News Archive for Ben Simon

A host of Sunday animated reading, and DreamWorks has another feature in development?

‘MusicFan’ in the AN Forums has been pretty busy of late: he’s sent in links to {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2484#post2484 several new articles}} that look at various aspects of the industry today, from news of a 72-hour Bugs Bunny marathon to CGI rivals Pixar and DreamWorks’ upcoming company plans, including Pixar’s desire to increase staff by 1,350 […]

Some Saturday gaming fun!

Scoot over to animator Nick Crocco’s site to play a game based on Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. {{link http://www.crocco.net/nemosrevenge.html Nemo’s Revenge: The Quest For The Lost Pearl}} is some Flash-animated fun which ‘seas’ (sorry!) you as an underwater diver on the search for the Nautilus’ power source…

Nightmare Before Christmas adds a new dimension

‘Shai’ writes in to let us know that at the recent E3 event, “a trailer for Capcom’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge was revealed”. While nothing can beat the stop-motion animation in the classic original, the game (a semi-sequel based on Tim Burton’s characters) does look like it has captured the essence of the […]

Inside the Aladdin: Platinum Edition giftset

Floating around the web recently has been {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001495.html this image}} of the forthcoming Aladdin: Platinum Edition giftset. Coming out alongside the standard 2-disc release of the film on October 5, this boxed edition will also contain a hardcover book on the making of the film, an actual frame from the movie and five exclusive […]

All Caps: all animated

‘MusicFan’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=387 AN Forum}} links to a new, highly stylized hand drawn animated video for Madvillan’s All Caps track (contains mild language). The video is also available on the Madvillainy enhanced CD.

New and improved full Incredibles trailer hits the web; new site launched!

Thanks to Athena in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2423#post2423 Animated News Forums}} for pointing out that the full trailer clip that premiered on Access Hollywood last week is now available in a variety of QuickTime sizes at Apple’s {{link http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/the_incredibles/ Movie Trailers}} site. The Pixar film, about a dysfunctional family of superheroes, is director Brad Bird’s first […]

Top Marx for including classic cartoons in WB's new collection

Despite having the set for over a week now, it wasn’t until catching a story over at {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=110980 Toon Zone}} that attention was brought to a few great additions that can be found in {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001HAIP4/qid=1084492835/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/102-4687562-8010520?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846 The Marx Bros Collection}}. Warner Home Video’s recently released five-disc Special Edition box set features seven brilliantly funny […]

Walt Disney: On The Front Lines – another Treasure review

Building up the May 18th releases of this year’s wave of Walt Disney Treasures DVDs is proving to be no hard thing, with glowing reviews continually surfacing around the web. Now DVD Toons clocks in with a fully in-depth look at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/301 On The Front Lines}}, the collection of Wartime films. “It can be […]

Plot and thoughts on Bambi And The Great Prince

As reported previously, famed Disney animator Andreas Deja is being confirmed as working on the company’s “midquel” to the 1942 classic Bambi. The new film, currently in production under the title of Bambi And The Great Prince, is your basic teenage angst tale, dealing with Bambi coping with his Father, the Great Prince, and his […]

Final Fantasy sequel to debut on new format

‘MusicFan’ writes in to say that “{{link http://www.gamespot.com/psp/rpg/finalfantasyviiadventchildren/index.html Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children}} will be released exclusively in an unusual format, in the form of UMD Disc, the media for Sony’s upcoming PSP console”. An official announcement and release date for the movie is still to be confirmed.

Mulan Special Edition specs

As reported previously, Disney’s Mulan is set to appear as a fully-fledged Special Edition DVD alongside Aladdin‘s disc debut this October, but now {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/570 DVD Toons has the full specs}}. Music videos from the original release will be carried over, as well as new additions, including anamorphic transfer, deleted scenes (including an alternate opening […]

Presenting Stanley Kubrick's The Shining in 30 seconds, and re-enacted by bunnies

And, er…that’s basically it! “Hop” on over to {{link http://www.angryalien.com/0504/shiningbunnies.html Angry Alien}} for a very funny spoof! Thanks to ‘Lemon Swan’ for sending in the link.

Seinfeld And Superman to air on NBC

Following the web shorts created for American Express that we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001223.html recently reported}} about, it has been announced by Variety that “NBC will air The Adventures Of Seinfeld And Superman from 8:44-9 pm on May 20. The special will mix original Seinfeld-Superman footage with elements from the Internet shorts. There’s no word yet on […]

Shrek 2 audio interviews

The DreamWorks Animation Fansite are featuring Shrek 2 audio interviews over the days to come as they count down to the film’s release on May 19. Everyday will feature a new interview with the cast and crew, with {{link http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/ director Andrew Adamson}} the first in the question firing range.

Jonny Quest and On The Front Lines reviews

We’ve another couple of animation on DVD reviews for you today. DVD Toons takes a look at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/299 Jonny Quest: Season 1}} (in stores from today), while The Laughing Place’s Toon Talk opens up another take on the anticipated May 18 Walt Disney Treasures release of the wartime {{link http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID280190-280190.asp On The Front Lines}} […]

Shrek 2 premiere pictures!

