Animation World Network has posted their annual Oscar Showcase. The site features a collection of pics, articles, and info about each animated nominee and video clips from all the animated shorts. You can also vote on who you think will win on Oscar night.

The nominations for the 79th Annual Academy Awards have been announced. Come tell us your thoughts in the Animated News & Views Forum. The nominees for Best Animated Film are • Disney/Pixar’s Cars – John Lasseter • Warner Bros.’ Happy Feet – George Miller • Sony/Columbia’s Monster House – Gil Kenan The nominees for Best […]

The Courier-Journal writes that the successful Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast will close July 29, in preparation for the stage version of The Little Mermaid. Word has yet to arrive on what famous faces might star in Beauty for its last six months, although Tom Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical, commented, “There might […]

Smallville is coming to a cell phone near you, in the form of the animated Smallville Legends: The Oliver Queen Chronicles, notifies Variety. Premiering Thursday, the series will be exclusive to the Sprint TV mobile video service for six weeks. The Oliver Queen Chronicles will then hit CWTV.com, starting February 22.

The New York Times highlights the animated adaptation of Persepolis, the comic-book memoir regarding Marjane Satrapi’s experiences growing up in Iran. The original version of the film, like the book, is in French, although Sony Pictures Classics is scheduled to release an English-language version of Persepolis later this year.

Disney/Pixar’s Cars added more hardware to its shelf with Darla K. Anderson winning the Producers Guild’s Animated Feature award. The film raced past Flushed Away, Happy Feet, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and Monster House for the prize.

Variety reports that a live action version of Ghost in the Shell is being shopped around by animation company Production I.G., who acquired the rights from publisher Kodansha. The animated futuristic police thriller has seen life in manga comics, animated features and a TV series.

The following press release from Starz Entertainment tells of tomorrow’s screening of Eloise in Hollywood at the Teen & KidFilm Festival in Dallas with a special guest of honor set to appear:

A recent article in Variety discusses Pixar Animation Studios’ release schedule for the next couple of years, mentioning 2009 as a possible release date for Toy Story 3.

An interview with musical composer Alan Menken is now available at Playbill Celebrity Buzz. Briefly, the conversation sheds some light on the coming Little Mermaid stage production. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Song of the South.net mentions the possibility of Song of the South being released as part of the new Walt Disney Legacy Collection line of DVDs. If Oswald the Lucky Rabbit can make it to DVD maybe Brer Rabbit can too.

Gearing up for a February 6 release date the official site for Disney’s DTV title Cinderella III: A Twist in Time now offers eight minutes of footage (via Ultimate Disney). Watch what happens when Cinderella’s wicked stepmother and stepsisters . . . and mice . . . get ahold of the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand.

AICN has posted some newly revealed visual development art from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Beware, thar’ be spoilers ahead!

The first image from WALL• E, the Disney/Pixar film scheduled to to come after Ratatouille, has been released in a December 2006 Letter to the Shareholders by Disney CEO Bob Iger. “We’re… excited about Pixar’s next animated movie, Ratatouille, which will be released this summer. And I’m pleased to give you an exclusive first look […]

Reports are that Disney and/or Pixar are working to acquire the rights to Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars series. But the question is will it be for a live-action franchise or an animated film? Variety started the ball rolling, while Dark Horizons and Mania Movies both go into history of the […]

Cartoon Brew has posted a link to a Disney promo video featuring clips from several upcoming films. Among them is the first animation seen from Enchanted.

Lionsgate is getting feedback from internet users to help them decide about future animated projects, according to Animation Magazine. The online teen community Habbo is hosting several animated shorts. For 14 days users can vote on whether or not Lionsgate should expand them to feature length. VP of marketing for Lionsgate Michael Rathauser said “Through […]

Fresh from accepting the Golden Globe for “Best Animated Film,” Cars director John Lasseter stopped by numerous award after-parties, including those held by The Weinstein Company, NBC/Universal Pictures/Focus Features, and In Style Magazine/Warner Bros. Studios. Yahoo! News and Getty Images display the photos of his entrance to the festivities, along with more pics from the […]

At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, the Teen & KidFilm Festival in Dallas will present a special screening of Eloise in Hollywood, courtesy of Starz Kids & Family and Time Warner Cable. Mary Matilyn Mouser, who voices the show’s title character, will be on hand for the event as special guest of honor. To […]

DVD Active provides an update on the DVD release of Flushed Away, showcasing the package’s cover and side artwork. “Extras will include a commentary by Directors David Bowers and Sam Fell, two animated slug songs, a From Clay to CG: A Technical Journey featurette, a Meet the Cast featurette, a Jammy Dodger Fly-Thru, an animator’s […]

The following is a press release regarding the recent appointment of Anne Globe as the new Head of Worldwide Marketing and Consumer Products for DreamWorks Animation SKG: