After 15 years at WB Animation, writer/producer Paul Dini, seen by many as one the pivitol few who carried the unit in the right direction with the more mature takes on DC Comics’ Batman and Superman animated series and the likes of new shows Freakazoid and Duck Dodgers, has decided to call it a day. […]

{{link http://www.animwatch.com AnimWatch}}, the best place to keep up to date in the world of independent animation, has updated its page with new links to {{link http://www.animwatch.com/News.shtml#05262004 eight new project profiles}}, including Doug Chiang’s Robota.

Jim Hill takes leave from his regular roost over at Jim Hill Media to hop across the pond to the UK’s Skwigly magazine online, where {{link http://www.skwigly.co.uk/magazine/articles/01-05-04/dreamworks/shrek2jokes01.asp he reports}} on Shrek 2‘s many “nods” to Disney product past and present. Spoilers ahoy, but the ever growing list of in-jokes and pop-culture references is now up!

Debuting a year ago in June 2003, Disney’s popular ToonTown Online multi-player game has racked up some big numbers and awards. Now the company is expanding from its US and Japanese availablity to set up shop in the UK, notes {{link http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&newsId=20040525005254&newsLang=en&beanID=202776713&viewID=news_view Business Wire}}. A 3-day trial version of the {{link http://www.toontown.com original US version}} […]

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=112054 Toon Zone reports}} that Disney CEO Michael Eisner is to speak at the Sanford C. Bernstein & Company 20th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday, June 2 2004, at 4:00 pm EDT. His remarks will be available via live webcast at the {{link http://www.disney.com/investors Disney.com/investors}} page – point your browser approximately five minutes […]

A new animated web short answers the question of what we can look forward to when we finally make that trip to the great upstairs. Mishmash Media’s {{link http://www.mishmashmedia.com/waiting01.html The Waiting Room}} shows that the “cosmic cycle of life and death ain’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be in this new mind-expanding metaphysical romp”.

The Pixar/Brad Bird article that appears in the June print edition of Wired Magazine can now be enjoyed by everyone and international readers online, over at the official {{link http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.06/pixar.html?tw=wn_tophead_3 Wired website}}. Among other things, Bird reveals that his own hand-held camera footage will be included in the bonus material of the eventual The Incredibles […]

DreamWorks animation head Ann Daly has said that plans for the continuation of the Shrek franchise are moving ahead, with the company taking on each future sequel “one at a time”. Dark Horizons’ {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040525e.php News Bites}} reports the details, with Daly adding that DWs was in “final talks” with principal voice actors Mike Myers, […]

With Shrek 2 breaking box office records left, right and center, its presence is also being felt in retail stores across the country. {{link http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/25/news/economy/weeklysales/index.htm?cnn=yes CNN Money}} is saying that “The International Council of Shopping Centers’ weekly sales report shows sales decreased 0.5 percent” during Shrek 2‘s opening in theaters. However, retail analysts said they […]

Following last week’s meeting between the Disney board and the state pension fund companies who objected to Michael Eisner’s staying put at the top of the Disney company, the Mouse House has come forward with a concession plan: to “allow them to suggest nominees for a seat on the company’s board this year”, says the […]

{{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/574 DVD Toons}} today posts what we can look forward to in the fourth box of Futurama comedy adventures. The new set will include commentaries and deleted scenes for many of the episodes. Futurama: Volume Four is set to street August 24, retailing at $49.98.

Dave Bossart, producer of the Walt Disney Treasures: On The Front Lines DVD, answers {{link http://www.dvdfile.com/news/special_report/ten_questions/bossert_dave/index.html DVD File’s Ten Questions}}, in which he also reveals that digital restorations for Bambi and Cinderella are underway.

As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001053.html we posted}} a couple of months ago, the Project Dogwaffle animation system is the brainchild of animator Dan Ritchie. He now posts in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2724#post2724 Animated News Forums}} that an updated version is available, as well as providing links to three Media 9 video clips showcasing the program.

‘Music Fan’ and ‘monkeyboy12’ have posted a little more about the upcoming video game based on Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo. Take a look at The Continuing Adventures‘ {{link http://gba.gamespy.com/articles/516/516940p1.html details}} and a bunch of {{link http://media.gameboy.ign.com/media/684/684222/imgs_1.html?fromint=1 screen grabs}} from the Game Boy Advance game.

