Tuesday, November 17, 2009

News - 11/17/09...

Trailer for Dante’s Inferno online

ComingSoon.net has the trailer for the upcoming animated film Dante’s Inferno. To be released on DVD and Blu-ray in February 2010, the film is an offshoot of the video game of the same name, also coming early next year.







Ralph Interview









Jason Anders continues to interview cult directors, hot starlets and distinctive animators. He’s just posted a conversation with Ralph Bakshi on his Fulle Circle Blog — and whatever Ralph has to say is always worth a read.

(Thanks cartoon brew)





Vote for "Tickle Me Silly" in Nickelodeon's Animation Festival!!!

Miguel Martinez-Joffre, director at World Leaders Entertainment, has had his short film "Tickle Me Silly", NYTVF 2008 winner for "Best Animated Pilot", selected as a finalist for the 2009 Nickelodeon Film Festival -

Here's the skinny from Miguel himself:

Tickle Me Silly on NICKELODEON!

Most Awesomest News Ever!

My film,
“Tickle Me Silly”, was selected as a finalist for the 2009 Nickelodeon Film Festival and will air on Nickelodeon on Wed. Nov 18, at 4:38 pm. Don’t miss it!

But wait! There’s more! Now I need your help. PLEASE GO AND VOTE for my film for the Viewers Choice Award. Tell your friends, family, kids, mailmen, and your cat to spread the love and vote for my film. In return, I’ll personally hug you, kiss you and/or give you a kick in the shins… I’ll even let you choose.

Please help an Amigo out and vote, thanks so much!

Miguel





Go HERE to vote!!

Good luck Miguel!





Upcoming in North America

Evangelion 1.01 Movie -The First 8 Minutes







Upcoming in Japan

Promos

Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-He (Gintama: Benizakura Arc — A New Retelling)

Kara no Kyoukai (Garden of Sinners) - movie 7

Yona Yona Penguin (Rintaro of X and Metropolis fame's CG, 3D children's movie)

Bungaku Shoujo (Literary Girl) - Production I.G's upcoming movie

Fumihiko Sori's To



Higanjima - live action based on Koji Matsumoto's manga

Ogon Yusha Goldran - 1995 mecha anime getting a DVD box set

Darker than BLACK - Kuro no Keiyakusha side story

Gundam 00 movie



Kamen Rider Decade & Double: Movie Taisen 2010

Assault Girls images and info



more Yamato: Rebirth trailers

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (new live action) teaser

Anime

Madhouse's 12 episode Iron Man and Wolverine anime will hit Japan in mid-2010, with Iron Man on Animax in the second quarter and Wolverine in the third quarter. A US release is planned for 2011.

*

The DVD release of CLAMP's Kobato will feature an original Flash animated short

Manga

Kodansha has confirmed that it will launch two new manga based on the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television anime series in December.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Tachikoma na Hibi, will launch in the January issue of Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine on December 9. The Masayuki Yamamoto work is based on the comedy shorts starring Stand Alone Complex's Tachikoma AI tanks.

Yu Kinutani's, the creator of the Amon and Shion manga and the artist of the Steamboy, Leviathan, and Pairon Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex manga, will launch in the 2009.02 issue of Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine on December 14.





Going Hollywood

Anime Vice spoke to Cowboy Bebop producer Joshua Long, who announced that he is heading the newly rename company 1212 Entertainment, which will focus primarily on adapting popular anime, manga, and game titles from Japan, as well as some prominent French comics. While Cowboy Bebop will remain a production under 3 Arts Entertainment, Long tells me we'll be hearing some news in the near future: "we'll have a lot to announce soon,"

*

The NY Post spoke to Kevin Williamson about Scream 4.

Subjects to be spoofed

"I've [included] manga comics, Asian ghost girl movies, there's some PG-13 horror movies in there, vampire movies, M. Night Shyamalan movies and torture porn movies, even though they've come and gone."...

*

Quiet Earth spoke to Voltron producer Jeremy Corray


Jeremy, news dropped a few months ago that new producers came onboard for the live-action adaptation. Can you tell us about that?

