Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios chief creative officer John Lasseter joined colleagues and talent at the annual convention in Anaheim, California, to announce a number of surprises.

Walt Disney Animation Studios director Byron Howard and writer Jared Bush spoke about the forthcoming 2016 comedy adventure Zootopia (working title, pictured), about a fast-talking fox framed for a crime who teams up with a rabbit police officer.

Finding Nemo and WALL•E director Andrew Stanton and WALL•E producer Lindsey Collins said Ellen DeGeneres would be joined on the cast of Finding Dory by Albert Brooks as the voice of Marlin, Diane Keaton as the voice of Dory’s mother Jenny, Eugene Levy as the voice of Dory’s father Charlie and Ty Burrell as the voice of Bailey. Finding Dory is scheduled to open on Nov 25, 2015.

“It’s a fantastic, exciting time for animation at Disney and Pixar,” said Lasseter. “The filmmakers at our three studios are so talented — their films are all so touching and beautiful, but so different. I am truly excited to share these films with everyone.”

Lasseter screened 10 minutes of Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story OF TERROR! set to air on Disney stablemate ABC on Oct 16.

Attendees, who included members of the public who bought advance tickets to the three-day event, also watched footage from Frozen featuring the voice of Kristen Bell. That film opens on Nov 27 and will be preceded by a throwback to days gone by, the Mickey Mouse cartoon Get A Horse!

Lasseter introduced a new character, Disneytoon Studios’ The Pirate Fairy, which will go on release in spring 2014, and promoted the May 30 2014 release of Disney-Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur.

There were also promotional spots for Disneytoon’s Jul 18 2014 release Planes: Fire & Rescue and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 3D tale Big Hero 6 that opens on Nov 7, 2014.

Disneytoon Studios director Steve Loter took to the stage to discuss spring 2015 project Legend Of The NeverBeast and Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith and Bill Hader came on to talk up the Jun 9 2015 Disney-Pixar film Inside Out.

Hader engaged Pixar favourite John Ratzenberger in a duel of character voices while the Disney hierarchy celebrated the 60-years career of animator Burny Mattinson.

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