{{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20040801/tc_nm/tech_apple_jobs_dc Reuters}} reports that Pixar Animation Studios and Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his pancreas. In a company-wide email sent to employees Sunday, Jobs said “I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1 percent of […]

Jackson Beck, “a master of voice-over”, has died at the age of 92, the {{link http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny–obit-beck0729jul28,0,5765067.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire AP}} reports. Beck introduced each episode of the \\Superman\\ radio show with the now famous phrase “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” and voiced Bluto in more than 300 \\Popeye\\ cartoons. He went on to work in […]

In a move that has been {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000804.html expected for some time}}, DreamWorks has taken the first step in spinning off its animation studio by filing for an initial public offering, {{link http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/21/news/midcaps/dreamworks_ipo/index.htm CNN reports}}. The company expects the IPO, being handled by Goldman Sachs, to raise $650 million.

Blue Sky Studios has let Animated News know that \\Chili Wanton Willie\\ is not a Blue Sky development project nor is it anything that they are considering at this point. Our {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001899.html previous story}}, based on information from a newspaper interview with representatives of Waldo West Productions, was incorrect. We apologize to Blue Sky […]

{{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=5526 Coming Soon!}} reports that Blue Sky Studios, the studio behind \\Ice Age\\ and the upcoming \\Robots\\, may be looking at a new project from Waldo West Productions. “\\The Delicious Adventures of Chili Wanton Willie\\, written by Doug Delaney, would be a computer-animated film about a soup bowl. The story ranges from ancient China […]

{{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/07132004.1.htm Jim Hill}} takes a look at some jokes that were left out of the final draft of Disney’s upcoming DVD release of \\The Three Musketeers\\, including Mickey telling the angel Walt Disney about Disney’s California Adventure theme park problems, and a planned live-action cameo from Michael Eisner in full musketeer regalia waving a […]

\\{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=2711 Animation Magazine}}\\ reports that \\Kaena: The Prophecy\\, a French CG-animated feature (Europe’s first) directed by Chris Delaporte and Pascal Pinon, will be avaialble on DVD September 7, 2004. DVD extras will include “a making-of featurette, a virtual interview with Kaena (voice of original French star), bonus movie trailers and a trailer for Sony […]

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland has been closed indefinitely after an accident sent a 10 year old and his parents to the hospital with minor back and neck injuries, {{link http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/07/09/state1841EDT0129.DTL SFGate.com}} reports. California Division of Occupational Health and Safety inspectors are investigating, and said “the ride will remain closed until we identify the […]

{{link http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200407/s1151120.htm AFP}} reports that Disney has issued a statement concerning the South African family {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001846.html demanding royalties}} from the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, used in the film and stage musical \\The Lion King\\. The statement said “as a company built on the strength of its creative content, The Walt Disney Company takes […]

In what the {{link http://www.nypost.com/business/26932.htm NY Post}} described as a “gripe session”, Disney CEO Michael Eisner told executives in attendance at a closed-door meeting that he “thinks it’s a bad idea to split the roles of chairman and CEO”. He also “indicated Disney Chairman George Mitchell is not eager to keep the position for the […]

IMAX Corporation and Columbia Pictures today announced that \\Spider-Man 2\\ will be distributed to IMAX theatres worldwide this month. The film will be released to the IMAX network beginning on July 23, 2004. The film is being digitally re-mastered through proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The full press release follows:

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{{link http://videoeta.com/movie.html?via=form&id=53520 VideoETA}} reports that American muggles will be able to buy the \\Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban\\ DVD before Thanksgiving. The latest film in the \\Harry Potter\\ series, currently at #5 on the {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2004-06-29&p=.htm box office charts}}, will be available Tuesday, November 23, 2004.

\\Spider-Man 2\\, set to debut Wednesday on 4,000 screens according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2004&wk=27&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}, has won over the critics. The film has a spectacular 95% freshness rating at {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/SpiderMan2-1133520/ Rotten Tomatoes}} – 130 positive reviews and only 7 negative reviews.

