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15 films up for Visual Effects Oscar

Avatar, Coraline, Disney’s A Christmas Carol and G-Force are among the fifteen films being considered for the Oscar for Best Visual Effects this year. Three movies will be nominated for the prize when the Oscar nominations are announced on February 2nd.

Is it time for Simpsons to ‘g’oh’?

With The Simpsons turning twenty on Thursday, CNN contemplates whether or not it’s time for the iconic animated TV series to finally come to an end. The article looks at how inventive the series was when it was new, and how other animated TV shows, such as Family Guy, might be more popular than it is now.

Toy Story movies coming to Blu-Ray

Perhaps the most beloved of Pixar’s films, the first two Toy Story movies are finally set to get the Blu-Ray treatment next spring. Both releases will feature brand new bonus features, including Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs, Studio Stories, Paths to Pixar and a tribute to deceased Pixar veteran Joe Ranft. Special sneak peeks at Toy […]

Nominations for the Critics Choice Awards announced

The Broadcast Film Critics Association has announced their full list of nominations for the 2010 Critics Choice Awards, with Avatar and Up both getting nods in the Best Picture category. Up was also included in the five nominations for Best Animated Feature, and will be going against Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog […]

AFI honors Coraline and Up

Both Henry Selick’s Coraline and Disney/Pixar’s Up made the AFI’s list of the Ten Most Outstanding Movies of 2009. The two animated films were listed among top Oscar contenders such as A Serious Man, Precious and Up in the Air.

Friday box office for The Princess and the Frog

It didn’t match some expectations, but the $7 million that The Princess and the Frog made yesterday was still enough to land it in first place. It is now expected to make $23-$25 milion for the weekend.

Yes, Virginia airs tonight

A brand new animated holiday special, entitled Yes, Virginia, airs tonight at 8Pm/7c on CBS. Based on a famous letter to the editor sent by a little girl in the 1890s, Yes, Virginia features the voice talents of Beatrice Miller, Alfred Molina and Michael Buscemi. USA Today gave the special a good short review, saying that […]

Avatar toys now featured in McDonald’s Happy Meals

It may seem like a surprise to some, given the movie’s PG-13 rating, but McDonald’s is now selling 6 toys based off of Avatar in their Happy Meals. It’s the first time the resturaunt chain has had a Happy Meal promotion for a movie with that rating since 1992’s Batman Returns. Meanwhile, there will be Avatar […]

New teaser poster for Tron Legacy

A brand new (and pretty cool looking) teaser poster for Disney’s upcoming Tron Legacy has just been released on the internet. Those who click on the link provided will also be treated to a new production still from the film. The anticipated sequel to 1982’s Tron jumps into theaters on December 17th, 2010.

Princess and the Frog video interviews

ComingSoon.net now has a video interview with members of the cast and crew of The Princess and the Frog, including Anika Noni Rose, Terrence Howard and Randy Newman. The animated Disney movie, as you all probably know by now, goes nationwide on Friday.

Final poster for Avatar revealed

Only days before the movie’s release, the final poster for Avatar has finally been revealed. Meanwhile, CBS News ponders whether or not the movie will be able to match the success of James Cameron’s last non-documentary film–a little movie called Titanic–at the box office, balancing out the pros and cons that will be facing it. Avatar opens worldwide […]

Disney’s Snow Queen back in production?

The Snow Queen, an animated feature from Disney that appeared to fall into production limbo years ago, is apparently back in the works…and in hand-drawn animation, too! Based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, The Snow Queen is speculated to have a 2013 release date, which would follow Winnie the Pooh in 2011 […]

New trailer for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

The first trailer for Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice can now be watched in various formats at Apple.com. The live-action movie starring Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel is a modern version of the story that Mickey Mouse made famous in 1940’s Fantasia. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice hits theaters next summer.

Wood and Williams return for Happy Feet 2

The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Elijah Wood and Robin Williams are returning to voice their animated penguin characters in Happy Feet 2. Wood will be back as the voice of tap dancing penguin Mumble, while Williams will be reprising the roles of two characters, the tiny Ramon and the larger than life penguin guru Lovelace. Happy Feet 2 […]

Prep and Landing airs tonight

After being delayed last week, Walt Disney Feature Animation’s half-hour holiday special Prep and Landing finally airs tonight at 8:30pm/7:30c on ABC. Variety gives it a good review, saying that it “adds a nifty ornament to the customary lineup of perennial holiday specials.” Those tuning in at 8pm/7c can also catch A Charlie Brown Christmas, the classic […]

