‘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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

{{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 […]

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!

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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}}!

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 […]

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.