Ain’t It Cool News has posted another early review of DreamWorks’ next CG film, Madagascar. The reviewer summarizes that one should “go see it expecting to be entertained and to get a few laughs, but not much else. I found myself thinking about what they could have done with such a great premise, so try […]

Asia Pulse, via Yahoo! Australia, reports the stunning numbers that Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film Howl’s Moving Castle has drawn in South Korea. “The film’s national audience reached the 3 million mark 50 days after its opening, rising to 3,005,200 as of Thursday, Laughing Boa said. It is now the most popular Japanese movie in South […]

“The Off-Broadway hit Blue Man Group adds film scoring to the team’s growing, multi-faceted resume as the team collaborate on the upcoming animated feature Robots,” writes Yahoo! Arts and Stage News. “Blue Man Group joined acclaimed composer John Powell on the score for the upcoming 20th Century Fox film.”

The Globe and Mail lists a few planned projects coming up for Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary. “A celebration kicks off on May 5 with festivities there and at the other Disney parks in Florida, France and Japan. From a roaming animatronic dinosaur at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Florida to new rides and an on-line […]

Leading up to the March 1 release of the 2-disc Bambi Platinum Edition Disney has released some “Fun Facts” about the movie:

The Internet Movie Poster Awards has the newest poster for Madagascar, coming to theaters on May 27, 2005.

With Minneapolis chosen as the destination for the annual Disney shareholder meeting, where better to make the U.S. premiere for a film like Dream On, Silly Dreamer? Another sharply critical look at “Corporate Disney,” shareholders were urged to attend its free screenings the day before the annual meet took place. Native director Dan Lund “came […]

No word on when it’s coming to DVD but The Philadelphia Daily News has announced some screenings of the Disney/Dali surreal collaboration Destino at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from February 16 to May 15 (link via Laughing Place).

Variety reports that DisneyWar, James B. Stewart’s expose of Michael Eisner’s 20-year tenure at Disney, hit bookstores on Wednesday, making its release three weeks ahead of schedule. In fact, some Los Angeles bookstores sold their entire stock, roughly 80 copies, of DisneyWar in one day, including Dutton’s locations in Brentwood and Beverly Hills, along with […]

Jim Hill Media quickly reports about his attending a public screening of Tony West & Dan Lund’s Dream On Silly Dreamer, which spotlights the demise of traditional animation at Walt Disney Studios. According to the site, it appears that Roy Disney himself was also in attendance at the “well-recieved” screening. Thanks to Cory Mitchell at […]

Animation Insider interviews voice actor Charlie Schlatter, voice actress Candi Milo, and animation producer Bill Schultz of Mike Young Productions’ CGI television series Pet Alien. The comedy focuses on the adventures of pre-teen Tommy Cadle, who must cater to a group of aliens that are extending their visit to earth in order to learn more […]

National Public Radio investigates the growing interest of anime in the USA. One needs Real Media Player or Windows Media Player to listen to the reports. Thanks to ‘GeorgeC’ at the Animated-News Forum for the info.

Yomiuri On-Line reports that Studio Ghibli will leave major publishing company Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co. by the end of March, in order to become an independent corporation. Establishing in Koganei, Tokyo, the company will have director Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki serving as two of its board members. Established in 1985 as a subsidiary […]

Yahoo! Movies has the newest trailer for Madagascar, with the lemurs being in the spotlight this time around. Madagascar opens in theaters May 27, 2005.

The Disney Database has posted more info concerning the upcoming Tarzan II. George Carlin, Randy Savage, and Dallas Page have been added to the cast of the anticipated “midquel”. In addition, the site has a larger version of the film’s logo. Tarzan II is scheduled to be released on June 14, 2005.

Yahoo! Finance has posted some photos from Tuesday’s book signing with Incredibles director Brad Bird.

Ain’t It Cool News has posted an early look at DreamWorks’ upcoming CGI feature Madagascar, set to open May 27th. The reviewer has mostly positive things to say about the unfinished screening, stating “The film was a great surprise. It was genuinely funny and had plenty of characters that an audience can actually care about. […]

Forbes’ “Eye On Stock” feature gives their estimates of Pixar’s fourth-quarter earnings, which will be announced after the market closes today. “First Boston maintained a ‘neutral’ rating and $88 target price. ‘Our view on Pixar fundamentals hasn’t changed. We believe its long-term business model will dramatically improve upon signing a new distribution deal,’ it said.”

Former Lucasfilm Digital President Jim Morris has moved to Pixar where he will be producing one of the post-Disney films coming after Cars’ release in 2006, according to a {{link http://pixaranimation.blogspot.com/ Luxo}} report of a \\Variety\\ story. While at Lucasfilm Digital, Morris “oversaw effects and sound divisions of Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. […]

The New York Times [free subscription required] has an excellent review up today of the new book Disney War, set to be released February 22nd. “The book describes Disney’s Darwinian corporate culture. (‘What Michael likes to do is put six pit bulls together and see which five die.’) It presents this on a Monopoly board […]

A nice preview for the Pocahontas: 10th Anniversary Edition DVD is available at Disney’s website, as noted by Ultimate Disney.

IGN FilmForce writes on Blue Man Group’s contribution to the musical score of Robots. Teaming with composer John Powell, the group exercises its eclectic percussive skills on the film’s soundtrack. The Robots soundtrack will be released March 1st, while the original motion picture score will be released on March 15th. Blue Man Group will perform […]

Over at Jim Hill Media, Veteran Disney animator Floyd Norman recounts working on his Brer Rabbit Christmas Story and offers his opinion on the oft-rumored Song of the South DVD.

Ultimate Disney points to Amazon.com, where the “midquel” Tarzan II is listed as having June 14, 2005 for a release date. Meanwhile, May 31st will bring about the next wave of Classic Cartoon Favorites, including Volume 5 – Extreme Sports Fun, Volume 6 – Extreme Music Fun, and Volume 7 – Extreme Adventure Fun.

Annasophia Robb talks on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Dark Horizons, confirming that there will be singing in the film and commenting on working with Johnny Depp.

A new poster for Son of the Mask has popped up at eBay. Son of the Mask opens in theaters on February 18, 2005. In related news, Coming Soon reports New Line Cinema and Milton Bradley are teaming up to have a Twister Contest for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM). The contest is inspired […]

Dark Horizons forwards an article from Now Playing Magazine, reporting legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen’s thoughts on Peter Jackson’s upcoming remake of King Kong, scheduled to open December 14th. “‘There will always only be one King Kong, it was such a unique production. Dino De Laurentiis’s [1976] interpretation, he left all the fantasy out. He […]

The Kyodo News (via Yahoo Asia) reports that “Director Hayao Miyazaki will receive the Honorary Golden Lion award for professional achievements at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival in August. Miyazaki, 64, will be the first Japanese, and the first director of animated films, to receive the prestigious prize, according to Toho.” Kyodo also notes […]

Sigourney Weaver recently talked to SCI FI Wire about her upcoming role in the new comedy/fantasy feature film Happily N’Ever After, based on the classic tales of the Brothers Grimm. “‘Frieda is Cinderella’s stepmother. She gets power, and she undoes all the laws of physics that govern happy endings. All hell breaks loose, and she […]

UK Yahoo! site Launch reports that Beyoncé Knowles will perform at the Academy Awards this year. “According to Billboard.com, the Destiny’s Child singer will duet with Josh Groban on the Oscar-nominated song ‘Believe’ from the animated film The Polar Express.” The Oscars are scheduled to air Sunday, February 27th at 8 Eastern, on the ABC […]