The directors of The Princess and the Frog, Ron Clements and John Musker, are on the promotional circuit for their new film. You can check out interviews with the two at AWN and the L.A.Times.

With the upcoming The Princess and the Frog giving Disney its first black princess, some say that Walt Disney would be spinning in his grave since he was really a racist — a charge detractors have leveled over the years. The L.A Times takes an in-depth look at the history of the man and finds […]

Planet 51 opened yesterday in 3,035 theatres according to Box Office Mojo. It’s Tomatometer rating at Rotten Tomatoes is an abysmal 16%, though the Cream of the Crop critics give it a slightly better 27% and the RT Community is loving it with an 81% score. Box Office Prophets predicts a 5th place opening with […]

AMPAS has announced the 10 animated short films that will compete for Oscar nominations. Thirty-seven pictures had originally qualified in the category. The shorts shortlist follows:

The Animation Blog reports that Disney bought the cover of Daily Variety last week to promote Up not only for Best Animated Feature, but for Best Picture as well. The L.A. Times says Fantastic Mr. Fox’s impressive showing during it’s qualifying run and it’s critical success may make it a strong contender for an animated […]

With awards season getting ready to kick off, it might be fun to discuss some of the best animation of all time. Entertainment Weekly recently put out their take, and if you’ve ever complained that these kinds of lists are too American or Disney-centric you might want to check this one out. On the other […]

The Oscars aren’t the only awards show expanding. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced a new rule for the Golden Globe Awards that would allow five nominations in the Best Animated Feature category when there are at least 12 eligible films — which is the case this year. The past three years have had […]

Disney is pulling out all the stops to make sure The Princess and the Frog is a success. The News and Observer looks at the big reasons why and focuses in on some of Tiana’s theme park appearances. Yahoo Finance looks at the major merchandising push and what’s available. And (as we reported previously) Disney […]

Just a reminder (since it is over a week until Thanksgiving and you might not be expecting Christmas specials already!) that DreamWorks’ Merry Madagascar airs tonight at 8pm ET on NBC. The Washington Post has a preview. The verdict? While the reviewer would prefer to “move-it, move-it” to December, “there are laughs to be had”.

Disney’s The Princess and the Frog got a celebrity-filled red carpet premiere in Burbank Sunday, according to Variety. IESB.net has a gallery of photos from the event.

The winners of Nickelodeon’s Animation Festival have been announced. Select entries will be showcased on Nicktoons from November 16 through November 20, and will also be featured on their website. Check out Toon Zone for the full list of winners.

The BBC reports that the Slesinger family is taking Disney back to court again over Winnie-the-Pooh. In a case just a few moths ago the judge ruled the Slesinger’s can not claim claim infringement since they transferred all of their rights to Pooh to Disney (who must still pay royalties). The family now says they […]

Victoria Beckham may be joining the cast of DreamWorks’ Madagascar 3, according to Aceshowbiz. The film hits theatres on May 25, 2012.

ComingSoon.net has the trailer for the upcoming animated film Dante’s Inferno. To be released on DVD and Blu-ray in February 2010, the film is an offshoot of the video game of the same name, also coming early next year.

InteractiveTV Today reports that Sony will let owners of their Bravia brand HDTVs and BD players with networking capability rent their studios’ Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs a month before its January DVD release date. The catch (besides having to own certain Sony TVs)? The price — $24.95. Hiro Kawano, SVP of Sony Electronics’ […]

AMPAS announced today that 20 films have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 82nd Academy Awards, though 7 still await their qualifying runs. If at least 16 animated films qualify, there could be up to 5 nominees up for the big prize — a level that has only been […]

US distributor GKIDS has announced they will be bringing Irish director Tomm Moore’s animated film The Secret of Kells to U.S. audiences. Opening March 12, 2010, the film will first get an Oscar qualifying run in LA starting December 4. “Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together” in the story of young boy who meets […]

ASIFA-Hollywood has announced the 2009 recipients of the Winsor McCay Award, “one of the highest honors given to an individual in the animation industry in recognition for career contributions to the art of animation.” Those being honored with the prize at the 37th Annual Annie Awards are: Tim Burton, Bruce Timm, and Jeffrey Katzenberg. ASIFA-Hollywood […]

Awards season is creeping up on us, and ABC News has the story on how animated films might factor into the Oscars. Up obviously could get Best Picture and Best Animated Film nominations, but could that hurt the film’s chances at getting either? Also discussed are the chances of the Best Animated Film category getting […]

FirstShowing.net has the latest on Disney’s social/viral marketing campaign for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. The Mad Hatter has posted a new poster on his Facebook page. He’s offered to post more when he reaches 7,500 people giving the image a “Like”. He’s up almost 6,000 now so check back later to see what else […]

Newsarama has a two-part interview with Pete Docter and Bill Peterson, who (not so coincidentally!) are the men behind today’s DVD and BD release of Up. The piece goes into a lot of details about the inspiration, motivation, and construction of the film. “The first pitch to John Lasseter made him cry…with no visuals! Did […]

Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group president Mark Zoradi is leaving the company after 29 years, according to the LA Times. Following what many considered a surprise ousting of Dick Cook earlier this year (and the less reported leaving of Miramax Films President Daniel Battsek last month) it appears a major shakeup is going down at […]

DreamWorks is readying an online virtual world based on the Kung Fu Panda franchise, according to USA Today. Launching next year, the browser based Kung Fu Panda World is aimed at 8-12 year olds and will feature games and activities. Rick Rekedal, head of production of DreamWorks Animation Online, said, “Just like Po the Panda […]

BrandRepublic reports that Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit will be coming to the iPhone in a new comic series. Digital comic editor Ned Hartley said, “It’s really exciting to see Wallace and Gromit at the forefront of such a cracking new technology. Although I secretly suspect that Wallace would be more comfortable with the type of […]

Jim Hill, who is always good for a different perspective on the news, says lower than expected box office numbers for A Christmas Carol aren’t going to bother Disney executives today. Hill says that Disney is taking the long view with the film, looking at what they can make not only in theatres and disc […]

Disney and ImageMovers Digital’s A Christmas Carol opens today, in 3,683 theatres according to Box Office Mojo. The film is getting mixed reviews, garnering a 57% Tomatometer rating from Rotten Tomatoes — though only a 40% Top Critics score. BoxOffice.com projects it should easily win the weekend with $42 million.

Disney has posted a feature on the music of The Princess and the Frog, hosted by the voice of Princess Tiana, Anika Noni Rose. Check out the full video here:

Variety reports that on several actors that are in negotiations to join the cast of the live-action/CG animated Yogi Bear. Dan Aykroyd is reportedly up for the voice of Yogi with Justin Timberlake voicing Boo-Boo. Anna Faris would play a documentary filmmaker.

Fortune Magazine has named Steve Jobs the CEO of the Decade. The Apple (and former Pixar) CEO is lauded for his part in redefining four distinct industries — personal computers, films, music, and phones — three of which occurred in just the last ten years. “Remaking any one business is a career-defining achievement; four is […]

In addition to the previously mentioned Merry Madagascar, airing November 17th on NBC, at least two more new animated holiday specials will premiere this season. Disney will bring Prep & Landing to ABC this December 1st. “The half-hour holiday special reveals the never-before-told tale of an elite unit of Elves known as Prep & Landing. […]