The all-powerful Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have each given their thumbs up to Disney’s Brother Bear. Ebert says it is not a great Disney movie but a very good one. How could you go wrong with “very good”? Roeper calls it a “sweet, little adventure story” with all the classic Disney story elements and […]

With today’s release of Sing-Along Songs: Brother Bear comes a special treat: the first chance to hear the new song from Lion King 1 1/2, “Digga Tunnah.”

Pull out those wallets and arm yourselves, DVD fans!! Today sees the release of some pretty big animated titles. Click “More” for all the details!

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/features/outdoors/la-os-disney28oct28,1,4433763.story The LA Times}}\\ takes an in-depth look at animals in animation. They explore what seem to be the two universal themes in these types of films: “nature is anemic” and “Man is bad”. [free registration required for \\ The LA Times\\]

{{link http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808406553&intl=us Greg’s Previews}} also has new information about the computer animated adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s award winning book \\Where the Wild Things Are\\. Spike Jonze has been brought on as director and has decided to switch from animation to live action. Screenwriter David Reynolds (\\The Emperor’s New Groove\\, \\Finding Nemo\\) will probably have his […]

{{link http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808406253 Greg’s Previews}} has an update on the independently produced computer animated film \\{{link http://www.moebiusstrip.net/index.html Thru the Moebius Strip}}\\. Based on a story and drawings by comic-book legend Jean “Moebius” Giraud, \\Thru the Moebius Strip\\ is about “physicist Simon Weir, who becomes lost and trapped in a space-time portal he created. Eight years later, […]

from {{link http://boxofficemojo.com/ Box Office Mojo}} 17 – \\Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl\\ $482,013 on 379 screens $301,243,790 in 16 weeks 18 – \\Finding Nemo\\ $435,507 on 404 screens $338,746,985 in 22 weeks 22 – \\Brother Bear\\ $291,940 on 2 screens $291,940 in 1 week

{{link http://www.davisdvd.com/news/daily_news.html DavisDVD}} has Universal Home Video’s early 2004 lineup, which includes \\An American Tail\\, \\An American Tail: Fievel Goes West\\, \\An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster\\, and \\An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island\\ on January 20th. Unforunately, if you were hoping for the two theatrically released movies to appear […]

According to some readers at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/10282003.1.htm Jim Hill’s website}}, a story we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000008.html mentioned}} on our first day may not be true. On October 15, {{link http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al101503b.htm Miceage.com}} reported that some last minute changes were forced on the animators of \\Brother Bear\\ by Disney executives. According to their report the “mountain that plays […]

Yahoo! News reports, “A proposed bullet train across central Florida will run directly to the Walt Disney World resort from Orlando International Airport, bypassing the taxpayer-funded Orange County Convention Center en route to Tampa, a state panel voted Monday. The Florida High Speed Rail Authority’s 7-1 decision ended a debate that has simmered since voters, […]

In an older but still interesting news item from Ain’t It Cool News, “Domon Kasshu” reports an interesting joke featured in Home On The Range‘s trailer: “Home On The Range will be Disney’s last traditionally animated feature, at least for now, and this one looks great, quirky in the same way that Emperor’s New Groove […]

According to Superhero Hype, “Lions Gate Entertainment said Monday that it agreed to acquire Artisan Entertainment, a private independent film producer and distributor, for $160 million cash, plus the assumption of debt. The proposed acquisition will create a company with more than 8,000 entertainment titles, the companies said.” Included in the 8,000 entertainment titles are […]

Check out CNN Money for an enthusiastic report on the financial success of Disney’s Brother Bear limited release last weekend before its wide release this weekend. In additon to selling well the film seems to be rated very highly by viewers at each of the two theaters, one in Los Angeles and one in New […]

\\The Complete Far Side\\, containing every one of Gary Larson’s \\The Far Side\\ single panel comics, {{link http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2003-10-20-far-side_x.htm was released}} last week. The hardcover, two volume set costs $135 and weighs 20 pounds! In its 14 year history, 4,000 individual \\The Far Side’s\\ appeared in 1,900 newspapers. It was often voted the reader’s favorite and […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=13391 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports that “after two years of preparation, filming of the first Wallace and Gromit feature movie will start in a few days”. \\Curse Of The Wererabbit\\, featuring the voices of Peter Sallis , Helena Bonham Carter, and Ralph Fiennes, is expected to be in production for 18 months with […]

{{link http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ Anime News Network}} reports that Hayao Miyazaki’s \\Howl’s Moving Castle\\ is set for its Japanese release on July 17, 2004. The Japanese release date for \\Ghost in the Shell: Innocence\\ was also annonced and is set for March 6, 2004.

