According to a {{link http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=112946 Vanguard Animation press release}}: Ewan McGregor, star of \\Moulin Rouge\\ and \\Star Wars\\, will voice the title character in Vanguard Animation’s CG animated feature film \\Valient\\. The animated comedy tells the story of a lowly wood pigeon named Valiant, who overcomes his small size to become a hero in Great […]

November 30, 2003 Mr. Michael D. Eisner, Chairman The Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521 Dear Michael: It is with deep sadness and regret that I send you this letter of resignation from the Walt Disney Company, both as Chairman of the Feature Animation Division and as Vice Chairman of […]

{{link http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm The Drudge Report}} is reporting a \\{{link http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107022298535883000,00.html?mod=home_whats_news_us Wall Street Journal}}\\ story (paid subscription required for WSJ link) that claims Roy Disney submitted his resignation from Walt Disney’s company board and his chairmanship of Disney feature animation on Sunday and called for Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner to do the same. Disney sent […]

New Zealand based {{link http://fun.mukpuddy.com Mukpuddy Animation}} has relaunched their website making it a lot faster, and a lot easier to navigate. They have also finished work on their first fully 2D animated music video, available to view on the site.

{{link http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/1103/28peabo.html The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} reports that because of tax-trouble the IRS is auctioning off the property of singer Peabo Bryson. Some of the items for sale include: – the 1992 Grammy award for the song \\Beauty and the Beast\\ recorded with Celine Dion – the 1993 Grammy award for the song \\A Whole New […]

\\The Daily Mail\\ reports (via {{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32605&CT=38 Broadway.com}}) that up-and-coming theater actress Laura Michelle Kelly “will play the ‘practically perfect in every way’ nanny in the upcoming stage musical” of \\Mary Poppins\\. The 22 year old’s other credits include \\Beauty and the Beast\\ (as Belle), \\ Les Misérables\\ (as Eponine), \\South Pacific\\, \\The King and […]

Happy Thanksgiving to those readers where the holiday is celebrated today! Because of the extended Thanksgiving weekend here in the United States updates to this site may be slow until Monday.

{{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1930 AWN}} looks at how Macromedia’s Flash animation software, once considered a “toy for Internet users”, has grown into a “serious production tool” for creating broadcast quality animation. They take a look at the views of “Flash animation from both the designers and animators who use it and the TV companies that broadcast programs […]

{{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=2497 ComingSoon.net}} has a new promotional image from DreamWorks’ \\Shrek 2\\. Be sure to check out their site for a larger version of the image. UPDATE: I just received an email from an alert reader saying that this image is neither an actual promotional shot nor new. Apparently it is fan art that has […]

While looking over the background of the new \\Incredibles\\ composer Michael Giacchino, I came across {{link http://www.gsamusic.com/additional/Giacchino.pdf this resumé}} from the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency. One of the Giacchino’s credits listed under “Motion Pictures” is \\One Man Band\\, an “animated short film” from “Pixar Animation Studios”, produced by “Brad Bird” (who happens to be the director for […]

As we approach Thanksgiving (in the United States), Wade Sampson of {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/wsampson.11262003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} writes about the history of the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the role that Mickey Mouse has played in it.

Several people (including “macontosh2000” at the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=105 A-N Forum}}) have reported that the news page at composer {{link http://www.michaelgiacchino.com/EPMnews.html Michael Giacchino’s website}} notes that he has been signed to score Pixar’s \\The Incredibles\\. Giacchino’s {{link http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0315974/ previous experience}} is almost completely in scoring video games. His most well known credit is for writing the […]

{{link http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808451614 Greg’s Previews}} has a few tidbits on the upcoming \\Teacher’s Pet\\ movie. First of all, the title has been changed from \\Teacher’s Pet: The Movie\\ to just \\Teacher’s Pet\\. Second, Kelsey Grammer, Paul Reubens, Megan Mullally, and Jay Thomas have been confirmed as part of the cast. Greg also notes that “Kevin Schon […]

{{link http://www.usanimation.com/pdf/OscarNominations.htm Toon Boom Technologies}} notes that their animation software was used on almost half of the animated films eligible for the Animated Oscar. Five of the eleven films (\\The Jungle Book 2\\, \\Piglet’s Big Movie\\, \\Looney Tunes: Back in Action\\, \\Rugrats Go Wild!\\, and \\The Triplets of Belleville\\) were done with their USAnimation software.

