News Archive for Ben Simon

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Berk comes to life in How to Train Your Dragon live-action teaser trailer

Universal Pictures has released a first look at the live-action remake of the beloved DreamWorks animated franchise, which will feature returning talents in front of and behind the camera.

Morale down but Pixar not seeing red as Turning Red goes to D+
Jennifer Lee on the future of Disney Animation
Disney’s Encanto digital soundtrack release now available!

Walt Disney Records has digitally released the Encanto Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The album features eight original songs by Tony and Grammy-winning songwriter/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and an original score by Germaine Franco, who is the first-ever woman composer of a Walt Disney Animation Studios feature film. Available now from Walt Disney Records, the Encanto Original […]

Iconic “voice of Disney” in the 80s and 90s Mark Elliott dies aged 81
Oscar-winning Munro animator Gene Deitch, also of infamous 1960s low-budget Tom & Jerry cartoons, dies aged 95

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gene-deitch-dead-oscar-winning-animator-filmmaker-was-95-1290806

Reflections on a Black Hole — Disney’s sci-fi voyage 40 years on
Legendary animator Richard Williams RIP aged 86
Watership Down editor Terry Rawlings, RIP aged 85. Read AV interview in tribute here

In the 40th anniversary year of animated classic Watership Down, we sadly report the news that the film’s editor, Terry Rawlings, has passed away today ages 85. Terry sat for a lengthy career interview to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary in an exclusive discussion with Animated Views: now a fitting tribute, read that here.

After “missteps”, John Lasseter to leave Disney

The Hollywood Reporter has the story on the pioneering Pixar director and Disney Animation executive producer switching to a consulting role before exiting the company at the end of the year, following a six-month sabbatical after recent allegations.

Can “King John” return to Disney? The dark side of John Lasseter…
Oriental DreamWorks inevitably sold, rebranded as Pearl Studio to Chinese buyer
Oriental DreamWorks up for sale? Warners interested…
Disney Legend Imagineer Marty Sklar dies aged 83
Paul Feig to helm female-lead Back To The Future reboot?
John Hurt, screen veteran and prolific animation voice actor, passes away aged 77
Disney announces Moana to set sail for Blu-ray combo pack and 3D edition March 7

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Epic Comedy-Adventure Moana Sails Home on Digital HD Feb. 21 and Blu-ray March 7 Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana”, the sweeping story of a spirited teenager who sets sail on a daring adventure to save her people, starring newcomer Auli‘i Cravalho as the voice of brave and tenacious Moana and Dwayne […]

PBS Walt Disney documentary gets BBC revision, UK airing

To unofficially mark 50 years since his death in December 1966, the PBS American Experience documentary Walt Disney has been given a revised television airing by the BBC. Originally a two-part, four-hour program, the documentary has been recut into two one-hour shows, the first part of which was broadcast Saturday evening and is now available […]

Is it Throwback Thursday? The new Pete’s Dragon is now available…on VHS!?

No, you didn’t read that wrong, although it’s not strictly true either! To promote the home release of its new version of Pete’s Dragon, Walt Disney Home Entertainment has been sending out a very special package to select review websites: a clamshell VHS edition of the movie! The clamshell doesn’t actually contain an old-school tape […]