Planes release date is scheduled for August 9th in Disney Digital 3D and RealD 3D formats. Like Toy Story 2 in the late 90s, Disney was originally set to release the spin-off of Pixar’s 'Cars' franchise as a direct-to-home entertainment in fall 2013, but those plans were revised when Disney was impressed enough to instead plan the movie for a summer theatrical release.
The summer release date aims at younger viewers and adults who will enjoy the film’s message of chasing their dreams and overcoming their fears. The plot centers on a crop-dusting plane known as Dusty, who dreams of flying in a famous aerial race, but is terrified of heights. He, with the help of his mentor Skipper and other friends, must overcome his fear and learn to fly in an aerial race.
Some may wonder if the film will have the similar quality to that of Cars under DisneyToon and Walt Disney Productions. The answer is John Lasseter, being chief creative officer of both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, and director of Cars and Cars, was the executive producer of Planes. Thus, the 92 minutes family-friendly film will not only share the similarities in animation style but also feature kid’s favorite pick-up truck Mater as well as many other favorites from Cars.
"I always felt every vehicle in the world of Cars is a character, and I love the idea of airplanes because you get off the ground and can take people places they have never seen," says Lassete, according to USA Today.
Meanwhile, Planes director Klay Hall, who grew up as an air-show buff with his Navy pilot father told USA Today, "Planes taps into historical aviation and goes all the way through the most contemporary type of experimental planes - from commercial airliners, air racers and gliders to blimps. You can really dig in here."
The cast of the film includes the voices of Val Kilmer, Brad Garret, Gabriel Iglesias, Larry the Cable Guy, Dane Cook, Teri Hatcher, and others. Cook would be the voice of the main protagonist Dusty, joined by a couple of Top Gun alums and acting vets Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Cleese and Teri Hatcher.
The majority of Planes’ soundtracks are produced by Mark Mancina, who arranged many of the songs behind Disney’s The Lion King and other notable films like Tarzan, August Rush, Speed, Brother Bear, and Training Day.
The film will premiere on August 2 at a special screening at The Fly-In Theater at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, an annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Moreover, DisneyToon will release a Planes sequel titled “Planes: Fire & Rescue” in 2014.
For more information about the Disney Planes, visit the official website: http://www.disneyplanes.org
