Month: October 2003

Bugs and Daffy in the digital age.

What happened to the days artist used a paint brush to fill in animation cells? I don’t know, but take a peek at Animation Artist‘s little tid bit about the Looney Tunes: Back In Action movie.

Home On The Range added to Disney's site

‘Guardstone’ over on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=224#post224 Animated News Forum}} alerted us to the fact that Home On The Range has been added to the Walt Disney Pictures slate on their official website. There’s no link to a teaser site yet, but keep an eye on that space!

A look back at a wonderful Nightmare!

It was ten years ago this weekend that audiences were first treated to Tim Burton’s amazing stop-motion animated film {{link http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/nightmare/intro.html The Nightmare Before Christmas}}, a magical tale that tells of what happens when Halloween meets Christmas! The big Disney holiday season feature offering was originally going to be King Of The Jungle, a small […]

\\The Lion King\\ DVD sales dwarf VHS sales

{{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=794&ncid=790&e=8&u=/eo/20031030/en_movies_eo/12815 E! Online}} reports that the Disney sold 3 million copies of \\The Lion King\\ in its first two days of release. Most surprising was the fact that DVDs accounted for 92% of initial sales, rare stats for a “children’s” title but a growing trend. The original VHS release remains the best selling video […]

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell . . . Kid Rock?

The forum at the Big Cartoon Database has a report on an upcoming animated segment featuring rapper/rocker/country artist Kid Rock and his version of the perennial yuletide favorite “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The segment will air December 14 on VH1 as part of A Kid Rock Christmas. No word yet on whether his girlfriend […]

From Limited to Unlimited: Disney's Treasure Chest Gets More Generous

The forum at the Big Cartoon Database has a report on a Disney box set that collects everything from the first two waves of the Walt Disney Treasures series and is allegedly showing up at Costco stores all over the country. The set is not in a nice numbered tin as the initial volumes were […]

Box Office Mojo's Brother Bear Prediction

Box Office Mojo predicts that Brother Bear will take second place at the box office with approximately 22 million.

Box Office Guru's Brother Bear Prediction

Concerning Brother Bear‘s performance at the box offce, Box Office Guru says, “Last year around this time, Disney released Treasure Planet, another 2D animated film, and it flopped pretty badly, opening to $12M and finishing with $38M. However, earlier during the summer, Disney released Lilo & Stitch which opened to $35.2M on its way to […]

FilmForce Reviews Finding Nemo DVD

In addition to calling Finding Nemo “Pixar’s best,” FilmForce gives the DVD an overall score of 9 out of 10 points.

Possible title for \\Ice Age\\ sequel

Fox has registered the web domains “{{link http://www.easywhois.com/index.php?domain=iceage2themeltdown.com&next.x=0&next.y=0 iceage2themeltdown.com}}” and “{{link http://www.easywhois.com/index.php?domain=iceage2themeltdownmovie.com&next.x=0&next.y=0 iceage2themeltdownmovie.com}}”. Could \\Ice Age 2: The Meltdown\\ be the title of the sequel? Thanks to MusicFan in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44 Animated News Forum}} for the scoop.

Genndy Tartakovsky leaving Cartoon Network for Lucasfilm Animation?

Amid Amidi of {{link http://www.animationblast.com/ Animation Blast}} has an unconfirmed rumor that Cartoon Network’s Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of \\Samurai Jack\\ and \\Dexter’s Lab\\, may be leaving to join the new Lucasfilm Animation divison we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000075.html reported}} about last week. “Genndy, of course, is also the director/producer of Cartoon Network’s highly touted forthcoming \\Star Wars: […]

Simpsons' Jokes Cause Fox to Nearly Sue… Itself

According to Yahoo! News, “Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News Channel threatened to sue the makers of The Simpsonsover a parody of the channel’s right-wing political stance, the creator of the hit US television show has claimed. According to [Matt] Groening, Fox took exception toward a Simpsons’ version of the Fox News rolling news ticker which parodied […]

Brother Bear Stars' Talk Show Appearances

In order to promote Brother Bear, Michael Clarke Duncan willl apear on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno tonight, while Phil Collins will sing a tune from Brother Bear on The Wayne Brady Show tomorrow.

Wood Talks About Feet

Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood tells Sci Fi Wire about Happy Feet, a new animated movie from director George Miller (Mad Max, Babe): “Wood describes Mumble as a penguin who can’t sing. ‘Basically, penguins in life and in the film can sing,’ he said. ‘We’ve used that idea, and so each penguin has […]

First review of Pirates of the Caribbean DVD

DVD Fanatic takes a first look at the upcoming DVD, due for a December 2 release.

