Lots of Info on Upcoming Pixar Films; Bob Peterson Taking on Dinosaurs, Pete Docter’s Film Set Inside the Mind and Possibly Scripted by Michael Arndt

Earlier today, we reported that Pixar had announced the release dates and directors of their upcoming films through 2014. This featured the triumphant return of Up and Monsters Inc. director Pete Docter and Up co-director Bob Peterson’s first feature flying solo. We now have more information on the original two flicks thanks to the Pixar presentation at Disney’s D23 Expo this afternoon.
Peterson’s film will be a contemporary-set pic featuring dinosaurs. The premise assumes that the storied asteroid missed Earth all those millions of years ago, and dinosaurs are now a part of everyday life. Docter’s film is a bit more cerebral, as it takes place “within the mind.” Hit the jump for more information, including the official loglines of each and the possibility of Toy Story 3 scribe Michael Arndt working on Docter’s pic.
Peterson will be directing his untitled film with the help of producer John Walker (The Incredibles), and the flick is set for a November 27^th, 2013 release. Here’s the official logline:

What if the cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? This hilarious, heartfelt and original tale is directed by Bob Peterson (co-director/writer, “Up;” writer, “Finding Nemo”) and produced by John Walker (“The Incredibles,” “The Iron Giant”).

The film has apparently been in the works for a while, as back in 2009 some concept art featuring a boy and a dinosaur was spotted at Pixar while doing interviews for Up. That image can be seen here:

And here’s an image from the presentation today, which features a temporary logo:

Docter’s film is being produced by Jonas Rivera (Up), and is set for release on May 20^th, 2014. The official logline for the human mind-set flick is as follows:

Pixar takes audiences on incredible journeys into extraordinary worlds: from the darkest depths of the ocean to the top of the tepui mountains in South America; from the fictional metropolis of Monstropolis to a futuristic fantasy of outer space. From director Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and producer Jonas Rivera (“Up”), the inventive new film will take you to a place that everyone knows, but no one has ever seen: the world inside the human mind.

While that vague logline is hardly satisfying, The Playlist may have dug up some more details on the project. They’re reporting that screenwriter Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) is penning the script, and they say the film is actually about the formation of ideas. Their source calls the flick “wildly ambitious,” so it sure sounds like Docter’s got some big ideas (zing!) up his sleeve.
The news of these two new original films is definitely refreshing after the disappointment of Cars 2. The studio also has Monsters University coming down the pipeline, but I’m more hopeful for that film than I was for the Cars follow-up because I actually enjoyed the first entry. Everything we’ve seen from next year’s Pixar film Brave has been fantastic, and it sure sounds like audiences will be wowed with these two exciting concepts from two truly talented directors.
Along with the synopses for these two new projects, Pixar also unveiled a new synopsis for Brave, which I’ll leave you with. The film opens June 22^nd, 2012:

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.
Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.