For years many fans of Pixar films have become familiar with a particular voice in their movies. That voice is actor and comedian John Ratzenberger. While many growing up in the 1980s remember him as Cliff Calvin on the popular sitcom Cheers, children from the mid-1990s to the late 2010s have heard his voice in other places.
Starting in the 1995 animated film Toy Story as Hamm the piggy bank, the actor went on to appear in 23 films for the animation studio. He was P.T. Flea in A Bug’s Life, Yeti in Monsters Inc., The Underminer in The Incredibles, Mack the Truck in Cars, and many more. In essence he became the Stan Lee of Pixar.
However, in recent years, he has been noticeably absent. His last vocal appearance was in 2020’s Onward as Fennwick the Cyclops. There was apparently a cameo in 2020’s Soul, but it was more...
Starting in the 1995 animated film Toy Story as Hamm the piggy bank, the actor went on to appear in 23 films for the animation studio. He was P.T. Flea in A Bug’s Life, Yeti in Monsters Inc., The Underminer in The Incredibles, Mack the Truck in Cars, and many more. In essence he became the Stan Lee of Pixar.
However, in recent years, he has been noticeably absent. His last vocal appearance was in 2020’s Onward as Fennwick the Cyclops. There was apparently a cameo in 2020’s Soul, but it was more...
- 5/18/2024
- by Mr. Milo
- Pirates & Princesses
Apple TV+ has announced the premiere date for first installment of its upcoming animated adventure trilogy WondLa, hailing from Skydance Animation and based on the New York Times bestselling book series The Search for WondLa by Tony Diterlizzi.
Showrun and executive produced by Bobs Gannaway, the seven-episode first season of WondLa will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, June 28.
WondLa centers around Eva, voiced by Jeanine Mason, a curious, enthusiastic and spirited teenager being raised in a state-of-the-art underground bunker by Muthr, a robot caretaker, voiced by Emmy Award nominee Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives).
On her 16th birthday, an attack on Eva’s bunker forces her onto the Earth’s surface which is now inhabited by aliens, covered with other-worldly fauna, and no other humans to be found. In fact, it’s no longer called Earth but Orbona.
Otto, a loveable giant water bear with whom Eva shares telepathic...
Showrun and executive produced by Bobs Gannaway, the seven-episode first season of WondLa will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, June 28.
WondLa centers around Eva, voiced by Jeanine Mason, a curious, enthusiastic and spirited teenager being raised in a state-of-the-art underground bunker by Muthr, a robot caretaker, voiced by Emmy Award nominee Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives).
On her 16th birthday, an attack on Eva’s bunker forces her onto the Earth’s surface which is now inhabited by aliens, covered with other-worldly fauna, and no other humans to be found. In fact, it’s no longer called Earth but Orbona.
Otto, a loveable giant water bear with whom Eva shares telepathic...
- 4/30/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Toy Story 5: Release Date, Cast, Plot, & More; Here’s All You Need To Know About This Upcoming Film!
Toy Story 5 Release Date Revealed! (Photo Credit- IMDb)
Pixar’s Toy Story began its journey almost three decades ago and had four movies in that franchise, with the fifth one’s release date revealed. Woody and Buzz Lightyear have been a part of many kids’ childhoods and continue to do that. Today, we have brought you every detail we know about Toy Story 5, so stick to the end to get all the details.
About Toy Story Franchise –
The first film came out in 1995 and was the first entirely computer-animated feature film. It was also the first feature film from Pixar. John Lasseter directed it. The movies take place in the world of toys. The two main protagonists in these films are the old-fashioned pull-string Cowboy toy named Woody and the modern space cadet action figure Buzz Lightyear. Besides these films, there are also spin-offs, such as Buzz Lightyear...
Pixar’s Toy Story began its journey almost three decades ago and had four movies in that franchise, with the fifth one’s release date revealed. Woody and Buzz Lightyear have been a part of many kids’ childhoods and continue to do that. Today, we have brought you every detail we know about Toy Story 5, so stick to the end to get all the details.
About Toy Story Franchise –
The first film came out in 1995 and was the first entirely computer-animated feature film. It was also the first feature film from Pixar. John Lasseter directed it. The movies take place in the world of toys. The two main protagonists in these films are the old-fashioned pull-string Cowboy toy named Woody and the modern space cadet action figure Buzz Lightyear. Besides these films, there are also spin-offs, such as Buzz Lightyear...
- 4/6/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
It's astonishing to look back at John Lasseter's 1995 film "Toy Story" and regard how rudimentary it looks by today's standards. "Toy Story" was the first widely distributed CGI-animated feature film, and it felt overwhelmingly revolutionary at the time. Many were astonished at how expressive and fun CGI characters could be, and the film's success effectively ushered in a sea change in the animation world. In 2024, traditional cel animation is incredibly uncommon, and CGI is the naturally assumed standard.
CGI characters are designed to essentially be "puppets," in terms of their elasticity. Animators, at least at the time, were forced to stay on-model, only able to expand eyeballs or raise eyebrows so high. It wouldn't be for years that CG characters could mutate, squash, and stretch the way hand-drawn characters could. "Toy Story" benefitted from being about, well, toys. Its characters were all made of plastic, so there was an...
CGI characters are designed to essentially be "puppets," in terms of their elasticity. Animators, at least at the time, were forced to stay on-model, only able to expand eyeballs or raise eyebrows so high. It wouldn't be for years that CG characters could mutate, squash, and stretch the way hand-drawn characters could. "Toy Story" benefitted from being about, well, toys. Its characters were all made of plastic, so there was an...
- 4/1/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Top 10 animated movies of all time ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we explore a curated selection of the greatest animated films ever crafted. If your favorite isn’t included, don’t worry; there may be a follow-up if this piece strikes a chord with readers. Animated movies, particularly those tailored for young audiences, have traditionally been led by Disney and its offshoot Pixar. Despite their continuous reinvention of beloved tales, both studios have gifted us a wealth of timeless animated treasures. So, without delay, let’s begin our cinematic voyage through the enchanting world of animation.
10. Cars (2006)
Director: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director) Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75% IMDb Score: 7./10 Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes Available on: Disney Plus (US & India)
On his journey to the most important race of his career, Lightning McQueen gets separated from his hauler truck,...
Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we explore a curated selection of the greatest animated films ever crafted. If your favorite isn’t included, don’t worry; there may be a follow-up if this piece strikes a chord with readers. Animated movies, particularly those tailored for young audiences, have traditionally been led by Disney and its offshoot Pixar. Despite their continuous reinvention of beloved tales, both studios have gifted us a wealth of timeless animated treasures. So, without delay, let’s begin our cinematic voyage through the enchanting world of animation.
10. Cars (2006)
Director: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director) Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75% IMDb Score: 7./10 Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes Available on: Disney Plus (US & India)
On his journey to the most important race of his career, Lightning McQueen gets separated from his hauler truck,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
The genius behind Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, and the Netflix hit Wednesday, Tim Burton sat for an interview with The Independent. With a discussion ranging from his love for the gothic genre to his upcoming movie Beetlejuice 2, Burton even recalled his time when he attended the California Institute of the Arts animation programme, sponsored by Disney.
Filmmaker Tim Burton | credit: Wikimedia Commons
Taking a trip down memory lane along with various other luminaries like Brad Bird, John Musker, and more, Tim Burton recalled the time when he pretended to be a vampire, roaming through the halls of his university. Putting on quite the stunt, until he passed out, Burton even insisted on having pictures from the moment.
Tim Burton Discussed His Upcoming Movie Beetlejuice 2
From several Johnny Depp-starrer gothic movies like Edward Scissorhands to making dark television dramas like Jenna Ortega‘s Wednesday, Tim Burton has created...
