Month: July 2007 – page 4

Sean Penn and Iggy Pop to voice English version of Persepolis

AWN reports that the North American version of the animated film Persepolis will feature the voices of Sean Penn and Iggy Pop. Based on Iranian author Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel of the same name, Perspolis tells the true story of a girl and her upbringing during Islamic revolution in Iran. Winner of jury prize at […]

Ten funniest The Simpsons episodes ever

Vanity Fair has come up with a list featuring the ten best Simpsons episodes ever. The oldest episode featured in the list is from Season 3, 1991. The list was compiled by a contributing editorial associate with help from a few of their other editors.

The Simpsons Game trailer

A trailer for the video game adaptation of The Simpsons Movie can currently be viewed at GameTrailers, in Flash, Quicktime, and Windows Media. Hitting shelves this October, The Simpsons Game will be available to Playstation 2, Playstation 3, XBox 360, and Wii users.

Radio characters get animated

o-meon reports that Click and Clack, Public Radio’s famous Tappet brothers, are to become the first-ever animated primetime series for PBS launching in summer 2008. “The fast-paced series will take off where the radio series ends, focusing on the adventures of Click and Clack and their crew of mechanics and co-workers.” The new series will […]

Guardian on the demise of The Simpsons, plus animated Allen

The UK’s Guardian newspaper today prints an article that pinpoints the exact date The Simpsons went from being “dizzyingly intelligent, daring, exhilarating stuff” to a “stupid shade of what it used to be [with] cheap, idle storytelling” – 1997. This was the year of creative team change at Groening Central, and the piece, available to […]

DC heroes headed to DVD

TVShowsOnDVD has announced two new animated DVD sets to be released soon based on DC Comics superhero characters television series. The first, The Adventures of Aquaman, will feature 36 episodes which originally aired from 1967-68, while the second, The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians, will feature 10 episodes from 1985. Both sets will be released […]

Simpsons Avatar Generator

The official website for The Simpsons Movie allows one to create, in paper-doll fashion, an avatar of themselves (or anyone they prefer, real or fictional) in true Simpsons-like appearance. The website also features several games, a tour of Springfield, and more.

Renaissance comes to DVD for wider audience

On July 24th, Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the blacker than black detective noir thriller Renaissance, which got an extremely limited theatrical run in 2006, on DVD through their Miramax imprint. In the vein of Blade Runner, Minority Report and Sin City, this cel-shaded CGI animation’s English dub cast features the voice of Daniel […]

Springfield, Vermont to host The Simpsons Movie premiere

Reuters reports that the US town of Springfield, Vermont, has beaten 13 rivals and will host the premiere of The Simpsons Movie. The Vermont town, won an online vote with a video showing a Homer Simpson look-alike chasing a giant, pink doughnut through the town.

Ratatouille virtual tour

MovieFone hosts a fun virtual tour of several sets created for the feature film, Ratatouille. Users can explore Gusteau’s kitchen, Linguini’s Apartment, and other various rooms with Remy the rat as your guide.

Mark Smith talks Art of Flash

Mark Smith talks about his latest book, The Art of Flash Animation: Creative Cartooning, while also reminiscing about his career thus far.

Tales From Earthsea English debut in UK

AWN spreads the word that Studio Ghibli’s latest feature Tales From Earthsea is all set to make its English language debut in the UK this July. Directed by Goro Miyazaki, Tales From Earthsea is based on the third and fourth books in Ursula K Le Guin’s six-volume series, published in 1968. However, due to Sci-Fi […]

UPA Founder David Hilberman passes away

AWN reports that David Hilberman, one of the co-founders of UPA, passed away on July 5, 2007, at Stanford Hospital in Stanford, California. Hilberman began his career at Disney as an in-betweener in 1936 and moved up to layout artist, working on shorts such as The Ugly Duckling and Beach Picnic, and later, Bambi. In […]

Secrets Of Isis DVD announcement, YouTube clips

BCI has sent us the press release for their upcoming Secrets Of Isis DVD set, due on July 24. The set will contain every episode of the landmark Filmation Saturday morning live action TV show, plus generous extras. Following the link will show you the press release, as well as links to two YouTube clips […]

Bee Movie Trailer C

DreamWorks Animation has just released a new Bee Movie trailer featuring never-before-seen footage to AOL Moviefone. Click on the link to see superstar comedian Jerry Seinfeld in action as an animated bumblebee experiencing romance and death-defying adventures in the human world.

