Month: February 2009

A Magic Gourd, Chipmunks, Madagascar's Nana and Wonder Woman? It's another packed post!

Well, do please excuse me…but after the excitement of the Academy Awards earlier this week I haven’t been able to find the time to drop in with my usual comments here! But new reviews have been popping up throughout the week: my take on Disney’s first international co-production, China’s The Secret Of The Magic Gourd, […]

Nana’s back! Elisa Gabrielli on Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Jeremie Noyer manages to pin down that frantic old lady from DreamWorks’ Madagascar movies, Nana’s voice artist Elisa Gabrielli, for a chat on how she brings the character to life!

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

DreamWorks second go around the African continent is a schizophrenic outing that doesn’t know if it wants to be better than the first or just happy to regurgitate all the old highlights.

Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Mystery Of The Easter Chipmunk

The Mystery of the Easter Chipmunk was originally a Direct-to-Video release back in 1995. Now it has been reissued on DVD just in time for a new-found interest in Alvin and his chipmunk brothers. In this DVD, the Chipmunks participate in one Easter-related adventure, and four others from the 80s TV show.

Fox picks up two more Simpsons seasons

According to Variety, Fox Network has picked up two more seasons of it’s hugely popular animated sitcom, The Simpsons. This action will drive the show into it’s 22nd season, making it TV’s longest-running prime time entertainment series. The 44-segment renewal will boost the show’s episode count to a staggering number of 493.

New Up, Terra posters and photos

Recently released images for Up and Battle For Terra can now both be seen on ComingSoon. The first, which features a canine character in Up, can be found here. Meanwhile, the new poster for Terra is available here, while a photo gallery for the film can be viewed here.

Tom & Jerry: Chuck Jones Collection DVD in June

DVDActive reports that Warner Home Video has announced the release of Tom & Jerry: Chuck Jones Collection dvd on 23rd June. The 2-disc set will include 34 remastered shorts and 2 bonus documentaries titled, “Tom and Jerry…and Chuck” and “Chuck Jones: Memories of a Childhood.” List of the cartoons along with the official package artwork […]

The Velveteen Rabbit trailer online

Apple hosts a trailer for the upcoming film The Velveteen Rabbit. The feature, a combination of live-action drama and animated adventure, is directed by Michael Landon Jr and features the voices of artists such as Jane Seymour, Tom Skerritt and Ellen Burstyn. The Velveteen Rabbit opens in theaters on February 20.

DreamWorks Animation income falls 45%

Variety reports that DreamWorks Animation’s latest earnings are reflecting the current revenue dips being experienced by most of the motion picture studios. Added concern for the Broadway musical Shrek and overall DVD sales are among the topics Jeffrey Katzenberg addresses in relation to DWA’s last quarter profit figures.

DeGeneres joins Dog Show cast

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actress Ellen DeGeneres will be lending her voice talents to Dog Show, an animation pitch recently picked up by Warner Bros. Also providing voice work for the in production film are Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey. The movie, written by Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, will center around a […]

Eric Brevig to direct Yogi Bear feature

ComingSoon reports that the upcoming live-action adaption of Yogi Bear will be helmed by Eric Brevig, director of the most recent Journey to the Center of the Earth film. Writing the screenplay will be the executive producers of That 70’s Show, Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia. The Yogi Bear movie, which is planned to be […]

Walt Stanchfield – Drawn to Life

Published for the first time ever, Drawn to Life is a two volume collection of the legendary lectures from long-time Disney animator Walt Stanchfield. Edited by Don Hahn, all of Walt Stanchfield’s amazing handout notes and lectures have been assembled into a two volume collection titled, Drawn to Life – 20 Golden Years of Disney […]

Warner Bros acquires rights to Lonely Dog

Variety reports that Warner Bros. has acquired screen rights to The Lonely Dog, a limited-edition book of paintings done by Queenstown artist Ivan Clarke. Akiva Goldsman and Kerry Foster will produce the CG animated dog tale through Goldsman’s WB based Weed Road banner.

Astro Boy set for October release

Osamu Tezuka’s big screen adaptation of Astro Boy is officially back on track after producer Imagi Entertainment announced it has completed a $25 million financing plan, reports Variety. The animated feature is slated for an October 23 release. According to Imagi’s U.S. president, Erin Corbett, the company has already called back 23 of its staffers […]

The Secret Of The Magic Gourd

Disney’s first international co-production is a delightfully simple hark back to classic family filmmaking, but with the modern trimmings packed in, and this disc presents it with good supplements.

