I opined when it came to Up that it’s hard to judge the Pixar canon because there are so few missteps, but when it comes to favorites, everyone’s got to have one. You have to at some point think of which one you love the most. It’s not like they’re your children. Though a case can be made for almost every single one of their films, the one that gets me the hardest, and the one that always works me over like a sap is Monsters Inc. My review of it after the jump.

Character posters are fantastic unless they’re for the “Harry Potter” series which are apparently meant to wallpaper a multiplex.  As “Toy Story 3″ heads towards its June 18^th, 2010 release date, Disney-Pixar is making sure we know that the gang’s all here.  While we still have yet to see posters for Bullseye and Mrs. Potato Head (assuming we even get them) but we do have seven characters that are letting us know that they enjoy the number “3″: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky, Rex, and Hamm.  Enjoy all seven after the jump.

“Toy Story 3″ director Lee Unkrich decided to just be a ray of sunshine and good cheer today by revealing some new (and slightly used) pieces of news.  First, Kristen Schaal of “Flight of the Conchords” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” will be playing a new character although Unkrich wouldn’t say who (which may mean the character isn’t in the new trailer although that’s just speculation).  As for who will replace the late, great Jim Varney as the voice of Slinky, character actor and Varney’s friend Blake Clark will honor his friend by playing the role.  Finally, and what I think is the most important piece of news, the “Toy Story 1 & 2 3D Double Feature” will extend its run in theaters.  Unkrich says that’s good because that way more people can see the “Toy Story 3″ trailer in 3D but I say it’s good because you owe it to yourself to re-experience these film and if you’re a parent with young kids, you must take your kids to see these movies or else everyone will know that you’re a bad parent who hates their kids and wants them to be miserable.

Hit the jump for the full video of Unkrich’s brief details on “Toy Story 3″ which hits theaters on June 18^th , 2010.

Pixar/Walt Disney has released three new “Toy Story 3″ character posters and they’re of Woody, Hamm and Buzz. Just a little while ago I posted the first trailer for “Toy Story 3″, so you all know how much I’m looking forward to this film. Anyway, not much to say about the posters except they look great. Love the black background, as it makes the characters really standout. Hit the jump to check them out.

While the trailer for “Toy Story 3″ was supposed to premiere on MySpace this Monday, due to the trailer playing in theaters on the “Toy Story” double feature, it’s been online for over a week. Since leaking, most websites have stayed away from posting it, but for some reason, today is the day that everyone feels it’s safe to post…so I’m joining the party.

As you might imagine, Pixar’s “Toy Story 3″ trailer looks awesome. It’s got great looking animation, a few jokes that will make you laugh, but most important, “Toy Story 3″ looks to have a solid story with Andy going off to college and the gang trying to stay together. With Pixar’s track record this movie is certain to be worth everyone’s time. Check the trailer out after the jump, and go see the “Toy Story” 3D double feature this weekend in theaters, as the movies stand up and the 3D looks great.

Pixar has released a new poster for “Toy Story 3″ and it’s a character poster for Rex the Green Dinosaur (voiced by Wallace Shawn). With the release date not until next summer, I’d imagine we’re going to get character posters for everyone. While that would bother me on certain movie, when it’s Pixar and “Toy Story”, I’ve got no problems.

The other bit of news is this Monday, MySpace will be premiering the “Toy Story 3″ trailer at 9am PT/12pm ET. This is the same trailer that’s playing in theaters on the “Toy Story” double feature, but it hasn’t yet been released. I saw it last weekend and it’s great. But we’re talking about Pixar…so is that any surprise. Take a look at Rex after the jump. And if you haven’t seen the “Toy Story” double feature in 3D, go this holiday weekend. It’s well worth the money.

I don’t understand anyone who wouldn’t want to go back and watch “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2″ on the big screen especially when it only costs $15.  Not each.  Combined.  And forget about the 3D or even the digital projection.  These are two of the greatest movies in the past twenty years and even if you don’t have kids (because if you’re a parent with a kid 12 or under, this is mandatory) why not revisit them on a big screen?  They have not aged.  They are as vibrant, funny, clever, and heart-warming as you remember.  But if you need more convincing (and if so, I think you might be a hopeless case), read on.

Sometimes a simple poster is all you need. That’s why Pixar is one of the best (or the best) movie studios on the planet. They get it. They understand. Story first. Everything else is second.

Anyway, over the past few days Disney was flooding D23 with cool exclusive images and videos. Unfortunately, all of us not in attendance were forced to read about it. But, thankfully, images are trailers are starting to be released and after the jump you can see the first teaser poster for “Toy Story 3″. It’s a simple poster that says ‘No Toy Gets Left Behind. It’s great. Take a look.

Speaking in London’s Leicester Square this morning, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar COO John Lasseter gave a thorough presentation of Disney’s upcoming films.  Among the highlights:  plot details about “Toy Story 3″ and “Cars 2.”  Pixar normally shies away from sequels and I think that policy has proved to be one of their strengths so I have been very curious to know what makes these movies worth the risk.  Lasseter has talked about wanting to make another Toy Story ever since the second one came out which makes me think that the impetus behind “Toy Story 3″ and the reason for its lengthy development is his genuine love of the characters and a desire to revisit their world, even if that meant waiting years to do so.

