Animation Magazine

Author: Ryan Ball

  • Ratings Lively for CN’s Re-Animated

    Re-Animated, Cartoon Network’s first original production to blend live action and animation, premiered last Friday and became the network’s highest-rated original movie ever with the target demographic of kids 6-11. The two-hour adventure-comedy was particularly popular with boys as it emerged as the most-watched program of the week on Cartoon Network, and the top show among kids 2-11 in its time period among all ad-supported basic cable, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research.

    In Re-Animated, Dominic Janes (ER) has an accident involving an amusement park trolley and ends up getting the frozen brain of a famous cartoonist named Milt Appleday, played by Fred Willard. Matt Knudsen plays Appleday’s evil son, who tries to steal the brain back from Jimmy. The live-action cast also includes Bil Dwyer, Micah Karns, Eunice Cho, Rachel Quaintance and Rhea Lando, while Paul Reubens, Tom Kenny, Ellen Greene and Brian Posehn lend their voices to the various cartoon characters.

    The movie is created and written by Adam Pava and Tim McKeon, who were writers on Cartoon Network’s hit series Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and The Life & Times of Juniper Lee. New York-based filmmaker Bruce Hurwit directed the production of Renegade Animation, Appleday Pictures and Cartoon Network.

    Re-Animated out-performed all of Cartoon Network’s earlier original movie offerings in the kids 6-11 demo, including November’s Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends: Good Wilt Hunting, August’s Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation Z.E.R.O. and 2001’s Samurai Jack: The Trilogy.

  • GMTV Catches Oban Star Racers

    U.K. terrestrial TV network GMTV has picked up Jetix Europe’s animated action series Oban Star Racers and plans to begin airing the 26 serialized half-hour episodes during its Toonattik block in the new year. The deal was brokered by Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), which services distribution for the series.

    Oban Star Racers revolves around the Great Race of Oban, an intergalactic competition which takes place every 10,000 years to declare the winner of a mysterious Ultimate Prize and determine the balance of power within the Galaxy. For Earth, the race provides an opportunity to vanquish their deadly alien neighbors, the Crogs, who wish to annihilate the human race.

    Featuring both 2D and 3D animation, the series blends elements of Japanese anime with western design, and marks the first time that a Jetix Europe co-production has involved a Japanese partner. The show is a co-production between Jetix Europe and French studio Sav! The World Production, with additional co-production partners France 3, Super RTL, Bandai Visual and Hal Film Maker. Oban Star Racers made its U.S. debut in June during the Jetix block on Toon Disney.

  • Flanagan Joins Z Animation

    Award-winning CG animation and live action director Miles Flanagan has joined the crew at Los Angeles-based Z Animation (www.zanimation.tv). His first major project with the team is a two-spot international package for Microsoft, a fourth installment in McCann-Erickson/San Francisco’s ‘Realizing Potential’ global branding campaign that Flanagan originally helped design in 2001.

    Over the past four years, Flanagan has won an ASIFA East award for Excellence in Design for his spot for Children’s National Medical Center, the Best Cel Animation Award from the London International Advertising Awards for Microsoft’s ‘School,’ and a BDA International Design Award for the opening title sequence for The Ellen Show. In addition, his ‘Bigmouth’ spot for U.S. Unwired was a cel animation finalist in the London International Advertising Awards.

    Flanagan’s move to Z Animation reunites him with studio founder and exec producer Peter Barg, whom he has known since the two worked together on a campaign for U.S. Unwired in 2001.

    ‘I understand animation from an animator’s, director’s and producer’s standpoint, and having a strong technical background allows me to look at a job in a particularly effective manner,’ says Flanagan. ‘When not on a job, I’m hands on at my own studio, Parallax Studio Works, Inc. (formed in 2004), continually researching new technologies and animation methods. This gives me a uniquely positive and progressive understanding of how to successfully bring to life any agency concept or idea. And I’m constantly looking for new styles and methods.’

    After graduating from London’s Middlesex University in 1989, Flanagan worked as a staff director at Oil Factory Films in London, directing music videos for The Pogues (co-directed with Peter Dougherty), Candy Flip, Dave Stewart and others. In the early 1990s, he co-founded London-based studio British Volcanic, where he co-created ad campaigns for Virgin Records and MTV, as well as the ‘Get Back’ promo for Paul McCartney. Flanagan moved to the U.S. in 1996 to join Klasky Csupo’s ad division, then moved on to staff positions at Duck Soup Studios and Acme Filmworks. An accomplished musician and composer, he still occasionally scores his own independent projects and is developing a feature film that will combine live action and animation. He hops to begin shooting the film sometime in 2007, and says it will be a ‘real eye-opener’ for the entire industry.