Yeah. We are thrilled to be working with Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Steve Alexander, Jake Kurily and the rest of the new Voltron Force at Atlas Entertainment and, of course, our old friend Jason Netter at Kickstart Entertainment to bring Voltron to the screen. If you were to put together a dream producing team for a project as big and with so much franchise potential as Voltron, this is it. From 12 Monkeys to The Dark Knight and Jason's work on Wanted, I mean c'mon, these guys set the standard for genre cinema then blow it apart with the next release. Voltron is going to be a challenge, but should really push boundaries both in special FX and more importantly in the story department.

Does this mean that the project is being completely rebooted?

Things are early right now, but it is safe to say we have heard and read some really fresh approaches to the material. So yeah, we have pressed the reset switch on the front of the old NES.

*

According to Latino Review, the Steven Spielberg and Will Smith adaptation of the Old Boy manga is no longer happening. "Mandate and DreamWorks didn’t see eye to eye therefore DreamWorks has apparently walked away."





The Business

Following their cancellation of the Japanese DVD releases of volumes seven and later of Shangri-la, Gonzo has announced that they will cease all telephone customer support for their DVD releases starting from December 2009.

*
Time Cartoon Network's move away from animation





Posh joining Madagascar cast?

Victoria Beckham may be joining the cast of DreamWorks’ Madagascar 3, according to Aceshowbiz. The film hits theatres on May 25, 2012.





Pooh in court again

The BBC reports that the Slesinger family is taking Disney back to court again over Winnie-the-Pooh. In a case just a few moths ago the judge ruled the Slesinger’s can not claim claim infringement since they transferred all of their rights to Pooh to Disney (who must still pay royalties). The family now says they may revoke Disney’s license since the Mouse House is, once again they claim, cooking the books on how much they are owed. A Disney spokesman called the move “baffling”.





Marvel Makes D’Esposito Co-President

Marvel Studios has promoted Louis D’Esposito to the post of co-president.

D’Esposito moves up from the post of president of physical production, where he oversaw budgets and timelines for the studio’s in-house productions. He was an executive producer on Iron Man and the upcoming Iron Man 2.

He will work along side the studio’s current film president, Kevin Feige. Both will report to CEO Ike Perlmutter.

Feige called D'Esposito "an incredible friend and collaborator, and his expertise within the film industry steering the budgetary and operational demands of moviemaking is instrumental in taking our characters from the pages of comic books to the big screen."

(Thanks Animation Magazine)





Duckling Short Wins BAFTA Scotland Honor

The animated short The Happy Duckling won the Best Animation Award from BAFTA Scotland.

The nine-minute short about a reluctant boy who is followed by a happy duck, was written and directed by Gili Dolev and features a score by Mick Cooke of the musical act Belle and Sebastian.

The film also has won the Pulcinella Award for Best Short Film at Cartoons on the Bay and the Best Children’s Animation Award at the Stuttgart International Animation Festival.

(Thanks Animation Magazine)





Boomerang to Revisit Classic Thanksgiving

Cartoon Network’s sister channel Boomerang will air commercial free on Thanksgiving the classic Hanna-Barbera animated special The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t.

The 30-minute special premiered on Thanksgiving Day in 1972 and featured the voices of June Foray and Don Messick. The special tells the tale of Jeremy Squirrel, who has to find and save a missing Pilgrim boy and a missing native boy to ensure the first Thanksgiving feast can proceed.

The special will air twice on Boomerang, first at 10 a.m. ET and again at 7 p.m. ET.

"Animated holiday specials such as The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't bring back a lot of childhood memories," said Stacy Isenhower, senior vice president of programming and scheduling for Boomerang and Cartoon Network. "We know that our viewers, both young and old, will feel the spirit of the holiday with this cartoon classic-it reminds us again that there is always a reason to be thankful."











(Thanks Animation Magazine)





"The Equalizer" star Edward Woodward dies at 79

British actor Edward Woodward, winner of the 1987 Golden Globe best actor award for his role as ex-secret agent Robert McCall in the American TV series The Equalizer, died Monday at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, England. He was 79.

Woodward had been suffering from several illnesses, including pneumonia, for several months, agent Janet Glass said in a statement.

"Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles... he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humour throughout his illness," she said. "He was further sustained by the love of his wife, Michele, children, Tim, Peter, Sarah and Emily, his grandchildren and numerous friends. His passing will leave a huge gap in many lives."

Woodward voiced The Sultan in Aladdin, a 1992 direct-to-video animated feature from Bevanfield Films.

The Equalizer ran for 88 episodes on CBS in the late 1980s. Every year from 1986 until 1990, he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in connection with his role on the show.

In 1980, he shared a News and Documentary Emmy Award for "Hitler, Man and Myth," an episode of Remembering World War II. The Emmy was in the "Outstanding Informational, Cultural or Historic Programming - Segments" category.

He played the title role in 1980's Breaker Morant, an Australian biographical movie set about the murder trial of a lieutenant serving in the Second Boer War.

Woodward portrayed rebellious British secret agent David Callan in the 1967-72 TV spy series Callan. It was his major breakthrough into TV and movie acting.

He starred opposite Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland as Scottish police sergeant Neil Howie in the 1973 cult thriller movie The Wicker Man, a tale of his search for a missing girl on an isolated island. The movie was famous for its final scene in which Howie is burned alive.

Born Edward Albert Arthur Woodward in Croydon, south London on June 1, 1930, he attended Kingston College and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

He began his career as a Shakespearian stage actor, first appearing in 1947 at the Castle Theatre in Farnham. He worked in repertory companies throughout England and Scotland, first appearing on the London stage in 1955.

Woodward continued stage work in London over next four decades, occasionally appearing in New York as well. He appeared in numerous films and in over 2,000 TV productions.

He recorded 12 albums of music (vocals), three albums of poetry and 14 books on tape. In 1978, Woodward was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

The recipient of the Television Actor of the Year in 1969 and 1970, he won the Sun Award for Best Actor in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

His last appearance on film was as Tom Weaver in the comedy movie Hot Fuzz. His final on-screen appearance was earlier this year in the popular British soap opera EastEnders.

Edward Woodward's first marriage, to Venetia Mary Collett in 1952, ended in divorce in 1986; he married English actress Michele Dotrice in 1987. He had children Sarah, Tim and Peter -- all of whom became actors -- with his first wife, and Emily with his second.





Home-Grown Toons Across the Seas

The reality of which we often lose sight is that the U.S. of A. is not the Alpha and Omega of the animated feature. There are any number of countries that created toonage for their home markets, work that seldom sees the light of a projection lamp on other continents.

France, Germany, India and others create local animation; the list is long. India, with a huge domestic film industry, is now working to break its product out of a regional straitjacket and expand it onto world markets:

... With changing global trends, Indian animation motion pictures are ready for a makeover. Taking cue from Hollywood’s animation movies on superheroes, Indian production companies are now growing out of mythological subjects to make films on larger-than-life superheroes of Indian cinema.

...
“Animation films in India do not have a good market at present. They mainly rely on mythological characters, a niche market limiting the films largely to an Indian audience. In Hollywood, over 60 animated films have been made in 10 years and more are on the anvil” said the Vijay Paranjpe, Chief Financial Officer of Crest Animation Studios.

The revenue out of animation feature films, DVD licensing and TV licensing for movies is huge, which makes Hollywood the best destination for any animation film. For instance, US filmmaker gets, on an average, $ 300 million for an animated movie, as they are instant hit among the audience, he says.


Mr. Paranjpe -- whose studio long ago purchased Rich Animation in Burbank, California -- is just a tad optimistic regarding the financial power or American animated features. But he's on the money about foreign cartoons peforming weakly in the world film market.

Since World War I, American films have been major crowd-pleasers around the globe. I've never been entirely sure why this is, since there are certainly excellent foreign films that get made on a regular basis. Maybe it's our mongrel American culture, maybe it's economic muscle, or maybe it's plain old good luck. Whatever the reason, the long tentacles of Hollywood product reach everywhere, and the animated sub-set is no exception.

There's DreamWorks, there's Pixar, and the American cartoonist name Disney is known everywhere. Most foreign animation artists' fame -- with the possible exception of Miyazaki -- stops at their home-country's border.

