What if aliens took over the human race? Our own worst nightmares have come to life in Anchor Bay Entertainments October 28th DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases of Dead Space: Downfall. The movie bridges the gap in the narrative between the Dead Space comic series and the Dead Space: Downfall video game which will be released in late October.
Check out some artwork below.
A young reindeer named Niko dreams about flying like his father who he believes is a member of Santa’s famous Flying Forces. Despite suffering from severe vertigo, he sneaks out of his home to take flying lessons from his friend Julius, a clumsy flying squirrel. Soon after, Niko and Julius learn that Santa and his reindeer are in serious trouble so the pair gather their forest friends and head North to save the day.
The Flight Before Christmas, starring Emma Roberts and Norm MacDonald, will be available on DVD at retailers nationwide on October 28, 2008.
The Mass Animation project, presented by Intel, is set to launch Nov. 17 and is scheduled to run through Jan. 30, 2009. This collaboration is an effort to bring together the worlds of computer graphics, Hollywood and Facebook.
Participating animators will have the opportunity to animate individual shots from a 5-minute, professional-quality short film, and the Facebook community will view and vote on their favorite shots. Generally, the animation will be broken out in 3-7 second “shots.†Each shot will be labeled as easy, medium or hard depending on the complexity of the animation within it. Autodesk is providing a trial version of its industry-leading Maya 3-D modeling and animation software for participating animators, and Maya tutorials are available through the Facebook page.
Some key dates to keep in mind: participants can download files on Nov. 17 and begin to upload animations on Nov. 24; deadlines for submitting easy, medium and hard animations will be Dec. 8, Dec. 26 and Jan. 16, respectively; and competition ends on January 30, 2009.
If their shots make the final cut, animators will receive compensation, a portion of the film’s potential earnings and credit in the film. Based on the community’s votes, Mass Animation will award computer systems based on Intel processors to select contributors.
You can stay up-to-date on this project by becoming a fan at www.facebook.com/massanimation
DreamWorks Animation today announced that the sequel to “Kung Fu Panda” is expected scheduled for theatrical release on June 3, 2011. DreamWorks Animation also hopes to release the movie in IMAX theaters worldwide.
The sequel will star Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and other original cast members. Running the show will be director ennifer Yuh Nelson, head of story “Kung Fu Panda.” Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, writers and co-producers of the original film, will also return.
DreamWorks Animation’s CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg, said, “We are thrilled to reunite the creative team that made ‘Kung Fu Panda’ such a global success. Because of their imaginative work, Po’s path to heroism proved popular with moviegoers of all ages around the world.”
“Kung Fu Panda,” which has raked in over $625MM worldwide will be release on on two-disc DVD and Blu-ray on November 9, 2008 alongside a brand new companion story, “Secrets of the Furious Five.”
Warner Home Video has announced today that it will release a special 10th anniversary collection of ‘The Powerpuff Girls,’ featuring all 78 episodes. The 6-disc DVD set is scheduled for release on January 20, 2009 and will retail for $59.97 — although you’ll probably be able to get it for less. Bonus materials include commentary tracks, a music video, a documentary on the show’s creator and much more.
Spongebob Squarepants – WhoBob WhatPants? is set for release on October 14th on DVD; featuring six episodes for a total runtime of 78 minutes.
Episode Descriptions:
What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?
SpongeBob leaves Bikini Bottom, gets amnesia and finds himself Mayor of New Kelp City! When Sandy, Patrick, Mr. Krabs and Squidward finally find him, will SpongeBob return to his old life with these “strangers†or remain in the city where he’s a hero?
On October 7, 2008 The Smurfs: Season One, Volume Two will be released on DVD in time to observe the Smurfs’ 50th anniversary this year.
This DVD will feature 20 re-mastered and uncut episodes from the second half of the series’ premiere season, along with a special bonus featurette.
While you wait, here are two preview clips. One is from the DVD and one is behind the scenes interviews with different celebrities that talk about their memories of growing up with the Smurfs.
Update: Video clips are no longer available, so here’s the DVD cover art instead:
The Great Piggy Bank Robbery is a Warner Brothers Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short released in 1946. It was directed by Robert Clampett, written by Warren Foster, and animated by Izzy Ellis, Manny Gould, Bill Meléndez, and Rod Scribner.
