Musical Notes: Music industry news and releases for children and teens

Welcome to another edition of “Musical Notes.” This weekly column is dedicated solely to the best in musical entertainment. Like our sister columns, “If it’s Tuesday it must be toys and tours,” Wednesday’s “Book Report” and Friday’s “Popcorn Report,” which respectively features information on toys and travel, the world of literature and movies, this weekly post highlights the important world of music as positive entertainment for children and teens. Be sure to check back each Thursday.

This week’s edition of Musical Notes covers news of Zooey Deschanel voicing her talents for an upcoming Disney film, and the latest release by talented singer/songwriter/educator, Ben Gundersheimer (a/k/a Mister G).

NEWS

ZOOEY DESCHANEL HITS THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh

He’s a bear of very little brain. She’s half of the acclaimed band She & Him. This year, they come together on the big screen in “Winnie the Pooh,” which hits theaters nationwide on July 15, 2011. 

Actress/Musician/Singer/Songwriter Zooey Deschanel  (“Almost Famous,” “(500) Days of Summer”) joins Winnie the Pooh and all of his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, performing three songs for the film, including her own take on the classic “Winnie the Pooh” theme song, “A Very Important Thing to Do” and the original end-credit song “So Long,” which was written by Deschanel and performed with She & Him band mate M. Ward. 

“This has been one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had,” says Deschanel. “And I’ve just been thanking my lucky stars that I was able to work on this movie, because it’s delightful.”

Filmmakers were drawn to Deschanel’s signature style. “She was the perfect choice to do the ‘Winnie the Pooh’ song—a classic theme from the Sherman Brothers,” says director Don Hall. “Her music actually embodies the underlying spirit of the movie. We’re taking something that has vintage roots in the sixties, but spinning it in our own way and updating it. If you listen to Zooey’s music with She & Him—that’s their sound to a tee.”

Adds director Stephen Anderson, “It’s a perfect way to start the movie, letting the audience know right off the bat that this is Winnie the Pooh like you know him, but it’s something for today. We wanted to keep the same charm as the original, but give it a fresh spin, a contemporary feel, and she opens the movie with so much freshness, so much energy.”

“It’s always fun to have a contemporary artist rediscover a classic and that’s exactly what Zooey did,” says producer Peter Del Vecho. “She brought her own personality to the song—when she sings about introducing the individual characters, it’s as though she’s known them her whole life—and she has.”

“I’m a big fan of Winnie the Pooh and all his friends,” says Deschanel, who also plays the ukulele in the song. “It’s really hard to pick a favorite: Winnie the Pooh is so special, he loves honey and he’s just cool. Eeyore is amazing, I love Eeyore. And Piglet is so small. It’s really a four-way tie between Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger.”

Among the songs Deschanel performed for the film is “A Very Important Thing to Do”—a song that helps illustrate the contest the friends from the Hundred Acre Wood take on to find Eeyore a new tail. She also lent her voice to “Everything is Honey” and “Pooh’s Finale,” joining Jim Cummings (the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger), Tony Award®-winning songwriter Robert Lopez (“Avenue Q”) and other cast members. 

For the end-credit song, Deschanel teamed up with Ward to perform “So Long,” a song Deschanel wrote.  “When I was writing ‘So Long,’ I just held the images for the end credits in my mind,” she says. “I spent a number of days tinkering with ideas, melodies and chord progressions that I thought would fit the images, the new music being written and the original Sherman Brothers stuff-- but still be my own thing. The song definitely has its own feel, but also pays respect to the original.”

Deschanel plays piano for “So Long” and turned to the instrument when it came time to write the song. “I usually write on piano because that's the first instrument that I learned when I was a little kid,” she says. “All of my musical theory knowledge is in linear piano form.”

Her heart, however, is in the vocals. “I’m always thinking in terms of vocals, and arranging a fabric of vocals is the most exciting part. I love to sing backup parts—I always try to squeeze in as many as possible,” she says. “It’s fun; it’s my style.”

 Deschanel’s songs, plus the Sherman Brothers classic and a host of original songs by Robert Lopez and wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“The Wonder Pets”), as well as original score from composer Henry Jackman (“The Da Vinci Code,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”), will be included on the “Winnie the Pooh” soundtrack (available in the U.S. on July 12, 2011) from Walt Disney Records.

