Month: February 2008 (Page 2 of 3)

Disney announces 3 new classic DVD sets

Disney has announced today that they will be releasing three new volumes from the Disney Vault on November 11, 2008. The three new two-disc sets are: Destino, Dr Syn, Alias the Scarecrow and Chronological Donald Vol. 4.

Destino began its life in 1946 and was a collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali and was unfortunately never finished. In 2003, Walt’s nephew, Roy Disney, made the decision to complete the film and bring it to the public.

Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow first aired as three separate episodes on Disney’s weekly TV show and was edited for theatrical releases in England and the U.S. The DVD set includes all three of the original TV episodes plus the theatrical version of the film that was released in England.

Chronological Donald Vol. 4 includes 31 shorts starring Donald Duck that were created between 1951 and 1961.

Via AWN

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Live-action Akira in development, Leonardo DiCaprio attached

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of millions of fans around the world screaming at their monitors. You really can’t blame them though. Akira is a beloved manga and animated film and a live-action adaptation may or may not live up to the original. The story is set in a post-nuclear war “New Tokyo” in 2019 where a teen biker gang member is subjected to a government experiment which unleashes his powers. The gang’s leader must find a way to stop the ensuing destruction.

Apparently Leonardo DiCaprio is producing the film with the possibility of starring. Ruairi Robinson has been hired to direct and would mark the feature directorial debut for Robinson who was nominated for a best animated short Oscar in 2001 for a sci-fi comedy called “Fifty Percent Grey.” He also wrote and directed a sci-fi short titled “The Silent City.” Warner Bros. is hoping for a summer 2009 release for the first movie.

Via Hollywood Reporter

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Dora the Explorer goes live-action

Nickelodeon announced today they will develop their hit series Dora The Explorer Dinto a live-action prime-time TV movie. The movie will feature an older Dora, 10 years old, and will be enhanced by special effects. Candidates for CG are Boots, Dora’s monkey pal, and Swiper, the fox who loves to steal, although at this time Nickelodeon hasn’t decided.

“Dora will be a little older for her high stakes live-action adventure, which we think will be very exciting for our pre-school audience, as well as kids and their families who have grown up watching the show over the last 7 years,” said Brown Johnson of Nickelodeon.

Via AWN

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Peter Gabriel involved with Pixar’s WALL-E

Straight from Peter Gabriel himself comes the news that he is involved with Pixar’s upcoming summer movie, WALL-E. It is unclear exactly what he will be contributing but he says he’ll be creating one or two new things as well as putting some glue on things he’s done in the past. Perhaps some of his music will be remixed for the the movie.

Peter has been involved with the movie for quite some time, when he was approached by Pixar back in 2005. He has high hopes that WALL-E will continue the Pixar tradition of being appropriate for children but at the same time enjoyable for adults.

Via Cinemablend

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Cartoon Network acquires new Star Wars: The Clone Wars series

Turner Broadcasting has landed the broadcast rights to the highly-sought-after CG-animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, from creator George Lucas. A new era of Star Wars begins this fall when the television series premieres on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT. The series will premiere following the North American theatrical release Friday, August 15, from Warner Bros. Pictures.

“I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell,” said George Lucas. “I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars showcases an entirely new look and feel to the galaxy far, far away, combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars saga with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation. Each week, viewers will see a 30-minute “mini-movie” created by Lucasfilm Animation.

The first in a planned series of web-only documentaries that chronicle the development of Star Wars: The Clone Wars debuts online today, and can be found at StarWars.com.

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Rest in Peace John Alvin

It has been made public that award-winning cinematic artist and painter John Alvin has passed away. He passed away Wednesday, February 6th, at his home in Rhinebeck, N.Y from a heart attack. He was 59.

Alvin was an artistic genius, creating movie posters for some of the most popular movies of all time including Blazing Saddles, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Color Purple and Gremlins. He also created the anniversary posters for Star Wars.