{{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1928&page=4 AWN}} has an interesting article on what makes an animated show a hit. Some factors include good writing (\\The Simpsons\\), the show’s pedigree (“I’ll open Matt Groening or (\\The Family Guy\\’s) Seth MacFarlane or (\\King of the Hill\\’s) Mike Judge’s submission first”), already established characters (book-based \\Arthur\\ created 25 years ago), having a […]

An {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16579 Ain’t It Cool News}} contributor gives us our first glimpse of the \\Garfield\\ teaser trailer. According to the {{link http://www.garfieldmovie.com/home.html official website}}, this trailer should appear online in December. If this teaser is any indication, this movies going to suck the very marrow out of next summer. As it begins, the beginning […]

The {{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-weta23nov23,1,1140535.story L.A. Times}} has a report on the lack of CG artists in the industry. “Industry observers agree that there are not enough experienced workers to fill the more than 5,000 jobs available in live-action movies, animated features and video game projects”. For example, while New Zealand based Weta Digital (the computer effects […]

{{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/11242003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} today has a “mélange” of news including an update on Disney’s \\Chicken Little\\. It’s this really funny film by the guys who did \\The Emperor’s New Groove\\: director Mark Dindal and producer Randy Fullmer… Everything that made \\Groove\\ great – the film’s stylish look, its snarky story qualities, not to […]

Also at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/11242003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} today are a few tidbits on \\The Emperor’s New Groove\\. “Disney is currently producing a direct-to-video sequel to the film – tentatively titled \\The Emperor’s Newer Groove\\ – as well as seriously looking into doing a \\Groove\\ TV series.

For those of us who were fans of Berkeley Breathed’s Pulitzer Prize winning \\Bloom County\\ back when it was originally published and were crushed when he ended the strip, and for those of you who never got a chance to experience Breathed’s sharp sense of humor, today is a great day! According to {{link http://www.berkeleybreathed.com/ […]

{{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16564 Ain’t It Cool News}} has the first review of Pixar’s 2004 offering \\The Incredibles\\! WARNING – Their review is filled with spoilers so do not read it if you don’t want to know! I will summarize below with no spoilers. An AICN reader got to attend a general audience test screening of \\The […]

A post at {{link http://www.animationnation.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006966 Animation Nation}} brought to our attention the fact that a previous story we reported on was not true. Our {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000148.html previous report}} stated that Matt Groening, in an interview with the left-wing radio network NPR, said that “Fox News Channel threatened to sue the makers of \\The Simpsons\\ over […]

{{link http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR1117895941&cs=1 Variety}} reports (via {{link http://comingsoon.net/news.php?id=2385 ComingSoon.net}} for those of us without a Variety subscription!) that Etan Cohen has made a seven-figure overall deal with Fox Television that “keeps him on as a writer and co-exec producer of \\King of the Hill\\ for two seasons and will allow him to create a pilot”. They […]

{{link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2035154 The Hollywood Reporter}} reports that Fox Animation and the team behind the surprise hit \\Ice Age\\ have optioned the rights to Tor Seidler and Fred Marcellino’s children’s book \\The Wainscott Weasel\\. Blue Sky Studios will produce and Chris Wedge is expected to direct. This project isn’t expected until after Wedge has finished \\Robots\\ […]

Drew C. Hackney writes about Walt Disney Theatricals upcoming projects at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/hackney.11212003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}}. \\Mary Poppins\\ is already set for a 2004 release and \\Tarzan\\ is slated for 2005. After that, projects in planning stages include \\The Little Mermaid\\, \\Hoopz\\, and \\Pinocchio\\. Hackney also gives his thoughts on DreamWorks’ possible foray on Broadway.

{{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1923 AWN}} interviews \\The Triplets of Belleville\\ director Sylvain Chomet. He discusses his previous work, the success of \\Belleville\\, his views on computer animation, and his upcoming project.

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1818 Animation Magazine}} reports that the classic 80’s animated series \\Robotech\\ is coming to DVD on January 27, 2004. The first volume of \\Robotech Remastered: Extended Edition\\ will include the first 12 episodes. “This newest release features a digital transfer from the original film stock and includes footage cut from the original broadcast version. […]

Grammy winning and Oscar nominated composer Michael Kamen has died of an apparent heart attack. Among his many credits, Kamen composed the scores of \\The Iron Giant\\ and the live action version of \\101 Dalmatians\\. He won the 1999 Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production for his work […]

{{link http://vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=3631a5a1&atype=news&id=9645 VFXWorld}} reports that in an interview with the \\Toronto Star\\, Andy Serkis, the actor behind the CG character Gollum in \\The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers\\, alludes that he will be reteaming with director Peter Jackson. “Serkis has an even bigger assignment ahead of him. Rumour has it he’ll be the […]

Creating a new cartoon and basing it on a popular toy has almost always been a safe bet. But {{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1807 Animation Magazine}} has a report that may be taking this a bit too far. Pre-production on the first Slinky film – yes Slinky, the springy toy that is fun for a girl and a […]