According to the Internet Movie Database, “Phil Collins is refusing Disney’s request to campaign for an Oscar for his Brother Bear film score – and won’t even vote for his own songs. Collins, who secured a Best Song Academy Award in 2000 for Disney’s Tarzan, has been asked by the studio to fly to Los […]

As Video Premiere Awards reports, 101 Dalmations II: Patch’s London Adventure was the top dog at last night’s DVD Exclusive Awards, taking home five awards, including “Best Animated DVD Premiere Movie.” Finding Nemo won three awards, while Bioncle: Mask of Light – The Movie was rewarded for “Best Visual Effects in a DVD Premiere Movie.” […]

In what is possibly the fastest theatrical-to-television turnaround ever, Sylvain Chomet’s Les Triplettes De Belleville (or in the UK, {{link http://www.bellevillerendezvous.com/ Belleville Rendezvous}}) will be shown on the BBC (who part funded the film) as part of their New Year’s Eve programming. Belleville, which is screening on BBC2 at 2.30pm, was premiered this year at […]

{{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83069.html Playbill}} reports that Disney Theatricals “is currently in the process of putting together a production featuring songs from the Disney canon. Tentatively titled \\On the Record\\, the new musical would feature songs from classic Disney films as well as Disney’s Broadway outings”. The revue will probably be a traveling show and may play […]

The forum at the Big Cartoon DataBase reports that The Walt Disney Company has decided to keep Michael Eisner in his position as CEO despite protests from Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold. Oddly enough, the decision seems to be based primarily on stock value when one of Roy Disney’s complaints was that the company […]

Ray Pointer, who runs the wonderful resource for older American animation, {{link http://www.inkwellimagesink.com/ Inkwell Images}}, is finally taking pre-orders for his wide collection of silent Disney and Fleischer cartoon libraries on DVD! Previously, only the Max Fleischer {{link http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000096JHT/002-1902555-2863210?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3P5SIVJ8BIHBW&colid=23OUJ19G09P91 Out Of The Inkwell}} disc was available, being a combination of Volumes One and Two from […]

The Associated Press reports (via {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&ncid=493&e=3&u=/ap/20031202/ap_en_mo/winnie_the_pooh_lawsuit Yahoo! News}}) that “the holders of the North American rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters have hired celebrity attorney Johnnie Cochran to represent them in their 12-year legal fight with The Walt Disney Co.”. In this long-standing saga the heirs of Stephen Slesinger claim Disney owes millions […]

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney2dec02,1,6942175.story?coll=la-home-headlines The L.A. Times}}\\ sat down for an interview with now former Disney board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold. While the two “stopped short of saying they would call for a shareholder vote to remove Eisner” they did say they would “‘educate the owners of the company’ about its deteriorating performance under Eisner […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=15748 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports on Disney’s official response to the departure of Disney and Gold. In its statement the board said that Gold’s remarks were “untrue and unwarranted allegations about the Company and the Board. As he has done repeatedly in the past, Mr. Gold in his letter persists in characterizing the […]

Jim Hill Media looks into the Michael Eisner / Roy Disney split at Disney in two articles today. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12022003.1.htm~contentFrame In the first}} Jim looks at how Steve Jobs, John Lasseter, and Pixar may be the key to determining how things will sort out at Disney. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/wsampson.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame In the second}}, Wade Sampson asks the […]

Also at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/hackney.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame JHM}} is the first of three articles by Drew Hackney on the live stage version of \\The Hunchback of Notre Dame\\. In this installment we learn why the show made its premiere in Berlin, Germany instead of the United States or even the setting of the book Paris, France.

{{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32653&CT=38 Broadway.com}} passes on a \\Variety\\ report that the cast for the \\Mary Poppins\\ musical is being fleshed out. Two-time Olivier Award winner Alex Jennings and two-time Olivier Award winner Janie Dee have been offered the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000358.html we reported}} earlier this week, Laura Michelle Kelly will […]

{{link http://www.fabulousdisneybabe.com/fab/articles/showArticles.asp?ID=43 FabulousDisneyBabe.com}} reports that a source has informed them that Wal-Mart “has made a very nice offer for the ailing chain, and that barring disaster, the Mouse will say yes”.

