Today marks the release of the official soundtrack for Disney/Pixar’s Cars. Described as the “ultimate road trip album” it can be purchased wherever music is sold, downloaded from iTunes (download comes with a free digital booklet), procured for free in a limited edition with unique cover art as part of a Goodyear Tires promotion, or […]

A new series of four video podcasts, which can be viewed on the o-meon.com site, with iTunes or a video iPod or listened to like a regular podcast, feature behind the scenes insights and interview with CARS director John Lasseter, producer Darla K. Anderson, character team manager Jay Ward and many of the film and […]

On Thursday, June 22, at 7:30pm, Hollywood Heritage will host an “Evening @ the Barn” (the Lasky-DeMille Barn across from the Hollywood Bowl) with special guests Virginia Davis (Walt Disney’s original Alice), Michael Broggie (author of Walt Disney’s Railroad Story), and Marc Wanamaker who will be presenting slides of early Disney sites. They will also […]

An in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at DreamWorks Animation’s recent animated feature Over the Hedge has just been unveiled here. It includes: * Story Boards * Visual Development * End credits character animation * Colorful pop art graphic animation used in the ’60’s tradition * Video interviews * Full Cast and Crew information

A recent article at VFX World looks at the steadily reviving animated shorts program at Disney, the never-dormant shorts program at Pixar, the new short First Flight from DreamWorks Animation, as well as animated shorts from other companies. The article mentions a short feature directed by John Lasseter to be included on the DVD for […]

Last week’s Disney Insider features the upcoming stage production based on Disney’s animated feature Tarzan, especially highlighting the work that went into fleshing out the script to make it more appropriate for a Broadway stage. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

VFX World discusses Disney’s The Little Matchgirl, the fourth and final short to be completed that was originally intended for the now aborted Fantasia 2006 project. The Little Matchgirl, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, will be making the rounds on the festival circuit then premiere for home viewing on The Little Mermaid (another Andersen […]

Last Thursday evening Disney’s El Capitan Theatre held a special panel discussion to kick off a two week engagement of the 1941 classic film Dumbo and its pending 65th Anniversary DVD release on June 6. Animator Eric Goldberg led the panel and was joined by famed Disney musician Richard Sherman and film music historian Miles […]

Goodyear is offering a limited edition original soundtrack CD to Disney/Pixar’s Cars with a tire purchase. “Purchase a set of four selected Goodyear tires from May 21, 2006 to June 17, 2006 and get the limited-edition Cars Original Soundtrack and up to a $100 cash card.” It is unclear what makes this CD a “Limited […]

Today (May 19) marks the release of DreamWorks Animation’s computer animated feature film Over the Hedge. With a respectable 64% on the Rotten Tomatoes meter and word that it has tested higher with test audiences than either Shrek film Over the Hedge appears to be in for a good showing at this weekend’s box office. […]

Get a sneak peek at the animated, ambigrammatic opening titles designed for The Da Vinci Code, which opens in theaters on Friday, May 19, but not actually used in the final product.

A new poster for DreamWorks/Aardman’s Flushed Away has been made available at JoBlo.com. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

The official soundtrack for Disney/Pixar’s Cars is now available for preorder on Apple’s iTunes.. “Pre-order Cars from iTunes and get a Rascal Flatts track immediately plus a bonus digital booklet and music video when the album is released June 6th.” Available now are five video podcasts on Cars. “Take a ride behind the scenes and […]

Walt Disney’s live action/animation hybrid spectacular Mary Poppins will be screened at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Monday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. The film is being recognized by the Academy for its multiple Oscar nominations including Best Picture. View the Academy’s official page for this event for […]

Today marks the release of It’s a Small World of Fun, two volumes of animated shorts from Disney focusing on different regions around the world. While many of the shorts are available on other DVDs volume 1 contains a brand new short set in Japan entitled Grievance of a Starmaker. An in-depth review of volume […]

“Kinoo” in our Animated News forums has posted about his experience at the Grand Première for Cars held in the French Cinémathèque yesterday. In addition to a screening of the film the teaser trailer for Ratatouille and the short One Mand Band were also shown and Kinoo was able to pose an important question to […]

Chuck Oberleitner’s o-meon has two recent Cars-related stories, one trying to determine where the Disney/Pixar Cars Road Trip ’06 will be making its appearances, and a press release detailing the quick sellout of all 30,000 seats for the premiere at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Animated News correspondents Mickey and Brandon will be there to report on […]

Yahoo! Movies has an exclusive page filled with storyboards and concept art for DreamWorks Animation’s Over the Hedge as well as three finished clips from the film. Over the Hedge, featuring the vocal talents of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner, Avril Lavigne, and Wanda Sykes, opens in theaters on May 19.

Check out the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest page at M&M’s.com for some animated webisodes featuring the M&M’s characters as pirates. The site kicks off a promotion for four new kinds of M&M’s, including White Chocolate Pirate Pearls, that tie in with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest marketing campaign. More […]

Following are seven images from the June 27 direct-to-video title Leroy and Stitch which wraps up the storyline of Disney’s Lilo and Stitch television series.

Yahoo! Finance gives all the details on the previously mentioned run of Dumbo at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre from May 25 to June 7. Each screening during the two-week engagement (which kicks off an 80th anniversary celebration for the historic theatre) will also feature the short Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. The opening […]

Following is the official press release and order information for volume 3 of Walt’s People, a collection of interviews in print form with key Disney animators who either knew Walt Disney or worked under those who knew him. This volume includes one interview that originally appeared here at Animated News as well as interviews with […]

With shareholders voting in favor of the motion The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of Pixar has been approved and finalized. “The vote makes Pixar a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney and makes former Pixar Chief Executive Steve Jobs Disney’s single largest shareholder with about a 7 percent stake. The deal is squarely aimed at restoring […]

Cameron Hood and Kyle Jefferson’s First Flight is set to appear as an animated short in front of DreamWorks Animation’s Over the Hedge starting May 19. Following is the official press release and a teaser image:

Clay Kaytis’ Animation Podcast has updated with part 2 of their interview with animator Glen Keane “In part two of the interview Glen talks about being trained under Ollie Johnston and some of the artistic struggles and realizations during his career.”

Chuck Oberleitner offers informed speculation on the role Steve Jobs may or may not play at Disney once the Pixar acquisition is complete. “Right now, Steve Jobs is the only person who knows what Steve Jobs has planned for his future. For the time being, he’s said that he has no desire to assume a […]

This is a good day for trailers. The Superman Returns trailer has just been made available online at Apple.com’s movie trailers page. Available in traditional QuickTime format, for iPod download, and in high definition.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on the phenomenal computing power that went into the highly detailed production of Pixar’s Cars, with NASA being the only American organization that has more. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

According to Yahoo! Finance, “Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said Thursday he had no interest in becoming an executive at The Walt Disney Co., which will soon complete its acquisition of Jobs’ other company, Pixar Animation Studios Inc.”

Just a reminder that Disney/C.O.R.E.’s The Wild is playing at Disney’s very own El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. until May 11. Each screening includes a pre-show where “keepers from the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens present birds from around the world LIVE on the El Capitan Theatre stage.” From May 26 to June […]