Pixar films to watch in 2021 and… a special bonus (tasty) Pixar surprise!

The Pixar movie revolution has arrived at Wellington City Libraries in 2021 and just in time for the wintery-est of time of year. It is an exciting time with the release of a tasty Italian surprise produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. 

image courtesy of amazon.comToy Story2, 3 and 4.

Toy Story was the first Pixar film ever released and changed the world of animation films forever.

These films are timeless classics that takes you on a journey into the world of the secret life of toys. Join Buzz, Woody, Jessie and lots of amazing toys that unexpectedly embark on adventures that challenge and change them. These films are full of excitement, adventure and will change the way you think of toys!


image courtesy of amazon.comMonsters Inc.

“In the world behind our closet doors, monsters like Mike and Sulley work hard for their income. To be exact, the monster world depends on our children’s screams: It is their energy that makes lightbulbs glow and cars drive. Sulley, the number one frightener, one day accidentally lets a human child into the monster world. Since kids are supposed to be poisonous and carry loads of diseases, pandemonium ensues. After Mike and Sulley discover that the girl they named Boo actually seems quite harmless, they decide to bring her back through her door into her room. But Boo’s presence is more than just a mere accident. Now, Mike and Sulley have to face an enemy within their own ranks.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comMonsters University.

“Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.” (Catalogue).

image courtesy of amazon.comBrave.

Be brave and grab life by the kilt with Merida, the feisty, Scottish  princess and skilled archer who dreams of following her own path living her own life, even if it mean defying the traditions and expectations of her family and people. However when her pride gets in the way and a spell is cast upon her mother, Merida must use her wits and skills to “mend the bond caused by pride” and save the day “highlander” style. If you’re not convinced that this DVD is worth watching, have a read of my review here.

image courtesy of amazon.comCars Trilogy.

Take a ride on the wild side with Lightening McQueen and the gang in Cars 1, 2 and 3, that chronicles the secret life of race car driving, from the race car’s point of view. This is a movies that boys will enjoy, especially boys into cars and formula one racing.

Finding Nemo.image courtesy of amazon.com

Go back to where it all began where Marlin goes on an epic quest from the great barrier reef to Sydney in order to find and save his son, Nemo, while meeting and encountering new friends on the way such as surfer turtles that live to 150 years old, vegetarian sharks who have regular meetings and of course, Dory herself, a good-hearted and optimistic regal blue tang with short-term memory loss. (Adapted from Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comFinding Dory reunites the friendly but forgetful blue tang fish, Dory, along with her friends, Marlin and Nemo on an epic quest to find Dory’s family. The questions that hangs on everyone’s lips are what does she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak whale? Favourite moments in the film include Dory as a baby – Boy, she’s adorable!, Marlin and Nemo’s encounter with the seals, Still can’t get the ‘OFFOFFOFFOFF’ aka the seal talk out of my head, Dory making new friends with Hank, an octopus with seven tentacles and who, for a guy with three hearts is very bad tempered, Dory reuniting with her childhood friend, Destiny and the odd cameo of previous characters from Finding Nemo. It is truly unforgettable.


Also check out footage of Baby Dory and the Pixar short film, Piper that was released alongside Finding Dory.



image courtesy of amazon.comThe Incredibles 1 and 2.

The secret life of superheroes comes to life with the Parrs, aka The Incredibles, where you watch them balance secret identities, families and saving the day. Overall, both films are funny, action packed and will keep you entertained for hours on end.

Also check out footage of  the Pixar short film, Bao that was released alongside The Incredibles 2. The film won the Oscar for the Best Animated Short Film in 2019.



image courtesy of amazon.comInside Out.

What happens when your emotions go into overdrive? They manifest in the form of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust. This film is set in the mind of a young girl, Riley Andersen, where the five personified emotions try to lead her through life as her parents  move the family to a new city. Some very funny moments in the film, especially when Anger loses his temper, Disgust’s sarcastic and cynical behaviour and finding what role Sadness plays in our lives (Spoiler: Very important role).

image courtesy of amazon.comSoul.

“Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. A misstep takes him from New York City to The Great Before, a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities before going to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22, who has never understood the appeal of the human life. As Joe tries to show 22 what’s great about life, he may discover the answers to the most important questions.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comCoco.

“Despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.” (Catalogue)


Brace yourself for a tasty release of Disney’s and Pixar’s animated film, Luca!

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca” is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato (YUM!), pasta (DOUBLE YUM!) and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface. Check out the trailer below!

Stay tuned for information for when this film will be released. In the meantime, head on down to your local library and borrow some Pixar movies for a quiet wintery night in with some popcorn and a cup of hot chocolate. Enjoy and stay warm this winter!

5 New Animals Non Fiction: The Animal Planet Collection.

The Animal Planet collection invites you to go on a wild journey where you will meet awesome wild animals up close, see stunning photographs of animals in their natural habitat, learn how animals survive and thrive all around the world, and find out ways wild animals are just like us.

So what are you waiting for? Come on down to the library, and check out 5 books in the Animal Planet collection where young readers will discover nature.

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndeticsWild Animals.

