animated-news

Witch Hunter Robin Coming to the Cartoon Network

ICv2 News reports that Witch Hunter Robin, the superbly animated 26-episode series from Sunrise Animation, will appear on the Cartoon Network during the current 2003-2004 television season, either late this year or early in 2004. The stylish series, which has been described as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Meets The X-Files“, has demonstrated a strong appeal […]

Real Life Imitating The Simpsons

The forum at the Big Cartoon DataBase has a new report on an Oregonian scientist who has bred his very own ToMacco plant (a blend of tomato and tobacco), inspired by the Simpsons episode #AABF19, “E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt),” from a couple years back. In our increasingly smoke-free world one wonders what use it is to breed […]

Sequel Toons Go Live-Action

Here’s a couple of news items on a couple of upcoming live-action features based on animated characters. Even though the first film has yet to open, producer Brian Grazer is pointing towards a second {{link http://www.catinthehat.com/ The Cat In The Hat}} movie. Set to shoot next summer, The Cat In The Hat Comes Back already […]

Bionicle gets theatrical upgrade

The Lego Corporation’s successful collaboration with Disney’s Miramax, the Bionicle series, is about to get an upgrade to its CGI graphics. After the release of the first in the series, {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008WFHG/qid%3D1068745813/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-1902555-2863210 Mask Of Light}}, a second film (currently in production and simply referred to as Bioncicle 2 at this point) is on the way […]

Disney boss to be honored by Motion Picture Pioneers

Michael Eisner, the chairman-CEO of the Walt Disney Company since averting the takeover bid of 1984, is to be honored as the 65th “Pioneer Of The Year” at a special dinner organized by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. {{link http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031112/law025a_1.html Yahoo News}} has more on the story, announcing that Tarzan and Brother Bear […]

Disney plans further moves into Asian markets…

Following news that Disney’s Buena Vista is negotiating to release theatrical film product in China, comes details on a new Magic Kingdom to be based in Shanghai. The company already has a theme park set to open in Hong Kong in 2006. The news group {{link http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=TIXK2MKFG2CJMCRBAEKSFFA?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3812879 Reuters}} has the full story.

Another online comic strip!

Derrick Fish, the creator and artist of an online comic strip called {{link http://www.dandyandcompany.com/ Dandy & Company}}, a cartoon about the trials and tribulations of a dog and his boy, has updated the {{link http://www.bigpondcomics.com/bigpondcomics/animation/index.html Animated Gallery}} of his site to include new rough animation tests and finished color (silent) shorts. Those looking for a […]

Disney's New York flagship store has run aground

Jim Hill returns from NYC with a somewhat depressing story about the 5th Avenue Disney Store. What was once the crown jewel of the entire Disney retail chain is now a sad shell of itself. Where once there was great art … now there are t-shirts for sale.

Press Release For Delayed Treasures DVDs

Animation historian Jerry Beck comments on the delay of this year’s wave of the Walt Disney Treasures DVDs on his Cartoon Research news page: “Originally scheduled for release on December 2, 2003 – the latest (and greatest) wave of DISNEY TREASURES have now been rescheduled for next May. I’ve been told this delay has nothing […]

Bugs Bunny on The Today Show!

The star of Looney Tunes: Back In Action was interviewed by Al Rocker on NBC yesterday. Here is a hilarious clip from the show.

The Polar Express arrives online!

Chris Van Allsburg’s classic children’s book has been in highly secretive production now for over a year, with another 12 months still to go before its debut as a big special effects filled film next November. Directed by the amazing Robert Zemeckis (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump, Back To The Future), and starring Tom […]

Brother Bear, Can You Spare An Interview?

Animation Insider recently scored an exclusive interview with Brother Bear directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker, in which they discuss the development of the film from its inception and the development of Rutt and Tuke as characters that became increasingly central and important to the story. There’s even a picture that shows the directors with […]

Looney Team Focuses on Internet-Savvy Audience

This great Zap 2 It article describes the Back In Action team’s inclusion of us net geeks with a smattering of obscure “inside” jokes throughout the film. Riffs on cult horror classics, the new Batman director, and the political correctness of the Looney Tunes characters are but a few gems that you’ll find in the […]

Spider-Man: The New Animated Series DVD Cover Artwork

Superhero Hype! has gained the exclusive first look at the new DVD cover artwork for Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, arriving in stores on January 13 as a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD. As noted by Superhero Hype!, special features for the DVD include, “a blooper reel, a music featurette, cast and crew filmographies, a photo […]

Walt Disney Treasures: May date confirmed…

The {{link http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ Ultimate Disney}} DVD Fansite confirms their news of last week that this year’s wave of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets, housed in individually numbered tin boxes, is being pushed back to next May, 2004. “Don’t expect an official reason, but the prevailing wisdom seems to be that there’s been a huge […]

\\Finding Nemo\\ gets nomination as best film

\\Finding Nemo\\ has been nominated for a European Film Award for best non-European film of 2003, according to {{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=14428 The Big Cartoon Database}}. The winners will be announced by the European Film Academy December 6 at their awards ceremony in Berlin.

