Monsters vs. Aliens
The people behind the Oscars released their short list of animated movies vying for the Academy Award for best animated movie, and the list of 20 contenders pretty much encompasses all of the major toons that were released this year (or are still awaiting release).
Ponyo
They are:
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Astro Boy
Battle for Terra
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Disney's A Christmas Carol
The Dolphin - Story of a Dreamer
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Mary and Max
The Missing Lynx
Monsters vs. Aliens
9
Planet 51
Ponyo
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
A Town Called Panic
Up
The list will be winnowed down to five official nominations for the Oscar, which will be announced on Feb. 2, 2010.
Our choices? Up, Ponyo, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Monsters vs. Aliens and The Princess and the Frog. But that's just us. What do you think?
The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony will air March 7, 2010, on ABC.
More Cheatin’ From Bill Pympton
Back in October, we posted a 4-minute pencil test from Bill Plympton’s upcoming short Cheatin’. Today Plympton posted the second part:
againstallodds Gets Details Right For GIO
Swedish animation squad againstallodds, who are rep’d by XYZ, recently created this new, stylish CG spot for GIO Insurance. The ad, titled We Cover Details, is the first of two they created for the campaign, which was overseen by Leo Burnett, Sydney.
Slinky Pictures Delivers Viral Cut For Ax Men
Slinky Pictures director/co-founder Chris Shepherd chopped through this recent viral short for the History Channel. It promotes Ax Men, the reality show that follows various logging crews, and Shepherd was joined by animators Jason Kotey and Rob Ward on the project. Rob Neilson and Jack Stephens at Karmarama initiated the concept.
Secret of Kells gets US distribution, Oscar run
US distributor GKIDS has announced they will be bringing Irish director Tomm Moore’s animated film The Secret of Kells to U.S. audiences. Opening March 12, 2010, the film will first get an Oscar qualifying run in LA starting December 4. “Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together” in the story of young boy who meets a mysterious young wolf-girl while on a dangerous quest to help defend his people from barbarian raids”. More info about the movie follows.FROM THE PRESS RELEASE: GKIDS, a distributor of independent films for family and art-house audiences, and the European sales agent Celluloid Dreams announced today that GKIDS has acquired US distribution rights to The Secret of Kells, the highly anticipated new animated film from Irish director Tomm Moore. The film was an official selection at Berlin, made its US premiere at NY Int’l Children’s Film Festival, won the Audience Award at Annecy, and was the first animated feature to win the Audience Award at Edinburgh. The Secret of Kells is a France/Belgium/Ireland co-production of Les Armateurs, Viva Film, Cartoon Saloon and France 2 Cinema and features the voices of Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter, In Bruges), Evan McGuire and Christen Mooney. The deal for The Secret of Kells was negotiated by Eric Beckman for GKIDS and Hengameh Panahi for Celluloid Dreams.
An Academy qualifying run is set for Dec 4-10 at the AMC Burbank 8 in Los Angeles. Showtimes are 7 PM on weekdays and 2 PM on weekends. The film will be released theatrically in the US in March 2010.
Eric Beckman, President of GKIDS Inc. said, “ The Secret of Kells is a visually unique and exciting fantasy adventure that reinvigorates 2D animation as both a peerless art form and viable commercial medium. It is an absolutely stunning film with universal appeal for adults, families, animation fans, and anyone who loves beautiful, meaningful storytelling.” GKIDS president Eric Beckman is also founder and director of New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival.
Hengameh Panahi, President of Celluloid Dreams said, “Like Celluloid Dreams, GKIDS brings passion, energy, and innovative thinking to promote a new vision of cinema for young people. We are happy to work with them to introduce high-quality independent and foreign film to American family audiences!”
SYNOPSIS:
Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes, in this sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times. Young Brendan lives in the Abbey of Kells, a remote medieval outpost, where he works to fortify the abbey walls against barbarian raids. One day a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him beyond the abbey’s walls and into the enchanted forest, where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan’s determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?
Cartoon Network Boutiques Open in Toys R Us Stores
Animated series Ben 10: Alien Force, Bakugan and The Secret Saturdays will be featured prominently in a dedicated Cartoon Network boutique this month in every Toys R Us store.Open now, the boutiques will offer merchandise — including exclusive items — from multiple product categories during a key time in the holiday shopping season.
“Toys R Us continues to be a terrific, long-standing retail partner for us and our brands, and we are proud to showcase this chainwide Cartoon Network retail destination as we kick off the holiday shopping season,” said Christina Miller, senior VP of Cartoon Network Enterprises. “The unique, multi-category shopping experience we have created is guaranteed to generate strong excitement around our brands and the must-have products from our licensing partners.”
