/Film looks at how Pixar crafted the actual university of Monsters University. To make the college as believable as possible, artists considered the many sizes and species of its monstrous students, whether it meant placing smaller stair steps on top of larger steps or having a section of the campus underwater. In related news, another […]

At CinemaCon last week, Fox released new information about DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon 2. During the sequel’s presentation, a teaser trailer was shown that surprised audiences by revealing an older version of the first film’s young protagonist, Hiccup. Now PerezHilton.com has artwork showing Hiccup’s new look as well as the film’s first […]

Most folks know the yellow, pint-sized comic relief characters of Despicable Me 2 only as “Minions.” However, a new series of character banners found on eBay reminds that each Minion has his own name, whether it’s the cupcake-loving Stuart or the befuddled Dave. Meanwhile, the Internet Movie Poster Awards has a new Russian poster for […]

At his insightful blog, veteran Disney animator Floyd Norman recalls working on the cancelled Huck’s Landing, which was to be loosely based on Mark Twain’s classic character Huck Finn. As work commenced in the ’80s, the film’s production team included Kathy Alterie as art director, and Duncan Majoriebanks, Bruce Smith and Chris Bailey as animators. […]

Director Dan Scanlon talks with USA Today about making Monsters University. “If there’s a message [in the movie], I think it’s that sometimes you have to discover who you really are, instead of what you’re expected to be,” Scanlon explains. “It might be a slightly heavier theme than the first movie, but I think kids […]

At the bottom of yesterday’s announcement for the Ratchet & Clank movie, it was revealed that Blockade Entertainment is adapting the Heavenly Sword video game into a direct-to-video computer animated film. Now IGN is offering more info on the project. Produced by Brad Foxhoven and David Wohl, Heavenly Sword will be written by Todd Farmer, […]

On Monday, Animated Views brought you details on The Little Mermaid 3D Diamond Edition, including cover artwork for the three-disc Blu-ray set. Now Amazon has posted artwork for the release’s two-disc Blu-ray combo pack, which consumers may purchase with or without a digital copy. The site is also offering a coupon for five dollars off […]

Animated Views has a new batch of images from The Snow Queen, courtesy of Wizart Animation. Based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale, the film tells of Gerda and her journey to find her brother Kai in a wintry wonderland ruled by the titular villain, who wishes to destroy all artists and their successors. The […]

TV networks are usually secretive about how their pilots become series. But Amazon.com is letting viewers choose which of its 14 pilots will receive a full season. Animated titles in the lineup include the adult comedy Supanatural as well as kids series Positively Ozitively, Sara Solves It, Creative Galaxy, Teeny Tiny Dogs and Tumbleaf. During […]

At CinemaCon on Thursday, Fox gave an animation-heavy presentation to promote upcoming projects from Blue Sky and DreamWorks Animation. On the Blue Sky front, the animation house unveiled its newest opening logo, which features Scrat of Ice Age fame. It also treated the audience to teaser trailers for Rio 2 and Peanuts. The latter trailer […]

IMAX, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment are teaming to bring Despicable Me 2 to international audiences sooner than expected. The theater chain has announced it will start showing the anticipated sequel in select international IMAX 3D theaters on June 20. Despicable Me 2 will hit standard U.S. theaters on July 3.

On Wednesday, Disney treated CinemaCon attendees to an early cut of Monsters University – and the responses have been overwhelmingly positive! Peter Sciretta of /Film tweets that the prequel is “a fun broad college comedy set in a cleverly designed world,” while also praising its “surprising turns” and “gutsy message.” Eric Eisenberg of Cinema Blend […]

DreamWorks Animation is moving forward with a sequel to this year’s first animated blockbuster, The Croods, says The Los Angeles Times. Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco are returning to direct the sequel, although details on the film’s plot being kept under wraps. Negotiations are underway to bring back the first film’s voice cast, which included […]

It appears Katy Perry won’t be the only pop star in The Smurfs 2. Billboard.com says Britney Spears will lend her vocals to the end credits song Ooh La La. Spears’ Femme Fatale collaborators Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald and Ammo Cirkut produced the track, while Bonnie McKee, J Kash, Lola Blanc and Fransisca Hall each […]

If Fox is to be believed, talk of The Cleveland Show‘s cancellation may have been premature. On April 7, The Animation Guild Blog reported that The Cleveland Show has definitely been canceled. But now a Fox spokesperson is denying the claim, saying the show’s fate has yet to be decided. “Only Fox can dictate whether […]

Universal used this year’s CinemaCon to screen about 15 minutes of Despicable Me 2. Peter Sciretta of SlashFilm.com and Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net discuss the footage, which included a look at the purple, evil Minions. While Sciretta enjoyed the Minions, he was less impressed by the more emotional scenes shown. “One thing that worries me […]

A new batch of animated films is gearing up for theaters, as a fresh crop of posters reminds. Collider reveals the 3D-printed standee for Relativity Media/Reel FX’s Free Birds, displayed at this year’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, IMP Awards has new international posters for Despicable Me 2 and Turbo, as well as a Smurfs […]

As the release of Monsters University draws closer, Yahoo! Movies reveals the members of fraternities Oozma Kappa, Roar Omega Roar and Jaws Theta Chi as well as sororities Slugma Slugma Kappa, Eta Hiss Hiss and Python Nu Kappa. The images are being released now to coincide with Greek Week, in which fraternities and sororities come […]

Amazon.com lists Escape from Planet Earth as scheduled to hit stores on June 4. From Rainmaker Entertainment, the film opened in February with $15 million, eventually collecting $54 million to become the Weinstein Co.’s highest-grossing animated feature in the U.S. Directed by Cal Brunker, Escape features the voice talents of Rob Corddry, Brendan Fraser, Sarah […]

Folks who watched last night’s Family Guy were treated to cameo appearances by Stan Smith of American Dad and Hank Hill of King of the Hill. Furthermore, the show’s opening credits mimicked those of Hill. Entertainment Weekly goes behind the scenes of these guest appearances, talking to Family Guy executive producer Steve Callaghan. Previously, Smith […]

Jonathan Winters died last night of natural causes, reports The New York Times. The actor burst onto the big screen in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in 1963, before joining The Carol Burnett Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. From 1967-69, he headlined The Jonathan Winters Show. Winters was a regular on […]

DreamWorks Animation announces it has acquired the intellectual property for the iconic Troll Dolls franchise from the Dam Family and Dam Things of Denmark. To cultivate the franchise, American Girl veteran Shawn Dennis will act as head of brand development. DreamWorks Animation is now the exclusive worldwide licensor of the merchandise rights for the classic […]

Disney Insider has the first screenshots from the Planes video game. “Join Dusty and friends as they perfect their flight skills and embark on global missions, air races, and grand adventures around the world.” Gamers can play as one of ten characters from the film, including Dusty Crophopper and fighter jets Echo and Bravo. Much […]

Coming Soon announces that Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to the computer animated family film The Nut Job. The film is now scheduled to open January 17, 2014. The Nut Job features the voice talents of Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, and Brendan Fraser. It is described as “an action-packed […]

The Hollywood Reporter has the first look at Sunday’s intro for The Simpsons, which pays tribute to Breaking Bad. “Marge plays the cook, whipping up blue cupcakes; Homer is Heisenberg (albeit — a much less industrious version than Bryan Cranston’s); and Bart handles distribution, hauling away a briefcase full of the goods,” the site explains. […]