Readers at the {{link http://www.animationnation.com Animation Nation}} messageboards have posted {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007083 Michael Eisner}} and {{link http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007077 Roy Disney’s}} dueling open letters addressed to Disney employees. Roy Disney’s letter: December 3, 2003 Dear Disney Cast Members, It was nearly 20 years ago that a small group of us recognized that dramatic changes were necessary to […]

The Internet Movie Database is reporting that in addition to already completing the musical score for The Lion King 1 1/2, Hans Zimmer will be composing the musical scores to Over the Hedge and Shark Tale.

Ray Harryhausen’s contribution to special effects cannot be overstated, with virtually everybody in the field being inspired by his armies of mythical beasts in the Sinbad films, the dinosaurs of One Million Years BC, or the unforgettable and amazingly influential skeleton gladiators in Jason And The Argonauts (see even this year’s effects-fest Pirates Of The […]

The boys, as they say, are back in town! Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny all return in the latest season to hit DVD, with {{link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CABL2/qid=1070725303//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl74/002-1902555-2863210?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846 South Park: The Complete Third Season}}, out on December 16th. The three-disc set features all seventeen episodes as well as “mini-commentaries” (short vocal intros by creators Trey Parker and […]

Jerry Beck’s Cartoon Research page points us to a new article at MSN’s Slate all about Carl Stalling, the genius discovered by Walt Disney in the early 1920’s and the man responsible for the musical score for hundreds of Warner Bros. cartoons from 1936 to 1958. As John Williams did for Star Wars, it is […]

If there’s someone on your holiday shopping list who really likes clothes and you can’t figure out what to get them you might want to give MKT’s Swag CafePress page a gander. There’s shirts for men and women, baby items, mousepads, clocks, mugs, etc., with slogans such as “Roy Was Right,” “Bring Back Roy,” “Keep […]

{{link http://forum.bcdb.com/gforum.cgi?post=16011 The Big Cartoon Database}} reports that according to a local TV affiliate Walt Disney World will be laying-off an as yet unknown number of workers over the holiday season. “The cuts will begin to take effect December 14” but employees won’t find out if they are on the block until December 10.

In addition to next weekend’s chat with David Kaye we {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000398.html reported}} on earlier this week, {{link http://animationhq.net/ AnimationHQ}} will also be hosting an online chat \\this\\ weekend with Heidi Guedel, a 25 year veteran animator for Disney, Don Bluth, and Warner Brothers. Some of her credits include work on the films \\The Secret […]

According to the New York Post, rumors abound that Pixar chief Steve Jobs may be invited by Michael Eisner to join the Disney board of directors, or to even take over the second executive position at Disney.

Be sure to vote at today’s Internet Movie Database poll: “What’s your favorite (animated) Christmas TV special?”

In an interview with Silver Bullet Comicbooks, Michael Silberkleit, the son of MLJ (Archie Comics) founder Louis Silberkleit, states, “We are very excited with the Betty & Veronica Miramax film. The film will show our characters in situations similar to those in which they appear in our comics and thus will be familiar to the […]

With the end of 2003 upon us and the holiday gift-giving season coming up fast, we thought we’d share what we here at Animated News thought would make great ideas for the animation fan in your life

Jim Hill Media presents an interesting article concerning those lovable residents of Riverdale: Archie, Reggie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead.

Laughing Place has a new “Disney in the Classroom” article written by Lee Suggs, a history teacher from Northern California, about the educational value that can be found in Disney’s Brother Bear. It’s long been my belief that movies can teach valuable life lessons and do not have to be merely shallow entertainment and it’s […]

The new movie by Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress) that has been nominated for the Academy Awards as Best Animated Picture is a touching story of three Tokyo homeless people who find an abandoned baby and adopt her. Tokyo Godfathers made its US debut at this year’s Big Apple Anime Fest, where director Satoshi […]

The Haunted Mansion’s future looks scary, as Box Office Guru states that the movie “may drop 55% to about $11M and put its 12-day cume at $47M,” while Box Office Report predicts a 61% drop to about $9.5 million and a $46.8 million total.

