Ain’t It Cool News has captured two early reviews for Happy Feet, the November CGI comedy from Warner Bros. One of the reviewers enjoyed the film, stating, “Overall I quite liked it, although it definitely won’t be to everyone’s taste.” Meanwhile, the other reviewer felt differently, admitting, “I just thought this film was plain annoying…” […]

From IESB come descriptions of the two Cars clips shown at this year’s WonderCon. Having seen the clips, Diana Slampyak predicts, “Cars should make Pixar and Disney a lot of money.”

Seward Street comments that traditionally animated feature films may soon be returning to Disney. The author explains: “I get a call tonight from a friend who has a friend who heard from a friend that at a meeting tonight with Lasseter that he was talking all about bringing back the glory of Disney traditional 2D […]

Posted at CGCHAR is an article from Digital Content Creation’s Jacob Heller, noticing the growing need for computer animators in an industry increasing with competition. “Siggraph 2006 should be interesting,” writes Heller. As an interesting side note, the piece recognizes that in 2007, somewhere between 25 to 30 computer animated films will enter theaters.

Earlier today, Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, sent studio employees an e-mail notice that producer Don Hahn will act as interim Head of Walt Disney Feature Animation until the Pixar acquisition has been completed. To read the e-mail, be sure to visit CGCHAR.

The Walt Disney Company has announced that its first-quarter profit rose 7%, partially thanks to an increase in theme-park revenue. Posted at Bloomberg.com, the report also mentions that Disney CEO Robert Iger has revealed plans for the company to release about two Pixar films per year, with Toy Story 3 now being one of Pixar’s […]

Wikipedia notes that joining James Issac Conde and Spencer Fox are Gary Oldman, Harland Williams, Steve Zahn, Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett for Walt Disney Feature Animation’s December release, Meet the Robinsons.

The official teaser site for the DreamWorks Animation/Aardman film Flushed Away is now online. The site comes equipped with a sneak peek of the project, in QuickTime, Windows Media, Real Player, PSP and iPod formats.

Twelve menu screens from the Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit DVD have popped up at DVD Active. With a slew of award nominations and victories, 2005’s best reviewed film, according to Rotten Tomatoes, is now available to own on DVD.

At the age of 97, animator and illustrator Myron Waldman died last Saturday, February 4th, at New Island Hospital in Bethpage, New York. His death came as a result of congestive heart failure, his family stated. During his career, Waldman worked on such classic characters as Betty Boop, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Popeye and Superman. […]

With “Showtime for DreamWorks,” MSNBC investigates the recent endeavors of DreamWorks Animation’s search for more animators. Over the next 12 months, the studio will be hiring more than 200 workers, in an attempt to maintain its energetic production schedule. Talent is being scouted from such countries as Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. Furthermore, DreamWorks Animation […]

Disney Channel has promoted both Adam Bonnett and Jeff Brustrom, writes the site Broadcasting and Cable. Bonnett will now serve as senior VP, original series, while Brustrom will act as VP, live-action series. Meanwhile, the channel has hired animator Mike Moon, providing him with the title of VP, animated series.

The “Full Listening Party” section of AOL Music now features the Curious George sountrack, titled Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George. Included in the disc’s lineup is Jack Johnson’s currently popular track “Upside Down,” prominently featured in most of the movie’s television commericials. In related news, The Honolulu Advertiser looks at the Curious […]

At the age of 95, Al Lewis passed away on Friday night, following years of failing health. From 1961-63, Lewis starred in the popular TV classic Car 54, Where Are You?, as Officer Leo Schnauser. The actor later appeared as Leo “Schnauzer” in the show’s 1994 theatrical remake. However, Lewis’ most famous role came in […]

The Cars television ad set to air this Sunday night during the Super Bowl is now available for one’s veiwing pleasure online. Thanks to “scofo” at the Animated-News Forum for the heads up!

