2011 Animation Preview
The original won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Little is known about the plot for the follow-up to the surprise hit, which is being animated by George Miller's own Dr. D Studios. Elijah Wood and Robin Williams will be reprising their roles from the original. Singer Pink has been cast to replace the late Brittany Murphy as Gloria. The rest of the cast features some other new big names, including Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Hank Azaria and Sofia Vergara. Fans of the original crowd pleaser are surely hoping George Miller's sequel captures the rousing entertainment value as the first film.
This CG feature is the first production from the partnership between Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures Animation. The holiday-theme film sees Santa Claus ne'er do well son Arthur taking the reins of his high-tech operation in order to save Christmas by getting the presents delivered on time. Writer/producer/director Sarah Smith and Mulan helmer Barry Cook are the directors. This is Aardman's first feature since the disappointing Flushed Away and from the trailer this new one looks promising.
The performance-capture Tintin trilogy kicks off this holiday season with Steven Spielberg at the helm of the first entry. Based on Herge's The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure, the story introduces Tintin (Jamie Bell) to Capt. Haddock (Andy Serkis) as they go in search of the treasure of his ancestor Sir Francis Haddock. Daniel Craig will voice the pirate Red Rackham, Simon Pegg as Inspector Thompson and Nick Frost as Inspector Thomson. I'm fairly confident that this film, animated by Weta Digital, will be an international success, but how will it play in the U.S. where Tintin isn't Mickey Mouse?
Rick DeMott is the director of content for Animation World Network, VFXWorld and AWNtv. Additionally, he's the creator of the movie review site, Rick's Flicks Picks, which was recently named one of the 100 best movie blogs by The Daily Reviewer. He has written for TV series, such as Discovery Kids' Growing Up Creepie and Cartoon Network's Pet Alien, the animation history book Animation Art, and the humor, absurdist and surrealist website Unloosen. Previously, he held various production and management positions in the entertainment industry.
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Hey Rick
Looks very good but you forgot to put The Dreaming Machine in that list and thier are some images of it online and they say it comes out sometime in 2011. Also, I think the best animated films I am looking forward for are Cars 2, Arthur Christmas, Kung Fu Panda 2, Happy Feet 2, and Tintin and here are my precdications of who will be nominated for the 84th Academy Awards' Best Animated Feature
If five, let the Academy chose these...
4. The Dreaming Machine (This anime film needs to get nominated and chould pull another Secret of Kells move like the 82nd Academy Awards. The reason why is becuse the first director (Satoshi Kon) had died while making this film and he and this film needs the Oscar and Critics' love when it comes out in American and Japanese theaters when it is done been made. Finally, Sony Pictures Classics needs to bring it to America after it is done been made and had its premiere in Japan)
5. Happy Feet 2 (This one chould be a good one if it gets the critics' love and if Cars 2 gets nominated along with this. There chould be a huge problem)
Also here are my precations for Best Animated Feature of the 69th Golden Globe Awards
Also, I like Tintin but The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn looks more for Best Visual Categories (Best Original Score to Best Visual Effects) type. I love all kinds of animation and it is still good in its own way. Peace Out my anmation freind Rick.
Two, actually. Hop isn't in 3D, either.
Just one film that isn't 3D? That makes me sad.
nyc..6
You're missing "The Smurfs".
Rango, Tintin, maybe Kung Fu Panda 2 will be worth watching.
For the rest, I have my doubts...
Puss in Boots? Seriously? A Shrek spin off? As if Shrek 2 to 4 haven't been bad enough?
And Cars 2? A sequel to the worst Pixar flick ever?
I mean how dumb is the general theater audience really that they don't get those rip offs?
The Animation houses have so much potential to tell original stories, and yet production companies always push them to go for the sure-money, stereotype sequel.
If it's only for the money, why not just found an investment bank? Seriously! It's way easier to make millions that way!
Do us a favor suits: leave the Animation Business alone and let artists make movies again, OK?
Rick
Just a quick correction.
Happy Feet 2 is being made at Dr D Studios (not Animal Logic).
Animal Logic were the studio behind the first Happy Feet film and the recent Legends of the Guardians.
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