Month: June 2006

Arrr you ready? Dead Man's Chest opens up

With the marketing campaign in full swing for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest we are starting to get plenty of information. Roger Colton at JHM and Chuck Oberleitner at o-meon both report on the recent premiere event held at Disneyland while Jim Hill sorts through the chest full of movie-related merchandise tie-ins. Moriarty […]

How the Grinch Stole Broadway

The TV Guide online reports that a Broadway adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is in the works and “booked for a holiday-time, Nov. 8 Broadway debut, with previews starting Oct. 25.” The musical will apparently allow all the Whos down in Whoville a chance to sing again.

Burny Mattinson podcast interview

Clay Kaytis’ Animation Podcast site fires back up with part one of an interview with long-time Disney animation worker Burny Mattinson. As a bridge between generations of animators Burny Mattinson has plenty of tales to recount including working on Lady and the Tramp and Sleeping Beauty, and working with some of the Nine Old Men […]

Don't forget the shorts

Keeping up with the world of independent animated shorts, Animation World Network presents reviews and QuickTime clips of Bob Log III’s Electric Fence Story by Stock ‘n’ Wolf, El Doctor by Suzan Pitt, It Pains Me to Say This by George Griffin, Olis Chance by Saschka Unseld and Johannes Weiland and She She She She’s […]

Oswald gets a makeover

AICN has posted pictures of a toy on display at last week’s New York Licensing Show of what appears to be an updated design for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s original animated anthropomorphic animal.

\\Futurama\\ Returns

Three years after its cancellation on Fox, the animated TV series \\Futurama\\ has been picked up by Comedy Central, {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=15106 Comingsoon.net}} reports. The cable network has ordered thirteen new episodes which are slated to begin airing in 2008, and will bring the total number of series episodes to 85. Creators Matt Groening and David […]

Anastasia's DVD gets big thumbs up

With a low count of reviews online covering the recent re-issue of Don Bluth’s first Fox Animation feature Anastasia, DVD Toons has stepped in with a {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/501 full review of the 2-disc set}} and places it on par with the Disney Platinum Edition line. “With this Family Fun set, Fox certainly have pulled one […]

Anastasia: Family Fun Edition

Don Bluth directs 20th Century Fox’s big budget move into animated features and Disneyfies the Anastasia mystery to engaging effect.

Drink up me 'earties: A Pirates webcast for everyone

We can’t all attend the premiere tomorrow at Disneyland for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest but anyone with Internet access can view it via the webcast sponsored by MSN and Disney. The full press release, which also details recent changes made to the famous ride, can be read here:

Sneak a peek: New York Licensing Show images

Harry Knowles’ Ain’t It Cool News site has posted images here, here, and here from the recent New York Licensing Show including promotional art for such upcoming animated films as Bee Movie, Where the Wild Things Are, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Happy Feet, and Kung Fu Panda.

CityWalk Summer Block Party

Universal CityWalk will be screening classic movies on a gigantic outdoor screen every Thursday night this summer. Animated offerings include Blue Sky’s Ice Age: The Meltdown and DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 2 and Madagascar.

The end of Stitch?

Disney’s Leroy and Stitch will premiere tonight on the Disney Channel at 8pm only four days before its DVD release. “The adventure never stops as Lilo and Stitch face the challenge of their lives in Disney’s hilarious, all-new movie Leroy and Stitch. As a reward for rounding up all 625 experiments, Lilo, Stitch, Jumba, and […]

"Save Our Stitch" petition

Bolstered by a similar success by fans of the Kim Possible television series fans of Lilo and Stitch: The Series have begun a campaign in an effort to keep their show going. The current television series story arc is set to wrap up with Leroy and Stitch but new seasons of the television series could […]

Hunting for treasure "under the sea" of rumor

A recent Animated News article on the rumored cancellation of The Little Mermaid III has sparked debate amongst readers and a handful of e-mails supporting a counter-claim. One e-mail in particular notes that Ultimate Disney features a recent screen shot of the bonus features menu from the forth coming Little Mermaid platinum edition DVD which […]

Disney new release Tuesday: Tramp/Scamp/Lamp

Disney’s direct-to-video sequel Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure enjoys a re-release on DVD today, featuring Lady and Tramp’s one male offspring Scamp (a frequent subject of Disney comics in the 1950s and 1960s) in the lead role. On a side note, John Lasseter’s 1979 CalArts piece, Lady and the Lamp, can be seen […]

