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Tagged With: Disney

Disney Headline News

Cage to Conjure Live Action Sorcerer's Apprentice for Disney

Nicolas Cage (NATIONAL TREASURE: THE BOOK OF SECRETS) will star in a live-action re-imagining of THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE for Walt Disney Pictures, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The fantasy adventure is based on Johann Wolfgang Goethe's original poem that inspired the animated Mickey Mouse sequence from FANTASIA. Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal are scripting; no director is attached yet.

Cage would play a sorcerer in contemporary New York in search of a worthy apprentice.

Disney Headline News

Disney VFX Pioneer Peter Ellenshaw Passes Away

Peter Ellenshaw, the Oscar-winning visual effects pioneer and matte artist who worked his inventive magic on such classic Disney live-action films as MARY POPPINS, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, TREASURE ISLAND and THE BLACK HOLE, passed away at his home in Santa Barbara on Monday (Feb. 12, 2007) at the age of 93.

Television Headline News

Disney-ABC Television Group Renames Television Studio

The Disney-ABC Television Group will rename its in-house production company, Touchstone Television, as the ABC Television Studio, it was announced at the 2007 Disney Investor Conference by Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney-ABC Television Group. The announcement was made as part of a company-wide strategy to focus on three core brands, Disney, ABC and ESPN.

Disney Headline News

Disney Confirms Partial 2D Rebirth & Toy Story 3 For 2009

Refuting months of speculation that Walt Disney Feature Animation would be retooled and rebranded exclusively for 2D, Ed Catmull, president of Pixar and WDFA, revealed plans for merely a partial return to 2D last week at the 2007 Investor Conference. Meanwhile, it was formally announced that TOY STORY 3 is being made at Pixar with Lee Unkrich at the helm (co-director of TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO) and a script by Michael Arndt, Oscar-nominated for LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. Plans are to release in 2010.

Disney Headline News

Buena Vista Games Now Called Disney Interactive Studios

Disney announced the renaming of its videogame business unit to Disney Interactive Studios at the company's investor conference in Orlando. Disney Interactive Studios' svp/gm, Graham Hopper, commented, "This change reflects our focus on creativity, the weight of Disney content in our portfolio, and the enormous value consumers see in the Disney brand."

Disney Headline News

Bionicle 2 & 3 Debut On Toon Disney

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at 12:00am

Toon Disney presents the premieres of BIONICLE 2: LEGEND OF METRU NUI and BIONICLE 3: WEB OF SHADOWS on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007. BIONICLE 2 will air from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, ET/PT with BIONICLE 3 following directly after.

In LEGENDS OF METRU NUI, the story continues when six Matoran from the city of Metru Nui are chosen by Toa Lhikan to become mighty Toa Metru. However, all is not right when Matorans start to vanish, Turaga Dume starts to act strangely and Toa Lhikan is captured. Along with five other courageous souls, Toa Vakama sets out to free Toa Lhikan.

Disney Headline News

Zemeckis & Disney to Partner on Performance Capture

The Walt Disney Studios formally announced that it is getting into the performance capture business with director Robert Zemeckis and his ImageMovers production company. This would not only complement Disney's animation output with the new 3D animation hybrid format, but would also expand its digital 3-D capability.

Disney Headline News

Digital Peter Pan to Take Flight at El Capitan Theatre

Walt Disney's animated classic PETER PAN makes its big screen digital debut at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre from Feb. 1-15, 2007. The special two-week engagement, which heralds the March 6 arrival of an all-new two-disc Platinum Edition DVD, will feature a newly restored digital version of the film with enhanced picture and sound.

Toon Headline News

Toon Disney Hosts "The Great Toon Weekend Getaway"

Toon Disney presents "The Great Toon Weekend" every weekend beginning Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007. Leading off every Saturday and Sunday afternoon is TOON DISNEY'S BIG MOVIE SHOW (12:00-2:00 pm, ET/PT), followed by five hours (2:00-7:00 pm, ET/PT) of programming showcasing popular series that are based on hit Disney animated feature films.

Beginning Jan. 27, Toon Disney's afternoon schedule is:

12:00 pm: TOON DISNEY'S BIG MOVIE SHOW2:00 pm: ALADDIN (back to back episodes)3:00 pm: TIMON & PUMBAA (back to back episodes)

Disney Headline News

General Mills & Disney Launch High Nutrition/Low Cost Cereal Line

General Mills and Disney are launching a new line of breakfast cereals this month at the suggested retail price of $1.99. The line promises to offer whole grains and a good source of vitamin D and calcium to meets Disney's recently announced food guidelines for ready-to-eat cereals.

Disney Headline News

Disney's Iger Touts Technology & Website Redesign at CES

The Walt Disney Co. president/ceo Bob Iger unveiled his company's newly redesigned and enhanced Disney.com website, which will launch later this month, in his keynote address to the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

He told the assembly that Disney is committed to working with consumer electronics as it builds on its tradition of using the newest technology to create high-quality content.

