Month: April 2006

Interview: Pixar's Jan Pinkava

Computer Arts speaks with Pixar’s Jan Pinkava. In addition to animating, Pinkava has likewise directed for the studio, with his work seen in the short film Geri’s Game. In this interview, topics delved into include photorealistic CGI, Pixar’s string of success, and the company’s merge with Disney. At one point in the Q&A session, Pinkava […]

Hedge finds music in Folds, another trailer online

From Ben Folds comes three songs for DreamWorks Animation’s latest project, Over the Hedge, writes Undercover. A re-working of the artist’s “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” featuring William Shatner, and a cover of The Clash’s “Lost in the Supermarket” are just two of the tunes to be found on the film’s soundtrack. Meanwhile, another trailer for Over […]

Sun shines on Barnyard

Via a press release at Yahoo! Finance, Sun Microsystems Inc. announces its work for Barnyard, an upcoming computer animated venture from O Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies, and Paramount Pictures. “Leveraging a rendering farm based on Sun Fire servers powered by high-performance AMD Opteron processors and Sun StorEdge data management systems, Barnyard artists were able to quickly […]

Win Hoodwinked on DVD!

DVDtoons is giving away five copies of this year’s first animated hit, Hoodwinked. Specific details on the contest may be read at the site, with entries being submitted through an online form. The “Hoodwinked Giveaway” contest ends on May 5th.

First images from Shaggy & Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry Tales

Displayed at Toon Zone are the first promotional images from two shows set to debut this fall on Kids WB!: Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue! and Tom & Jerry Tales. While Tom & Jerry maintains its duo’s classic portrayals, Shaggy & Scooby-Doo lends an interesting updated style to its popular pair.

Monster House trailer and video game preview

As noticed by ‘Meg’ at the Animated-News Forum, the full trailer for Monster House has been added to Apple.com, in all sizes. Concurrently, a preview for the film’s Game Boy Advance adaptation is ready at IGN.

Images: Flushed Away, Over the Hedge

Latino Review presents a banquet of the latest promotional pictures for Over the Hedge, while also offering an image from Flushed Away.

Cars soundtrack, slideshows

The track listing for Disney/Pixar’s Cars may be examined at Route 66 News. In addition to Randy Newman, providing the film’s score, other artists featured include: Sheryl Crow, Chuck Berry, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, James Taylor, The Chords, John Mayer, and Hank Williams. In related news, two new Cars slideshows are now up at Yahoo! […]

Pixar catching up to NASA

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on the phenomenal computing power that went into the highly detailed production of Pixar’s Cars, with NASA being the only American organization that has more. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Jobs not interested in Disney job

According to Yahoo! Finance, “Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said Thursday he had no interest in becoming an executive at The Walt Disney Co., which will soon complete its acquisition of Jobs’ other company, Pixar Animation Studios Inc.”

El Capitan roundup

Just a reminder that Disney/C.O.R.E.’s The Wild is playing at Disney’s very own El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. until May 11. Each screening includes a pre-show where “keepers from the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens present birds from around the world LIVE on the El Capitan Theatre stage.” From May 26 to June […]

Coming Events: Tunes For Toons

This Saturday, April 29, at 3:00pm, ASIFA-Hollywood presents its Tunes For Toons program. “Author, teacher and animation historian Daniel Goldmark discusses the story behind the musicians who made our favorite cartoons sing. Daniel will also be available to autograph his new book Tunes For Toons.” This event will be held in the American Film Institute’s […]

Pirates of the Caribbean MMG coming

Yahoo! Finance reports on the beta launch of the Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile Game. “The game will be open for beta testing in mid-April at www.piratesmobilemultiplayer.com. It will permit up to 16 players to engage in individual game sessions. Players will be able to chat with other players, make friends and form guilds […]

Forty Three Kix kicks into gear with movie times text message service

The following is a press release from Forty Three Kix on their new service which allows cell phone users to receive movie time info after sending a simple text message:

She-Ra DVD details

Follow the ‘More’ link to see DVD box art and extensive details on the special features for Filmation’s She-Ra: Princess of Power® DVD due out on July 18. Fans will be able to vote on their five favorite episodes to be included on a “Best Of” Collector’s Edition.

The Barbie™ Diaries DVD details

Follow the ‘More’ link to see DVD box art and extensive details on the special features for Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s The Barbie™ Diaries.