(Thanks Animation Magazine)
Raksis Named New LAIKA CFO
Gary Raksis, former head of strategic planning and corporate finance for DreamWorks Animation, has joined LAIKA as chief financial officer.Raksis will be in charge of business operations and exploiting growth opportunities for the Portland, Ore.-based studio, which released earlier this year its first feature film, Coraline.
“Gary brings an exceptional range of financial management experience to LAIKA that will be invaluable to our evolution and success,” says LAIKA president and CEO Travis Knight. “His extraordinary business acumen, rare creative sensitivity, and steady governance will provide a foundation for boldly innovative and visionary leadership in our business operations. We are thrilled that Gary has joined the LAIKA family.”
Raksis held several financial roles at DreamWorks prior to being named head of strategic planning and corporate finance in 2004. Prior to DreamWorks, he worked as a research analyst at William O’Neil and Co. and is a graduate of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Raksis succeeds Alan Keith, who left his job as LAIKA CFO last year to take on the same role at ImageMovers Digital.
(Thanks Animation Magazine)
"Ice Age" sequel among People's Choice nominees
Fox's "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and Pixar-Disney's "Up" are among the contenders in the family movie category of the People's Choice Awards.
Nominees in 35 categories were announced Tuesday.
Also vying for favorite family movie are the live-action Hannah Montana: The Movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Where the Wild Things Are.
Fans cast over 18 million votes online to choose this year's nominees. They will also select the winners.
Among the nominees for new TV comedy is Fox's The Cleveland Show. It's running against Accidentally on Purpose, Brothers, Community, Cougar Town, Glee, Hank, The Middle and Modern Family.
Queen Latifah is scheduled to host the PCAs at the Nokia Theatre. The ceremony will be broadcast live January 6 on CBS.
Fans can make their choices for the winners online at www.peopleschoice.com.
"Super Hero Squad Show" Moves to Primetime on Saturdays on Cartoon Network
Marvel Entertainment has issued a press release announcing that The Super Hero Squad Show was added to Cartoon Network's prime-time lineup starting last Saturday, November 7, 2009, at 7:30 PM (Eastern presumed). The new show has become the #1 show on the network for boys 6-8 and has grown its audience in that demographic by nearly 30% since its debut on September 19.
The full press release follows:
The Super Hero Squad Show Moves To Primetime on Cartoon Network!
(click to enlarge)
MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA (November 9, 2009) – On Saturday morning, September 19th, The Super Hero Squad Show burst onto television screens across the nation on Cartoon Network to rave reviews and a huge audience. It instantly became the Network’s #1 show for Boys 6-8 and has continued its heroic growth in that demographic, increasing that audience by nearly 30%.
Thanks to the tremendous success the show has seen on Saturday mornings, the greatest Super Heroes in the Marvel Universe are ready to make the leap to primetime! Starting this past Saturday, November 7th, The Super Hero Squad Show made its heroic debut on Saturday nights at 7:30PM as part of Cartoon Network’s incredible prime time line-up.
Check out your favorite Marvel Heroes -- including Iron Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, Silver Surfer and Falcon -- as they fight to save Super Hero City from Dr. Doom’s team of villains… and have a few laughs along the way! Can’t get enough of this action-packed comedy series? Fear not, The Super Hero Squad Show will continue to air weekdays Monday through Friday at 8:30AM.
The Super Hero Squad Show
When the greatest (and coolest) heroes on the planet unite to face the world’s greatest villains, you get the biggest, most family-friendly Super Hero team-up in TV history. It’s no small job protecting Super Hero City from the wild, weird (& even wacky) villainy of VillainVille’s infamous baddies… but the Super Hero Squad is always up for the job. These brave heroes totally deliver the action – but with plenty of humor on the side.
The Super Hero Squad Show Cartoon Network US Program Schedule:
Date: Saturdays at 7:30PM starting November 7th
Monday through Friday at 8:30AM
Disneyana
The hat building is lovely in November, with the fall foliage on Riverside Drive in full force.
Storywork and production on Pooh are moving along. As a staffer told me:
"We had our third screening of Winnie the Pooh with John Lasseter, and the picture's in good shape. John loves the characters. In fact, some sequences go to workbook next week and animation will be starting up. There's already been some test animation in color.
"This picture has just zipped along. We took dialogue out of the Milne books, the storyboard artists added some of their own, then the directors Don Hall and Steve Anderson polished it. We didn't have an outside writer on it, just the board artists and the directors. I think the whole picture will be done by next summer ..."
The stereo conversion of Beauty and the Beast is coming to a close. A couple of people down on the first floor said that there's one more week to go and then they're done.
Originally B and B was supposed to come out on Valentine's Day, but now it's set up for a twentieth anniversary release.
"The 3-D conversion came out well, I think. We got the characters rounded and shaded. They don't look like cardboard cutouts in a ViewMaster ..."
