? So, yeah, I was excited.
Q: What did you think of Miss Fritter when they came to you with that character?
LD: Oh, well, this is the actual drawing that they came to me with (pointing to shirt). Now, they made a little t-shirt for me of the actual original drawing of Miss Fritter. And, when I saw it, I was laughing, we were all laughing. I was like, well of course they came to me for this; look at her. You know? [laughing] So, when I saw the character, and I knew she was demolition derby, and I grew up where there’s demolition derby and went to demolition derby as a kid, I kinda knew exactly who she was. So I thought, actually, honestly, I’m gonna be honest, I’m not going to make a joke. I went; perfect casting. This is, yeah, this- if this is anybody, it’s definitely me.
Q: Did you have any influence in changing the character, or shaping the character a little bit?
LD: The influence I had, it’s not really my influences, they went out of their way, I think, to personalize her for me. In a very lovely way. I mean, I was very flattered. You know, they called up and said, you know, what year are you born? That’s the license plate. Where did you go to school? Bellville, and they have the name of my school on the side of my bus. They even have a rainbow bumper sticker. You know what I mean? Oh, they’re my eyes. Those are my eyes. They paid very very close attention to my eyes and made those eyes her eyes. So that’s kind of cool too.
Q: Were you able to tell the producers and directors about making a movie more openly LGBT oriented?
LD: No, I never said a word about it. Never thought anything about that, and, you know, I love that they, out of the blue, put a rainbow bumper sticker on her, you know, I had no clue until I was told that it was there. That to me was a win-win for everyone.
Q: How psyched were you to see the ending of the movie with Cruz Ramirez stepping up?
LD: That, to me is the best part of the movie. Like, when they explained the story to me, because that’s what happens. You don’t really see a script. You see some drawings, you go to Pixar, you get this tour of Pixar, which is crazy. It’s so much fun. But, you go into a room, you see the drawings of, this is what, you know, kind of what it’s going to be,and those are just the beginning drawings, like this, just the beginning drawings. And, in my case it was the director; it was Brian Fee who explained the story to me from beginning to end. He said: It’s gonna be this, and starting out, we’re trying to return to what it was like in Cars One, you know, there’s always that pitch, and then, the story. As he spoke more and more, I thought, this is a feminist movie! This is a girl power movie. This is a movie that’s teaching young girls that they can live their dreams and be whatever they want to be, and we don’t have that many movies that say that to little girls, in fact I can’t think of another one. If somebody else can, shout it out. I was jumping up and down about it. I thought it was amazing.
Q: Favorite line in the movie?
LD: I’m gonna fritterize ya!. [laughing] That’s a great line. I tweeted about that last night, actually.
Q: Do you have any pet projects that you would like to get done?
LD: Well, right now, the pet project that I’m working on is the off Broadway show that I mentioned, called Innocence. Then, I have about, I would say, ten ideas for different television shows that, you know, I will be taking around, and I’ve got a new record I’ve got to make, ‘cause it’s been two years since my last one was released. So, that’s gotta happen. So I got a lot of stuff, I got a lot on my plate. Buddy don’t remind me. I got too much to do.
CARS 3 in HD and 4K Ultra HD on October 24 Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray on November 7th
The Triple-Trouble Team Up This Fall & You’re Going To Have A Ball!
PJ Masks Live!: Time To Be A Hero on October 14 or 15 at MSG!
PJ MASKS LIVE is a brand new live show featuring the super-heroic trio from your favorite series: The PJ MASKS!
Watch CATBOY, OWLETTE, and GEKKO as they try to save the day from their sneaky villains – ROMEO, LUNA GIRL and NIGHT NINJA! Fluttering Feathers! Leaping Lizards! What a CAT-tastrophe!
You’ve NEVER seen the PJ Masks like this before – leaping, flipping and climbing – live on stage! Complete with your favorite music and brand new songs you’ve never heard before! Don’t sleep through it – hop to it!
Get ready to shout hooray! ‘Cos the PJ Masks are on their way, into the night to save the day!
Legal: *Valid on select tickets and performances. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer. 8 ticket max per order. Discount is calculated off of the original box office price. Service charges apply to telephone and internet orders. All sales are final—no refunds or exchanges. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice and is subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires October 15, 2017. Accessible and companion seats are available via the Disabled Services Department at 212.465.6034.
