
Connoisseurs of the Absurd
The New York Times does a mini-profile of Aqua Teen Hunger Force creators Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis. Though Willis and Maiellaro are both married with children, they remain the high school jokers needling each other in the back of biology lab. Sitting down at Atlanta’s Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt, the discussion ranges from horror […] |
Romeo & Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss press kit
This past weekend, Romeo & Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss was released in theaters across California. Distributed by Indican Pictures, the film is the brainchild of Phil Nibbelink, who completely animated the project. Blending Flash animation and a hand-drawn fashion, Sealed with a Kiss plays William Shakespeare’s timeless tale in a G-rated manner, allowing an […] |
Listen to the Happy Feet soundtrack
The “Full CD Listening Party” section of AOL Music presents the entire soundtrack to Happy Feet. Featuring performances from solo artists with one-word titles as Prince, Pink and Fantasia, the album also offers tracks from actors Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman and Brittany Murphy. While the film will not open in theaters until November 17, the […] |
Eye of the "T'Iger"
In “T’Iger Shark,” the New York Post examines the current state of the Walt Disney Company under the leadership of CEO Robert Iger. Including a graph in its report, the article recollects on the company’s financial improvement thus far this year. Likewise, some of Iger’s major business moves are noticed, including the acquisition of Pixar, […] |
Romeo and Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss now playing
Animation Magazine notices the inspirational tale behind Romeo and Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss. The independently produced film was a labor love for Phil Nibbelink, who completely animated the feature himself. As the article explains, Nibbelink carefully crafted his work, using Flash animation to assist his hand-drawn style. After five years in the making, Sealed […] |
Happy Halloween
The official online stop for Happy Feet has been treated with a fun Halloween theme. Thus, the site now grants visitors a plethora of sections, while also directing to the movie’s MySpace page. Thanks to reader Ryan Bryant for the heads up on this news, as well as the following two reports. |
"Old school" resides on Sesame Street
Yahoo! Buzz Log takes a trip down memory lane, on the lookout for “where the air is sweet.” To celebrate the DVD release of Sesame Street – Old School, Vol. 1 (1969-1974), the site reminisces on the series’ early days, linking to some interesting Sesame searches. |
Poppins set experiences setback
According to the New York Post [contains mild language], the stage musical of Mary Poppins experienced a misfortune last Wednesday, when its set malfunctioned. Thus, the show was cancelled shortly after the mishap, following the start of Act II. The accident is believed to have cost Disney and its co-producer, Cameron Mackintosh, about $150,000 in […] |
[Updated!] Meet the Robinsons poster, pics
Coming Soon has an exclusive first look at the poster for Meet the Robinsons, from Walt Disney Feature Animation. In addition, the site unveils a couple of character images, along with a synopsis that contains more details regarding the movie’s story. Meet the Robinsons will open in theaters on March 30th. Thanks to “KingPopper” at […] |
Great Pumpkin celebrates 40th anniversary
With the Chicago Sun-Times, Jeannie Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, and animator/director Bill Melendez recollect on the making of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The special premiered October 27, 1966, on CBS. Forty years later, the Halloween classic continues its annual television tradition, airing tonight on its latest network home, ABC. Thanks […] |
Jackman, Serkis on Flushed Away
Coming Soon speaks with two of the stars from DreamWorks/Aardman’s Flushed Away: Hugh Jackman, the voice of Roddy St. James, and Andy Serkis, the voice of Spike. The duo discusss their characters, as well as why they became involved with the feature, which opens next Friday. |
Miller talks about his Feet
Film Journal shares some thoughts from director George Miller, regarding his latest project, Happy Feet. In the piece, Miller compares and contrasts working with animation and live-action. In addition, the director lists a few of his influences, observing tales from Aboriginal cultures, as well as Pixar’s pictures and Walt Disney’s Pinocchio. |
Early word on Frog Princess
The Animation Guild Blog writes that following a story presentation for The Frog Princess, an anonymous Disney animator, described as being on an A-list level, called the traditionally animated project’s plot “fantastic.” Interestingly, a comment in the article’s talkback defined some of Princess’ early pre-production artwork as bearing a style somewhat reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki’ […] |
Fox catches Fox
Fantastic Mr. Fox is setting up shop at Fox Animation, according to Variety. Partnering with Noah Baumbach to adapt the Roald Dahl classic, Wes Anderson will direct and produce the picture. Likewise, Scott Rudin will also act as a producer for the project. “The book tells the story of a fox who uses its wits […] |
Over the Hedge enjoys successful DVD debut
Reuters via Yahoo! News reports that the Over the Hedge DVD earned an estimated $65 million last week, coming in at #1 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart. With approximately $6.9 million, the DVD also took the fourth position on Home Media Retailing’s video rental chart. Meanwhile, the Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD continued […] |