{{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16604 Ain’t It Cool News}} has the scoop on what may be confirmation of a long whispered rumor. Pixar creating traditional hand-drawn animated movies after Disney and DreamWorks say the format is dead? Possibly! “The word is that Pixar is starting their own 2D Animation Division. A company that will use the Pixar brand… […]

Filmax’s feature El Cid, La Leyenda will hit theaters in Spain this month. The movie is based on the life of 11th century adventurer Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid, and narrates Rodrigo’s royal upbringing, his unjust exile and his quest to receive the King’s pardon. Entirely produced by Barcelona based Filmax […]

The Internet Movie Poster Awards has four new posters from Disney’s The Haunted Mansion.

After Roy Disney’s resignation yesterday (his resignation letter is online {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000366.html here}}), fellow board member and Eisner critic Stanley Gold has followed suit. Stanley Gold’s resignation letter: December 1, 2003 To the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company: It is with regret that I resign effective immediately from the Board of Directors […]

Box Office Mojo reports that Sylvain Chomet’s feature has earned an estimate $114,600 during the Thanksgiving weekend in the six theaters where it opened, for a total gross of $150,400 since opening. This averages to $19,100 per theater, better than the $7,370 average of the top movie this weekend: The Cat in the Hat. Way […]

The Associated Press reports (via \\{{link http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/7383215.htm The Miami Herald}}\\) on the first response from someone at the Walt Disney Company to Roy Disney’s resignation. Presiding director of the board (and former U.S. Senator) George Mitchell said “The Governance and Nominating Committee recently informed Mr. Disney of its judgment that the mandatory age limits of […]

Most people would probably agree that the three greatest newspaper comic strip artists from around 1980 to the present would be Berkeley Breathed, Gary Larson, and Bill Watterson. All had their own unique style and sense of humor. And all retired at the top of their game in the mid-1990’s. As we reported {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000320.html […]

Could Roy Disney’s attack on Eisner actually keep the CEO and Chairman of the Walt Disney Company around even longer? {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12012003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} reports that most of the members of the Disney Board had already come to the conclusion that “Michael Eisner’s top priority wasn’t running the Walt Disney Company anymore. But – […]

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1838 Animation Magazine}} reports that Sock Puppet Studio and Intec Interactive are releasing several Marvel comics in a digital DVD version. “Each digital book is comprised of an entire Marvel graphic novel augmented by animation and special effects. More than 100 minutes of animation is included on each disc. There are also extra features […]

According to a {{link http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=112946 Vanguard Animation press release}}: Ewan McGregor, star of \\Moulin Rouge\\ and \\Star Wars\\, will voice the title character in Vanguard Animation’s CG animated feature film \\Valient\\. The animated comedy tells the story of a lowly wood pigeon named Valiant, who overcomes his small size to become a hero in Great […]

It might seem a little jarring to go from the very serious news of Roy Disney’s resignation to news about the flatulence of a cartoon warthog, but a post by “Kervanna” at the Kiara’s Sahifa Message Board reveals that the “Hot Tub” trailer mentioned at the official Lion King 1½ site is included on the […]

November 30, 2003 Mr. Michael D. Eisner, Chairman The Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521 Dear Michael: It is with deep sadness and regret that I send you this letter of resignation from the Walt Disney Company, both as Chairman of the Feature Animation Division and as Vice Chairman of […]

{{link http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm The Drudge Report}} is reporting a \\{{link http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107022298535883000,00.html?mod=home_whats_news_us Wall Street Journal}}\\ story (paid subscription required for WSJ link) that claims Roy Disney submitted his resignation from Walt Disney’s company board and his chairmanship of Disney feature animation on Sunday and called for Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner to do the same. Disney sent […]

New Zealand based {{link http://fun.mukpuddy.com Mukpuddy Animation}} has relaunched their website making it a lot faster, and a lot easier to navigate. They have also finished work on their first fully 2D animated music video, available to view on the site.

Up to the minute DVD info page {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/ The Digital Bits}} are usually first online with the latest disc rumors, and if not first, they’ll be able to confirm or deny reports based on their close association with the main Studios. Now, in the always entertaining {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/barriemaxwell/maxwell112803.html Coming Classic Attractions}} column, writer Barrie […]

The {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/index.php? Toon Zone Forums}} today report on a couple of stories that just appeared at {{link http://www.nytimes.com/ The New York Times.com}}. The first, {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=95782 Studios Sue To End Screener Ban}} looks at the ongoing concern that the MPAA DVD screener ban imposed on the studios to help crack down on piracy will […]

An extended trailer for the upcoming sequel to Ghost in the Shell is now available online from {{link http://catsuka.com/ Catsuka.com}} (direct link). This amazing six minute clip showcases the incredible integration of CG and traditional animation achieved by director Mamoru Oshii and rises the hopes for this much anticipated feature. The trailer sports the film’s […]