"So Long" Preview - Zooey Deschanel sings for Winnie the Pooh

LIVE PERFORMANCES AND ENTERTAINING EVENTS

The Merryall Center for the Performing Arts presents Mister G

8 Chapel Hill Road

New Milford, Connecticut 06776

Phone (860) 354-7264.

3:00 p.m.
(Parking available in the lot next to the Merryall Center and in the field across the street where the Merryall Chapel is located).

Admission:

FREE – This event is sponsored by the New Milford Commission on the Arts

Event Notes from the Merryall Center:

“Like those last few seconds before recess, the wait is unbearable. Tapping their feet, humming favorite songs: the crowd is antsy. Where’s Mister G? Off stage, the funky guitar kicks in, and tiny hands reach for the sky. By the time Mister G appears with his trademark hat and bright red shoes, high-pitched shrieks threaten to crack windows. Ben Gundersheimer has been writing children’s music for decades, entertaining around the world, emphasizing environmental issues and unleashing kid’s creativity.”

Gundersheimer, affectionately know to his fans as “Mister G” is an accomplished musician, songwriter and educator, and he has just released his newest pop album: BUGS - a delightful mix of songs about all the things kids find fascinating and important in their lives. Songs about sharks in the bathtub, grilled cheese, friends, brothers and sisters and some ghosts and goblins added to the mix; each tune well crafted with clever lyrics and delivered with polished musicianship.

Sound samples of all 14 tracks of BUGS are available at CD Baby where the complete CD can be ordered for $14.99 or the entire album in MP3 format downloaded for $9.99.

Below is a fun Mister G video to share with your child.  The song is “Squirrels” from Gundersheimer’s debut album, PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST.

Musical Notes: Music industry news and releases for children and teens

‘PlayingGuitar’ by Petr Kratochvil

Welcome to another edition of “Musical Notes.” This weekly column is dedicated solely to the best in musical entertainment. Like our sister columns, “If it’s Tuesday it must be toys and tours,” Wednesday’s “Book Report” and Friday’s “Popcorn Report,” which respectively features information on toys and travel, the world of literature and movies, this weekly post highlights the important world of music as positive entertainment for children and teens. Be sure to check back each Thursday.

This week’s edition of Musical Notes focuses on a stellar lineup of musicians - those contributing their talents to Disney-Pixar’s CARS 2; a new CD from GRAMMY^®-winners Kathy Fink and Marcy Marcer, and a peek at Gustafer Yellowgolds newest CD/DVD release plus information on an upcoming Baby Loves Disco charity event.

NEWS

CARS 2 features an all-star lineup of musicians from around the globe

Disney-Pixar’s much-anticipated 3D animation/comedy/adventure, CARS 2 is set to release in theaters nationwide on Friday, June 24, 2011, but fans of the franchise will relish the release of the film’s soundtrack on Tuesday, June 14, which features a stellar lineup of contributing musicians from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Japan.

Helping to bring this global espionage action-packed adventure to life are notable Oscar^® and GRAMMY^®-winning composer Michael Giacchino; chart-topping, multi-platinum-selling American alternative rock band Weezer; multiple GRAMMY^®-winning country superstar and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley; bestselling British singer/songwriter Robbie Williams; the French superstar Bénabar and that power-pop Japanese girl band Perfume.

ENTERTAINING EVENTS

Baby Loves Disco “Super Hero Tour” at Lowes Regency Hotel, 540 Park Avenue, New York

Show Details: “An afternoon of dancing, music and kid-friendly activities. The event is part of the multi-city Baby Loves Disco Superhero Tour, and it is one of 12 events at Loews Hotel locations around the country.

Families are invited to join the Baby Loves Disco Nation, to dance, play, savor healthy snacks and generally enjoy good times with family and friends. Parents and kids are invited to dress up as their favorite superheroes, or come just as they are. For daily updates on the Tour, visit Baby Loves Disco's website or pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Net proceeds from this family disco dance party will support community schools through Donors Choose.org, the official charity of Loews Hotels; a web-based not-for-profit that provides essential classroom tools to teachers across the country.”

For lots more information about Baby Loves Disco, please see a post from last year’s highly successful “Lemonade Tour.”

Ticket Prices

$20.00 – Children
$30.00 – Adults   
Tickets may be ordered online through this link.

CD

Sing to your Baby

Communicating with your baby often begins with music, but some parents believe they can’t sing, or don’t know how.

GRAMMY^®-winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer present their newest 22-track CD, Sing to Your Baby, which not only entertains, but provides encouragement to parents who want to share this endearing form of communication with their child.

Photo by Sara R. Coats

Sing to your Baby is a beautiful compilation of music, tenderly sung and expertly accompanied on a variety of instruments from banjo to dulcimer.

Performed by two of today’s top children’s musicians, Sing to your Baby includes lullabies and rhythmic pieces specifically designed to help parents learn how sing to their own little one.

Available in CD format for $19.95, Sing to Your Baby comes with a 32-page richly illustrated book that includes advice and complete song lyrics to help parents.

Sound samples for Sing to Your Baby are available direct from the artist’s website, where you’ll also have an opportunity to hear how the songs actually sound in both female and male voices.

Adorable shower/new baby packages of Sing to Your Baby are also available, and may be ordered direct from the artist’s shop.

DVD

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock

In this fourth outing by popular illustrator/songwriter Morgan Taylor, “Gustafer Yellowgold” (that cute cone-headed little alien from the sun) has settled in his new Minnesota woodland home with his pet eel, "Slimothy," ready for new adventures.

This is a charming 90-minute storybook that comes to life through ten engaging videos laced with soft rock music and thought provoking lyrics that crosses generational boundaries - a truly unique offering.

Guest artists include John Stirratt and Pat Sansone of WILCO, along with bassist John Munson.

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock DVD/CD combo carries a suggested retail price of $19.99 and is available at Amazon.com for $16.99, or through Amazon Marketplace for best pricing at $13.78.

Below for your enjoyment, is a sneak peek trailer of Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock.

New video clip of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Johnny Depp as the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow

Fans of Johnny Depp are eagerly awaiting the reprise of his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in Walt Disney Pictures' PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, which is set for launch in theaters nationwide, Friday, May 20, 2011.

ON STRANGER TIDES takes Depp and co-stars, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Claflin and Geoffrey Rush on a swashbuckling action-packed comedic adventure in search of the fabled Fountain of Youth.

Below for your viewing enjoyment is a recently released clip from this much-anticipated Disney Digital 3-D blockbuster.

This video features Depp in full Captain Sparrow mode, along with some story background information from the film’s Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Director Rob Marshall and Penélope Cruz, who takes on the role of “Angelica,” Jack Sparrow’s old love interest.

  

"On Stranger Tides Revealed" - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Pod #1

First look video: New Disney-Pixar Cars 2 trailer

Disney-Pixar's CARS 2

Here's some video fun for Wednesday afternoon; a brand new trailer for Disney-Pixar’s CARS 2, which is set for nationwide release on Friday, June 24, 2011.

CARS 2, the Disney Digital 3D™ animated/comedy/adventure is being paired with the Disney-Pixar short, TOY STORY 3: HAWAIIAN VACATION as reported in an earlier post.

This second installment of CARS, co-directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis, takes favorite talking-car characters “Lightning McQueen" and tow truck “Mater” on a fast-paced international adventure, competing in the first-ever World Grand Prix as well as a world of espionage.

CARS 2 features a splendid voice over cast that includes the talents of Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Jason Isaacs, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, and Thomas Kretschmann.

To view this newest CARS 2 trailer click on this link and you'll be taken to a private screening area. (Please allow the page to fully load.)

MARS NEEDS MOMS cast brings earthlings and aliens to life on the big screen

It’s always interesting to learn the inside story on upcoming films, and below

is a "Who’s Who" for MARS NEEDS MOMS, the Disney Digital 3-D film, which is set for nationwide release on Friday, March 11, 2011.

Producer Robert Zemeckis credits the cast for infusing so much humor into the film. “The situations are funny and the scenes are hilarious—the whole absurd reality of the movie just lends itself to fantastic humor. But our cast in this movie is probably one of the best improv casts that has been put together in recent years. They can take a scene and add to it in a wonderful way.”