Tinker Bell finds her voice

She won’t be trailer park trash now but Disney’s Tinker Bell, according to Yahoo! Movies, will be voiced by Brittany Murphy who is well-known as the voice of Hank Hill’s niece Luanne Platter for Fox’s King of the Hill. Murphy will be voicing the iconic pixie for The Tinker Bell Movie, the first animated film […]

Warner Bros. releases Super-DVD's

In an impressive marketing ploy designed to promote next week’s release of the highly anticipated feature film \\Superman Returns\\, Warner Brothers is releasing a large number of Superman franchise DVD’s today. The animated releases are: \\Justice League\\ – Season Two \\Krypto the Superdog\\ – Vol. 1 Cosmic Canine \\Superman: The Animated Series\\ – Volume Three […]

Cars followup

Jim Hill Media discusses the recent box office performance of Disney/Pixar’s Cars, sales of Cars-related merchandise, and a possible sequel to Monsters, Inc., or at least a new Pixar film directed by Pete Docter that features monsters. Meanwhile, o-meon features an article by Michael Howe discussing his recent book, The Art of Cars.

Agenda set for the Animation Block Party

The Animation Block Party, devoted to showcasing the work of independent professionals and students from around the world has set its schedule for the 2006 Summerfest. Taking place in New York City July 22-24, the event will feature everything from “giveaways” to “discussions with industry survivors.” Ticket information and the excellent shorts lineup for the […]

Ratatouille trailer available in multiple formats

Still having trouble playing the Ratatouille trailer? Then check out the teaser for Disney and Pixar’s eighth feature length film here in any of several formats that may better suit your PC.

20 years of Pixar headed to Japan

The Mainichi Daily News reports that “Pixar: 20 Years of Animation” is coming to Asia. The exhibit which experienced acclaimed success in New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the Science Museum London will now be showcased at the Mori Arts Center in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills. Featuring a behind the scenes look at Pixar’s magic […]

Commanding animators made Commanders

British citizens Peter Lord and David Sproxton of the nation’s largest animation studio, Aardman, were named CBEs by the Queen in her 80th birthday honors list reports C21 Media. The studio’s co-founders met at school in the 1970s and were co-producers of last year’s Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse […]

Catmull to receive award for effects

Pixar President and co-founder Dr. Ed Catmull has been selected to receive the 2006 IEEE John von Neumann Medal for his contributions to special effects in live-action and animated motion pictures reports The Daily Utah Chronicle. The Utah native and University of Utah alumnus is being recognized for research that led to four major innovations […]

Superman: Brainiac Attacks

Fans had hoped for a fine send-off to the animated Superman series, but instead got a turkey with little in common with the beloved show.

U.S. weekend box office estimates: June 16-18, 2006

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo: 1. Cars with $31,181,000, averaging $7,818 over 3,988 theaters ($114,505,000 total; 2nd week) 6. Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties with $7,200,000, averaging $2,443 over 2,946 theaters (1st week) 10. Over the Hedge with $4,046,000, averaging $1,552 over 2,606 theaters ($138,755,000 total; 5th week)

Everyone's Hero official website and trailer

The official online domain for IDT Entertainment/Twentieth Century Fox’s Everyone’s Hero has debuted. The site presents the movie’s plot, a trailer, and some downloads. Everyone’s Hero can be found in theaters beginning September 15th.

Knight of Laika conquers land

Nike co-founder and chairman Phil Knight has bought 30 acres of land south of Portland, Oregon, for the placement of a “state-of-the-art” Laika Entertainment campus. Scheduled for a 2008 opening, the area will host “computer animation, stop-motion animation and corporate services including reception, executive offices, conference rooms, fitness center, cafeteria and theater.” In the meantime, […]

First Monster House television spot

A brand-new, 30-second television spot for Sony Pictures’ Monster House has been placed at You Tube. The House will open this July 21st.

DVD news: Ninja Turtles; Ed, Edd & Eddy; Dick Tracy; G.I. Joe; Tom & Jerry

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Season 4 has been revealed as having a September 12th release date, writes TV Shows on DVD. The announcement regards the Turtles’ 2003 incarnation. Likewise, the site lists the features and displays the cover artwork for Ed, Edd n’ Eddy – The Complete Season 1, entering stores on October 10th. […]

Before Walt

Tomorrow, June 17, at 3:00pm ASIFA-Hollywood will celebrate the hundredth anniversary of animated cartoons with a special focus on the work and contributions of Winsor McCay, Max Fleischer, and Walt Disney. “This one hour program will follow the development of animated cartoons from the earliest concepts to the many milestones that influenced Disney in his […]