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BAFTA animation and special effects winners

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts presented the 2008 Orange British Academy Film Awards last night where the best in film, including animation and special effects, were honored.

Taking home the Best Animated Feature Film award was Pixar’s Ratatouille, beating out The Simpsons Movie and Shrek the Third. In the Best Short Animation category, Aartman Animations’ The Pearce Sisters took the award, beating The Crumblegiant and Head Over Heels.

The Best Special Effects BAFTA went to The Golden Compass, beating out The Bourne Ultimatum, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Spider-Man 3.

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VES Awards winners

The 6th Annual VES Awards took place last night in Los Angeles, CA at the Kodak Theater and ILM and Pixar both won big.

Here is the list of all the winners:

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture
TRANSFORMERS

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture
RATATOUILLE

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series
FIGHT FOR LIFE – Episode 4

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
ROME 2 – Episode 6

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
SMIRNOFF – SEA

Best Single Visual Effect of the Year
TRANSFORMERS – Desert Highway Sequence

Outstanding Real Time Visuals in a Video Game
HALO 3 – Halo 3 Footage

Outstanding Pre-Rendered Visuals in a Video Game
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: THE BURNING CRUSADE – Cinematic Intro

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
SEA MONSTERS

Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END – Davy Jones

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture
RATATOUILLE – Colette

Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial
CHEMICAL BROTHERS – SALMON DANCE

Outstanding Effects in an Animated Motion Picture
RATATOUILLE – Food

Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END – The Maelstrom

Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial
BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE

Outstanding Models or Miniatures in a Motion Picture

TRANSFORMERS

Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture
TRANSFORMERS

Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
NIKE – LEAVE NOTHING

Outstanding Special Effects in a Motion Picture
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Outstanding Special Effects in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
ACTIVELY SAFE – Lexus Hydrant

Ratatouille sweeps 35th Annual Annie Awards

The 35th Annual Annie Awards have come and gone but not without Ratatouille sweeping up just about every awards — so it seems. The Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best animation across film, television, commercials, videogames and short subjects. Here are the winners:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Best Home Entertainment Production
FUTURAMA “BENDER’S BIG SCORE” — The Curiosity Co. in association with 20th Century Fox Television

Best Animated Short Subject
YOUR FRIEND THE RAT (From Ratatouille DVD) — Pixar Animation Studios

Best Animated Television Commercial
Power Shares “Escape Average” — Acme Filmworks

Best Animated Television Production
CREATURE COMFORTS AMERICA — Aardman Animations

Best Animated Television Production for Children
EL TIGRE — Nickelodeon

Best Animated Video Game
RATATOUILLE — THQ, Inc.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects
Deborah Carlson — SURF’S UP — Sony Pictures Animation

Animation Production Artist
John Clark — SURF’S UP — Sony Pictures Animation

Character Animation in a Feature Production
Michal Makarewicz — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Character Animation in a Television Production
Eric Towner — ROBOT CHICKEN — ShadowMachine

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Carter Goodrich — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Character Design in an Animated Television Production
Jorge R. Gutierrez — EL TIGRE “Fistful of Collars” — Nickelodeon

Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Brad Bird — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Directing in an Animated Television Production
Seth Green — ROBOT CHICKEN STAR WARS — ShadowMachine

Music in an Animated Feature Production
Michael Giacchino — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Music in an Animated Television Production
Alf Clausen & Michael Price — THE SIMPSONS “Yokel Chords” — Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Harley Jessup — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Ted Mathot — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production
Steve Fonti — FAMILY GUY “No Chris Left Behind” — Fox TV Animation/Fuzzy Door Prods.

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Ian Holm — Voice of Skinner — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production
Eartha Kitt — Voice of Yzma — THE EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL “Emperor’s New Musical” — Walt Disney Television Animation

Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Brad Bird — RATATOUILLE — Pixar Animation Studios

Writing in an Animated Television Production
Ian Maxtone-Graham & Billy Kimball — THE SIMPSONS “24 Minutes” — Gracie Films

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