Paul Martin of NarniaFans.com points to USA Today, where word comes that in addition to the two upcoming DVD releases of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe, fans should expect an extended version of the film in the near future as well. “It’s interesting to note, that the current film […]

Reuters via Yahoo! News Signapore focuses on the past, present, and future of the Curious George brand. The article also notes that with the inquisitive chimp investigating theaters next weekend and televisions this fall, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is hoping to make Curious George a merchandise giant. “From a merchandising standpoint, we’re aiming at […]

Billionaire investor Warren Buffet, nicknamed “The Oracle of Omaha,” has signed up for PBS’ animated children’s program, The Secret Millionaire’s Club. Produced by DIC Entertainment, the series will teach its young viewers the importance of “financial literacy,” helping them make better money choices when they are older. The news comes courtesy of Forbes.com.

After a 13-year absence, animation in television series form will finally return to CBS, as the network has ordered seven half-hour episodes of Aardman Animations’ Creature Comforts. Based on the popular British TV series with the same name, the show, to be produced in Los Angeles and Bristol, England, will air midseason 2006-07. “In Comforts, […]

Should the merger of the two studios fail to close this summer, the Walt Disney Co. and Pixar Animation Studios Inc. have extended their current distribution deal to include Pixar’s 2007 entry, Ratatouille. “This is a deal that Disney and Pixar negotiated independent of the proposed merger to handle the distribution of Ratatouille until such […]

CGCHAR indicates that “almost every single [Disney animated] movie in production, pre-production, and development” will be evaluated by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, who were recenty named Chief Creative Officer and president of the combined Disney and Pixar animation studios. That project lineup includes such films as American Dog, Rapunzel, and Gnomeo & Juliet. However, […]

NarniaWeb relays the news that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe director Andrew Adamson will return to tell the second chapter in the Narnia film series, Prince Caspian. “Making The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe couldn’t have been a more rewarding experience, not just in terms of creative achievement […]

Cinematical sends word that Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, and Emily Watson are set to star in Miss Potter, an account of Beatrix Potter, the creator of Peter Rabbit. Zellweger will play in the title role, with McGregor acting as publisher Norman Warne. Watson’s role has yet to be announced. Babe helmer Chris Noonan will direct […]

Showbizz.net has the first look at the T-Rex and elephant fiberglass sculptures created for the live-action/CG comedy Night at the Museum. From the Internet Movie Database, Museum’s plot is defined as, “A bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History accidentally lets loose an ancient curse that causes the animals and insects on display […]

As the animators currently employed at Disney’s Circle 7 wait to hear the future of their division, CGCHAR writes that DreamWorks Animation recently invited the animators for a campus tour, in an attempt to attract some of the talented artists.

Could John Lasseter be this generation’s Walt Disney? A new article from Reuters, via Yahoo! News, proposes the idea, offering info to support the thought. Likewise, the report presents a brief history on Lasseter’s career. On an interesting final note, the piece adds, “Lasseter is seen as so integral to Pixar’s successes that Disney stipulated […]

The one sheet for the Weinstein Co. release Doogal, also known as Sprung! The Magic Roundabout, is now online at Latino Review. The film itself will hit theaters on February 24th.

Liongate’s computer animated release Foodfight! has been moved to March 2007, according to the film’s section at the Internet Movie Database. The movie was previously scheduled to open on November 17, 2006, where it would have faced-off with the Warner Bros. CGI comedy Happy Feet.

At Yahoo News comes the Reuters/Hollywood Reporter news of The Little Mermaid’s Platinum Edition DVD debut. “Several cutting-edge features are still being developed, along with such expected extras as deleted scenes, commentaries and featurettes on the making of the movie. The DVD also will include several musical bonuses.” The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD will […]

The Gamer’s Temple notices that the official website for the video game adaptation of Ice Age 2: The Meltdown is now online. Visitors to the site will find an overview, screen captures, and a forum link.