Month: January 2008 (Page 2 of 4)

Ratatouille nominated for 5 Academy Awards (Oscars)

January 22, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

The complete list of 80th annual Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday and Pixar’s Ratatouille did quite well with 5 nominations:

Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, “Juno”; Nancy Oliver, “Lars and the Real Girl”; Tony Gilroy, “Michael Clayton”; Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, “Ratatouille”; Tamara Jenkins, “The Savages.”

Animated Feature Film: “Persepolis”; “Ratatouille”; “Surf’s Up.”

Sound Mixing: “The Bourne Ultimatum,””No Country for Old Men,””Ratatouille,””3:10 to Yuma,””Transformers.”

Sound Editing: “The Bourne Ultimatum,””No Country for Old Men,””Ratatouille,””There Will Be Blood,””Transformers.”

Original Score: “Atonement,” Dario Marianelli; “The Kite Runner,” Alberto Iglesias; “Michael Clayton,” James Newton Howard; “Ratatouille,” Michael Giacchino; “3:10 to Yuma,” Marco Beltrami.

Ratatouille wins Rotten Tomatoes’ Golden Tomato Award

January 21, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

What award hasn’t Pixar’s Ratatouille won? It was announced today that the film about a rat who’s dream is to be a chef was honored with the Golden Tomato award, awarded to the best-reviewed films of the previous year as determined by the Web site RottenTomatoes.com, which compiles reviews from print, online and broadcast film critics.

The Moldy Tomato, awarded to the worst-reviewed film of the year, was ‘awarded’ to some movie I’ve never heard of called “Because I Said So.”

For the complete list of winners, head on over to RottenTomatoes.

DreamWorks Animation Theme Park

January 20, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

DreamWorks Animation has signed a multibillion-dollar deal with real estate company Tatweer to develop in Dubai a range of projects, including a 5 million-square-foot theme park that will see incorporate characters from DreamWorks titles such as the Madagascar, Shrek and the upcoming Kung Fu Panda.

This isn’t the only huge Dubai deal that has been inked recently. Tatweer also announced in May, 2007 a $2 billion deal with Universal Parks and Resorts to build Universal City Dubailand.

In April, Al Ahli announced a deal with Marvel Entertainment to bring Marvel’s full library of superheroes to Dubai for a $1 billion theme park to open in 2011. Al Ahli also announce another longterm partnership with Nickelodeon that will see such Nick properties as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer join the Marvel characters in the park.

And in June, Paramount signed a $2.5 billion deal with Ruwaad Holdings to turn Paramount properties such as Mission: Impossible, Top Gun and The Godfather into a series of Dubai-based parks and rides.

Via Variety

Codename: Kids Next Door final episode airs Jan. 21

January 17, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Cartoon Network’s Codename: Kids Next Door is ready to go on one final mission this Monday, January 21, 2008. To honor this occasion, Cartoon Network will air a marathon of Codename: Kids Next Door that will begin at 6:00 am, all leading up to the one-hour series finale at 7:00 pm.

“Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.” (It’s Now The Extra Really Very Interesting End Wrap-up Story) features interviews with the Kids Next Door after they’re all grown up, during which they discuss what happened during their very last mission with Numbuh One — the one where he disappeared and was never heard from again! It all started with a routine mission to get the Delightful Children’s birthday cake, but when a mysterious boy steals it instead, he makes it available to whoever wants it — if they can solve his simple scavenger hunt first.

Via AWN

BAFTA animation nominees announced

January 16, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced the nominees for the 2008 Orange British Academy Film Awards. In the Animated Film category we have Ratatouille, The Simpsons Movie and Shrek the Third. The nominees in the Short Animation category include The Pearce Sisters, The Crumblegiant and Head Over Heels.

A complete list of nominees is available at BAFTA

Disney artist, Brice Mack, passes away

January 16, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

It’s a sad day today in the animation world as Brice Mack, background painter for Disney from 1930s~1950s, has passed away. Mr. Mack left us on January 2nd in Hollywood, California at the age of 90.

Mr. Mack painted backgrounds for some of most beloved animated films of all time including Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Lady and the Tramp.

During World War II, Mr. Mack left Disney in 1942 and became a pioneering navigator for the Air Transport Command. He delivered aircraft, cargo and personnel throughout the world until the end of the war. After the war, in 1945, Mack returned to Disney.

May he rest in peace.

Via AWN

Beowulf DVD and HD DVD details

January 16, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that Beowulf will arrive on DVD and HD DVD on February 26, 2008. Paramount will release both a theatrical and director’s cut of the film which features the voices of Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie.

The only extra feature on the theatrical cut will be A Hero’s Journey: The Making of Beowulf featurette. The Director’s Cut will include that, along with a Beasts of Burden featurette, a Origins of Beowulf featurette, a Creating the Ultimate Beowulf feaurette, an Art of Beowulf featurette, additional scenes, trailers, and easter eggs.

The HD-DVD release will feature a high definition transfer, along with 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus, and 5.1 Dolby TrueHD tracks. All of the above extra material will be included, along with a Conversation with Robert Zemeckis, further featurettes on the stunts, art design, props and a couple of extra additional scenes.

Family Guy: Blue Harvest features first Digital iTunes Copy

January 15, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

20th Century FOX has announced that Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest is the first ever DVD to include a digital copy of the movie for iTunes. What this means is you get a second, digital, copy of the movie that you can transfer to your iTunes library and then view on your computer, iPod, iPhone or AppleTV.

“The industry has sold nearly 12 billion DVDs to date and the release of BLUE HARVEST is the first one that allows consumers to move their content to an iPod,” noted Mike Dunn, FOX. “Given Apple’s dominance in the portable entertainment market and our rapidly evolving digital world, a DVD with digital copy for Apple, offers a simple way for consumers to satisfy their growing desire to watch what they want, when they want and, importantly, how and where they want.”

Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest is now available in stores everywhere.

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown DVD now available

January 15, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Warner Home Video today released the deluxe edition DVD of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, which has been re-mastered and includes a bonus featurette and two extra episodes. The DVD will set you back $19.98, or you can get it from Amazon for $16.99.

The featurette, Unlucky in Love: An Unrequited Love Story, examines the love lives of the Peanuts characters and looks at how creator Charles Schulz’s personal views on love and relationships influenced his work.

Bonus episodes include: You’re in Love, Charlie Brown and It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown.

Via AWN

MGM announces American Gladiators cartoon

January 15, 2008 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

I’m a bit confused by today’s announcement by MGM. How is an American Gladiators cartoon going to work? Will it follow the gladiators as some sort of super heroes, fighting crime? That’s the only thing I can think of that makes some sense. MGM wouldn’t produce a cartoon version of the regular show, would they? That would be pointless.

Along with the new cartoon series, MGM is working on a new website that will spotlight the original series and a special U.S. tour. And in case you didn’t know, the new American Gladiators is currently airing Mondays at 8PM on NBC. It’s done so well that NBC has already ordered a second season.

Via AWN

Month: January 2008 (Page 2 of 4)

Ratatouille nominated for 5 Academy Awards (Oscars)

Ratatouille wins Rotten Tomatoes’ Golden Tomato Award

DreamWorks Animation Theme Park

Codename: Kids Next Door final episode airs Jan. 21

BAFTA animation nominees announced

Disney artist, Brice Mack, passes away

Beowulf DVD and HD DVD details

Family Guy: Blue Harvest features first Digital iTunes Copy

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown DVD now available

MGM announces American Gladiators cartoon

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