animated-news

Shrek 2 to be localized in UK dub

{{link http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/story.jsp?story=527813 Independent News}} in the UK reports that when the DreamWorks behemoth Shrek 2 arrives for its UK bow on July 2, audiences will hear a slightly different version of the film than is playing in the US. It only boils down to two small (but pointless) changes, which sees the US’s Larry King […]

Michael Eisner: Monkey Exec?

In answer to Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s quote earlier this week that 2D animation had come to an end (at least in the eyes of the Mouse House), caricaturist Pete Emslie has penned the rather clever and amusing {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/emslie.06042004.1.htm The Monkey’s Tale}}, a poem which can be read over at Jim Hill’s page.

Disney DVD update; Range specs

DVD Answers have a bunch of info on upcoming Disney DVD issues, including high-res artwork for the {{link http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=3875&n=1&burl= Mulan: Special Edition}} (released October 26) and the 1979 live-action feature {{link http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=4087&n=1&burl= The Black Hole}} (August 3). Most interesting are the menu screens from the September 14 release of {{link http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=4088&n=1&burl= Home On The Range}}: […]

Disney stamped for June 23

Seattle Post-Intelligence, via Toon Zone, reveals that guests during a ceremony at Disneyland in Anaheim, California will be treated to a set of four postage stamps and other mail products featuring Disney characters on June 23. As the website notes, call 1-800-5-MICKEY to make reservations. The 37-cent stamps, 23-cent postal cards, and printed stationary that […]

Clone Wars to resume before the final Episode

Twenty new Star Wars: Clone Wars episodes are set to air before the release of Star Wars: Episode III, says an informant at TheForce.net. No official announcement has been made yet. Nonetheless, the website indicates, “We’re also hearing that a Clone Wars DVD release is a pending announcement, though we’re not sure if both ‘seasons’ […]

Winick's Web

Coming Soon! reports that Gary Winick (13 Going on 30) has been hired to direct the live-action/CG animated version of Charlotte’s Web, from a script by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) with revisions by Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, Curious George). Charlotte’s Web, last seen as the 1973 animated film, will be released by Paramount.

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie trailer now online

A Windows Media version of the trailer is now available at Dark Horizons.

More on Sony's digital revolution

For those interested in the technological details of Sony’s new digital theater projectors, the {{link http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25972 Digital Producer}} has more on how the 4K resolution system works. To put things in perspective, films such as Toy Story or Shrek 2 are created at 2K, and transferred to film for standard projection. The 4K route doubles […]

The rise and fall of Japanese animation?

‘WolfTooth’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/newreply.php?s=&action=newreply&threadid=441 AN Forum}} points to an interesting article at {{link http://www.asahi.com/english/arts/TKY200406020134.html Asahi.com}} that looks at the ratios between the low wage a backroom animator earns in Japan and the huge amounts that merchandising deals can bring in on a popular anime manga title.

Shark Tale game screenshots

The DreamWorks Fansite has posted a number of screenshots from the upcoming {{link http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/fullstory.php?id=575 Shark Tale video game}} from Activision.

Home On The Range set for UK bow

Disney’s Home On The Range, after being missing in action on the UK release date slate for a while, looks set to open in cinemas on August 6 2004, as part of the film’s international roll out. Home On The Range will arrive on DVD in the States just one month later, on September 14.

New Wallace and Gromit movie gets a release date

The DreamWorks SKG Fansite reveals that The Wallace & Gromit Movie: Curse of the Wererabbit will be released in theaters on October 7, 2005, in the tradition of DreamWorks’ other October releases of Antz and SharkTale. This move also puts the film almost a month before DreamWorks’ next animated movie Over the Hedge was due […]

First two minutes of Garfield: The Movie to air on Fox

From the film’s official website comes the news that the first two minutes of Garfield: The Movie will air on the Fox television network this Friday, June 4, at 8pm, during its broadcast of Cats and Dogs.

More Garfield

{{link http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0406035 Cinema Confidential}} has a full gallery of Garfield: The Movie pictures up, including some new images.

