A source in the heart of the animation industry “heard today that the My Peoples project has today been cancelled and there is no back up project as of now”. The film, which has been in production for over a year now at Disney’s Florida Animation unit, mixes 2D and 3D with a voice cast […]

In a very expected move (it’s been rumored for months), Ghostbusters and Evolution director Ivan Reitman has been announced by MGM as responsible for continuing the Pink Panther live-action movie franchise. {{link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2029268 The Hollywood Reporter}} also states that none other than Steve Martin (currently starring as the twisted head of the Acme Corporation in […]

If you just haven’t made it to the theater to see this new Joe Dante film yet, or you’re stuck outside the United States, then the French site {{link http://www.cinemovies.fr/fiche_extrait.php?IDfilm=1579 CineMovies}} has a treat in store: ten lengthy clips from Back In Action! These are probably of most interest to those in the UK, who […]

Four times Annie Award Nominee Michel Gagné is well known for his animation and design work on movies such as The Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones and more recently, the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series. His quirky art books, such as Insanely Twisted Rabbits and Frenzied Fauna: From A to Z, have also earned him […]

Here’s a couple of news items on a couple of upcoming live-action features based on animated characters. Even though the first film has yet to open, producer Brian Grazer is pointing towards a second {{link http://www.catinthehat.com/ The Cat In The Hat}} movie. Set to shoot next summer, The Cat In The Hat Comes Back already […]

The Lego Corporation’s successful collaboration with Disney’s Miramax, the Bionicle series, is about to get an upgrade to its CGI graphics. After the release of the first in the series, {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008WFHG/qid%3D1068745813/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-1902555-2863210 Mask Of Light}}, a second film (currently in production and simply referred to as Bioncicle 2 at this point) is on the way […]

Michael Eisner, the chairman-CEO of the Walt Disney Company since averting the takeover bid of 1984, is to be honored as the 65th “Pioneer Of The Year” at a special dinner organized by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. {{link http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031112/law025a_1.html Yahoo News}} has more on the story, announcing that Tarzan and Brother Bear […]

Following news that Disney’s Buena Vista is negotiating to release theatrical film product in China, comes details on a new Magic Kingdom to be based in Shanghai. The company already has a theme park set to open in Hong Kong in 2006. The news group {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=TIXK2MKFG2CJMCRBAEKSFFA?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3812879 Reuters}} has the full story.

Derrick Fish, the creator and artist of an online comic strip called {{link http://www.dandyandcompany.com/ Dandy & Company}}, a cartoon about the trials and tribulations of a dog and his boy, has updated the {{link http://www.bigpondcomics.com/bigpondcomics/animation/index.html Animated Gallery}} of his site to include new rough animation tests and finished color (silent) shorts. Those looking for a […]

Chris Van Allsburg’s classic children’s book has been in highly secretive production now for over a year, with another 12 months still to go before its debut as a big special effects filled film next November. Directed by the amazing Robert Zemeckis (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump, Back To The Future), and starring Tom […]

The {{link http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ Ultimate Disney}} DVD Fansite confirms their news of last week that this year’s wave of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets, housed in individually numbered tin boxes, is being pushed back to next May, 2004. “Don’t expect an official reason, but the prevailing wisdom seems to be that there’s been a huge […]

Though it almost drowned at the box office earlier this year, DreamWorks is about to sail their final “tradigital” animated feature through those choppy waters and onto DVD, for a new disc release due in stores November 18th. {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/246 DVD Toons}} again has the first look, commenting that “although Sinbad didn’t bring home the […]

The {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?threadid=93944 Toon Zone Forum}} reports that voice work has begun on Season Two of Cartoon Network’s Duck Dodgers animated show. Both Bob Bergen (Dodgers’ “Eager Young Space Cadet” vocalist) and producer/writer Paul Dini make reference to the “next season” on their respective websites. Toon Zone {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=93950 also reports}} that Dini is scheduled […]

A great new feature by Ron Barbagallo on the {{link http://www.animationartconservation.com/blade_of_grass.html Animation Conservation}} website takes a “study within 2D background painting at the Disney Studio from 1928 through 1942”, with examples showing the jumps from the “cartoony” look of Steamboat Willie to the intricate style of Bambi.

The new Cartoon Network/Lucasfilm “micro-series” {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9564 Clone Wars}}, which expands the Star Wars universe by way of creating the back story between last summer’s Episode II and 2005’s Episode III, is airing right now on the channel in the US. However, highly charged UK fans, who feared a long wait (or having to buy […]

Master traditional animator Glen Keane’s take on the Rapunzel legend, retitled Rapunzel Unbraided, has been confirmed as being in active production, in a story at {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9565 Animation World Network}}. The article also states that Lilo And Stitch creator/director Chris Sanders has been tapped to write (and possibly direct?) the new feature An American Dog, […]

Karl F. Cohen over at the {{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1909 Animation World Network}} takes a look back at animation’s continuing messages of peace – from the Harman-Ising short Peace On Earth, to Brad Bird’s “great non-violent animated feature” The Iron Giant. Part 1 of Cohen’s feature is online now, and a very insightful read.