“Cars 2,” on the other hand, does not have such a warm and fuzzy backstory.  The original came out in 2006 and, since Pixar takes about four or five years to make a film, the sequel was clearly fast-tracked to the top of the queue.  I guess roughly $462 million will do that, especially considering its characters are much more ripe for new adventures than, say, the robots from “Wall-E.”  Hit the jump to find out what new games Woody is playing and where Lightning McQueen will be racing next.

What are the wizards at Pixar working on at the moment? …aside from finishing up “Toy Story 3″, of course.  How about a mysterious project involving a little boy and a big Brontosaurus?  If an all-too brief glimpse of some early concept art on display inside Pixar’s studios is any indication that would seem to be the case.  Hit the jump for the sketchy details.

Disney has now announced what we will be seeing at the D23 expo this year. The event will take place from September 10-13 in Anaheim, California and it has a pretty fun and exciting line up. Over the 4 days Disney will be showing exclusive sneak peeks of “A Christmas Carol”, Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”, “Prince of Persia”, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “Tron: Legacy”, and “Toy Story 3″. Selected scenes from “Beauty and the Beast” in 3D and the 3D double feature of “Toy Story 1 & 2″ will be shown along with some newly restored prints of classic Disney films such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Sleeping Beauty”. To find out what else will take place at D23 and how you can attend. check out the full press release after the jump.

One of the things I love about Comic-Con is getting to do extended interviews with filmmakers I admire. And that’s what happened when I got to speak with director Lee Unkrich about his next Pixar movie, “Toy Story 3″. Since the movie is far from finished, Lee was quite guarded when it came to talking about plot points. But that didn’t stop me from asking about everything else I could think of like what cool collectible stuff might come out with “Toy Story 3″, and what’s the status of his previous films like “Monsters Inc.” and “Toy Story 2″ on Blu-ray.

If you’re a fan of Pixar or just of the “Toy Story” franchise, it’s a great conversation and one I’m sure you’ll enjoy. Also, after the jump I listed what other subjects we talked about.

If you didn’t stick around in HALL H after the mostly-fantastic Warner Bros. presentation (sorry, Book of Eli but you made some really damaging mistakes), when you damn well knew that Disney-Pixar, the best folks making movies today, was following directly after, then there’s no hope for you.  I don’t care if you were tired or if you had to be somewhere else or if you wanted to collect a rare item by fight monsters in random encounters.  You should have glued your ass to your seat and stuck around because obviously, they had some amazing stuff.

Hit the jump to find out what they had and how great it was:

After the draining events of Thursday (the bloody slap-fest between “Twilight” fans and all the other nerds will surely be exhausting to all), Friday is a moderate reprieve in terms of the Movies/TV arena.  Oh, there are still massive events happening, but basically you can just sit down in Hall H and enjoy the proceedings rather than making “Sophie’s Choice”-level decisions about which line to stand in (unless you’re a Joss Whedon fan; then you’re screwed).

Panel highlights from Day 2 of Comic-Con include the thankfully-early-in-the-day Warner Bros. (which will feature “Where The Wild Things Are”, Sherlock Holmes”, “Jonah Hex”, “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, “The Box”, and “The Book of Eli”),  the Disney-Pixar Animation (the “Toy Story” trilogy, “Princess and the Frog”, “Ponyo”, and “Prep & Landing”), “9″, “Legion”, “District 9″, and an in-depth conversation between Peter Jackson and James Cameron.

However, should you choose to venture forth, away from the comfort of Hall H (where all those panels are), you can swim in the waters of television with panels for “The Prisoner”, “The Big Bang Theory”, “Dollhouse”, TV Guide’s Sci-Fi Hot List, and a Q&A with Joss Whedon.

Hit the jump for the full schedule and to see what events I’ve highlighted because that’s everywhere I want to be.  Now excuse me while I fetch my time-turner.  Click here for Thursday.

At last week’s Saturn Awards, I was able to speak with Pixar’s Angus MacLane after “Wall-e” won for Best Animated Film. In case you’re not familiar with Angus’ work, he’s been an animator on eight of Pixar’s movies. Also, he’s directed a short (”Burn-E”) and been a storyboard artist on a few other films as well. Basically, he’s worked on many films that you love.

Anyway, after “Wall-E” won, I was able to speak with Angus backstage and we talked about “Wall-e”, “Toy Story 3″, why Pixar makes such great films, and a lot more. Also, he told me where you can get some very cool and very limited “Wall-e” posters…so take a look:

How much money and power does Disney have?  Enough that they can hold their own damn convention to show off all their own product.  Other studios have to share the stage at some rag-tag event like the San Diego Comic Con while Disney, rolling around in Jonas Brothers and “High School Musical” money, can go to the Anaheim Convention Center, and show off all of their shit. (That’s going to be slogan by the way: “D23 Expo: Check Out Our Shit”)

The D23 Expo (the “23″ commemorates the fourth through twenty-third “Mighty Ducks” movies that never were) will offer looks at ABC’s upcoming shows, behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming to Disney theme parks, a look at Disney’s history and their classic films, but who cares about all that.

What’s going to bring a slew of journalists to Anaheim from September 10th through the 13th is that Disney will be offering first looks at “The Princess and the Frog”, “Rapunzel”, “isney’s A Christmas Carol”, “Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland”, “TRON”, “Toy Story 3″, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.  As someone who probably won’t be attending this conference (since I don’t live in California), I’m a little worried as to what this means for what Disney will bring to humble Comic-Con.

Click here to buy tickets or else your kids won’t love you anymore.