Month: April 2005 – page 3

Stars go Over the Hedge

BlackFilm notes that Nick Nolte, Catherine O’Hara, William Shatner, Steve Carell, Eugene Levy, Wanda Sykes and Avril Lavigne have joined the cast of DreamWorks’ animated comedy Over the Hedge.The plot for the computer animated flick is, “Bruce Willis will voice the mischievous con-artist raccoon R.J., and Garry Shandling will be the voice of the sensitive […]

Chicken Little on DVD March 2006; merchandising plans; Nibbelink feature

Months before the film even hits theaters, print publication {{link http://www.kidscreen.com KidScreen Magazine}} confirms that Disney’s CGI comedy Chicken Little will come to DVD in March 2006, as part of a second promotional push. “Disney has a lot riding on CL and it might be the benchmark that determines whether the studio’s animation arm can […]

Wild title logo

Ultimate Disney has the title logo for The Wild, Disney’s jungle comedy coming April 2006.

Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law: Volume One

My childhood memories are disturbed by this send-up of classic Hanna-Barbera characters, yet I cannot help laughing.

Happy release date

The Internet Movie Database has listed that the expected release date for Warner Brother’s Happy Feet is November 17, 2006. Directed by George Miller (Babe: Pig in the City, Mad Max), Happy Feet stars the voices of Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, and Robin Williams.

Press release for DVDs in celebration of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary online

Ultimate Disney has the press release for the four DVDs that will be released on July 12th, in celebration of Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary. The DVDs include: Disneyland – The Secrets, Stories and Magic of the Happiest Place on Earth, The Best of the Original Mickey Mouse Club, Mickey Mouse Club: The Best of Britney, Justin, […]

Madagscar rating and contest announced

The official website for Madagascar reveals that the film has been given a ‘PG’ rating by the MPAA. In addition, the site’s front page shows that coming soon is a contest in which one can win a trip to New York City and the Central Park Zoo.

The Plague Dogs: (1983 US Edited Edition)

Martin Rosen’s haunting adaptation of Richard Adams’ chilling book, here unfortunately shown in the truncated, illogical US edition which loses 20 minutes of material.

See Chicken Little even littler

The Disney Database links to several photos of the toys to be released for Chicken Little. Included in the pics is the first appearance of such characters as Foxy Loxy, Goosey Lucy, Turkey Lurkey, and some of the aliens. Chicken Little will open in theaters on November 4, 2005.

Cartoon Network to show complete Clone Wars

Cartoon Network, via Toon Zone, announces that the channel will air all twenty-five episodes of Star Wars: Clone Wars on Saturday, May 14, at 7:00pm. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith will hit theaters the following Friday.

Kirby's DTV movie debut, Fright to the Finish, coming in June

The popular video game character Kirby is about to make his full-length movie debut, in Kirby: Fright to the Finish – The Movie. As the film’s official press release states, Kirby: Fright to the Finish follows the plot of, “When a fleet of mysterious spaceships attacks Dream Land, Kirby embarks on a nerve-shattering journey into […]

And the first digitally projected 3-D feature film is…?

Joseph L Kleiman at Jim Hill Media speculates at the recent developments that have taken place in the realm of 3-D film, leading up to why he believes a certain upcoming animated movie may be the first digitally projected 3-D feature film.

Revenge of the . . . Brick?

While gearing up for the May 19th release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith be sure to check out the LEGO cartoon Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick May 8th at 7:00PM on Cartoon Network. “Good and evil clash, imagination explodes, and creativity saves the day when the heroic Jedi Knights battle the villainous […]

Shrek 3, Bambi and the Great Prince, and Rapunzel casting ruminations

While browsing at The Internet Movie Database, it has been noticed that a few roles in some upcoming highly anticipated films have been cast. First up, it appears that Tony Teulan (the upcoming Great Raid) has landed the role of Rumplestiltskin in Shrek 3. Meanwhile, young actor Anthony Ghannam (Kronk’s New Groove) has been cast […]

Harryhausen back in the world of Sinbad

The {{link http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_listing.asp?filmid=4198&week=true&sec=news My Movies}} website reports that legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen has been coaxed out of retirement to guide director Rob Cohen’s latest project: The 8th Voyage Of Sinbad. “None of us would be here without you”, Cohen said to the special effects master of the previous Sinbad films, “so he’s coming out […]

