Subject: Animated News Weekly

11/23/03 - 11/29/03 

Hi -- here we go with another Animated News Weekly. Please copy and paste any split links into your browser for more info on a given subject. This week's news was... 



----FEATURE FILMS---- 

Ain't It Cool News posted a spoiler-filled first look at THE INCREDIBLES, based on an early test screening:http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16564 For those who wish to miss the story spoilers, we have a cut down version:http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000319.html 

Staying with THE INCREDIBLES, and it seems original composer John Barry's demos for the score didn't go down too well with the folks at Pixar. Michael Giacchino (TV's Alias) has been signed to complete the music, according to his site: http://www.michaelgiacchino.com/EPMnews.html 

For Your Consideration: the Oscar race was off this week with the first print ads for two of the main runners, FINDING NEMO and TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE. OscarWatch - http://www.oscarwatch.com/index.html - has scans of the ads: 
Nemo Best Picture: http://www.100megs24.com/~editor1/FYC/Buena_Vista/Finding_Nemo/ 
Nemo Best Director: http://www.100megs24.com/~editor1/FYC/Buena_Vista/Finding_Nemo/nemo2.html 
Belleville Best Animated Feature: http://www.100megs24.com/~editor1/FYC/Sony_Pictures_Classics/triplets.html 

Jim Hill's back again with a look at the recent shake ups at Disney Animation, including news on Mark Dindal's CHICKEN LITTLE:http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/11242003.1.htm~contentFrame 

Cinescape links to the trailer at Working Title Films, which is producing the live-action THUNDERBIRDS movie, due for release next summer:http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Movies&action=page&obj_id=40252&type_id=270285&cat_id=270338?_id=0# 

Michael Barrier, the animation historian and writer, takes a look at a series of recent releases on his site, including BROTHER BEAR, LOONEY TUNES BACK IN ACTION, AMERICAN SPLENDOR and a look back at THE IRON GIANT. We have the full links:http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000334.html 

Japanese studio Production IG is joining with Manga Video to produce a new movie, Dead Leaves. The trailer is now up on the film's main site:http://www.deadleaves.jp/ 

BARBIE on the big screen? Demi Moore, who staged a comeback in this summer's Charlie's Angles sequel, is apparently interested in taking on the Barbie brand and creating a live-action movie. Moviehole jokes that "thankfully, no word on Demi starring as Barbie yet":http://www.moviehole.net/news.php?newsid=2777 

The Moose Hole sees Grim Grinning Ghosts with its review of the theme-park attraction-turned-movie THE HAUNTED MANSION:http://www.hostultra.com/~TheMooseHole/Haunted%20Mansion.htm The Internet Movie Database collects various other critics views:http://www.imdb.com/StudioBrief/#2 and Cinescape compares it to Pirates Of The Caribbean:http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Movies&action=page&obj_id=40271 

More MANSION: VFX World looks at the computer assisted effects: http://vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=319b255d&atype=articles&id=1931 

Six years in production French animated "social fairy tale" LA PROPHÉTIE DES GRENOUILLES is finally released in France next weekend. A fun, full trailer is online at the film's Allocine site: http://www.allocine.fr/film/anecdote_gen_cfilm=28677.html 

THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE was given it's Canadian premiere on November 29th in Ottawa - the Big Cartoon Forum lets us know that there's still time to catch the Vancouver premiere: it's a week later, on Saturday, December 6: http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=15576 

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, Miyazaki's next, has a trailer online available from Buta-Connection: http://www.buta-connection.net/ghibli.php3
direct link: http://www.buta-connection.net/accueil/howlsmovingcastle_preview.avi 

GHOST IN THE SHELL sequel INNOCENCE is to be distributed by DreamWorks next year. An extended six-minute "Special Preview" trailer is now online available from Catsuka.com: http://catsuka.com/interf/new_index.html
direct link: http://www.catsuka.com/interf/bideo/files/Innocence_Special_Preview.avi 



----DVD RELEASES---- 

FRANK AND OLLIE, the 1995 documentary on Disney animators Thomas and Johnston, does exist and is available for purchase online from Amazon.com. The film is proving hard to find in actual stores, but DVD Toons has a full review and the disc is well worth checking out:http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/256 
We have the full specs and a link to buy online: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000345.html 

THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE looks to be extending its shelf life, with a new sequel and TV series in the works, according to Jim Hill Media:http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/11242003.1.htm~contentFrame 

Based on the classic DisneyLand ride, and a smash success this summer, THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL hits DVD this week. DVD File was first online with a full review of the two-disc set, and very nice it looks too:http://www.dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_7/piratesofthecaribbeancurse.html 

THE LION KING 1 1/2 gets good reviews on the official website, including long-time Disney fan Leonard Maltin, who calls the mid-quel "an animation extravaganza", whatever that means: http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/lionking112/index.html 

LOONEY TUNES around the world: Cartoon Research posted a look at the Brazilian equivalent of the GOLDEN DVD COLLECTION:http://www.cartoonresearch.com/kaz.html 

DVD Toons reports on Fox Home Entertainment's release of the Third Season of FUTURAMA on DVD: http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/498 UK fans can go out and buy Season Four now. 

JOHNNY LEGEND PRESENTS: THE COMPLETE WEIRD CARTOONS, a strange title for a strange pick of excellent early animation, will be released on disc next January. DVD Toons has the full list and hopefully these will be restored, original un-tampered versions:http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/497 



----CHARACTERS AND HISTORY---- 

Berkeley Breathed's OPUS, from his Pulitzer Prize winning Bloom County strip, returned to the Sunday papers on November 23rd. The penguin also gave interviews to MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.com/news/992830.asp?cp1=1 and Sunspot.net:http://www.sunspot.net/features/bal-to.opus21nov21,0,5675207.story?coll=bal-features-headlines 

Mickey's future? Cultural figurehead or past-it movie star? The New York Times makes it clear that sales of next year's Mouse films, the 2D THREE MUSKETEERS and the 3D disappointment-in-waiting Twice Upon A Christmas will point the way forward:http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/24/business/media/24mouse.html?ex=1070254800&en=a886c054896adc89&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE 

Mickey's history: Jim Hill Media is back with a look at Mickey's role in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade:http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/wsampson.11262003.1.htm~contentFrame 

PEABO BRYSON, who won Grammy awards for his participation in Disney's Aladdin and Beauty And The Beast soundtracks, is having a spot of tax trouble. Now, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announces that the IRS is selling off many of his properties, including those Grammys:http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/1103/28peabo.html A full list of the December 5-6 auction items can be found here:http://www.ustreas.gov/auctions/irs/atlgamusic.html 



----TELEVISION / THEMED / STAGE---- 

What makes an animated TV show a hit? Animation World Network tries to locate the magic formula:http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1928&page=4 

Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is going CG! But don't worry; this incarnation is for the long in development video game based on the film. Games giant Capcom is working on the game for release next year, we have the full details and links here:http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000333.html 

I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN: the official ABC website now has a dedicated page:http://abc.go.com/specials/cbrown_dog_xmas.html 

The future of DUCK DODGERS and BATMAN: producer Paul Dini's been talking, and Toon Zone has the news:http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=95394 

Broadway.com announces that experienced up-and-comer Laura Michelle Kelly will play MARY POPPINS in the stage adaptation that makes its debut in London next year. The show is a co-pro between Disney and Cameron Mackintosh:http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32605&CT=38 



----BUSINESS---- 

More CG artists needed! The LA Times ran a story on the apparent dearth of great computer animation artists out there, a situation that could push talent salaries up in a repeat of what happened in the mid-90s with traditional animators:http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-weta23nov23,1,1140535.story 

The TOON BOOM: five of the eleven eligible films up for Oscar consideration were ink and painted using Toon Boom Technologies' USAnimation software. While Disney's main unit and DreamWorks have their own proprietary systems, other studios regularly use the package, on television shows and films this year such as The Jungle Book 2, Piglet's Big Movie, Looney Tunes: Back In Action, Rugrats Go Wild and The Triplets of Belleville. http://www.usanimation.com/pdf/OscarNominations.htm 

FLASH, but serious: the web application developed by Macromedia has grown by leaps and bounds, now being put to use in the broadcast world. AWN has more: http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1930 



----WRAP UP---- 

That's all for this week, folks! Don't forget to visit us online at www.animated-news.com and contribute through our forums:http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/ 

Have a great week, 
The Animated-News Team. 


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