Month: June 2004

\\Harry Potter\\ DVD release date

{{link http://videoeta.com/movie.html?via=form&id=53520 VideoETA}} reports that American muggles will be able to buy the \\Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban\\ DVD before Thanksgiving. The latest film in the \\Harry Potter\\ series, currently at #5 on the {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2004-06-29&p=.htm box office charts}}, will be available Tuesday, November 23, 2004.

More Curious Images

‘mr-dunn’ has posted on the Animation Nation forum a scan of a Curious George flyer from the Licensing Show, with new images from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment’s animated feature coming to theaters in November 2005. Click to have a look at the full flyer here, which also announces a George television series to continue […]

Trailer for Thru the Moebius Strip

A trailer for the upcoming CG feature based on Jean “Moebius” Giraud art is now online. Thru the Moebius Strip is a story about the coming of age of a brave, resourceful 14 year old boy who grew up refusing to accept the loss of his father.Out of the strength of his conviction, he reaches […]

SIGGRAPH 2004 Computer Animation Festival Program

ACM SIGGRAPH today announced the program for the Computer Animation Festival for SIGGRAPH 2004, the 31st International Conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques, being held 8-12 August 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The Computer Animation Festival jury chose 83 selections from a record 643 entries for exemplary use of computer-generated imagery and compelling storytelling. […]

Second Chronicle already in the works

IGN FilmForce has the scoop that despite the first film having over a year before its release, a script for a second Chronicles of Narnia film – possibly Prince Caspian – is already being worked on. Apparently, Disney is “extremely enthusiastic” about the first movie. “In my nearly 25 years at Disney, I’ve never seen […]

Disney/Pixar update: Chicken Little, amends big

Jim Hill Media provides an update as to what is going on between Disney and Pixar these days. Is Disney trying to get back with Pixar? Is “The Sequel Lab” for Pixar’s or Disney’s movies? Is the sky falling for Chicken Little? Please decide for yourself after reading the article’s speculation.

Bride woos Depp

Variety reports that Johnny Depp will provide the lead voice in Warner Brothers’ The Corpse Bride, Tim Burton’s stop-motion animated film. With Michael Johnson directing and Allison Abbateand co-producing, The Corpse Bride will also feature the voices of Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Albert Finney, Richard Grant, Joanna Lumley and Christopher Lee. Filmed in London, […]

UPDATED – \\Spider-Man 2\\ wins over critics

\\Spider-Man 2\\, set to debut Wednesday on 4,000 screens according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2004&wk=27&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}, has won over the critics. The film has a spectacular 95% freshness rating at {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/SpiderMan2-1133520/ Rotten Tomatoes}} – 130 positive reviews and only 7 negative reviews.

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe starts shoot

The {{link http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/entertainmentstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3575188&thesection=entertainment&thesubsection=film&thesecondsubsection=general New Zealand Herald}} has a brief report on the first day of shooting on Disney/Walden’s The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, which began its six months in front of the camera yesterday.

The Iron Giant Special Edition finally makes it to DVD!

DVD Toons reports that Warner Home Video have {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/611 finally announced}} the long-delayed Special Edition DVD of Brad Bird’s feature directorial debut, The Iron Giant. The 1999 film, originally announced for the SE treatment in mid-2003, has had to wait until now for Bird’s Pixar outing The Incredibles to be completed so that Warners […]

More on the 2D Expo

Amid Amidi, of Animation Blast and Cartoon Brew, and Pixar’s Ronnie del Carmen both have reports up now of ASIFA-Hollywood’s 2D Expo that took place last Saturday. Read Ronnie’s report here and Amid’s report here. As Ronnie suggests, see which well-known animators you can pick out from the pictures he has up. Bonus points to […]

Mike Judge interview

Though it’s been mentioned on a couple of other sites, we’ve only just jumped on the news that Beavis And Butt-Head and King Of The Hill creator Mike Judge has been {{link http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4025 interviewed by The Onion’s AV Club}}, where he speaks about his animated projects and ventures into live-action with Office Space and the […]

Box office weekend estimates: June 25 – 27

According to Box Office Guru, Shrek 2 fell to seventh place in the weekend’s top ten movies, with an estimated $10.5 million. Falling only 25% from last weekend, the sequel has grossed an incredible $397.1 million. Meanwhile, Garfield: The Movie took the eighth spot, with an estimated $7 million. Down 38%, the feline film has […]

New Kaena: The Prophecy pictures

My Stuff and News has new pictures from Kaena: The Prophecy. The film will begin its limited release in US theaters on July 9, 2004.

