Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon will don the crown of the evil queen in Walt Disney Pictures' ENCHANTED, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The film has Sarandons Queen Narissa banishing a princess-in-waiting (Amy Adams) from a 2D animated world to the live-action world of New York City where the princess actually finds true love with a modern prince (James Marsden). The modern fairy is being directed by Kevin Lima from a script by Bill Kelly.
The world television premiere of the trailer for Walt Disney Pictures THE WILD will escape onto Starz screens Jan. 9, 2006. Starz Ent. Group (SEG) partners once again with Walt Disney Pictures to bring the 1:40 teaser trailer to its flagship channel.
The Walt Disney Co. will now offer additional programming from ESPN and ABC Sports, ABC Ent. and Touchstone Television, ABC Family, ABC News, Buena Vista Television, Disney Channel and SOAPnet, as well as content produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).
Beginning later this month, Disney Channel will provide episodes of the animated series KIM POSSIBLE and THE PROUD FAMILY. In addition, the libraries of ABC Ent. and Touchstone Television will sell the popular 1970's Saturday morning SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK vignettes.
Disney Channel's January is highlighted the debut of the new animated comedy series THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL, based on the feature, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Saturday mornings on ABC Kids. For the youngest viewers, a new season of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES debuts with guest stars Emmy Award-winning choreographer and actress Debbie Allen as the dance instructor who helps saves the day.
The maiden 3D-animated feature from the U.K. made by Vanguard Animation was pretty and amiable enough, but failed to make a box office dent after being deemed too cliché ridden and kid-friendly. Now the World War II pigeon adventure produced by John H. Williams (the SHREK movies) and directed by Gary Chapman gets another chance on DVD (Disney DVD, $29.99).
Bonus features include:* Bloopers* VALIANT Training Challenge: Three different game levels
Disney's KIM POSSIBLE the animated hit comedy/action series from Walt Disney Television Animation, resumes production for a fourth season of 22 new episodes. KIM POSSIBLE airs in the U.S. on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and the ABC Television Network's "ABC Kids" daypart.
The international hit, KIM POSSIBLE, is from multiple Emmy-nominated creators/exec producers Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle. Emmy nominee Steve Loter also returns as director and producer of the fourth season.
Emmy Award-winning choreographer/actress Debbie Allen guest stars on the hit series for preschoolers, HIGGLYTOWN HEROES, premiering Jan. 2, 2006, at 7:30 am during the learning-focused programming block Playhouse Disney on Disney Channel. Allen voices the role of the Dance Instructor, who teaches Eubie how to waltz just in time for his cousin's wedding.
Walt Disney TV, EMEA and Asia Pacific are reorganising in an expansion drive, both into new technology and into new business areas, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2006. Leading off the new structure is Robert Gilby who joins Disney Channel UK and Disney Channel Scandinavia and the Middle East as vp/md.
Gilby most recently was vp, network development and strategic marketing for Turner Ent. Networks Asia in Hong Kong.
Disney Feature Animation has set its sights on a 3D-animated adaptation of PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, the bestselling Peter Pan prequel penned by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, published by Disney Editions/Hyperion Books, THE GUARDIAN reports.
The movie will be scripted by Jay Wolpert (THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL) and will focus on the origins of Pan, an orphan who flees a life of servitude by stowing aboard a merchant ship and discovering a magic substance that enables him to fly.
Disney is marking Winnie the Pooh's 80th anniversary in 2005/2006 with an 18-month celebration to be commemorated with new Winnie the Pooh entertainment from Disney Live!, Buena Vista Home Ent. and Walt Disney Records; special edition product from Disney Consumer Products; and international support in all major regions leading to the 2007 premiere of Disney Channel's learning-focused 3D-animated series for preschoolers, MY FRIENDS TIGGER AND POOH. Winnie the Pooh's 80th Anniversary kicked off this week with the New York premiere of DISNEY LIVE!
REAL D, a leader in the delivery of premium 3-D experiences, plans to expand to Japan with the installation of the first two screens after the successful launch of CHICKEN LITTLE in Disney Digital 3-D, which has grossed more than $7 million through the Thanksgiving weekend. REAL D will open screens at Oriental Land Co.'s AMC Ikspiari 16 and Warner Mycal's Tama for the presentation of CHICKEN LITTLE starting Dec. 23, 2005.
