
Harvard School of Public Health studies ‘G’ rated films
FortWayne.com spotlights a recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health, in which 74 animated, G-rated films were tested for kid-friendliness. According to the creator of the study, Kim Thompson, an associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, the report found at least one act of violence per film, while 60% of […] |
“Cartoon wars” about to commence?
CNN Money notices the large amount of computer animated movies hitting theaters in 2006, wondering which of them will achieve success. “Some of these movies could be in trouble. I suspect that a bunch will fall by the wayside,” Dennis McAlpine, an independent media analyst, unfortunately predicts. “Hollywood has never been bashful about its own […] |
French Cars trailer
Previewing more new footage from the movie, the French trailer for Disney/Pixar’s Cars is up at Coming Soon. |
Howl writing duo expecting Gromit to take Oscar
The husband-and-wife team Cindy David Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt, writers of the English-language version of Howl’s Moving Castle, tell Sci-Fi Wire that they are expecting fellow Best Animated Film nominee Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit to take home the Oscar on Sunday. “”I think the momentum is behind Wallace & Gromit […] |
Jerusalem Venture Partners sets sights on animation
Red Herring reports that on Tuesday, Jerusalem Venture Partners launched Israel’s first media center and multimillion-dollar animation studio, hoping to make Jerusalem a major presence in the animation and gaming industries. The Jerusalem Animation Lab acts as both animation and gaming studio, plus a developmental lab dedicated to creating animations for cellular phones. Max Howard, […] |
Garfield: Search for Pooky screen captures
IGN features four screen captures from the Game Boy Advance adventure Garfield: The Search for Pooky, which arrived in stores last Wednesday. |
Dykstra to helm Tortoise and Hippo
Two-time Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor John Dykstra will make his directorial debut with Walden Media and Relevant Entertainment’s Tortoise and Hippo, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The film is based on the true story of a baby hippo and 100-year-old tortoise that were rescued from the Indian Ocean following the Asian tsunami. |
Cover art: Superman, Justice League, Nick Picks, Charlie Brown
DVDtoons has the box art for Superman: The Animated Series – Volume 3, Justice League – Season 2, and Nick Picks 4, all set for release on June 6. In addition, the site also serves the cover artwork for This is America, Charlie Brown, containing the eight episodes that comprise the series. Charlie Brown will […] |
Brain works with robot to develop projects
At CGCHAR comes word that Wild Brain Animation Studios has made a majority stake acquisition of Kidrobot. The new deal will allow the companies to collaborate on such animated undertakings as television series, feature films, and direct-to-video activities. In the meantime, Paul Budnitz will remain the president of Kidrobot, while also acting as executive producer […] |
Images: Fantastic Four, Warner Bros. toys
Through a plethora of pictures, the online version of Now Playing Magazine shares a peek at future toys from such properties as the upcoming Fantastic Four animated series and Warner Bros.’ classic characters. |
Milt Kahl podcast conclusion
Following quickly on the heels of the first part, Part Two of the Milt Kahl lecture has been posted at the Animation Podcast. Milt answers questions from CalArts students, one of whom is the young Brad Bird from thirty years ago. |
Catmull's pay hike
Apparently in the interest of full public disclosure, Yahoo! Finance reports that President Ed Catmull has been raised by Pixar to an annual salary of $1 million. Maybe now he can get a Cars pool next to his Finding Nemo swimming pool. |
Milt Kahl podcast
Clay Kaytis’ Animation Podcast updated recently with an lecture Milt Kahl gave to students at CalArts in 1976 in which he “discusses a rough cut of some of his work on Medusa in The Rescuers.” |
Up Close and Personal with Disney's CEO
Yahoo! Finance presents an up close and personal look at Disney’s new CEO Robert Iger with a special focus on Iger’s recent improvements at the Feature Animation division. According to Iger, “The real value will be in the quality and ultimate success of Animation under the new company, Disney and Pixar. That’s really where the […] |