New Avatar featurettes online

Comingsoon.net now has links to two new featurettes about James Cameron’s Avatar. The first one is focused on the movie’s storyline. The second one, hosted by Sigourney Weaver, is about the fictional planet of Pandora. The website also currently has a poll asking users how much they think Avatar will make at the box office during […]

Leonardo DiCaprio joins The Guardians

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to do his first ever animated feature when he lends his voice to The Guardians, a DreamWorks animated fantasy. DiCaprio will voice Jack Frost, a member of a team of five “superheroes” which includes Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy. The storyline involves the magical characters using their […]

Rotten Tomatoes ranks Disney classics

In celebration of the release of The Princess and the Frog, the popular website RottenTomatoes.com now has a Disney Animation Countdown. The list ranks the studio’s 48 “official” animated features from worst reviewed to best reviewed, starting with 1947’s Fun and Fancy Free and ending with…well, you’ll have to see for yourself.

THQ and DreamWorks announce deal

THQ Inc. and DreamWorks Animation have just announced a multi-year business deal that will give THQ exclusive rights to develop video games based off of the studio’s animated films and TV shows, including the upcoming Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom and Puss in Boots. On a subject of interest, the article makes a quick note that DreamWorks’ […]

Tom Cavanagh joins Yogi Bear

EW.com reports that Tom Cavanagh will play the male lead role in the upcoming live action/animated Yogi Bear. Cavanagh will star as a park ranger who’s the love interest of a documentary filmmaker played by Anna Faris. Also featuring the voice talents of Dan Aykroyd as Yogi and Justin Timberlake as his sidekick Boo-Boo, Yogi Bear is currently set […]

International trailer for Toy Story 3

A new international trailer for Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 is now online at ComingSoon.net. The trailer is pretty much a recut of the domestic preview released earlier, but with different music and a handful of new clips.

Prep and Landing pushed back

Disney’s Prep and Landing, originally set to air on Tuesday, has been pushed back an entire week. The move was made by ABC because President Obama’s press conference is scheduled for that evening. Prep and Landing will now air on December 8th. Thanks to ‘estefan’ at the Animated Views Forum for the heads up!

How the Grinch (and an ogre) Stole Christmas

On Monday night, ABC will air two animated holiday specials starting at 8pm/7c. First, the classic holiday cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas will recieve its annual TV airing. Following this will be the not as beloved but still ratings friendly Shrek the Halls, the DreamWorks animated special from 2007.

Huge weekend ahead for The Princess and the Frog?

It may only be playing on a handful of screens this weekend, but The Princess and the Frog is still expected to be huge, largely thanks to the higher prices that Disney is charging for tickets. The film marks the first time that the studio has released an animated movie in limited release before its wide run since […]

The LA Times covers Avatar…over and over again!

As though James Cameron’s Avatar wasn’t getting enough press already, the LA Times is now providing a brand new artcile about it every day until the movie’s release next month. Today’s article discusses the film’s “interactive trailer,” a special preview for the film that lets viewers learn more about the movie as they watch it.

First look: Shrek Forever After

USA Today now has a first look at next summer’s Shrek Forever After. Among other things, the article reports that this will be the “concluding chapter” in the franchise, which is interesting since a Shrek 5 had been reported earlier. The fourth movie starring the jolly green giant will involve its title character feeling as though […]

Early review for The Princess and the Frog

An early review for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog from the Associated Press can now be found at the San Francisco Chronicle’s website, with the response being mostly positive. “Updating the Brothers Grimm tale The Frog Prince into a toe-tapping musical set on the Louisiana bayou in the 1920s, directors Ron Clements and John Musker […]

Casting Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson recently spoke with ComingSoon.net about how he went about selecting the cast for his critically acclaimed new animated film, Fantastic Mr. Fox. The article also has interviews with a few members of the cast, including Bill Murray, who provides the voice of Badger. Fantastic Mr. Fox goes nationwide on Wednesday.

Squeakquel soundtrack to feature 15 songs

Amazon now has a soundtrack listing up for the upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel. This time, the Chipmunks will be joined by their furry female companions, the Chipettes, to perform 15 well-known pop songs. The album is set to hit store shelves on December 15th, with the movie’s release to theaters happening the following […]

Planet 51 doesn’t quite lift off

According to weekend estimates, Planet 51 earned a respectable but not outstanding $12.6 million over the weekend, good enough for fourth place. As was anticipated, the animated comedy was no match for the record-breaking numbers of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and was barely able to open above Disney’s A Christmas Carol, which continued its fairly […]