This Saturday, April 29, at 3:00pm, ASIFA-Hollywood presents its Tunes For Toons program. “Author, teacher and animation historian Daniel Goldmark discusses the story behind the musicians who made our favorite cartoons sing. Daniel will also be available to autograph his new book Tunes For Toons.” This event will be held in the American Film Institute’s […]

Yahoo! Finance reports on the beta launch of the Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile Game. “The game will be open for beta testing in mid-April at www.piratesmobilemultiplayer.com. It will permit up to 16 players to engage in individual game sessions. Players will be able to chat with other players, make friends and form guilds […]

The following is a press release from Forty Three Kix on their new service which allows cell phone users to receive movie time info after sending a simple text message:

Follow the ‘More’ link to see DVD box art and extensive details on the special features for Filmation’s She-Ra: Princess of Power® DVD due out on July 18. Fans will be able to vote on their five favorite episodes to be included on a “Best Of” Collector’s Edition.

Follow the ‘More’ link to see DVD box art and extensive details on the special features for Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s The Barbie™ Diaries.

The Legend of Prince Valiant, Volume One Collector’s Edition DVD Set, due for release on July 4, includes: Interviews with the series creator/producer David J. Corbett, writer Brooks Wachtel, and comic strip historian Rick Norwood by Andy Mangels; Two episode commentary tracks with creator/producer David J. Corbett, writer Brooks Wachtel, and voice artist Noelle North, […]

Follow the ‘More’ link to see DVD box art and extensive details on the special features for The Weinstein Company’s Hoodwinked, the modern re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood, due for release on May 2nd.

Gearing up for Over the Hedge, Mad Bug reviews the recent Toronto Sprockets International Film Festival (does Mike Meyer’s Dieter host it?) screening at Ain’t It Cool News. According to Coming Soon, attendees of Robert de Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival will be able to catch advanced screenings May 6 and 7. And, plenty of stills […]

Of interest to animation fans at this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival are Jim Henson’s The Muppet Musicans of Bremen on April 22 at 10:30am, Short Animation-o-Rama on April 22 at 4:30pm, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (12-yr. old boys remake Indiana Jones’ first movie and get Steven Spielberg’s approval) on April 24 […]

Several new Disney animated short films have just been added to Apple’s iTunes service. These include the Academy Award-nominated Chip an’ Dale, Donald’s Crime, Lend a Paw, Pluto’s Blue Note, and Squatter’s Rights.

New pictures of the “real world life-sized models of hotshot rookie racecar Lightning McQueen, Sally Carrera, and a special truck inspired by the character Mack” can be seen at o-meon.

Cartoon Network’s Emmy-winning Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends will launch all-new episodes starting Friday night, April 28, at 7 p.m., with an encore airing at 10 p.m. Information on the next four new episodes can be read here:

The following is a press release on the Animex Student Animation Awards special public choice award, in which everyone is invited to cast a vote:

The following is a press release on Mundos Digitales, an International Festival of Animation, Fx and Videogames, which will be held July 1-8 this year in Spain:

Checking in with their periodic review of animated shorts, which often go unnoticed in favor of features, Animation World Network looks at Dragon, The Love Train, A Plan, Stasis, and Vaudeville. A QuickTime clip of each is provided.

As we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00004200.html reported earlier}}, available nationwide beginning April 22 the third series of official US postage stamps featuring Disney characters will focus on the theme of romance. Characters spotlighted include Cinderella and Prince Charming, Belle and the Beast, Lady and the Tramp, and, of course, Mickey and Minnie. View the press release at […]

Animated News reader Dave has sent us some photos of Canadian Cars toys:

The following is a press release regarding a special panel discussion entitled “The Indian Animation Industry: Pencils to Pixels to Prominence” to be held this coming Saturday, April 22, as part of the 2006 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.

Harry Knowles’ AICN gives Disney/C.O.R.E.’s The Wild a favorable review, calling it “a well constructed family film that isn’t the least bit painful to sit through,” and claims that it has “the best American animation to date, with rendering more akin to the gorgeous surrealism of Japan’s recent efforts.”

The following is a press release and photos regarding the ceremony held earlier today where Winnie the Pooh received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The event was held in front of the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store adjacent to Disney’s El Capitan Theatre and was attended by, among others, Disney CEO Bob […]

Justin in our Animated News Forum points to a new page on Disney’s official site about Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. This news could portend a future DVD release but it is at least the first public, official, Disney-sponsored appearance by Oswald in approximately eight decades. UPDATE: Animated News reader Joel writes in with links to […]

A faithful Animated News reader writes in to point out that Bridget, Samson, Larry, Benny, Nigel, and Ryan from Disney’s The Wild (opening a week from today) have been made available in plush form from Snaptoys. And more Cars plushies as well.

DreamWorks Animation (DWA) today announced that they have just acquired the rights to develop and produce the computer-animated feature Punk Farm, inspired by Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s popular children’s book of the same name. Read the press release:

Today marks the release of The Walt Disney Studios’ fantasy hit The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe based on C.S. Lewis’ book of the same name. The DVD is available in a 1-disc mass market version or in a 2-disc collectible set. View the official site and read Ultimate Disney’s […]

Clay Kaytis has posted the first part of an audio interview with Glen Keane at The Animation Podcast website. “Animation hero to many, Glen Keane has created many of the most memorable characters in modern animation with performances that rival those of any flesh and blood actor.” Glen has animated the bear fight sequence in […]

To mark the occasion of Chicken Little’s release on DVD, o-meon grownup geeks’ guide podcast host C. W. Oberleitner sat down with Chicken Little director Mark Dindal, producer Randy Fullmer, animators Brian Ferguson and Doug Bennett, and CG Supervisor Kevin Geiger to talk about the making of Disney’s first, full CG-animated feature film. Listen to […]

From the Hollywood Reporter we learn that Laika Entertainment has purchased the rights to envision Here Be Monsters as an animated feature which will be directed by Henry Selick. “The story follows a young boy who tries to save his town from a dastardly takeover plot.” The book is a best-selling novel for children by […]

The Towerlight Online (Boston-based college newspaper) reviews DreamWorks Animation’s Over the Hedge, saying it “got huge laughs from the completely adult-filled theatre,” and, “if the mediocre Madagascar could gross near $200 million, Over the Hedge has the potential to be a massive blockbuster.” And, contrary to a previous report, it claims that Over the Hedge […]

Chuck Oberleitner reports at o-meon that director Mark Dindal and producer Randy Fullmer have decided to depart Walt Disney Feature Animation after wrapping up work on Chicken Little, culminating with its recent DVD release. The article makes clear that their decision was made prior to the forging of the Disney/Pixar deal in January.

o-meon has updated with a report on the sometimes elaborate premieres for Disney movies. Special focus is given to the pending premieres for Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.