Disney Concert to play Leeds, UK

Toon Zone reports that {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=114727 Disney in Concert: A Magical Night Of Music And Film}}, performed against large screen featuring film animation illustrating favorite fairytales, will play its European debut in the UK’s Roundhay Park in Leeds on August 14 and 15.

Skwigly looking for contributions

‘Muppet2004’ posts in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=492 AN Forum}} that the UK’s {{link http://www.skwigly.co.uk/ Skwigly Magazine}} is looking for online article submissions.

Howl's Moving Castle trailer and clips!

‘WolfTooth’, ‘Athena’ and ‘Anvil’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=3644#post3644 Animated News Forums}} all point to various teasers and trailers available online for Miyazaki’s latest, Howl’s Moving Caslte.

Spidey and Gadget DVDs reviewed…

Over at DVD Toons, Rand Cyrenne is happy to meet up with old friend {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/313 Inspector Gadget}}, but is less impressed with the way he has aged on disc, while Rodney Figueiredo is left with a better impression of Marvel’s 1990s animated spin on {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/314 Spider-Man Vs. Doc Ock}}. Gadget is out in […]

A quick 2D Expo report: Debunking a Pixar rumor and more

Animated News was able to attend ASIFA-Hollywood’s 2D Animation Expo yesterday at Woodbury University in Burbank, and while there was not too much to be gleaned from the proceedings in the way of animation-related news, we did learn from Jim Capobianco of Pixar that there is no truth to the rumor that Pixar will be […]

Teacher’s Pet (The Movie)

The first Disney franchise to transfer from the small screen to the big in quite a while, Teacher’s Pet is unexpectedly hilarious and a terrific return to form for the TV division.

Robin's Patch Of Orange

Robin Joseph, a student of animation currently going on to make his final year film, has let us know about his new site, {{link http://www.patchoforange.com/ Patch Of Orange}}. Check out his site for examples from Robin’s portfolio, concept art, links and caricatures, including Nightmare Before Christmas creator Tim Burton (right)!

Get ready for Zombie Pirates…

Stop-motion animator Marc Spess has “finally got around to putting up a site” for his short film {{link http://www.zombie-pirates.com/ Zombie Pirates}}, started two years ago with a friend. Images, storyboards, an animated test video and news updates are available on the site, which the duo hope to use to raise enough funding to make their […]

"Heavy Metal magazine meets The NeverEnding Story"

TV Guide.com has an interesting review of the rather interesting Kaena: The Prophecy, a movie which was “originally conceived as a video game,” and featuring the voice talent of Richard Harris and Kirsten Dunst. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Introducing Disney's FastPlay and EasyFind Menus

Below is a transcript of a Buena Vista Home Entertainment press release announcing new “ease-of-use” DVD features that will be appearing first on Disney’s The Three Musketeers.

Animated Maya from Mexico

Maya is a feature film project helmed by Mexican director Ricardo Arnaiz, whose goal is to promote the Mayan ancient culture. The movie will use traditional 2D techniques as well as CG. This is one of the most ambitious projects of Mexican cinema, featuring an all Mexican talent crew. The story integrates fictional elements in […]

Vince Vaughn to play Racer X?

Variety via Animation World Network is reporting that Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) has pitched to Speed Racer producers Joel Silver and Richard and Lauren Shuler Donner his take on the film which would have him playing Racer X. He would also executive produce on the project. Vaughn’s take focuses on family struggles […]

Disney "reducing investment" in films

Reuters indicates that in a small conference with Deutsche Bank investors, from Disney’s Burbank headquarters, Disney CEO Michael Eisner stated, “We are reducing our investment in our film businesses.” According to Disney President and COO Bob Iger, “If we are going to invest money on entertainment, I think there are better ways to spend than […]

New Sky Captain trailer now online

Yahoo! Movies has the new trailer for Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, which will open in US theaters on September 17, 2004.

Ramsey to adapt Dragonball Z for Fox

Variety, via Coming Soon!, reveals that screenwriter Ben Ramsey (The Big Hit) will adapt Dragonball Z for the big screen for 20th Century Fox. The popular series upon which the movie will be based follows “an adult humanoid alien who’s just discovered that he was sent to Earth to blend in and destroy our population […]

Jonathan Frakes speaks Thunderbirds

At IGN FilmForce, Jonathan Frakes speaks about his new film Thunderbirds. “I think we are all pretty conscious that there is a way to tell the story of the Thunderbirds for the fans, and there is a way to tell the Thunderbirds as a family action movie. If you happen to be a fan, you’ll […]