Josh Armstrong Author Archive
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Everyone's soundtrack

Billboard.com has the official track listing for the sountrack to Everyone’s Hero. Artists on the album include: John Ondrasik (“The Best”), Brooks & Dunn (“Keep on Swinging” and “Swing It”), Tyrone Wells (“Dream Like New York”), Chris Botti with Lyle Lovett (“Chicago (That Toddling Town)”), Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander (“The Best Day of My […]

Wal-Mart ad a real "Steele"

Post Magazine briefly looks at the making of a new advertisement for Wal-Mart’s in-house pharmacy. Designed by the visual effects specialists at Steele, the 30-second spot may likewise be viewed at the website. “The concept of the ad was to show what moms and their families would do with the extra time they save by […]

Update on future Nick animation

The Animation Guild Blog lends the lowdown on what’s happening at Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Currently in the works are 20 more episodes for Go, Diego, Go (second season), Avatar (third season), and Spongebob Squarepants (fifth season). Meanwhile, new series Ni Hao Kai-Lan is getting 20 episodes, while fellow newcomers El Tigre and Random Cartoons will […]

"A Salute to Norman McLaren" scheduled for tonight

Cartoon Brew reminds that this evening, “A Salute to Norman McLaren” will be held, courtesy of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Hosted by animation critic Charles Solomon, the event will offer some of McLaren’s finest work created for the National Film Board of Canada. Among the eight films to be screened are […]

Pictures of Feet

Latino Review has scored some new images from the Warner Bros. musical comedy Happy Feet. The penguin picture will tap dance into theaters this “Novemburrr.”

Word on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

On August 28th, from 11am – 12pm, Nick Jr. and its sister network Noggin will premiere Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Afterward, the show will move to its regular broadcast time of 11:30am on Nick Jr. Bob Boyle, the producer behind such Nickelodeon hits as The Fairly Oddparents and Danny Phantom, is working beside Bolder Media for […]

TV to DVD: Animaniacs, Pinky & the Brain, Super Mario Bros.

The second DVD volumes of Animaniacs and Pinky & the Brain are making their way to stores on December 5th. Although bonus features for the releases are unknown at this time, DVD Active has high-res cover artwork for the titles. Meanwhile, another past television favorite, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, is likewise making its […]

Disney compilations on the way

Ultimate Disney reveals some of upcoming compilation DVD projects Disney has in the works for fans. The list includes Timeless Tales: Volume 4; Funny Factory with Goofy (Volume 3); and Funny Factory with Huey, Dewey, and Louie (Volume 4). Those titles will be joined later this year by the Walt Disney Treasures of The Complete […]

Westerberg contributes to Season soundtrack

Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson are teaming once again for the soundtrack to this fall’s Open Season. Yahoo! News/Reuters notes that the album will contain 10 original songs by Westerberg. Two of which, “Love You in the Fall” and “Right to Arm Bears,” boast the bass skills of Stinson. Other Westerberg tunes on the soundtrack […]

Second "Honeymoon"

In a follow-up to “Keeping up with Disney developments,” Chuck Oberleitner continues his “Is the Honeymoon Over?” report, summarizing recent happenings within the business world of Disney. As a side note, the composition interestingly provides an update on David Stainton, former head of Walt Disney Feature Animation, suggesting that he may be working in Disney’s […]

The Snowman and Father Christmas coming to DVD

From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, the Oscar-nominated short The Snowman and Father Christmas will be entering stores on October 24th. Both films are based on the beloved books by Raymond Briggs. For the time being, it appears that neither The Snowman’s nor Father Christmas’ DVD will hold extra material. DVD Active has the package artwork […]

Lord and Miller forecast Chance of Meatballs

Philip Lord and Chris Miller speak to SCI FI Wire their plans for the computer animated adaptation of Judi Barnett’s classic children’s picture book Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The team will co-write and co-direct the project for Sony Pictures Animation, serving Meatballs as a spoof of such disaster films as Independence Day and […]

Nicktoons Network Animation Festival announces winners

Honoring some of the finest independent animated shorts from around the world, the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival has revealed the winners for its Student Award, Diversity Award, Producers’ Choice Award and Show Off Your Show Award. The announcement was made during the festival’s first two-day live event at Los Angeles, CA, held August 12-13. As […]

BET bets on two new animation deals

BET’s animation section is partnering with Film Roman to produce numerous animated movies and multi-platform series. In addition, the new division is re-uniting BET Senior Vice President of Animation Denys Cowan and Milestone Media co-founder Dwayne McDuffie, the duo behind the Static Shock television series, to create a new action-adventure animated series. A press release […]

Happy Feet official website updated

Online since last November, the official website for Warner Bros. Pictures’ Happy Feet has been updated, notices Coming Soon. Videos, photos, wallpapers, buddy icons and a screensaver are some of the goodies presented at the site.

Posters: Open Season, Cars

The Internet Movie Poster Awards has collected two new posters for Open Season. With each sporting different designs, one poster is in French while the other one is in German. Likewise, one more one sheet for Cars has been found by Upcoming Pixar at the Pixar Planet Forums.