Rhapsody Rabbit is Merrie Melodies animated short, featuring Bugs Bunny and directed by Friz Freleng. The short was originally released to theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on November 9, 1946.
Bandai Visual Entertainment announced today that the anime classic AKIRA will be released on Blu-ray in Japan on February 20, 2009 and in the Unites States four days later on February 24.
The Blu-ray release includes the new high-def transfer made from the original film print. Both Japanese and Enligh language tracks are available along with subtitles. Marking an industry first, the Japanese 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack will consist of a 192kHz 24-bit audio stream.
Lastly, bonus features include a TV commercial, two teasers, two trailers, storyboards and a 20 page booklet.
Via Blu-ray
During today’s Walt Disney Showcase, John Lasseter revealed that the release date for Cars 2 will be pushed forward to Summer 2011, from the previous 2012 release date.
Mr. Lasseter also revealed plot details and how the idea came to him while traveling the world doing publicity for the original Cars. He wondered how Lightning McQueen, Mater and the rest of the gang would react to other countries and the foreign vehicles that inhabit them.
The sequel will answer such a question as Lightning McQueen and Mater go on a worldwide trip where they will no-doubt meet many new friends — all of which you will be able to buy at a toy store near you, just in time for the Holidays! After all, we all know that’s the only reason Pixar is doing another sequel. The original was a HUGE merchandising hit for Disney with products repeatedly selling out.
Also announced was a series of short Cars cartoons cleverly (not really) titled Car-toons… get it? Car…toons… Yea, they didn’t even try. The shorts will air on the Disney Channel and maybe even in theaters before other Disney films.
Discuss: What do you think? Is Cars 2 just an attempt to cash in on merchandising? What other Pixar film do you think would have been a better choice for a sequel? Post your comments and discuss with other readers.
Via Slashfilm
Summit Entertainment will release Astro Boy in North America on Friday, October 23, 2009, it was announced today by Rob Friedman of Summit Entertainment, and Erin Corbett of Imagi Studios U.S.
Produced by Imagi Studios, the CG-animated motion picture will bow on over 3,000 screens across North America. International release dates for the film are to be announced soon.
Astro Boy’s cast features the voices of Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy and Eugene Levy with Freddie Highmore in the title role. David Bowers (Flushed Away) is directing Astro Boy from a screenplay written by Timothy Harris (Trading Places, Kindergarten Cop), with Maryann Garger producing.
Sony Pictures Animation’s “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” just got a bit clearer with the announcement that Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, and Tracy Morgan will voice the characters. The movie is set for release January 15, 2010.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is written and directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, based on the kids book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett about a small town where it doesn’t rain “cats and dogs” — instead, it rains food!
Bill Hader will voice Flint Lockwood, an inventor with big dreams. Anna Faris plays Sam Sparks, a smart weathergirl covering the phenomenon. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint’s technophobic father. Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne. Mr. T plays the town cop Earl Devereaux, and Tracy Morgan takes on the role of Officer Earl’s son, Cal.
Via AWN
aniBoom today announced its Third Annual aniBoom Awards for submissions from independent animators of all types around the globe. Submissions are welcome from today through December 1, 2008, during which time the animations will be viewed and ranked by the community on aniBoom.com and by a select panel of entertainment industry luminaries. At stake is a Grand Prize for the overall winner that includes a $25,000 investment in commercial development and a distribution deal with aniBoom that will enable the winning animator to significant career-making exposure through a variety of outlets and channels.
In addition, three selected Community Favorites will be selected based on aniBoom’s online animation community ranking, as well as three Top Selections by the competition’s panel of Judges. All six selections will be awarded a share of the $50,000 in cash and prizes, including ToonBoom software and CG Society books. All 50 of the top picks will receive prizes.
This year’s judges will include industry heavyweights such as: Mr. Yair Landau, former President of Sony Pictures Digital; Ms. Barbara Corday, Senior Television Producer at Columbia Pictures; and Mr. John Mass, Executive Vice President at the international William Morris Agency.
© 2007–2026 The Animation Blog
Design by Anders Noren — Up ↑
