Month: June 2009

New Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs poster

A new one-sheet advertising Sony’s Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs has appeared online and can be viewed at Internet Poster Movie Awards. The animated comedy, based on a children’s novel of the same name, is due to hit theaters this September.

Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs

With a surprisingly action-packed Dawn of the Dinosaurs, the Ice Age franchise may not yet be extinct.

Academy to double Best Picture nominations

In a move that could end up benefiting animated films, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that they are doubling the number of nominations for Best Picture at the Academy Awards from five to ten. AMPAS president Sid Ganis said, “After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some […]

Exclusive Princess and the Frog featurette

AWNtv hosts an exclusive Princess and the Frog featurette with John Lasseter, Andreas Deja, Ron Clements and John Musker discussing Disney’s return to hand drawn animation. Directed by Clements and Musker, Princess and the Frog will be out in theaters on November 25 in Los Angeles and New York and nationwide on December 11.

Ponyo trailer debuts online

Apple has made available the trailer for Hayao Miyazaki’s upcoming feature Ponyo in various formats including HD. Ponyo follows the story of an ordinary boy and his friendship with Ponyo, a goldfish who wishes to be human. Featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White […]

Interview with Pixar animator Guiherme Jacinto

Examiner has an exclusive interview with aspiring Pixar animator Guilherme Jacinto whose works includes movies such as Wall-E and Up. The young animator shares his journey from Brazil to Pixar, and also talks about landing a job at Pixar, his inspirations, and working on Up and Wall-E. Thanks to Pixar Planet for the story.

Live action Akira scrapped?

BD Horror News reports that the live action adaptation of the anime classic Akira could be dead. The project was announced about a year ago as a massive two-part apocalypse story, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros Pictures. Ruairi Robinson, who was expected to make his directorial debut with Akira, has reportedly […]

Ghibli's Ocean Waves DVD release in UK

Anime News Network reports that Studio Ghibli’s Ocean Waves has been scheduled for a dvd release by Optimum Home Entertainment on August 17 in UK. The 72 minute animated movie, which premiered as a television special, is the last Studio Ghibli feature to get a dvd release in an English speaking region. Tomomi Mochizuki became […]

A tribute to Hayao Miyazaki by John Lasseter

Anime News Network reports that Hayao Miyazaki, the director of the Academy award winning film Spirited Away, will appear at the headquarters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Southern California on July 28. John Lasseter will host “A Tribute to Animation Master Hayao Miyazaki” event at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater […]

Up likely to soar to incredible heights

Variety reports that Disney/Pixar’s 3D feature Up is likely to become the second highest grossing Pixar film at the domestic box office after Finding Nemo. After less than a month at the multiplexes, Up‘s domestic gross was $187.4 million, the second best of any summer film to date. The article further adds that Up will […]

The Art Of Up is simplexity itself!

Jeremie Noyer drops by again today to bring us his review of the new book The Art Of Up, apparently a fitting tribute to the wonderful Pixar film. As Jeremie writes, the images perfectly capture the “simplexity” of the production design in Up. Read his review to see what he means. After a flurry of […]

The Art Of Up

Jeremie Noyer reviews The Art Of Up, which looks at the development of Pixar’s latest movie.

John Lasseter at Studio Ghibli

PixarPlanet shares details on John Lasseter’s recent visit to Studio Ghibli in Tokyo. Lasseter, who was in Japan to promote Bolt, visited Ghibli Museum and also signed the wall of fame. John Lasseter and the crew of Bolt also sat down to talk about their craft with Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki.