Elena is back with all-new adventures coming to DVD with the release ofElena of Avalor: Celebrations to Remember! [amazon]
Join Crown Princess Elena, along with her family and friends, as they honor the past, rejoice in the present and greet the future with music, laughter and love. Whether celebrating Navidad, Dia de los Muertos or Carnaval, new and older traditions alike play a part. And even though everyone doesn’t always agree on the best way to get the party started, one thing is perfectly clear: holidays aren’t about what you do; they’re about the special people you spend them with!
This DVD is packed with laughs, new characters to cherish, and heart. Elena of Avalor: Celebrations to Remember [amazon]is a must-own for the entire family! Includes Four Celebration Themed Episodes, Plus Two Bonus Episodes and a FREE Exclusive Elena Locket! (The locket my daughter wears almost everyday FYI!)
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 [amazon] marks the Studios first in-home title to release in stunning 4K Ultra HD format [4k amazon], providing consumers with the ultimate home entertainment experience with next-generation high dynamic range visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, the film’s storyline continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians (Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, and Bradley Cooper as Rocket) must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.
This blockbuster sequel featuring the world’s favorite band of intergalactic misfits, blasts into homes Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ on Aug. 8 and 4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray on Aug. 22.
Here is the bonus material included with the version you choose:
Blu-ray:
The Making of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” – A four-part, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, done in the style of classic-rock album liner notes.
Visionary Intro – Director James Gunn provides context on how he continues and expands the storylines of these beloved characters in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”
Guardians Inferno Music Video – Join David Hasselhoff and special guests for a galactic retro dance party. [Crank the the volume all the way up and rock out!]
Gag Reel – Laugh out loud at all the hilarious off-script shenanigans and bloopers that took place on the set of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” featuring all your favorite Guardians.
Four Deleted Scenes – Check out four specific scenes that had to be cut from the film, including two extended scenes and two deleted scenes.
Audio Commentary – Check out a special narration of the film by director James Gunn, who guides fans through an inside look at the making of the movie.
Digital:
All the features listed above plus four extra exclusives:
Three Scene Breakdowns (Digital Exclusives) – We’ll reveal the anatomy of a few key scenes from the film. Discover the process in bringing these scenes to life. It starts with a doodle and the rest is film history. Audiences will be given the option to view 5–6 layers of specific scenes in the film. Scenes include “Eclector Escape,” “Gamora and Nebula,” and “Rocket and Ravagers.”
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! (Digital Exclusive) – Get an exclusive sneak peek inside the most anticipated ride at Disneyland, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!. Dig into the concepts and inspiration, and talk about what it took to bring the most epic ride at Disneyland to life.
And now I present to you my ultimate mix tape of music from growing up…
Do you have a family game night? Do you kick the kids off minecraft when its time for a playdate? Are you just looking for something really entertaining for the kids to play with that arent electronic? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I’ve got something to talk to you about… way back at Toy Fair I saw this new company YULU they were putting out a few new games and I was really excited about a couple that I saw….
Safe Breaker [Target] is a new electronic game that combines spy skill, memory and a little bit of luck, challenging players to crack the code and break into the safe. This game does requires two or more players.
To start the mission, players pick a card and turn the safe combination to the corresponding number shown. Next, use the fingerprint scanner to test the number. If the light is green, the safe will release some coins. If the light is red, connect the spy listening gear to the safe to hear a top- secret clue to deduce the correct combination code. Clues include mathematical chances and luck elements, allowing for a new experience each round.
BEWARE! Players who release police coins will alert the police and must return all their coins to the safe. The spy who collects the five golden coins or two diamond coins first, wins the game.
The other game was Break Free [Target] which requires two or more players is a new, challenging action skill game full of urgency, suspense and tons of fun. The objective: players must race to pick the lock on their handcuff as quickly as possible and before everyone else!
First, players handcuff themselves together and insert a maze into each handcuff. The game includes three maze colors. Each color represents a different level of difficulty, making each round unpredictable. Using the lock pick, players must try to pick the lock on their handcuff as quickly as possible. The fastest to break free from their handcuff receives a token that corresponds with the maze color. There are points on the back of each token, the player with the most points after playing all three rounds, wins the game.