The only thing controversial about this Song of the South story is the price

On sale at eBay right now are what purports to be Walt Disney’s personal notes handwritten on to Dalton Reymond’s typewritten outline for Song of the South from 1944. It seems that this item is not up for auction but available for sale to the first person willing to fork over $25,000 for it (link […]

Cover art: Lilo & Stitch 2, Disney's Timeless Tales

Ultimate Disney has the cover art for Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch and the first two volumes of Timeless Tales. The latter is a new line of Disney DVDs that will contain approximately one hour of shorts each, including The Three Little Pigs (1933), The Wind in the Willows (1949), and The […]

A Fool's perspective on Katzenberg's comment

The Motley Fool has a commentary on DreamWorks Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg’s recent publicized comment that the “single greatest fiction” of animated films was that a possible “glut” of them could occur, along with Katzenberg’s hinted suggestion that DreamWorks Animation and Pixar will remain the leaders of the computer animation domain.

Computer animation too detailed for courtroom use?

Times Leader reports that for the first time in Pennsylvania, a case has the state Supreme Court trying to decide whether it was wrong for prosecutors to use computer animation in acting out how a man shot his wife, to a jury. An attorney for convicted killer Michael Serge believes it was, as he stated […]

Spotlight on John Lasseter

MSN sets the spotlight on John Lasseter, in its “The Edge of Innovation” section. In referring to his latest Pixar film Cars, Lasseter recently told a group of car designers in New York, “The obvious thing to do when you draw an animated car is to put the eyes in the headlights. But we’ve got […]

Official Walt Disney Pictures website updated

Though the films have yet to receive full websites, splash pages for Howl’s Moving Castle and Valiant are now up at the official Walt Disney Pictures website.

Five Pocahontas 10th Anniversary Edition DVD screencaps

Five stills from the Pocahontas 10th Anniversary Edition DVD can be viewed at Ultimate Disney. The pics are taken from a few deleted scenes and the “If I Never Knew You” fully-restored sequence. The Pocahontas 10th Anniversary Edition DVD will be available to own on May 3, 2005.

ReBoot to reboot online

Cinemanow, via Toon Zone, reports that ReBoot will be available for download throughout North America, thanks to a deal from Mainframe and CinemaNow. Episodes will be found at the CinemaNow website.

Inspector Gadget to make CGI debut at Cartoons on the Bay 2005

AWN covers the story of DIC Entertainment and Mainframe Entertainment’s announcement that the world premiere of Inspector Gadget’s Biggest Caper Ever: The Case of the Flying Lizard will be at Cartoons on the Bay 2005 in Positano, Italy. The film, marking the CGI debut of Inspector Gadget, will be screened at the Cartoons Village, at […]

Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama and Little Einsteins press releases

Ultimate Disney has the DVD press releases for Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama, the Disney Channel’s first original animated movie, and Little Einsteins: Our Huge Adventure, a new DTV movie that will begin the upcoming Little Einsteins series for those who have outgrown the Baby Einstein franchise. Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama, whose […]

U.S. Howl's Moving Castle poster online

The Internet Movie Poster Awards has the poster for the U.S. release of Hayao Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle, moving into theaters for a limited release on June 10, 2005.

Disney Magazine not discontinued after all?

Jim Hil Media writes that Disney Magazine may not be meeting its end after all, as Disney has noted the public cry against such a move and might want to avoid the negative press.

CritterPix Studios reaches $2.1 million for financing of future projects

The Big Cartoon Database reports that the computer animation company CritterPix Studios has announced the closing of a private $2.1 million secured convertible bridge note financing, placed by Laidlaw and Company (UK) Ltd. This makes the total seed financing for the studio approximately $4.45 million. Proceeds will go toward script development and the installation of […]

More toy updates

The Toy section of About.com has the rundown on some of the Madagascar toys about to be released and Amazon.co.uk is already selling Madagascar plushes. Also, Toy Globe has some Corpse Bride plushes by McFarlane Toys available to order. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Chicken Little to perform "We Are the Champions" at your house

As more merchandise from Disney’s upcoming Chicken Little arrives online at places such as Amazon, About.com describes what may be the film’s biggest item: a Singing Chicken Little plush. Fans of the film can play air guitar with Chicken Little, as he belts out his rendition of the popular Queen song “We Are the Champions”.