Maybe this will change as we grope our way into the 21st century, or maybe not. Me, I think that India has major challenges in becoming a big-time player in the animation marketplace, but I'm not one to never say never.

(Thanks Animation Guild Blog)





Krause Produces Peace Piece for ICPFF

With a little help from Isam Prado, Fran Krause created this intro animation for the International College Peace Film Festival, which takes place in Seoul between November 26th and 29th.







South Park Goes Pee Pee at the Water Park

It is with great sadness that we announce that he season finale of South Park arrives this week. Pee premieres on Wednesday, November 18 at 10:00 p.m. on Comedy Central, and it follows the boys’ trip to the water park.








Desrumaux and Benedi Challenge Your World

For the Challenge Your World event in Montreal on the 19th of this month, Celine Desrumaux and Yann Benedi produced this 2-minute animated film. It’s titled La Chaussettologie (chaussette is a sock), and it is a sustainability parable that centers on a sock factory’s harmful production methods.







Here are the REAL odds that the world will end in 2012








Take that, critics: Roland Emmerich's disaster marathon 2012 is a big hit, opening in first place with an estimated $65 million domestically and $225 million worldwide, easily making back its production costs in just one weekend.

But the real question remains: How likely is it that the REAL world will end in 2012?

Well, the Web sportsbook BetUS.com has posted actual odds on whether the wrold ends in December '12, as some doomsayers would have us believe, based on their interpretation of the Mayan Longcount Calendar, among other things.

Here are the site's odds:

Will the world end on 12/12/12? 700,000/1

Will the world end before 12/12/12? 1,000,000/1

Ways the World Will End

Asteroid impact 1 in 700,000
Supernova 1 in 10,000,000
Gamma-ray burst 1 in 14,000,000
Black hole 1 in 1,000,000,000,000
Solar flare *
Alien attack *
Death of the sun *
Galactic doom *
Death of the universe *

*These events all take billions of years (at least) to unfold so the chances of them happening during your lifetime are zero, but are inevitable over longer times.

Why would a sportsbook post such odds? Well, chances are, if you're right that the world will end, it's not likely they'll actually have to pay you $1 million on your $1 bet, is it?

And, of course, we can't vouch for these odds ... but the chances the world will end before 2012 are ONLY 1 in a million? Ack!





We've got the scoop on a new Buffy series!













Buffy Lives!

No, not that proposed Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie that wouldn't involve creator Joss Whedon or anyone from the beloved TV show, which all serious Bronzers consider an abomination against nature.

Rather, a series of motion-comic webisodes based on Whedon's highly successful series of "Season Eight" comics.

An actor friend of ours has clued us in to the casting of the new Buffy webisodes, which makes it sound like the proposed Web series is moving ahead quickly.

Based on the breakdown, the series will be based on the comics and feature the characters Twilight, the Big Bad of Season Eight, and evil British socialite Slayer Lady Genevieve Savidge, who plots to usurp Buffy's place in the Slayer hierarchy.

Casting director Jeff Shuter is also looking for voice actors to play the parts of familiar Buffyverse characters Faith, Kennedy and Robin Wood, as well as a bunch of new characters (including someone who sounds like actor Daniel Craig to play a character based on the James Bond star).

Below is the full breakdown, with character names and descriptions.

Now that Dollhouse is winding up, Cabin in the Woods is delayed until 2011 and there's no new Dr. Horrible on the immediate horizon, this is the best news yet for a Whedonite. Yay!

Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, 3:15 PM Pacific BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (MOTION COMIC) Webisodes NON-UNION

Casting Director: Jeff Shuter
Interview Dates: Next week (w/o 11/16)
Shoot/Start Date: TBD
Pay Rate: Pay Provided (various for each character)
Location: Los Angeles

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY IMMEDIATELY

PLEASE SEND VOICE OVER LINKS/ REELS (IF POSSIBLE)

NOTE: ALSO INCLUDE PERFORMANCE VIDEOS OR ACTOR SLATES IF AVAILABLE. DO NOT SEND DEMO TAPES.

