Christian Ziebarth Author Archive
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Spotlight on Chinese Animation

“They already make most of the toys, holiday decorations, and household items sold in America, in addition to holding most of our debt. Think China is just content to be regarded as the place you go for cheap animation outsourcing? Think again!” o-meon covers almost 2000 years of Chinese animation and aims to show the […]

Newport Beach Film Festival announces the "Chuck Jones Award"

“The Newport Beach Film Festival and the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity announced today the first ever ‘Chuck Jones Award for Excellence in Animation’ to be presented at the 2008 Festival. Named after the legendary animation director, the inaugural award will be given each year to an individual or group who best exemplifies artistic achievement […]

All three Toy Story movies to get the 3D treatment

Toon Zone reports that all three of Pixar’s Toy Story movies will be getting the 3D treatment with the first one being released to theaters in October 2009, the second one in in February 2010, and the third one, presumably receiving a simultaneous traditional and 3D release on June 18, 2010.

Pirate Bunnies

The complete Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy can now be seen in less than two minutes and re-enacted by animator Jennifer Shiman’s bunnies by watching parts 1 and 2 here and part 3 here.

101 Dalmatians run loose at the El Capitan

From now until January 30, Disney’s El Capitan Theatre is screening One Hundred and One Dalmatians leading up to its Platinum Edition DVD release on March 4. The new Goofy short How to Hook Up Your Home Theater accompanies the classic film. Read on for pictures from the opening night which featured a panel moderated […]

Shrek the Musical World Premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre

“DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. have announced that Shrek the Musical will play an exclusive world premiere engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, August 14th to September 21st, prior to opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2008. Preview performances will begin in early November at a theater to be announced.” […]

Animation Mentor Celebrates Graduates with Pete Docter

Last Saturday Pixar’s Pete Docter delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of Animation Mentor, “the online animation school by animators for animators” (see our prior writeup). The following press release summarizes his inspirational remarks:

Toy Story takes to the stage

Animation World Network reports that Pixar’s hit Toy Story will be adapted for the stage for audiences traveling on the Disney Wonder cruise ship. “Following the storyline of the original film, Toy Story – The Musical will give the audience a toy’s-eye view of life in Andy’s room, exploring the true meaning of friendship as […]

Israel loves animation

According to Variety, animated movies are big in Israel filling up six slots in their list of the top ten grossing movies at the box office for 2007 with Ratatouille and Shrek the Third topping the list and Bee Movie showing up as well.

Character Animation Panel Discussion

On Saturday, January 19th, a panel discussion devoted to character animationespecially as it relates to advancing animation technology will be held at the Ince Theater at Sony Pictures Imageworks. The panel will be moderated by Frank Gladstone and will include important guest panelists from several animation studios. More details follow:

Chatting with The Chestnut Tree Creators

Over on our Animated Views side we have an interview with Hyun-Min Lee and Bert and Jennifer Klein regarding their new short, The Chestnut Tree, which has just garnered two Annie Awards nominations. This touching short subject film was executive produced by Don Hahn with further assistance rendered by Eric Goldberg. Check it out for […]

Chatting with The Chestnut Tree Creators

With her film The Chestnut Tree nominated for the 35th Annie Awards, Animated Views speaks to the film’s creator Hyun-Min Lee and colleagues Jennifer Cardon Klein and Bert Klein.

Get Goofy

Just a reminder that the new Goofy short, How to Hook Up Your Home Theater, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios debuts today with Disney’s live action film National Treasure: Book of Secrets (look in How to Hook Up Your Home Theater for very quick cameos of the likenesses of Walt Disney and John Lasseter). […]

Wall-E at the box office

Those planning on catching a flick at the AMC Theater at Downtown Disney in Anaheim soon will likely be able to see a large model of Pixar’s Wall•E inside the box office. The model may be on display at other theaters as well. A sneak peek can be seen here:

Who revived Roger Rabbit?

