Just after the sad recent passing of Disney legend Joe Grant, Animated-News’ Christian Ziebarth lunched with famed animator Andreas Deja, who over the years has brought to life scores of Disney heroes and villains. Having recently completed overseeing animation on the direct-to-video title Bambi And The Great Prince Of The Forest, Deja reminisced with Animated-News […]

At last night’s program “The Animated Performance: Art Meets Technology” held at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences the question was posed, “Is 2D animation dead?” Brad Bird (who pretty much owned the evening with his wit and infectious rambunctiousness with Eric Goldberg as a close second) responded with, “I don’t think it’s […]

There’s a couple good animation events in the Hollywood area this weekend. On Friday night the Science and Technology Council of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents The Animated Performance: Art Meets Technology at 7:30 p.m. “This program will illuminate the process of the animator being, thinking and creating as a performer […]

Looking to see some quality hand-drawn Disney animation on the big screen? Laughing Place points out that Cinderella will be showing at Disney’s own El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in a special engagement from September 16th to the 25th.

Toon Zone reports that One Froggy Evening star Michigan J. Frog has recently been fired as the mascot for the Warner Bros. television network. Does that mean he’s moving on to Loonatics?

Revenge of the Sith may have been the last live action Star Wars film but a recent article at StarWars.com indicates that there may be an animated Star Wars feature film in the works in addition to new Clone Wars episodes set to debut next year. Good news for aspiring digital animators as well because […]

Studio Briefing for July 20 reports that Phil Knight, founder of athletic footware company Nike, is gearing up to create a stop-motion/computer-animation hybrid animated feature to be released in 2007.

The ASIFA-Hollywood Blog has a bunch of pictures and reports with an animation slant from last week’s San Diego Comic Con. Animated News scored some photos too which should be posted here next week.

Jerry Beck’s got the low down on many of the features of the upcoming 3rd volume of Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes Golden Collection and it looks like it’s going to be an animation history fanatic’s dream. Full details at Cartoon Brew

We reported recently on a Finding Nemo pool tile mosaic in Hawaii. Now, the Orange County Register (free subscription required to read article and view photos online) reports that a Finding Nemo design won yesterday’s sand sculpture competition at the San Clemente Ocean Festival.

The Ice Age 2 teaser trailer featuring the ever hapless yet eternally determined Scrat is now online. Thanks to “snowdaytripper” for the heads up.

The Orange County Register begins a four-day series of articles today about the origins and history of Disneyland. The series will conclude on Sunday, July 17, the actual 50th birthday of the famed theme park. Also check out new coverage at o-meon (“Countdown to Disneyland’s 50th: Be our Guest”).

Roy Disney has just posted a personal message on the Save Disney site indicating that it’ll be closing down on August 7, thanking fans for their support and giving some more details on his new position at The Walt Disney Company as consultant and Director Emeritus.

The Save Disney website reports that, “The Walt Disney Company, Roy E. Disney and Stanley P. Gold announced today that they have agreed to put aside the differences that have characterized their relationship over the past several years.” It appears that there is a little give-and-take on each side and the new arrangements arrived at […]

In keeping with the Disneyland theme… The Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Interactive Experience which allows players online to interact with the Disneyland attraction is now up and running… to infinity and beyond.

In keeping with the magazine theme… The Summer 2005 issue of the Disney Magazine is devoted to the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and one part of it contains Roy E. and Patty Disney’s reminiscences of the opening week back in 1955. Looks like the company hasn’t completely sworn Roy off.

In keeping with the Hawaiian theme… On your next trip to a large, cosmopolitan magazine stand you may want to check out Hawaiian Style Vol. 2 No. 3. This issue contains an article on three Hawaiian tile artists and shows pictures of a custom pool project featuring all the major characters from Finding Nemo created […]

This is not even linked to from the Disney DVD & Video Official Site yet but the Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch teaser site is now open and it appears this direct-to-video title has been given a PG rating just like its predecessor. There’s not much there now besides an order link […]

Yesterday’s Orange County Register (free subscription required to read article online) had an article all about Dave Suding, a Laguna Beach resident, who has worked on Disney animated features from Sleeping Beauty all the way up to Mulan. The article even tells of a near-collision Suding had with Walt himself.

Last Tuesday night Walt Disney Feature Animation held a life celebration for longtime story artist Joe Grant at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Having lived a long and fruitful life until 10 days shy of his 97th birthday it was no surprise that hundreds of Joe’s friends, family members, and professional colleagues showed […]

The nationwide Regal Cinema chain is once again offering its summertime Free Family Film Festival which screens select G and PG-rated movies, most of which are animated. Movies shown vary somewhat from theater to theater but an example is the Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 theater which will be showing Anastasia, Charlotte’s Web, Muppets From Space, […]

The Disney Database has posted the UK press release for Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch which lets out a little more information about this direct-to-video title including plot and music info.

Numerous photos of last night’s tribute to longtime Disney story artist Joe Grant have been posted at the ASIFA-Hollywood Blog. This event was well-attended by many who knew Joe as friends, family, and professional colleagues. Expect a report on the event tomorrow at Animated News.

Good for a few minutes of weekend fun, Grocery Store Wars presents the produce section of a supermarket parodying Star Wars. Watch Cuke, Princess Lettuce, Chewbroccoli, and the rest of the gang battle the evil powers of mass-produced, non-organic fruits and vegetables and the Death Melon. Thanks to James D. for the heads up.

Animated News reporter Christian Ziebarth happened to be in Hawaii for the Maui Film Festival recently and has written about his experiences:

TV Shows on DVD has posted the box art for season 6 of The Simpsons on DVD. It’s entirely different from the box art for the first five seasons yet somehow very familiar. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Nine new images from August 30’s direct-to-video Disney title Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch can be viewed here:

Song of the South.net reveals that Universal Cartoon Studios is producing a direct-to-video animated film based on the animal characters of Uncle Remus, including Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Wolf. If this title is well received it could make it easier for Disney to release their Song of the South to DVD in America […]

Wish we’d known about this sooner. Tonight at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood Walt Disney Feature Animation will be hosting a retrospective of its seventy-five years in the business as well as a look ahead. “Learn the process of evolution from legacy 2D films to cutting edge CG technology, with a sneak peak at some […]