Warner Independent Pictures’ rotoscoped animated feature A Scanner Darkly, based on the novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, opens this Friday, July 7, in selected theaters. According to Yahoo! Movies, the movie is, “Set in a future world where America has lost the war on drugs, an undercover cop, Fred, is one […]

Box Office Mojo reports that Superman Returns took in over $52 million to hold onto its lead since its Wednesday street date, easily fending off new release The Devil Wears Prada which came in at $27 million. On the animated front, in its fourth week, Disney and Pixar’s Cars fell to fourth with $14 million […]

Internet portals are making it easier than ever for indies to show off and capitalize on their skills. Web sites, hosted by giants like AOL all the way down to smaller, independent entities, allow these artists to reach larger and, in some cases, more powerful audiences. More importantly however, it is also becoming easier for […]

Loughborough University Animation Professor Paul Wells has created the latest in a line of animation text books entitled The Fundamentals of Animation. Animation World Network reveals that the text is divided into two sections and “discusses the key principles and processes involved in animation.” Ava Publishing also has further information on the book.

Steve Jobs, the new board chairman at Disney since its acquisition of Pixar in May, won’t be receiving a paycheck for his services there. Television Point reports that the board of directors recently agreed to nix Jobs’ paycheck at his own request. The move is not uncommon for the technology pioneer who currently takes in […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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:

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.

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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’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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]