The Guardian newspaper in the UK reports on the “marketing alliance” of the Fox Kids and Toon Disney channels to create a new kids TV brand, to be named Jetix. Fox Kids Europe, which was sold to Disney two years ago, will be totally re-designed as Jetix, while Jetix branded program blocks will also play […]

Big Idea’s official website has the animation studio’s 2004 slate.

In somewhat-animated news, DVD Answers has the DVD artwork and specs for last November’s The Cat In The Hat, coming to video and DVD on March 16th.

{{link http://www.animationinsider.net/ Animation Insider’s}} {{link http://teentitans.aifandom.com/source/00indexanimated.html Teen Titans page }} has full coverage of the upcoming season including news, interviews, and episode guides.

From {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/01092004.1.htm Jim Hill Media}}: “As the deadline for the official announcement draws ever nearer, JH tries to pin down the exact moment that Mouse House managers lost their enthusiasm for Feature Animation-Florida; he seems to think that it had something to do with Lion King II“. Plus Hill’s thoughts on the new Legacy […]

LucasFilm’s next batch of Star Wars: Clone Wars is on the way, reports the {{link http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/15282.htm New York Post}}. Following the first series, which debuted last November, the ten new episodes, each again between three and five minutes long, are slated to begin on March 26 on the Cartoon Network.

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=99221 Toon Zone}} points towards the first English-language review of El Cid: The Legend, a $9 million animated feature produced in Spain by Filmax Animation, that has appeared at {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1941&ncid=2020&e=3&u=/variety/20040105/va_fi_re/el_cid__the_legend__el_cid__la_leyenda Variety}} (via Yahoo). Jonathan Holland calls the film “engaging, if unadventurous, [it] succeeds as lighthearted kids’ entertainment, but refuses to break through into […]

The adventurous junior investigative reporter Tintin is celebrating his 75th year, with a series of strips to be printed in newspapers across his native Belgium and France, according to {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&ncid=493&e=1&u=/ap/20040108/ap_en_mo/belgium_tintin Yahoo News}}. He’s also the face on {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040108/481/bru10401081829 two new Euro coins}}, reports the Associated Press.

The {{link http://www.caltradereport.com/eWebPages/page-two-1073607565.html CalTrade Report}} mentions that DreamWorks will outsource “computer-generated animation services, including modelling, character animation, lighting effects, compositing, and rendering” for their upcoming CG television comedy show Father Of The Pride, to Hong Kong-based company Imagi. Thanks to {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=99146 Toon Zone}} for the link.

Start your own studio like these ex-Disney animators did. Legacy Animation will open it’s doors this month to continue the tradition of 2d Disney style animation. These people have a lot of talent to work from as this article shows at Animation Artist. It’s a shame the ex-Big Ideaers couldn’t have done the same, a […]

The {{link http://www.lafca.org/Home/News/2003_lafca_awards_winners.html Los Angeles Film Critics Association}} announced their annual awards today. \\The Triplets of Belleville\\ edged out \\Finding Nemo\\ in the Best Animation category. \\Triplets\\ also picked up the prize for Best Music Score. A Special Citation was awarded to \\Destino\\, the Walt Disney/Salvador Dali short film started in 1946 and only recently […]

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney7jan07,1,4316157.story The L.A. Times}}\\ reports that Disney may be taking some of Roy Disney and Stanley Gold’s complaints to heart. The “board of directors, which has come under fire for being too close to management, took another step Tuesday to strengthen its corporate governance guidelines. The changes include adopting a new code of conduct […]

Finding Nemo swam it’s way to being the “World’s Largest Grossing Animated Film” ever in unadjusted dollars and it looks to swim past Star Wars within the next few months to enter the top 10. This according to Box Office Mojo. But in Adjusted Dollars, Star Wars is #2 with over a billion dollars worth […]

Our ever-lovable, dippy dog friend Goofy is only supposed to suffer mishaps in cartoons, not in real life. But, in a WFTV “News of the Strange” article pointed out by Mice Age, we find that a human, Eric Ford, onboard a Disney cruise ship suffered debilitating back injuries while playing the character three years ago […]

The ever ubiquitous Jim Hill Media updates with three great articles of interest to all animation and Disney fans. First off is their latest update on the Florida Disney situation, with actual WDFA-F artists writing in to give their viewpoints on the whole situation (which makes the whole Disney corporate machine appear rather Dilbert-esque). Seems […]