Prince Valiant DVD details

The Legend of Prince Valiant, Volume One Collector’s Edition DVD Set, due for release on July 4, includes: Interviews with the series creator/producer David J. Corbett, writer Brooks Wachtel, and comic strip historian Rick Norwood by Andy Mangels; Two episode commentary tracks with creator/producer David J. Corbett, writer Brooks Wachtel, and voice artist Noelle North, […]

Hoodwinked DVD details

Follow the ‘More’ link to see DVD box art and extensive details on the special features for The Weinstein Company’s Hoodwinked, the modern re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood, due for release on May 2nd.

Over the Hedge roundup

Gearing up for Over the Hedge, Mad Bug reviews the recent Toronto Sprockets International Film Festival (does Mike Meyer’s Dieter host it?) screening at Ain’t It Cool News. According to Coming Soon, attendees of Robert de Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival will be able to catch advanced screenings May 6 and 7. And, plenty of stills […]

Happy Feet teaser poster confirmed

Last Saturday, a report was posted regarding what appeared to be the Happy Feet poster in towel form, as discovered at eBay. As it turns out, the towel does, in fact, bear the image of the Happy Feet teaser poster. This confirmation comes from The Happy Feet Special, which offers the actual teaser poster.

Family films versus World Cup

A Reuters’ composition, home at Yahoo! Movies, speculates on how upcoming family films will fare internationally, as the World Cup comes into play. Movies in the study include Over the Hedge, Cars, Monster House, The Ant Bully, and Garfield’s A Tale of Two Kitties.

Curious international poster

The latest international poster for Curious George may be found at the Internet Movie Poster Awards. On the domestic front, the mischievous monkey will enter stores on June 27th.

Wild director speaks

CGCHAR relays the thoughts of Steve “Spaz” Williams, as the director comments on his work for The Wild. Likewise, the article briefly focuses on some of Williams’ career highlights.

She-Ra entering stores this July

DVDtoons spreads the word that a 2-disc Collector’s Edition DVD set of She-Ra: Princess of Power is coming this July 18th. Along with five favorite episodes from the series, The Best of She-Ra: Princess of Power will likewise boast the addition of the feature film The Secret of the Sword.

3-D Nightmare

“Wendy’s Jane” at the Animated-News Forum points to Coming Soon’s Film Database, where a page reveals that a 3-D version of The Nightmare Before Christmas is in the works. The special edition of the film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 20, 2006.

Pup Named Scooby-Doo DVDs on the way

The third and fourth volumes of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo will arrive in stores on July 18th, says Toon Zone. Both DVDs will hold four 22-minute episodes from the series. Specifically, Volume 3 will contain “Scooby-Doo Dude,” “Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “The Story Stick” and “Robopup.” Concurrently, Volume 4 will present “Lights…Camera… Monster,” “The […]

Looking back at Watership Down and the uncut Plague Dogs on DVD

With the release of Martin Rosen’s animated adaptations of Richard Adams’ novels Watership Down and The Plague Dogs to Region 4 DVD in Australia, {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/features/78 DVD Toons looks back}} on these two movies and their latest disc incarnations. Particular emphasis is given to The Plague Dogs, which marks the first time the fully uncut […]

U.S. weekend box office estimates: April 21–23, 2006

Ice Age: The Meltdown continued its impressive run this past weekend, as recorded by Box Office Mojo. The sequel dropped an understandable 36.1%, falling to fourth place in its fourth weekend. Nonetheless, Meltdown pulled in approximately $12,800,000 from 3,540 theaters, bringing its total domestic gross to an estimated $167,863,000. Meanwhile, The Wild gathered $8,050,000, having […]

DVD news: Animaniacs, DuckTales, Rescue Rangers, Mario Bros., Pink Panther, Xiaolin Showdown

TV Shows on DVD provides a bundle of DVD news regarding some popular animated favorites from the past. First of all, the site has uncovered the press release for the first DVD volumes of Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain. Simultaneously, TV Shows on DVD reports that the second volume of DuckTales will enter stores […]

Creative Craft Daytime Emmy animated honorees

Last Saturday night, the Creative Craft Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony took place, honoring some of the finest programming in daytime television entertainment. To view a list of animation-related winners, as found through the Associated Press’ report in The Los Angeles Times, one needs to only click: