Animated News Weekly Archive
One downside to getting to celebrate another big milestone like our 20th anniversary is that there's not a lot more left to show or tell about our history. However, after some major excavation deep into the embarrassingly cluttered AV archives, we were able to find another dusty bit of long lost content under some old boxes of cease and desist letters and moldy Norm Of The North promotional plush.
From the first week of our launch in October of 2003 and intermittently over the next six years or so, we had an email newsletter. Sure these messages may not be too useful anymore! But they're actually kind of fun as a sort of virtual time capsule. And perhaps some future animation researcher might find the links useful. Either way, they're part of our story and we're happy to be able to move them from the dark, cobwebbed recesses of the AV archives and back into the warm light of our anniversary celebration!
So travel back 20 years with us to see how we covered the top stories of the day!
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Subject: Animated News Weekly 02/08/04 – 02/15/04: Hello, and it’s been another rather eventful week on the business side of the world of animation. We’ve got all the biggest headlines in the Animated News Weekly – please copy and paste any split links into your browser for more info on a given subject. ----INDUSTRY---- The winners of the 31st annual ANNIE AWARDS were released early Sunday morning last week, just after our last edition went out. By now you’ll no doubt know who took home prizes, with Finding Nemo and The Simpsons being the big winners, with nine and four awards each, respectively (Pixar also collecting for Best Short). Here’s a run-down of the complete list: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000835.html Jim Hill has more on the ANNIES: http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/dizbiz.02092004.1.htm~contentFrame Following the Pixar spilt, Michael Eisner is taking Disney’s online video-based content away from Apple QuickTime and over to Microsoft: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=4310373§ion=news Disney’s Dick Cook also reiterated that the Studio would be making more Pixar films – without Pixar! Sequels on the way: http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?forum_id=7&topic_id=8246 The on-going Roy Disney/Michael Eisner situation got a definitive reaction from the Disney Board this week, with an open letter to shareholders, though still no word on the matter from the Big Cheese himself: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000851.html Roy and Stanley Gold respond to that open letter: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000852.html The Disney Board say they were planning for Eisner’s retirement, whatever the outcome of the current events: http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=19377 Meanwhile Abigail Disney, daughter of Roy, was not invited to the Disney Company’s two-day business meeting for institutional investors and analysts: http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=19362 And then: COMCAST MAKES $66bn BID FOR DISNEY COMPANY. A shock announcement, it would see the cable giant merge with the Mouse House to create the biggest media conglomerate in the world, easily topping rivals Time Warner and Viacom in this area. CNN has links, polls and the history behind the deal: http://money.cnn.com/2004/02/11/news/companies/comcast_disney/index.htm?cnn=yes We have Comcast CEO’s Brian Roberts’ open letter to Disney shareholders: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000857.html Disney’s initial response: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000858.html CBS looks at the strange fact that Disney’s annual meeting this year is to be held in Philadelphia – where Comcast have their headquarters. The article also mentions that Eisner’s days at the top of Disney may be numbered, however the Comcast bid turns out: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=%7BA40FD307%2D4CC2%2D4629%2DA751%2DFB16F29A69B8%7D Jim Hill transcripts and prints Comcast’s press conference, which outlines their plans for the proposed new company: http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/02122004.1.htm Could Roy be in league with Comcast? And is Steve Jobs of Apple and Pixar in on this too? The conspiracy theories get an airing at Jim Hill: http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/02132004.1.htm~contentFrame Finally this week, Animated News has the latest developments in Comcast’s deal for Disney. Is Steve Jobs being “wooed” by Comcast, or is he setting up his own bid for Disney? What’s Michael Eisner’s attitude to all of this? Roy Disney now looks to be lending his name to the proposed Comcast merger, and other media giants look like they may be eyeing the Mouse too. It’s all getting very complicated over at the Magic Kingdom: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000887.html ----FEATURE FILMS---- Rival TINTINs? Apart from Steven Spielberg’s long awaited adaptation, it seems his old friend Roman Polanski may be eyeing up the famous French detective also: http://www.moviehole.net/news/3150.html An early review of the SHREK 2 workprint (spoilers ahoy!): http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040209g.php LEGACY ANIMATION, the studio kick-stared by a group of dedicated animation professionals booted from Disney-Florida, and intent on seeing traditional 2D animation continue, have announced their first short: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000845.html Logos, pictures and concepts for CHICKEN LITTLE, BOUNDIN’ and RAPUNZEL UNBRAIDED: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000848.html Catch the full 2½-minute trailer for SHREK 2, tonight (Sunday 15) after NBC’s premiere of the original: http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=3385 …plus check out the revamped SHREK 2 website for new updates, plus the trailer itself after it airs on NBC: http://www.shrek2.com/ The 2D/3D Japanese APPLESEED trailer, now in QuickTime: http://www.apple.co.jp/quicktime/trailers/appleseed_large.html L'ÎLE DE BLACK MOR, a French Treasure Island-styled animated movie, was released this week in France. Catch a trailer here: http://www.allocine.fr/film/anecdote_gen_cfilm=53976.html Disney’s HOME ON THE RANGE website has been updated and is one of the most fun sites out there. Wacky sound effects, song clips, trailers and more await: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/homeontherange/main.html? ----DVD RELEASES---- Popular English character RUPERT THE BEAR is coming home again, thanks to a new release from Miramax that includes the 1984 Paul McCartney-produced RUPERT AND THE FRG SONG featurette, a magical short that deserves another chance on home video: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000836.html The Digital Bits has a first look at the cover art for SAMUARI JACK: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/upcomingart7.html News around the web reports that ALADDIN’s DVD release this October will come in standard 2-disc and luxury Gift Set, as with last year’s The Lion King set. The full press release, also mentioning the addition of Ashman/Menken’s “Proud Of Your Boy” song, is here: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2658 The animation on disc review site DVD Toons came back online this week, with several new features and reviews. Top of the list was a full, in-depth look at THE LION KING 1½: http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/265 …plus recent releases, THE CRITIC: http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/264 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series: http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/263 …and a great article of stop-motion legend RAY HARRYHAUSEN: http://www.dvdtoons.com/features/62 LION KING 1½ gets more good reviews: http://dvd.ign.com/articles/490/490650p1.html http://www.comingsoon.net/news/dvdreviewsnews.php?id=3234 THE LION KING 1½ has become the quickest selling DTV title yet: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/dvdreviewsnews.php?id=3234 …and looks to become the biggest selling made for video title of all time: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/?epi_menuItemID=989a6827590d7dda9cdf6023a0908a0c&epi_menuID=c791260db682611740b28e347a808a0c&epi_baseMenuID=384979e8cc48c441ef0130f5c6908a0c&newsId=20040213005504&ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&div=1865077808 Full specs and menu shots from the upcoming BROTHER BEAR disc. Note that Rutt and Tuke’s Commentary Menu states “their first feature film” – could another DTV be on the way?: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/brother.html We have a first scan of the LION KING II: SIMBA’S PRIDE artwork for the upcoming 2-disc DVD, with a decidedly off character Simba: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000878.html LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION kicks off at the UK box office this weekend, and there’s also news of the GOLDEN DVD COLLECTION making its way to HMV stores: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000890.html PINK PANTHER on DVD: It may be worth holding off on that new set of classic films this April. Word is, to coincide with next year’s release of the new Steve Martin MASK OF THE PINK PANTHER, that the entire 9-film series will be issued on disc again (the current box set only collects five of the Peter Sellers films). More news on the new feature, plus DVD details, here: http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00000891.html ----INTERVIEWS---- Mike Reiss talks Simpsons, DVDs and movies: http://www.dvdfanatic.com/news.php?id=0402101 Promoting his new feature, SHREK will be interviewed by Barbara Walters in her traditional pre-Oscars show, on February 29 on ABC: http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808405860 ----CHARACTERS AND HISTORY---- A CGI POPEYE will sail onto television and DVD later this year. If POPEYE’S VOYAGE: THE SEARCH FOR PAPPY is a hit, King Features has mentioned other specials, series or animated movies down the line: http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=3425 SPONGE BOB SQAUERPANTS Valentines surprises and movie news: http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=19561 ----TELEVISION / THEMED / STAGE---- Returning to the darkness of the original comics, Warners THE BATMAN looks to have some similarities with the Christian Bale live-action film shooting now: http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?forum_id=7&topic_id=8182 Broadway.com this week had to report the sad news of the apparent suicide death of Jason Raize, first to play Simba in The Lion King stage show, and also a voice contributor to Brother Bear. He was 28: http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=33877&CT=38 Adding to Disney’s woes was the sudden death of “cast member” Javier Cruz, crushed by a float during a routing parade at the Magic Kingdom: http://www.wftv.com/news/2840519/detail.html FATHER OF THE PRIDE, DreamWorks’ animated sitcom, will replace Friends on NBC: http://www.tvbarn.com/ticker/archives/019015.html UK visitors can take a peek into the amazing world of Aardman Animation, for the half-term school holidays: http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/explore/aardman.htm?Continue=+Continue+ GHOST IN THE SHELL comes to TV, with a 26-part series, STAND ALONE COMPLEX: http://www.bandai-ent.com/news/pr.cfm?id=69 ----BUSINESS---- The computer animation/compositing/rendering software ALIAS, used for the majority of Hollywood special effects films, may be up for sale from SGI: http://www.cgchannel.com/news/viewfeature.jsp?newsid=2459 ----WRAP UP---- That’s all for this very exciting week, folks! Don’t forget to visit us online at http://www.animated-news.com and contribute through our forums: http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/ Have a great week, The Animated-News Team. ---------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The news shared in this email contains material and links to other non-associated websites. Animated-News.com is not responsible for any consequences arising from the participating and use of these sites, and cannot be held liable for any content that may prove to be untrue, or stories that may later have elements within them changed by the creators of the reported projects. Original content ©2004 Animated-News.com.
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