Filmmaker Tim Burton | credit: Wikimedia Commons
Taking a trip down memory lane along with various other luminaries like Brad Bird, John Musker, and more, Tim Burton recalled the time when he pretended to be a vampire, roaming through the halls of his university. Putting on quite the stunt, until he passed out, Burton even insisted on having pictures from the moment.
Tim Burton Discussed His Upcoming Movie Beetlejuice 2
From several Johnny Depp-starrer gothic movies like Edward Scissorhands to making dark television dramas like Jenna Ortega‘s Wednesday, Tim Burton has created...
- 3/22/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
The renowned filmmaker and enthusiast has been absent at the awards for a second time. Miyazaki, known for his work with his production company Studio Ghibli, has not attended the Academy Awards twice this time, even after winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
With numerous nominations and two Oscars, Miyazaki is undoubtedly one of the best animated filmmakers of his era. He is known for directing movies with subtlety and a plot that fills viewers with joy and anticipation. He is known for The Wind Rises, Howl’s Moving Castle, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and his latest work, The Boy and the Heron.
Miyazaki and The Oscars
The Boy and the Heron
In the 2003 Academy Awards, for his film Spirited Away, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. But he didn’t show up to the award function.
A few years later,...
With numerous nominations and two Oscars, Miyazaki is undoubtedly one of the best animated filmmakers of his era. He is known for directing movies with subtlety and a plot that fills viewers with joy and anticipation. He is known for The Wind Rises, Howl’s Moving Castle, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and his latest work, The Boy and the Heron.
Miyazaki and The Oscars
The Boy and the Heron
In the 2003 Academy Awards, for his film Spirited Away, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. But he didn’t show up to the award function.
A few years later,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Archak
- FandomWire
The late '70s were a dark time for Disney. Following the death of Walt Disney, the studio went through much experimentation (not all of which was successful), and the departure of animator Don Bluth and several other animators led to a mini-crisis at the studio. Still, this was a very interesting time for Disney, which released many movies unlike anything they'd made before or since, from the sci-fi adventure "The Black Hole" to the criminally underrated "The Black Cauldron."
Loosely based on the first two books in Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain" series, the film follows a bard and a princess who try to destroy a powerful and ancient magical cauldron before the wicked Horned King uses it to rule the world. This is by far the darkest animated movie Disney has made, one that starts with an explanation that the Black Cauldron's power comes from an...
Loosely based on the first two books in Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain" series, the film follows a bard and a princess who try to destroy a powerful and ancient magical cauldron before the wicked Horned King uses it to rule the world. This is by far the darkest animated movie Disney has made, one that starts with an explanation that the Black Cauldron's power comes from an...
- 3/3/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
It’s already been a busy 2024 for Netflix. Out is long time film chief Scott Stuber; in are live sports (sort of), a huge Sundance splash, and 18 Oscar nominations, the most of any individual studio. What does the next 11 months have in store? Answer: a hell of a lot.
Netflix on February 1 released a teaser video for its biggest properties arriving in 2024, including more than 50 new movies and 90 new and returning series. The highlight is “Squid Game 2,” the follow-up season to the South Korean dystopian smash hit that became Netflix’s biggest show of all time.
At the end of Netflix’s mega-tease, we see Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and his new bright-red hair walking through an airport when a mysterious voice on his phone tells him, “You’re going to regret the choice you made.”
“I’m going to find you, no matter what it takes,” he says in return.
Netflix on February 1 released a teaser video for its biggest properties arriving in 2024, including more than 50 new movies and 90 new and returning series. The highlight is “Squid Game 2,” the follow-up season to the South Korean dystopian smash hit that became Netflix’s biggest show of all time.
At the end of Netflix’s mega-tease, we see Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and his new bright-red hair walking through an airport when a mysterious voice on his phone tells him, “You’re going to regret the choice you made.”
“I’m going to find you, no matter what it takes,” he says in return.
- 2/1/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Netflix is not going to change up its movie strategy in the wake of the exit of film chairman Scott Stuber, according to co-ceo Ted Sarandos.
Sarandos did not directly address Stuber’s departure, news of which came out Monday. But, asked on the streamer’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings interview about whether “recent management departures” might signal a shift away from original movies, Sarandos replied, “We do not plan to change our strategy or the mix [of licensed and original films]. It’s always going to be that kind of blend of, first window, second window and deep catalog. We think that formula works best to entertain the world.”
Netflix’s original movies “are attracting some of the biggest audiences in the world,” Sarandos said, adding that Netflix’s original films outperform licensed titles on balance. He called out “Leave the World Behind,” the dystopian thriller from executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama that stars Mahershala Ali,...
Sarandos did not directly address Stuber’s departure, news of which came out Monday. But, asked on the streamer’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings interview about whether “recent management departures” might signal a shift away from original movies, Sarandos replied, “We do not plan to change our strategy or the mix [of licensed and original films]. It’s always going to be that kind of blend of, first window, second window and deep catalog. We think that formula works best to entertain the world.”
Netflix’s original movies “are attracting some of the biggest audiences in the world,” Sarandos said, adding that Netflix’s original films outperform licensed titles on balance. He called out “Leave the World Behind,” the dystopian thriller from executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama that stars Mahershala Ali,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has confirmed some news: some fan favorite hits are returning this year that we previously didn’t realize would be debuting in 2024!
Specifically, Squid Game‘s second season and The Diplomat season 2, and more.
Netflix revealed these details (and some info we already knew previously) in a letter to shareholders.
Keep reading to find out more…
The letter reads, via Variety, “Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024. Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2; unscripted series like Tour de France: Unchained S2, Love is Blind S6, F1: Drive to Survive S6 and Full Swing S2; and brand new shows like 3 Body Problem (based on the best selling novel and from the Game of Thrones showrunners), Griselda, The Gentlemen...
Specifically, Squid Game‘s second season and The Diplomat season 2, and more.
Netflix revealed these details (and some info we already knew previously) in a letter to shareholders.
Keep reading to find out more…
The letter reads, via Variety, “Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024. Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2; unscripted series like Tour de France: Unchained S2, Love is Blind S6, F1: Drive to Survive S6 and Full Swing S2; and brand new shows like 3 Body Problem (based on the best selling novel and from the Game of Thrones showrunners), Griselda, The Gentlemen...
- 1/23/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The hit series “Squid Game” will be returning to Netflix for Season 2, and Netflix notes in a letter to shareholders this week – obtained by Variety – that it’s planned for this year.
Here’s the full letter from Netflix that was shared by Variety this afternoon:
Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024. Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2; unscripted series like Tour de France: Unchained S2, Love is Blind S6, F1: Drive to Survive S6 and Full Swing S2; and brand new shows like 3 Body Problem (based on the best selling novel and from the Game of Thrones showrunners), Griselda, The Gentlemen (from Guy Ritchie), Eric (starring Benedict Cumberbach), Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cien Años de Soledad...
Here’s the full letter from Netflix that was shared by Variety this afternoon:
Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024. Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2; unscripted series like Tour de France: Unchained S2, Love is Blind S6, F1: Drive to Survive S6 and Full Swing S2; and brand new shows like 3 Body Problem (based on the best selling novel and from the Game of Thrones showrunners), Griselda, The Gentlemen (from Guy Ritchie), Eric (starring Benedict Cumberbach), Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cien Años de Soledad...
- 1/23/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Netflix extended its lead as the world’s biggest premium video-streaming platform — pulling in a better-than-expected 13.1 million subscribers for the fourth quarter of 2023, a Q4 record. The company’s Q4 revenue came in slightly above Wall Street forecasts, while net income fell short.
As of the end of 2023, Netflix counted 260.28 million total members globally. On average, analysts expected the company to report about 8.8 million net new subs for the year-end quarter.