[ FAITH (V.O.) ]
Co-Star / Female / Caucasian / 20 - 25 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of FAITH - female, early 20's, a slayer, displays a much darker, dangerously, fun-seeking, approach to both slaying and murder, she is the dark side of a slayer's personality. Voice to match Eliza Dushku. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible). Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ KENNEDY (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / Caucasian / 20 - 25 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of KENNEDY - Female, caucasian, early 20s. A newly made slayer, Kennedy is also Willow's girlfriend. She's an out lesbian with an assertive personality. Voice to match Lyari Limon. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ LIEUTENANT MOLTER (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / African American / 30 - 35 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of LIEUTENANT MOLTER - Female, African American, early 30s. A lieutenant in the US Air Force - ally of the villain Twilight. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ DANIEL CRAIG (V.O.) ]
Guest-Star / Male / Caucasian / 30 - 40 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of actor DANIEL CRAIG - Male, caucasian, mid 30s. Voice to match actor Daniel Craig. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ RODEN (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Male / Caucasian / 30 - 40 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of RODEN - Male, caucasian, 30s. An Irish human warlock and the tutor of Lady Genevieve Savidge, one of the new slayers, manipulating her into becoming an assassin of slayers. He was also a servant of Twilight, who convinced Roden to serve him in exchange for surviving the coming purge. However, Roden ignored that Twilight did not intend them to survive, but that they would merely thin out the number of Twilight's enemies. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ LADY GENEVIEVE (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / Caucasian / 25 - 30 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of LADY GENEVIEVE - Female, caucasian, British, late 20s. With Roden, she hunts and kills other slayers as part of his 'Training' her. However, she and faith find they share a lot in common; both as slayers and as troubled young women enticed by evil, despite their drastically different background. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ ROBIN WOOD (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Male / African American / 30 - 35 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of ROBIN WOOD - Male, African American, early 30s. Robin is in charge of a squad of slayers, and is shown to be working at the Hellmouth in Cleveland. In his one-panel appearance he calls Faith to tell her of a family that was recently attacked by vamps. Faith refers to him as 'The ex' implying the couple has ended their relationship since 'Chosen.' Voice match to D.B. Woodside. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ SEPHRILLIAN (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Male / All Ethnicities / 30 - 40 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of SEPHRILLIAN - Male, demon. A demon who walked in the realities of humans and the old ones, making him 'Tichajt: - one of the demon elite. He resides in a domain between realities kept in stasis by Robin, a minder. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ FAERIE (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / All Ethnicities / 20 - 30 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of FAERIE - Female, faerie creature. She is a pixie fairy, helping one of the Buffy decoys. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ ROBIN (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / Caucasian / 20 - 25 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of ROBIN - Female, caucasian, early 20s. The minder of Sephrillian's reality field, chosen to watch over a small house which serves as a mask to Sephrillian's domain. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ RONA (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / African American / 20 - 25 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of RONA - Female, African American, early 20s. Rona is a new slayer, working as a squad leader. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ SLUG QUEEN (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Female / Caucasian / 40 - 50 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of SLUG QUEEN - Female, slug queen, 40-50s. The oldest survivor of the Slug Clan, the Slug Queen rules the underground Slug resistance against the force of Yamanh. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) Pay provided. Nonunion.

[ TWILIGHT (V.O.) ]
Supporting / Male / Caucasian / 30 - 40 years
Description: MAXX INITIATIVE is now casting voice over talent for the Buffy the Vampire Motion Comic, upcoming web series. Seeking the role of TWILIGHT - Male, a villain with superhuman strengths, such as flying. Twilight is the leader of an Initiative-like group that shares his name. He views the expanded ranks of Slayers as a threat to humanity no better than an army of demons, and plans to bring about an end of magic, both good and evil. Send voiceover links/ reels (if possible) and Pay provided. Nonunion






Designing Star Trek's newest aliens (video)



Paramount gave us a short exclusive DVD clip from the upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, which drops today, detailing the creation of one of the new aliens, "Kasia," who populate the bridge of the Kelvin.

The video is one of many new featurettes on the disk.

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