The Muppet Wizard Of Oz, the next film in the on-going almost-animated Muppet film series, has had the “casting” of the principal roles announced, according to {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16715 AICN}}. Kermit is the Scarecrow, while the rumor is that Natalie Portman is being eyed for the lead part of Dorothy. In not so good news, it’s […]

Ain’t It Cool News updates with a letter from roving media reporter Jim Hill written to Hollywood sneak peek guru Harry Knowles with more insights into the Roy Disney/Stanley Gold/Michael Eisner situation. Does anyone have an easy, two- or three-word, catchy title for this “situation” yet? Until someone stops me I believe I will refer […]

As if there wasn’t already enough controversy over Simba and Kimba, Toon Zone alerts us to an article at BBC News Online about an author of children’s books in France suing Disney. The author, Franck Le Calvez, claims that many of the characters in Disney/Pixar’s smash hit Finding Nemo are similar to characters in a […]

The first teaser trailer for the \\SpongeBob SquarePants\\ movie is now online at {{link http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/spongebobsquarepantsmovie/ Apple’s Quicktime Movie Trailer site}}.

‘MusicFan’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=662#post662 Animated News Forum}} lets us know that DreamWorks have secured the web domain names ‘abeemovie.com’, ‘beemovie.net’ and ‘thebeemovie.com’, which can only be a sign of confirmation that the studio is going with Bee Movie as the actual title of their next CG animated comedy, described as “Antz with bees” (Beez, […]

Although we’ve mentioned it on a couple of past occasions, this really is my last chance to highlight the UK TV showing of the Oscar-worthy {{link http://www.bellevillerendezvous.com Belleville Rendezvouz}} (The Triplets Of Belleville) on the BBC 2 channel. Sylvain Chomet’s astonishing film (the best I have seen produced outside of the main studio system) is […]

DVD Answers has the cover art for the Looney Tunes: Back In Action DVD, due to arrive in stores on March 2.

JoBlo’s Movie Emporium brings us a large version of the film’s poster, while Yahoo! Movies has the trailer for Spongebob Squarepants.

The always enjoyable {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm Jim Hill Media}} shuts down today until the 29th, with a final three posts. {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/wsampson.12242003.1.htm Walt Disney Christmas Stories}} has Wade Sampson recounting “a series of Christmas-related tales that feature the old Mousetro himself and the Studio’s resident genius, Ward Kimball, while Matt Springer’s {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/mspringer.12242003.1.htm The Essential Geek}} […]

The end of the year gives us cause for celebration, but it’s also a chance to look back and remember those who have passed away. Recently, the animation community lost two such artists: stop-motion animator Wah Chang (Oscar winner for special effects on George Pal’s The Time Machine and contributor to animated sequences in other […]

Halloween movie or Christmas classic? However you think of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, there’s no denying that it’s a holiday favorite and a technical marvel. Just as its tenth year celebrations come to a close, Alex Weitzman at The Big Cartoon Database’s {{link http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view&post=16860 The Animated Word}} takes a look back at the […]

‘Bobbie’ on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=651#post651 AN Forum}} posts a press release from the upcoming 21st {{link http://www.rustycon.com/ Rustycon}} convention (running January 16th through January 18th in Seattle) that announces that DreamWorks will preview their upcoming animation slate at the event. “DreamWorks will be hosting a booth featuring art from the animated films Shrek 2, Shark […]

CG Networks reports that Bruno Bozzetto is working on a 3D animated short in collaboration with Simple Pictures. Apparently he is not busy enough with his new feature Mammuk! The short will debut in summer 2004, but a teaser that presents the main characters is available form the official web site. This is the first […]

Have you ever wondered how the most famous Italian dish was born? The new animated feature Toto’ Sapore e la Magica Storia della Pizza (Toto’ Flavour and the Magic Story of Pizza) has the answer. The movie, produced by Lanterna Magica narrates how, in 1700, a Neapolitan minstrel with the dream of becoming a chef […]

A poster at {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007214 Animation Nation}} has discovered the webpage of a writer named Michelle Spitz where she lists her writing credits. They include several unheard of projects for Disney Feature Animation. You Don’t Know Jack About the Beanstalk (’03) A Day with Wilbur Robinson (’02) Chicken Little (’02) Just So Stories (’02) Emperor’s […]

{{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97838 Toon Zone}} reports that the ongoing dispute between the owners and licensors of A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh characters is set to continue on February 24th, when the Disney Company will argue that “its opponents stole documents”, in the trial’s first major hearing in more than a year – though it’s just another […]

{{link http://www.darkhorizons.com/news03/031222g.php Dark Horizons}}, among a list of other (live-action) news bites, mentions that the next Farrelly Brothers comedy “(the animated one) will be based on the novel {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1882647246/qid=1072196975//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/002-1902555-2863210?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 Frisco Pigeon Mambo}} by C.D. Payne”.

