I LAVA You, I really do!
Inspired by the lush tropical islands of Hawaii “LAVA” a Disney Pixar animated short to be shown in front of Pixar Animation Studios film “Inside Out” is a film about giant molten volcanic longing and love. Directed by head of animation at Pixar Animation Studios, James Ford Murphy admittedly had a fascination of Hawaii his entire life. It was during his honeymoon with his wife on the Big Island many years ago that James Ford Murphy fell in love with the aloha spirit of Hawaii, the volcanoes and particularly with Hawaiian music.
During a Pixar Animated Studios Campus tour, myself and 24 other bloggers from across the county had the opportunity to get a special preview of Pixar animated LAVA short review to be shown in front of “Inside Out”. Director James Ford Murphy played his ukulele for us and we took a group picture (you can even see James holding his ukulele here!).
James Ford Murphy’s love of Hawaii was the seedling to “LAVA”, a short film about volcanic longing and love in the deep blue Hawaiian sea. James Ford Murphy took voice casting very seriously as he wanted a real and authentic richness in the Hawaiian music that displayed the tremendous culture and the sense of Aloha, and the sense of family, and the sense of place. After attending the Noku Hana Awards, held every May in Honolulu Director James Ford Murphy and Producer Andrea Warren met Hawaiian natives Kuana Torres Kahele (Uku) and Napua Greig (Lele) who they cast as the voice talent of “LAVA”.
“I have a dream, I hope will come true, that you’re here with me and I’m here with you
I wish that the Earth, Sea and sky up above will send me someone to…Lava”
I had the opportunity to watch the Disney Pixar Animated short “LAVA” on June 19th 2014 at the Directors Guild of America theater in Hollywood, California during a 1-year preview celebration. Before screening “LAVA”, James Ford Murphy played the theme song of the film for us on his ukulele, it was astounding and very special. After the screenings we had a cocktail reception where I got to meet Director James Ford Murphy and Producer Andrea Warren and they signed the “LAVA” poster for me. Check out what James Ford Murphy wrote:
Uku is the voice of the male character and Lele is the voice of the female character in “LAVA” and together they create the island Ukulele. “LAVA” will be released in theaters nationwide in front of “Inside Out” on June 19th 2015. Like Inside Out on Facebook to stay informed.
