Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "We couldn't be more proud and excited about our upcoming lineup of feature projects. With so many great films literally on the drawing boards and computer screens, we felt that now was the perfect time to give moviegoers all over the world an update on the state of our art. In a year when our studio is marking the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, the character that started it all for us, it seems especially timely to share our plans for the future of animation. With John Lasseter and Ed Catmull guiding our creative efforts both at Emeryville and in Burbank, this is as exciting a time as any in our history."

The studio's 2009 animated slate includes the summer release of Pixar's first 3D feature Up; the Christmas Day release of Disney's original animated fairytale The Princess and the Frog from veteran Disney directors John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules) and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of Tinker Bell: North of Never Land.

2010 brings the highly anticipated return of Buzz and Woody in the Disney Digital 3D summer release of Pixar's Toy Story 3, followed by the Christmas arrival of Disney's version of the classic fairytale Rapunzel, featuring the directing debuts of animation legend Glen Keane and directing partner Dean Wellins, and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of Tinker Bell: A Midsummer Storm (working title).

Christmas 2011 brings Pixar's first fairytale The Bear and the Bow, from acclaimed filmmaker/writer Brenda Chapman. The Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of Tinker Bell: A Winter Story (working title) also debuts in 2011. The year 2012 will mark the return of an international cast of favourite and new car characters in Pixar's Cars 2. Scheduled for Christmas 2012 from Walt Disney Animation Studios is King of the Elves, an adaptation of a Philip K Dick short story.