Watch the Trailer for Gary Rydstrom's 'Strange Magic'

Gary Rydstrom, long-time sound designer and director at Pixar, is taking a crack at directing his own animated movie at Lucasfilm. The title for the feature film is Strange Magic, and it is a "madcap fairy tale musical" inspired by Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Hit songs will help tell the tale of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and the crazy misadventures that come about thanks to a battle over a powerful potion. Watch the first trailer for Strange Magic below.

Gary Rydtrom has worked on several films at Pixar, going all the way back to creating the lamp's voice on Luxo Jr. Gary designed the sound for other movies at Pixar including Finding Nemo and Brave. He has even directed short films Lifted and Hawaiian Vacation. Gary has contributed his work to several non-Pixar movies as well, he was the sound designer for Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Wreck-it Ralph, and many other feature films. He has won seven Academy Awards in his career.

Gary Rydstrom (Image Source: FUNAmerica)

The cast for Strange Magic includes Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenowirth, Maya Rudolph, Alfred Molina, Evan Rachel Wood, and Meredith Anne Bull. The movie will be released from Touchstone Pictures, which is one of Disney's distribution banners. Check out some movie stills from the film below (via Collider).

Strange Magic will arrive to theaters on January 23rd, 2015.

Gary Rydstrom is Directing an Animated Movie at Lucasfilm

Gary Rydstrom is a distinguished sound designer and director. He was won seven Academy Awards in his career. Gary has contributed to a lot of projects at Pixar, going all the way back to Luxo Jr. John Lasseter proclaimed that it was Rydstrom's work on Luxo Jr., such as creating the lamp's voice like the squeak of a lightbulb being screwed in,  that taught him how sound can be a partner in the storytelling of a film. Gary Rydstrom has done the sound design for numerous Pixar movies including Finding Nemo and Brave. He also has directed short films Lifted and Hawaiian Vacation.

Gary Rydstrom (Image Source: MovieWeb)

Lucasfilm Ltd. announced on Tuesday that Gary Rydstrom is directing and animated movie for them titled, Strange Magic.  The film is written and produced by legendary director George Lucas. Here's the synopsis for the movie: 'Strange Magic' is a "madcap fairy tale musical" inspired by Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Hit songs will help tell the tale of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and the crazy misadventures that come about thanks to a battle over a powerful potion.

Movie still from Strange Magic

The cast for the film includes Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenowirth, Maya Rudolph, Alfred Molina, Evan Rachel Wood, and Meredith Anne Bull. The movie will be released from Touchstone Pictures, which is one of Disney's distribution banners. 

Strange Magic is set to be released on January 23rd, 2015.