Disney wrapped up the first day of D23 with a studio presentation highlighting some exciting forthcoming animation projects. The musical Wish from directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn and co-writer Jennifer Lee is one of the most exciting films announced by the renowned animation studio. Ariana DeBose will play Asha, and Alan Tudyk will play Valentino, a talking goat, in the film. The upcoming film Wish is being marketed as a throwback ode to the golden age of Disney animation. Asha, the protagonist, is “determined, incredibly smart, an optimist, and a sharp-witted. She sees danger in the kingdom that no one else does, and she must figure out how to protect the people she cares about. ”
If that doesn’t sound Disney-y enough, “In a moment of desperation, Asha makes an impassioned plea to the stars, wishing with all her heart for guidance and help, and the power of her wish calls down an actual star from the sky.” Anyone who grew up loving movies like “The Little Mermaid” and “Pinocchio” will have warm fuzzies just reading that description. Particularly the latter classic as the title Wish and its premise sound completely inspired by plot points in Pinocchio. The iconic song “When You Wish Upon a Star” debuted in that film and later became the jingle for the Disney logo. Several viewers’ hopes and desires may be fulfilled by the film’s nostalgic depths.
In fact, the film’s title refers to the Kingdom of Rosas as “the classic fairytale Kingdoms,” which seems to sum up the entire vibe of the film’s setting. However, this film just doesn’t seem to be a trip down memory lane as the animation style is blending a timeless watercolour aesthetic with traditional modern 3D animation. The presentation’s visuals, both still and moving, are breathtaking. In particular, there are two paintings in which Asha has seen both dancings among the stars and reclining next to our protagonist, Valentino, who is wearing a charming yellow sweater, as they both gaze up at the night sky.
These are stills from classic Disney films, but they have the same upbeat, musical sensibility as recent films like La La Land. Wish has all the makings of a future Disney classic on par with films like “Frozen.” Because Buck and Lee directed “Frozen,” this is appropriate. Singer-songwriter Julia Michaels is also writing original music for the film. Wish, because of the addition of DeBose and Tudyk, has rocketed to the top of the most anticipated films of 2023. Tudyk is one of the most overlooked character actors working today thanks to his roles in critically acclaimed animated films like Harley Quinn, Encanto, and Moana, while DeBose has just won an Oscar for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. In November of 2023, the musical Wish will be released to theatres.