Now the great thing about both of these games are they’re fun for the kids to play and gets them off of screen time and breaks the typical board game dynamic. Also the kids can become an official YULU Spy Code Spy? The Spy Code Academy encourages kids to become Spy Masters through the Spy Code episodes featured on spycode.toys. Record and complete the mission at the end of each episode and upload your video using upload it using #YULUTOYS. You may have a chance to be featured on spycode.toys and get exclusive rewards from YULU Toys.
Since both games are rated for ages 6 and up they are the perfect birthday present to give a child.
Now both games are listed on amazon but at double the price of that of Target (which is why I choose to link there)… I was provided product samples but all thoughts are my own.
Have you heard of The Grossery Gang? Its like shopkins for boys… Kids can now get a third dose of gross with The Grossery Gang Series 3 of these collectible figures. In this series things are about to get messier than ever with the introduction of Putrid Power! There’s 150 all new characters to collect, swap and squish, including the new Big Mouted Biters and Metallic characters.
Join Pizza Face, Rocky, Gooey and the rest of the gang as they Putrid Power up to fight the evil Clean Team, led by the wicked overlord Vac Attack. Will they be able to keep the streets of their beloved Cheap Town reeking? Or will the Clean Team wash away all the grime for good?! It’s an all-out battle between The Grossery Gang and the Clean Team in the Grossey Gang Movie! Be sure to check out the FREE Grossery Gang Putrid Power Movie (Clean Team vs. Grossery Gang), which premiered on YouTube. Watch the cartoon series from the beginning!
Using the stench of old bin juice, our heroes must band together and transform into the ultimate disgusting dudes to fight off the power of clean.
Earth, Wind, & Fire and CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers comes to Madison Square Garden August 7. [Tickets]
Special family 4-packs are available for purchase – get yours while they last!
Buy your tickets for the show at Madison Square Garden and Experience 2054:The Tour and dance along to the songs that defined your generation at this energetic show!
Giveaway: One lucky reader will win (2) tickets to see Earth, Wind, & Fire and CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers: 2054 The Tour at Madison Square Garden on August 7th. You’ll find the giveaway on DadaRocks’s facebook page.
Disclosure: I am also receiving tickets to the show. All opinions are always 100% honest and our own
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with some of the talent behind SonyAnimation’s The Emoji Movie, including Director Tony Leondis, Producer Michelle Raimo, Maya Rudolph (who voices Smiler in the film), and World Emoji Day Creator Jeremy Burge.
Leondis and Raimo spoke primarily to the challenges of creating the film, and the many decisions that are involved in the process of building a movie like this. For example, they mentioned that many more apps were originally on the table in addition to the ones that were finally chosen to appear in The Emoji Movie, and that it was difficult to pick which should make the cut. However, they noted that the specific apps that made it in were selected according to the character’s journeys, and that story was considered top priority in regard to the film’s direction. “The movie’s all about identity,” Leondis said, “and each of the characters explores that in their own way.” In reference to the sequence that takes place inside Just Dance, Raimo added that “We even hired a choreographer to help us invent the Emoji Pop, to create a dance that felt unique and thematic for Gene.”
Rudolph, meanwhile, addressed the all-ages appeal of The Emoji Movie, asserting that its message appeals to kids and adults alike: “Sometimes, even as an adult, you think you know who you are,” she said, “and then you change. And you realize more about who you really want to be.” A mother herself, she also felt that the movie spoke to her about the unique worries that plague parents in this digital age. “It’s like the Wild West of parenting,” she said regarding electronic devices and the internet, “I hope that parents continue to have a dialogue with each other about it.”
Finally, we spoke with Emojipedia’s Jeremy Burge, creator of World Emoji Day, about the ubiquitous nature of emojis in today’s culture and the rationale that went into creating this holiday. Burge noted that the official count lists 2,666 emojis overall presently in use, and that more are added each year. This, he added, was what sparked him to create World Emoji Day four years ago. “You look at the calendar and there’s all of these holidays, like World Pancake Day” he said, “and I thought– Emojis are cooler than some of these things! They should have a day!” So he chose July 17– the date shown on the calendar emoji– and declared it World Emoji Day on Emojipedia. In the years since, the holiday has only grown, and this year’s celebration included a red carpet party at Saks Fifth Avenue, closing the New York Stock Exchange, and lighting the Empire State Building yellow with the cast of TheEmoji Movie.
