A new theatrical trailer advertising Planet 51 can now be viewed in high definition on Yahoo! Movies. The film tells the story of a human astronaut who crash lands on an alien planet and must avoid being captured. Planet 51 opens in theaters on November 20th.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
New Planet 51 trailer
Ice Age freezes Transformers
Variety reports that 20th Century Fox’s 3-D feature Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs grossed $14 million as it opened Wednesday in 3,993 theaters at the domestic box-office, according to early estimates. The third instalment in the Fox’s Ice Age franchise stomped past Paramount’s monster performer Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen for the day which grossed $10 million in its 8th day in release. With only 35% fresh ratings at their tomatometer, the consensus on RottenTomatoes says, “The third Ice Age film has some excellent animation, but its story is tired and monotonous.”
Five behind-the-scenes featurettes for The Princess and the Frog
/Film shares five behind-the-scenes featurettes for Disney’s upcoming hand drawn feature The Princess and the Frog. Designed as a series of promotional packages for the film, these featurettes were also broadcast during The Princess Protection Program TV movie. The article also talks about the mild controversy surrounding one newly unveiled character from the film.
Movie characters get SimpsonizedWhat would iconic movie characters look like in Springfield? Virgin Media has the answers as they give those famous movie characters The Simpsons treatment.
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies DVD in September
DVDActive reports that Warner Home Video has announced 1-disc, 2-disc DVD, and Blu-ray releases of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies on the September 29. Extras on the 2-disc DVD and Blu-ray editions will include a sneak peak at DC Universe’s upcoming movie, a Blackest Night: Inside the DC Comics Event featurette, a Test of Minds: Superman and Batman featurette, and 2 bonus cartoons presented by Bruce Timm. The Blu-ray release will also include an additional 20-Minute Wait: Reuniting the Superman/Batman Animated Series Casts feature hosted by Andrea Romano, and an additional 4 bonus cartoons handpicked by Bruce Timm.
Interview with Pixar’s Angus MacLane
Collider has an exclusive video interview with Pixar’s Angus MacLane, taken during the recently held Saturn Awards where WALL-E won the Best Animated Film award. MacLane, who has worked as an animator on eight of Pixar films, talks about WALL-E, Toy Story 3, why Pixar makes such great films, and more.
The Simpsons: The Twelfth Season DVD in AugustDVDTimes reports that Fox Home Entertainment has announced the release of 12th season of The Simpsons DVD on August 18. Extras on this four disc set will include commentaries featuring Executives Producers and more, Illustrated Commentary, deleted scenes, Animation Showcases, a “Comic Book Guy: Best. Moments. Ever” featurette, a Global Fanfest feature, a Sketch Gallery, and commercials.
Monday, June 29, 2009
New Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs posterA new one-sheet advertising Sony’s Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs has appeared online and can be viewed at Internet Poster Movie Awards. The animated comedy, based on a children’s novel of the same name, is due to hit theaters this September.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Academy to double Best Picture nominations
In a move that could end up benefiting animated films, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that they are doubling the number of nominations for Best Picture at the Academy Awards from five to ten. AMPAS president Sid Ganis said, “After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year. The final outcome, of course, will be the same – one Best Picture winner – but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five, great movies from 2009… Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize.” In the past two years Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille and WALL-E were considered possible Best Picture nominees in the smaller field but came up short. With this announcement their latest film, Up, could have a better than long shot chance at a nod. So far, Disney’s 1991 film Beauty and the Beast is the only animated film to have picked up a Best Picture nomination.
Exclusive Princess and the Frog featuretteAWNtv hosts an exclusive Princess and the Frog featurette with John Lasseter, Andreas Deja, Ron Clements and John Musker discussing Disney’s return to hand drawn animation. Directed by Clements and Musker, Princess and the Frog will be out in theaters on November 25 in Los Angeles and New York and nationwide on December 11.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Ponyo trailer debuts online
Apple has made available the trailer for Hayao Miyazaki’s upcoming feature Ponyo in various formats including HD. Ponyo follows the story of an ordinary boy and his friendship with Ponyo, a goldfish who wishes to be human. Featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White and Frankie Jonas, Ponyo opens across United States on August 14.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Interview with Pixar animator Guiherme Jacinto
Examiner has an exclusive interview with aspiring Pixar animator Guilherme Jacinto whose works includes movies such as Wall-E and Up. The young animator shares his journey from Brazil to Pixar, and also talks about landing a job at Pixar, his inspirations, and working on Up and Wall-E. Thanks to Pixar Planet for the story.