  • Barnyard, Fox Bring the Party Home

    After a moderately successful theatrical run, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ Barnyard: The Original Party Animals comes to home video today. The CG-animated comedy is joined at retail by Fox and the Hound 2, Disney’s direct-to-DVD sequel to the 1981 animated family film that saw a 25th anniversary DVD edition launched back in October.

    In Barnyard, a carefree party cow named Otis (voiced by Kevin James) has to rise to the occasion and learn to be a leader like his father, Ben (Sam Elliott). Also lending their voices to the production are Courtney Cox, Danny Glover and Wanda Sykes. The film is written, produced and directed by Steve Oedekerk, writer of Bruce Almighty, co-creator of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, director of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and star of /I>Kung Pow: Enter the Fist. Animation was completed at Oedekerk’s San Clemente, Calif.-based Omation Studio.

    DVD extra features include seven deleted scenes, an all-new music video titled Barnyard Popand three DVD ROM games. The Paramount Home Entertainment release carries a suggested retail price of $29.99.

    Made for Around $51 million, Barnyard grossed north of $100 million at the box office worldwide and should sell a good number of discs over the holiday season. Films like this are likely to become the model for animated releases as studios are finding that pumping big bucks into CG movies is a gamble given the fierce competition these days. Oedekerk was one of the creative forces behind Paramount/Nickelodeon’ 2001 animated flick, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, which was completed for approximately $30 million and also made it past the $100 million mark in theaters.

    Disney’s The Fox and the Hound 2 skipped theaters entirely, going directly to home video as many Mouse House follow-ups do. In the film, Todd and Copper’s ulikely friendship is put to the test once again when Cooper gets a shaot at the big time with a nutty group of hound dog howlers called The Singin’ Strays. The movie features the vocal talents of Reba McEntire, Patrick Swayze and Jeff Foxworthy, as well as new music by country favorite Trisha Yearwood and High School Musical star Lucas Grabeel. DVD bonus material includes a featurette on the making of the music, a music video for the song “You Know I Will” and a ‘Mutt Mix Master’ interactive activity that lets viewers control the sounds and effects in creating The Singin’ Strays’ latest hit recording. The Disc retails for $29.99 and also includes a classic animated short featuring Goofy.

  • Narnia Extended on Disc

    Disney and Walden Media have opened the wardrobe once again and this time it’s packed with new stuff. The four-disc extended edition of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is now available on DVD with enhanced special effects by Rhythm & Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks and ILM, as well as an extended battle scene spotlighting state-of the-art digital animation work.

    Based on the classic literary series by C.S. Lewis and directed by Shrek helmer Andrew Adamson, Narnia introduces four English children who flee the London blitz in WWII and fall into a magical land where they help the great lion Aslan fight an evil Witch.

    Extras on the new extended edition include a commentary track with Adamson, production designer Roger Ford and producer Mark Johnson, a commentary track with Adamson with child stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell, the featurettes Creating Narnia and Creatures and Lands and Legends, a 75-minute documentary titled C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia, a 140-minute documentary titled Visualizing The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe: The Complete Production Experience, a look at the anatomy of a battle sequence, an art gallery, a blooper reel, Narnia trivia, a collectible 10-page companion guide and a certificate of authenticity. The Buena Vista Home Entertainment release lists for $42.99.

  • DIC, Alliance Strike Home Vid Deal

    DIC Ent. will see some if its popular animated and live-action titles get wider reach through home video and digital avenues the U.S. and Canada through a distribution deal with Alliance Entertainment Corp.(AEC), a Source Interlink company through its NCircle Ent. division. The three-year, multi-million-dollar agreement provides DIC titles access to new first-time distribution at brick-and-mortar retail outlets while also opening the door to delivery on digital platforms.

    Under the terms of the deal, AEC will have a first-look option to distribute the newly produced television series for the KOL’s Secret Slumber Party programming block on CBS, including the animated Horseland. The company also has the option to distribute direct-to-video properties, including The Secret Millionaire’s Club, as well as library titles such as Sabrina The Animated Series, Heathcliff, Sonic The Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros. Beginning in the first quarter of 2007, the properties will be made available in mass market and specialty retailers, including national and regional supermarket and drugstore chains.

    ‘AEC is recognized as the premiere wholesale distributor of home entertainment product to retail markets, with unique capabilities that will ensure widespread retail placement for DIC properties,’ says Nancy Fowler, DIC’s head of global sales. ‘Their distribution expertise will result in an ongoing retail presence for both classic catalog titles and newly produced properties, and we are thrilled to have a partner of AEC’s caliber onboard to guide our product into the marketplace.’

    The non-exclusive digital rights will allow AEC to distribute DIC properties via digital streaming and downloads to computers and mobile video devices. No concrete plans for digital roll-outs have yet been announced.

  • Toon Saloon #2 Tonight!

    Join us tonight, Dec. 14, for another edition of Toon Saloon, our series of live animation events featuring screenings of rare animated shorts with filmmakers on hand to discuss their work. It’s all happening at McG’s Irish Pub & Grill in Chatsworth, Calif., at 7:30 p.m.

    The Chiodo Bros. will be back to show some more of their stop-motion animation work, including some holiday related clips. Jim Appearle, who has worked as an animator and visual effects technician on a host of cult-favorite films, will show clips from Planet of the Dinosaurs and will share some rarely seen

    Behind-the-scene stills from the 1978 production, whose stop-motion dinosaur scenes have been repurposed for a number of low-budget films throughout the years. In addition, filmmaker George Wong will be bringing his short film Butterfly Dreams. Wong worked as an animation rig engineer on Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and as an effects technician for Doug Beswick Prods. on A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child.

    We’re also working on getting some surprises together and are opening the program up to anyone who wants to show their own animation work (time permitting) in an animation style. This can include short films, trailers, music videos or even test footage. This is a great opportunity to get your work seen by an audience, including working professionals.

    McG’s Irish Pub & Grill is located at 21356 Devonshire St. (corner of Devonshire and Canoga) in Chatsworth, Calif., 91311. For a recap of last month’s Toon Saloon, go to www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=6135.

  • Nick Gets Mighty with Poehler

    Nickelodeon has given the green light to Mighty B, an animated series from Saturday Night Live cast member Amy Poehler. When she’s not helming SNL‘s Weekend Update desk, Poehler will be lending her voice to the new toon show, which will contribute to the 125 new episodes slated to make up Nickelodeon’s 2007/2008 season. Fans can also look forward to new installments of SpongeBob SquarePants, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and Tak and the Power of Juju. All four shows are Nicktoons Productions and are produced at the Nicktoons Studios in Burbank, CA.

    Created by Poehler, along with Fairly OddParents staff writer Cynthia True and Emmy-nominated SpongeBob storyboard artist Erik Wiese, Mighty B is a comedy series that revolves around Bessie Higgenbottom, the world’s most ambitious 10-year-old ‘Honeybee’ scout. Though many patches adorn her well-worn uniform, many still elude her and she will stop at nothing until she has every last one.

    ‘Bessie represents the ever-optimistic spaz, who believes she can grow up to be a rock star, actress, politician and brain surgeon all at the same time,’ says Poehler. ‘And as a person who knows absolutely nothing about animation, I am thrilled to be in such great hands over at Nickelodeon. I can’t wait to find out how they make those cool little people move around.’

    Nickelodeon has ordered 20 episodes of Mighty B and plans to premiere the series in 2008. The network is also busy producing 13 new episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants, taking the world-famous cartoon series into its sixth season. Voice cast members Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown and Carolyn Lawrence will all be back for more Bikini Bottom shenanigans in the show from creator/exec producer Stephen Hillenburg.

    The network has committed to another seven episodes of its original series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, bringing the total order to 20. The series stars Alanna Ubach (Meet the Fockers, Legally Blonde) as the voice of 13-year-old Manny Rivera, who must choose to become a great superhero like his father, or a feared super-villain like his Granpapi, voiced by Carlos Alazraqui (Happy Feet, Reno 911). As El Tigre, Manny has inherited the power, both good and bad, that runs through his family and finds himself stuck in the middle of a comical morality play. The series is created by Mexican-born husband and wife team Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua and will premiere on Nickelodeon on March 2, 2007.

    Tak and the Power of Juju will also go to 20 episodes with the order of an additional five installments. Based on THQ’s video game series, the CG-animated show stars Hal Sparks (Celebrity Duets, Talk Soup) as the voice of Tak, who uses his Juju staff to perform magic and summon the outrageous and colorful Jujus, who always further complicate his plight and turn his world upside down. The series also features the voice fo Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, The X’s) and will premiere in September of 2007.

