Also at {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/hackney.12022003.1.htm~contentFrame JHM}} is the first of three articles by Drew Hackney on the live stage version of \\The Hunchback of Notre Dame\\. In this installment we learn why the show made its premiere in Berlin, Germany instead of the United States or even the setting of the book Paris, France.

{{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32653&CT=38 Broadway.com}} passes on a \\Variety\\ report that the cast for the \\Mary Poppins\\ musical is being fleshed out. Two-time Olivier Award winner Alex Jennings and two-time Olivier Award winner Janie Dee have been offered the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. As {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000358.html we reported}} earlier this week, Laura Michelle Kelly will […]

{{link http://www.fabulousdisneybabe.com/fab/articles/showArticles.asp?ID=43 FabulousDisneyBabe.com}} reports that a source has informed them that Wal-Mart “has made a very nice offer for the ailing chain, and that barring disaster, the Mouse will say yes”.

{{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16604 Ain’t It Cool News}} has the scoop on what may be confirmation of a long whispered rumor. Pixar creating traditional hand-drawn animated movies after Disney and DreamWorks say the format is dead? Possibly! “The word is that Pixar is starting their own 2D Animation Division. A company that will use the Pixar brand… […]

Filmax’s feature El Cid, La Leyenda will hit theaters in Spain this month. The movie is based on the life of 11th century adventurer Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid, and narrates Rodrigo’s royal upbringing, his unjust exile and his quest to receive the King’s pardon. Entirely produced by Barcelona based Filmax […]

The Internet Movie Poster Awards has four new posters from Disney’s The Haunted Mansion.

After Roy Disney’s resignation yesterday (his resignation letter is online {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000366.html here}}), fellow board member and Eisner critic Stanley Gold has followed suit. Stanley Gold’s resignation letter: December 1, 2003 To the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company: It is with regret that I resign effective immediately from the Board of Directors […]

Box Office Mojo reports that Sylvain Chomet’s feature has earned an estimate $114,600 during the Thanksgiving weekend in the six theaters where it opened, for a total gross of $150,400 since opening. This averages to $19,100 per theater, better than the $7,370 average of the top movie this weekend: The Cat in the Hat. Way […]

The Associated Press reports (via \\{{link http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/7383215.htm The Miami Herald}}\\) on the first response from someone at the Walt Disney Company to Roy Disney’s resignation. Presiding director of the board (and former U.S. Senator) George Mitchell said “The Governance and Nominating Committee recently informed Mr. Disney of its judgment that the mandatory age limits of […]

Most people would probably agree that the three greatest newspaper comic strip artists from around 1980 to the present would be Berkeley Breathed, Gary Larson, and Bill Watterson. All had their own unique style and sense of humor. And all retired at the top of their game in the mid-1990’s. As we reported {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000320.html […]

Could Roy Disney’s attack on Eisner actually keep the CEO and Chairman of the Walt Disney Company around even longer? {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/12012003.1.htm~contentFrame Jim Hill Media}} reports that most of the members of the Disney Board had already come to the conclusion that “Michael Eisner’s top priority wasn’t running the Walt Disney Company anymore. But – […]

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1838 Animation Magazine}} reports that Sock Puppet Studio and Intec Interactive are releasing several Marvel comics in a digital DVD version. “Each digital book is comprised of an entire Marvel graphic novel augmented by animation and special effects. More than 100 minutes of animation is included on each disc. There are also extra features […]

According to a {{link http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=112946 Vanguard Animation press release}}: Ewan McGregor, star of \\Moulin Rouge\\ and \\Star Wars\\, will voice the title character in Vanguard Animation’s CG animated feature film \\Valient\\. The animated comedy tells the story of a lowly wood pigeon named Valiant, who overcomes his small size to become a hero in Great […]

It might seem a little jarring to go from the very serious news of Roy Disney’s resignation to news about the flatulence of a cartoon warthog, but a post by “Kervanna” at the Kiara’s Sahifa Message Board reveals that the “Hot Tub” trailer mentioned at the official Lion King 1½ site is included on the […]

November 30, 2003 Mr. Michael D. Eisner, Chairman The Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521 Dear Michael: It is with deep sadness and regret that I send you this letter of resignation from the Walt Disney Company, both as Chairman of the Feature Animation Division and as Vice Chairman of […]

{{link http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm The Drudge Report}} is reporting a \\{{link http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107022298535883000,00.html?mod=home_whats_news_us Wall Street Journal}}\\ story (paid subscription required for WSJ link) that claims Roy Disney submitted his resignation from Walt Disney’s company board and his chairmanship of Disney feature animation on Sunday and called for Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner to do the same. Disney sent […]

New Zealand based {{link http://fun.mukpuddy.com Mukpuddy Animation}} has relaunched their website making it a lot faster, and a lot easier to navigate. They have also finished work on their first fully 2D animated music video, available to view on the site.

