' WISH ' -DISNEY'S MAGIC- WAND : 100 YEARS HONOURS

LOS ANGELES : 'Wish' commemorates Disney's magic. New animated film marks 100 years of studio.

Wish, the new animated musical movie marking Walt Disney's 100th anniversary, reaches back to its modest beginnings to inspire future generations.

The lavish folk tale draws from the song WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR from the 1940 cartoon film Pinocchio, about a puppet wishing to become a real boy.

The ''power and importance of wishing'' is key to storytelling, magic and possibility in the studio, said  Walt Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee, who wrote the new film, in an interview.

'' A simple word....... unlocked a complex story from such a simple idea that's at the heart of itself, '' said Lee who wrote and directed Disney's  Frozen.

In Wish, which opens in Theaters on November 22, 17-year-old Asha makes a passionate plea to the stars after she senses a darkness in the kingdom of Rosas. A magical star responds and helps her challenge the powerful King Magnifico, a sorcerer.

Actor Chris Pine, who provides Magnifico's voice, said he was moved by '' the elegant way of celebrating the 100-year anniversary by making a film that's all about probably the most iconographic part of the Disney brand, which is When You Wish Upon a Star.''

''So, to make a movie where one of the stars is that star, we're talking about dreams, dreams that are personified by these stars, I think is really beautiful,'' Pine added.

'' It's just the Disney DNA,'' said Ariana DeBose, who lends her voice to Asha.

''Not just to wish, but usually to sing to their hearts' desire. and so I think it's important to this movie obviously. I think it will be important to many Disney movies in the future too.'' [ Reuters ]