{{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/TheTripletsofBelleville-1127609/gallery.php?page=1&size=hires Rotten Tomatoes}} has a great look at the upcoming animated feature The Triplets Of Belleville with 14 hi-res images from the film now online. You’ll get a great look at the production design, attention to detail and original style this film takes, as well as getting to know the cast of characters. Thanks […]

Luke’s {{link http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ Ultimate Disney DVD}} fansite reports that “Disney is apparently moving Wave 3 of the Walt Disney Treasures, scheduled for release in just 3 1/2 weeks, all the way back to May 2004”. For many, the release of these sets, including a special collection marking Mickey’s 75th Anniversary, as well as a compilation […]

‘Buzz’ on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=352#post352 Animated News Forum}} tells us that the {{link http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/pirates/main_site/main.html Pirates Of The Caribbean DVD}} website has been updated to include “more info [on] content plus disc artwork”. The {{link http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/homeontherange/main.html Home On The Range}} site has also had an overhaul, with a “slight visual update of [the] logo and cast”. […]

Ralph Bakshi’s 1992 animated/live-action fiasco Cool World is not due out on disc for a few days yet, but it’s started to get reviews online. {{link http://www.dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_7/coolworld.html DVD File}} says “Unlike Roger Rabbit’s benign and happy Toontown, Cool World is violent and sleazy. A little gratuitous sex and violence could have been entertaining, but Bakshi […]

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/ Animation Magazine}} reports that Warner Bros. has named Roland Poindexter as Senior VP, Action-Adventure Properties, a newly created position. Answering to WB Animation president Sander Schwartz, Poindexter will spearhead all aspects of Warner Bros. Animation’s creative development of action-adventure properties for broadcast, cable and made-for-video outlets and supervise creative direction of selected current […]

United Cinemas International, the UK-based Paramount/Universal theater chain, is offering free early screening tickets for Disney’s latest animated feature Brother Bear! Tickets are available at all outlets (exlcuding the flagship Empire Leicester Sqaure and Ireland) for an advance showing on Saturday 22nd November at 10.45am for an 11am start. Simply visit your local UCI Cinema […]

Coming Soon.net’s {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/cgi-bin/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Comedy/Looney_Tunes_Back_in_Action Production Stills}} page just posted a whole bunch of new Looney Tunes: Back In Action images, including the Lourve sequence and behind-the-scenes of director Joe Dante on set. Also, reading between the lines here, check out Dante’s video monitor: although it looks like LT:BIA is being shot for “TV safe”, the […]

‘dizzybloom’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=330#post330 Animated News Forum}} posts that the trailer for DreamWorks’ next summer offering, Shrek 2, will appear on {{link http://entertainment.msn.com/accesshollywood/tonight/default.aspx?video=false Access Hollywood}} tonight. The trailer is also attached to the new comedy Elf, out this weekend, and should be online within the next few days.

{{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9527 Animation World Network}} announced that Big Idea Productions had been approved for purchase by Classic Media. The Veggie Tales animation company tried to expand too quickly with the release of the feature film Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie and filed for bankruptcy. Classic Media owns the copyright on characters such as Rocky and […]

A couple of DVD updates for you this morning: today seas the release of Disney/Pixar’s fintastic underwater adventure comedy Finding Nemo, in a special 2-disc edition packed with fun bonus features, including the 1989 computer animated short Knick Knack. Still swimming high in theatrical charts around the world and officially the biggest grossing film of […]

Sylvain Chomet’s amazing animated adventure Les Triplettes De Belleville is about to hit America as the more simple The Triplets Of Belleville. Already playing around the world (in the UK, it’s out as Belleville Rendez-vous, the film is very much worth seeing, and should appeal to all sides of the animation spectrum – be sure […]

Mamoru Oshii’s sequel to the hit anime feature Ghost In The Shell, subtitled Innocence, is providing a lot of excitement for fans online. Over at {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16431 Ain’t It Cool News}}, Harry provides links for the official site and the new trailer.

The late John McGrew, who served as Chuck Jones’ layout artist and whom Jones said was “a great student of film techniques, and he had very interesting ideas that I was willing to try” is celebrated over at {{link http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Interviews/McGrew/interview_john_mcgrew.htm Michael Barrier}}’s website. The newly posted interview, which comes from September 11 1995, touches on […]