Subject: Animated News UPDATE

FEBRUARY UPDATES:

Hello, and welcome back to a packed Animated News Weekly. We’ve been pretty busy here at “AN Towers”, so apologies for the lack of updates during February. As always, please copy and paste any split links into your browser for more info on a given subject. We’ll be back to our regular weekly updates from March, but in the meantime, last month’s top stories were. . .



----FEATURE FILMS----

THE ANNIES – the annual awards – where The Incredibles was the big winner – in full, plus commentaries and reports:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003000.html

THE INCREDIBLES – more top honors go to the Pixar sequel, this time from the Rotten Tomatoes crew, who award the “best reviewed film of 2004” their Golden Tomato gong:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003016.html

TOMMY – could this be for real? The Who’s rock musical is looking to get a $400 million (yes, $400 MILLION) makeover from Grease producer Robert Stigwood (let’s not forget that his other ideas turned into the “hits” that were Grease 2 and the Bee Gees’ Beatles musical Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!):
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/the%20who.s%20tommy%20to%20become%20most%20expensive%20animation

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN II: DEAD MAN’S CHEST – tidbits on the upcoming sequel:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003002.html

MORE PIRATES II NEWS – story details and release dates for the next two movies:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003014.html

EVEN MORE PIRATES II – Could Keith Richards miss the boat in appearing in the upcoming Pirates Of The Caribbean sequels because of a rumored pay demand? Plus news on the film’s controversial cannibal tribe:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003095.html

PIRATES II AND III – Hans Zimmer, who produced the score for the first film, will actually write the music for the upcoming sequels. He’s also taking over from Harry Gregson-Williams to provide music for MADAGASCAR:
http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/composer.asp?ID=41

MIRRORMAN – an innovative new CGI hybrid feature has a trailer up:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003003.html

THE EASTER EGG ESCAPADE – John Michael Williams’ book goes silver screen:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003004.html

A DAY WITH WILBUR ROBINSON – as well as scoring the CGI Charlotte’s Web remake, DANNY ELFMAN will provide music for Disney’s upcoming CGI adventure:
http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/composer.asp?ID=15

TOY STORY 3 – moved from an assumed 2007 release date to 2008, also with the news that it “would not be the main Disney feature release for that year”, but “would be theatrical”:
http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20050201/110730566400.html

“YES” TO ROGER DEAN MOVIE – the British artist, known for his album covers for the band Yes, will have a CGI movie based around his work:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003021.html

SCOOBY 3 – if there is a second sequel, it will likely be a direct-to-video affair, and not with the original cast or crew:
http://www.moviehole.net/news/4997.html

ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN – to be released March 31 2006:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003024.html

ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN – the first, Scrat-based trailer will debut with Fox’s Robots:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2005-02-24-coming-attractions_x.htm

HAPPILY N’EVER AFTER – Sigourney Weaver lends her voice and talks about the upcoming feature:
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=0&id=30360

KING KONG – Ray Harryhausen gives his blessing to Peter Jackson’s remake:
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050209e.php

MADAGASCAR – early good review:
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19380

MADAGASCAR – new trailer:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movies/feature/madagascar.html

MADAGASCAR – a very fun final poster:
http://www.impawards.com/2005/madagascar_ver7.html

MADAGASCAR – another early review:
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19408

MADAGASCAR – international trailer:
http://www.uipfilm.ch/trailers/madagascar_intl1_qt_352.mov

FLUSHED AWAY – the DreamWorks rat project (not to be confused with Pixar’s rat project, naturally!) has changed its name to RATROPOLIS:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424095/

DESTINO – still no news of a DVD release, but look out for screenings until May:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003065.html

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE continues to be a hit wherever it is released:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050211/3/t0q9.html

VALIANT – as the UK release date draws near, the film’s production and company, Vanguard, are profiled:
http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=30574

ROBOTS – the final poster for the Blue Sky/Fox pic:
http://latinoreview.com/films_2005/fox/robots/poster.html

RAPUNZEL (no sans the “Unbraided” part of the title) will have songs written by Jeanine Tesori, who contributed a handful of so-so songs to the direct-to-video Mulan II soundtrack:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003091.html

THE WALLACE AND GROMIT MOVIE – website up for DreamWorks/Aardman’s October feature:
http://www.wandg.com/

