Hot off the press comes a new announcement from Buena Vista Home Entertainment that American Idol star Clay Aiken will be performing the song “Proud of Your Boy,” which was cut from the original release of Aladdin for a music video that will appear on the upcoming DVD. Follow the ‘More’ link for more information […]

Yesterday’s Orange County Register reported on Disneyland’s newly unveiled plans for celebrating its 50th anniversary. Part of the 18-month celebration includes opening a new ride called Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, “an interactive attraction in Tomorrowland,” which allows participants to fight the evil Emperor Zurg. There are also rumors that the closed-down Submarine ride will re-open […]

Disney Online has just opened up a site for the Aladdin 2-Disc Special Edition DVD with the Genie character noticably absent, presumably to keep Robin Williams happy. The DVD is due out on October 5.

While searching the ‘net for some new animated shorts to bring to the attention of the Animated News readership I stumbled across the mother lode at Animation World Network. This article highlights “The Best in Animated & VFX Commercials” so there are some great hand-drawn commercials in addition to many computer-generated ones for a total […]

It’s been a little quiet on the SaveDisney front lately, but Animation World Network reports that Stanley Gold and Roy Disney are preparing to nominate an alternate board of directors for The Walt Disney Company if the current board becomes further entrenched in what the SaveDisney team sees as a destructive course. At the top […]

For those of us who can never get quite enough moose and squirrel, Amazon.com is now listing the Rocky & Bullwinkle – The Complete Second Season DVD boxed set with an August 31, 2004, release date.

The Orange County Register has a new article today outlining what Disney CEO Michael Eisner must do to get out from under the gun of ouster campaigns, massive shareholder revolts, and takeover bids. Free membership required to read article online.

Animation World Network reports that the Joe Grant-inspired Disney short, Lorenzo, about the cat with the possessed tail, which was originally supposed to be part of Fantasia 2006 and then was supposed to open in front of the Coen brother’s The Ladykillers has now been scheduled to open in front of Raising Helen, a film […]

In addition to the Chicken Little site, there is now a teaser site up for Disney and Pixar’s joint effort, The Incredibles, a computer animated feature about a family of superheroes. This site currently only sports the logo, a link to the teaser trailer (which can be viewed in Quicktime in “Incredisize”), and a mention […]

The official site for Disney’s first completely computer generated (Dinosaur incorporated real scenery with computer animated characters), in-house animated feature, Chicken Little, is now up. The fledgling site currently only sports the logo, a link to the trailer (which can be viewed in Quicktime in “The sky is falling BIG” size), and the fact that […]

Amazon.com is now displaying the cover art for the Season 4 box set of the hit animated television series The Simpsons (large image here) and this may be the first Simpsons box set to feature Ralph Wiggum and Barney Gumble more prominently than the Simpsons themselves. This should be a popular set as this is […]

TheForce.net reports that the Star Wars – Clone Wars animated series DVD is now listed at Amazon.com. While the listing does say, “The studio is currently not producing this title on DVD,” it does allow you to enter your e-mail address to be notified when it does become available, and by doing so your entry […]

Follow the ‘More’ link for information about a new animated series premiering tonight on Comedy Central called Shorties Watchin’ Shorties. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

The Orange County Register has a new article on legendary voice actor Paul Frees, who provided the vocal characterizations for the Haunted Mansion’s Ghost Host, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Boris Badenov, Ludwig von Drake, the Burgermeister from Santa Claus is Coming to Town, George of the Jungle’s ape friend, and many others. The article functions mainly […]

Follow the ‘More’ link for more information on another Ray Harryhausen lecture, this one to be held in the afternoon of April 27 at the Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, CA. “There will be a videotape presentation of Harryhausen’s work followed by a question and answer session, after which he will sign copies […]

It may be a slow news day but there’s a new interview at Animation World Magazine with the legendary Joe Grant, who is just about to turn 96 and is still involved in animation after decades of helping Disney out with such hits as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, both Fantasias, Saludos Amigos, Make […]

Follow the ‘More’ link to read all about two new animated series coming to Nicktoons, Leader Dog and Tortellini Western. Each is said to have a retro, 2D look and is created by a small team of animators at Animation Collective using Macromedia Flash. I should add that when you go to the Animation Collective […]

For those who live in or around Los Angeles, there will be a special one time theatrical screening of Paul McCartney’s Music and Animation Collection at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre, April 17 at 2:00 pm. Follow the ‘More’ link for complete information. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Follow the ‘More’ link to read the Animated News review of Disney’s upcoming DVD and video title, The Haunted Mansion, which is due out in the U.S. on April 20.

Follow the “More” link to read the complete transcript of a recent web chat with Paul McCartney on MSN. 99% of the discussion is related to animation. Thanks to Kristin for the heads up.

Yahoo! News reports on former Beatle Paul McCartney’s ambition to produce a full-length, traditionally drawn animated feature. McCartney has worked on many short animated subjects over the years (in fact, his Music And Animation Collection is released today on DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment) but has not yet created a feature-length film and cites […]

I haven’t plugged a Jim Hill article in a while but his newest “Why For?” column seems to confirm the suspicion that Fantasia 2006 is no longer in development, although three segments already completed for it have been or will be released to the public in one way or another . . . eventually. The […]

Follow the “More” link to view three menu screens from Disney’s upcoming limited edition DVD set Tomorrow Land: Disney In Space and Beyond from Wave 3 of the Walt Disney’s Treasures series. All four DVDs from Wave 3 will be available May 18, 2004.

Chris Robinson, otherwise known as The Animation Pimp, has a funny new article at Animation World Network discussing the “direction and inconsistencies” of the Justice League animated series. Not to be taken too seriously, this piece asks the following pertinent questions: “Why does nobody ever get seriously injured despite massive explosions and spraying bullets?” “Why […]

Follow the “More” link to view four stills and four menu screens from Disney’s upcoming limited edition DVD set Mickey Mouse in Living Color – Volume 2 from Wave 3 of the Walt Disney’s Treasures series. All four DVDs from Wave 3 will be available May 18, 2004.

Follow the “More” link to view four stills from Disney’s upcoming limited edition DVD set On the Front Lines from Wave 3 of the Walt Disney’s Treasures series. Tomorrow we will have stills of animation from Mickey Mouse in Living Color – Volume 2. All four DVDs from Wave 3 will be available May 18, […]

Follow the “More” link to view four stills from Disney’s upcoming limited edition DVD set The Chronological Donald from Wave 3 of the Walt Disney’s Treasures series. Tomorrow we will have stills of animation from On the Front Lines and on Saturday stills from Mickey Mouse in Living Color – Volume 2 will be available. […]

In addition to the recently announced Toy Story 3 project, it has been reported that Disney is also prepping a prequel to computer-animated insect hit A Bug’s Life. The as-yet-unnamed prequel is said to center around a young Flik reluctantly defending his colony of ants against a real mean kid who has a penchant for […]

Animation World Magazine has a quick little article detailing Walt Disney Studio President Dick Cook’s vision of Toy Story 3 as being a full-fledged theatrical feature rather than a direct-to-video title. I wonder if getting flooded with e-mails requesting that The Three Musketeers go to theaters first has prompted this special treatment for the next, […]

Check out Animation World Magazine for a new article on the development of and animation techniques used for the upcoming Disney short Lorenzo which is about “a snooty and spoiled cat in a sleepy South American town that receives his comeuppance when his tail becomes hexed and takes on an uncontrollable personality of its own.” […]