{{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm Jim Hill Media}} is back this morning with another entertaining look at one of the Walt Disney World cast members-only party films; short movies made by and for the folks who have to put up with the heat inside those Disney character costumes, as well as obnoxious park guests. Check {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/10272003.1.htm~contentFrame this […]

Last week’s NPR interview with \\The Simpson’s\\ and \\Futurama\\ creator Matt Groening is now available on the {{link http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml?display=day&todayDate=10/23/2003 NPR website}} in Real or Windows Media formats.

{{link http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808405700 Greg’s Previews}} reports the rumor (first heard from {{link http://www.variety.com Variety}}) that Pixar is considering a slight name change for John Lasseter’s next film, \\Cars\\. The possibly renamed \\The Cars\\ is heading for a 2005 release.

The {{link http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ Ultimate Disney DVD}} fansite takes a look back at an almost forgotten Disney “Package Feature” from 1948, the anthology film Melody Time, in a {{link http://www.ultimatedisney.com/melodytime.html new review}} posted on the site. The Package Features were Walt’s way of continuing production during and after World War Two, when many foreign markets were […]

With previews out in LA and NY, {{link http://www.canoe.ca/JamMovies/oct26_collins-sun.html Jam Movies}} has a talk with the composer of Disney’s latest animated feature. In a fairly in-depth interview, Collins opens up about his creative process, writing for Disney films, as well as a take on his friend Sting’s troubled collaboration with the Studio on Kingdom Of […]

This being a rather slow news day, how about stopping over at {{link http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/waltdisney/index.html The Walt Disney Family Museum}}, a wonderful online resource for admirers of Walt himself, populated with memories of working and living with Walt from his many friends and family. “Founded in 1995, the Foundation strives to promote and produce serious discussion, […]

According to Box Office Mojo, Disney’s Brother Bear opened in New York and Los Angles with $285,000 based on Sunday estimates. Brother Bear opens nation-wide this Saturday, November 1st.

The famous animation historian John Canemaker will host a presentation of his new book The Art and Flair of Mary Blair on November 7th at LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Blair, a prolific and gifted designer/colorist, was one of the few woman artists to reach the top creative rungs at the Disney […]

{{link http://www.davisdvd.com/news/daily_news.html DavisDVD}} has Columbia TriStar’s January release slate, which includes (finally!) \\The Critic: The Entire Series\\ on the 27th. The show debuted in 1994, on ABC before being cancelled. It was picked up by FOX where it ran for another season (including a guest apperance by \\Critic\\ Jay Sherman on a crossover episode of […]

{{link http://www.billboard.com/bb/charts/videos/dvd.jsp \\Billboard\\ November 1, 2003 chart}}: 1 – \\The Lion King\\ (Platinum Edition) 10 – \\Sleeping Beauty\\

{{link http://www.billboard.com/bb/charts/videos/sales.jsp \\Billboard\\ November 1, 2003 chart}}: 1 – \\The Lion King\\ (Platinum Edition) 2 – \\Barbie of Swan Lake\\ 5 – \\Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico\\ 7 – \\Sleeping Beauty\\ 8 – \\Stitch! The Movie\\ 10 – \\Bionicle: Mask of Light\\

This week’s anime article on Ain’t It Cool News has some more coverage on Studio Ghibli DVDs in the works. In addition to Porco Rosso (which has been tenatively set for April 2004) and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Disney is also ironing out the kinks on the new English dub for Whispers […]

According to Box Office Mojo, Disney’s Brother Bear gathered $81,362 on its first day of release in New York and Los Angles on Friday. The film opens nation-wide on Saturday, November 1st.

{{link http://www.dvdfanatic.com/news.php?id=0310241 DVDFanatic.com}} reviews the direct to video \\Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman\\. The reviewer believes that “the story just isn’t compelling and the supporting cast doesn’t get to support anything”. However, he says, the “story was never the most compelling part of the Batman cartoon. It’s the look and this is where \\BMOTB\\ delivers. […]