Films
Toy Story 2 to
a Theater Near You. Walt Disney Pictures
has decided to release the sequel to Toy Story theatrically, rather
than directly to video as originally planned. The computer animated feature,
which began production at Pixar's Richmond, California-based studio in
June 1997, will debut in theaters during the 1999 holiday season, and compete
against Fox's second animated feature, Planet Ice Since its theatrical
release in 1995, the original Toy Story has grossed $360 million
worldwide, and sold more than 22 million videocassettes in the U.S. alone.
Disney and Pixar also announced the cast of actors who will lend their
voices to the computer-animated feature, A Bug's Life, to be released
in November 1998: Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dave Foley, David
Hyde Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Denis Leary, Madeline Kahn, John Ratzenberger,
Jonathan Harris, Alex Rocco, Roddy McDowall, Brad Garrett and Phyllis Diller.
Miramax to Release Mononoke. Hayao Miyazaki's top-grossing
animated feature Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime) will be
released theatrically in the U.S. this summer by Miramax Films, a Disney
company. The film earned it's spot as the all-time highest grossing film
in Japan, bringing in sell-out crowds, long lines at theaters and over
$150 million at the box office in Japan in 1997. Although the film is known
to contain graphic violence, neither the visuals or the music will be edited
by Miramax, per strict distribution agreement with the film's producers,
Studio Ghibli. Miramax president Harvey Weinstein said, "With great
regard for Mr. Miyazaki, our plan is to maintain the film's unique creative
integrity." However, new voice tracks will be recorded for a dubbed
English version, and Disney is in talks with several actors for the parts
(it has been unofficially reported that Leonardo DiCaprio is being considered
for the role of Ashitaka). With this announcement, Miramax joins the alliance
formed in July 1996 between Buena Vista Home Entertainment and Tokuma Shoten
Publishing Company, which brings selected Japanese films from Tokuma's
Studio Ghibli and Daiei Studios (Shall We Dance?) to audiences outside
of Asia, theatrically and on video. No official dates for "Mononoke
Hime's" release in Europe have been announced, but the film will be
screened at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 11.
South Park Feature? South Park, the outrageous (and
outrageously successful) animated series created by Trey Parker and Matt
Stone is being considered for development as a feature film. A Comedy Central
spokesperson confirmed that the project is in very early stages of development
and declined to comment further. One of the considerations would be whether
the film would be able to exhibit the same R-rated content and language
as is contained in the cable TV series, now in its second season on Comedy
Central.
© Manga.
Manga Debuts General Chaos. Manga Entertainment's Shorts division has compiled its
first theatrical compilation of short animated films, General Chaos:
Uncensored Animation. The touring package premiered on February 6 at
Cinema Village in New York City. Packaged within animated bumpers by Bardel
Animation, the 90 minute program features 20 shorts: Malice in Wonderland
(1982), a psychedelic nightmare by Vince Collins, Sex and Violence (1997),
a series of vignettes by Bill Plympton, Xerox and Mylar (1995),
a clay animation cat and mouse cartoon by Joel Brinkerhoff of Will Vinton
Studios, Donor Party (1993), an experimental computer animation
by Laurence Arcadias, The Hungry Hungry Nipples (1997) by Walter
Santucci, Beat the Meatles (1996) by Keith Alcorn, Body Directions
(1987) by Karl Staven, Espresso Depresso (1996) by David Donar,
Junky (1997) by Tony Nittoli, Killing Heinz (1996) by Stefan
Eling, Looks Can Kill (1994) by Mr. Lawrence, Misfit (1997)
by Amanda Enright, Mutilator (1991) a student film by Eric Fogel
(creator of MTV's The Head), American Flatulators (1995)
by Jeff Sturgis, No More Mr. Nice Guy (1995) by Brad Schiff, Oh
Julie! (1995) by Frances Lea, The Perfect Man (1997) by Emily
Skinner, Performance Art: Starring Chainsaw Bob (1992) by Brandon
McKinney, The Saint Inspector (1996) by Mike Booth and Sunny
Havens (A.K.A. Meat!!!!) (1995) by Kathryn Travers. Following the run
in New York (2/6-2/12), General Chaos will be screened in Los Angeles
(Nu Art Theater, 3/6-3/12), Orange County, California (Port Theater, 3/13-3/19),
San Jose, California (Camera Cinema, 3/20-3/26), San Francisco (Red Vic
Theater, 4/1-4/7), Santa Cruz, California (Nickelodeon Theater, 4/2-4/6),
Salt Lake City, Utah (Tower Theater, 4/10-4/16) and Sacramento, California
(4/17-4/23).
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