The Anaheim Version

... of Comic-Con, presented by Diz Co.

Broadway sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda is working on Moana original music, Disney announced the hoped-to-be “definitive” take on Jack And The Beanstalk, Rashida Jones is co-writing Toy Story 4, Ed O’Neill is in Finding Dory, and Shakira is acting, writing and singing in Zootopia. ... Those are just some of the highlights from the start of D23, which kicked off this afternoon with a presentation focused on inbound Walt Disney Animation and Pixar projects. ...

Concrete details were dropped about Moana, Disney’s upcoming ode to Polynesian culture set 2,000 years ago, among them some absolutely touching test footage from the still-in-early-production film.

Dwayne Johnson, who voices the demigod Maui in the film, made an appearance onstage along with the film’s director and producer and, as usual, was both inspirational and awesome, explaining how Samoa is “in my blood” and that one of his earliest dreams was to be a part of the Disney animation family.
The big reveal, however, was the rock star team Disney assembled to create Moana‘s music. The soundtrack will come from Polynesian artist Opetaia Foa’i; The Lion King arranger Mark Mancina; and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the mastermind behind the Broadway smash Hamilton. ...

The thing that strikes home when reading about upcoming projects from the Mouse is, the depth of talent inside every feature.

Diz Co. isn't fooling around with upcoming soundtracks. Disney knocked the ball out of the park when they engaged the composer/songwriters of Broadway's "Book of Mormon" for Frozen. The company is using the same gambit for Moana, which makes perfect sense. If a winning formula makes a billion, by all means use the formula again.

Add On: Our fine trade papers cover the D23 extravaganza here with the Lasseter Live Blog, here with new Disney Legends (Johny Depp, Johnny Depp, JOHNNY DEPP!), and here with Jack and the Beanstalk (the company's second animated interpretation of the tale.)

All the new movies coming at us will have to carry more of the company's profit-making machinery, because the Mouse's cable and broadcast networks (ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC) continue to be undercut by newer entertainment delivery systems.