Sony to Launch Animax Asia in January 2004

Based in Singapore, Animax Asia is a 24-hour network outside of Japan dedicated to popular anime from Japan. Animax was launched in Japan, June 1998 as a partnership between Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and four major anime studios including Toei Animation, Sunrise, TMS Entertainment, and Nihon Ad Systems. Animax Asia will be broadcast region-wide through […]

Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume One

Warners springs their classic characters to DVD in truly deluxe style, setting the scene for a hopefully continuing series of essential collectors’ editions.

Looney historian on two of Disney's legends

{{link http://www.michaelbarrier.com Michael Barrier}}, the author of {{link http://www.michaelbarrier.com/books.htm Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation In Its Golden Age}} and a commentary contributor to the new Looney Tunes DVD, offers up his interpretation of long-time Disney artist and imagineer John Hench’s book {{link http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Commentary/Hench/Hench.htm Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art Of The Show}}. Hench was also recently […]

Duck Dodgers producers Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone enter the Toon Zone

‘Maxie Zeus’ over at the {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?threadid=92932 Toon Zone Forums}} posted an interesting interview with Daffy Duck’s new producers and their challenge of living up to Chuck Jones’ classic Duck Dodgers In The 24 1/2 Century (itself “sequel-ized” in the 1970s follow-up Duck Dodgers And The Return Of The 24 1/2 Century). The new Duck […]

More on Brother Bear's "last hope" for 2D

Even though we all know Disney has a final trick up its sleeve with next year’s Home On The Range, there are still articles galore spreading the word that “2D is dead, and Brother Bear is the last of a dying breed” – despite the flood of quality hand-drawn animation coming from Europe! {{link http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-10-28-2d-animation_x.htm […]

DIC enhances international profile

Strawberry Shortcake, Madeline and the Super Duper Sumos are being prepared for an international marketing push by DIC Animation, according to a story at {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9491 Animation World Network}}. The company, a leader in the kids television animation field, has expanded its licensing and merchandising opportunities by signing up a number of top companies to […]

Looney Tunes Golden DVD Collection: Hit Or Miss?

Rushing around the web this morning is a story that originated at {{link http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-film-looney-tunes,0,4463883.story?coll=sns-ap-entertainment-headlines Newsday}}, which reported that some first day owners of the Looney Tunes Golden DVD Collection were disappointed by the lack of some of the cartoons included in the set. Even though the specs have been floating online for a few weeks […]

Nemo stays afloat overseas!

{{link http://uk.news.yahoo.com/031028/80/ecd91.html Yahoo News}} reports that Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo is still the number one catch to see at theaters in the UK – after three weeks! The movie has beaten out big hitters Kill Bill, Intolerable Cruelty (both Disney-released films) and The League Of Extraordinary Gentleman to remain at the top, with $36.9 million in […]

Back To The Original Haunted Mansion…

Wade Sampson joins {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/wsampson.10282003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} toady with the first part of a two part look back at Disney animator Ken Anderson’s contributions to the Studio’s history and his involvement in shaping the original Haunted Mansion. A very interesting read!

Disc Art for Alice: ME and Pirates

Ultimate Disney has a first look at the disc art for Alice in Wonderland: Masterpiece Edition and Pirates of the Caribbean. Take a look!

Another Release Date Change for Home on the Range?

Disney’s last traditionally animated film, Home on Range, may move on to greener pastures (a new release date) thanks in part to another film change. Touchstone Pictures’ The Alamo, which was suppose to open on Christmas Day, has been moved to April 2004 to allow the filmmakers more time to complete it. Since the film […]

Academy Award deadline nears

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has {{link http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2003/03.10.28.b.html announced}} that Monday, November 3, is the deadline for makers of eligible animated feature films to submit their entry forms and supporting materials to the Academy for Oscar consideration. Nominations will be announced on January 27, 2004. At least three but no more than […]

Digging Holes, Standing Guard: New Lion King 1½ Images

Thanks to Kristin we have some images from the song “Diggah Tunnah” (apparently meerkat-speak for “dig a tunnel”) from Disney’s upcoming “interquel” (“inbetweenquel?,” “whatawhoquel?”) The Lion King 1½ as seen on the new Brother Bear Sing Along Songs DVD, and the song is reported to have a rather infectious, Harry Belafonte twist to it. Follow […]

More on the Looney Tunes Golden DVD Collection – full review online!

Excited Warner Brothers fans can finally bring home the Looneys today and Animated News moderator Ben just posted an extensive review of the set’s extras over at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com DVD Toons.com}}. Get the low-down on the technical specs, the in-depth bonus material and whether it was worth the wait {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/241 right here}}!

A Note About The Brother Bear Soundtrack…

This is a bit late notice for several of you, but I just wanted to post an alert about the Brother Bear soundtrack, released a week ago. I’ve read a good bit of grumbling about how the CD doesn’t contain Phil Collins’ rendition of “Great Spirits” – just Tina Turner’s. Well, I happened to have […]