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 […]

{{link http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/story.jsp?story=527813 Independent News}} in the UK reports that when the DreamWorks behemoth Shrek 2 arrives for its UK bow on July 2, audiences will hear a slightly different version of the film than is playing in the US. It only boils down to two small (but pointless) changes, which sees the US’s Larry King […]

In answer to Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s quote earlier this week that 2D animation had come to an end (at least in the eyes of the Mouse House), caricaturist Pete Emslie has penned the rather clever and amusing {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/emslie.06042004.1.htm The Monkey’s Tale}}, a poem which can be read over at Jim Hill’s page.

DVD Answers have a bunch of info on upcoming Disney DVD issues, including high-res artwork for the {{link http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=3875&n=1&burl= Mulan: Special Edition}} (released October 26) and the 1979 live-action feature {{link http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=4087&n=1&burl= The Black Hole}} (August 3). Most interesting are the menu screens from the September 14 release of {{link http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=4088&n=1&burl= Home On The Range}}: […]

For those interested in the technological details of Sony’s new digital theater projectors, the {{link http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25972 Digital Producer}} has more on how the 4K resolution system works. To put things in perspective, films such as Toy Story or Shrek 2 are created at 2K, and transferred to film for standard projection. The 4K route doubles […]

‘WolfTooth’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/newreply.php?s=&action=newreply&threadid=441 AN Forum}} points to an interesting article at {{link http://www.asahi.com/english/arts/TKY200406020134.html Asahi.com}} that looks at the ratios between the low wage a backroom animator earns in Japan and the huge amounts that merchandising deals can bring in on a popular anime manga title.

The DreamWorks Fansite has posted a number of screenshots from the upcoming {{link http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/fullstory.php?id=575 Shark Tale video game}} from Activision.

Disney’s Home On The Range, after being missing in action on the UK release date slate for a while, looks set to open in cinemas on August 6 2004, as part of the film’s international roll out. Home On The Range will arrive on DVD in the States just one month later, on September 14.

{{link http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0406035 Cinema Confidential}} has a full gallery of Garfield: The Movie pictures up, including some new images.

Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp has {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=5329072 announced a new system}} that could speed up the time it takes to convert traditional movie theaters over to digital projection. Currently, the industry is tied to Texas Instruments’ DLP approach, but Sony (well known for bucking trends and starting their own) have developed their own take […]

Beginning to use its growing presence in India, The Walt Disney Company will launch three new TV channels in the area over the next twelve months, reports {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=5319657 Reuters}}. David Hulbert, president of Walt Disney Television International, said that one of the three channels would have programing similar to Disney’s US network ABC, while […]

Following Michael Eisner’s quote on “the end of 2D animation”, {{link http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ Cartoon Brew}} has an amusing take on that comment, and news of a new Spanish-themed animated feature coming in 2005, which will be hand drawn. Sian Ka’an is directed by Raul Garcia, Disney animator on such films as Aladdin, The Lion King and […]

Speaking at the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. 20th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference ({{link http://disney.go.com/corporate/investors/events/presentations.html webcast replay here}}), Disney CEO Michael Eisner said that talks with Pixar could resume to try and reach a satisfactory distribution partnership between the two companies. The {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=5327278 Reuters News Agency}} has the full story, also reporting the official […]

The new trailer (officially labelled as Teaser 2) for Robert Zemeckis’ {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/p/polarexpress.php The Polar Express}}, featuring Tom Hanks under a ton of CGI make-up, is now making the rounds online. Check it out in a variety of Apple QuickTime sizes here:

With Shrek 2 on course to make a cool $300 million by the end of this week, DreamWorks has stepped up production on a third film, which was already rumored as early as January this year, for a holiday 2006 release. {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=4967 Coming Soon}} says the studio has hired Peter Seaman and Jeffrey Price, […]

{{link http://www.moviehole.net/news/3726.html Moviehole}} is reporting that the sequel to the surprise 2001 hit Cats And Dogs, originally to have been directed by Kevin Lima (A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians), is on hold, according to animation supervisor Todd LaBonte. “We did tests for it like two years ago – but it’s been put on the […]

Max and Dave Fleischer’s rarely seen, but fantastically inventive 1941 feature Mr Bug Goes To Town will be screening on UK TV this week, under its 1950s NPA television print title of Hoppity Goes To Town. The second and final feature from the Fleischers, after Gulliver’s Travels in 1939, the film’s relative obscurity comes from […]

Rochester’s Animatus Studio has completed work on their latest short, Su and Mo: Lost in Animation. The cartoon, created in Flash animation with the tone of a South Park episode, tells the story of Su and Mo, the world’s only lap-dancing wrestler/animators. Dancing at ClubHippendale’s has finally provided the boys with enough tip money to […]

Showing just how traditional hand-drawn cartooning can contain more life and energy than the now ultra-popular CG approach, the French {{link http://www.theincredibles.free.fr/ Incredibles Fansite}} features large-scale looks at The Art Of The Incredibles, a Mr Incredible poster, postcard and sticker books, and the Essential Guide cover art. Click the link above and look under ‘Infos’, […]

Henstooth Home Video are considering adding a number of European animated films to their growing catalog, and have asked for opinions on the 1975 Norwegian film Flåklypa Grand Prix (AKA The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix). If you’d like to see this title released on DVD in the US, please leave your feedback in our {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2869#post2869 […]

Over at {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.php Dark Horizons}} the site seems to have a ton of updates on animation-related projects. It seems that DreamWorks is looking to {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040527g.php remake Forbidden Planet}} (the 1956 original featured special animation effects from The Walt Disney Studios), and Platinum Studios’ comic Cowboys And Aliens is {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040526c.php heading to the […]

Either dropping heavy hints to further his cause in bringing Pixar back under the Disney wing, or following through with serious plans, Michael Eisner this week said that sequels to Pixar’s Mouse House films are in development and going forward. The {{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=26859 Big Cartoon DataBase}} confirms a Hollywood Reporter story that says Disney is […]

Over at the Cartoon Brew, Amid Amidi updates with a quick look at what is happening with the print edition of Animation Blast No. 9, as well as previewing a new book he’s currently co-writing that will take a look at the making of Chris Wedge’s follow-up to Ice Age. {{link http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2004_05.html#000209 The Art Of […]

Toon Zone notes that the {{link http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/entertainment/s_195627.html Pittsburgh Tribune-Review}} has a brief profile of the 25th annual edition of Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival.