Mattel announced today that the company has voluntarily recalled “Sarge” from the CARS die-cast vehicle, manufactured between May 2007 and July 2007, containing impermissible levels of lead. The recalled vehicles include 436,000 total toys, including 253,000 in the U.S. and 183,000 outside of the U.S.
For additional information regarding the Sarge toy recall, contact Mattel at (800) 916-4997, or visit the company’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com
Source WSJ
Nickelodeon is set to debut Tak and the Power of Juju, Nicktoon’s first CG-animated series produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studios. The show is based on the THQ videogame which has sold millions worldwide. Two back-to-back half-hour episodes will launch on Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, from 8:00 – 9:00 pm. In support of the launch, Nicktoons Network will air the premiere episodes the following day, Saturday, Sept. 1, at 11:00 am. The series will air regularly on Sundays at 10:00 am on Nickelodeon.
Source: AWN – Official site: Nick
Alvin and the Chipmunks, the videogame, from Brash Entertainment is scheduled to ship Dec. 4, 2007, ten days before the film release on Dec. 14. The game will be available for the PlayStation 2, the Wii, Nintendo DS and PC.
The game focuses on the Chipmunks’ musical abilities and expands on the film’s storyline. It follows Alvin, Simon, & Theodore on their mission to play during the battle of the bands event “Rockathonapalooza.” As the Chipmunks perform in each of the video game’s musical levels players are challenged to keep in rhythm with the music.
Source AWN
ABC Family launches Slacker Cats tonight at 10:00 pm. The new adult animation series follows two lazy cats named Buckley and Eddie, who find themselves in mishap after mishap in the town of Wendell. The animation was produced by Film Roman. The cast includes Harland Williams, Sinbad, Emo Philips, Alex Borstein, Kiersten Warren, Nicole Sullivan and Niecy Nash.
Source AWN
CEL-EBRATION! is the first animation gallery on the East Coast to premiere artwork from Ratatouille. Show dates are August 11 through September 8, 2007. A variety of vintage-flavored Ratatouille posters and photo-real giclee images will be available for fans and collectors to view and purchase through September.
CEL-EBRATION! Gallery is located at 30 Monmouth Street, Red Bank NJ. For more information please call 732 842-8489, or visit the website at www.cel-ebration.com
UltimateDisney has the DVD/Blu-Ray cover art for three upcoming Disney releases: Ratatouille, Pixar Shorts Films, and Cars.
Check out the art by clicking here.
20th Century Fox-based New Regency is in final talks with the Mark Gordon Co. to bring VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE to the big screen as a live-action film.
Based on the ’80s anime franchise, the feature will take place in New York City and Mexico after an alien invasion has decimated Earth, and will follow five survivors, who take possession of five lion-like robots, which when combined form the giant robot Voltron.
Source AWN
Disney and Pixar are finally showing High Definition some love by releasing Ratatouille on Blu-Ray in November, most likely November 6th when Cars and Pixar Short Film Collection are also released on Blu-Ray.
‘Ratatouille’ will be presented in widescreen 2.39:1 1080p video and 5.1 uncompressed 48 kHz/24-bit audio. Extras will include the exclusive short ‘Your Friend the Rat;’ deleted scenes; a never-before-seen documentary with Brad Bird; and the following Blu-ray exclusives: Gusteau’s Gourmet Game; and Cine-Explore, dubbed the ultimate behind-the-scenes innovative experience.
Source TheManRoom
Pixar’s Ratatouille has appropriately broken records in France. In its first week, the film sold almost two million tickets. This comes as no surprise since Ratatouille has been a favorite of all the critics and its based in Paris so why wouldn’t the French people want to see it?
Taking in nearly $16 million through 1,951,074 ticket sales on 721 prints, the average of 2,706 viewers per screen is the highest-ever bow for a cartoon.
Congrats once again Pixar!
Source Variety
Here is an animated film version of “The Tell-Tale Heart”, a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, by UPA, read by James Mason. This 1953 animated version of The Tell-Tale Heart is included among the films preserved in the United States National Film Registry.
Bimbo’s Initiation is a 1931 Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Bimbo, and features an early version of Betty Boop. In 1994 Bimbo’s Initiation was voted #37 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation industry.
We brought you the news of Futurama’s return last week, now we bring you the official confirmation by FOX along with details on the first DVD movie, Bender’s Big Score. Below is the press release sent out by FOX:
The future is back! The first new “Futurama” programming since 2003, Futurama: Bender’s Big Score features out-of-this-world hilarity on DVD November 27 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
As Xmas 3007 approaches, the “Futurama” crew must fight to save Earth in an epic battle against nudist alien Internet scammers. When the evil naked aliens launch a cyber-attack on Planet Express, they make a shocking discovery: the secret of time travel, mysteriously tattooed on Fry’s buttocks. Using their devious nudist software to control Bender, they repeatedly send the beer-fueled robot back in time to loot Earth of its greatest treasures. Bender’s rampage through history has shocking repercussions when he encounters Al Gore (guest-starring as himself) during the 2000 Presidential recount. Meanwhile, Leela finds true love, a beloved crew member suffers an embarrassing decapitation, and Fry learns deep secrets about his destiny and his buttocks.
Featuring:
1) Al Gore, Coolio and Sarah Silverman guest star.
2) Complete commentary by Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, and cast members
3) All new, full-length episode of “Everybody Loves Hypnotoad”, including TV commercials of the future
4) Mind-bending Futurama math lecture by Professor Sarah Greenwald
5) Promo for “An Inconvenient Truth” starring Bender and Al Gore, including commentary by the former Vice President.
Check out the original that spawned the Michael Bay movie and realize why the cartoon is better.
Check out Pixar’s latest short film, LIFTED, which premiered with Ratatouille. Very funny and definitely worth a look!
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