Orlando Bloom has been speaking about his imminent return to the high seas for the upcoming sequel to this summer’s surprise hit Pirates Of The Caribbean, based on the Walt Disney theme park ride. “I’ll be heading back to film with Johnny Depp soon, which is cool. I have no complaints about working in the […]

The usually quiet Ted Thomas, director of the 1995 documentary Frank And Ollie, recently released on DVD, steps out into the limelight to reflect on making the film and putting together the disc, in an interview posted over at {{link http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID210230-210232.asp The Laughing Place}}. He also touches on how hard the film has been to […]

Over on his {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com/reviews.html Cartoon Research}} site, animation historian Jerry Beck takes a look at a new DVD that compiles vintage and recent “produced-in-New York animated short films”. Avoid Eye Contact: The Best Of NYC Independent Animation also includes animators’ “personalized navigational menus, and a few bonus materials (audio track commentaries, behind the scenes […]

The highly anticipated release of Invader Zim to DVD has had fans on tenterhooks for the past couple of months now. {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=98716 Toon Zone}} finally lifts the lid on what to expect from Volume One, which will contain seven episodes and will be issued on May 11th – the first of three volumes that […]

Jerry Beck, at his {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com/ Cartoon Research}} site, links to a story at {{link http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2059770 Adweek}} which reports that Bugs and Daffy are appearing in a new TV commercial for the Aflac insurance co. The spot first aired during college football bowl games yesterday (January 1st) and will now hit rotation on national network […]

Though the future of classically animated films in the US hangs in the balance, the medium is flourishing in Europe, thanks to technology and a boom in talented artists able to lend their expertise to a new breed of feature-length films. Belleville Rendezvous has shown that quality does not have to be sacrificed due to […]

As the new year chimes in, now is the chance to find a number of discs in those winter sales that Disney plans to discontinue on January 31st. Only a month to go before Sleeping Beauty 2-disc SE, Fantasia (the 1940 original, the 2000 update and the lavish, highly recommended Anthology box set), and the […]

Many happy returns and welcome to 2004! The year promises to be a very interesting one for animation indeed, as the medium continues to redefine exactly what “traditional animation” is, what the future is for 2D and 3D, and where the line between photorealistic characters and exceptional special effects character animation is drawn. The industry […]

Thanks to ‘ChayaA’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=689#post689 AN Forums}} for pointing out a link to Time Magazine’s revealing of their reviewers’ picks for the {{link http://www.time.com/time/bestandworst/2003/story.html best and worst}} films of 2003. Richard Corliss has Nemo and Belleville tied together at the number 2 spot, second only to Return Of The King, while Nemo appears […]

{{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83532.html Playbill}} (via Toon Zone) is reporting that Broadway actor Adam Pascal (already known to Disney fans for his role as Radames in Elton John/Tim Rice’s Aida) has been tapped to perform in the next stage of workshops for the upcoming stage translation of Disney’s Tarzan. Pascal says “I’m playing the storyteller, so basically […]

Jerry Beck, over at his {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com/comments.html Cartoon Research}} page, takes a look at the new Definitive Guide To Betty Boop Memoribilia book, as well as Mike Joens’ An Animated Death In Burbank and another push for the very fun Son Of Faster Cheaper, by Floyd Norman.

The {{link http://www.imdb.com/StudioBrief/#1 IMDB}} today reports an upswing in the recent box office slump of the summer, with Peter Jackson’s Return Of The King perhaps unsurprisingly leading the way (for a total gross, in 2003 alone, of $224 million). The much heralded Peter Pan, at the other end of the spectrum, has only managed to […]

With the new year just around the corner, {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents The Digital Bits}} has posted a slate of what we can expect from some of the major studios. All of these are subject to change, but at the moment, here’s what we can expect, animation wise: Paramount has more Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob SquarePants and other […]

‘Wolf Tooth’ on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=671#post671 AN Forum}} tells us that Yahoo Japan is reporting a release date change from July to November next year, to give director Miyazaki extra time to complete the movie (rumored to be his last, though he’s been saying that for a while now)! The {{link http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ Anime News Network}} […]

If you couldn’t wrestle control of the TV remote to catch BBC 2’s showing of Belleville Rendezvous this past Christmas Day, a scan through the UK TV listings reveals that the digital cable channel BBC 4 is re-showing the film as part of their World Cinema Award season. It’s on tonight, the 28th December, at […]

Rankin/Bass’ 1982 fantasy animated feature The Last Unicorn has appeared as a pre-order on the {{link http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?item_id=579871 DVD Empire}} website, listing a March 16th release date, for under $10. No specs yet, but the title is already available in region 2 countries, in its original letterboxed aspect ratio, particularly {{link http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000085ROP/ref=sr_aps_dvd_1_1/202-5939041-0530219 the UK}} and {{link […]