Netflix shares were up more than 8% in after-hours trading on the subscriber beat.
Revenue in Q4 grew 12% year over year, to $8.83 billion, higher than Netflix’s previous forecast due to favorable foreign exchange rates and “stronger than anticipated membership growth,” the company said. Net income was $938 million, or $2.11 per share. Wall Street expected earnings per share of $2.22 on revenue of $8.71 billion, according to financial data provider Lseg (formerly known as Refinitiv).
The Q4 earnings report comes after Netflix announced...
As of the end of 2023, Netflix counted 260.28 million total members globally. On average, analysts expected the company to report about 8.8 million net new subs for the year-end quarter.
Netflix shares were up more than 8% in after-hours trading on the subscriber beat.
Revenue in Q4 grew 12% year over year, to $8.83 billion, higher than Netflix’s previous forecast due to favorable foreign exchange rates and “stronger than anticipated membership growth,” the company said. Net income was $938 million, or $2.11 per share. Wall Street expected earnings per share of $2.22 on revenue of $8.71 billion, according to financial data provider Lseg (formerly known as Refinitiv).
The Q4 earnings report comes after Netflix announced...
- 1/23/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Spellbound and John Lasseter – Pictures: Skydance Animation and GettyImages
Skydance Animation, which ex-Pixar head John Lasseter currently heads, unceremoniously dropped its seemingly homely, animated feature deal at Apple TV for a partnership with Netflix back in November 2023.
Netflix’s Original animated feature output has long been a discussion point of the industry. It’s an area that Ted Sarandos has addressed numerous times, most recently citing the re-watch value this type of content delivers for subscribers, and his view that Netflix are “underpenetrated” in the genre. This was as the streamer came off arguably its biggest flex of the year, swiping Skydance Animation from its output deal at Apple TV+. Despite restructuring and layoffs that recently impacted the internal Netflix Animation division, animated family movies seem to be a key part of the future strategy.
Netflix already has a partnership with Skydance Media at large, with recent output on the kids side,...
Skydance Animation, which ex-Pixar head John Lasseter currently heads, unceremoniously dropped its seemingly homely, animated feature deal at Apple TV for a partnership with Netflix back in November 2023.
Netflix’s Original animated feature output has long been a discussion point of the industry. It’s an area that Ted Sarandos has addressed numerous times, most recently citing the re-watch value this type of content delivers for subscribers, and his view that Netflix are “underpenetrated” in the genre. This was as the streamer came off arguably its biggest flex of the year, swiping Skydance Animation from its output deal at Apple TV+. Despite restructuring and layoffs that recently impacted the internal Netflix Animation division, animated family movies seem to be a key part of the future strategy.
Netflix already has a partnership with Skydance Media at large, with recent output on the kids side,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Emily Horgan
- Whats-on-Netflix
Thanksgiving weekend featured an animation face-off between a titan of the industry, the 100-year-old Walt Disney Animation Studios, and a relative upstart, Netflix, which only started releasing its own animated features in 2019.
Disney’s holiday movie, “Wish,” was a musical extravaganza featuring the watercolor backgrounds of the studio’s past combined with cutting-edge CGI, while Netflix’s “Leo” was a more budget-conscious musical set in modern-day Florida.
It was a showdown of theatrical versus streaming, legacy studio versus blustery upstart, fairy tale versus contemporary storytelling. And the results were startling.
While “Wish” came in third at the box office with a disappointing $31.6 million, the Adam Sandler-starring “Leo” debuted to 34.6 million views (which is hours viewed divided by total runtime), according to Netflix, which in box office terms equaled a haul of around $500 million for its opening weekend, one insider with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. “Leo” has been...
Disney’s holiday movie, “Wish,” was a musical extravaganza featuring the watercolor backgrounds of the studio’s past combined with cutting-edge CGI, while Netflix’s “Leo” was a more budget-conscious musical set in modern-day Florida.
It was a showdown of theatrical versus streaming, legacy studio versus blustery upstart, fairy tale versus contemporary storytelling. And the results were startling.
While “Wish” came in third at the box office with a disappointing $31.6 million, the Adam Sandler-starring “Leo” debuted to 34.6 million views (which is hours viewed divided by total runtime), according to Netflix, which in box office terms equaled a haul of around $500 million for its opening weekend, one insider with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. “Leo” has been...
- 12/11/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Skydance Media, RedBird Capital reportedly mulling a deal.
Paramount Global stock leapt 14% on Friday morning following speculation that David Ellison’s Skydance Media and private equity player RedBird Capital are mulling over a controlling stake in the media company.
While some Hollywood insiders have counselled it may be too soon to say whether Paramount Global, which has a $9.9bn market cap, will actually sell and who will buy, industry talk in the past week has centred on Skydance and Redbird making a play for National Amusements.
The latter, run by Shari Redstone, owns a majority stake in Paramount Global, whose assets include Paramount Pictures,...
Paramount Global stock leapt 14% on Friday morning following speculation that David Ellison’s Skydance Media and private equity player RedBird Capital are mulling over a controlling stake in the media company.
While some Hollywood insiders have counselled it may be too soon to say whether Paramount Global, which has a $9.9bn market cap, will actually sell and who will buy, industry talk in the past week has centred on Skydance and Redbird making a play for National Amusements.
The latter, run by Shari Redstone, owns a majority stake in Paramount Global, whose assets include Paramount Pictures,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Founded in 2008, New York-based production studio and distributor Gkids almost immediately established itself as the United States’ most valuable lifeline to animated cinema from around the world, and so — after earning 12 Oscar nominations for introducing modern classics like “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and “Wolfwalkers” to American audiences — it might seem a bit overblown to suggest that the label’s reputation could still hang in the balance of a single dub. Gkids president Dave Jesteadt certainly didn’t expect that to be the case when he formally took the reins in January 2017, as the already thriving company was still on the verge of its greatest triumphs. And yet, by the end of the following month, everything that Gkids had accomplished would seem like a long prologue for the challenge that would ultimately define it.
On February 24, 2017, Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki announced that legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was coming...
On February 24, 2017, Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki announced that legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was coming...
- 12/7/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Pixar is working away on Toy Story 5 – although even Tim Allen wonders if five may be too many…
It was earlier in the year that Disney boss, Bob Iger, decided to offset some of the company’s problems by announcing a raft of sequels to the firm’s megahits. Those films? Frozen 3, Zootropolis 2 and – yep – Toy Story 5.
It was back in 2019 that the Toy Story saga appeared to have come to an end at Pixar, with the just-about-got-away-with-it Toy Story 4. Realistically, Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending to the trilogy, but the fourth film had enough in the tank, and certainly enough in the bank. Spin-off movie Lightyear fell to Earth in the summer of 2022.
When Iger announced Toy Story 5 though, there was some suspicion as to whether the lead voices – Tom Hanks and Tim Allen – would be persuaded to return to voice Woody and Buzz again.
It was earlier in the year that Disney boss, Bob Iger, decided to offset some of the company’s problems by announcing a raft of sequels to the firm’s megahits. Those films? Frozen 3, Zootropolis 2 and – yep – Toy Story 5.
It was back in 2019 that the Toy Story saga appeared to have come to an end at Pixar, with the just-about-got-away-with-it Toy Story 4. Realistically, Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending to the trilogy, but the fourth film had enough in the tank, and certainly enough in the bank. Spin-off movie Lightyear fell to Earth in the summer of 2022.
When Iger announced Toy Story 5 though, there was some suspicion as to whether the lead voices – Tom Hanks and Tim Allen – would be persuaded to return to voice Woody and Buzz again.
