After tackling Scooby-Doo in CGI, Rhythm & Hues took on Americas favorite lazy, lasagna-loving fat cat in GARFIELD THE MOVIE (voiced by Bill Murray). The recent DVD (Fox Home Ent., $29.98) not only contains the feature that earned $110M worldwide Garfield plots Odies demise, what else?
Danny Fingeroth explores the post-9/11 vibe in this year's crop of superhero movies and the impact of seamless CGI.
This week in AWNs Theatrical Release Database, we have new trailers some of the most highly anticipated animated and visual effects films of 2005.
BLADE: TRINITY writer/director David Goyer has announced that his proposed remake and update of the 1973 sci-fi flick, SOYLENT GREEN will begin where the original film left off, reports SCI FI WIRE. Goyer also said he will not write or directed the film, but will produce it through his first-look deal with Warner Bros.
"I will say that the reveal at the end of the first movie happened at the end of our first act," Goyer said in an interview. "So the first movie is kind of the first act of our film, and then it's about what happens afterwards."
As part of its horror movie line-up in celebration of Halloween, STARZ! will be hosting the STARZ! Hare-Raising Halloween Marathon, featuring the 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Troupe. The marathon begins at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Oct. 30, 2004, and runs through midnight of Oct. 31. Angry Alien Prods award-winning bunnies with re-enact SCREAM, FREDDY VS. JASON and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE throughout the Halloween Marathon.
Bardel Ent. has repackaged its SILVERWING series into a movie trilogy created for both broadcast and DVD/VHS distribution worldwide. Under the creative direction of veteran producer Chris Henderson, the 13x22 series has been edited into three 72-minute movies with Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Henderson recently completed Scholastic Ent.s theatrically released feature film CLIFFORDS REALLY BIG MOVIE and also worked on Disneys RETURN TO NEVER LAND.
Anime expert Fred Patten takes a look at the highly anticipated anime feature Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, talking over the film with Production I.G producer Mitsuhisa Ishikawa.
After a brief theatrical run, CLIFFORDS REALLY BIG MOVIE from Scholastic Ent. has arrived on DVD (Warner Home Video, $26.98). The traditionally-animated movie based on the lovable CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG childrens book and TV series contains more elaborate backgrounds and CG effects. Robert Ramirez directs.
Libby Reed investigates the return of Mickey, Donald and Goofy as a team in the new direct-to-video feature, The Three Musketeers.
After the recent release of Blueberry, French effects artists deliver yet another visually arresting movie. Alain Bielik uncovers the magic behind Enki Bilals Immortel, a fascinating blend of live-action and CGI.
Warner Bros. HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN faced stiff competition in its second week for the weekend ended June 13, 2004, dropping nearly 63% yet still racking up nearly $35M.
Cartoon Network will deliver 22 animated features during its May Movie Month. Each night in May, Cartoon Network will showcase animated movies in primetime, including cartoon classics as well as premieres of SCOOBY-DOO AND THE MONSTER OF MEXICO, THE KING AND I, BATMAN: MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN, THE SCARECROW and UNDER THE BLACK FLAG.
The schedule for Cartoon Network's May Movie Month is as follows:
May 1: 7:30 pm - SAMURAI JACK: THE LEGEND BEGINS
Warner Bros. and Scholastic are taking their animated CLIFFORDS REALLY BIG MOVIE on a bigger walk to more theaters on April 23, 3004, rolling out the theatrical to 471 houses across the U.S., following the test openings in several markets in February 2004.
Greg Singer reviews Disneys traditional cartoon feature, Home on the Range, and reminisces about a West that never was what it used to be.
The very underrated BROTHER BEAR (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99) arrives on DVD March 30 in a stunning two-disc set that does justice to the mostly traditional animated work, especially in light of the movie about bonding with nature representing the last Florida studio production. Includes both theatrical widescreen and "family friendly" anamorphic presentations. Viewers will notice some interesting differences too for this Disney DVD.
Evergreen Entertainment will be offer at MIP-TV the first screen images for STARK RAVEN: THE MOVIE, an 85-minute original movie based on the popular comic books created and written by Ken Smith.
STARK RAVEN: THE MOVIE is an action-packed animated feature film, created and developed by Smith, written by Jono Howard, produced by Steve Walsh, and directed by Hervé Bédard, aimed at a 16+ demographic. Now in production, it will be delivered in spring 2005.
Bob Swain reports on Europes 2004 Cartoon Movie, covering the hot progress of European animated film producers and the event supporting them over the past five years.
The sixth annual Cartoon Movie in Potsdam, Germany, paid tribute March 13, 2004 to A. Film, Folimage and Pathé Europe for significantly contributing to the success of the European feature animation industry. The event, set up by Cartoon in partnership with the European Media programme as a movie version of its successful Cartoon Forum meeting for animated series, brought together some 420 participants to focus on the fast-growing sector for European animated feature films.
Six years ago with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, CARTOON initiated Cartoon Movie to establish a synergy between distributors, investors and producers and thus accelerate the financing and distribution process of animated features in Europe. Cartoon Movie was designed along the lines of the successful Cartoon Forum, which aims at facilitating the financing of animation TV series. But Cartoon Movie also offers improvements in the management of cross border film distribution systems in Europe.
4Kids Entertainment Inc. made a deal Warner Bros. Pictures to distribute YU-GI-OH!: THE MOVIE, the first theatrical motion picture based on the hit YU-GI-OH! animated TV series. YU-GI-OH!: THE MOVIE produced by 4Kids Entertainment in association with Shueisha, TV Tokyo and Nihon AD-Systems will be released across the U.S. on Aug. 13, 2004 and will be released internationally in markets outside of Asia beginning in late August 2004.
VFXWorld Editor Bill Desowitz takes a sneak peek at one of next summers most eagerly awaited films, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, a stunning leap in bluescreen and compositing work.
Cartoon Movie has extended its registration deadline to February 6, 2004. If one is interested in attending, they must fax a completed registration form by that date. The registration form, as well as information about hotel and travel, can be found at http://www.cartoon-media.be/Movie/Movie_4.htm.
The list of the Cartoon Movie 2004 projects is available on the Web at http://www.cartoon-media.be/Movie/Movie_5.htm.
The CRITIC - THE COMPLETE SERIES comes to DVD Jan. 27, 2004 (Columbia TriStar, $49.95) in a three-disc set featuring all 23 episodes with its dry wit intact. Created by Al Jean and Mike Reiss of THE SIMPSONS, the ill-fated CRITIC bounced around from ABC to Fox to Comedy Central to the Internet, attracting a small but devoted following that adored the movie parodies. Jon Lovitz voices the animated Jay Sherman, the sad sack of TV film critic who gives thumbs down to every pathetic movie he's forced to review.
Extras include:* Commentary on eight episodes
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING was crowned victorious at the 2004 Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 25, 2004. The final installment in the RINGS trilogy won the top drama prize for Best Film along with Best Director (Peter Jackson), Best Original Score (Howard Shore) and Best Original Song (Howard Shore, Fran Walsh and Annie Lennox).
Nickelodeon has announced the nominees for 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, which will be hosted by previous Kids' Choice winners Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. The event will take place April 3, 2004 from 8:00 - 9:30 pm. Topping the list of nominees was FINDING NEMO with three nods for Favorite Movie, Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Ellen DeGeneres) and Favorite Video Game.
