Mike Bastoli considers himself a lifelong Disney fan and total nerd. He first joined The Disney Blog as a guest writer in 2009. From 2007 to 2011, he covered Pixar Animation Studios on his website The Pixar Blog, which quickly became one of the most popular on the Web dedicated to news about the studio. (The New York Times named it the “definitive unofficial chronicler of the animation powerhouse".) In 2011, Mike renamed his site Big Screen Animation and expanded his coverage to capture the broader world of animated feature films. He retired Big Screen Animation in 2014 to focus on his brick-and-mortar family business and other pursuits. Mike resides near Toronto with his wife, Janice.
Pixar’s “Elemental” arrives on the big screen in less than a week, an original comedy built on the premise that no two people are too different to fall in love—not even if they happen to literally be fire and water. Unconventional leads Ember and Wade,… Read More »Review: ‘Elemental’ is Bright, Bold, & One of Pixar’s Best
We’re getting closer to the June 16 release of Pixar’s Elemental—the studio’s 27th feature and, arguably, its first romantic comedy. (RIP, Newt.) Set in the fantastical Element City, the film follows fiery Ember and sappy water guy Wade. The couple must navigate their many differences… Read More »Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Shows A Lot of Potential
Disney Animation: Immersive Experience opened yesterday in Toronto, the beginning of a multi-city rollout this winter. The experience is a collaboration between Walt Disney Animation and Lighthouse Immersive Studios, the group behind the hugely-popular Immersive Van Gogh (and some other less-well-received experiences). Similarly, Disney Animation:… Read More »Disney Animation: Immersive Experience Begins North American Tour
Disney is going immersive! Walt Disney Animation Studios announced a collaboration today with Lighthouse Immersive Studios, the people behind the blockbuster Immersive Van Gogh experience. Disney Animation: Immersive Experience will feature “the music and artistry” of Disney animated films, from classics like The Lion King, Peter… Read More »Disney Animation: Immersive Experience Arriving in 10 North American Cities This Winter
Pixar returns to theaters in a big way this week with Lightyear, the Angus MacLane-directed origin story of everybody’s favourite space ranger. This is the movie, we are told, that Toy Story’s Andy would have seen. To nobody’s surprise, Lightyear is powerfully animated. Scenes of… Read More »Review: ‘Lightyear’ is a Sci-Fi Ride Made for the Big Screen
Earlier this month, Disney hosted an online media preview of Pixar’s upcoming 26th feature, Lightyear. Coming on the heels of last month’s coming-of-age masterpiece Turning Red, which regrettably didn’t receive a wide theatrical release, Lightyear is Pixar’s long overdue return to the big screen. Having… Read More »The Countdown is on for Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’
After having its world premiere March 2 at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Pixar’s 25th feature film, Turning Red, brought its star power to Toronto on Tuesday night for what can only be described as an epic homecoming. Taking over the five-storey TIFF Bell Lightbox… Read More »Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ Comes Home for Canadian Premiere in Toronto
Pay no attention to talk of a ‘target audience’ for Turning Red, landing March 11 on Disney+. Although it’s a confidently Asian, female-driven story—and a special treat for Millennials—Pixar’s latest feature has universal appeal as an allegory of the hormonal insanity of puberty. Director and… Read More »Review: Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ is the Movie to Watch This Weekend