CHRONICLES OF NARNIA – how Disney will market The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and its Christian-themed story angles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/movies/20kehr.html?pagewanted=1

MORE NARNIA – a new featurette looks at director Andrew Adamson:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=8473

A SCANNER DARKLY – many people couldn’t get over director Richard Linklater’s Waking Life not only due to the talky plot, but also the film’s continuously moving, animated-over-live-action images. With a strong story by Philip K Dick, the trailer for Linklater’s new film, using the same technology to preserve the look of a graphic novel, has appeared online:
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2665143?htv=12&htv=12

PUSS IN BOOTS – DreamWorks’ Antonio Banderas spin-off from Shrek 2 looks to be going the theatrical route, though it is still undecided at this time. David H (Slackers, American Pie 2) Steinberg has been hired to write:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003137.html



----DVD RELEASES----

SONG OF THE SOUTH – various rumors have the film coming to disc for a 60th Anniversary edition in 2006:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003008.html

SONG OF THE SOUTH – the rumors have spread, with more of the film’s history:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003028.html

SONG OF THE SOUTH – veteran Disney animator Floyd Norman talks Brer Rabbit:
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1296

SONG OF THE SOUTH – more on the “looks like it could actually be happening” front:
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1313

WALT DISNEY TREASURES – a bi of a mixed bag this year, with Disney Rarities, Legendary Heroes, Spin And Marty and more Chronological Donald coming to disc:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003097.html

SHARK TALE – the DVD release has spawned some new controversy from those against the film’s supposed Italian stereotypes:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003039.html

SHARK TALE – the movie continues to surprise with a record DVD haul:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/15/news/newsmakers/sharktale.reut/

TARZAN II – release date and news of more Cartoon Favorites releases:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003049.html

TARZAN II – new images and two promotional cards:
http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7547

POCAHONTAS: 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION – the “If I Never Knew You” song is confirmed to have been completed and inserted back into the film (just as it should have been ten years ago), as this online video preview confirms:
http://www.totaleclips.com/player/splash.aspx?custid=3&playerid=2&clipid=e23147

BAMBI – “fun facts” on Disney’s recently released classic:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003068.html
LILO AND STITCH 2: STITCH HAS A GLITCH – new girl in town Dakota Fanning will replace Daveigh Chase (who provided the voice in the original, the DTV spin-off and the TV series) as Lilo:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003094.html

BAMBI AND THE GREAT PRINCE – as talk for the 2006 “midquel” begins, take a look at some behind-the-scenes images from the featurette on the Bambi: Platinum Edition DVD:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003101.html

BAMBI – IGN Film Force looks at Disney’s latest release:
http://dvd.ign.com/articles/590/590656p1.html

MIYAZAKI REVIEWS – Nausicaa and The Cat Returns get the once overs, plus a look at Disney’s older, 2-disc set for Dinosaur, and their new Bambi Platinum Edition:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003112.html
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003121.html

JACK-JACK ATTACK – the new short in the Incredibles DVD gets a sneak peek:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003131.html

MR INCREDIBLE AND PALS – another peek at another bonus feature from the new DVD, this features a decidedly Filmation-styled look at the cartoon adventures of Bob Parr and co:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003132.html



----INTERVIEWS----

CHRISTOPHER MARKUS and STEVEN McFEELY talk adapting CHRONICLES OF NARNIA to the silver screen:
http://rechargemag.com/wcms/index.php?id=33,63,0,0,1,0

TILDA SWINTON – talking about the rather confused Constantine, the actress speaks about her role in CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
http://www.moviehole.net/news/5012.html

ANNASPOHIA ROBB talks Violet Beauregarde in the new CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY:
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050209g.php

JAMIE KENNEDY talks taking on the Mask in the Carrey-less sequel:
http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/K/Kennedy_Jamie/2005/02/15/931331.html

JAMIE KENNEDY continues to wax lyrical about his new Mask:
http://latinoreview.com/films_2005/newline/sonofthemask/kennedy-interview.html

ALAN CUMMING joins the Mask chit-chat:
http://latinoreview.com/films_2005/newline/sonofthemask/cumming-interview.html