Nickelodeon places toons on iTunes
Nickelodeon has updated its animated selection at iTunes, writes Mediaweek. Before its network premiere on November 18, Skyland may already be previewed in four episodes now available to own. Following the adventures of a brother and his sister in the year 2251, the series’ first episode may be downloaded for free at the online store. […] |
Cornell presents "Conversation" with Katzenberg
The Ithaca Journal notes that “A Conversation with Jeffrey Katzenberg: The Future of Computer Animation” is coming to Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. This Monday, October 31st, the DreamWorks Animation CEO may be seen at The Statler Hall Auditorium on the Cornell campus at 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Faculty of […] |
Disney hires Animated American
Coming Soon points to the Variety scoop that Walt Disney Pictures has acquired Animated American, which will blend live-action with animation. Bob Cooper’s Landscape Entertainment and ImageMovers partners Robert Zemeckis and Jack Rapke will produce the picture. From a screenplay by Peter Ackerman, the film’s premise focuses on “a misfit who’s at sea when his […] |
Beowulf to be presented in 3-D
Through Yahoo! Movies, Reuters reports that Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf is expected to open in more than 1,000 Real D theaters, in addition to other 3-D locations, in what the article calls the “largest day-and-date large-format 3-D release ever.” It is speculated that Imax theaters will also be involved in the event. The motion-captured Beowulf will […] |
Directors Bowers and Fell talk Away animation
With SCI FI Wire, co-directors David Bowers and Sam Fell explained why they chose computer animation over stop-motion animation for DreamWorks/Aardman’s latest film, Flushed Away. “Our stories took us to a more expansive world. The amount of water and the underground world we would have to build would have been difficult to create [in reality],” […] |
Little Mermaid PSA Campaign
The following is the official press release on the previously mentioned ocean awareness campaign that characters from Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be involved in. Links to two relevant movie files are included: |
Join Eloise for a Rawther Unusual Halloween
A two-part Halloween-themed episode of Eloise will premiere on the Starz Kids & Family network on Sunday, October 29. A promotional image with episode synopsis, broadcast times, and link to a preview can be seen here: |
Doughboy on list of Topix
Post Magazine explains and screens the most recent television advertisement featuring the Pillsbury Doughboy. The commercial reveals the character braving a frosty mountain in a quest for “biscuits from the freezer that taste like homemade.” The ad’s visual effects were created by Topix, which has been involved in all of the Doughboy’s TV adventures for […] |
Late Night to air in "skelevision"
The Associated Press via Yahoo! News reports that on October 31, Late Night with Conan O’Brien will air an episode from last May. The difference is this time, the rerun will appear in “skelevision,” reconstructed with skeleton puppets. Guests for the episode include talk show personality Larry King, House co-star Omar Epps and “pole dancing […] |
Goro Miyazaki finds living up to father's legacy challenging
The San Francisco Chronicle focuses on Goro Miyazaki, son of anime master Hayao Miyazaki. While Goro’s first film, Tales from Earthsea, became the biggest hit of the summer in Japan, its reviews failed to equal the acclaim Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpieces have received. “I realized for the first time how difficult it is to be the […] |
Madagascar, Panda series coming to Nick
Variety via Coming Soon indicates that Kung Fu Panda and the Madagascar penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private are coming to Nickelodeon in their very own shows. Nick Studios will handle the “day-to-day” duties for the series, with DreamWorks Animation having less involvement in the shows than in the films upon which they are based. […] |
Eloise actress Mouser honored with KIDS FIRST! award
On October 14th, Mary Matilyn Mouser, who voices the title role in Starz Kids & Family’s Eloise, was honored with the “Outstanding Performance Award” at the KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival at the Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival. Mouser earned the award specifically for her performance in the series’ special Me, Eloise, now […] |
Menken teams with Slater for Enchanted, Frog Princess?
After collaborating on such Disney projects as Home on the Range and the Broadway adaptation of The Little Mermaid, composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater are possibly combining their talents once more for the movies Enchanted and The Frog Princess. The word arrives from the latest Jim Hill Media article, which sheds some light […] |
"Happy Feet Merchandise Giveaway" contest
Latino Review is conducting a contest in celebration of Warner Brothers’ Happy Feet, opening November 17th. The competition offers a tremendous plethora of prizes, ranging from attire to accessories to toys based on the film. With an online form, one has until November 21st to enter the contest. Winners will be randomly drawn the following […] |
André 3000 seeks assistance from voice veteran Kenny
In preparation for his animated series Class of 3000, André “André 3000” Benjamin asked Tom Kenny, possibly best known as the voice of Spongebob Squarepants, for advice on vocal acting. “Since it’s animated, you can do so much with your character. I mean, you can jump up in the air and stay there for five […] |