Up to the minute DVD info page {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/ The Digital Bits}} are usually first online with the latest disc rumors, and if not first, they’ll be able to confirm or deny reports based on their close association with the main Studios. Now, in the always entertaining {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/barriemaxwell/maxwell112803.html Coming Classic Attractions}} column, writer Barrie […]

The {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/index.php? Toon Zone Forums}} today report on a couple of stories that just appeared at {{link http://www.nytimes.com/ The New York Times.com}}. The first, {{link http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=95782 Studios Sue To End Screener Ban}} looks at the ongoing concern that the MPAA DVD screener ban imposed on the studios to help crack down on piracy will […]

An extended trailer for the upcoming sequel to Ghost in the Shell is now available online from {{link http://catsuka.com/ Catsuka.com}} (direct link). This amazing six minute clip showcases the incredible integration of CG and traditional animation achieved by director Mamoru Oshii and rises the hopes for this much anticipated feature. The trailer sports the film’s […]

{{link http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/1103/28peabo.html The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} reports that because of tax-trouble the IRS is auctioning off the property of singer Peabo Bryson. Some of the items for sale include: – the 1992 Grammy award for the song \\Beauty and the Beast\\ recorded with Celine Dion – the 1993 Grammy award for the song \\A Whole New […]

\\The Daily Mail\\ reports (via {{link http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32605&CT=38 Broadway.com}}) that up-and-coming theater actress Laura Michelle Kelly “will play the ‘practically perfect in every way’ nanny in the upcoming stage musical” of \\Mary Poppins\\. The 22 year old’s other credits include \\Beauty and the Beast\\ (as Belle), \\ Les Misérables\\ (as Eponine), \\South Pacific\\, \\The King and […]

A teaser for Miyazaki’s upcoming feature, originally included with the Special Preview of Innocence in Japan, is now available from Buta-Connection (direct link here).

{{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/ DVD Toons}} lets us know that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced the third season of Futurama on DVD. The four disc box set, will contain the same kids of extras that fans have enjoyed in previous sets, and should retail for $49.98. Check out the {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/news/498 full specs}}! Also announced […]

AWN’s {{link http://vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=319b255d&atype=articles&id=1931 VFX World}} talks to The Haunted Mansion‘s visual effects supervisor Jay Redd on the challenge of creating 999 ghostly looks for the film, which melds live-action actors with CG-enhanced effects work.

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=15576 The Big Cartoon Database Forum}} reports that two special upcoming screenings of Les Triplettes De Belleville, Sylvain Chomet’s international co-production, are to be held in Ottawa and Vancouver, representing France at this year’s European Union Film Festival. The Ottawa showing takes place tomorrow evening, at 7pm on November 29, while the Vancouver premiere […]

Jerry Beck’s {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com/kaz.html Cartoon Research}} just posted a look at the Brazillian edition of the Looney Tunes Golden DVD Collection, which will probably frustrate those in region one land who dislike those fold-out digipaks! Coming housed in a “lunchbox”-styled case, with the discs inside as individual editions in their own keepcases, this looks like […]

Though Pirates Of The Caribbean was let off very lightly from the critical and commercial disaster that was The Country Bears, it seems that any ride-inspired film to come out from the gates of Walt Disney Pictures will be forever more compared to that Johnny Depp-led behemoth. Perhaps not letting the film speak for itself, […]

Just a quick heads up that Disney’s official page for The Lion King 1½ has just updated with the sound working now, text clips from movie critics praising the movie (Michael Scheinfeld from TV Guide says it serves up “an irreverent circle of laughs” and Leonard Maltin calls it “an animation extravaganza”), a picture of […]

During the weekend, Paul Dini was at the premiere screening of Justice League‘s Christmas episode “Comfort and Joy,” at Wizard World Texas in Arlington, where he provided updates on the future of Duck Dodgers and the animated Batman. Check out Toon Zone for the full story.