{{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12112003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} reports that the real reason Disney {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000250.html delayed the release}} of the popular Disney Treasures DVDs probably was not any of the three reasons publicly stated. Could it be that Eisner ordered the delay to have Roy Disney’s signature removed from the packages?

{{link http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/howl/diary.html Nausicaa.net}} has posted a translation of a running production diary for \\Howl’s Moving Castle\\. The author of the blog is “not named, but seems to be a member of the production team and not an animator”.

{{link http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/fullstory.php?id=254 DreamWorks SKG Fansite}} has posted 10 new images from the upcoming animated features \\Shrek 2\\, \\Shark Tale\\, \\Over the Hedge\\, and \\Madagascar\\.

{{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=2671 ComingSoon.net}} has the scoop on casting for Disney’s upcoming animated feature \\Chicken Little\\. Zach Braff (currently starring in NBC’s \\Scrubs\\ as Dr. “JD” Dorian), will voice the title character. Others in the cast include Joan Cusack as the ugly duckling, Steve Zahn as a pig named Runt, Amy Sedaris as Foxy Loxy, Katie […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=16232 The Big Cartoon Database}} informs us that “employees at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank will find that Disney’s internal Internet service has already blocked their access to” Roy Disney’s website, {{link http://www.savedisney.com/ savedisney.com}}. The site, launched last week, is “devoted to those concerned about the welfare of The Walt Disney Company and […]

{{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9786 AWN}} has more on the upcoming computer-animated feature film project with comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The DreamWorks film is “set in the anthropomorphized world of bees… a Manhattan-like setting buzzing with bees”. Jeffrey Katzenberg said, “Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most brilliant and unique comic minds of our time… We were delighted when […]

{{link http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_845375.html Ananova}} reports that the group Atomic Kitten has finished recording “I Want To Be A Girl”, the title track for Disney’s \\Mulan 2\\.

\\Finding Nemo\\ continues to add to Pixar’s trophy case, this time courtesy of the {{link http://www.dmw.com.au/awards_finalists.htm Australian Effects & Animation Festival Awards}}. \\Nemo\\ won the award for Feature Film Animation, beating out \\Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets\\, \\Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas\\, and \\The Jungle Book 2\\.

The French localized version of {{link http://www.amazon.fr Amazon}} lists 2 new Tex Avery DVD collector sets being released today. Details are few, but {{link http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000DF12D/qid%3D1070413926/sr%3D1-2/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F2%5F2/402-8903024-5291303 one contains four disks}} and {{link http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000DF12E/qid%3D1070413926/sr%3D1-1/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F2%5F1/402-8903024-5291303 the other contains five disks}}. The DVD’s are encoded for region 2, meaning they will only play on DVD players from Japan, Europe, […]

{{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83201.html Playbill}} reports that a musical based on the classic cartoon character Betty Boop is in the works. David Lindsay-Abaire will write the book while Jason Robert Brown will compose. The two “have previously worked together on Lindsay-Abaire’s plays (\\Fuddy Meers\\, \\Kimberly Akimbo\\)”. Robyn Goodman is the producer.

Readers at the {{link http://www.animationnation.com Animation Nation}} messageboards have posted {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007083 Michael Eisner}} and {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007077 Roy Disney’s}} dueling open letters addressed to Disney employees. Michael Eisner’s letter: 12/03/2003 Dear Fellow Cast Member: I’m writing to you from a plane on my way to Disneyland for tonight’s annual employee Christmas party, having just wrapped […]

Readers at the {{link http://www.animationnation.com Animation Nation}} messageboards have posted {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007083 Michael Eisner}} and {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007077 Roy Disney’s}} dueling open letters addressed to Disney employees. Roy Disney’s letter: December 3, 2003 Dear Disney Cast Members, It was nearly 20 years ago that a small group of us recognized that dramatic changes were necessary to […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=16011 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports that according to a local TV affiliate Walt Disney World will be laying-off an as yet unknown number of workers over the holiday season. “The cuts will begin to take effect December 14” but employees won’t find out if they are on the block until December 10.