IESB’s {{link http://www.iesb.net/movies/shrek2premiere.htm At The Movies}} have posted a gallery of stills from the weekend’s Green Carpet Premiere of DreamWorks’ Shrek 2 at Mann’s Village And Bruin Theatre in Westwood, California. “The biggest premiere so far this year, it even out did the Van Helsing premiere that took place just last week at Universal Studios”. […]

Robots with attitude

Independent producer and animator Jeff Haas has single handedly produced a feature length computer animted sci-fi movie, The Dalmarian Chronicles, using off the shelf software to complete the task. Haas, who has also managed to make his film’s DVD available through {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001214CK/102-4687562-8010520 Amazon.com}} and set up an online store which sells merchandise and apparel […]

More Disney Treasures reviews

Following their review of {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/297 Mickey Mouse In Living Color 2}}, DVD Toons returns with a look at another in the new series of Walt Disney Treasures, and the kudos continue to pour in with {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/298 TomorrowLand: Disney In Space And Beyond}}. “There are some great [Ward Kimball-directed] episodes on these two discs, […]

Howl's Moving Castle: Sofie image

‘HanyaanFaery’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2306#post2305 Animated News Forum}} has posted a picture of Young Sofie from Miyazaki’s upcoming Howl’s Moving Castle, which is a character design watercolor from the Image Album. Thanks for scanning it in!

Shrek 2 opening to debut on TV

DreamWorks will debut the first five minutes of their May 19th summer sequel Shrek 2 on kids television, says {{link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000504352 The Hollywood Reporter}}. “The studio aims to whet its target audience’s appetite by previewing the movie May 18 on Nickelodeon. The 5-7pm edition of Nick’s U Pick Live block will be entirely Shrek 2-themed, […]

Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse In Living Color Volume 2: full, in-depth review

DVD Toons continue their in-depth appraisal of animation on DVD with a full look at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/297 Mickey In Color 2}}, due out May 18. “These shorts are simply eye-popping, vibrant and detailed unlike any previous versions I’ve ever seen”, says Ben Simon, “while disc two is even better: Mickey’s three recent featurettes are presented […]

More Flintstones; Top Cat and Wacky Races on the way

They were right before and likely they’ll be proved right again: {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/rumormill.html The Digital Bits}} have posted the rumored titles for Warners next wave of Hanna-Barbera classics on DVD. “Sources are telling us that titles include Top Cat, The Flintstones: Season Two and Wacky Races. Look for these possibly as soon as the 4th […]

Meet the modern space-age family: Jetsons on DVD

Rodney Figueiredo over at DVD Toons reviewes the new Warner Video release of {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/296 The Jetsons: Complete Season One}} box set on DVD. “It is great to see such a great cartoon get its due on DVD and I hope this is the first of many more releases”, says Rod. “When I was a […]

Zemeckis' Polar Express to pull into IMAX 3D stations worldwide

As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000499.html we reported}} at the end of 2003, Warner Bros. Pictures and the Imax Corporation have announced that Robert Zemeckis’ latest film, the 3D animated The Polar Express is headed to Imax theaters day and date with the standard 35mm theatrical release. {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=4592 Coming Soon}} has the latest info, including the new […]

Depp wants inspiration Richards to play father in Pirates 2: Treasures Of The Lost Abyss

Popping up with a couple of interesting tidbits, {{link http://www.showbizdata.com/contacts/picknews.cfm/35384/DEPP_WANTS_KEITH_RICHARDS_TO_PLAY_HIS_FATHER Showbiz Data}} reports that Johnny Depp has announced on UK TV that he would like Keith Richards, member of the Rolling Stones and the model for Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, to play his father in the upcoming sequel to Pirates Of The Caribbean. The story […]

Shark Tale plays games

Thanks to ‘monkeyboy12′ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2277#post2277 Animated News Forum}}, who has posted a link to a preview of Activision’s upcoming game tie-in for DreamWorks’ October animated film {{link http://cube.ign.com/articles/511/511146p1.html Shark Tale}}.

Legacy studio closes their doors?

Animation HQ’s {{link http://animationhq.net/v2/news/411.php Industry 411}} page has reported that Legacy Animation, founded only this past January with the goal of continuing Walt Disney’s vision of traditional hand drawn animation, is “no more”, according to directing manager Eddie Pittman. In a note to the site, Pittman says: “To set the record straight, Legacy is in […]

Roy Disney still intact on Disney Treasures tins

As a few early looks at this year’s Walt Disney Treasures line of DVDs begin to surface online, it’s surprising to see that no-one has commented on the “Roy Disney signature” situation. With a {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/297 review copy}} of Mickey Mouse In Living Color Volume Two having turned up, we can confirm that Roy’s signature […]

Home On The Range slashed

We’ve a couple of posters in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=353 AN Forum}} who point out that all Home On The Range merchandise in The Disney Stores from Pittsburgh to Florida has now been reduced in price to 50% off. Thanks to ‘macaluso’ and ‘Special Ed’, who adds: “Isn’t that a new record for a Disney film?”

Game news updates

What’s in development at which companies, and what can we expect to see playing in games consoles soon? Those are the questions ‘MusicFan’ answers in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2269#post2269 Animated News Forum}}, with a list of all known games on the way across all platforms.