\\Animation Magazine\\ reports changes are taking place at the top of two networks with toon-heavy content. [paid subscription required for Animation magazine] The {{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1943 first report}} states that Cyma Zarghami, who has been with the network for 18 years, has been promoted to president of Nickelodeon Television. “Zarghami, who recently oversaw the wildly successful […]

C21 Media reveals, “DIC Entertainment’s president Andy Heywood is heading to Copenhagen next week to finalise a deal that will bring a new animated series based on The Trolls characters to television screens around the world. Heywood will meet with the creator of The Trolls – which were popular characters in the 1970s – to […]

TV Guide interviews the cartoon icon in “Seven Silly Questions for Mickey Mouse.”

Jerry Beck at {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com Cartoon Research}} reviews \\Teacher’s Pet\\, the feature film based on the Disney animated series. Beck says “it’s a frantic, fast paced adventure” that is “certainly the best movie spun off from a Walt Disney Television Animation series – and perhaps the ‘cartooniest’ Disney release since \\The Three Caballeros\\”. The film […]

The Fabulous Disney Babe points out that Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold have commented on Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s recent speech and have posted their comments at their rallying site, SaveDisney.com (which has updated quite a bit itself recently, including some very insightful, prophetic quotes from Walt himself). Also read about what the SEIU […]

Jim Hill Media has a new article written by an anonymous Disney insider giving us a privileged view within the walls of the company. One of the main points is the possible long term benefits of the potential closure of Disney’s animation studio in Florida.

Laughing Place points out a link to a presentation by Michael Eisner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, given at the 14th Annual Smith Barney Citigroup Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference. “During the presentation Eisner supported his assertions that the Company’s turnaround is now underway. He announced record attendance at WDW […]

Famous French artist Jean Giraud, better known as Moebius, has realized a TV series based on his character Arzak. The first episode of Arzak Rhapsody premiered on France 2 last December. The series is comprised of 14 three-minute episodes that explore the fascinating world born out of Moebius’ fertile imagination. To discover what this series […]

Amid Amidi, who runs the great animation news and commentary site {{link http://www.animationblast.com/ Animation Blast}}, is taking pre-orders for the upcoming April print issue of the magazine. Hop on over to the {{link http://www.animationblast.com/inprint/ preview page}} for a look at what to expect in the 100-page, ad-free, packed edition. The run is limited to just […]

‘Dalboz’ on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=722#post722 Animated News Forum}} links to three new ads that push Finding Nemo in two categories for this year’s Academy Awards: {{link http://www.100megs24.com/~editor1/FYC/Buena_Vista/Finding_Nemo/nemo3.html Original Score}}, and {{link http://www.100megs24.com/~editor1/FYC/Buena_Vista/Finding_Nemo/nemo4.html Best Picture}}, as well as a “{{link http://www.100megs24.com/~editor1/FYC/Buena_Vista/Finding_Nemo/nemo5.html general}}” ad that pushes many other aspects of the film’s artistic merits. Thanks for the […]

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-predict28dec28,1,3852827.story The L.A. Times}}\\ has made some bold predictions for the entertainment industry in 2004. Some of the interesting ones include: – “The coming year will be the year that Disney finally gets serious about finding a successor to Chairman Michael Eisner”. \\The Times\\ says that one likely successor could be News Corp.’s chief […]

While Jim Hill {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/01062004.1.htm~contentFrame continues}} his spotlight of the WDFA – Florida situation, don’t miss {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/norman.01062004.1.htm~contentFrame Floyd Norman’s article}} on why what Disney needs right now is a “Crazy Man”!

According to {{link http://www.davisdvd.com/news/daily_news.html DavisDVD}}, \\Futurama: Volume 3\\ will be released on March 9th with a suggested retail price of $49.98. “The four-disc set will feature all twenty-two third season episodes in fullscreen and Dolby Digital Surround sound”. Check out the link for info on the bonus materials.

{{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9951 AWN}} reports that \\Finding Nemo\\ has made the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences short list for the Best Achievement in Sound Editing category. The other potential nominees include: \\Kill Bill: Vol. 1\\, \\The Last Samurai\\, \\The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King\\, \\Master And Commander: The Far Side […]

While it may not be packed with the kind of features to get more “mature” animation fans excited (where are directors Joe Dante and Eric Goldberg on a commentary track?), the WB have announced the specs for the March 2nd DVD release of Back In Action. Not too much to get in a fluff about, […]