‘MusicFan’ writes in with a link to the announced winners of the Best Animation On Campus competition to find new animation talent and projects for mtvU. Congratulations to Gary Finkler, whose {{link http://www.mtvu.com/contests/mtvu_animation/ Rock/Paper/Scissors}} is the winning film. Check out the site for a short Q&A with Finkler and co-creator Joseph Rosenberg, as well as […]

Over at Smurf fan boards {{link http://216.104.189.49/cgi-bin/forum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=3823&forum=SmurfVillage&omm=1&viewmode=threaded The Mushroom Village}}, one member has posted an image from last year’s Licensing Show which shows “a Smurf walking through a piece of film strip. On one side, he is a computer 3D vector model, on the other side he is fleshed out”. Though this image is actually […]

Animation independent Raven Tales Productions has been short listed to be the recipient of a $10,000 completion grant from National Geographic’s All Roads Film Project, as stated in the company’s press release. “The $10,000 grant will allow completion and distribution of the first computer animated film written, produced, designed, voiced by and directed by an […]

Usually only dealing with product from the Disney Studio, {{link http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID280220.asp The Laughing Place}}’s Kirby Holt takes at look at rival DreamWorks’ Shrek 2, now in theaters and making a mint for itself. By the end of the weekend, the film is expected to have made close to $100 million after just five days on […]

‘MusicFan’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2706#post2706 AN Forums}} points to the latest animation/live-action web short to feature Jerry Seinfeld and DC Comics’ Superman. “The {{link http://www.jerry.digisle.tv/ new episode}} is titled Hindsight and features the two going on a cross-country road-trip”.

The fun and entertaining film site {{link http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=4351 JoBlo.com}} jumps on the Shrek 2 bandwagon and interviews directors Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon. A much more meaty chat than an average junket fluff piece, the duo reveal that they’re not involved with Shrek 3, and talk about their handling of original director Andrew Adamson’s departure […]

There’s a ton of new stuff to get through over at Dark Horizons today, but of most interest is this peek at Fox’s forthcoming animated sitcom, {{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040520c.php American Dad}}, created by Family Guy‘s Seth MacFarlane. “Father Stan will go to extremes to protect America from harm – as evidenced by his frequent knee-jerk reaction […]

Over at {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17618 Ain’t It Cool News}}, Scott Essman takes an extremely informative and interesting interview with 84 year old stop-motion animation legend Ray Harryhausen, promoting his autobiography, An Animated Life.

With Tarzan II and Lilo And Stitch 2 likely to head into theaters, one title that looks destined to go direct-to-video is The Emperor’s New Grove II – AKA The Emperor’s Newer Groove. With an animation time of just over one year, it looks as if this DTV film will have the production values of […]

Richard O’Donovan, a 3D artist at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, has just finished an independent review of The Animation Motion Show Volume 2 for {{link http://10secondclub.net/reviews.php?id=10005 The 10 Second Club}}, “the worlds largest, longest running and most fertile breeding ground for character animators wanting to improve their skills, meet contacts and discuss their challenging craft”. […]

As we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00001018.html announced}} back in March, a 2-disc Special Edition of Sylvain Chomet’s Les Triplettes de Belleville has in fact been released recently in Canada – the only question is, “was it worth the wait?” Apart from some deluxe packaging and the inclusion of the original French track, it seems the release still […]

Those with Disney’s Home On The Range on their wish lists at {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00029LO0Y/qid=1085052061/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-4687562-8010520?v=glance&s=dvd Amazon.com}} will have been the first to see today that Walt Disney Home Video is listing a release date of September 14 for the animated cow comedy. No news on specs yet, though the $29.99 list price may well indicate a […]

The latest wave of Walt Disney Treasures was officially released through stores this past Tuesday, and now Kirby Holt of The Laughing Place has posted his final two looks at the new series with reviews of {{link http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID280200-280200.asp TomorrowLand: Disney In Space And Beyond}} and the compilation of Duck cartoons, {{link http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID280210.asp The Chronological Donald}}. […]

Adding to our Shrek-themed news today comes this link sent in by ‘Olve’, which {{link http://www.shrek2.com/firstfive.html previews the first five minutes}} of DreamWorks’ latest blockbuster – out today in case you hadn’t guessed!

In the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=2579#post2579 AN Forums}}, ‘tkt0820’ posts that “The CINEME International Animation Film Festival has announced its Call for Submissions. CINEME will be held September 24, 25 and 26, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. Completed animated works may be submitted by June 1 for early consideration (with a reduced submission fee) or by July 1 […]

Frédéric writes in to point us towards his pretty impressive {{link http://www.theincredibles.free.fr/ Incredibles fan site}}. Though French speakers will get the most out of it, there’s some very nicely put together stuff to catch, including huge downloadable versions of the latest trailers and TV spots (in English), and new images to explore!