- 11/23/2023
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
On Nov. 17, 2000, Universal released the Jim Carrey-starring live-action adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas in theaters, where it would go on to gross $345 million globally. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:
While doing a big-screen live action remake of a beloved animated TV chestnut can no doubt be a daunting task, Ron Howard will never have to worry about his take on Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas being mistaken for anything resembling an instant holiday classic.
It’s not so much that the reported $120 million-plus production goes wrong somewhere along the way, but rather, it never goes right. The tone, which seemingly changes by the minute, is off from the start and leaves an utterly charmless trail of half-baked ideas and misguided attempts at subversive edginess in its wake.
Given Universal’s determination to set some kind of marketing record for Grinch tie-ins,...
While doing a big-screen live action remake of a beloved animated TV chestnut can no doubt be a daunting task, Ron Howard will never have to worry about his take on Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas being mistaken for anything resembling an instant holiday classic.
It’s not so much that the reported $120 million-plus production goes wrong somewhere along the way, but rather, it never goes right. The tone, which seemingly changes by the minute, is off from the start and leaves an utterly charmless trail of half-baked ideas and misguided attempts at subversive edginess in its wake.
Given Universal’s determination to set some kind of marketing record for Grinch tie-ins,...
- 11/16/2023
- by Michael Rechtshaffen
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
News of the death of Celluloid Dreams CEO Hengameh Panahi has sparked an outpouring of admiration and tributes from the independent film community.
Panahi, a pivotal figure in the global art house scene, died Nov. 5, aged 67. In her decades in the business — as a producer, co-financier and sales agent — Panahi introduced the world to international auteurs from Iran (Jafar Panahi, Marjane Satrapi), Europe (Jacques Audiard, François Ozon, Gaspar Noé, Marco Bellocchio, Aleksandr Sokurov, the Dardenne brothers) and across Asia (Takeshi Kitano, Naomi Kawase, Jia Zanghke, Hirokazu Kore-eda).
“She took films that were challenging, that were difficult to make, to sell, to promote, and she fought for them,” says Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) who knew and worked with Panahi for more than 30 years. “She was a unique part of the film ecosystem. She was really inspirational, with the films that she enabled to be made, and seen.”
Celluloid Dreams,...
Panahi, a pivotal figure in the global art house scene, died Nov. 5, aged 67. In her decades in the business — as a producer, co-financier and sales agent — Panahi introduced the world to international auteurs from Iran (Jafar Panahi, Marjane Satrapi), Europe (Jacques Audiard, François Ozon, Gaspar Noé, Marco Bellocchio, Aleksandr Sokurov, the Dardenne brothers) and across Asia (Takeshi Kitano, Naomi Kawase, Jia Zanghke, Hirokazu Kore-eda).
“She took films that were challenging, that were difficult to make, to sell, to promote, and she fought for them,” says Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) who knew and worked with Panahi for more than 30 years. “She was a unique part of the film ecosystem. She was really inspirational, with the films that she enabled to be made, and seen.”
Celluloid Dreams,...
- 11/10/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Groundbreaking French-Iranian sales agent and producer Hengameh Panahi, who represented a myriad of renowned Cannes and Venice prize-winning auteur directors, has died at the age of 67.
Paris-based press attaché Viviana Andriani, who handled press campaigns for a number of Panahi’s films, announced the news in a short communiqué.
She said Panahi had died on November 5 after bravely battling a long illness.
Panahi was a force to be reckoned with on the international film industry circuit, who launched dozens of renowned arthouse directors at the beginning of their careers and accompanied them as they won awards and fame.
Born in Iran, Panahi was sent to Belgium to complete her education as teenager.
She got her first big break in the film industry as head of international at Brussels-based animation studio Graphoui.
In an early sign of her flare for scouting promising talent, Panahi connected with John Lasseter and Tim Burton...
Paris-based press attaché Viviana Andriani, who handled press campaigns for a number of Panahi’s films, announced the news in a short communiqué.
She said Panahi had died on November 5 after bravely battling a long illness.
Panahi was a force to be reckoned with on the international film industry circuit, who launched dozens of renowned arthouse directors at the beginning of their careers and accompanied them as they won awards and fame.
Born in Iran, Panahi was sent to Belgium to complete her education as teenager.
She got her first big break in the film industry as head of international at Brussels-based animation studio Graphoui.
In an early sign of her flare for scouting promising talent, Panahi connected with John Lasseter and Tim Burton...
- 11/9/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Skybound Entertainment, the company behind animated TV series “Invincible,” has acquired the historic Spike & Mike’s animation events, with plans for a revival. Marge Dean, head of studio at Skybound Entertainment, announced the news at Toronto’s Animation Industry Conference (Taafi) on Saturday.
Spike & Mike began in the 1970s as a curator of animated shorts. “Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation,” which showcased out-of-the-box animated shorts, is known today for launching the careers of industry professionals such as Pete Docter (“Inside Out”), Matt Stone and Trey Parker (“South Park”) and John Lasseter (“Toy Story”).
Skybound said it will seek to honor the treasured brand by relaunching the animation events, making animated shorts available digitally, highlighting current talent in the animation industry through collaborations and reintroducing the Spike & Mike library. Details of the festival are still in the works, but planned awards initiatives include development opportunities, project stipends and acquisitions.
Spike & Mike began in the 1970s as a curator of animated shorts. “Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation,” which showcased out-of-the-box animated shorts, is known today for launching the careers of industry professionals such as Pete Docter (“Inside Out”), Matt Stone and Trey Parker (“South Park”) and John Lasseter (“Toy Story”).
Skybound said it will seek to honor the treasured brand by relaunching the animation events, making animated shorts available digitally, highlighting current talent in the animation industry through collaborations and reintroducing the Spike & Mike library. Details of the festival are still in the works, but planned awards initiatives include development opportunities, project stipends and acquisitions.
- 11/4/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
AFI and NYU won gold medals at the 2023 Student Academy Awards, which took place on Tuesday evening at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in the Academy’s headquarters in Beverly Hills.
The other two gold medals went to international schools, the École des Nouvelles Images in France and Filmakademie Wien in Austria.
Awards were given out in four categories, with up to three winners in each category being revealed ahead of time but the medal placement kept secret until the ceremony. Presenters included “Super Mario Bros. Movie” directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, Student Academy Awards committee chair Peggy Rajski and past Student Oscar winners Brad Bailey, Sujin Kim, Ken Kwapis, Freddy Macdonald, Olivia Peace and Kevin Wilson Jr.
In the Alternative/Experimental category, the gold medal went to AFI student Leo Behrens’ “Skin,” with no silver or bronze medals handed out.
In the animation category, all three winners were from...
The other two gold medals went to international schools, the École des Nouvelles Images in France and Filmakademie Wien in Austria.
Awards were given out in four categories, with up to three winners in each category being revealed ahead of time but the medal placement kept secret until the ceremony. Presenters included “Super Mario Bros. Movie” directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, Student Academy Awards committee chair Peggy Rajski and past Student Oscar winners Brad Bailey, Sujin Kim, Ken Kwapis, Freddy Macdonald, Olivia Peace and Kevin Wilson Jr.
In the Alternative/Experimental category, the gold medal went to AFI student Leo Behrens’ “Skin,” with no silver or bronze medals handed out.
In the animation category, all three winners were from...
- 10/25/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Netflix’s multi-year deal with Skydance Animation, which shifted over from Apple TV+, “helps complement the work that we’re doing” with original animated fare, Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said.
Partnering with third parties across the board “really helps us” to “keep up that scale as we grow,” the exec said on the company’s third-quarter earnings interview. Animation as a subset of the overall content mix has been an increasing priority in recent years, with co-founder and Executive Chairman Reed Hastings first publicly calling attention to it when he was running Netflix as CEO. Alluding to Disney, Hastings said in 2021 that execs were “very fired up about catching them in family animation, maybe eventually passing them, we’ll see.”
