{{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83069.html Playbill}} reports that Disney Theatricals “is currently in the process of putting together a production featuring songs from the Disney canon. Tentatively titled \\On the Record\\, the new musical would feature songs from classic Disney films as well as Disney’s Broadway outings”. The revue will probably be a traveling show and may play […]

The Associated Press reports (via {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&ncid=493&e=3&u=/ap/20031202/ap_en_mo/winnie_the_pooh_lawsuit Yahoo! News}}) that “the holders of the North American rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters have hired celebrity attorney Johnnie Cochran to represent them in their 12-year legal fight with The Walt Disney Co.”. In this long-standing saga the heirs of Stephen Slesinger claim Disney owes millions […]

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney2dec02,1,6942175.story?coll=la-home-headlines The L.A. Times}}\\ sat down for an interview with now former Disney board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold. While the two “stopped short of saying they would call for a shareholder vote to remove Eisner” they did say they would “‘educate the owners of the company’ about its deteriorating performance under Eisner […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=15748 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports on Disney’s official response to the departure of Disney and Gold. In its statement the board said that Gold’s remarks were “untrue and unwarranted allegations about the Company and the Board. As he has done repeatedly in the past, Mr. Gold in his letter persists in characterizing the […]

Jim Hill Media looks into the Michael Eisner / Roy Disney split at Disney in two articles today. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12022003.1.htm~contentFrame In the first}} Jim looks at how Steve Jobs, John Lasseter, and Pixar may be the key to determining how things will sort out at Disney. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/wsampson.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame In the second}}, Wade Sampson asks the […]

Also at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/hackney.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame JHM}} is the first of three articles by Drew Hackney on the live stage version of \\The Hunchback of Notre Dame\\. In this installment we learn why the show made its premiere in Berlin, Germany instead of the United States or even the setting of the book Paris, France.

{{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32653&CT=38 Broadway.com}} passes on a \\Variety\\ report that the cast for the \\Mary Poppins\\ musical is being fleshed out. Two-time Olivier Award winner Alex Jennings and two-time Olivier Award winner Janie Dee have been offered the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000358.html we reported}} earlier this week, Laura Michelle Kelly will […]

{{link http://www.fabulousdisneybabe.com/fab/articles/showArticles.asp?ID=43 FabulousDisneyBabe.com}} reports that a source has informed them that Wal-Mart “has made a very nice offer for the ailing chain, and that barring disaster, the Mouse will say yes”.

{{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16604 Ain’t It Cool News}} has the scoop on what may be confirmation of a long whispered rumor. Pixar creating traditional hand-drawn animated movies after Disney and DreamWorks say the format is dead? Possibly! “The word is that Pixar is starting their own 2D Animation Division. A company that will use the Pixar brand… […]

After Roy Disney’s resignation yesterday (his resignation letter is online {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000366.html here}}), fellow board member and Eisner critic Stanley Gold has followed suit. Stanley Gold’s resignation letter: December 1, 2003 To the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company: It is with regret that I resign effective immediately from the Board of Directors […]

The Associated Press reports (via \\{{link http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/7383215.htm The Miami Herald}}\\) on the first response from someone at the Walt Disney Company to Roy Disney’s resignation. Presiding director of the board (and former U.S. Senator) George Mitchell said “The Governance and Nominating Committee recently informed Mr. Disney of its judgment that the mandatory age limits of […]

Most people would probably agree that the three greatest newspaper comic strip artists from around 1980 to the present would be Berkeley Breathed, Gary Larson, and Bill Watterson. All had their own unique style and sense of humor. And all retired at the top of their game in the mid-1990’s. As we reported {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000320.html […]

Could Roy Disney’s attack on Eisner actually keep the CEO and Chairman of the Walt Disney Company around even longer? {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12012003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} reports that most of the members of the Disney Board had already come to the conclusion that “Michael Eisner’s top priority wasn’t running the Walt Disney Company anymore. But – […]

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1838 Animation Magazine}} reports that Sock Puppet Studio and Intec Interactive are releasing several Marvel comics in a digital DVD version. “Each digital book is comprised of an entire Marvel graphic novel augmented by animation and special effects. More than 100 minutes of animation is included on each disc. There are also extra features […]

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 […]