Archives for January, 2008
Pixar’s UP release date pushed forward
According to ComingSoon, Pixar’s 2008 film, UP, will now be released in theaters 14 days earlier than it was originally announced. The new release date is now set for May 29, 2009. The film is directed by Pete Docter and written by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson and it tells a coming-of-old-age story about a seventy-something guy who lives in a house that “looks like your grandparents’ house smelled.” He befriends a clueless young Wilderness Ranger and gets into lots of altercations. “Our hero travels the globe, fights beasts and villains and eats dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon.”
How Pixar fixed Finding Nemo
Back in 2001, Michael Eisner reportedly told Disney’s board of directors that he’d be postponing any further contract talks with Pixar Animation Studios. Eisner had just come back from a work-in-progress screening of Finding Nemo and he supposedly told the board that it was the weakest thing that Pixar had produced to date.
Eisner believed that it would be far easier for Disney’s attorneys to get Steve Jobs to agree to much more favorable terms if Pixar were coming off of its first “failure.” Boy did that backfire on him. Pixar went back to the drawing board and fixed the problems, which included recasting the voice of Nemo’s father.
Head on over to Jim Hill Media and read the entire article of How Pixar fixed Finding Nemo. Another quality article by Jim Hill.
New Pixar’s UP concept art
Upcoming Pixar has a brand new image of concept art from Pixar’s upcoming film Up, which is due in theaters June 12, 2009 from the director of Monsters Inc., Peter Docter.
The image is a picture of concept art taken at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Naruto, Death Note and Bleach now available on Amazon Unbox
VIZ Media announced today that three of its animated series — Naruto Uncut, Death Note and Bleach — are now available for download from Amazon Unbox at $1.99 each.
Naruto Uncut features episodes 1-25 dubbed, Death Note features the full series dubbed, and Bleach features episodes 1-25 dubbed. One free episode from each is being offered through Jan. 31, 2008.
Via AWN
Rotten Tomatoes interviews Brad Bird
The fine folks over at RottenTomatoes have interviewed Mr. Bird again. This time they talk about his recent Golden Tomato award and Ratatouille’s 5 Oscar nomations.
RT: You spent several years on this film, when did it feel like it started to come together for you?
Brad: I think somewhat towards the end. But when you’re going through it, particularly with sort of a sped-up schedule that we had, you turn your attention from one fire to another. As soon as one fire is solved, you don’t go, “Wow, I really put out that fire.” You swivel your head around and go after the next one. You keep going until there are no more fires. Suddenly, you look back and there’s a movie behind you and you go, “Wow, when did that happen?”
Check out the interview at RottenTomatoes.
Flushed Away director, David Bowers, set to direct ASTROBOY
Imagi Studios announced today that Flushed Away director, David Bowers, will direct the CG-animated ASTROBOY, replacing previously announced director Colin Brady.
Bowers said, “I’ve had a lifelong affection for the original ASTROBOY, so I am looking forward to giving him the full action-adventure Hollywood treatment. His story is both emotional and spectacular, so it absolutely lends itself to the big screen. With the amazing crew that Imagi has assembled, I feel there’s an opportunity to create something very special — a film to surprise audiences, have them on the edge of their seats, and hopefully make them laugh, too.”
Based on the Japanese manga, ASTROBOY follows a young robot created by a scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the man’s expectations, AstroBoy embarks on a journey in search of acceptance before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the father who had rejected him.
ASTROBOY is scheduled for a worldwide release in 2009.
Via AWN
Aardman Animations shows now on iTunes UK
Aardman Animations has announced that its TV shows are now available for 1.89 GBP per episode from the iTunes U.K. store.
Shows include the Wallace and Gromit specials: A Close Shave, The Wrong Trousers and A Grand Day Out, along with the series of nine Wallace and Gromit short films. If Wallace and Gromit aren’t you’re cup of tea, you can choose from episodes of Angry Kid, Rex the Runt, and The Pearce Sisters.
Via AWN
Toy Story 3 release date and Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3-D announced
The Walt Disney Studios is taking the latest advances in digital 3-D technology “to infinity and beyond” with plans to debut new Disney Digital 3-D versions of Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story” on October 2nd, 2009, and “Toy Story 2″ on February 12th, 2010, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.
Both of these beloved animated features are being newly converted to 3-D in advance of the June 18th, 2010 release of Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story 3,” which is being produced as a 3-D motion picture. Veteran Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director “Toy Story 2″) is directing.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first two “Toy Story” films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2″ with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.
Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they’re going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful ‘Toy Story’ cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we’re excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere.”
Lasseter added, “The ‘Toy Story’ films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we’re so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With ‘Toy Story 3′ shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy’s room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way.”
Looney Tunes – Racketeer Rabbit
Racketeer Rabbit is a 1946 animated short film in the Looney Tunes series produced by Warner Bros. It stars Bugs Bunny, who duels with a pair of racketeers or gangsters, Rocky and Mugsy forerunners who resemble Edward G. Robinson and Peter Lorre. Directed by Friz Freleng, it features a classic gag involving a gas oven.
Looney Tunes – Bully for Bugs
Bully for Bugs is a 1952 Warner Brothers Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short released on August 1953. It was directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese.