Hastings and Sarandos, however, have both conceded that everything in the animation business moves at a more deliberate pace than the rest of their operation. That’s where plugging in Skydance...
Partnering with third parties across the board “really helps us” to “keep up that scale as we grow,” the exec said on the company’s third-quarter earnings interview. Animation as a subset of the overall content mix has been an increasing priority in recent years, with co-founder and Executive Chairman Reed Hastings first publicly calling attention to it when he was running Netflix as CEO. Alluding to Disney, Hastings said in 2021 that execs were “very fired up about catching them in family animation, maybe eventually passing them, we’ll see.”
Hastings and Sarandos, however, have both conceded that everything in the animation business moves at a more deliberate pace than the rest of their operation. That’s where plugging in Skydance...
- 10/18/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
David Ellison’s fledgling Skydance Animation — run by head of animation John Lasseter and president Holly Edwards — has moved its movie slate from Apple Studios to Netflix. The multi-year streaming deal commences with next year’s musical fantasy “Spellbound,” directed by Vicky Jenson (“Shrek” and “Shark Tale”), featuring the voice talent of Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, and Javier Bardem, and boasting a score from Alan Menkin and original songs with lyricist Glen Slater. It’s about a princess who tries to reverse a spell that transformed her parents into monsters.
Set for release in 2025 is “Pookoo,” a buddy comedy about two enemies — a woodland creature and a majestic bird — that magically trade places. It’s helmed by former Disney director Nathan Greno (“Tangled”), with original music composed by Siddhartha Khosla.
Also in the works are two prestigious features that are a result of Lasseter’s strong relationships with directors Brad Bird...
Set for release in 2025 is “Pookoo,” a buddy comedy about two enemies — a woodland creature and a majestic bird — that magically trade places. It’s helmed by former Disney director Nathan Greno (“Tangled”), with original music composed by Siddhartha Khosla.
Also in the works are two prestigious features that are a result of Lasseter’s strong relationships with directors Brad Bird...
- 10/18/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Some people say all good things must end, and that is the case for Apple and Skydance Animation, who say they’re parting ways. While this is disappointing news, a silver lining remains. Apple is continuing its partnership with Skydance Media, with plans to work together on live-action film and television projects. The parting comes after the union’s multi-year deal ends. As a parting gift (of sorts), Skydance Animation keeps Spellbound, Vicky Jenson’s animated fantasy epic starring Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis, and Javier Bardem, to name a few.
Skydance Animation is likely to find a new home quickly, perhaps with a studio more interested in producing animated projects instead of epics like Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Thankfully, Skydance Media remains in a good place with Apple as new and existing projects like Foundation, The Big Door Prize, and...
Skydance Animation is likely to find a new home quickly, perhaps with a studio more interested in producing animated projects instead of epics like Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Thankfully, Skydance Media remains in a good place with Apple as new and existing projects like Foundation, The Big Door Prize, and...
- 10/18/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
’Spellbound’, Pookoo’ first titles in upcoming slate.
Skydance Animation has signed a multi-year exclusive agreement with Netflix to develop and produce animated films to be released directly on Netflix.
The deal kicks off with Spellbound (pictured) in 2024 followed by Pookoo a year later and expands on the prior relationship between the streamer and Skydance Media.
Wednesday’s announcement comes as Skydance Animation’s multi-year deal with Apple ends as the latter shifts its focus to other types of film. Spellbound had been set to debut on Apple TV+ but will now launch on Netflix.
Skydance Media and Apple continue to...
Skydance Animation has signed a multi-year exclusive agreement with Netflix to develop and produce animated films to be released directly on Netflix.
The deal kicks off with Spellbound (pictured) in 2024 followed by Pookoo a year later and expands on the prior relationship between the streamer and Skydance Media.
Wednesday’s announcement comes as Skydance Animation’s multi-year deal with Apple ends as the latter shifts its focus to other types of film. Spellbound had been set to debut on Apple TV+ but will now launch on Netflix.
Skydance Media and Apple continue to...
- 10/18/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
David Ellison’s Skydance Animation has found a new home at Netflix, ending a lucrative distribution pact with Apple Studios.
Skydance Animation, run by John Lasseter with president Holly Edwards, will now exclusively release its animated movies directly to Netflix in an arrangement that will span multiple years, with the studio’s existing slate also moving exclusively to the streamer.
The first up will be “Spellbound,” which was previously set up at Apple. The film, starring Rachel Zegler and Tituss Burgess, is now set for release by Netflix in 2024, followed by “Pookoo” in 2025. Future films include “Ray Gunn,” directed by Brad Bird and an untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project directed by Rich Moore. Theatrical releases do not seem to be a part of the new Netflix-Skydance Animation agreement.
While the animation deal has ended, Apple and Skydance will continue its business on live-action films and series, including movies from...
Skydance Animation, run by John Lasseter with president Holly Edwards, will now exclusively release its animated movies directly to Netflix in an arrangement that will span multiple years, with the studio’s existing slate also moving exclusively to the streamer.
The first up will be “Spellbound,” which was previously set up at Apple. The film, starring Rachel Zegler and Tituss Burgess, is now set for release by Netflix in 2024, followed by “Pookoo” in 2025. Future films include “Ray Gunn,” directed by Brad Bird and an untitled Jack and the Beanstalk project directed by Rich Moore. Theatrical releases do not seem to be a part of the new Netflix-Skydance Animation agreement.
While the animation deal has ended, Apple and Skydance will continue its business on live-action films and series, including movies from...
- 10/18/2023
- by Matt Donnelly and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
In a shocking move, Skydance Animation has inked a multiyear agreement with Netflix to develop and produce animation features that will be released directly on Netflix. According to the release, the deal also brings Skydance’s full existing animated feature slate exclusively to Netflix.
The move comes only two years after a wide-ranging partnership between Skydance Animation and Apple TV+ was announced, following Apple’s acquisition of Skydance Animation’s “Luck.” That deal was meant to include both television and features. (The Netflix release doesn’t mention television series.)
“Spellbound,” a high-concept musical fantasy from director Vicky Jenson, will be the first film released under the pact, in 2024. The movie features a score by composer Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater and an all-star voice cast led by Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane and Tituss Burgess. The movie was previewed at this...
The move comes only two years after a wide-ranging partnership between Skydance Animation and Apple TV+ was announced, following Apple’s acquisition of Skydance Animation’s “Luck.” That deal was meant to include both television and features. (The Netflix release doesn’t mention television series.)
“Spellbound,” a high-concept musical fantasy from director Vicky Jenson, will be the first film released under the pact, in 2024. The movie features a score by composer Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater and an all-star voice cast led by Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane and Tituss Burgess. The movie was previewed at this...
- 10/18/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
That didn’t take long. Skydance Animation has found a new home, signing a multi-year agreement with Netflix to develop and produce animated movies to be released directly on Netflix. This deal means Skydance’s full existing animated feature slate will be released exclusively on Netflix.
Deal comes as a multi-year pact with Apple comes to an end. Skydance Animation is already staked with Netflix, and the deal expands on a number of different projects. The first new one is Spellbound, a film that began its road at Apple, but will now debut on Netflix in 2024. That will be followed by Pookoo in 2025.
This deal expands on the existing relationship between the two companies who have already partnered on a number of projects including the films The Adam Project, Heart of Stone, The Old Guard, and Spy Kids: Armageddon along with the series Fubar, Altered Carbon and Grace and Frankie.
Deal comes as a multi-year pact with Apple comes to an end. Skydance Animation is already staked with Netflix, and the deal expands on a number of different projects. The first new one is Spellbound, a film that began its road at Apple, but will now debut on Netflix in 2024. That will be followed by Pookoo in 2025.
This deal expands on the existing relationship between the two companies who have already partnered on a number of projects including the films The Adam Project, Heart of Stone, The Old Guard, and Spy Kids: Armageddon along with the series Fubar, Altered Carbon and Grace and Frankie.
- 10/18/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Skydance Animation has signed a multiyear pact with Netflix to develop and produce animated movies for the streamer. First up for release under the deal is Spellbound, a title that was previously set up at Apple, where Skydance Animation signed a pact in 2021. Now, the animation arm of the David Ellison-run studio has found a new streaming home at a time when Netflix is restructuring its animation efforts.
Apple and the John Lasseter-led Skydance Animation have parted ways, with the latter bringing its full existing animation slate to Netflix. In addition to Spellbound, which voice stars Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem and features music from Alan Menkin, Netflix will release the once Apple-bound Pookoo from Tangled director Nathan Greno. Spellbound is due out in 2024, with Pookoo hitting the service a year later.
The Skydance and Netflix slate also includes Ray Gunn, directed by Pixar alum Brad Bird,...
Apple and the John Lasseter-led Skydance Animation have parted ways, with the latter bringing its full existing animation slate to Netflix. In addition to Spellbound, which voice stars Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem and features music from Alan Menkin, Netflix will release the once Apple-bound Pookoo from Tangled director Nathan Greno. Spellbound is due out in 2024, with Pookoo hitting the service a year later.
The Skydance and Netflix slate also includes Ray Gunn, directed by Pixar alum Brad Bird,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hayao Miyazaki’s latest (and potentially final) film “The Boy and the Heron” announced its English dub cast, which includes Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh.
Additional cast members include Luca Padovan, Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens. Gkids handled casting and produced the English version in close consultation with Studio Ghibli, with Adr direction by Michael Sinterniklaas at Nyav Post, and English script adaptation by Stephanie Sheh. The English language dub was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.
A sprawling animated fantasy, “The Boy and the Heron” was released in Japan over the summer without any promotional materials released beforehand. The film marked Miyazaki’s return to filmmaking after supposed retirement and was nothing short of an event. Those who saw it, either in Japan or at festival screenings afterwards, say it ranks...
Additional cast members include Luca Padovan, Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens. Gkids handled casting and produced the English version in close consultation with Studio Ghibli, with Adr direction by Michael Sinterniklaas at Nyav Post, and English script adaptation by Stephanie Sheh. The English language dub was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.
A sprawling animated fantasy, “The Boy and the Heron” was released in Japan over the summer without any promotional materials released beforehand. The film marked Miyazaki’s return to filmmaking after supposed retirement and was nothing short of an event. Those who saw it, either in Japan or at festival screenings afterwards, say it ranks...
- 10/17/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
“The Croods” and “How to Train Your Dragon” filmmaker Chris Sanders is returning to DreamWorks Animation with “The Wild Robot,” a new animated feature based on the New York Times best-selling book by Peter Brown. Sanders wrote the script and is directing the project.
Jeff Hermann is producing “The Wild Robot” and Sanders’ longtime creative collaborator Dean DeBlois will executive produce. No release date has been set. But you can still get very excited.
“The Wild Robot” follows Rozzum 7134 (“Roz” for short), a futuristic robot that washes ashore on a deserted island. From there, according to the official synopsis, “a tale of survival and discovery begins when she becomes the unexpected protector to an orphaned gosling, which she names Brightbill. Together they struggle to survive the harsh environment, but only succeed with the help of a close-knit group of misfit animals, who become first friends, then family. Ultimately Roz and...
Jeff Hermann is producing “The Wild Robot” and Sanders’ longtime creative collaborator Dean DeBlois will executive produce. No release date has been set. But you can still get very excited.
“The Wild Robot” follows Rozzum 7134 (“Roz” for short), a futuristic robot that washes ashore on a deserted island. From there, according to the official synopsis, “a tale of survival and discovery begins when she becomes the unexpected protector to an orphaned gosling, which she names Brightbill. Together they struggle to survive the harsh environment, but only succeed with the help of a close-knit group of misfit animals, who become first friends, then family. Ultimately Roz and...
- 9/28/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
As visions of various 21st-century promises and perils alike converge upon us at once — from space travel to possible extraterrestrial contact to artificial intelligence to the looming societal threat posed by climate change — the science fiction genre finds itself at arguably its most urgent and crucial point in history. In recent years, the movies, in particular, have seen a kind of artistic renaissance for the genre, with various first-rate auteurs contemplating our technological future in works ranging from the moving to the thought-provoking to the brilliantly satirical.
In 2024, that renaissance will continue at full steam. The next year in film will bring us an incredibly vast and diverse range of new sci-fi flicks, whether coming from old savants like Bong Joon-ho, Denis Villeneuve, and Alex Garland, or genre debutants like Joshua Oppenheimer, Bruno Dumont, and even Francis Ford Coppola. Here, we've compiled a list of 19 upcoming science fiction films to...
In 2024, that renaissance will continue at full steam. The next year in film will bring us an incredibly vast and diverse range of new sci-fi flicks, whether coming from old savants like Bong Joon-ho, Denis Villeneuve, and Alex Garland, or genre debutants like Joshua Oppenheimer, Bruno Dumont, and even Francis Ford Coppola. Here, we've compiled a list of 19 upcoming science fiction films to...
- 9/23/2023
- by Leo Noboru Lima
- Slash Film
Animated flicks don’t get the justice they deserve when it comes to the Academy Awards. So often, animated movies are some of the most original, memorable, and well-told stories of the entire year yet they are, more often than not, confined to the category of Best Animated Picture.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” “Fantasia,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Lion King,” “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” “Wall-e,” “Shrek,” and last year’s Best Animated Picture winner, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” are just a handful of all-time classic movies that aren’t great animated movies, they are great movies period. Despite this, however, we have only had three animated movies in Oscars history that have been nominated for Best Picture.
“Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated movie to do so, landing a Best Picture bid in 1991. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, “Beauty and the Beast...
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” “Fantasia,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Lion King,” “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” “Wall-e,” “Shrek,” and last year’s Best Animated Picture winner, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” are just a handful of all-time classic movies that aren’t great animated movies, they are great movies period. Despite this, however, we have only had three animated movies in Oscars history that have been nominated for Best Picture.
“Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated movie to do so, landing a Best Picture bid in 1991. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, “Beauty and the Beast...
- 9/8/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Skydance Media CEO David Ellison called the creative process a “community” where “both sides of this disagreement actually need one another to move forward. So, my hope is that we can find a path to compromise so that everybody can get back to work and we can position ourselves for success going forward.”
“We are not a member of the AMPTP, and some of my closest friends are the writers and actors that we work with to create content. And, we literally work with every member on the AMPTP side,” he said during a Q&a at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia media conference in San Francisco when asked about the strike – day 127 for the WGA and day 54 for SAG-AFTRA.
The annual investor event is mostly limited to public companies. At privately-held Skydance, “We want to always make sure we position ourselves to be able to be a publicly-traded company,” Ellison said.
“We are not a member of the AMPTP, and some of my closest friends are the writers and actors that we work with to create content. And, we literally work with every member on the AMPTP side,” he said during a Q&a at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia media conference in San Francisco when asked about the strike – day 127 for the WGA and day 54 for SAG-AFTRA.
The annual investor event is mostly limited to public companies. At privately-held Skydance, “We want to always make sure we position ourselves to be able to be a publicly-traded company,” Ellison said.