Cars plushies
The hard, metallic characters of Pixar’s Cars get a soft, fluffy makeover as new plushies by Snaptoys. So far only Luigi and McQueen are available, with more on the way. |
Updated: Menken, Musker and Clements Return to Disney
Sources close to the Walt Disney Company tell o-meon.com that the popular feature animation production team of John Musker and Ron Clements will be returning to Walt Disney Feature Animation (WDFA). Musker and Clements whose work as writers, director and producer includes The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules and Treasure Planet, left WDFA last year after […] |
Disney new release Tuesday: Lady and the Tramp
Today marks the Region 1 release of Disney’s classic animated feature Lady and the Tramp as the next in the line of Disney’s prestigious Platinum Editions. This 2-disc set features a stunning digital restoration and tons of fun and informative extras, especially in giving story man Joe Grant well-deserved and due credit for the genesis […] |
Toonacious™ Family Entertainment news release
The following is a recent press release from Toonacious™ Family Entertainment about their recent linking up with C&I Partners to fund animated feature film projects, both CG and 2D: |
Updated: RIP, Dennis Weaver
Dennis Weaver, most famous for his work in the hit television series Gunsmoke and McCloud, died on Friday, at the age of 81 years old. His animated work included voicing the characters Dusty and Josh in Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990). In 2002, Weaver enjoyed a guest role in the Simpsons episode “The Lastest […] |
Press release: Moving Castle, Totoro, Whisper
At Utlimate Disney is the press release for next week’s wave of Studio Ghibli DVDs, including Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and Whisper of the Heart. Found among the piece’s info is word on what bonus features are in store for the 2-disc sets. |
Kong gets hare-cut
Angry Alien Productions presents a 30-second bunny reenactment/parody of the 1933 masterpiece King Kong. |
Dinosaurs on DVD
Buena Vista has released details and artwork for the upcoming Dinosaurs: The First And Second Seasons DVD box set from Disney and Jim Henson Productions. For a look at the announcement in the current issue of Video Business magazine, plus a glimpse of the box art, follow this pre-hysteric link: |
Three more posters get Hoodwinked
The Internet Movie Database has acquired three more posters promoting Hoodwinked. This time around, Twitchy and Nicky Flippers are the recipients of character banners. |
King Kong DVD specs announced
Coming Soon has the specs for King Kong’s original theatrical version DVD and the Special Edition 2-disc set. Bonus features to accompany the latter include: a special introduction by Peter Jackson; post production diaries; Skull Island: A Natural History; and Kong’s New York, 1933. Both King Kong DVDs will enter stores on March 28, 2006. |
Ultimate Avengers rescheduled for action
The television premiere of the DTV title Ultimate Avengers: The Movie has been rescheduled, says Toon Zone. The Cartoon Network event will now take place on April 15, rather than March 11, following four weeks of Hayao Miyazaki movies on Toonami. |
Condolora now Senior VP and General Manager, Cartoon Network New Media
Toon Zone has the announcement from Cartoon Network that Paul Condolora has been promoted to senior vice president and general manager for Cartoon Network New Media. At his new post, Condolora will continue to report to Mark Norman, senior vice president of business operations for Cartoon Network U.S. and Boomerang. |
Keener keen for Wild Things
At the blog Better Than Fudge, an excerpt from The Charlie Rose Show reveals that Oscar-nominee Catherine Keener has a role in Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, as the mother of the main character, Max. The interview further reveals that The Jim Henson Company is making puppets for the production. |
"Easy Being Green" for Kermit with Ford
Ford’s official website offers the humorous commercial in which Kermit the Frog explains why it is easy being green. |
Two Ice Age 2 television spots online
Latino Review is where the first two television spots for Ice Age 2: The Meltdown may be located, in high-resolution QuickTime glory. |
Toy Cars cars
About.com via Route 66 News provides a glimpse of the upcoming Mattel toy line inspired by Disney/Pixar’s summer picture Cars, explaining the bells and whistles to be found with some of the items. |