Even with more than a year to go before release (and Shark Tale to be released before it), the buzz is starting to build on DreamWorks’ 2005 feature Madagascar. Long in development, the Eric (Antz) Darnell film looks to be integrating a 2D-styled look within its 3D computer animation, as voice talent Ben Stiller tells […]

The {{link http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.html Superman Homepage}} has some more info on the new animated kids series that will feature Superman’s dog, Krypto. The Man of Steel himself and arch nemesis Lex Luthor are set to make appearances in the first season of Krypto The Superdog, which will debut on Cartoon Network in the US on April […]

This story at the {{link http://www.nypost.com/gossip/25434.htm New York Post}} says that Larry King’s role of the Ugly Stepsister in Shrek 2 will be expanded for the DVD version. In “a visit by American Idol to Shrek’s swamp, King’s character sings Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, which he previewed Monday when he accepted the We Are […]

{{link http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2004/commentary040604RAM.htm?logvisit=y&source=estmarhln001999&npu=y The Motley Fool}} posts an interesting commentary on the continuing struggle between The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios. “Pixar needs Disney because it owns Pixar’s past”, says Rick Munarriz. “Disney needs Pixar because it owns Disney’s future”.

‘Mckain’ in the Animated News Forum {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=3364#post3364 links to}} a page which has the details on Oddworld’s First Ten Years: The Art of the Oddworld Universe 1994 – 2004, a new book that celebrates the art and design of this computer animated game.

If you haven’t made a trip over to Jerry and Amid’s {{link http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ Cartoon Brew}} recently, you’ve been missing out on some fantastic stuff! A couple of reports from the Annecy Animation Festival, a piece of rare Merrie Melodies artwork, new shots for the 3D TV special Popeye’s Voyage and some not so enticing images […]

The {{link http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/cotown/la-fi-rup10.8jun10,1,2887305.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter LA Times}} (free subsription required) reports that Sharon Morrill has stepped up from being executive vice president to her new job as president of DisneyToon Studios, the animation department that produces the last of Disney’s 2D output, including the DTV releases. The brief report says that the unit is “fast-growing”, adding to […]

Toon Zone links to new images from the WB’s upcoming kids animation series based around Superman’s amazing canine, {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=113309 Krypto The Superdog}}, coming to Cartoon Network for spring 2005.

Find out for yourselves just how good or bad the new {{link http://www.garfieldmovie.com/main.html Garfield: The Movie}} really is – it’s in theaters in the US now! Fans of the comic orange moggy can catch the cat in the UK on 30 July, while the film is due to open in Europe from mid-August to early […]

Over at DVD Toons, Ben Simon takes a look at the new Spike And Mike DVD compilation, {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/309 Cutting Edge Classics}}. “With this particular collection it may be true in a couple of occurrences that films come and go with little story or character cleverness apart from the odd technical touch, but overall this […]

With all the fuss over his co-star Mickey’s 75th anniversary this year, it seems the irascible Donald Duck has once again been shunted out of the spotlight. Well, let’s set that straight right now! It seems quite a few of us have forgotten, but ‘rodneyf’ in the {{link http://forums.dvdtoons.com/showthread.php?p=20818#post20818 DVD Toons Forum}} reminds us that […]

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=113150 Toon Zone}} reports that “Tom Staggs, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Walt Disney Company, will be speaking at the Thomas Weisel Partners Growth Forum on Tuesday June 15 2004, at 2:05 pm EDT”. A live webcast will be provided by the official {{link http://www.disney.com/investors Disney Investors}} page (point […]

‘WolfTooth’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=3294#post3294 AN Forum}} links to a new poster for Miyazaki’s {{link http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/newspro/latest_news.shtml#newsitem1086640326,67212, Howl’s Moving Castle}}.

In the first review anywhere online, {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17745 AICN}}’s ‘Moriarty’ looks at the new Spider-Man film, and really, really loves it!