I suppose we'll get to see for ourselves in 2001. Meanwhile, Disney and IM Digital would like to have the surviving Beatles participate in its Yellow Submarine remake:
... In an interview with MTV News, [Robert] Zemeckis indicated that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have been approached to participate in the film, although he did not say in what capacity ...
The Mouse charges ahead on many fronts.
(Thanks Animation Guild Blog)
Sony Ticks Off Theatre Owners
Gee. For some reason Sony has irritated AMC and others.
Exhibitors are hot over Sony's decision to release animated feature "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" digitally on Dec. 8, or less than three months after its theatrical opening.
Sony stirred the "Meatballs" controversy by announcing this week that the $121 million domestic grosser would be made available for early home entertainment viewing by owners of Internet-enabled TV sets and certain Blu-ray Disc players ...
I can understand theatre chains not liking early DVD releases of hit films still in circulation. It smothers grosses as soon as the news gets out. And theatre owners, of course, have ways of fighting back.
... "Meatballs" ... played last weekend in a total 1,126 venues and was expected to shed at least a few hundred engagements starting Friday. As a result of the exhib protest, "Meatballs" could play in as few as 300 theaters beginning this weekend.
"Meatballs" rung up $1.3 million last weekend. So the accelerated wind-down to the pic's theatrical campaign likely will cause a modest but quantifiable revenue loss for Sony.
I hope Sony makes up in DVDs sales what it loses in theatrical revenues. (Christmas comes but once a year.) This kind of wheeling and dealing is probably going to increase as we move deeper into the 21st century.
(Thanks Animation Guild Blog)
Live-Action Family Guy Chicken Fight
The UK’s FX network recently released this live-action version of the infamous chicken fight from Family Guy.
Viner Fuels Up SUV-asaurus For Suzuki
Liquid Animation director Mike Viner helmed this recent CG spot that promotes Suzuki cars. It introduces the SUV-asaurus, something I could see kids going absolutely dino-crazy for. The ad agency on the gig was Siltanen & Partners Advertising.
Boucher Opens TropicalCircus Early
Even without sound, this recent school project from Laurent Boucher still hits the right note. The character design, lighting and background layouts are all simply breathtaking. Boucher is a student Bellecour Ecoles d’Art in Lyon, France. The short is titled TropicalCircus.
More Flash-Animated Moby Music
Back in September, we posted a Flash-animated music video for Moby’s track Mistake. It was directed by Robert Powers, as was this video below, titled One Time We Lived. Ian Jones-Quartey (nockFORCE) also helped out, animating the dancing cycles and lip-sync.
Chainsaw Cuts Into Cat Slap
Oh, you think a chainsaw can stop this cat from slapping, do you? Well you’ll just have to watch and find out, and then we’ll see who’s the genius here. This is the latest episode of Alan Foreman’s Flash-animated series Cat Slap, titled Chainsaw, which is part of the Mondo Mini Shows network.
The Look of Mr. Fox
Comingsoon.net has a behind-the-scenes article about how director Wes Anderson and his team achieved the unique look of the stop-motion animated comedy Fantastic Mr. Fox. Starring George Clooney and based on the book by Roald Dahl, Mr. Fox opens in limited release on Friday before going nationwide on November 25th.
"Crashbox," "Catdog" writer Sultan Pepper dies, 47
Emmy-winning comedy writer Sultan Pepper, who scripted such TV series as the animated Crashbox and CatDog, died suddenly October 20 in Murrieta, California. She was 47.
Pepper shared an Emmy in 1993 for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program in connection with an episode of The Ben Stiller Show. She was the only woman on the writing team, which included Stiller, Judd Apatow and David Cross.
Featuring Stiller as the host, Crashbox aired on HBO Family from 1999 to 2004. Cuppa Coffee Animation's first long-form series, it used over 20 different animation styles, including stop-motion, cel animation, mixed media, claymation and cutout animation, as well as puppetry and live action.
Co-produced by Peter Hannan Productions and Nicktoons, CatDog ran on Nick from 1998 to 2000.
Pepper was a story consultant on Whatever Happened To Robot Jones?, a 2000 short airing on Cartoon Network's What A Cartoon! Show. It became a successful pilot for a 2002 series.
She also wrote In Search Of Big Byoo-Tox, a 1999 episode of Nicktoons' The Angry Beavers.
For two seasons, Pepper was a writer on Fox's Mad TV. During this time, the writing team was nominated in 2004 and 2005 for WGA Awards.
A UCLA graduate, Pepper spent a semester at Oxford University, where she interned with the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Pepper wrote for such 1990s series as The Stephanie Miller Show, one of the few late-night TV talk shows hosted by a woman. She was a writer-producer on Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, as well as such reality series as Blind Date
and Street Smarts.In 2002, she began a one-year development deal at Sony/Columbia TriStar. There, she was a writer and producer on several TV projects, including The Rerun Show, Pyramid and Shipmates.
