The Hollywood Reporter examines the tactic that studios use to advertise their films by inserting advertisements, disguised as treats, into newspapers.

Jerry Beck, over at his {{link http://www.cartoonresearch.com/comments.html Cartoon Research}} page, takes a look at the new Definitive Guide To Betty Boop Memoribilia book, as well as Mike Joens’ An Animated Death In Burbank and another push for the very fun Son Of Faster Cheaper, by Floyd Norman.

The {{link http://www.imdb.com/StudioBrief/#1 IMDB}} today reports an upswing in the recent box office slump of the summer, with Peter Jackson’s Return Of The King perhaps unsurprisingly leading the way (for a total gross, in 2003 alone, of $224 million). The much heralded Peter Pan, at the other end of the spectrum, has only managed to […]

With the new year just around the corner, {{link http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents The Digital Bits}} has posted a slate of what we can expect from some of the major studios. All of these are subject to change, but at the moment, here’s what we can expect, animation wise: Paramount has more Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob SquarePants and other […]

After taking a holiday break, Jim Hill Media is back with two interesting articles. In “But on the other hand…,” an original look is taken at both sides in the Roy Disney / Stanley Gold / Michael Eisner argument. Then, in “Cartoon Crazy X,” surprising trivia is revealed about some of history’s favorite cartoon stars.

From Pixar’s official website comes three new clips, previously seen on the Wonderful World of Disney’s presentation of Toy Story, for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming The Incredibles. Thanks to JoBlo for the heads up!

JoBlo presents two new promotional stills from Garfield.

Viewaskew.com brings us test footage from Clerks: Sell Out, which is to be completely Flash-animated. As the website reminds us, “Mind you, none of this material will be in the animated movie; this was just the guys showcasing what they could accomplish with Flash.”

‘Wolf Tooth’ on the {{link http://animation.skyblueproductions.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=671#post671 AN Forum}} tells us that Yahoo Japan is reporting a release date change from July to November next year, to give director Miyazaki extra time to complete the movie (rumored to be his last, though he’s been saying that for a while now)! The {{link http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ Anime News Network}} […]

The indie cinema company Landmark Theatres has just announced an American circuit for the elusive Disney/Dali short, Destino! According to their site, “the never-before-seen animated short Destino has premiered at several festivals around the world and will be shown exclusively at Landmark Theatres (in most of our markets) with the animated French feature The Triplets […]

If you couldn’t wrestle control of the TV remote to catch BBC 2’s showing of Belleville Rendezvous this past Christmas Day, a scan through the UK TV listings reveals that the digital cable channel BBC 4 is re-showing the film as part of their World Cinema Award season. It’s on tonight, the 28th December, at […]

Rankin/Bass’ 1982 fantasy animated feature The Last Unicorn has appeared as a pre-order on the {{link http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?item_id=579871 DVD Empire}} website, listing a March 16th release date, for under $10. No specs yet, but the title is already available in region 2 countries, in its original letterboxed aspect ratio, particularly {{link http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000085ROP/ref=sr_aps_dvd_1_1/202-5939041-0530219 the UK}} and {{link […]

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 […]