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 […]

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1806 Animation Magazine}} has the scoop on why DreamWorks’ \\Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas\\ was not on the list of films eligible for the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar. Ann Daly, head of feature animation at DreamWorks, told Animation Magazine Online, “In light of the fact that \\Sinbad\\ was clearly a commercial disappointment, […]

{{link http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2003/03.11.19.a.html The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}} has released the names of the eleven films that will compete for the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar in the next Academy Awards competition. The films that will compete for the three nominations are: \\Brother Bear\\, \\Finding Nemo\\, \\Jester Till (Till Eulenspiegel)\\, \\The Jungle Book […]

{{link http://www.tiscali.co.za/tiscali/entertainment/entertainment_story.jsp?content=109769 Tiscali Entertainment}} has interviewed Samuel L. Jackson, who discussed his role in the upcoming Pixar movie \\The Incredibles\\. He reveals that he does not play a bad guy, as some thought, but Mr. Incredible’s best friend Frozon. “I’ve got superpowers, man! – I can make things freeze… Yeah, it was cool, spent about […]

{{link http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/popcandy/2003-11-18-pop-candy_x.htm USA Today}} asks “Enough of the mouse – what about the cat?” The writer takes an interesting and fun look at the world’s first animated star, Felix the Cat. Brush up on your Felix trivia with nuggets like: “the first television images transmitted were of a Felix the Cat doll” – 75 years […]

{{link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2031147 The Hollywood Reporter}} is reporting that The American Film Institute will “honor the songs of Hollywood in its ongoing celebration of 100 years of American movies with \\AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Songs: America’s Greatest Music in the Movies\\. The three-hour special, airing in June 2004 on CBS, will count down the 100 […]

Cartoon Network will air a new hour long Powerpuff Girls Christmas special this holiday season according to {{link http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=9637 AWN}}. In \\’Twas the Fight Before Christmas\\, which will debut December 12 at 9pm, “the girls are shocked to find themselves on Santa’s naughty list”. This is the same episode that was released on DVD in […]

To celebrate the 75th birthday of Mickey Mouse {{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1805 Animation Magazine}} is collecting messages from readers. They ask that readers write about “how you feel about Walt’s world famous creation – how Mickey influenced your career, how he brought you together (or continues to bring you together) with friends and family, and basically makes […]

{{link http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808403007&intl=us Greg’s Previews}} reports that the U.S. release date for \\Kaena: The Prophecy\\ has been set for June 4th, 2004. The film will debut in New York and Los Angeles on that day before opening in wider release on a later date.

The California Supreme Court will review a lower court ruling that holds Disneyland “to the same passenger safety requirements as operators of buses, trains, taxi cabs, escalators and ski lifts” according to {{link http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disney18nov18235631,1,4057455.story The L.A. Times}}. Disney believes the higher standard should not apply since amusement park rides are entertainment not public transportation. If […]

Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz will take over the role of Zoser in Disney Theatricals’ \\Aida\\ on January 6, according to {{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32162&CT=38 Broadway.com}}

\\{{link http://www.latimes.com/la-et-horn16nov16,1,3968503.story The L.A. Times}}\\ takes a look at how cost-cutting at Hollywood studios doesn’t apply to their efforts to win awards. “Disney has pink-slipped scores of animators in Paris, Tokyo and Orlando, Fla. It’s penny-pinching time across Hollywood – except when it comes to awards-season campaigning, where there’s still plenty of room for $5,000-a-day […]

\\Finding Nemo\\ has been nominated for a European Film Award for best non-European film of 2003, according to {{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=14428 The Big Cartoon Database}}. The winners will be announced by the European Film Academy December 6 at their awards ceremony in Berlin.

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1768 Animation Magazine}} has a report on the upcoming Disney Channel animated series \\Dave the Barbarian\\, set to debut in January 2004. “Disney’s \\Dave the Barbarian\\ follows the title character’s comedic adventures with his offbeat family as they protect themselves and their kingdom from a world of odd foes. Complicating matters is brawny Dave’s […]

{{link http://www.animationblast.com/ Animation Blast}} notes that Pixar animator Bobby Podesta has created a new comic strip called \\Six Foot Six Year Old\\ published online every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Podesta, who worked previously on \\A Bug’s Life\\, \\Toy Story 2\\, \\Monster’s Inc\\., and \\Finding Nemo\\, is currently working on the upcoming film \\Cars\\. His new […]

{{link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2024137 The Hollywood Reporter}} notes that \\Curious George\\ may soon be headed to televison with a new series. “Universal Home Entertainment Prods. said Thursday that the division, in conjunction with Imagine and PBS affiliate WBGH Boston, is developing an animated preschool television series based on the \\Curious George\\ character”. A motion picture version, with […]

‘Thomas’ posted on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81 Animated News Forum}} that the video of Phil Collins’ single \\Look Through My Eyes\\ is online at the {{link http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/soundtracks/brotherbear/ \\Brother Bear\\ Original Soundtrack page}}. The video is available is Quicktime, Windows Media, and RealPlayer versions.