\\Dave the Barbarian\\ coming soon to Disney Channel

{{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1768 Animation Magazine}} has a report on the upcoming Disney Channel animated series \\Dave the Barbarian\\, set to debut in January 2004. “Disney’s \\Dave the Barbarian\\ follows the title character’s comedic adventures with his offbeat family as they protect themselves and their kingdom from a world of odd foes. Complicating matters is brawny Dave’s […]

New online comic from Pixar animator

{{link http://www.animationblast.com/ Animation Blast}} notes that Pixar animator Bobby Podesta has created a new comic strip called \\Six Foot Six Year Old\\ published online every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Podesta, who worked previously on \\A Bug’s Life\\, \\Toy Story 2\\, \\Monster’s Inc\\., and \\Finding Nemo\\, is currently working on the upcoming film \\Cars\\. His new […]

"Be vewwy vewwy quiet . . . I'm meeting rabbits . . . and the people who draw them."

So, let’s say you call in sick to work on Friday, November 14, 2003, get the kids out of school and your wife (or husband) out of their yoga class and go to catch the very first showing of Looney Tunes: Back In Action at your local theater and you all have a wonderful time. […]

New Home On The Range Poster!

The Internet Movie Awards brings us the first look at the newest poster for Disney’s Home on the Range. Click here or on the poster for a larger view.

DreamWorks' Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas sails onto DVD!

Though it almost drowned at the box office earlier this year, DreamWorks is about to sail their final “tradigital” animated feature through those choppy waters and onto DVD, for a new disc release due in stores November 18th. {{link http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/246 DVD Toons}} again has the first look, commenting that “although Sinbad didn’t bring home the […]

Disney's TV Cartoons Enter the Spotlight

The Los Angeles Times has an article about the growing role of Disney’s TV Animation unit. The unit is busier than it has been in its 20-year history. Led by Kim Possible and Lilo, there are five series in production with nearly 50 projects in development. Disney is expected to unveil this week the newest […]

\\Curious George\\ series coming to TV

{{link http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2024137 The Hollywood Reporter}} notes that \\Curious George\\ may soon be headed to televison with a new series. “Universal Home Entertainment Prods. said Thursday that the division, in conjunction with Imagine and PBS affiliate WBGH Boston, is developing an animated preschool television series based on the \\Curious George\\ character”. A motion picture version, with […]

\\Look Through My Eyes\\ video online

‘Thomas’ posted on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81 Animated News Forum}} that the video of Phil Collins’ single \\Look Through My Eyes\\ is online at the {{link http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/soundtracks/brotherbear/ \\Brother Bear\\ Original Soundtrack page}}. The video is available is Quicktime, Windows Media, and RealPlayer versions.

\\Shark Tale\\ teaser trailer coming soon?

DreamWorks SKG Fansite – Animation alerts us to two bits of news about upcoming projects from Katzenberg and Co. First up is a {{link http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/sharktale rumor about \\Shark Tale\\}}. They report that “according to a source close to the project, DreamWorks \\Shark Tale\\ teaser trailer is expected to premiere in theatres late November or early […]

Banderas speaks about Puss-in-Boots

DreamWorks SKG Fansite – Animation also has {{link http://animation.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/ news on \\Shrek 2\\}}. Antonio Banderas, voice of Puss-in-Boots, talked to {{link http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-11-09-banderas-shrek_x.htm USA Today}} about his role in the upcoming film. “He tries to break up the relationship between the two guys,” says the actor, who drew upon his own three cats for inspiration. “Shrek […]

\\Looney Tunes: Back In Action\\ and \\The Triplets Of Belleville\\ reviewed

Animation historian Jerry Beck has posted reviews of two upcoming animated features at his wonderful site, {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com/ Cartoon Research}}. \\Looney Tunes: Back In Action\\ is “way better than \\The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle\\” and “100 times better than \\Space Jam\\”. Beck says \\The Triplets Of Belleville\\ is “so close to being pure genius, […]

\\Elf\\ pays tribute to Rankin-Bass holiday specials

\\Elf\\, which opened a strong #2 behind \\The Matrix: Revolutions\\, pays tribute to the popular holiday specials of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass (\\Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer\\, \\Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town\\) by using stop-motion animation instead of computer generated effects, according to {{link http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=1762 Animation Magazine}}. When Will Ferrell converses with a stop-motion […]

Star Wars: Clone Wars premieres in Asia

Cartoon Network Asia will premiere the new Star Wars ‘micro-series’ on Monday, November 10 at 6:30pm. Just like in the UK, the wait for Clone Wars won’t be as long as many thought. “Begun the micro-series has”!

FilmForce Reviews the Eight Crazy Nights DVD

In its review of the Eight Crazy Nights DVD, FilmForce gives the overall DVD a score of 5 out of 10, with the movie itself receiving a 1 out of 10.