DISNEY WAR – the book’s author James B Stewart talks Disney politics to the Motley Fool:
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2005/commentary05022206.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y&bounce=y&bounce2=y

DISNEY WAR – another part to the Fool’s interview with Stewart:
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2005/commentary05022403.htm

BAMBI – an interview with Don Dunagan, the voice of the young deer himself, who looks back on the film and his extraordinary life since:
http://www.ultimatedisney.com/bambi-interview.html



----CHARACTERS AND HISTORY----

JOHN VERNON, the versatile actor who played support and voiced a legion of superhero cartoons (as well as a starring roles as villains in such films as Animal House, Herbie Goes Bananas, Black Belt Jones and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka), died in LA on February 1st, aged 72:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003017.html

OSSIE DAVIS – while not known for his animated work, the voice of the father figure of Yar in Dinosaur, as well as an activist for human rights, died February 4th, aged 87:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003018.html

DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER – the 40-minute documentary gets some press attention:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003032.html

DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER – the Animated News take, and premiere pictures:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003066.html

MIYAZAKI will be the recipient of the Golden Lion award at this year’s Venice Film Festival in August:
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050209/kyodo/d884vpn80.html

DISNEY WAR – James B Stewart’s now released expose gets advance review treatment from The New York Times and Variety:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003053.html

DISNEY WAR – the book got an early release and sold out in many Los Angeles stores:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003064.html

BLUE MAN’S GROUP – their ROBOTS contribution with composer JOHN POWELL:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/playbill/20050211/en_playbill/91147

BEN CHAREST, the Oscar-nominated composer of The Triplets Of Belleville, is profiled:
http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/C/Charest_Benoit/2005/02/12/929247-sun.html

ALADDIN REUNION – following last year’s Lion King crew reunion in Glendale comes news of an April 22 get together for Aladdin’s creators:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003077.html

RYAN – this year’s Academy Award winner is profiled:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003086.html

RYAN – more on the Oscar winner:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050220/ap_on_en_mo/people_1

Electric Tiki’s latest is a statue recreation of the Fleischer-era Popeye. Great stuff:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003130.html



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

Anyone for DUFF BEER? Homer Simpson’s favored beverage recently became the subject of an eBay scam:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003011.html

AND YOU THOUGHT SPONGEBOB WAS GAY?! Newsweek looks back at The Flintstones with a fun spoof article:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003031.html

BLUE MAN GROUP – more on their contributions to the ROBOTS film soundtrack:
http://music.ign.com/articles/586/586139p1.html

DISNEYLAND’S 50th – plans for the upcoming celebrations:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050212/GLOBETROTTER12-5/TPTravel/TopStories

LOONATICS – the “reimagined” stars of Looney Tunes don’t seem to have gone down too well with animation fans. The WB defends the concept, announcing that they are separate lines for separate audiences:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003105.html

LOONATICS – the superhero characters and series is given a run down, along with a link to the WB’s promo:
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=1788

LOONATICS – It seems the Buzz Bunny name has been used before – and not by the WB, which places the company in a spin. Though they claim the final names for their new superhero team aren’t final, Buzz is a copyrighted character from Dutch freelancer Metin Seven, as well as a popular erotic device (use your imaginations!):
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=1881



----BUSINESS----

PIXAR’S WORTH – proving that they’re making quite a name for themselves, Pixar has the distinction of becoming America’s fifth most recognised brand:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&ncid=581&e=1&u=/nm/20050130/tc_nm/retail_branding_dc_2

DISNEY SHAREHOLDERS – at this year’s meeting, Roy Disney and Stanley Gold repeated their votes of no confidence in the current board:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003038.html

JIM MORRIS – the long time ILM head has switched to producer of one of Pixar’s upcoming non-Disney features:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003054.html

STUDIO GHIBLI – breaking away from their publishing parents and going independent:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003060.html

ANIME INDUSTRY – the changing times of Japan’s manga styled product in America:
http://www.animenation.net/news/askjohn.php?id=1041

EISNER AND JOBS – the Disney and Apple/Pixar heads have been recently exchanging “words” in the press:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003078.html

DISNEY WAR – Disney head Michael Eisner apparently pressured author James B Stewart to “delay” the book’s publishing and make alterations:
http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00003089.html



----WRAP UP----

That’s all for now, 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.


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