The following Disney notes and interviews with the film’s producer, director and cast members give an in-depth view on the story, the characters, and what was involved in the making of this PG release.

At the end of this article, you’ll find a newly provided trailer for your viewing enjoyment.

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS

 “MILO” is 9. He has comic books to read, zombie movies to watch and bed-jumping to do. He doesn’t have time to eat his vegetables and do chores, no matter what his mom says. Mom is sick of nagging, and Milo’s sick of Mom. But when he suggests that he’d be better off without her, things get a little hairy. His efforts to apologize are interrupted when Martians—yes Martians—arrive, steal his mom, return to their spaceship and rocket to Mars—with a 9-year-old stowaway who’s determined to rescue the mother he’d wished away just moments before. To Milo, the whole thing would be downright hilarious if he weren’t headed to another planet.

Filmmakers felt Seth Green (TV’s “Family Guy,” “Austin Powers” trilogy) was perfect for the role. “His performance is incredible,” says producer Jack Rapke. “His close-ups as a little boy—the wonderment and the innocence of the world and his capturing the gamut of emotions that Milo is required to play as a character throughout the movie was not easy. It required an actor with great range and an actor with great sensitivity. Seth has been amazing.”

Says Green, “Playing a 9-year-old is really challenging in a lot of ways. As you mature, you naturally evolve as a person and there are affectations that you acquire that you don’t even realize—you project the image that you want people to see. Kids, on the other hand, have no filters. They just don’t care. And that was the fun thing about playing Milo. It was really liberating.”

          “Seth Green has a great, expressive face,” says production designer Doug Chiang. “He was just so fun to play with, and turning him into a 9-year-old kid was just pure joy. Basically we started with the adult Seth—we didn’t even look at his childhood photos—we just tried to do a little interpretation of what he might look like as a 9-year-old. We came up with that look and then we tried to exaggerate it a little bit, emphasizing Seth’s great features, his acting features—his eyes, his mouth, his forehead—in essence, creating a 3D caricature of Seth.”

           “Seth Green is a brilliant actor who embodied the characteristics that we wanted from Milo as a character,” says director Simon Wells. “But Seth is a man in his mid-thirties and there are characteristics to the larynx of a grown man that are fundamentally different from that of a young boy. No amount of electronic trickery can make that change convincingly.”

          So for Milo’s voice, filmmakers called on another Seth, Seth Dusky, a young actor whose credits include a number of commercials and TV’s “Big Time Rush.” “Seth Dusky faithfully followed every nuance of Seth Green’s performance,” says Wells, “accurately and skillfully matching each and every emotional and acting choice in the same way our animators matched the physical movements and expressions of Seth Green’s face. If you line up the two Seths, their voices match perfectly. The only difference is that Seth Dusky has an 11-year-old larynx.

          “Milo was created through the collaboration of several extremely skilled artists,” Wells concludes, “all guided by Seth Green’s sincere and brilliantly convincing performance.”

“MOM” loves Milo more than anything, she just wishes he’d do as he’s told—like eating his vegetables…and not feeding them to the cat (who in turn yaks all over her floor). She only wants what’s best for Milo—and let’s face it, broccoli is very good for growing boys. Her good intentions and loving ways may not please Milo, but they certainly impress the Martian scouts who are looking for a good mom.

Joan Cusack (“Toy Story 2,” “Toy Story 3,” “In & Out”) was called on to play Mom—and brought her own intuition to the tale. “I loved what Wendy and Simon wrote,” she says, “and I thought it was a great story. I love the idea that if you’re a parent, it’s not about being a friend. It’s not about being your child’s friend. It’s much more than that. It’s more selfless than that. And because of that, you have to do the hard things and say the hard things that are important for your child to develop the right way. This really shows her to be a universal mom that cares.”

Once on set, says director Simon Wells, Cusack continued to delve deeply into her character’s soul. “She would ask very smart questions about what her character should be thinking and feeling. We would have long discussions about it and she would take it all in and build it into her character. And yet, when in the moment, she was absolutely fresh. There were things that she did that caught me off guard and were completely wonderful.”

Cusack has a son named Miles and would often say Miles instead of Milo in the middle of a take.  One of these takes even made it into the film and filmmakers had to replace the line in ADR. Once a mom, always a mom.