For those who just can’t seem to get enough Shrek these days, hop on over to the DreamWorks Animation Fansite, where they’re giving away copies of the PS2 {{link http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/features/contest/shrek_games.php game of Shrek 2}}! Meanwhile, DVD Toons are running a similarly easy to enter contest where the prize is one of three copies of {{link […]

In what must be a first, {{link http://www.filmstew.com/Content/Features/Details.asp?Pg=1&ContentID=8864 Film Stew}} actually reviews the recent Cannes Film Festival press conference for DreamWorks’ Shark Tale! The story is interesting, however, as it looks at how the worlds of serious film festival and Hollywood junkets can blend (and sometimes crash) together, however orchestrated such an event could be. […]

Ain’t It Cool News has a couple of animation-related tidbits up this Monday: the {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17740 latest on Tintin}}, Spielberg’s live-action feature film series, and another story spreading the good word about {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17741 Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher}}. Finally, one reader has sent in a {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17733 scathing review}} of Garfield: The Movie…

This past Saturday played host to this year’s MTV Movie Awards and {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040606f.php Dark Horizons}} has the full list of winners up, including Johnny Depp’s Best Male Performance for Disney’s Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Lindsay Lohan’s Breathrough Female win for Freaky Friday, and The Lord Of The Rings: […]

With the recent release of the Walt Disney Treasures: TomorrowLand DVD set bringing back to the fore Walt Disney’s interests in looking toward the future, the {{link http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/waltdisney/home.html Walt Disney Family Museum}} highlights the 40th anniversary of the 1964 World’s Fair and the making of Mary Poppins. Participants in newly added video clips include Marty […]

Filmax Animation Entertainment, the independent Spanish production company, will bring its two completed animated feature films, the hand drawn El Cid: The Legend and the CGI Pinocchio 3000, to the Annecy animation festival, reports the {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=11165 Animation World Network}}. AWN also has more on the ambitious {{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=1950 El Cid}}, which will see a […]

With Ralph Bakshi’s 1977 feature Wizards currently making the rounds on a recently released DVD, animation historian and writer Micheal Barrier opens up his {{link http://www.michaelbarrier.com/funnyworld_revisited.htm Funnyworld Revisited}} pages to re-print a fascinating and in-depth piece on the making of Bakshi’s first feature, Fritz The Cat, with some additional thoughts on Bakshi’s post-Fritz career. Great […]

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=112820 Toon Zone}} posts the specs and details for Warner Home Video’s VHS and DVD release of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, which will go up against Disney’s Home On The Range on September 14.

While the state of the industry may be headed into bad shape, there’s no questioning Japanese anime’s continuing popularity. Ain’t It Cool News returns with the latest rumblings from the manga world with their monthly {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17721 AnimAICN}} column.

Sony’s Astroboy property has been slated to be turned into a big screen theatrical adventure, reports Dark Horizons, from an original {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040603i.php Variety article}}. Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky (also of Star Wars: Clone Wars) is down to write and direct, with Don Murphy producing with Lisa Henson and Kristine Belson […]

In a clever piece of marketing speak, Universal’s Craig Kornblau explains that the multitude of home video spin-offs, animated DTV titles and so-called “cheapquells” actually do have a purpose other than creating a way for a studio to make a quick buck. “What this whole DVD business is about is offering consumers more of the […]

In a piece over at {{link http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-05-13-shrek-main_x.htm USA Today}}, Jeffrey Katzenberg explains the change in direction DreamWorks has taken from the traditionally animated films Spirit and Sinbad to the hipper, more edgier family fare such as the Shrek films. Touching on the future of DWs animation, Katzenberg confirms Shrek 3 and 4, and the story […]

‘Monkeyboy12’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=3184#post3184 AN Forum}} has posted a link to a trailer for the upcoming PS2 video game of Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles. Don your super suit and fly over to {{link http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/568/568280/vids_1.html IGN.com}} (free subscription required) for the clip and a new video interview on the game!

‘Otma1918’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=3178#post3178 Animated News Forum}} says that “AnimationHQ will host a live online chat session with American voice actress and dub director Wendee Lee on Saturday, June 5th at 2pm EST. This will be the third time Wendee has chatted with the folks at {{link http://www.animationhq.net/v2/features/events.htm AnimationHQ}}”.

One of the more fascinating and down right fun looking animated shorts to come along in recent times, Woohoo Pictures’ {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001362.html Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher}} is making quite a name for itself on the festival circuit, it seems, and picking up accalim and awards. Now {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/colton.06042004.1.htm Roger Colton}} is back for Jim Hill […]

With a successful DVD release last fall, the crew from Disney’s The Lion King will be reuniting for one night only to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the film, at a one-off event to be held in Glendale, California. Featuring a healthy host of panelists on hand to talk and answer questions on the making […]