
Disney is converting its (mostly) hand-drawn animated classic Beauty and the Beast to 3-D digital, with plans to release it in 2010, studio executives disclosed Tuesday at a 3-D technology festival in Singapore. The studio plans to apply its proprietary digital 3-D technology to the original background, effects and character elements, much as it did to its newest release, Bolt, which premieres on Friday. The entire conversion process is expected to take about nine to ten months. The studio also intends to release 3-D versions of Toy Story 2 and 3 in 2010 as well as the all-new Disney/Pixar feature Rapunzel. Disney said today (Wednesday) that it will also release five movies in 3-D IMAX in 2009-2010, beginning with A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey, in November 2009.