U.S. weekend box office actuals: August 11-13, 2006

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo: 4 – Barnyard with $9,701,882, averaging $2,930 over 3,311 theaters ($33,717,980 total; 2nd week) 10 – Monster House with $3,285,771, averaging $1,349 over 2,434 theaters ($63,663,488 total; 4rd week) 14 – The Ant Bully with $1,872,420, averaging $933 over 2,005 theaters ($22,483,177 total; 3rd week) 22 – Cars with $620,976, […]

Preview Animation from Pencils to Pixels

Award-winning animator Tony White, who is also a full-time professor at the DigiPen Institute of Technology, has crafted the noteworthy book Animation from Pencils to Pixels: Classical Techniques for the Digital Animator. Released on July 21st through Focal Press, the paperback comes with a DVD containing White’s film Endangered Species, showcasing some of animation’s finest […]

Abundance of CGI films enter spotlight again

Variety notices this year’s large array of computer animated films and ponders the effect this amount is having on each picture’s box office returns. Considering the films already released and coming soon, the article asks the question, “How much is too much?” Likewise, FT.com looks at the some of this year’s computer animated projects and […]

Articles focus on voice talent in animated films

The Charlotte Observer ponders the importance of studios landing big names for voice roles in animated films. In an effort to make a point, the composition recalls some of the casting decisions made by Walt Disney, while film historian Leonard Maltin also provides his opinion on the matter. Meanwhile, The Baltimore Sun covers the same […]

Latest on Land Before Time, Curious George, Babe series

The Animation Guild Blog gives the lowdown on how television series for The Land Before Time and Curious George are coming along. As 26 episodes are currently being produced for the Land Before Time TV show, the property’s 13th film is already in the works as well. In addition, it is noted that early development […]

Bunnies and dragons unite for Disney Consumer Products

Following in the footsteps of brands such as “Disney Princess” and “Disney Fairies,” new franchises arrive in the form of “Disney Bunnies” and “Disney Dragonkind.” Looking to opposite sides of the family-friendly spectrum, “Bunnies” appears geared toward much younger fans than “Dragonkind.” Furthermore, while “Bunnies” presents Thumper and his relatives in their well-known, cuddly representations, […]

Arthur & the Invisibles Nintendo DS preview

IGN enthusiastically previews the Nintendo DS adaptation of Arthur & the Invisibles, set to coincide with the January 12th release of the film. “The game’s turning out decently on the handheld, even if it’s simply treading familiar territory in a new universe,” writes the website.

TV to DVD news: Looney Tunes, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, The Tick

TV Shows on DVD has obtained the listing of shorts to be featured on the Looney Tunes: Golden Collection – Volume 4 DVD. Cartoon Brew records the extras included in the set. Meanwhile, the 3-disc releases of TaleSpin – Volume 1, Darkwing Duck – Volume 1 and The Tick vs. Season 1 are described via […]

AnimFXNZ coming to New Zealand in November

AnimFXNZ, a celebration of animation and visual effects, will be located in Wellington, New Zealand this November 4-5. Backing this exciting symposium are Positively Wellington Business and IBM. In attendance at this year’s AnimFXNZ will be representatives from DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Blue Sky Studios and Weta Digital. More information on the event may be found […]

Eight brand-new Meet the Robinsons images!

With the click of “More,” one will be treated to eight new images from Walt Disney Feature Animation’s Meet the Robinsons. From Wilbur, Lewis and Grampa to a couple of new faces, the pics likewise display the colorful eccentricity of the computer animated comedy. Meet the Robinsons will blast its way into theaters on March […]

Zemeckis' ImageMovers moving to Disney?

TMZ.com breaks the news that Robert Zemeckis may be moving his ImageMovers production company to Disney, in a multi-year deal. In fact, the online publication calls the action “a cat’s breath away” from occuring. Specializing in motion-capture technology, ImageMovers has been involved with such films as The Polar Express, Monster House, and next year’s Beowulf. […]

Opus debates CG animation with himself

At The Washington Post‘s online abode, Berkeley Breathed’s Opus comic strip features its penguin protagonist debating the pro’s of traditional animation with himself in CG form. Interestingly, a computer animated Opus movie was once in consideration at Miramax Films. However, as noted by Wikipedia, the project currently appears to be “in limbo.”

Bah, HumDuck!: A Looney Tunes Christmas announced

Including the title’s cover artwork, DVD Active has the announcement for the brand-new direct-to-DVD movie Bah, HumDuck!: A Looney Tunes Christmas. Bonus features for the DVD have yet to be revealed. The Looney spin on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol will enter stores this November 14th.

U.S. weekend box office actuals: August 4-6, 2006

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo: 2 – Barnyard with $15,820,864, averaging $4,778 over 3,311 theaters (1st week) 7 – Monster House with $6,058,649, averaging $2,000 over 3,029 theaters ($57,010,414 total; 3rd week) 8 – The Ant Bully with $3,892,443, averaging $1,276 over 3,050 theaters ($18,152,994 total; 2nd week) 19 – Cars with $1,084,684, averaging $1,151 […]