AnimationHQ will welcome back animator/storyboard director Chris Headrick for his second chat session to be held this Saturday, March 6th, at 7pm EST in the {{link http://AnimationHQ.net/v2/features/events.htm AnimationHQ IRC chatroom}}. Chris says he is “looking forward to discussing and revisiting in greater detail such issues as the recent Looney Tunes feature film, the Pixar-Disney split, […]

We’ve just heard a rumor from a good source within the animation industry that a later, as yet unannounced Canadian DVD version of Sylvain Chomet’s The Triplets Of Belleville may be the disc release to wait for. The American issue, due May 4th, does not contain the original French-language version of the film, and drops […]

Early word has it that we should be seeing the teaser trailer for John Lasseter’s next Pixar effort (and the last to be distributed by Disney), Cars, attached to prints of this November’s The Incredibles, directed by Brad Bird. “The script has been recorded and the animation is almost done [for the teaser]”, our source […]

The annual shareholders’ meeting of The Walt Disney Company will be available live via webcast, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST today, March 3. A re-play will be provided through Wednesday March 10 2004 at 5:00 p.m. PST, on the {{link http://disney.go.com/corporate/investors/events/presentations.html Investor Relations}} page at Disney’s official site.

After striking gold with last year’s Pirates Of The Caribbean and the prospect of two blockbuster sequels to that film, Disney is {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=filmNews&storyID=4484884&section=news reported}} to have bought an untitled Viking action-adventure pitch from writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift (Freddy Vs. Jason) for high-six figures. The new film will center on “a washed-up seafaring […]

The Walt Disney Company is urging a Los Angeles judge to throw out the well-publicized lawsuit brought about by Stephen Slesinger Inc. over revenue which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars from Winnie The Pooh merchandise. The Slesinger family acquired Pooh rights from British author A.A. Milne in 1930, claim that they have […]

{{link http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/8086635.htm Philly.com}} reports again this morning on Roy Disney’s plans to oust Michael Eisner from the hot seat of The Walt Disney Company, and the press conference held in Philadelphia the day before the Disney Company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. “We’re not going away until Michael Eisner is gone,” said Stanley Gold, Roy’s partner in […]

Hop on over to Roy Disney’s {{link http://www.savedisney.com/ Save Disney}} site for new photos from today’s press conference, as well as a new video appeal from Roy, and a list of {{link http://www.savedisney.com/news/page2.asp new articles}} on the battle for the House Of Mouse. Also, at {{link http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/8065731.htm Philly.com}}, there’s a look ahead to tomorrow (Wednesday’s) […]

{{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040302c.php Dark Horizons}} has some post-Oscar bash talk, which covers everything from what the Lord Of The Rings guys are up to next, to talk of the Police Academy series gearing up again. Most interesting, though, is this: “Miramax boy Harvey Weinstein is talking to the Aussie filmmaker behind the Oscar winning [animated short] […]

Animators Tom Bancroft (Mushu in Mulan, among others) and Rob Corley are following in the footsteps of other Disney Florida animators by setting up their own company, Funnypages Productions, which “will join their already existing subsidiary comic book publishing company, Funnypages Press”, according to their press release, which can be read in full here:

Just minutes after posting the profile link below comes news of Triplets Of Belleville director Sylvain Chomet’s next project, the feature-length Barbacoa. Chomet is assembling a team and creating a new studio in Scotland to tell the story, which will take place during the repression of Paris in 1871. Its main character will be a […]

DVD Toons has an early look at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/527 the menus}} for Disney’s upcoming release of Kim Possible: A Stitch In Time, her first feature length (well, 66-minutes, including a no doubt 6-or-7-minute credit scroll) movie. The DVD is scheduled for release on March 16.

Now available in a wider DVD release, {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/275 Walt: The Man Behind The Myth}} takes an intimate look at the life of one of animation’s pioneers and innovators. Despite the film being part-produced by the Disney family, specifically Walt’s daughter {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/features/64 Diane Disney-Miller}}, we are allowed his foibles to be seen as well […]

Both {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/276 DVD Toons}} and a new review piece up at the {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=104089 Toon Zone}} site suggest that Joe Dante’s recent Looney Tunes movie is well worth catching on disc. “Warner Bros. has a lot riding on the release. Bigger movies with more hype dropped an anvil on Back In Action‘s [theatrical] sales […]

Film critic Roger Eberts’ publisher {{link http://www.suntimes.com/output/movies/sho-sunday-triplets29.html The Chicago Sun Times}} profiles the director of The Triplets Of Belleville, the man who was an even favorite to take home the Best Animated Feature Oscar right up until Andrew Stanton’s name was announced. In addition, animation historian {{link http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Commentary/Belleville/Belleville.htm Michael Barrier writes}} about Belleville and its […]