A fun and interactive guide to wild animals. Young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsBaby Animals.

Brace yourself for cuteness overload! This book describes animal babies and their developmental behaviors, discussing cats, otters, raccoons, snails, and kangaroos.

AWESOME FACT: Baby ferrets are called kits.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsAnimals on the move.

Prepare to be amazed and spellbound when you see animals on the move that run, hop, slither, fly and climb in this amazing guide. Also detailed information about animals, such as frogs, worms, falcons, and cheetahs. Highly recommended!

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsOcean Animals.

Dive into the exciting world of ocean animals where you will meet amazing marine creature up close  and learn how they survive and thrive in the watery wild.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPolar Animals.

Chill out with amazing polar animals in this amazing book where you will meet incredible polar animals up close and how they survive and thrive in the North and South pole. This also contains information about the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of polar animals, including king penguins, narwhals, and reindeer.

9 New Non Fiction: The Wonderful Worlds of Disney and Star Wars.

NEWS ALERT! Star Wars and Disney’s Polynesian Princess, Moana has taken over this blog post and… the junior non fiction collection! But hold the press, there’s another Disney (Latina) princess in town and amongst the junior non fiction collection in the guise of Elena of Avalor! – Another strong willed, caring, brave and determined princess and a long awaited role model for young girls! Also included are some trailers to movies that will be released later in the year.

Check out the following books and as always, Enjoy!:

image courtesy of syndeticsMoana: The Essential Guide.

Read this book and find out everything you need to know about the newest Disney heroine, Moana, and her companion, hero and trickster of Polynesian mythology Maui, on their incredible journey across the South Pacific. Discover the beautiful locations of Oceania, including breathtaking underworlds along with frightening sea creatures! This book is packed with stunning information and images of Moana’s quest and provides a fascinating, in-depth look at the most thrilling moments from the movie. Overall, I think this book serves as a wonderful companion alongside the movie. It is also a great learning tool to help young girls begin their path to finding themselves, as well as becoming emerging and strong leaders.

image courtesy of syndeticsThe World of Moana: A Guide to Motunui and Beyond.

Journey to the world of Moana where you will view lush tropical islands, encounter enormous sea creatures and read stories of legendary folklore. These are all part of an ancient Pacific world that is home to Moana. Explore Matunui, meet the people, learn the customs, and more in this official guide to Moana’s world.

image courtesy of syndeticsMoana Hairstyles and Looks.

Dive into the wonderfull rich and beautiful culture of Moana’s world, to recreate Moana’s style and look. You will find instructions for hairstyles and accessory crafts related to the Disney film. Hairstyles are shown in detail and photograhed on real-life girls.

image courtesy of syndeticsLearn to draw Disney Moana.

Presents step-by-step instructions for drawing characters from the movie Moana, including Moana, Maui, and other favorite characters.

image courtesy of syndeticsElena of Avalor: The Essential Guide.

Tagline from the TV Series: “Becoming a leader will be her greatest adventure.

Move over, Moana, there’s a new Disney Princess in town! Meet the caring and brave Princess Elena and everyone she loves in this fantastic essential guide. In this guide, you will learn about Avalor’s lively music and fascinating folklore. You will also get the chance to unleash your adventurous spirit and explore the kingdom of Avalor. Overall another fantastic book and great learning tool that will help young girls begin their path to finding themselves, as well as becoming emerging and strong leaders.

image courtesy of syndeticsCars 3 : the essential guide.

Describes the memorable and ever-popular characters, including race car Lightning McQueen, plus key locations, themes, and iconic moments from the movie.

Check out the trailer below:

For an extra treat, check out the trailer for upcoming Disney/Pixar, Coco. Despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Hector the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

image courtesy of syndeticsStar Wars: Character Encyclopedia.

Go on a journey through the Star Wars galaxy, and learn all about its brave heroes and deadly villains. Meet a host of loathsome creatures, weird aliens, and loyal droids from the Star Wars saga.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsStar Wars: the Visual Dictionary.

Presents the Star Wars line of LEGO action figures and playsets, detailing a history of the toy line and how each playset connects to the events in the Star Wars films.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsStar Wars: Complete Vehicles.

For any fan who wants to explore the inner workings of the spaceships and vehicles of all six Star Wars movies, comes this fascinating expanded edition of a fan favourite, now with new cross-section artworks and a wealth of new photos.

 

Check out the trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

 

Top 10 Children’s DVDs March 2017

The library is home to some great rent-able movies. Animation featuring talking animals has taken a bold step with The Secret Life of Pets. There are some bold animals in here that have little respect for humans! Some scary scenes in here for sensitive younger viewers, so watch with a weather eye! And then there are the animals that love humans so much they make sure only the best happens to them.  In the movie Storks, the birds famous for delivering babies make sure that the little human they care for reaches the best possible home.

Is your favourite in the Top 10?

  1. My little pony, friendship is magic.
  2. Zootopia
  3. Pete’s dragon
  4. Finding Dory
  5. The secret life of pets
  6. The BFG
  7. Ice age.
  8. Strawberry Shortcake.
  9. Storks
  10. LEGO Nexo knights