Sony's digital future

Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp has {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=5329072 announced a new system}} that could speed up the time it takes to convert traditional movie theaters over to digital projection. Currently, the industry is tied to Texas Instruments’ DLP approach, but Sony (well known for bucking trends and starting their own) have developed their own take […]

Disney to launch new TV channels in India

Beginning to use its growing presence in India, The Walt Disney Company will launch three new TV channels in the area over the next twelve months, reports {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=5319657 Reuters}}. David Hulbert, president of Walt Disney Television International, said that one of the three channels would have programing similar to Disney’s US network ABC, while […]

More traditional animation on the way

Following Michael Eisner’s quote on “the end of 2D animation”, {{link http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ Cartoon Brew}} has an amusing take on that comment, and news of a new Spanish-themed animated feature coming in 2005, which will be hand drawn. Sian Ka’an is directed by Raul Garcia, Disney animator on such films as Aladdin, The Lion King and […]

Eisner keeps door open for Pixar talks; no future traditional animation

Speaking at the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. 20th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference ({{link http://disney.go.com/corporate/investors/events/presentations.html webcast replay here}}), Disney CEO Michael Eisner said that talks with Pixar could resume to try and reach a satisfactory distribution partnership between the two companies. The {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=5327278 Reuters News Agency}} has the full story, also reporting the official […]

New Polar Express teaser steams online!

The new trailer (officially labelled as Teaser 2) for Robert Zemeckis’ {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/p/polarexpress.php The Polar Express}}, featuring Tom Hanks under a ton of CGI make-up, is now making the rounds online. Check it out in a variety of Apple QuickTime sizes here:

Shrek 3 on the fast track

With Shrek 2 on course to make a cool $300 million by the end of this week, DreamWorks has stepped up production on a third film, which was already rumored as early as January this year, for a holiday 2006 release. {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=4967 Coming Soon}} says the studio has hired Peter Seaman and Jeffrey Price, […]

Long wait for Cats And Dogs 2?

{{link http://www.moviehole.net/news/3726.html Moviehole}} is reporting that the sequel to the surprise 2001 hit Cats And Dogs, originally to have been directed by Kevin Lima (A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians), is on hold, according to animation supervisor Todd LaBonte. “We did tests for it like two years ago – but it’s been put on the […]

Pride presentation fails to draw laughs

According to Yahoo! News, an NBC sales presentation containing clips of Father of the Pride was met with silence after its showing at Madison Avenue. “The animated series was in far worse shape than Horn, and the reaction of NBC’s advertising clients was so negative that it’s unlikely the program will last on NBC’s schedule,” […]

New Shrek 3 plot details

“The Joe Man” at Dark Horizons indicates that Shrek 3 will be written by Jon Zack (Out Cold, The Perfect Score). In the film, “Shrek and Fiona are King and Queen now and they hate it so Fiona tries to get friend Arty (aka. King Arthur) to do so but he’s still in college. From […]

Ghost in the Shell 2 website updated

The Dreamworks SKG Fansite reveals that the official website for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence has been updated, now including a message board, news section, and a poster. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence will arrive in US theaters on September 17, 2004.

Clerks' 10th Anniversary DVD to contain new animated sequence

DavisDVD reports that the upcoming three-disc 10th Anniversary Edition DVD of Clerks will contain a special treat for fans, as the “Julie Dwyer Funeral” scene, which was scripted but never filmed, will be included as an animated bonus feature. Featuring the voices of Brian O’ Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Joey Lauren Adams, the “lost scene,” […]

Behind-the-scenes look at Linkin Park's new music video

Reuters has posted a 6 minute preview clip of Linkin Park’s new anime-style music video, Breaking The Habit. The video involved close collaboration between the band and Gonzo Digimation Studios in Japan, which is known for combining 2D and 3D effects in a single animated scene. The video was directed by the band’s “turntablist” and […]

Mr Bug! The original "bug's life" Hoppity to air in the UK

Max and Dave Fleischer’s rarely seen, but fantastically inventive 1941 feature Mr Bug Goes To Town will be screening on UK TV this week, under its 1950s NPA television print title of Hoppity Goes To Town. The second and final feature from the Fleischers, after Gulliver’s Travels in 1939, the film’s relative obscurity comes from […]

\\Shrek 2\\ holds on to #1 spot

In its second week, \\Shrek 2\\ holds on to the #1 spot of the U.S. box office according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2004-05-29&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. In spite of tough competition from Fox’s \\The Day After Tomorrow\\, which pulled in $70 million, \\Shrek 2\\ brought in huge second week numbers with $73 million, bringing its 12 day […]

The Three Musketeers disc art unveiled

Ultimate Disney has the disc art for The Three Musketeers, starring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. The Three Musketeers will arrive in stores on August 17, 2004.

PBS' New Animated Series – Car Talk?

Current, a newspaper which reports about public broadcasting, is reporting that PBS is planning to bring the popular radio show Car Talk to television. The series’ animation style will be a mix of 2D and 3D and the series could premiere as early as next summer. The radio show’s hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi and […]