New Monsters Vs Aliens Poster

A French one-sheet for the upcoming DreamWorks comedy Monsters Vs Aliens can be viewed at Internet Movie Poster Awards. The first DreamWorks film intended for 3D, Monsters Vs Aliens will hit theaters on March 27th. Thanks to “CGIFanatic” over at the Animated News & Views Forum for the heads up!

WALL-E tops at Golden Reel Awards

WALL-E was the big winner at the 2009 Golden Reel Awards held by the Motion Picture Sound Editors at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday night, reports THR. The animated feature took the award for best sound editing (sound effects, foley, dialogue and ADR animation) in a feature film. MPSE Career Achievement […]

And the Oscars go to…the (Slum) dogs!

“Each year I do one DreamWorks movie and I take the money from that to the Oscars and bet it on Pixar!” So said Best Animated Feature presenter Jack Black, cracking up Jeffrey Katzenberg and equaling Steve Martin for one of the two funniest lines of the evening at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, held […]

WALL-E, La Maison pick up Oscars

Pixar’s Andrew Stanton picked up his second career Best Animated Feature Oscar, this time for WALL-E, at the 81st Academy Awards. La Maison en Petits Cubes was named the Best Animated Short Film. In accepting the award for WALL-E, Stanton thanked Ed Catmull, John Lasseter, and Steve Jobs for “creating a cinematic safe haven where […]

Shrek Goes Fourth plot description?

ComingSoon has posted what could be the storyline for Shrek Goes Fourth, the next installment of DreamWork’s Shrek film franchise. The plot description includes Shrek signing a deal with Rumplestiltskin, after which the ogre finds himself in an alternate version of Far Far Away. The sequel has a planned release date of May 21, 2010.

A Bug's Life and Monsters, Inc Blu-ray in May

Walt Disney Home Entertainment has announced the release of Pixar films A Bug’s Life and Monsters, Inc on Blu-ray on May 19th, reports PixarPlanet. According to the report, both titles will be two-discs set, featuring a digital copy of the film on a separate DVD. Extras for these two films will include all the features […]

The Art Of Pixar Shorts, plus last chance for the Oscar Contest!

Added yesterday to the site is Randall’s look at Amid Amidi’s latest animation book, The Art Of Pixar Short Films, a weighty tome that uniquely explores an often overlooked aspect of the CG studio’s output. Covering thirteen of Pixar’s short films from The Adventures Of Wally B. to Lifted, the book very neatly separates them […]

Ponyo honored at Tokyo International Anime fair

AnimeNewsNetwork reports that Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea was named the Animation of the Year at the 8th annual Tokyo Anime Awards. Ponyo also won the Domestic Feature Film category, while Miyazaki won honors as the director and story creator. Kung Fu Panda was the winner in the International Feature Film […]

More Tom And Jerry Tales, plus we need your Blu-ray help!

Rodney has jumped in with his latest review, a very enthusiastic one for the most recent collection of episodes from Tom And Jerry Tales Volume Six. I must admit to trying to catch the show as and when I can but haven’t seen too much of it. However I would certainly agree that I’ve been […]

Happily N’Ever After 2 DVD in March

DVDActive reports that Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced the release of Happily N’Ever After 2 for the 24th March. The only extra material on the disc will be 3 interactive games, “Red Riding Hood Challenge”, “Bo Peep and the Sheep” and “Snow White and the Great Hall.”

The Art Of Pixar Short Films

Amid Amidi writes a book that fills the gap in the “Art of” series of Pixar books. Aside from the pretty pictures, there is a pretty good overview of the studio’s history included.

Fire burns down Totoro's House

AnimeNewsNetwork reports that a fire which broke out on Saturday night, destroyed the vacant Tokyo house best known as “Totoro’s Home.” Studio Ghibli co-founder and director of My Neighbor Totoro, Hayao Miyazaki described the house in the book Totoro no Sumu Ie (The Homes that Totoro Lives in) as a “home that Totoro would have […]

Battle for Terra trailer online

Movie-List has made available the trailer for Lionsgate’s upcoming animated flick Battle for Terra. Directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas, the animated adventure features the voices of Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, Justin Long, Amanda Peet, Chris Evans and Dennis Quaid. Battle for Terra tells the story from the perspective of the aliens whose peaceful planet is […]

Tom and Jerry Tales: Volume Six

Tom and Jerry return for the sixth and final volume of their latest incarnation – Tom and Jerry Tales. In these fifteen cartoons, the duo travels around the world and back in time, singing and dancing their way through new hilarious adventures.