ROBOTS, 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studio's eagerly awaited follow-up to ICE AGE, will be powered by the celebrity voice- over work of Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry and Mel Brooks. The computer-animated movie, under the helm of director Chris Wedge, has been in production for two months, and is set for release March 11, 2005.

Young males got their movie thrills last weekend with the opening of Universal's FAST AND FURIOUS sequel, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS, which revved up the box office chart with $50.5M. Crystal Dowd served as VFX producer and Collin Fowler was VFX coordinator for Illusion Arts.

FINDING NEMO, meanwhile, slipped to second place after its record-breaking opening with a very impressive $46.6M, giving the Disney/Pixar hit $144M in less than two weeks.

Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids, IDT Media is developing two animated projects, a music video and an active play video through its 3D animation unit, Digital Productions Solutions (DPS), which recently bought a majority stake in Film Roman Inc. This marks the first-ever computer-animated depiction of the franchise, and the latest indication of DPS' aggressive pursuit of dolls and action figures to animate. The Cabbage Patch Kids is licensed by Original Appalachian Artworks (OAA) and represented exclusively by 4Kids Entertainment.

In its continuing effort to embrace more commercial event films (with the cooperation of the CAA talent agency), IMAX will release Warner Bros.' THE MATRIX RELOADED in select theaters on Friday, June 6, 2003, and, for the first time, in various international venues through early July (including the U.K., Germany, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and Japan). The timing couldn't be better, as the second mind-bending film in the Wachowski Brothers' trilogy recently set a new international box office record in its opening weekend (more than $113M).

The much ballyhooed anthology of nine MATRIX shorts premiered June 3, 2003 on DVD ($24.98 suggested retail from Warner Home Video), with its unprecedented fusion of computer animation and anime, delving deeper into the complex virtual world of the Matrix and featuring some of the top anime creators, including Yoshiaki Kawajiri (VAMPIRE HUNTER D), Shinchiro Waanable (COWBOY BEBOP) and Koji Morimoto (AKIRA'S animation supervisor).

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, Disney's first live-action star vehicle (Kirk Douglas, James Mason and Peter Lorre), is available on DVD in a lavish two-disc special edition ($29.99 suggested retail price from Buena Vista Home Entertainment).

They're at it again. Disney announced yesterday that it's releasing the next Pixar film, Brad Bird's THE INCREDIBLES, on November 5, 2004, the same date that DreamWorks had already positioned for the launch of SHARKSLAYER, its very own computer-animated underwater answer to Pixar's FINDING NEMO. So rather than going head-to-head, DreamWorks has decided to find another slot, though the family film traffic is already heavy in November, with POLAR EXPRESS, the CGI reteaming of Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis, bowing on November 19 along with the first SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS theatrical feature.

DIE ANOTHER DAY, the record-breaking 20th James Bond feature starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry, shipped more than 16 million units worldwide on DVD June 3, 2003, becoming MGM Home Entertainment's best-selling title. The two-disc special edition – a first for a Bond film, retails for $29.98, and offers seven hours of bonus features, including an inside look at the stunts and action sequences, especially the franchise's first foray into CGI, courtesy of Cinesite, Double Negative, Framestore CFC, Mill Film and The Moving Picture Co.

It's only fitting that Monster Distributes has picked up all rights outside of the U.K. for a monstrous property called DOMINATOR, an 80-minute adult CGI feature from Rengamedia, which it is showcasing at Annecy. Rengamedia specializes in the development and production of animation and Manga-based projects for broadcast on TV and the Web.

FINDING NEMO, the computer-animated underwater comedy/adventure from Disney/Pixar, exceeded all expectations with a record-breaking bow of $70.3M last weekend. That's the best opening ever for an animated feature, topping the $62.6M grabbed by MONSTERS, INC., the fourth Pixar/Disney movie from 2001. It's also the best three-day gross for any Buena Vista feature, live action or animated.

It was destiny after all that the curious, unfinished 1946 animated collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali be completed. Long considered a lost cause, DESTINO was recently produced by the Disney Co. and given a surprise world premiere June 2, 2003 at the opening of this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The five-minute short will also screen June 3 on the lake at 10:00 pm, with free access to all Annecians.

FINDING NEMO, the latest computer-animated feature from pioneering Pixar Animation Studios, opened nationwide May 30, 2003 armed with blockbuster intentions and Oscar ambitions. The well-reviewed underwater comedy/adventure about father and son clown fish, boasts the voice talents of stars Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres and Willem Dafoe. It marks the fifth collaboration between Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures, who, as everyone knows, may part ways in 2005, and the first time they've dived into the summer fray.

Ardustry Home Entertainment has created a new kids division for the acquisition and marketing of children's DVD and interactive entertainment. The new unit has already signed a deal with Santa Monica, California-based children's entertainment company Bali Hai Titles included in the deal are INVISIBLE DAD, A KID CALLED DANGER, CLUBHOUSE DETECTIVES, DEAR SANTA, MY BROTHER THE PIG, MY MAGIC DOG, JUNGLE BOY, TREASURES OF PIRATES POINT, MY TEACHER ATE MY HOMEWORK, THE ROBIN HOOD GANG and P.U.N.K.S.

After being on moratorium for a while, A BUG'S LIFE COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD (Buena Vista Home Entertainment, $29.99) returned May 27, 2003 with an all-new activity game and FISHY FACTS from FINDING NEMO. In A BUG'S LAND, Heimlich the caterpillar and Francis the Lady Bug each have their own segments. Heimlich finds an enormous melon, but needs help devouring it, while Francis remains in hiding until a few trivia questions can be answered. With FISHY FACTS, learn all about the fish of FINDING NEMO.

ADV Films has acquired the rights to produce a live-action feature version of the hugely popular anime TV series NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. Adding to the appeal of the project, Weta Workshop, Ltd., the effects studios behind the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, will also be on board for the production as well as anime and game studio Gainax Network Systems, one of the original production studios responsible for the show.

310 Studios and Hacienda Post have recently wrapped all post production work on the upcoming direct-to-video 3D feature, BIONICLE: MASK OF LIGHT, produced by the LEGO Company, Create TV and Film, and Creative Capers Entertainment. Debuting on DVD and home video September 16, 2003, the feature film is based on the successful BIONICLE brand and will be distributed under the Miramax Home Entertainment label via Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Atlanta-based Fathom Studios has added two more top Hollywood names to its list of voices for its 3D feature film, DELGO, with the addition of Jennifer Love Hewitt (HEARTBREAKERS) and Chris Kattan (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE). They join a cast which already includes Val Kilmer (TOMBSTONE), Michael Clarke Duncan (GREEN MILE), Eric Idle (MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL), and Lou Gossett, Jr. (DIGGSTOWN). Hewitt will bring to life Princess Kyla, a spitfire princess with a big heart, while Kattan will voice Filo, a fast-talking, wisecracking smart aleck.