Live action Akira scrapped?BD Horror News reports that the live action adaptation of the anime classic Akira could be dead. The project was announced about a year ago as a massive two-part apocalypse story, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros Pictures. Ruairi Robinson, who was expected to make his directorial debut with Akira, has reportedly left the project.
Ghibli’s Ocean Waves DVD release in UK
Anime News Network reports that Studio Ghibli’s Ocean Waves has been scheduled for a dvd release by Optimum Home Entertainment on August 17 in UK. The 72 minute animated movie, which premiered as a television special, is the last Studio Ghibli feature to get a dvd release in an English speaking region. Tomomi Mochizuki became the first director besides Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata to direct a Ghibli feature when he adapted the Umi ga Kikoeru high school romance novel by the late Saeko Himuro in 1993. Ocean Waves and another Ghibli feature, Grave of the Fireflies, were not a part of Disney-Tokuma deal in 1996. Buena Vista has since released every film from its Tokuma Shoten deal on dvd in North America, except for Only Yesterday. Optimum released Only Yesterday in the United Kingdom in 2006.
A tribute to Hayao Miyazaki by John LasseterAnime News Network reports that Hayao Miyazaki, the director of the Academy award winning film Spirited Away, will appear at the headquarters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Southern California on July 28. John Lasseter will host “A Tribute to Animation Master Hayao Miyazaki” event at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on that date. Before Miyazaki’s appearance, the Samuel Goldwyn Theater will also host a screening of Spirited Away on July 17.
Up likely to soar to incredible heights
Variety reports that Disney/Pixar’s 3D feature Up is likely to become the second highest grossing Pixar film at the domestic box office after Finding Nemo. After less than a month at the multiplexes, Up’s domestic gross was $187.4 million, the second best of any summer film to date. The article further adds that Up will soon surpass the $206.4 million grossed by Pixar’s Ratatouille in summer 2007, and the $223.8 million grossed domestically by Pixar’s “Wall-E” last summer. Finding Nemo, which grossed $339.7 million domestically in 2003 is the biggest Pixar grosses till date. Next best is The Incredibles at $261.4 million. The article also suggests how 3D runs can boost a film performance at box-office through higher ticket prices. Up’s 3D runs make up only 40% of the total screen count, yet they contribute 60% of the gross.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
John Lasseter at Studio Ghibli
PixarPlanet shares details on John Lasseter’s recent visit to Studio Ghibli in Tokyo. Lasseter, who was in Japan to promote Bolt, visited Ghibli Museum and also signed the wall of fame. John Lasseter and the crew of Bolt also sat down to talk about their craft with Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki.
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure DVD in OctoberDVDActive reports that Disney Home Entertainment has announced DVD and Blu-ray releases of Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure for the October 27. Extras on this release will include Alternate scenes, Deleted scenes with optional intros by director Klay Hall and producer Sean Lurie, a Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow, and a Pixie Hollow Comes To Florida featurette. The Blu-ray release will also include the standard DVD.
Nick Park visits Studio Ghibli
Official Wallace & Gromit site reports that Nick Park, the creator of Wallace and Gromit, paid a visit to Studio Ghibli where he was introduced to studio founder Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki. Nick Park took a tour of the studio, meeting the Ghibli team and viewing the play school, designed by Hayao Miyazaki. He also visited Ghibli Museum to view its current exhibitions, including a brand new Wallace and Gromit display.
Ponyo to open on 800 screens
According to Frank Marshall, Ponyo will mark the biggest opening for a Hayao Miyazaki film in United States when it opens on 800 screens in August, reports Nausicaa. In comparison, Miyazaki’s Spirited Away topped out at 600 screens the weekend after its Oscar win in 2003 while Howl’s Moving Castle finished with 202 screens in 2005. Ponyo opens in theaters on August 14.
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