Disney Headline News

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Unveils New Attractions Powered by Franchises

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is poised to unveil a full slate of new attractions and entertainment in the coming year, highlighted by the continued rollout around the world of its Where Dreams Come True initiative.

Disney Headline News

Paul Shurgot Upped to Disney Studios SVP/CFO

Paul Shurgot, a key member of Disney's financial team for more than 11 years, has been promoted from deputy cfo to svp/cfo for The Walt Disney Studios. In his new role, Shurgot oversees all finance, accounting and information technology for the studio, including Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Animation, Miramax Films, Buena Vista Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Buena Vista Worldwide Home Ent., Disney Theatrical Prods., and the Buena Vista Music Group.

Disney Headline News

Walt Disney DVD Treasures Wave 6 Released

Wave 6 in the popular WALT DISNEY TREASURES DVD series has arrived Dec. 19, 2006 (Walt Disney Home Ent., $32.99 each). Included in the four new two-disc sets are MORE SILLY SYMPHONIES, THE COMPLETE PLUTO VOLUME 2, YOUR HOST, WALT DISNEY and THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB FEATURING THE HARDY BOYS.

Disney Headline News

Disney Channel Celebrates The Season With December Programming

Disney Channel is lining up holiday-themed editions of its most popular primetime and Playhouse Disney programs to air throughout the month of December.

The Playhouse Disney lineup for Saturday, Dec. 16, includes: * THE KOALA BROTHERS -- "The Koala Brothers Outback Christmas" (6:00 am, ET/PT)* THE WIGGLES -- "Santa's Rockin'" (7:00 am, ET/PT)* LITTLE EINSTEINS -- "The Christmas Wish" (8:00 am, ET/PT)* HIGGLYTOWN HEROES -- "Twinkle's Wish" (8:30 am, ET/PT)* MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE -- "Mickey Saves Santa" (9:00 am, ET/PT)

Disney Headline News

Disney Channel in Europe Ups Funds for Original Programs

Disney Channel in Europe announced plans to ramp up its investment in original programming and local co-productions by opening a "London hub" to headquarter its expansion plans and develop long- and short-form programming geared to kids worldwide.

Disney Headline News

Roy Disney at True-Life DVD Release Celebration Tonight

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 12:00am

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006, at 7:30 pm, the American Cinematheque will be hosting a screening of Walt Disney's TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES films in celebration of the DVD release. The TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES -- a series of 13 groundbreaking film shorts and short features released between 1948-1960 that captured the wonder of animals and nature and won eight Academy Awards -- epitomize the magic of Walt Disney.

Dreamworks Headline News

Nina Jacobson Signs First-Look with DreamWorks

Nina Jacobson has signed a three-year, first-look agreement at DreamWorks Studios, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. This deal comes six months after she was removed as head of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. The new agreement goes into effect in January.

Jacobson previously worked at DreamWorks as a senior film exec prior to taking the post of president of the motion picture division at Disney in 1998. At DreamWorks, she developed hits, such as WHAT LIES BENEATH and ANTZ, for which she is credited as formulating the original idea.

Disney Headline News

Disney Feature Animation to Layoff 20% of Staff

Walt Disney Co. will cut about 20% of its staff in the feature animation division. Animation Guild business representative Steve Hulett told REUTERS that between 70 to 140 people would lose their jobs either at the end of February or beginning of March. Employees will be informed of who will be cut on Dec. 11 or 12, 2006, Hulett said.

Disney Headline News

Al Rocker on JoJo's Circus & Giant Balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

NBC TODAY SHOW weather & feature reporter Al Roker guest stars as the voice of Normus the giant in a new episode of Playhouse Disney's JOJO'S CIRCUS, premiering Nov. 20, 2006, with a rebroadcast on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23 in a six-hour block of TV's first movement-focused series. JoJo will also fly as a giant balloon in the 80th anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first-ever balloon to feature "movement" -- juggling.

Disney Headline News

Toon Disney Presents World Television Premiere Of Bambi II

BAMBI II makes its world television premiere on Toon Disney's Big Movie Show at 5:00 pm on Nov. 3, 2006. The direct-to-DVD sequel released Feb. 7, concerns the tender relationship between Bambi (voiced by Alexander Gould of FINDING NEMO) and his father, The Great Prince of the Forest (Patrick Stewart), following the death of his mother.

Animated Headline News

Disney Draws Up Animated Live-Action Flick

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:00am

Disney has bought the rights to ANIMATED AMERICAN, a live-action/animation hybrid that deals with the issue of teens trying to fit in, VARIETY reports. Producers will be Bob Cooper's Landscape Ent. and ImageMovers partners Robert Zemeckis and Jack Rapke.

Peter Ackerman (ICE AGE) is set to write the screenplay, which will follow an animated outsider, who lives in a live-action world and must deal with his girlfriend leaving him while hes away at sea.

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