The MTV Movies Blog reveals that producer Frank Marshall is once again considering a sequel to 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit? “Nearly twenty years after Roger Rabbit first exploded onto the big screen, producer Frank Marshall told MTV News that he’s still ‘open’ to the possibility of another film, derailed in the mid-90s because of […]

NBFF Volcom Call for Teen Film Entries Press Release

The Newport Beach Film Festival is proud to announce Call for Entries (including animated entries) for its 2008 Youth Film Showcase presented by Volcom. The full press release follows:

Mickey of the desert

Yahoo! Video has two recent animation-related segments worth pointing out. The first is rare video footage of a Mongolian rodent known as the “Mickey Mouse of the desert,” while the second discusses new animation produced by Delta Airlines to convey principles of airline etiquette to its passengers.

Madagascar penguins get TV series

Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation have just announced a new television series starring the penguins from the Madagascar CGI-animated film series. The full press release follows:

Prince Caspian trailer

The first Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian trailer has just premiered at Narniaweb.com and Narniafans.com.

Snow White 70th Anniversary Event: Part III

Concluding our coverage of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 70th Anniversary Event held recently at Disney’s California Adventure theme park we present eight images from the “Fairest One of All” art exhibit showcased in the Animation Building and featuring concept art, background paintings, storyboards, and reproduced movie cels from Walt Disney’s pioneering animated […]

Shrek the Halls premieres tonight

Break out some egg nog and light up the Yuletide log as Shrek the Halls premieres tonight on the ABC network. Taking place chronologically after Shrek the Third and before Shrek Goes Fourth, Shrek the Halls tells the tale of one year’s Christmas in a swamp not too far away from the land of Far […]

Snow White 70th Anniversary Event: Part II

In the second installment of our coverage of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 70th Anniversary Event held recently at Disney’s California Adventure theme park we have photos from the soiree at which Snow White fans could mingle and associate, enjoy candied “poison” apples, have their pictures taken with Snow White walkaround characters, and […]

[AN&V Exclusive!] Bolt poster image

The Animation Building at Disney’s California Adventure theme park now has a display for Bolt, previously known as American Dog. Directed by Chris Williams, the computer animated project is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ offering for 2008. A photo of the teaser display can be seen here:

Snow White 70th Anniversary Event: Part I

Last Friday evening, the Walt Disney Studios held a 70th Anniversary event for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) theme park in Anaheim, CA. The event featured a panel discussion with prominent Disney guests such as Roy Disney, Marge Champion, Glen Keane and John Lasseter, an art exhibit, and a […]

Ratatouille Bonus Disc Grab Bag #2

We’re back with more stills from the Ratatouille bonus disc only available from Target. In this second and final installment we present six screen grabs from the deleted “Heist/Fantasy” scene and two from the “Remy’s Incredible But Edible” feature, which collects all the Disney Channel bumpers shown around the time of the theatrical release of […]

Ratatouille Bonus Disc Grab Bag #1

For those who don’t own Ratatouille keep in mind that mega-retailer Target is selling the DVD with a bonus disc of extra features not found elsewhere. Following are the bonus disc’s menu screen, four screen grabs from the “Character Profiles” feature (Brad Bird personally discusses each main character) and three from the “Progression Reel: Rapids” […]

Report from Seattle's 2D Or Not 2D Animation Festival

Over at Pencil Lines, the blog dedicated to the recent Seattle 2D Or Not 2D Animation Festival, Tony reports on numerous presentations that were given, including ones related to Ratatouille, The Chestnut Tree (which won a Golden Pencil Award), Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Lorenzo, and more, as well as presenting an outlook for the future […]

Cars/Ratatouille Blu-Ray DVD Event

Over at o-meon, Chuck Oberleitner tells about his experience at the recent Cars/Ratatouille Blu-Ray DVD Event held last Tuesday night in Hollywood and hosted by Walt Disney Home Entertainment, including his encounter with Brad Bird as well as an in-depth look at the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD battles. More photos from the event can be found at the […]

Kung Fu Panda teaser trailer

Following are links in various video formats to the new Kung Fu Panda teaser trailer, the next animated feature in the pipeline from DreamWorks Animation. Also, be sure to check out the movie’s official site at www.KungFuPanda.com.

Your Friend The Rat stills

The following are three stills from Your Friend The Rat, a short that will be available on the standard DVD as well as the Blu-Ray edition of Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille, both available November 6: