Disney Announces 'Gigantic', Based On 'Jack And The Beanstalk' [D23 Expo 2015]

"When Disney does a fairy tale, it becomes the definitive version of that story," said John Lasseter. "One that doesn't have a definitive version is Jack and the Beanstalk." So began Disney's announcement of their next animated fairy tale movie, Gigantic, at D23.

Disney is already in production on the feature, which has assembled a top-notch team: Nathan Greno (Tangled) is directing, Dorothy McKim (Get a Horse!) is directing, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Frozen) are providing music. More details on the Disney Gigantic movie after the jump. 

Gigantic won't be a straightforward adaptation of the Jack and the Beanstalk you remember from your youth. This version of the story is set in Spain during the Age of Discovery, with Jack making the greatest discovery of all time. Once Jack gets the magic beans, he finds not just a giant castle, but an entire world full of giants.

The first giant he meets is Inma, a feisty young girl based on a real kid the Gigantic team met in Spain. Inma thinks Jack is a toy, and he can't do anything to stop her, but the two nevertheless develop a bond and embark on an adventure that changes both of them forever.

Others in the world of giants include the Storm Giants, who are the bad guys wreaking havoc all over the place. Inma and Jack try to stop them, making Gigantic an underdog story of sorts. Greno described Gigantic as a "tearjerker," unlike the original fairy tale. "If we do our jobs right, we hope this will become the definitive version," he added.

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 14: Producer Dorothy McKim (L) and director Nathan Greno of GIGANTIC took part today in "Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films" presentation at Disney's D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Dorothy McKim; Nathan Greno

D23 attendees were treated to an early pre-viz clip showing a beanstalk sprouting into the sky, as Jack, in red, climbs up. He soon discovers giants up there, and a huge female giant (presumably Inma) begins chasing after him. But later, the two are shown hanging out, with him on a strand of her hair. They also saw the first logo, which has the word "Gigantic" spelled out in big green letters with a beanstalk sprouting from

Those in the room also got to hear a bit of the first song from Gigantic, as sung live by Lopez and Anderson-Lopez. The song occurs after Inma finds Jack in her room, to her delight. He struggles to explain that he's a man, and she sings:

I love my little man, I love my little man, you can make him do this, you can make him do this.

You can wash him in a dish, be care he gets ticklish, my teeny little man.

In a life that's kind of lonely, I thought if only, I had a little man.

/Film's Peter Sciretta described the moment as "not magical, but fun" — not quite on the level of Idina Menzel's performance of "Let It Go" at D23 in a previous year. Still, we'd be fools to bet against Disney in general, and Anderson-Lopez and Lopez in particular, at this point.

Gigantic hits theaters in 2018. Here's the official press release from Disney:

"GIGANTIC" TAKES ROOT – Things are looking up at Walt Disney Animation Studios – way up. "Gigantic," Disney's unique take on "Jack and the Beanstalk," will feature music from Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who greeted D23 EXPO fans in signature style—in song—alongside director Nathan Greno ("Tangled") and producer Dorothy McKim ("Get A Horse!"). Set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, Disney's "Gigantic" follows adventure-seeker Jack as he discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds. He hatches a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl, and agrees to help her find her way home. But he doesn't account for her super-sized personality—and who knew giants were so down to earth? "Gigantic" hits theaters in 2018.

DOWN TO EARTH — Adventure-seeker Jack discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds, hatching a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl. Directed by Nathan Greno ("Tangled") and produced by Dorothy McKim ("Get A Horse!"), "Gigantic" hits U.S. theaters in 2018.