\\{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=2062 Animation Magazine}}\\ reports that \\The Triplets of Belleville\\ director Sylvain Chomet asked the mag to post a letter he wrote to Pixar’s creative head John Lasseter. The letter begins with Chomet speaking how he has followed Lasseter and Pixar over the years and praises thier work. It then turns into a not-so-subtle dig […]

My bro-in-law sent me this very interesting article from the San Francisco Chronicle. It seems there could be a little school yard justice going on in the animation world. Wonder if they could just settle it all with a good old game of death volleyball. You remember that game don’t you? Maybe not if you […]

The official Disney site now has a page for the soundtrack for The Lion King 1½ with 30-second clips from each song in RealPlayer or QuickTime format.

Jim Hill Media updates with three new articles today. The first one is all about “the Walt Disney Company’s attempts to get some positive press going in the wake of the Pixar contract debacle.” The second article “discusses what the Walt Disney Company could possibly do in order to turn around its somewhat toxic reputation,” […]

Since we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000789.html reported}} the domain name registrations that point to the fact that DreamWorks’ sequel to the still-to-be-released original Shark Tale will go under the moniker of Another Shark Tale, we’ve had several messages sent to us from various sources confirming this fact. Nothing can be counted on for certain until we hear […]

Animation Insider reports that there may now be new cartoons on the way based on Sabrina, Josie and the Pussycats and other characters from Archie Comics. “IDT Entertainment recently purchased a substantial branch of Archie Comics Entertainment, which gives them a respectable amount of distrubution and production rights; that amount of which, IDT plans on […]

Ultimate Disney has a new, positive Lion King 1½ DVD review, and captures from the disc’s previews of The Lion King II:Simba’s Pride, Aladdin, and The Three Musketeers, starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.

{{link http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?forum_id=7&topic_id=7970 Animation Insider}} reports that the hit action anime Heat Guy J will be airing on the (formerly) all-music channel Mtv2. The series, from the director and staff that created the Escaflowne movie, is centers on the character Android J. “J” was secretly built by the government as a special agent to combat crime […]

Animation Insider {{link http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?forum_id=7&topic_id=7942 reports}}, citing an unnamed source, that the hit Kids WB series X-Men Evolution has been cancelled. This was to be the fifth season of the show.

{{link http://www.animationblast.com/ Animation Blast}} updates this weekend with some new info on Bill Plympton’s independent animated feature Hair High, the sci-fi comedy that fans were able to see him create “live” on the internet. The Blast announces a “West Coast premiere at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival on Saturday, February 14. Bill will be […]

In {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000785.html yesterday’s news}}, we reported that a site had what we thought might be a first pic from Disney’s upcoming \\Chicken Little\\. Our friends at {{link http://www.dlp.info/ DLP.info}} have let us know this picture is actually “taken from the {{link http://disney.go.com/corporate/investors/financials/annual.html 2003 Annual Report of TWDC}} where it can be found in MUCH […]

Amazon.com remind us that seven Disney DVD titles go back into the vaults today, and will probably remain out of print until an eventual re-emergence on high-definition disc format. The classic titles include Sleeping Beauty, Fantasia and its continuation Fantasia/2000, as well as the box that brings both of these films together and adds The […]

‘MusicFan’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=933#post933 AN Forums}} points out that DreamWorks have “registered the domains ‘anothersharktale.com’, ‘anothersharktale.net’ and ‘anothersharktale.biz’”, so it looks like the upcoming first film’s sequel will go under the title Another Shark Tale. However, was this title choice based on the fact that a too-eager cyber squatter had already registered the name […]

As expected, Jim weighs in on the current hot topic concerning The Walt Disney Company and their splitting with blockbuster supplier Pixar Animation Studios. Posted late last night (early this morning?), {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/01302004.3.htm Jim chimes in}} with the latest, as well as a report on {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/01302004.2.htm some emails}} Disney Animation head David Stainton has […]

{{link http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/30/technology/apple/ CNN}} has a semi-serious article on the merits, pitfalls, and feasibility of Apple Computer (CEO Steve Jobs) buying Pixar (CEO Steve Jobs). “Apple, with its huge success in the online music arena, is beginning to look more and more like a content company, as opposed to a pure hardware firm. Plus, Apple is […]

Kristin has alerted us to an interview at Out Now! with Ruben Aquino, supervising animator of Denahi for Disney’s Brother Bear, who has also worked on such Disney classics as The Little Mermaid (Ursula), Rescuers Down Under (Jake the kangaroo mouse), The Lion King (adult Simba), Pocahontas (Chief Powhatan), Mulan (Captain Shan), and Lilo & […]

An {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007545 Animation Nation}} post points out a link to {{link http://207.44.182.109/photo/1/showgallery.php/cat/1022/password/ Figures.com}}, a website with pictures from the 2004 UK Toy Fair with pictures of some of Hasbro’s \\The Incredibles\\ toys.