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced their list of the {{link http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/songs.aspx top 100 movie songs of all time}}. The list includes “classics of every kind – from timeless favorites of yesteryear to contemporary tunes”, with the number one song selected being “Over The Rainbow”, from The Wizard Of Oz. Other placings of interest to […]

Garfield may want to stay in bed so he doesn’t see any of the reviews pouring in today. The {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Garfield-1133038/ Rotten Tomatoes}} tomatometer gives the film a dismal 11% freshness rating, with only 5 reviewers out of 46 giving the film a thumbs up. Some choice quotes include: – “The film is a veritable […]

In what appears to be a change from {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001580.html previous reports}}, {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/rumormill.html#0608 The Digital Bits}} says that November 5th looks to be the day \\Shrek 2\\ will appear on DVD. As DreamWorks did with the original \\Shrek\\ DVD, \\Shrek 2\\ will come out the same day that a Pixar film opens in theatres […]

In its second week, \\Shrek 2\\ holds on to the #1 spot of the U.S. box office according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2004-05-29&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. In spite of tough competition from Fox’s \\The Day After Tomorrow\\, which pulled in $70 million, \\Shrek 2\\ brought in huge second week numbers with $73 million, bringing its 12 day […]

The exclusive online commercial First In Line, for Pixar’s upcoming film \\{{link http://www.TheIncredibles.com The Incredibles}}\\, is now available in several sizes and formats. This, and more clips from the upcoming movie, can be found here:

{{link http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/24/technology/pixar/ CNN}} reports that Pixar is not in a hurry to find a new distribution partner and that may signal they are still interested in reaching a new agreement with Disney. A \\New York Times\\ report “said that some Hollywood executives are speculating that Jobs may hope of another deal with Disney, depending upon […]

{{link http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ Cartoon Brew}} notes that the June issue of \\Wired\\ Magazine (on sale now) has a “major article about Pixar and Brad Bird”. Brewmaster Jerry Beck calls it “a must read”.

{{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=2099 AWN}} takes a behind the scenes look at the making of \\Shrek 2\\, including the technical hurdles encountered in the film, and the advances in computer animation that allowed them to overcome them.

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=26428 The Big Cartoon Database}} has the info on a study recently conducted on how mental illness is treated in Disney animated features. “The researchers discovered that almost all the features contained characters shown as ‘crazy’, ‘mad’ or ‘nuts’, and who were, therefore, shunned and disparaged”. Andrea Lawson, the study’s principal investigator, said “Mental-illness […]

{{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/articles/news/?id=040523bo.htm Box Office Mojo}} reports that \\Shrek 2\\ is tearing up the box office. Estimates are that \\Shrek 2\\ has pulled in $104.3 million over the weekend and $125.2 million since opening on Wednesday. The film is already shaking up the record books as well. Assuming the estimates hold: {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/widest.htm?page=WIDESTOPEN&p=.htm widest opening release}}: […]

\\{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=2511 Animation Magazine}}\\ reports that the Spanish animated feature, \\{{link http://www.elcidthelegend.com/ El Cid: The Legend}}\\, has finally got a new distributor, Hannover House, and will debut on U.S. screens in September 2004. The film is one of five features competing at the prestigious {{link http://www.annecy.org/home/index.php?Page_ID=2 Annecy Film Festival}}, and one of four Spanish animated […]

DreamWorks’ \\Shrek 2\\ opens today on 3,737 screens according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2004&wk=21&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. {{link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4999152/ MSNBC}} says that “whatever was wrong with \\Shrek\\ – and there were more weaknesses than its beloved status would suggest – has been eradicated or improved upon with \\Shrek 2\\, a rare example of a sequel that’s better […]

\\{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=2446 Animaton Magazine}}\\ reports that DreamWorks’ \\Shrek 2\\ will be released earlier than planned. “Originally scheduled to hit theaters May 21, \\Shrek 2\\ has been pushed up two days to get a Wednesday launch on May 19. In making the announcement, DreamWorks head of distribution Jim Tharp also revealed that advance tickets can be […]

{{link http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/28/news/fortune500/comcast/index.htm CNN}} is reporting that Comcast has officially dropped its bid to acquire Walt Disney Company. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts “put the reason for the dropped offer at the feet of Disney’s management, including embattled CEO Michael Eisner, who received the backing of Disney’s board of directors Tuesday”. Roberts said, “It has become clear […]

Two actors on PBS’ long running children’s show \\Sesame Street\\ are in the news this week. {{link http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118125,00.html FOX News}} reports that Alison Bartlett, who has played Gina on the show for the past 18 years, is also playing a part in HBO’s \\The Sopranos\\. “Even in a profession with vertigo-inducing character switches, Bartlett’s feat […]

The \\{{link http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-asecdisney26042604apr26,0,542839.story?coll=orl-home-headlines Orlando Sentinel}}\\ reports that at Disney’s annual retreat for board members at Disneyland today, the directors are expected to discuss a succession plan for CEO Michael Eisner. “The question of who will succeed Eisner and when has long been a concern among investors. But the matter has gained added weight after last […]