- 9/5/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Clockwise from top left: The Lion King (Disney), 2001: A Space Odyssey (Warner Bros.), Toy Story 3 (Disney), The Muppet Movie (Disney)Illustration: AVClub
It’s hard to imagine a world without G-rated movies, but we’re getting there. Since the rating system was instituted in 1968, beloved films like Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,...
It’s hard to imagine a world without G-rated movies, but we’re getting there. Since the rating system was instituted in 1968, beloved films like Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Ian Spelling
- avclub.com
“Barbie” is a box office smash, along with its acclaim from critics and audiences alike. If you follow the social media chatter and the general feeling from most pundits, it could be a viable awards contender for Warner Bros. One category being debated is where the screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach would be able to compete — whether in original or adapted screenplay. The answer lies in how the WGA classifies it and whether the Academy could or would overrule that choice.
Variety confirms there are ongoing conversations with strategists and Warner Bros regarding where “Barbie” would compete at next year’s ceremony.
On the title cards, it reads “Based on ‘Barbie’ by Mattel,” which is, of course, a toy company. At the same time, there have been multiple CGI films and TV series featuring the fashion doll since its debut in the late 1980s (42 to be precise). This...
Variety confirms there are ongoing conversations with strategists and Warner Bros regarding where “Barbie” would compete at next year’s ceremony.
On the title cards, it reads “Based on ‘Barbie’ by Mattel,” which is, of course, a toy company. At the same time, there have been multiple CGI films and TV series featuring the fashion doll since its debut in the late 1980s (42 to be precise). This...
- 7/25/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Gkids, the acclaimed animation producer and distributor, has announced its acquisition of the North American distribution rights to “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest release from Hayao Miyazaki, the Oscar-winning director of “Spirited Away” and “The Wind Rises” and the co-founder of legendary Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. A North American release is planned for later this year, meaning it will qualify for next year’s Academy Awards.
The film, which is being released in Japan without any trailers, TV spots or even official synopses (the Japanese title is “How Do You Live”), will be produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki and features a musical score by longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi.
According to the official release: “In an unprecedented decision by Studio Ghibli, no images, trailers, synopses, advertisements, or other information about the film have been made available to the public prior to its release in theaters in Japan.
The film, which is being released in Japan without any trailers, TV spots or even official synopses (the Japanese title is “How Do You Live”), will be produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki and features a musical score by longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi.
According to the official release: “In an unprecedented decision by Studio Ghibli, no images, trailers, synopses, advertisements, or other information about the film have been made available to the public prior to its release in theaters in Japan.
- 7/14/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” July 13, a day after he signed an extension through 2026 to his contract as Disney CEO, Bob Iger sounded off on a number of issues while attending the Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference: the continued lack of profitability of the streaming market, ESPN’s future, his company’s lawsuit against Ron DeSantis, and whether departures from Pixar, such as John Lasseter, may have affected the quality and box office appeal of their films.
But the soundbite that may get the most attention is his comments about the writers and actors strikes, comments that stand in stark opposition to the demands of the respective guilds. The CEO even suggested that the unions are threatening the film and TV industry’s long-term post-covid recovery.
“It’s very disturbing to me,” Iger said of the WGA having been on strike for over two months and SAG-AFTRA about to strike.
But the soundbite that may get the most attention is his comments about the writers and actors strikes, comments that stand in stark opposition to the demands of the respective guilds. The CEO even suggested that the unions are threatening the film and TV industry’s long-term post-covid recovery.
“It’s very disturbing to me,” Iger said of the WGA having been on strike for over two months and SAG-AFTRA about to strike.
- 7/13/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged on Thursday what many had already assessed at this point: Disney’s quest to fill Disney+ with content adversely affected the output of the studio, specifically from Marvel Studios and Pixar.
Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box near the Sun Valley conference in Idaho, Iger admitted that the studio’s “zeal” to ramp up content output has led to disappointing results both creatively and commercially.
“There have been some disappointments we would have liked some of our more recent releases to perform better,” he said. “It’s reflective not as a problem from a personnel perspective, but I think in our in our zeal to basically grow our content significantly to serve mostly our streaming offerings, we ended up taxing our people way beyond — in terms of their time and their focus — way beyond where they had been.”
Iger pointed specifically to Marvel Studios, which...
Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box near the Sun Valley conference in Idaho, Iger admitted that the studio’s “zeal” to ramp up content output has led to disappointing results both creatively and commercially.
“There have been some disappointments we would have liked some of our more recent releases to perform better,” he said. “It’s reflective not as a problem from a personnel perspective, but I think in our in our zeal to basically grow our content significantly to serve mostly our streaming offerings, we ended up taxing our people way beyond — in terms of their time and their focus — way beyond where they had been.”
Iger pointed specifically to Marvel Studios, which...
- 7/13/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Pixar’s movie about a rat with ambitions of becoming an acclaimed French chef started off its box office run at a slow simmer when opening to a less-than-flavorable $47 million in summer 2007. Pundits were quick to pronounce Pixar had botched the recipe in a rare miss. But skeptics were proven wrong when Ratatouille began boiling over on its way to earning $623 million at the worldwide box office.
For decades, the revered animation studio that was backed by the late Steve Jobs before being bought by Disney could do no wrong, using the most unlikely scraps to turn out perfect stews again and again that became both commercial and critical hits at the box office buffet.
That all changed in the past several years, capped by the dismal debut of Elemental over the June 16-18 weekend. The movie, a parable about immigration and getting along, bombed with a $29.6 million domestic debut,...
For decades, the revered animation studio that was backed by the late Steve Jobs before being bought by Disney could do no wrong, using the most unlikely scraps to turn out perfect stews again and again that became both commercial and critical hits at the box office buffet.
That all changed in the past several years, capped by the dismal debut of Elemental over the June 16-18 weekend. The movie, a parable about immigration and getting along, bombed with a $29.6 million domestic debut,...
- 6/19/2023
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There is a lot riding on Vicky Jenson’s upcoming musical animation Spellbound about a princess on a mission to reverse a spell that has transformed her beloved king and queen parents into rampaging monsters.
The film is the second animated feature for Skydance Animation after Luck, which followed its short Blush, and its most ambitious production to date as it attempts to grow into a company rivaling its head of animation John Lasseter’s former homes of Pixar and Disney.
The work also marks Jenson’s first major animation feature in two decades, after Shark Tale (2004) and Oscar-winning Shrek (2001).
Jenson and the film’s Head of Story Brian Pimental hit the Annecy International Film Festival on Tuesday to give a Work in Progress presentation.
“We’re really excited to finally bring you a peak into Spellbound. Skydance Animation is a pretty cool place to work. One of the reasons...
The film is the second animated feature for Skydance Animation after Luck, which followed its short Blush, and its most ambitious production to date as it attempts to grow into a company rivaling its head of animation John Lasseter’s former homes of Pixar and Disney.
The work also marks Jenson’s first major animation feature in two decades, after Shark Tale (2004) and Oscar-winning Shrek (2001).
Jenson and the film’s Head of Story Brian Pimental hit the Annecy International Film Festival on Tuesday to give a Work in Progress presentation.
“We’re really excited to finally bring you a peak into Spellbound. Skydance Animation is a pretty cool place to work. One of the reasons...
- 6/14/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Schigadoon!”) has joined the cast of Skydance Animation and Apple’s “Spellbound.” The film, announced in 2017 initially under the title “Split,” stars Rachel Zegler as Princess Ellian who must manage her kingdom after a spell turns the king and queen into monsters.
Zegler and Burgess will be joined by Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis and Nathan Lane. It will be directed by Vicky Jenson (“Shrek”) with new songs by Alan Menkin and Glenn Slater. Penned by Lauren Kynek and Elizabeth Martin alongside Linda Woolverton, “Spellbound” is produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Anderson for Skydance Animation.
