Month: October 2008

Jack's back! NB4X's Skellington returns for Halloween!

Nightmare Before Christmas and other spooky Halloween discs reviewed!

The Nightmare Before Christmas: 15th Anniversary Collector’s Edition

Tim Burton’s brilliant and original stop-motion feature gets the deluxe treatment on DVD and Blu-ray, in a wonderful set echoing the awesome achievement of the previous LaserDisc box!

Disney movie roundup

In Disney theatrical and home release animated movie news Animation World Network reports that Glago’s Guest (see our prior coverage) will now not be screening in front of Bolt, reminiscent of when How to Hook Up Your Home Theater ended up not screening with Enchanted as expected but ended up paired a few months later […]

You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Remastered Deluxe Edition

This Peanuts TV special may not be the most famous Charlie Brown story, but it is just as good as many of the other great specials of the 1960s and 1970s.

Casper and Wendy’s Ghostly Adventures

Casper and Wendy’s Ghostly Adventures comes with fourteen different adventures. While the title includes Wendy’s name, this is really Casper’s collection. The DVD spans eleven years between 1951 and 1962, although the fourteen cartoons are not in chronological order. However, they can be categorized into three different themes: Casper looking for a friend, Casper and Friends (the story usually focusing on the friends rather than on Casper), and Casper’s adventures (although usually still looking for a friend).

Go, Speed Racer, go! Plus new discs and Iron Man 2, 3 and more!

The Wachowskis’ Speed Racer reviewed, plus new discs and details on Iron Man 2 and – finally – Marvel’s Avengers movie!

Speed Racer: Widescreen Edition

The Matrix‘s Wachowski Brothers are back with a brightly colored antidote to all that doom and gloom, and it’s a surprisingly intelligent and entertaining adventure for all the family!

Coraline interviews

ComingSoon has an exclusive interview with Travis Knight and Herny Selick, both of whom played a large role in bringing the big-screen adaption of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline to life. The in-depth article also includes descriptions of several scenes from the stop-motion film, which are received extremely positively by the sneak peak’s author. Coraline opens in […]

Ed Asner talks Up

UpcomingPixar shares a link to an interview with the Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner who voices the main character, Carl Fredricksen, in Pixar’s upcoming feature Up. Direct link to the interview can be found here. Up, a fable about a flying house, is slated to open in May 2009.

Ninja Scroll to get a live-action makeover

Variety reports that Warner Bros. has acquired rights to turn Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s anime classic Ninja Scroll into a live action feature. The film will be produced by Appian Way as a co-production with Mad House. Alex Tse, whose recent credits include Watchmen and The Illustrated Man, has been set to write the script.

Looney Tunes and Jack Frost on DVD!

Rankin/Bass’ Jack Frost reviewed, plus a chance to win one of the Looney Tunes‘ latest DVD collections!

Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 6 – Winner!

Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Volume 6 on DVD – Winner Announced!

Waltz with Bashir to represent Israel at Oscars

Waltz with Bashir, Ari Folman’s critically acclaimed animated documentary about the 1982 Lebanon War, will be Israel’s official entry in the Foreign Language Film category for the 81st Academy Awards. Based on a true story, the film is a quest into the director’s memory for the missing pieces from the days of the Lebanon War […]

New Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa featurette

AWNtv hosts a behind-the scenes featurette Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa – Jungle 2 Plain wherein the production team from DreamWorks’ upcoming animated feature Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa discuss the environments used in the film. The film hits theaters and IMAX on November 7.

Ponyo on the Cliff opens Cinekid Festival

GhibliWorld reports that Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated feature Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea was the opening film at Cinekid Festival which takes place from October 19 till 26 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Ponyo will screen in competition section contending for a Cinekid Lion.

Wall-E wins best original song

According to HollywoodReporter, “Down to Earth,” from Pixar’s Wall-E, by Thomas Newman and Peter Gabriel, was named best original song written directly for a film, at the World Soundtrack Awards 2008. Other winners include James Newton Howard who was named film composer of the year for his scores to Charlie Wilson’s War, Michael Clayton and […]

Jack Frost: Deluxe Edition

Rankin/Bass’ seasonal adventure is among the better of their late 1970s output, with some nice touches and a fine presentation on this otherwise barebones re-issue.

My nose ain't that big! Does Pinocchio's Platinum ring true or false?

No sooner than one is out than the next one comes along! Despite my listing some new disc announcements yesterday, I went and forgot the biggest one of all, already the talk of many discussion boards – including our own AN&V Forum. So, in the interests of keeping my schnoz the same size as it’s […]

Let's start the week off with some new announcements…

Charlie Brown documentary reviewed, new disc announcements, plus behind the scenes of DisneyToon Studios!

DisneyToon Studios and The Sequels That Never Were, with Tod Carter

Jeremie Noyer speaks to story artist Tod Carter about his involvement with DisneyToon Studios and a couple of projects that never made it to screens…

The Chestnut Tree gets internet debut

Now showing in the YouTube Screening Room is Hyun-Min Lee’s Annie-nominated short, The Chestnut Tree. This small, personal project has been worked on by some big names in the animation world, including Jennifer and Bert Klein, Eric and Susan Goldberg, and Don Hahn (remember his panel is tonight). Click here to read our Animated Views […]

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Documentary)

This documentary was made for television in 1963. Though it has never aired, it did bring together Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, and Vince Guaraldi, leading to a partnership that would produce many wonderful TV specials. This special DVD is a wonderful gem for Peanuts fans.

Oliver & Company special edition DVD in February

UltimateDisney reports that Walt Disney Home Entertainment has announced a special edition dvd release of Oliver & Company for February 3, 2009. The re-release will feature an all-new game and extras from the film’s 2002 debut, which include “The Making of Oliver & Company”, “Return Of A Classic”, Academy Award winning animated short “Lend A […]

New Bolt clip

Apple has made available an exclusive clip from Disney’s upcoming animated feature Bolt. Directed by Chris Williams, Bolt opens in theatres on November 21, 2008.

Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition DVD in March

DVDTimes reports that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment have announced the release of Pinocchio : 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition on 10th March, 2009. Disney’s second animated feature will be made available for a limited time on a 2-disc dvd and a Blu-Ray disc. Extras on the dvd set will include “an all-new audio commentary with […]

Upcoming DCA changes rooted in early Disney animation

Laughing Place has a new feature showcasing pictures and video from the new Walt Disney Imagineering: Blue Sky Cellar building at Disney’s California Adventure which opens to the public on October 20 and will give guests a sneak peek at new and revamped attractions at the second Anaheim Disney-themed park. New attractions will be a […]

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa stills

Following are five new images from DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which is due out on November 7.

BYU animation program piques Pixar's curiosity

The BYU Magazine online has a piece about the school’s animation program and the interest Pixar personnel have taken in it. “Over the years, Pixar has worked with a lot of universities around the country,” says Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios president Ed Catmull. “One of the interesting things is that, all of a […]

Sito interviews Goldberg

Master animator Eric Goldberg has spoken with Animated News and Views on a number of occasions but he has more tales to tell. Animation World Magazine has posted an interview with Goldberg conducted by Eric’s longtime friend Tom Sito. The interview fills in gaps hitherto unmentioned in Goldberg’s storied career. touching on work for Disney’s, […]

Toy Story meets The Dark Knight

A mash-up of Pixar’s Toy Story and the recent Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight has made its way on the internet and can be watched here.