{{link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4409729/ Newsweek}} takes a look at the escalating pressure on Disney CEO Michael Eisner to deliver at this week’s shareholder’s meeting, just as new rumors come in of a revised and improved Comcast bid, possibly due to land in Eisner’s lap the morning of the Wednesday meeting, coincidentally enough in Comcast’s home town of […]

‘MusicFan’ in tha {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=1509#post1509 AN Forums}} has pointed to The Futon Critic, which announces a new animated comedy. “In its continued commitment to developing original animated programs for men, Spike TV debuts a topical series, This Just In, following real-life current events as they happen. Created by Steve Marmel, stand-up comic and producer/head writer […]

Last night, Barbara Walters interviewed some of the leading Hollywood movers and shakers in her annual pre-Academy Awards show, including Shrek himself. The big green ogre told us about his Honeymoon and upcoming Shrek 2 sequel. You can download the three-and-a-half minute clip now, courtesy of the {{link http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/ DreamWorks Fansite}}! Also, news has come […]

It certainly was an eventful night in the Kodak Theater, Hollywood, last night. Returning to the role of host, Billy Crystal enlivened proceedings with his now traditional mocked up appearances in several of the year’s big movies, as well as his razzmatazz singsong announcements of the five Best Picture nominees, “It’s A Wonderful Night For […]

The voting is over, the numbers are in, and it’s Oscar night not only in Los Angeles’ capital of film itself, Hollywood, but the world over, with an estimated one billion people tuning in and watching the film industry’s most important event on television and the web. As well as the predictable winners (Finding Nemo), […]

After many rumors that the high DVD sales of the show could urge the networks to commission new episodes of Family Guy, it looks like it’s finally happening. At {{link http://dvd.ign.com/articles/495/495464p1.html?fromint=1 IGN}}, creator Seth MacFarlane reveals “he’s been given the go-ahead and the only question mark left is whether the new material will air initially […]

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=103993 Toon Zone}} points to a new editorial at the New York Times, where The Triplets Of Belleville director Sylvain Chomet argues for “the merits of animation as a great and legitimate artform”.

Just as they’re doing with the Van Helsing movie, Universal is issuing an animated prequel to their Vin Diesel film, The Chronicles Of Riddick, the sequel to sci-fi shocker Pitch Black, this summer. Retailing for $14.98 and arriving on June 15, The Chronicles Of Riddick: Dark Fury will come with a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer, Dolby […]

Thanks go out to ‘MusicFan’ who sent in {{link http://www.venturadistribution.com/new_releases/serve/7811/Undercover+Brother%3A+The+Animated+Series this link}} to the full spec, details and hi-res cover art for the animated Undercover Brother DVD coming from UrbanWorks Entertainment on May 18th. The disc collects all 12 episodes and features “an intro and commentary by the Undercover Brother himself, star Eddie Griffin”, who […]

Thanks to the {{link http://www.impawards.com/2004/shark_tale.html Internet Movie Poster Awards}}, we have a chance to see the initial one-sheet teaser poster for DreamWorks’ upcoming Shark Tale. Interestingly, the word “theaters” is spelt on the poster as “theatres” – could this be an international poster, with October 1 the UK release date also? Hats off to ‘Dalboz’ […]

“Designed like a run-of-the-mill graphic design tome, this is more than the sum of its parts. The authors have chosen 50 animators – from around the world, and across generations – dividing their work into four loose categories: Form, Sound, Words and Character. Each animator is represented by a short: the formal Synchromy (1971) for […]

It’s been a good couple of weeks for animation and fantasy films at this week’s theaters in the UK, mainly due to the school holidays. The Haunted Mansion was off to a good start at number one with $10.1 million in the bank, and Looney Tunes: Back In Action stayed the course after two weeks, […]

Those people who supported Roy Disney’s recent call to email the Board of The Walt Disney Company and voice their concern at the direction the company was taking have been finding a direct response from board member George Mitchell in their inboxes. “Thank you for your recent email. I appreciate your taking the time to […]

In addition to the specs we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000959.html listed yesterday}}, the official Amazon.com pages for the DTV releases of Mickey Donald And Goofy: The Three Musketeers and The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride have been updated to show a few more details. {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001I55VA/qid=1077810357/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-4687562-8010520?v=glance&s=dvd Mickey’s Musketeers}}’ The Many Hats of Mickey Mouse featurette will “discover […]

{{link http://www.dvdfile.com/software/dvd-video/archive/2004/02_24.html DVD File}} lists some new amendments to the previously announced Disney animated video features The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and Mickey, Donald And Goofy: The Three Musketeers. The 2-disc new edition of the Lion King sequel, due on August 31, comes in a THX-certified 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 […]