Robert Longbottom, a 2003 Tony Award nominee for Best Choreographer, has been chosen to direct the new Disney Theatricals show \\On the Record\\, according to {{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83091.html Playbill’s}} report of a \\Variety\\ story. Longbottom “conceived the idea for the new musical with Disney’s Thomas Schumacher”. As we reported {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00000388.html yesterday}}, the show will feature […]

{{link http://animationhq.net AnimationHQ}} announced that they will be holding an online chat with voice actor David Kaye. His list of credits include Sesshomaru from \\Inu Yasha\\, Professor Xavier in \\X-Men: Evolution\\, Spectral in \\Reboot\\, Treize Khushrenada in \\Mobile Suit Gundam Wing\\, and Megatron in \\Transformers: Armada\\, \\Beast Wars\\, and\\ Beast Machines\\. Head to {{link http://animationhq.net/v2/features/events.htm […]

The ever present {{link http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm Jim Hill Media}} has a brief update on the Roy Disney/Michael Eisner situation over at Disney today, plus an announcement for a rather special event for NYC residents. “Tonight [December 4] at the Museum of Television and Radio, they’re having an event to honor Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass, […]

If you can’t get enough of the latest developments in the Roy Disney/Stanley Gold shakeout story Toon Zone has added a link to a letter purportedly written by Roy E. Disney to current Walt Disney Company employees in which he charges that “The focus [of the company] has shifted to the chase for the quick […]

Animation World Network updates with a report that three animated titles by Sir Paul McCartney of Beatles fame (“fame” may be too mild of a word) have been acquired by Miramax and are scheduled for a spring 2004 release. The three titles are TROPIC ISLAND HUM, TUESDAY and RUPERT & THE FROG SONG. In his […]

Animation Blast has updated with news of a letter of support for the efforts of Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold in calling for the ouster of Michael Eisner. The letter was begun by three former Disney employees and can be signed by anyone who wishes to express their support. Will this letter be effective? […]

Jim Hill Media brings us an interesting story of how Roy Disney and Stanley Gold may be trying to make a “Rainbow Connection” with a certain studio, in order to help their mission in ousting Michael Eisner.

According to the Internet Movie Database, “Phil Collins is refusing Disney’s request to campaign for an Oscar for his Brother Bear film score – and won’t even vote for his own songs. Collins, who secured a Best Song Academy Award in 2000 for Disney’s Tarzan, has been asked by the studio to fly to Los […]

As Video Premiere Awards reports, 101 Dalmations II: Patch’s London Adventure was the top dog at last night’s DVD Exclusive Awards, taking home five awards, including “Best Animated DVD Premiere Movie.” Finding Nemo won three awards, while Bioncle: Mask of Light – The Movie was rewarded for “Best Visual Effects in a DVD Premiere Movie.” […]

In what is possibly the fastest theatrical-to-television turnaround ever, Sylvain Chomet’s Les Triplettes De Belleville (or in the UK, {{link http://www.bellevillerendezvous.com/ Belleville Rendezvous}}) will be shown on the BBC (who part funded the film) as part of their New Year’s Eve programming. Belleville, which is screening on BBC2 at 2.30pm, was premiered this year at […]

{{link http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83069.html Playbill}} reports that Disney Theatricals “is currently in the process of putting together a production featuring songs from the Disney canon. Tentatively titled \\On the Record\\, the new musical would feature songs from classic Disney films as well as Disney’s Broadway outings”. The revue will probably be a traveling show and may play […]

The forum at the Big Cartoon DataBase reports that The Walt Disney Company has decided to keep Michael Eisner in his position as CEO despite protests from Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold. Oddly enough, the decision seems to be based primarily on stock value when one of Roy Disney’s complaints was that the company […]

Ray Pointer, who runs the wonderful resource for older American animation, {{link http://www.inkwellimagesink.com/ Inkwell Images}}, is finally taking pre-orders for his wide collection of silent Disney and Fleischer cartoon libraries on DVD! Previously, only the Max Fleischer {{link http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000096JHT/002-1902555-2863210?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3P5SIVJ8BIHBW&colid=23OUJ19G09P91 Out Of The Inkwell}} disc was available, being a combination of Volumes One and Two from […]

The Associated Press reports (via {{link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&ncid=493&e=3&u=/ap/20031202/ap_en_mo/winnie_the_pooh_lawsuit Yahoo! News}}) that “the holders of the North American rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters have hired celebrity attorney Johnnie Cochran to represent them in their 12-year legal fight with The Walt Disney Co.”. In this long-standing saga the heirs of Stephen Slesinger claim Disney owes millions […]