“GRIBBLE” is a 30-something who has been on Mars since his own mom was “needed” by Martians many years prior. When Milo reaches the planet and is taken prisoner, Gribble rescues him, guiding him through a series of secret chutes to the elaborate lair on Mars’ lower level that Gribble calls home. Tricked out with various electronic and spy devices, Gribble’s digs allow him to tap into the planet’s communication systems and spy on what is going on in the hub of all activity, the Citadel. Gribble—who still uses the ’80s lingo from his childhood—is understandably bummed when he realizes that Milo, his first human friend in ages, plans to save his mom and return to Earth. But Gribble agrees to help Milo—even if deep down, he’d love it if Milo could hang out with him forever.

Tony Award® winner Dan Fogler (“Kung Fu Panda,” Broadway’s "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”) captured the diversity of the character, much to the filmmakers’ delight. “Along with a hilarious range of physical and dialogue inventions,” says director Simon Wells, “Dan brought an amazing emotional depth to the character. We had written what we had hoped was a fairly touching revelation scene, in which Gribble tells Milo the truth about his arrival on Mars. What Dan did with that scene was utterly astounding. He made it deeply, sincerely heartbreaking. It was one of those occasions when the scene finishes and the crew on set spontaneously applauds. Dan plays Gribble as the classic clown with a broken heart, who covers for his inner devastation with boisterous activity and noise. Dan gave us Gribble.”

“I wanted to be a part of this movie because the concept was so cool,” says Fogler. “I’d never done performance capture, but it reminds me of high-tech theater and I come from a theater background.”

Between takes, Seth Green and Fogler would act out slow-motion kung-fu fights—with vocals and sound effects!  The head-cam team made them a set of Shuriken (Japanese throwing stars) out of Velcro, which—since their costumes were also made out of Velcro (to attach sensors and telemetry gear)—would stick to the actors. The off-set camaraderie translated to their many scenes together.  The daring duo also got married during the making of the movie—though not to each other. 

“SUPERVISOR” is the much-feared, heartless Martian leader. She is behind the planet’s dismal belief system that promotes cold, strict conduct and prohibits warmth and love, virtually forcing the need to steal Earth’s moms and extract their mom-ness to help nurture their young. She is the leader of Mars’ special security forces, the Siss Guards.

          Filmmakers turned to Mindy Sterling (TV’s “Desperate Housewives,” “iCarly”) for the role. Sterling, who is known for her role as the evil Frau Farbissina in the “Austin Powers” movies, approached the chilling character with her signature sense of humor. “I loved the script, I loved the story,” says Sterling, “I loved the relationship between Gribble and Milo, and my boy plays Milo. I worked with Seth on all the ‘Austin Powers’ films and I also played his mother on ‘My Name Is Earl.’ I absolutely adore that guy. He is such a professional and he’s so playful and he’s so funny and he just has great work ethic.”

“We all know Mindy Sterling can play the villainess,” says director Simon Wells. “What you may not know about her is her talents as an improvisational actress. She could teach classes in emoting through gibberish—I watched her deliver a 10-minute lecture in intense, terrifyingly focused Martian.”

          “We came up with our own alien language,” says Sterling. “We just played with different vocals—though there are some phrases that have specific meanings throughout the film. During the recording sessions, Simon would give us emotions or direction like, ‘You’re being attacked’ or ‘You’re worried.’ We would just try to act them out and come up with different sounds and different qualities.”

 “Her scenes were played almost exclusively in Martian,” says Wells. “There was never a moment when you did not know exactly what she meant. Her sneering, evil satisfaction, her steely control and her explosive fury were painted with such clarity that Mindy completely transcended the need for specific dialogue.”

“KI” is a strong-willed young Martian who learned to speak English by watching a ’70s sitcom. She spends her time painting elaborate graffiti on the walls of Mars. But she does so in secret. She’s forced to hide her artistic side on a planet that is devoid of color and emotion. The Martians are strictly forbidden from expressing any individuality, but Ki thinks for herself—particularly when she decides to help Milo. Talented, sneaky and tough—Ki just may be the coolest renegade in Martian history.  

