Robert Zemeckis told MTV that the Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequel will feature motion-capture performances, an animation process he has used extensively over the past several years (and in tomorrow’s A Christmas Carol). “I wouldn’t use it for the cartoon characters, because I think they should stay two-dimensional because that’s what — I wouldn’t dimensonalize […]

The LA Times reports that after more than a decade of discussions, Disney has finally been granted permission to build a theme park in Shanghai. Disney CEO Robert Iger said, “China is one of the most dynamic, exciting and important countries in the world, and this approval marks a very significant milestone for the Walt […]

The Animation Guild Blog notes that the rumored and then dropped Disney project Joe Jump (mentioned here back in 2006) may be back in development.

Fans of the pioneering web series Tiki Bar TV may recognize the new VP of development for Disney Television Animation. Variety reports that Kevin Gamble, perhaps better known online as the fez-wearing, prescription-filling bartender Johnny Johnny, will be in charge of development and production of new animation shorts and series on Disney Channel and Disney […]

The Wall Street Journal has a nice piece on The Princess and the Frog, the return of traditional animation to Disney, and how it was brought about by some directors they let go and the company some blamed for the demise of hand drawn films.

Robert Zemeckis defends his performance-capture animation techniques with some name-dropping in an article from the National Post, and Jim Carrey gets philosophical with the LA Times, as they both discuss A Christmas Carol, opening this Friday.

Jonathan Demme, Oscar winning director of The Silence of the Lambs, is planning to bring the book Zeitoun to the big screen as an animated film, according to the NY Times. The book by Dave Eggers, co-author of the Where the Wild Things Are screenplay, tells the story of a “man who remained in New […]

The guys at Cartoon Brew have some video to show how Pixar thrilled their employees more than any ghost would ever dare try this past Halloween.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Disney Channel will be launching their first new animated series in three years. Fish Hooks, created using a mix of 2D digital animation and photo collage, takes place at a high school in a fish tanks at a pet store. Gary Marsh, president entertainment at Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “The […]

BusinessWeek talks with DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg in a quick interview that covers a lot of ground — including sales of movie tickets and DVDs, future Broadway endeavors, runaway spending, and celebrity tweets.

Though her film doesn’t come out for almost another month, the newest Disney princess is already a hit with trick-or-treaters. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (and Disney Consumer Products representatives confirm) that costumes for The Princess and the Frog‘s Tiana are selling out.

Dick Cook, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, either resigned or was fired today depending on the source. Several box office bombs and a lack of profitability are the main reasons being given for his leaving. The New York Times has what seems to be the official version, while Nikki Finke has the behind the scenes […]

Just breaking from Market Watch is news that The Walt Disney Company will be acquiring Marvel Entertainment (the company behind such comic icons as Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four) in a stock and cash transaction worth about $4 billion. No other sources for this yet, but we’ll report more below as it […]

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs continues its steady climbing of the box office charts since its release 4 weeks ago, most impressively so overseas. According to Box Office Mojo, the film has grossed $174 million domestically so far and $676 million worldwide. Those numbers make it the: • #5 Highest grossing animated film worldwide […]

Moviefone tries their hand at creating a list of the top 25 animated film characters of all time. Five on the list are from pre-1942, fifteen are from films out since 1988, and twenty-one are (at least in part) Disney creations. It’s an interesting idea and sure to cause discussion (in our forums, perhaps) among […]

Newsarama has an interesting feature on Gary H. Lee, a DreamWorks employee who is currently head of layout for Kung Fu Panda 2. In his free time (in between working on Over The Hedge, Kung Fu Panda, and Monsters vs. Aliens) Lee has been working on his own project. The result is a live action/CGI […]

Twentieth Century Fox has apparently sent out a casting notice looking for new actors to replace the stars of Futurama, according to Forces of Geek. The latest back from the dead animated series is having trouble signing stars Billy West, Katy Sagal, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Maurice LaMarche, and Tress MacNeil, and several of them […]

For only the second time in history, an animated TV show has been nominated for a Best Comedy Series Emmy Award alongside the live action counterparts. After being canceled a few years ago before being famously resurrected, Family Guy breaks into the top category this year against 30 Rock, Entourage, Flight Of The Conchords, How […]

In a move that could end up benefiting animated films, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that they are doubling the number of nominations for Best Picture at the Academy Awards from five to ten. AMPAS president Sid Ganis said, “After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some […]

After being canceled after four seasons on FOX, then jumping from Cartoon Network to Comedy Central in reruns, then getting four new direct to DVD movies, Futurama has received yet another new lease on life, Variety reports. 20th Century Fox TV is producing 26 new episodes of the series for Comedy Central with an option […]

DreamWorks Theatricals’ Shrek the Musical took home a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley). The production was nominated for 8 awards including Best Musical.

Jim Hill reports that WALL-E will be making an appearance at the Tony Awards this Sunday. Jerry Herman (composer of such Broadway his as La Cage aux Folles, Mame, and, of course, Hello Dolly!) will be receiving a lifetime achievement award and WALL-E will be part of the tribute. Also making a big splash at […]

DreamWorks Animation has announced its upcoming slate of eight animated feature film releases through 2012. They also announced plans to release five feature films every two years, up one from their current two picture a year release schedule. Bill Damaschke, Co-President of Production and President of Live Theatrical, said “Our exceptionally talented and highly experienced […]

CNN talks with the people of Pixar to figure out how they churn out hit after hit. Up director Pete Docter says “I don’t really think it’s much of a secret. I think it comes down to two basic things: one is that we’re run by artists… Second, we have some pretty great people that […]

CNet reports on the technology behind Pixar’s Up. Not any diferent from their past films you might say? “Try thinking of the algorithms required to animate more than 10,000 helium balloons, each with its own string, but each also interdependent on the rest, which are collectively hoisting aloft a small house… Consider that within the […]

Disney/Pixar’s tenth film, Up, opens today in 3,766 theatres according to Box Office Mojo. The film is getting sky high reviews from critics, earning a 98% Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times says, “This is another masterwork from Pixar, which is leading the charge in modern animation”. The Los Angeles […]

Pixar will be opening a second studio in Vancouver according to the Vancouver Sun. The 20,000 square foot facility will employ 75-100 people and will be tasked with making the company’s short films. “Amir Nasrabadi, who will run the Vancouver operation as studio general manager, said Vancouver was attractive to Pixar for a number of […]

Thirty-six students from 20 colleges and universities have been selected as finalists in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 36th Annual Student Academy Awards competition. Nine films will compete in the animation category for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 13, at 6pm at the […]