'Makin’ Toons' Book Review
Fred Patten takes a look at Allan Neuwirth's new book about the American animation industry.
Category: Films
No Double Matrix Oscar Strategy for Warner Bros.
With the distinct possibly of THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS canceling each other out in terms of Oscar contention, Warner Bros. has decided to solely promote the latter film, which opens Nov. 5, 2003, a studio source told VFXWorld. It also makes sense from the standpoint that REVOLUTIONS concludes the Wachowski Brothers' trilogy and will have all the momentum on its side if it delivers the goods.
No Box Office Nightmare for Freddy and Jason
Considering how hard it was to get FREDDY VS. JASON on the big screen, New Line must be smiling now, as the dual franchise frightener (with vfx principally by Cinesite (Hollywood), Pixel Magic and Asylum) scared up $36.4M for the weekend box office ending Aug. 17, 2003. In fact, not even the power blackout that struck the Northeast and parts of the Midwest hindered the horror film, even when power was still out in large areas on Friday night.
Freddy Vs. Jason Director Options Blood
Director Ronny Yu (FREDDY VS. JASON) has optioned rights to the anime movie BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE for a live-action feature, according to SCI FI WIRE. The original 2000 movie directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo concerns a vampire hunter on a military base.
In Anime, Films, Visual Effects, Anime, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Fairly OddParents Granted Theatrical Wishes
THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS started as a short on Nickelodeons OH YEAH! CARTOONS!, spun-off off into its own TV series, then a 90-minute telemovie, recently became a stripped series and is now slated to be a big screen theatrical. Paramount Pictures-based Nickelodeon Movies is developing an untitled film version with the show's creator Butch Hartman and producer/story editor Steve Marmel, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER and confirmed by a Nick spokesperson.
Third Live-Action Asterix Feature Scrapped
Renn Prod. and producer Claude Berri have scrapped plans to produce a third live-action feature in the ASTERIX franchise, reported the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. ASTERIX AND OBELIX IN SPAIN had been scheduled to start shooting next spring in Spain. Director Gerard Jugnot (MONSIEUR BATIGNOLLE) had been assigning directing duties and Christian Clavier and Gerard Depardieu were set to reprise their roles.
Weta Lands a King-Sized Ape, a Lion, a Witch & a Wardrobe
Weta Digital has landed work on both the KING KONG remake and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE feature. Head of Weta Peter Jackson has inked a deal with Universal to bring his version of the giant ape tale to the screen, reported DAILY VARIETY. The deal is worth $20 million and 20% of the gross to Jackson for his writing and directing duties, which he will split with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens who also helped the Oscar-nominated director pen the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Welsh is set to produce the KONG redux.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia
Millennium Actress First to Go Fish for DreamWorks
As part of the recent studio trend, DreamWorks SKG has formed a new specialty division, Go Fish Pictures, with MILLENNIUM ACTRESS, the critically acclaimed anime title by Satoshi Kon, as its first release. MILLENNIUM ACTRESS opens September 12, 2003 in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Toronto. INNOCENCE: GHOST IN A SHELL II will follow in the spring of 2004, but there may be more titles in between, including live action.
S.W.A.T.ing the Box Office Competition
As expected, Sony's S.W.A.T. ruled the weekend box office ending Aug. 10, 2003, with an impressive $37M (with VFX by Pixel Magic). Disney's FREAKY FRIDAY remake came in second, drawing a very impressive $22.2M and $33.1M for the five-day period, with Jacqueline Allard serving as digital compositor for the VFX. Universal's AMERICAN WEDDING (with VFX by Soho VFX) took third place after a 53% nose-dive, garnering $15.4M and $65.2M in its second weekend.
Newell to Direct Fourth Potter Movie
Mike Newell (the upcoming MONA LISA SMILE and FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL) will direct HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, the fourth movie in the blockbuster fantasy series based on the phenomenal best sellers by J.K. Rowling, and the first to be helmed by a Brit, according to a Warner Bros. Pictures announcement. Production is scheduled to begin in England in April, 2004 for a holiday 2005 release, with David Heyman producing and Steve Kloves scripting.
Warner Options Eddie Dickens Trilogy
In a move that looks like it wants to recapture the success of its HARRY POTTER franchise, Warner Bros. Pictures has optioned Phillip Ardaghs childrens trilogy of books, featuring the main character Eddie Dickens, reported DAILY VARIETY. Scribe Matthew Huffman (ME AND MY MONSTER) has been tapped to write the screenplay for the first book, A HOUSE CALLED AWFUL END. The story follows an 11-year-old British boy, who goes to live with his Mad Uncle Jack and Mad Aunt Maud when his parents get sick and ends up in the St. Horrid's Home for Grateful Orphans.
Freddy Vs. Jason Uses Eyetronics’ Scanning Technology
For the upcoming feature FREDDY VS. JASON, Freddy vs. Jason Prod used Eyetronics mobile scanning services. The filmmakers chose the technology so they could increase the quality of the visual effects and meet their goals within their tight 10-week production schedule.