Elisabeth Harnois (TV’s “Miami Medical,” “One Tree Hill”), cast to portray the creative Ki, was intrigued by both the story and the filmmaking. “It’s a really fun, smart family film,” she says. “I’ve always been a fan of new technologies,” she says. “I went to film school myself, so I’m always looking into those sorts of things.

“And I’m a big goofball,” she adds. “At the audition, I was a goofball, and while working on the project. This role has allowed me to flex my goofball muscles like I never have.”

Harnois also exercised her caretaking muscles during production since she kept her pet rabbit in her trailer.

“WINGNUT” is the leader of the Hairy Tribe Guys, who embody the lost love of Mars. They live in the underground trash caverns, discarded by the misguided civilized society above. Wingnut was Gribble's buddy before Milo arrived on Mars, and Gribble thinks he’s a little crazy and not too smart. But Wingnut just might understand far more about what is happening on Mars than anyone thinks.

Kevin Cahoon (Madonna’s “W.E”) was cast to play Wingnut. “We held open casting auditions for the role and met a bunch of terrifically talented and very funny actors,” says director Simon Wells. “Then Kevin Cahoon came in and blew us away. He totally nailed the inspired lunacy coupled with honest charm that we were looking for in the character.”

“DAD” is a dedicated family man—even if he is completely unaware of the interplanetary adventure Mom and Milo take together. He does notice that his often-cantankerous son seems somehow different when Milo mysteriously volunteers to take out the trash. “Did something happen to Milo this weekend?”

          Tom Everett Scott (“That Thing You Do,” TV’s “Southland”) portrays Dad.

Below for your enjoyment is the latest trailer for MARS NEEDS MOMS. Simply click on this link and you’ll be taken to a private screening area. Please be patient while the video completely loads.

Walt Disney Pictures 'Prom': First look new trailers

 Two trailers have just been released for Walt Disney Pictures upcoming teen-oriented film, PROM, which is set to launch in theaters nationwide Friday, April 29, 2011.

Other than passing SATs and graduating from high school, the biggest angst that occurs annually with seniors each year is attending PROM.

Directed by Joe Nussbaum from a script by Katie Wech, and featuring an ensemble cast starring Aimee Teegarden, Nicholas Braun and Christine Elise along with a powerful soundtrack, Disney’s newest Drama/Comedy promises to do well with those traveling the sometimes rocky road toward adulthood.

PROM has not been given an official parental guidance rating as of this post, but it will be forthcoming closer to the date of the film’s release, and provided for your guidance in our weekly Popcorn Report.

To view each trailer, click on the links below and you will be taken to a commercial-free private screening. Please be patient while the select page fully loads.  Enjoy!

PROM – Video Yearbook "Prom Asks"

PROM – Video Yearbook "What Makes the Perfect Senior Year?"

Disney Pixar CARS 2 races to the big screen June 2011

The heroes of “Radiator Springs” race back into theaters on June 24, 2011 in Disney Pixar’s, CARS 2, with the newest installment to roll towards audiences in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

The animated/comedy/adventure puts director John Lasseter firmly behind the wheel once again after creating the 2006 Golden Globe®-winning first installment of CARS.

Lasseter is joined in this newest venture with Co-Director, Brad Lewis (producer of the Oscar®-winning film RATATOUILLE), Producer Denise Ream (associate producer, UP; visual effects executive producer, STAR WARS EPISODE III – “Revenge of the Sith”) and Composer Michael Giacchino (Oscar®-winner Original Score UP.)

In a statement to the press, CARS 2 promises fast-paced fun that includes: “secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors when star race car, ‘Lighting McQueen’ (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck, ‘Mater’ (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.”

The film’s rating has yet to be determined, but for your viewing enjoyment a first look at CARS 2.

TOY STORY 3 video: The human faces behind the toys’ voices

The long awaited opening for Disney Pixar’s TOY STORY 3 brings with it all the original toy character favorites, plus many new toys that have been brought to life by some of the finest recognizable name actors.

Below, for your viewing enjoyment, a behind-the-scenes sneak peek featurette that matches toy voices to their human faces.

TOY STORY 3 is rated G; it is approved for all audience age levels, and opens nationwide, Friday, June 18, 2010.

To view this video, simply click on the following link and you’ll be taken to your own private screening area.

(If you enjoy this clip, you may want to connect to other TOY STORY 3 previews here.)