I have just learned of an amazing new film project in the works from two Disney animation veterans, Aaron Blaise and Chuck Williams, whose work you may know from Brother Bear, Aladdin, Mulan, and other favorite Disney films. This latest collaboration is right up my alley, as it helps kids and their parents to learn while they play!
Blaise and Williams are working on creating ART STORY, an animated feature film about a boy and his grandfather’s adventures through an imaginative world of famous paintings. In order to fund their next film, Blaise and Williams are turning to the popular crowdfunding site, Kickstarter, to gain awareness for ART STORY.
Art Story is a great film and story about the state of children’s cinema because:
- The main character, Walt, is a meticulous and focused 11-year-old boy who is always at odds with his grandfather. However, the two must work together when they become trapped in a vast, whimsical world of famous paintings—an important lesson; if we put our differences aside, we can achieve anything.
- It is structured like a hilarious, character-driven, buddy picture and teaches children about some of the greatest master paintings of all time by actually taking place inside of these paintings. The characters change their appearance to match the style of each painting, which includes such masterpieces as American Gothic by Grant Wood, Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, and Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze.
- It explores, and was inspired by, the special relationship between a grandchild and their grandparent.
How can YOU help get this film made? Simply make a donation to their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign by August 23, 2013.
What will the money go to? Blaise and Williams and their team will use the money to create a script, a children’s book ready for publication, killer artwork and a video presentation of the whole film.
When will the movie be made? Target release is 2016—if the Kickstarter campaign is successful and production can get started soon.
What are the benefits of making a donation? A pledge of $1 or more helps get this thing off the ground. A pledge of $10 or more gets your name listed in the credits and gets you a copy of the book. A pledge of $25 or more gets you a digital artwork of your choice, and there are many more perks!
For more information on the ART STORY film project, stop by Facebook or Twitter. To view ART STORY’s Kickstarter campaign page, visit http://bit.ly/ArtStoryKS, and to make a donation to the project, see the Kickstarter widget on our sidebar →.
©2013 Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, your Disney homeschool resource!

Think outside the textbook with this veteran homeschooling author & editor, and learn while you play!
As a new Grandmother, this sounds wonderful! Thanks for the review.
You’re welcome! I really hope they’re able to fund it and get a quality family-friendly film made!