Sultan Pepper is survived by her parents, Teresa and Jack Pepper. A private memorial is planned.
Latest "Justice League," "Batman: The Brave And The Bold" DVD Releases Now Available
Two new DVD home video releases collecting episodes from Justice League and Batman: The Brave and The Bold are now available courtesy of Warner Home Video.
The latest volume release for the popular series, Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Volume Two is now available to own on DVD, collecting four more episodes from the Cartoon Network animated series. This new home video release from Warner Home Entertainment includes the episodes "Day of the Dark Knight!," "Enter the Outsiders!," "Dawn of the Dead Man!," and "Fall of the Blue Beetle!" Also now available is the Justice League: The Complete Series DVD collection, collecting the previous Justice League and Justice League Unlimited DVD season releases into one box set with new bonus features. The new bonus features include a new retrospective featurette and trailers. Both titles were officially released yesterday. Package art for both new release are available below.
Details on the previous Justice League and Batman: The Brave and The Bold DVD releases are available here at The World's Finest and on The DC Animation Forum. Click on the links below for both further details on and to discuss the new Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Volume Two and Justice League: The Complete Series DVD home video releases.
Warner Home Video has already announced plans to release the upcoming DVD title Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Volume Three on January 19th, 2010. Five more episodes are included in the upcoming release. Further details on that release are forthcoming.
Star Trek's Roddenberry finally honored by TV Hall of Fame
Gene Roddenberry, right, with his former wife, Majel
It seems that in television, honor—like revenge—is a dish best served cold. Thus it is that the TV Academy Hall of Fame has decided to induct Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry into its pantheon, 18 years after his death and long after he had much to do with the franchise he created.
Roddenberry is only one of several TV legends to receive the belated honor, including the comedy duo Tom and Dick Smothers, Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen, Saturday Night Live and game show announcer Don Pardo, The Price Is Right creator Bob Stewart and Emmy-award winning art director Charles Lisanby. Better late than never, right?
Here's how Reuters reported it:
"This year's inductees have challenged and shaped popular culture and entertained us royally while doing so," said Television Academy chairman John Shaffner.
No explanation for the delay. I guess, as Khan said in Star Trek II, it's very cold in space.
Kick-Ass trailer kicks, well, you know (video)
Nicolas Cage (left) and Chloe Moretz
A new trailer has gone live on MySpace.com for Kick-Ass, the upcoming satiric superhero movie based on Mark Millar's comic series.
The movie stars Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz and was directed by Matthew Vaughn.
The film tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name—Kick-Ass—assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There's only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers. His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copycats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Cage).
Kick-Ass opens April 16, 2010.
'Shazam' Writer Wanted Ryan Reynolds For Captain Marvel, Denies 'Darker' Tone
Bill Birch, the co-writer of the upcoming “Shazam” feature film has revealed that Ryan Reynolds was his first choice to portray Captain Marvel on the big screen.“I always thought Ryan Reynolds would have been interesting but now that he’s Green Lantern that’s not an option,” Birch told Cinefools. Birch also elaborated on whether he believes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is still onboard to play Captain Marvel’s nemesis, Black Adam.
“My rule of thumb is that no actor is committed to do a movie until the first day of shooting is over with,” Birch explained. “I know that ['Shazam' Director] Pete Segal and Dwayne have a relationship that was solidified when Pete directed 'Get Smart.' As far as him being committed? I'm sure it'll all depend on the script.”
The “Shazam” film received a much needed jolt back in August when it was announced that comic scribe Geoff Johns had signed on to co-write the script with Birch. Birch also stated that he and Johns are writing a completely new draft, confirming what Johnson told MTV News back in March.
“Geoff and I are in the thick of it, creating a kickass update that still honors the lore that's been created in over 50 years of Marvel storylines.” Birch said.
In the wake of “The Dark Knight”, there were rumors that Warner Brothers wanted all subsequent DC Superhero movies to feature a similar dark tone. These rumors gained credence when former “Shazam” screenwriter John August said that the studio wanted the film to be “edgier.” However, Birch was quick to shoot down that speculation.
“The way the story is shaking out, Geoff and I see this not as 'dark' as ‘Dark Knight’ but definitely as cool. It'll probably end up with a PG-13 rating,” Birch related. “Tonally I think it's important to successfully find the balance of comedy and danger in the story. That’s a major aspect I’m focusing on. Frankly hitting the right tone is what’s going to either get this made or keep it in development hell.”
Viggo Mortensen Discusses Potential Aragorn Role In 'The Hobbit'
A few months ago, Viggo Mortensen told MTV that he could see his "Lord of the Rings" character, Aragorn, popping up in a film meant to bridge the stories between "The Hobbit" and the "Rings" trilogy. The only problem there is that the bridge chapter is looking increasingly unlikely.
No comments:
Post a Comment