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure DVD in October

DVDActive reports that Disney Home Entertainment has announced DVD and Blu-ray releases of Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure for the October 27. Extras on this release will include Alternate scenes, Deleted scenes with optional intros by director Klay Hall and producer Sean Lurie, a Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow, and a Pixie Hollow Comes […]

Nick Park visits Studio Ghibli

Official Wallace & Gromit site reports that Nick Park, the creator of Wallace and Gromit, paid a visit to Studio Ghibli where he was introduced to studio founder Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki. Nick Park took a tour of the studio, meeting the Ghibli team and viewing the play school, designed by Hayao Miyazaki. […]

Ponyo to open on 800 screens

According to Frank Marshall, Ponyo will mark the biggest opening for a Hayao Miyazaki film in United States when it opens on 800 screens in August, reports Nausicaa. In comparison, Miyazaki’s Spirited Away topped out at 600 screens the weekend after its Oscar win in 2003 while Howl’s Moving Castle finished with 202 screens in […]

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition DVD in September

UltimateDisney reports that Walt Disney Home Entertainment have announced the release of Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition dvd on September 8. The single disc release will feature a digitally restored and remastered transfer of the 139-minute cut of the film, deleted song “A Step in the Right Direction”, featurettes “The Wizards of Special Effects” […]

New 9 poster

A new theatrical poster for the upcoming animated feature 9 has appeared online and can be viewed over at Film School Rejects. The one-sheet displays the film’s protagonist against a post-apocalyptic backdrop. 9 hits theaters on the 9th of July.

Futurama is back… again

After being canceled after four seasons on FOX, then jumping from Cartoon Network to Comedy Central in reruns, then getting four new direct to DVD movies, Futurama has received yet another new lease on life, Variety reports. 20th Century Fox TV is producing 26 new episodes of the series for Comedy Central with an option […]

Exclusive: Going Up with Pixar director Pete Docter!

Saturday Morning Cartoons – 1970s reviewed, plus Jeremie speaks exclusively to Up director Pete Docter!

Pete Docter’s Up-bringing!

Animated News & Views’ Jeremie Noyer goes Up with Pixar’s Pete Docter to exclusively reflect on the director’s influences, past career and the workings of his multi-layered new movie!

Saturday Morning Cartoons – 1970s: Volume 1

Ignore the ridiculous warning on the cover— These cartoons ARE for kids, and kids at heart. There are too many episodes on here that we’ve seen on DVD before, but there are also some pretty rare shows.

Shrek the Musical wins Tony Award

DreamWorks Theatricals’ Shrek the Musical took home a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley). The production was nominated for 8 awards including Best Musical.

New Up interviews

The Washington Post speaks briefly with Up writer, co-director and voice of Dug the dog, Bob Peterson. Concurrently USA Today talks with Pixar’s “lucky charm” John Ratzenberger, who’s contributed a performance in all 10 of Pixar’s movies, starting with Ham the piggy bank in Toy Story.

Heathcliff to make comeback

Variety reports Magic Lantern Entertainment has entered into a joint agreement with FitzRoy Media to develop a range of properties, from direct-to-DVD toons to a potential live-action theatrical feature, around the flabby tabby, updating the popular comicstrip character for the 21st century.

Spectacular Spider-Man season 1 DVD box art

TV Shows on DVD has the finalized front and rear box art for The Spectacular Spider-Man – The Complete First Season. The DVD is scheduled for a July 28th release date.

Review Roundup: Up flies high, plus Hanna-Barbera classics

We’ve had lots of fun reviews for you guys and gals this past week! Ben’s been too busy to brag them up, but I wanted to be sure to bring these items to your attention before the week ended. First up is Up, James’ review of Pixar’s latest theatrical feature. As usual for Pixar, there’s […]

Shrek, WALL-E at the Tony Awards

Jim Hill reports that WALL-E will be making an appearance at the Tony Awards this Sunday. Jerry Herman (composer of such Broadway his as La Cage aux Folles, Mame, and, of course, Hello Dolly!) will be receiving a lifetime achievement award and WALL-E will be part of the tribute. Also making a big splash at […]

Saturday Morning Cartoons – 1960s: Volume 1

The best of what Saturday mornings had to offer in the 1960s. Awesome collection.

The Jetsons: Season Two, Volume One

After twenty-two years, The Jetsons returned to television with a second season in 1985. These twenty-one episodes feature the space-age family in exciting new adventures.