Make sure you catch The Emoji Movie in theaters July 28– you won’t want to miss it!
I had never heard of Niko before this week… now I’ve binged the entire season and my son is 1/4 the way through the show is that good. Think a super kid friendly version of Samurai Jack blended with Thundarr the Barbarian.
Niko and the Sword of Light follows 10-year-old Niko, the last of his kind in a strange, fantastical world, as he embarks on an epic quest to defeat the darkness and bring the light back to his land. Armed with his magic sword, brave Niko journeys to the Cursed Volcano, making new friends and powerful foes along the way, all while uncovering secrets about his mysterious past.
The show features the voice talent of Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Andre Robinson (Doc McStuffins), Steve Blum (Star Wars: Rebels), Kevin Michael Richardson (The Penguins of Madagascar), Jim Cummings (Shrek), and Kari Wahlgren (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness). Based on the motion graphic comic by Imaginism Studios, Inc., the studio behind character and concept designs for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Men in Black 3; and Studio NX (The Carrot and Rabbit Show, Tree Fu Tom), Niko and the Sword of Lightis animated by Titmouse (Motorcity, Metalocalpyse) and executive produced by Rob Hoegee (Generator Rex, Teen Titans), who also serves as showrunner.
Have you ever thought about what the faces on your phone do in their spare time? Or what it must be like to be stuck making the same face and feeling the same emotion constantly? These are the thoughts behind Sony Animation’s The Emoji Movie, starring T.J. Miller, James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, and Patrick Stewart. The film follows Gene, a “meh” emoji who feels like he doesn’t fit in with the other residents of Textopolis because he can feel and express emotions other than his predisposed, bored “meh.” Searching for something more than the monotonous daily grind of Textopolis– and compelled to action by a bounty on his head from the villainous Smiler– Gene teams up with his friend Hi-5 to explore the rest of the phone and try to find the hacker Jailbreak, the only one who can help them defeat Smiler.
Gene’s journey takes him through some very familiar territory to anyone with a smartphone, as the movie shows us an Emoji-eye view of apps like Candy Crush, YouTube, Spotify, Just Dance, and Dropbox. There’s plenty for the whole family to enjoy here, as kids will love seeing their favorite apps come to life in a fresh way, while parents can appreciate the humor about the internet and its users. Cleverly-crafted sight gags and puns abound as well, and should elicit more than a few lighthearted chuckles.
While the movie is a lot of fun, it also has heart– and a great message for kids growing up in the internet age. Through the struggles and successes of Gene, Hi-5, and Jailbreak, kids watching The Emoji Movie learn that there are more important things in life than being popular or being the person that everyone else wants you to be. It’s okay– good, in fact– to be who you are and not try to pretend to be anything else in order to be “cool.” Your true friends are the people who love you for who you really are.
Make sure to check out The Emoji Movie in theaters on July 28th!
LD: The racing school? Um, was that in June? I think it was like June. And I was so, like, the movie hadn’t been released yet, and when they called us they said “we got this idea we want to do this DVD extra”, and we’re like, really? I mean, that was exciting, right? So yeah, and then we went in and recorded it. I mean, making any Pixar movie, I imagine, is probably very akin to what my experience has been. My experience has been awesome and fun-loving. I mean, what a great place to work. Honestly, if this acting thing doesn’t work out for me I’m going to Pixar, [laughing]. It’s just so kind and there’s so much fun, and eveybody’s having a good time, so it took us- I don’t know, I think my work was done in about two hours. Yeah, I do work fast. I mean, people generally say that to me.
LD: It’s kind of a combination of all of that, and the entire thing is filmed like that. They hand me a script, but they have, generally ten alternate lines that they want to do, and then the writers, directors, producers they’ll go, try this, try this, try this. Hey, Lea, do you have any ideas? And then I’ll do it, and it’s often that line ends up being a combination of all of it. You know?
