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Astro Boy lands a release date
Anime News Network reports that the CGI adaption of Astro Boy now has an official date for it’s North American release: October 23, 2009. The film will be shown on over 3,000 screens across the continent. Thanks to ‘GeorgeC’ over at the Animated News & Views Forums for the tip. | ||
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Ponyo reviews, US release buzz
TIME reviews Ponyo on the Cliff, the latest film by Hayao Miyazaki and also mentions that Disney will release Ponyo in North America, next year. In another review of Ponyo, Variety says, “Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated epic, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, unfolds with a magic limpidity, teeming with imaginative transports that owe nothing to CGI.” | ||
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3-D movies: The answer to filling theaters?
NPR.org has posted an article featuring Jeffrey katzenberg seeing 3-D as the third great revolution in the history of film. He predicts that in less than a handful of years the great majority of films will be made and shown in 3-D. Katzenberg’s Monsters vs Aliens and James Cameron’s sci-fi epic Avatar are two much anticipated 3-D films to hit the screens in 2009. | ||
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Max Howard on Igor
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Extended scene from Bolt
An extended clip from Disney’s Bolt can now be viewed on Yahoo! Movies. The scene features Bolt and his hamster sidekick Rhino rescuing Mittens the cat from a pound. Bolt opens in theaters on November 21st. Thanks to ‘Wolf’ over at the Animated News & Views Forums for the heads up! | ||
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Interview with Mark Walton of Bolt
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The latest installment of Latino Review’s Bolt articles can be read
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Little Airplane making jump to the big-screen
According to Variety, animation studio Little Airplane, responsible for the Nickelodeon children’s show Wonder Pets, is planning on expanding to feature films. The small company currently has three projects currently in production, including one animated film, one live-action, and one hybrid of the two. “Wonder Pets showed us that we had the ability to create longform stories and evergreen, classic family films,” explains Josh Selig, both founder and president of the studio. “People have preconceptions about family films, that parents are going to be bored by them, but we really see a way to interest them too.” | ||
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New voice talent for Meatballs
Coming Soon reports that several actors have signed on to play various characters in Sony’s Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, the big-screen adaption of the popular children’s book by the same name. Lending their voices to the film will be Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, and Tracy Morgan. Meatballs tells the tale of a small town where food periodically falls from the sky, and is set to open on January 15, 2010 in 3-D. | ||
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Igor opens today
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The animated horror-spoof Igor, which tells the story of a lab-assistant who dreams of becoming a mad scientist, opens in about 2,300 theaters today. The film is not faring overly well with critics, only earning 31% so far on
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Back to Back
AWN has a new interview now with Frédéric Back, independent animator of the 1987 Oscar-winning animated short, The Man Who Planted Trees. In the interview Back discusses his current work and his views on Disney animation past and Pixar animation present, among other subjects. Those local to or visiting the Los Angeles area between now and November 1st may wish to stop by his Life’s Drawings exhibit that is mentioned at the beginning of the AWN article. | ||
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Airman ready for Zemeckis-assisted flight
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Monster House team of executive producer Robert Zemeckis and director Gil Kenan will collaborate again to bring Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer’s children’s adventure book Airman to the screen, using the same performance-capture technology as before. The plot concerns one Conor Broekhart, a “young man born in a hot air balloon to a family close to the king who has a penchant for looking to the skies for inspiration. After his tutor and king are murdered, Broekhart spends two years in prison, escapes and must decide whether to should turn his back on those who abandoned him or fight those who plot to overthrow the government”. Airman was published in January; Zemeckis will produce though ImageMovers, but it is unknown if the film will be distributed through the company’s deal with Walt Disney Studios. Zemeckis’ own next directorial outing, the Jim Carrey-starrer A Christmas Carol will come to theaters in the 2009 holidays. | ||
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Alchemy of Animation video teaser
Due out next month Don Hahn’s forthcoming book The Alchemy of Animation: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age now has a video teaser for it up at YouTube. Get a taste for the book by hearing (and watching) Don discuss the three principle types of animation: hand-drawn, stop motion, and computer-generated. (Viewing tip: look for the “watch in high quality” immediately below the YouTube screen to watch the trailer in a much clearer resolution.) | ||
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Two new series for Nickelodeon; Mighty B renewal
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According to
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New vocals for Fox’s Tale
Actors Freddie Highmore, Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson and Sienna Miller have all joined the cast for the upcoming animated flick A Fox’s Tale, reports Variety. Freddie Highmore will be providing vocals for Little Jack, the film’s main character, with Mike Moran composing the score and songs. A Fox’s Tale follows the story of a young fox whose father is captured and forced to work in the circus. | ||
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Nathan Greno on Bolt
Latino Review has posted another Bolt-centered interview, this time with storyboard supervisor Nathan Gerno. Various topics discussed in the article include how the crew worked to bring the director’s vision to the screen, as well as how the studio’s atmosphere has changed since John Lasseter took charge. Bolt opens in theaters on November 21st. | ||
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Tomorrowland movie in the works?
Variety reveals that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is set to star in a Tomorrowland film, based off of the section in Disneyland of the same name. The movie will not be the first with roots in Disney’s theme parks; the successful Pirates Of The Caribbean series as well as the less celebrated Haunted Mansion flick were also inspired by attractions and areas in the popular vacation spot. A title for the movie has not yet been released, as Disney denies that “Tomorrowland” is the name for the space adventure. | ||
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Chowder DVD cover art
The cover art for Chowder - Volume 1 can be seen on TV Shows On DVD. The set contains ten episodes from the series, a list of which can be viewed here. The DVD collection will be available for purchase on November 4th with a suggested retail price of $14.98. | ||
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Lusinsky on Bolt
Latino Review currently features an interview with Adolph Lusinsky, lighting director for Disney’s Bolt. Lusinsky, who also contributed to Armageddon and Reign of Fire, discusses the technical aspects of the upcoming CGI film, including techniques the studio developed in order to give the environments of Bolt a painterly feel. The animated comedy hits theaters on November 21st. | ||
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Jeff Foxworthy gets animated
Jeff Foxworthy, blue-collar comedian and host of the popular reality show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, is set to star in a new animated series for Fox, reports Variety. The series, which follows a dysfunctional family set in the world of NASCAR, was pitched to Twentieth Century Fox TV by Foxworthy, who will also be providing vocals for some of the characters. | ||
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Coraline set visit
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A detailed account of a Coraline set visit can be found at
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