The Muppet Wizard Of Oz, the next film in the on-going almost-animated Muppet film series, has had the “casting” of the principal roles announced, according to {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16715 AICN}}. Kermit is the Scarecrow, while the rumor is that Natalie Portman is being eyed for the lead part of Dorothy. In not so good news, it’s […]

‘MusicFan’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=662#post662 Animated News Forum}} lets us know that DreamWorks have secured the web domain names ‘abeemovie.com’, ‘beemovie.net’ and ‘thebeemovie.com’, which can only be a sign of confirmation that the studio is going with Bee Movie as the actual title of their next CG animated comedy, described as “Antz with bees” (Beez, […]

Although we’ve mentioned it on a couple of past occasions, this really is my last chance to highlight the UK TV showing of the Oscar-worthy {{link http://www.bellevillerendezvous.com Belleville Rendezvouz}} (The Triplets Of Belleville) on the BBC 2 channel. Sylvain Chomet’s astonishing film (the best I have seen produced outside of the main studio system) is […]

The always enjoyable {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm Jim Hill Media}} shuts down today until the 29th, with a final three posts. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/wsampson.12242003.1.htm Walt Disney Christmas Stories}} has Wade Sampson recounting “a series of Christmas-related tales that feature the old Mousetro himself and the Studio’s resident genius, Ward Kimball, while Matt Springer’s {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/mspringer.12242003.1.htm The Essential Geek}} […]

The end of the year gives us cause for celebration, but it’s also a chance to look back and remember those who have passed away. Recently, the animation community lost two such artists: stop-motion animator Wah Chang (Oscar winner for special effects on George Pal’s The Time Machine and contributor to animated sequences in other […]

Halloween movie or Christmas classic? However you think of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, there’s no denying that it’s a holiday favorite and a technical marvel. Just as its tenth year celebrations come to a close, Alex Weitzman at The Big Cartoon Database’s {{link http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view&post=16860 The Animated Word}} takes a look back at the […]

‘Bobbie’ on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=651#post651 AN Forum}} posts a press release from the upcoming 21st {{link http://www.rustycon.com/ Rustycon}} convention (running January 16th through January 18th in Seattle) that announces that DreamWorks will preview their upcoming animation slate at the event. “DreamWorks will be hosting a booth featuring art from the animated films Shrek 2, Shark […]

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97838 Toon Zone}} reports that the ongoing dispute between the owners and licensors of A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh characters is set to continue on February 24th, when the Disney Company will argue that “its opponents stole documents”, in the trial’s first major hearing in more than a year – though it’s just another […]

{{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news03/031222g.php Dark Horizons}}, among a list of other (live-action) news bites, mentions that the next Farrelly Brothers comedy “(the animated one) will be based on the novel {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1882647246/qid=1072196975//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/002-1902555-2863210?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 Frisco Pigeon Mambo}} by C.D. Payne”.

Following our own {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000405.html Picks Of The Year}} feature, which ranged from books to DVDs, Rand Cyrenne sticks to just the discs, compiling the best editions from 2003, based on a shortlist made up from the reviewers, including myself, at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/ DVD Toons}}. The list (also featuring further links to full reviews) brings […]

Following Jim Hill’s feature last week that reveals that Disney’s Aladdin is not quite yet headed for the Imax screen (though Disney’s reasons to replace it with a new Black Stallion film is unlikely to change the company’s current attitude to large format releases) comes news that another family studio, Warner Brothers, is taking up […]

‘2099net’ posts on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127 AN Forum}} that Sylvain Chomet’s Belleville Rendezvouz (The Triplets Of Belleville) is headed for DVD on January 26th. The disc site {{link http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=144695 Play.com}} is showing the film available in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and DTS sound, with several bonus features including audio commentary on three scenes, music video, making […]

‘Baloo’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=131 Animated News Forum}} shows us the UK artwork for the upcoming Lion King 1½ 2-disc DVD, known internationally as The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata. It’s listed as a pre-order on the {{link http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000163X1G/qid%3D1071844217/202-5939041-0530219 Amazon.co.uk}} site for £13.99, and will be released on February 16th 2004.

Fantasy writer Ed McCray, who “moonlights” as a reviewer for DVD Toons, has published a new book, with an eye for an animated feature to follow. Jill Chill And The Baron Of Glacier Mountain is “a brand new holiday story that explores the possibility of Jack Frost having a female counterpart”. The book, just on […]