What animated movies will the Mouse House make in 2011 and 2012? Click the link and find out. Part #3 of 3.

The Walt Disney Company, along with its subsidiaries Pixar and ImageMovers Digital, are unleashing a plethora of animated films in the next four years. Part #1 and #2 covered 2008 to 2010. Now let's look at what 2011 and 2012 have in store for animation fans.

Tinker Bell A Midsummer Storm

(Disney Home Video, Possible director: Bradley Raymond)

Yes, the Tinker Bell movies keep coming. Hopefully they won't be as bad as the initial stories were promising. This direct-to-DVD flick comes sometime in 2011.

Newt

(Pixar, dir: Garry Rydstrom)

"What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can’t stand each other?" says Disney/Pixar's synopsis.

That's the premise for this upcoming Pixar flick, helmed by "Lifted" director Gary Rydstrom. No word on how good this flick will be, but "Lifted" was a great short, and Pixar hasn't made a mistake yet.

Newt is due in the summer of 2011.

The Bear and the Bow

(Pixar, dir: Brenda Chapman)

After making only one CGI animated film per year, Pixar is upping their schedule. Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt, The Lion King) hooks up with the gang from Emeryville to create this Scottish adventure. Here's the synopsis from Disney, via the good folks at JoBlo.com:

"A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar’s action-adventure The Bear and the Bow. The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right."

It's due Christmas of 2011.

Tinker Bell A Winter Story

(Disney Home Video, Possible director: Bradley Raymond)

This should be the last Tinker Bell direct-to-DVD movie unless one of two things happens

1. The previous flicks make big bucks, and sell tons of merch, which causes Disney Consumer Products to request more installments.
2. The previous flicks collect dust in stores, which means this flick will never get made.

Which scenario do you hope for? This DVD comes out sometime in 2011.

Cars 2

(Pixar, dir: Brad Lewis)

A second Pixar movie gets turned into a franchise, and Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater go international. The big impetus for this comes from Disney Consumer Products. Although Cars didn't make massive box office in 2006 (it was actually one of the worst-performing Pixar flicks to date), it was the studio's hottest seller in terms of merchandise. That's why Cars 2 was greenlighted, as opposed to The Incredibles 2, which more Pixar fans called for. The moral of the story: don't bet against the accountants.

Brad Lewis, who produced Ratatouille, is replacing John Lasseter in the director's chair. No word on whether they'll be getting Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy or Paul Newman to reprise their roles. Wilson and Larry should be available, barring some tragedy, but Newman firmly announced his retirement from acting.

King of the Elves

(Director not yet announced)

This flick is based on a Phillip K. Dick short story, about an average guy living in the Mississippi Delta who ends up becoming the king of the elves (hence the title of the movie).

"Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life," claims Disney in their press release.

This can't be a Disney animated feature: there aren't any princesses!

That said, Disney has said they're doing this sucker, so look for something a little darker from the Mouse House's animation team. Of course, Disney could make this movie all sweetness and light, at which point Mr. Dick will rise from his grave, shamble towards Disney Studios (stopping only to pick up Jenna Jameson and some zombie strippers) and eat John Lasseter's brain. After which, Zombie Dick will go shopping at Ikea.

Zombies like to shop at Ikea. It's a well-known fact.

Of course, all the above information is subject to change without notice, since this article does look 4 years into the future. Keep checking this site for further information as it develops.