Kristin points us to an article at the St. Petersburg Times Floridian website for a glimpse of real lives being hit hard by the closure of Disney’s Florida animation studios. There’s also insights into corporate struggles, the “so-called” 2D vs. 3D animation war, fat cat capitalism wherein those who control all the money give themselves […]

Jim Hill Media has a new article in which he compares Disney CEO Michael Eisner to Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston (whose hubris led him to falling from a great height) and to other Disney villains in general in the recent Roy Disney/Stanley Gold controversy yet still holds out hope that Eisner can come down […]

Noodlesoup Productions’ \\The Venture Brothers\\ won the Best Animated Television Series award at this year’s Cineme, the Chicago International Animation Film Festival. The show’s pilot aired this past February and the series is scheduled to premiere on Cartoon Network this spring. \\The Venture Brothers\\ “parodies the 1960’s favorite \\Jonny Quest\\, featuring brothers Hank and Dean, their […]

{{link http://www.comingsoon.net/database.php ComingSoon.net}} reports that the much troubled feature \\Lil’ Pimp\\ has, once again, been removed from the release date schedule and is now heading straight to video. \\{{link http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/lilpimp/ Lil’ Pimp}}\\ is the first feature film to be shot entirely with Flash animation.

{{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=1956&page=1 AWN}} asks “Has the Oscar for Animated Feature Affected the Industry?” The article looks at the previous and current contenders, their fates, and some of the controversies the new category has generated. In the end the author decides that the “Features category is clearly building respect for animated work outside of the community […]

{{link http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2003/03.12.19.a.html The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}} has announced the the seven films being considered for the Best Visual Effects Academy Award: \\The Hulk\\, \\The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King\\, \\Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World\\, \\Peter Pan\\, \\Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of […]

Following our own {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000405.html Picks Of The Year}} feature, which ranged from books to DVDs, Rand Cyrenne sticks to just the discs, compiling the best editions from 2003, based on a shortlist made up from the reviewers, including myself, at {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/ DVD Toons}}. The list (also featuring further links to full reviews) brings […]

Following Jim Hill’s feature last week that reveals that Disney’s Aladdin is not quite yet headed for the Imax screen (though Disney’s reasons to replace it with a new Black Stallion film is unlikely to change the company’s current attitude to large format releases) comes news that another family studio, Warner Brothers, is taking up […]

‘2099net’ posts on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127 AN Forum}} that Sylvain Chomet’s Belleville Rendezvouz (The Triplets Of Belleville) is headed for DVD on January 26th. The disc site {{link http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=144695 Play.com}} is showing the film available in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and DTS sound, with several bonus features including audio commentary on three scenes, music video, making […]

‘Baloo’ in the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=131 Animated News Forum}} shows us the UK artwork for the upcoming Lion King 1½ 2-disc DVD, known internationally as The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata. It’s listed as a pre-order on the {{link http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000163X1G/qid%3D1071844217/202-5939041-0530219 Amazon.co.uk}} site for £13.99, and will be released on February 16th 2004.

Renowned Italian director Bruno Bozzetto (West & Soda, Allegro non Troppo) is working on a new feature film. Set in the prehistory, Mammuk is the story of a mammoth and two kids, learning to survive in a world of violence and brutality. The movie is produced by RAI Cinema and has a budget of 10 […]

Fantasy writer Ed McCray, who “moonlights” as a reviewer for DVD Toons, has published a new book, with an eye for an animated feature to follow. Jill Chill And The Baron Of Glacier Mountain is “a brand new holiday story that explores the possibility of Jack Frost having a female counterpart”. The book, just on […]

The {{link http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ Ultimate Disney}} DVD fansite posted their “Most Popular DVDs on the Site” for December, which places Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl at number one, and the upcoming Brother Bear as the most requested pre-roder. Also today is a look at early specs for Disney’s catalogue release slate […]