Jenson and Head of Story Brian Pimental will present a “work in progress” panel on Tuesday, June 13 at the Annecy Film Festival. The film is slated for release in 2024, although there is no word as to whether it will have a...
Zegler and Burgess will be joined by Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis and Nathan Lane. It will be directed by Vicky Jenson (“Shrek”) with new songs by Alan Menkin and Glenn Slater. Penned by Lauren Kynek and Elizabeth Martin alongside Linda Woolverton, “Spellbound” is produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Anderson for Skydance Animation.
Jenson and Head of Story Brian Pimental will present a “work in progress” panel on Tuesday, June 13 at the Annecy Film Festival. The film is slated for release in 2024, although there is no word as to whether it will have a...
- 6/12/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Tituss Burgess has joined the voice cast of Spellbound, an Apple Original Film by Skydance Animation. Additionally, the studio released a new image (above) exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter, in advance of its work-in-progress presentation on Tuesday at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Slated for a 2024 release on Apple TV+, Spellbound is a musical fairytale that centers on a terrible spell that has turned a king and queen into monsters, leaving their daughter, Princess Ellian (voiced by Rachel Ziegler), to manage the kingdom on her own. It features an original score and songs by veteran composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin), with lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled).
Six-time Emmy nominee Burgess provides the voices of Cole Tillerman and Kelleth Vanbeaceler in Apple TV+’s animated series Central Park. He also joined the season 2 cast of Apple’s Schmigadoon as the narrator.
Spellbound‘s voice cast also includes John Lithgow,...
Slated for a 2024 release on Apple TV+, Spellbound is a musical fairytale that centers on a terrible spell that has turned a king and queen into monsters, leaving their daughter, Princess Ellian (voiced by Rachel Ziegler), to manage the kingdom on her own. It features an original score and songs by veteran composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin), with lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled).
Six-time Emmy nominee Burgess provides the voices of Cole Tillerman and Kelleth Vanbeaceler in Apple TV+’s animated series Central Park. He also joined the season 2 cast of Apple’s Schmigadoon as the narrator.
Spellbound‘s voice cast also includes John Lithgow,...
- 6/12/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hollywood is always looking for the next big source of entertainment. Right now, it seems that video game adaptations are finally on the verge of legitimacy due to the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and HBO’s The Last of Us. Before that, it was superhero movies. And on and on it goes. However, the industry’s endless search for intellectual property (IP) has for decades led to false starts and brief flirtations with the world of toys and board games. When looking across the chronology of those attempts, a few key flaws stand out as to why the concept has still yet to catch on quite as strongly as comic books or video games.
Adaptations of products are notoriously difficult to get right, because they are not necessarily attached to a narrative that people know. The basic premise of a toy’s brand might be established, but...
Adaptations of products are notoriously difficult to get right, because they are not necessarily attached to a narrative that people know. The basic premise of a toy’s brand might be established, but...
- 6/10/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
After one of the most impressive winning streaks in Hollywood history, Pixar has seen its fortunes reversed in recent years, with last year’s flop Lightyear and a pandemic-era policy of sending its features straight to streaming at Disney+. Now, Pixar faces a major test of brand strength as it prepares to unveil Elemental, its first original theatrical feature since Covid-19 hit.
Directed by Peter Sohn, the film is based on an original story set in a world where fire, water, earth and air residents live together. Among early reviews, the title has an underwhelming 64 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a low number for Pixar. Additionally, the movie is tracking to soft numbers, just $37 million to $38 million over the June 16-18 opening weekend, which it shares with Warner Bros.’ The Flash. Only a handful of Disney’s releases have debuted to less than $50 million. (There were plenty of negative...
Directed by Peter Sohn, the film is based on an original story set in a world where fire, water, earth and air residents live together. Among early reviews, the title has an underwhelming 64 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a low number for Pixar. Additionally, the movie is tracking to soft numbers, just $37 million to $38 million over the June 16-18 opening weekend, which it shares with Warner Bros.’ The Flash. Only a handful of Disney’s releases have debuted to less than $50 million. (There were plenty of negative...
- 6/7/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.
Jason Henkel came to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue an acting career, before he pivoted to working in animation production. But his experiences as a performer helped show him the kind of casting director he didn’t want to be. “I didn’t want to go into a field where I secretly felt, ‘I could do this better,’” he says. “And from the moment I became involved with voiceover, watching these amazing actors who were so great at manipulating their voices, I knew I could never do what they do.”
Henkel began his career as the assistant to the SVP of Music of DisneyToon before moving to casting in 2008, where he worked on the animated “Tinker Bell” movie with John Lasseter,...
Jason Henkel came to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue an acting career, before he pivoted to working in animation production. But his experiences as a performer helped show him the kind of casting director he didn’t want to be. “I didn’t want to go into a field where I secretly felt, ‘I could do this better,’” he says. “And from the moment I became involved with voiceover, watching these amazing actors who were so great at manipulating their voices, I knew I could never do what they do.”
Henkel began his career as the assistant to the SVP of Music of DisneyToon before moving to casting in 2008, where he worked on the animated “Tinker Bell” movie with John Lasseter,...
- 5/5/2023
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Women have broken into many acting, producing, and directorial ventures in the recent past — think Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and those at her company — the animated film sector continues to have a pretty thick glass ceiling. That’s especially true at Disney and its adjacent companies, where only three women have directed feature-length animated movies.
That said, a few women have begun cracking the ceiling and forging paths. As they go, they’re creating storylines and beloved characters that put more women at the forefront. The proof speaks for itself: Women-directed animated projects at Disney have generated some of the biggest box office numbers.
Jennifer Lee co-directed Disney’s ‘Frozen’ and its sequel Jennifer Lee at Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ premiere on Feb. 26, 2018 | by Christopher Polk/Getty Images
The first woman-directed film from Walt Disney Animation Studios is perhaps the most famous animated movie from the media powerhouse.
That said, a few women have begun cracking the ceiling and forging paths. As they go, they’re creating storylines and beloved characters that put more women at the forefront. The proof speaks for itself: Women-directed animated projects at Disney have generated some of the biggest box office numbers.
Jennifer Lee co-directed Disney’s ‘Frozen’ and its sequel Jennifer Lee at Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ premiere on Feb. 26, 2018 | by Christopher Polk/Getty Images
The first woman-directed film from Walt Disney Animation Studios is perhaps the most famous animated movie from the media powerhouse.
- 4/8/2023
- by Nikelle Murphy
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dwayne Johnson and Disney will be bringing the world of “Moana” to live-action. And what’s more, Johnson will be reprising his role as demigod Maui for the new version.
Johnson revealed the news in a prefilmed segment featured Monday in Disney’s annual shareholder meeting.
You can see the segment below, which features Johnson in Hawaii with his young daughters. “We are so excited and happy to announce that a live-action reimagining of Moana is in the works,” Johnson said, while standing on the beach, the waves gently lapping behind him. “In a way, when I bring Maui to life, I’m doing it in the spirit of my grandfather.” Johnson noted that it’s “very early in the process” with “lots of work to be done.”
Humbled to say we’re bringing #Moana’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#Maui changed my life (miss you...
Johnson revealed the news in a prefilmed segment featured Monday in Disney’s annual shareholder meeting.
You can see the segment below, which features Johnson in Hawaii with his young daughters. “We are so excited and happy to announce that a live-action reimagining of Moana is in the works,” Johnson said, while standing on the beach, the waves gently lapping behind him. “In a way, when I bring Maui to life, I’m doing it in the spirit of my grandfather.” Johnson noted that it’s “very early in the process” with “lots of work to be done.”
Humbled to say we’re bringing #Moana’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#Maui changed my life (miss you...
- 4/3/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
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