E. Cardon "Card" Walker, who led The Walt Disney Co. for nearly a decade and a half following the death of co-founder Roy O. Disney, passed away at his La Canada, California home on Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, at the age of 89.
New holiday and Christmas themed episodes of Disney Channel's hit series for pre-schoolers, kids and tweens, are unwrapped throughout December while Toon Disney features a special Christmas movie every Friday and Saturday evening as part of its "Month of Merriment."
New Year's Eve is celebrated with Disney Channel's 8th annual viewer's choice programming event where viewers' votes determine the programming lineup for the last day of the year and the first day of 2006.
Irving Ludwig, former president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and one of the most respected and innovative executives in theatrical film distribution, passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California, from natural causes on Nov. 26. He was 95-years -old.
JoJo, the star of Disney Channel's JOJO'S CIRCUS, a Playhouse Disney series for preschoolers, will be unveiled as a giant helium balloon next week in the 79th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. At more than 60 feet high, it is one of the biggest balloons in the parade, which runs from New York Citys Upper West Side to Herald Square.
Walt Disney Television Animation (DTVA) has been folded into Disney Channel Worldwide with a corresponding new departmental structure for the division. Rich Ross, president, Disney Channel Worldwide, made the announcement today, (Nov. 15, 2005) on the heels of the resignation of Barry Blumberg, former president, Walt Disney Television Animation, yesterday.
After 11 years overseeing Walt Disney Television Animation (WDTVA), ultimately as president, Barry Blumberg announced his resignation from the group. He will remain with the company through the end of January to aid in the integration of the WDTVA Group into Disney Channel Worldwide. An announcement concerning the restructuring of Walt Disney Television Animation and its integration into Disney Channel Worldwide will be forthcoming.
This month Dr. Toon plays the “What If” game to see how the world of animation would be different if in an alternative reality Dick Tracy was an animated star, Bob Clampett lived longer or Walt Disney never lost Oswald the Rabbit.
Bill Desowitz chats with ILMs Joel Aron about the challenges of converting Chicken Little into the all-new Disney Digital 3-D process.
With Chicken Little, Disney fully embraces 3D animation for the first time. Bill Desowitz explores how the studios CG future is being defined by its traditional legacy.
Inspired by last years enormously successful THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE and encouraged by a flurry of interest in three-dimensional digital cinema, Walt Disney Pictures will unveil its first all CG-animated feature, CHICKEN LITTLE, in a new Disney Digital 3D process when it bows Nov. 4. This event marks the first digital 3D theatrical presentation.
Launching an aggressive new effort to combat piracy, The Walt Disney Studios will utilize state-of-the-art encryption technology from Cinea, a subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, for 2005 DVD awards screeners. The agreement marks a milestone in the search for an industry-wide solution to deter movie piracy.
Among the likely contenders for DVD awards screeners are CHICKEN LITTLE, HOWLS MOVING CASTLE, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, SHOPGIRL AND CASANOVA.
DIC Ent. has gone public on London's AIM market under the symbol DEKEq.L. The stock became available on Oct. 14, 2005, and by closing was up 3% at 255-1/2 pence, giving DIC a market capitalization of about 108 million pounds ($188.8 million). DIC raised 17.4 million pounds as part of the listing and shareholders saw a further 13 million by selling down their stakes. Bridgewell serves as an adviser and broker to DIC.
Set to step down from the Walt Disney board at the next annual meeting, Michael Eisner quietly exited the post early on Sept. 30, the same day he left the company as ceo. Buried in a filing late Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Disney included the statement Eisner "no longer provides any services" for the company.
Paul OHiggins has been appointed vp, marketing, Walt Disney Television, EMEA, to oversee all aspects of marketing, on and off air, across Europe, Middle East and Africa. He will be responsible for creating major marketing campaigns for Disneys key TV shows and channel launches, plus work with local markets to create the most successful strategies for them.
OHiggins was vp, creative at Nickelodeon, where he led the creative plans for on- and off-air, creating programming stunts, marathons, competitions and short-form interstitials.