In addition to next weekend’s chat with David Kaye we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000398.html reported}} on earlier this week, {{link http://animationhq.net/ AnimationHQ}} will also be hosting an online chat \\this\\ weekend with Heidi Guedel, a 25 year veteran animator for Disney, Don Bluth, and Warner Brothers. Some of her credits include work on the films \\The Secret […]

Robert Longbottom, a 2003 Tony Award nominee for Best Choreographer, has been chosen to direct the new Disney Theatricals show \\On the Record\\, according to {{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83091.html Playbill’s}} report of a \\Variety\\ story. Longbottom “conceived the idea for the new musical with Disney’s Thomas Schumacher”. As we reported {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000388.html yesterday}}, the show will feature […]

{{link http://animationhq.net AnimationHQ}} announced that they will be holding an online chat with voice actor David Kaye. His list of credits include Sesshomaru from \\Inu Yasha\\, Professor Xavier in \\X-Men: Evolution\\, Spectral in \\Reboot\\, Treize Khushrenada in \\Mobile Suit Gundam Wing\\, and Megatron in \\Transformers: Armada\\, \\Beast Wars\\, and\\ Beast Machines\\. Head to {{link http://animationhq.net/v2/features/events.htm […]

{{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83069.html Playbill}} reports that Disney Theatricals “is currently in the process of putting together a production featuring songs from the Disney canon. Tentatively titled \\On the Record\\, the new musical would feature songs from classic Disney films as well as Disney’s Broadway outings”. The revue will probably be a traveling show and may play […]

The Associated Press reports (via {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&ncid=493&e=3&u=/ap/20031202/ap_en_mo/winnie_the_pooh_lawsuit Yahoo! News}}) that “the holders of the North American rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters have hired celebrity attorney Johnnie Cochran to represent them in their 12-year legal fight with The Walt Disney Co.”. In this long-standing saga the heirs of Stephen Slesinger claim Disney owes millions […]

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney2dec02,1,6942175.story?coll=la-home-headlines The L.A. Times}}\\ sat down for an interview with now former Disney board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold. While the two “stopped short of saying they would call for a shareholder vote to remove Eisner” they did say they would “‘educate the owners of the company’ about its deteriorating performance under Eisner […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=15748 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports on Disney’s official response to the departure of Disney and Gold. In its statement the board said that Gold’s remarks were “untrue and unwarranted allegations about the Company and the Board. As he has done repeatedly in the past, Mr. Gold in his letter persists in characterizing the […]

Jim Hill Media looks into the Michael Eisner / Roy Disney split at Disney in two articles today. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12022003.1.htm~contentFrame In the first}} Jim looks at how Steve Jobs, John Lasseter, and Pixar may be the key to determining how things will sort out at Disney. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/wsampson.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame In the second}}, Wade Sampson asks the […]

Also at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/hackney.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame JHM}} is the first of three articles by Drew Hackney on the live stage version of \\The Hunchback of Notre Dame\\. In this installment we learn why the show made its premiere in Berlin, Germany instead of the United States or even the setting of the book Paris, France.

{{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32653&CT=38 Broadway.com}} passes on a \\Variety\\ report that the cast for the \\Mary Poppins\\ musical is being fleshed out. Two-time Olivier Award winner Alex Jennings and two-time Olivier Award winner Janie Dee have been offered the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000358.html we reported}} earlier this week, Laura Michelle Kelly will […]

{{link http://www.fabulousdisneybabe.com/fab/articles/showArticles.asp?ID=43 FabulousDisneyBabe.com}} reports that a source has informed them that Wal-Mart “has made a very nice offer for the ailing chain, and that barring disaster, the Mouse will say yes”.

{{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16604 Ain’t It Cool News}} has the scoop on what may be confirmation of a long whispered rumor. Pixar creating traditional hand-drawn animated movies after Disney and DreamWorks say the format is dead? Possibly! “The word is that Pixar is starting their own 2D Animation Division. A company that will use the Pixar brand… […]

After Roy Disney’s resignation yesterday (his resignation letter is online {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000366.html here}}), fellow board member and Eisner critic Stanley Gold has followed suit. Stanley Gold’s resignation letter: December 1, 2003 To the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company: It is with regret that I resign effective immediately from the Board of Directors […]

The Associated Press reports (via \\{{link http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/7383215.htm The Miami Herald}}\\) on the first response from someone at the Walt Disney Company to Roy Disney’s resignation. Presiding director of the board (and former U.S. Senator) George Mitchell said “The Governance and Nominating Committee recently informed Mr. Disney of its judgment that the mandatory age limits of […]

Most people would probably agree that the three greatest newspaper comic strip artists from around 1980 to the present would be Berkeley Breathed, Gary Larson, and Bill Watterson. All had their own unique style and sense of humor. And all retired at the top of their game in the mid-1990’s. As we reported {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000320.html […]

Could Roy Disney’s attack on Eisner actually keep the CEO and Chairman of the Walt Disney Company around even longer? {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12012003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} reports that most of the members of the Disney Board had already come to the conclusion that “Michael Eisner’s top priority wasn’t running the Walt Disney Company anymore. But – […]

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1838 Animation Magazine}} reports that Sock Puppet Studio and Intec Interactive are releasing several Marvel comics in a digital DVD version. “Each digital book is comprised of an entire Marvel graphic novel augmented by animation and special effects. More than 100 minutes of animation is included on each disc. There are also extra features […]