According to the {{link http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/FD09Dh02.html Asia Times Online}}, Disney will close its Japanese animation unit in June. “Of the 100 or so personnel there, about 30 will be transferred to Disney’s US headquarters or to affiliates. The remaining 70 or so plan to establish a production company independently, aiming to launch it in June around […]

A Disneyland spokesman announced that the “roller coaster that crashed last year killing one rider had another accident over the weekend after an employee ignored procedures during a reset when no passengers were on board”, according to {{link http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=4852723 SwissInfo}}. Two cars on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad crashed and were damaged. State safety regulators […]

The {{link http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/04/07/world/author_plane040407 CBC}} reports that the wreckage of author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s plane, which crashed into the Mediterranean in 1944, has been found. Saint-Exupéry wrote one of the most popular children’s books of all time, \\The Little Prince\\. As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000707.html we reported in January}}, the book is being turned into an animated feature […]

The {{link http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/134294-3657-064.html IndyStar.com}} interviews Randy Quaid, the voice of Alameda Slim in Disney’s \\Home on the Range\\, who talks about his experiences making the film and his thoughts on animation. He also reveals how he was able to yodel so well in the song “Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo”. At his recording session, Quaid said he began to […]

The \\Shrek 2\\ page at the {{link http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/ DreamWorks SKG Fansite}} has found a website selling “Master Replicas” of various \\Shrek 2\\ characters. “These are almost identitcal to the original characters. Currently, they have ‘Shrek’, ‘Princess Fiona’ and ‘Donkey’ among their list”.

The {{link http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/ IMDb Screening Room}} notes that while critics haven’t been lavish in their praise for Disney’s \\Home on the Range\\, most do love the music. The score and songs were created by lyricist Glenn Slater and 8-time Academy Award winning composer Alan Menken, the most honored living Oscar winner. “I can easily imagine […]

At a live ceremony held Saturday, hosted by \\Shrek\\ stars Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, {{link http://www.nick.com/all_nick/specials/kca_2004/winners_list.jhtml Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Award}} winners were announced. The winners included: – Favorite Movie: \\Finding Nemo\\ (nominees: \\Bruce Almighty\\, \\Daddy Daycare\\, \\Elf\\) – Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Ellen DeGeneres for \\Finding Nemo\\ (nominees: John Goodman for \\The […]

The \\{{link http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-bk-tigger040204,0,396560.story?coll=orl-home-headlines Orlando Sentinel}}\\ reports that a Walt Disney World employee dressed as Tigger has been arrested and charged with molesting a 13 year old girl and her mother. The alleged incident occurred while cast member Michael Chartrand, in costume at the time, was posing for pictures with the two. Disney says he has […]

As we reported earlier today, Box Office Report predicts a fourth place finish for \\Home on the Range\\ with $13 million. {{link http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=8268 Box Office Prophets}} is thinking along those same lines, predicting a 4th place finish with $11.1 million. The premier box office predictor, {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/forecast/ Box Office Mojo}} forecasts the film to do […]

Variety reports (via AWN) that the producers of King of the Hill have announced they will forego eligibility in the animation categories at this years Emmy Awards so that they can compete in the main categories against live action series’. The move “was spurred to allow the show’s writing staff a chance to be cognized […]

According to \\{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=2310 Animation Magazine}}\\, Cartoon Network will launch a new cartoon block aimed at 6-11 year olds. “Miguzi” will air weekdays from 5pm-7pm beginning Monday, April 19, and feature action/adventure programming “Miguzi will also feature live-action segments profiling entertainers, athletes and everyday heroes ranging from comic book artists to the country’s top street […]

{{link http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-04-01-peabody-awards_x.htm USA Today}} reports that Nickelodeon’s popular \\Dora the Explorer\\ has won a Peabody award. “The Peabodys, considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes in electronic media, recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, webcasters, producing organizations and individuals”. {{link http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/03/16/entertainment1642EST0691.DTL&type=tvradio The AP}} adds that the show will be […]

Disney’s last planned traditionally animated film, \\Home on the Range\\, opens today. According to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2004&wk=14&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}, the film will open on 3,047 screens. At {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/HomeontheRange-1131160/ Rotten Tomatoes}}, \\Home on the Range\\’s rating has steadily been climbing as more reviews come in – from under 25% earlier this week to 49% today. […]

\\Variety\\ reports (via {{link http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/01/television.simpsons.reut/index.html CNN}}) that the voice actors of \\The Simpsons\\ are in the middle of a work stoppage in an attempt to force settlement of contract disputes. Apparently Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner, and Nancy Cartwright “have not shown up for two script readings in the past […]

{{link http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/31/q.a.scoobys.voice.ap/index.html CNN}} has an interview with Australian actor and stuntman Neil Fanning, the voice of Scooby-Doo, on “how he got the job, the speech problems of a perpetually hungry and/or frightened canine, and the perils of recording the voice on people’s answering machines”.

A lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company by Stephen Slesinger Inc (“the family firm with U.S. merchandising rights” to Winnie the Pooh) for hundreds of millions of dollars in allegedly unpaid royalties has been dismissed with prejuduce by the judge, according to a {{link http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/394199|top|03-29-2004::12:49|reuters.html Reuters}} report. Last month, Disney lawyers had asked the judge […]

\\{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=2225 Animation Magazine}}\\ reports that Donovan Cook, director of Disney’s upcoming \\The Three Musketeers\\, has began an email campaign to try to convince the company to give the traditionally animated film a theatrical release, as opposed to the planned straight to DVD release. In an letter he has sent to some people in the […]

{{link http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/icsouthport/nationalnews/content_objectid=14053524_method=full_siteid=60252_headline=-Supermarket-manager-s-Disney-deal-name_page.html icSeftonandWestLancs}} reports that a “supermarket manager has fulfilled the dream of aspiring writers everywhere – not only publishing his first book, but selling it to Disney for one million dollars”. Clive Woodall’s debut novel, \\One for Sorrow, Two for Joy\\, is being released today. The new book and soon to be animated film […]

\\{{link http://www.forbes.com/business/2004/03/12/cx_al_0312nemo.html Forbes}}\\ reports that a French judge has ruled against Franck Le Calvez, who asked the court to stop the merchandising of \\Finding Nemo\\ in France. “Even though a civil trial remains on the docket for the fall, the court decision is a blow to Franck Le Calvez, the author behind the small publishing […]

\\{{link http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/media/10place.html?ei=5065&en=f3c12b7b9c37c729&ex=1079586000&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print&position= The New York Times}}\\ has a very interesting article on the wrangling that went on behind the scenes at Disney after last week’s unprecedented shareholder vote against the board. They also report that the company is renegotiating CEO Michael Eisner’s contract “to allow him to retain a salary of $1 million even though […]

{{link http://www.macnn.com/news/23784 MacNN}} reports that at a recent conference an Apple representative said “Pixar has used Linux and Intel-based architecture in 2003, but that Pixar was switching to Mac OS X and G5 workstations for its production work. [He] went on to say that this switch was ‘a move that no doubt made common CEO […]

The annual shareholders’ meeting of The Walt Disney Company will be available live via webcast at the {{link http://disney.go.com/corporate/investors/ Investor Relations’ Web site}} beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST on Mar. 3, 2004. A re-play will be provided through Wed., Mar. 10, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. PST

After this week’s report that pension funds representing public employees in seven states announced they would vote NO on Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s reelection to the Board, one state fund has announced they intend to vote YES. According to the \\{{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney28feb28,1,5371620.story?coll=la-headlines-business L.A. Times}}\\, officials that run the New York City police, fire, school and […]

\\{{link http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117900813?categoryid=18&cs=1 Variety}}\\ reports that public pension funds in 5 states – New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut – have joined California in calling for a no vote on Disney CEO Michael Eisner at next weeks shareholder meeting. “I call on Disney directors to separate the positions of chairman and chief executive and […]

With the Oscars only days away, Animated News brings together reports from around the web to give you a closer look at the five films nominated for Best Animated Short.

According to the {{link http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=509&u=/ap/20040225/ap_on_bi_ge/disney_eisner_4&printer=1 Associated Press}}, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System has announced that it will withhold its votes for Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s re-election at next week’s annual shareholder meeting. Sean Harrigan, president of the CalPERS board of administration said “We have lost complete confidence in Mr. Eisner’s strategic vision and leadership […]

{{link http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/ DreamWorks Fansite}} has pics of some promotional material from \\Shrek 2\\ and \\SharkTale\\.

\\{{link http://www.variety.com/ac2004_article/VR1117900322?nav=wrap&categoryid=1656 Variety}}\\ takes a look at the major Oscar categories and breaks them down. In the Feature Animation category: \\Finding Nemo\\: “the year’s top grosser”, “The only thing that would jinx Disney/Pixar’s digitally animated \\Finding Nemo\\ is the unexpected interference of a Chicago Cubs fan”, “That the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences […]

{{link http://www.animwatch.com AnimWatch}}, a monthly magazine featuring the best in independent animation, has updated its site with 8 new film profiles (bringing the total to 47), an interview with Joey Jones and Wira Winata regarding their development studio Shadedbox and their multi-award-winning short \\Little Red Plane\\\, and information about Volume I of the AnimWatch Collection […]

{{link http://snagson1.com/AnimationClosingParty/index.htm Some pictures}} from the farewell party for the animators at the now closed Disney Feature Animation Florida facility have been posted online.