{{link http://www.animagic.hpg.ig.com.br/producao.htm Animagic}} has what appears to be the first picture from Disney upcoming (and first all-CG) film \\Chicken Little\\. The article, entitled “What’s next for Disney”, is in Portuguese. Check out the link for the full picture, and check out {{link http://babelfish.altavista.com/ Babelfish}} if you’re in need of (a basic) translation.

Following Steve Jobs’ announcement, Disney.com’s Corporate Press released a statement, which has ended up on the {{link http://www.animationnation.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007538;p= Animation Nation}} boards. The first half of the statement features the quotes we’re reading in other stories, but towards the end, Disney reminds us (and Pixar) that they own all rights to the existing Pixar films, as […]

{{link http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?siteid=mktw&guid=%7B800A8073%2D730D%2D49A5%2D8ED8%2D88412C14616E%7D& CBSMarketWatch}} has it right when they say that “Disney’s shareholder meeting, scheduled for March 3, just got a little more interesting”. They believe that Roy Disney’s calls for “Chief Executive Michael Eisner to step down could be heard by more shareholders as they wonder where the Disney chief is leading the company”, and […]

According to {{link http://www.quicken.com/investments/news_center/story/?story=NewsStory/dowJones/20040129/ON200401291955001877.var&column=P0DFP Dow Jones Newswire}}, Warner Brothers may be the most natural fit for Pixar “based on their domestic and international film-distribution strengths”. If a Time Warner/Pixar deal occurs, the Dow Jones analyst thinks the “giant entertainment company might try to strike a deal with Disney to buy the two movies left under […]

According to {{link http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2004/nf20040130_5999.htm Business Week}} “like everyone in Hollywood, Disney execs learned about Pixar’s surprise move from the press release”. Even Disney’s studio chief Dick Cook, “who enjoyed a stronger rapport with Jobs than Eisner did, was caught off guard by Pixar’s announcement. No phone call. No heads-up… Cook, who called Jobs after hearing […]

\\Roy Disney and Stanley Gold Dismayed, But Not Surprised by Loss of Walt Disney Company’s Relationship With Pixar\\ As significant shareholders of The Walt Disney Company, we are extremely dismayed, but not surprised by the loss of Disney’s Pixar relationship. More than a year ago, we warned the Disney Board that we believed Michael Eisner […]

\\Disney and Pixar End Talks\\ Pixar has elected to conclude its discussions to extend a successful long-term partnership with The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) following the delivery of two more animated features, \\The Incredibles\\ expected in 2004 and \\Cars\\ expected in 2005. “We have had a fantastic partnership with Pixar and wish Steve Jobs and […]

\\Pixar to End Talks with Disney\\ Emeryville, CA – January 29, 2004 – Pixar today said that it is ending its discussions with The Walt Disney Company to extend their existing five-picture deal, and will begin discussions with other studios to distribute its films beginning in 2006. After completing the final two films under the […]

Little Longnose, the Russian animated feature we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000040.html previously reported}} about, looks to have been picked up for distribution by Warner Brothers (who’ll do anything to keep trying for a slice of the animated feature pie – think they’ve got their eye on Pixar, perchance?). Dark Horizons mentions the studio’s name along with a […]

‘Disneyaholic’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=871#post871 Animated News Forum}} points to where viewers can vote for the Orange Audience Film Award at this year’s British Academy Awards. “Voting is currently going on and will end on Febuary 13. Of the 10 nominees, both Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Nemo [plus The Lord Of The Rings: […]

{{link http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/29/news/companies/pixar_disney/ CNN}} reports that {{link http://www.pixar.com/ Pixar Animation Studios}} has announced it has ended talks with {{link http://www.disney.com/ The Walt Disney Company}} over extending their five-picture deal. “After ten months of trying to strike a deal with Disney, we’re moving on,” Pixar CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. “We’ve had a great run […]

\\Variety\\ reports (this time via {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=101053 Toon Zone}}) that \\Shrek 2\\ will make its debut during the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. The film will be screened on Saturday, May 15, and open in theaters on May 21.

{{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=3204 ComingSoon.net}} reports on a \\Variety\\ story about Jean Giraud’s sci-fi fantasy film \\Thru the Moebius Strip\\. Senator International will handle worldwide sales rights of this CG feature written by Jim Cox and Paul Gertz. Currently in post-production, \\Moebius\\ will be completed this year. The film features the voice talents of Mark Hamill, Chris […]