Wallace & Gromit the Movie Countdown Begins
The countdown for Aardman Animations WALLACE & GROMIT THE MOVIE has started, as the studio in Bristol, England starts as the DreamWorks-backed feature gets underway in September, according to DAILY VARIETY and confirmed by a DreamWorks spokesperson.
Valiant to Use NXN alienbrain VFX
NXN Software, a leader in asset management solutions for the digital entertainment and computer graphics industries, recently announced that Vanguard Animation is implementing NXN alienbrain VFX for the production of VALIANT, the first fully animated CG feature to be made in the U.K.
Mondo Group Gets Two Feature & Series Deal
Italian animation house Mondo TV and its German division, Mondo Igel Media AG, has inked a deal with Neue Deutsche Filmgesellschaft (NDF) to produce two animated features as well as a TV series. The TV series will be the second season of NDFs LETTERS FROM FELIX, based upon the famous German childrens books by Annette Langen and Constanza Droop. The feature projects have not been announced yet. The price tag on all three projects is $5.8 million.
American Wedding is No Bridesmaid; Nemo Keeps Swimming Along
Universal's AMERICAN WEDDING (with VFX by Soho VFX) powered the weekend box office ending Aug. 3, 2003, grabbing a huge $33.3M slice of cake. SPY KIDS 3D: GAME OVER fell to second place, dropping 41% while collecting $19.5M for a total of $68.5M in its second weekend. Hybride Technologies and The Orphanage shared VFX duties for the Dimension Films release.
Ripa Gets More Animated in Delgo
Talkshow host Kelly Ripa is the latest to join the star-studded cast of DELGO, the independently produced computer-animated feature from Atlanta, Georgia-based Fathom Studios. Ripa (LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY, HOPE AND FAITH) is providing the voice of Princess Kyla's handmaiden. The fantasy adventure is set in a divided land where a troubled youth and some unlikely friends must save the world from itself.
Miramax and LEGO Bond on Two More BIONICLE Projects
Banking on some slightly different kind of toy stories, Miramax Films and LEGO Co. are in production on a second CGI-animation direct-to-video based upon the toy companys BIONICLE brand and are developing a theatrical motion picture scheduled for release in 2005. These are early commitments considering their first collaboration, BIONICLE: MASK OF LIGHT, wont debut on DVD and video until September 16, 2003.
Spy Kids 3D Pulls Off Upset; Nemo Breaks Record
Out of nowhere, SPY KIDS 3D: GAME OVER topped the box office charts for the weekend ending July 27, 2003, bringing in $33.4M for Miramax's Dimension Films, with VFX by Hybride Technologies and The Orphanage. Meanwhile, even though Disney/Pixar's FINDING NEMO reeled in $4.4M in the eighth spot, it topped $313M as this year's best grosser, good enough to break the LION KING's record as the all-time animation king. However, if you count the recent IMAX reissue, THE LION KING technically has earned a total of $328.5M.
Softimage used by Hybride on Spy Kids 3D
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America
TroubleMaker & Janimation Use AMD Processor-Based Systems on Spy Kids 3D
TroubleMaker Studios and Janimation animators used AMD processors with hardware support from BOXX and NVIDIA, as well as software from Microsoft and Softimage on SPY KIDS 3D: GAME OVER. The third installment of Robert Rodriguez' highly successful family franchise features stereoscopic elements enhanced with 3D glasses.
In Films, Flash, Visual Effects, Films, Flash, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, North America
Blur Follows Aunt Luisa With Sci-Fi Short
Blur Studio, whose acclaimed AUNT LUISA short will screen at the SIGGRAPH Conference (July 29-31, 2003), is producing a 7-minute sci-fi adventure as a change of pace. The untitled computer-animated project, directed by Blur co-founder/creative director Tim Miller, is about a fisherman in the far future that catches more than he bargained for.
Lara Croft to Battle Seabiscuit; 28 Days to Offer Alternate Ending
Paramount's LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE (with VFX by Cinesite (Europe) Ltd., Double Negative and the Moving Picture Co.) will open July 25, 2003 against Universal's SEABISCUIT (with VFX by Pixel Playground Inc., Sony Pictures Imageworks and The Orphanage).
Mad Cow Enlisted for Clifford Feature
Sydney, Australia-based animation studio Mad Cow Pictures announced it is providing pre-production and production design, effects and support for the upcoming feature version of CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG. The film is being produced by Scholastic Entertainment, Big Red Dog Productions and Starburst Studios. Mad Cows co-owner Steve Trenbirth will serve as the unit director.
Monster Distributes Acquires Harvey Krumpet
In a deal stemming from connections made at the Annecy International Animation Festival, Monster Distributes has acquired the rights to Adam Elliots HARVIE KRUMPET. Monster now holds the international distribution rights for the 23-minute stop-motion film.