Flintstones composer Will Shaefer dies

AWN reports that Flintstones composer Will Schaefer passed away from cancer on Saturday, June 30, 2007, in Palm Desert, California. He was 78 years old. Schaefer was also known for his work on such animated series as The Yogi Bear Show and Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

Iranian animation set to break into Guinness Book of World Records

AWN reports that a team of 23 animators at Tehran’s Saba Art and Cultural Institute are all set to break into Guinness Book of World Records by animating a complete three and a half minute film in 16 hours and 45 minutes. According to Maqsud Naoimi-Zaker, Saba Institute’s manager, the film Installing Hajar-Ul-Aswad At The […]

Jack Black on Kung Fu Panda

An article in USA Today takes a look at Jack Black’s involvement in DreamWorks’ upcoming feature film Kung Fu Panda. The story also examines the actor’s interest in animation, noting that he even had some experience animating as a student in high school.

Neil Patrick Harris is The Flash

According to BuddyTV, television actor Neil Patrick Harris has landed the role of The Flash in the upcoming DVD film Justice League: The New Frontier. The article also provides a rough plot outline as well as other cast information. Justice League: The New Frontier is set to hit store shelves January 28, 2008.

Shrek makes it 600 million; plus Jolson sings again!

Shrek The Turd, sorry Third, is bringing in the big bucks, plus “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet”: Jolson gets ready to sing again on DVD!

Shrek the Third Crosses $600 Million Global Threshold

DreamWorks Animation has made the following press release available detailing how its recent Shrek the Third has earned $600 million (and counting) worldwide in box office receipts and how the whole Shrek franchise has crossed the $2 billion mark:

Magic Gourd box office intake

The Secret Of The Magic Gourd, as reported by Yahoo! Movies, has earned over US$1 million in since its release in China on June 29th. While the Walt Disney Co. is happy with its take, Gourd‘s opening week was much less than the American-released Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End (US$10.5 million) and Spider-Man […]

Whatever happened to Robert Zemeckis?

After a string of fantastic, groundbreaking films, Robert Zemeckis seems to be chasing that elusive thing: the “acceptable” mo-cap movie. While it’s hoped Beowulf will mark a return to form, it could be his next collaboration with Jim Carrey that stretches the technology…

Simpsons Movie preview hints at film's plot

Reuters writes that a 10-minute sneak peek at The Simpsons Movie was screened in London last week, as the preview provided clues regarding the film’s storyline. Apparently, the clip suggested that themes surrounding environment and religion play major roles in the movie.

Script review of Beowulf

Film ick analyzes Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman’s screenplay for Robert Zemeckis’ motion-captured adventure Beowulf. The verdict is positive, with the site writing, “Simply put, this script exceeded my every expectation. Not only is it a lean, vicious retelling of the story, but as it whips along, it drips evocative images from every paragraph.”

Remembering What's Opera, Doc?

In celebration of the classic Bugs Bunny short’s golden anniversary, TheStar.com remembers What’s Opera, Doc?, which the site describes as “a cartoon that would likely never be made today.” The essay examines the interesting history of the famous brief feature.

Article names 'worst cartoons ever'

With a list that includes such titles as Transformers, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo and Goof Troop, MSN names seven animated television series that it feels are the “worst cartoons ever.” Other shows to make the cut are Silverhawks, Pokemon, Jem, and Captain Planet.

Spotlight on Pixar's Jason Deamer

Upcoming Pixar points out that a noteworthy article regarding Pixar artist Jason Deamer is now at CGSociety. The piece explains how Deamer attained the job of character designer for the animation house, where he has worked on such films as Ratatouille and Finding Nemo.

TV to DVD: Casper, Denver, Ninja Turtles, Scooby-Doo

TV Shows on DVD reports that the first volume of The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper, inspired by the 1995 live-action film, will hit stores on September 18. As for Shaggy & Scooby: Get a Clue! – Volume 1, the disc is aiming for an October 31 release. In the meantime, word has arrived that […]

Popeye: A Sailor’s Story

The story of Popeye, beginning with his debut in Thimble Theater, to his fame as an animated cartoon icon, a live-action star, and a foray into CGI.