  • Flanagan Joins Z Animation

    Award-winning CG animation and live action director Miles Flanagan has joined the crew at Los Angeles-based Z Animation (www.zanimation.tv). His first major project with the team is a two-spot international package for Microsoft, a fourth installment in McCann-Erickson/San Francisco’s ‘Realizing Potential’ global branding campaign that Flanagan originally helped design in 2001.

    Over the past four years, Flanagan has won an ASIFA East award for Excellence in Design for his spot for Children’s National Medical Center, the Best Cel Animation Award from the London International Advertising Awards for Microsoft’s ‘School,’ and a BDA International Design Award for the opening title sequence for The Ellen Show. In addition, his ‘Bigmouth’ spot for U.S. Unwired was a cel animation finalist in the London International Advertising Awards.

    Flanagan’s move to Z Animation reunites him with studio founder and exec producer Peter Barg, whom he has known since the two worked together on a campaign for U.S. Unwired in 2001.

    ‘I understand animation from an animator’s, director’s and producer’s standpoint, and having a strong technical background allows me to look at a job in a particularly effective manner,’ says Flanagan. ‘When not on a job, I’m hands on at my own studio, Parallax Studio Works, Inc. (formed in 2004), continually researching new technologies and animation methods. This gives me a uniquely positive and progressive understanding of how to successfully bring to life any agency concept or idea. And I’m constantly looking for new styles and methods.’

    After graduating from London’s Middlesex University in 1989, Flanagan worked as a staff director at Oil Factory Films in London, directing music videos for The Pogues (co-directed with Peter Dougherty), Candy Flip, Dave Stewart and others. In the early 1990s, he co-founded London-based studio British Volcanic, where he co-created ad campaigns for Virgin Records and MTV, as well as the ‘Get Back’ promo for Paul McCartney. Flanagan moved to the U.S. in 1996 to join Klasky Csupo’s ad division, then moved on to staff positions at Duck Soup Studios and Acme Filmworks. An accomplished musician and composer, he still occasionally scores his own independent projects and is developing a feature film that will combine live action and animation. He hops to begin shooting the film sometime in 2007, and says it will be a ‘real eye-opener’ for the entire industry.

  • SEGA Game for Alien

    In the gamespace, no one can hear you scream. SEGA of America Inc., SEGA Europe Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising have announced a worldwide exclusive agreement to bring the Alien film franchise to next-generation game consoles. Fans cans look forward to seeing Ripley kicking extra-terrestrial but in series of titles to begin hitting retail in 2009.

    “SEGA will utilize the power of next-gen systems to blend the time-honored story with leading edge design technology to deliver a riveting and suspenseful gameplay experience,” says Simon Jeffery, president and chief operating officer of SEGA of America Inc.

    “Alien is one of those special franchises that has continued to thrive in licensing long after it has left theaters,’ adds Elie Dekel, exec VP of Fox Licensing & Merchandising. ‘The L & M program has been very successful over the years because we have partnered with the best companies in each category and created appealing products that become must-haves for the extremely loyal Alien fans.”

    Featuring Oscar-winning creature effects, the first Alien film debuted in 1979 and spawned three sequels that took the franchise into the digital age. Combined, the films have grossed more than $557 million worldwide and the original production was recently selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

    Next-gen Alien in development include a first-person shooter and a role playing game. For more information, go to www.sega.com/aliens.

  • Elder Scrolls Tops Spike Awards

    The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion from Bethesda Softworks was named Game of the Year at the 4th annual Spike TV Video Game Awards (VGA), held Saturday at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center in Los Angeles. Hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, the star-studded ceremony will air on Spike TV Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

    Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane served as the voice of the VGAs, which featured a performance by Tenacious D and the exclusive world premiere of Blizzard Ent.’s opening cinematic movie for the highly anticipated World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. MacFarlane was also among the winners as the Family Guy video game from 2k Games and High Voltage Software took the award for Best Cast.

    In addition to Game of the Year, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion won Spike’s vote for Most Addictive, Best RPG and Best Original Score. The game also earned Patrick Stewart the award for Best Performance by a Human-Male. Meanwhile, Vida Guerra scored a best female performance for her role in Scarface: The World is Yours from Vivendi and Radical Ent. Supporting performance awards went to Rachel Leigh Cook for Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts II and James Gandolfini for The Sopranos: Road to Respect from THQ and 7Studios. Rosario Dawson snatched the Gamers Choice Award for Breakthrough Performance for her work on Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (Atari/The Collective).

    Spike’s Studio of the Year is Epic Games, maker of Microsoft’s Gears of War, which took Best Shooter, Best Graphics and Best Multi-Player Game. Nintendo also had a good showing, earning Critic’s Choice with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and taking the Breakthrough Technology award for its innovative Wii gaming console.

    Other Winners:

    Best Action Game

    Dead Rising (Capcom)

    Best Individual Sports Game

    Tony Hawk Project 8 (Activision/Neversoft)

    Best Team Sports Game

    NBA2K7 (2K Sports/Visual Concepts)

    Best Driving Game

    Burnout Revenge-Xbox 360 (Electronic Arts/Criterion Games

    Best Fighting Game

    Mortal Kombat Armageddon (Midway Games)

    Best Military Game

    Company of Heroes (THQ/Relic)

    Best PC Game

    Company of Heroes (THQ/Relic)

    Best Handheld Game

    New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo/Nintendo Ead)

    Best Wireless Game

    Swat Force (Vivendi/Kaolink)

    Best Game Based on a Movie or TV Show

    Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (LucasArts/Traveller’s Tales)

    Best Song

    “Lights And Sounds” by Yellowcard In Burnout Revenge for Xbox 360 (Electronic Arts/Criterion Games)

    Best Soundtrack

    Guitar Hero II (Red Octane/Harmonix)

    Cyber Vixen of the Year

    Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2: Episode 1 (Valve)

    Gamers Choice: Character of the Year

    Jack Sparrow, portrayed By Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: The

    Legend Of Jack Sparrow (Bethesda Softworks/7studios/Buena Vista Games)

  • Critics Vote with Their Feet

    Warner Bros.’ Happy Feet is emerging as an awards-season favorite as film critics start to weigh in with their picks for the top films and performances. Director George Miller’s CG family flick has been named Best Animated Feature by the Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) and the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC). Tinsel Town reviewers named Disney/Pixar’s Cars runner-up for their top toon award.

    Happy Feet, a movie about a young penguin who woos the love of his life with fancy footwork, danced off with the majority of votes from film critics working in television, radio, print and the internet. On the live-action side, the D.C. and New York reviewers gave Best Picture to United 93, Universal’s dramatization of the events that took place aboard one of the airliners hijacked on Sept. 11, while L.A. critics went with Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima, a companion piece to his WWII drama Flags of Our Fathers.

    Forrest Whitaker, star of Fox Searchlight’s The Last King of Scotland, and Helen Mirren, star of Miramax’s The Queen, proved a royal pair with Best Actor and Best Actress wins all around. However, Whitaker was surprisingly tied in the category by Borat‘s Sacha Baron Cohen when the L.A. votes were tallied.

    The critics were kinder than Simon Cowell was to former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson. WAFCA gave the songstress Best Supporting Actress and Best Breakthrough Performance for her screen premiere in DreamWorks/Paramount’s Dreamgirls. She also got the NYFCC award for her supporting role but was LAFCA’s runner-up to Luminita Gheorghiu for The Death of Mr. Lazarescu.

    When it comes to animated movies, the Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association has been on the same page with Oscar voters in recent awards seasons. Both entities picked DreamWorks/Aardman’s Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit last year and Disney/Pixar’s The incredibles and Finding Nemo in the two years prior.

    Happy Feet earned another $12.9 million over the weekend to bring its four-week domestic total to $137.9 million. After a successful three-week run at No. 1, the movie slppped to second place as Buena Vista’s Apocalypto took rule of the roost with a $15 million opening.

  • Happy Feet, South Park Make AFI List

    The American Film Institute has released its annual top 10 list, naming just two animated productions among the mix of film and television favorites. Of the 16 animated features released this year, only Warner Bros.’s Happy Feet made the cut, while Comedy Central’s long-running South Park stands as the lone toon in the Television category.

    Happy Feet is in good company, earning a spot along with Paramount Vantage’s Babel, 20th Century Fox’s Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and The Devil Wears Prada, DreamWorks/Paramount’s Dreamgirls, ThinkFilm’s Half Nelson, Universal’s United 93 and Inside Man, Warner Bros.’ Letters from Iwo Jima and Fox Searchlight’s Little Miss Sunshine.

    On TV, South Park stands alongside SCI FI Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, Showtime’s Dexter, Fox’s 24, HBO’s Elizabeth I and The Wire, and the NBC series Friday Night Lights, Heroes, The Office and The West Wing.

    The AFI Awards 2006 selections were made through AFI’s 13-person jury process in which scholars, film artists, critics and AFI trustees convened in Los Angeles, Calif., to discuss the most outstanding achievements of the year. AFI will honor the creative ensembles behind each of the selections at a luncheon, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, on Friday, Jan. 12, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. For each of 20 the film and TV productions named above, HP has created scholarships to the AFI Conservatory, which offers advance training for the next generation of storytellers.

  • Raimi Lurks in The Shadow

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Spider-Man director Sam Raimi is setting his sights on another classic comic-book superhero, teaming with Columbia Pictures to develop a feature film based on Walter B. Gibson’s crime-fighting creation, The Shadow. Raimi and Buckaroo Ent. partner Josh Donen will produce the pic, along with Michael Uslan of Comic Book Movies Llc/Branded Ent., who wrote for Shadow comics in 1970s.

    The Shadow was born in the 1930s as a CBS radio show featuring Orson Welles as the voice of Lamont Cranston, a smooth-talking do-gooder with the power to cloud people’s minds. Comic books and live-action serials and television series followed before a 1994 feature film attempted to resurrect the franchise. Despite the perfect casting of Alec Baldwin and the visual flair of director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander), Universal’s tongue-in-cheek adaptation failed to catch on with moviegoers.

    Raimi tells the Reporter that he has long dreamed of making a Shadow feature. His own 1990 film, Darkman, in which a burn victim fights baddies in a long coat and hat when he’s not disguising himself with masks, is basically a melding of The Shadow and DC Comics’ The Unknown Soldier, created by Joe Kubert.

    Currently finishing Spider-Man 3 for a May, 2007 release, Raimi may be closing the book on his adventures with Peter Parker. Columbia hopes the Shadow deal will have him bringing superhero action to the big screen for years to come, granted this version manages to capture the imagination of its target audience.

  • Toons Hit High Note with Academy

    Animated features made another record showing today as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science announced its list of 56 songs eligible for consideration in the Original Song Oscar category this year. Twelve of these songs were featured in animated movies, while four were from movies that have major CG visual effects. Cars, Everyone’s Hero, Over the Hedge, Barnyard, Open Season, Paprika, Arthur and the Invisibles, The Wild, Happy Feet and Curious George all made the initial list.

    On Tuesday, January 16, the Academy will screen clips featuring each song, in random order, for voting members of the Music Branch in both Beverly Hills and New York City. After the screenings, members will vote to determine which three, four or five songs become nominees in the category.

    To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits. Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at 5:30 a.m. PST in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center’, and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m.

    Here is a list of the original songs that were featured in animated and vfx-driven features:

    ‘The Best’ from Everyone’s Hero

    ‘Family of Me’ from Over the Hedge

    ‘The Girl in Byakkoya – White Tiger Field’ from Paprika

    ‘Heist’ from Over the Hedge

    ‘Hillbilly Holla’ from Barnyard

    ‘I Belong’ from Open Season

    ‘Keep Holding On’ from Eragon

    ‘Ordinary Miracle’ from Charlotte’s Web

    ‘Our Town’ from Cars

    ‘Quest for Love’ from Arthur and the Invisibles

    ‘Real Gone’ from Cars

    ‘Really Nice Day’ from The Wild

    ‘The Song of the Heart’ from Happy Feet

    ‘Still’ from Over the Hedge

    ‘Tonight’ from Night at the Museum

    ‘Try Not to Remember’ from Home of the Brave

    ‘Upside Down’ from Curious George

    ‘When You Taught Me How to Dance’ from Miss Potter

    ‘Won’t Let You Fall’ from Poseidon

  • Pirates Sequel Raids Retail

    There’s sure to be plenty of piracy going on as the Disney blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest arrives on home video today. Having earned more than $1 billion worldwide, the action-adventure thrill ride is sure to be a popular gift this holiday season, providing the Mouse House with another windfall courtesy of Captain Jack Sparrow.

    In the film, Sparrow (Johnny Depp) owes his soul to the legendary Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) and must find a way to save himself from suffering for eternity as a member of the fiend’s army of sea phantoms. Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley return as Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, Sparrow’s reluctant partners in swashbuckling, and visual effects are provided by Industrial Light & Magic, Asylum, The Orphanage, Method Studios, Tippett Studio, Caf’ FX and Proof Inc.

    Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is available as both a single disc issue and a deluxe, two-disc special edition DVD set. Featuring limited availability holographic packaging, the special edition includes a behind-the-scenes documentary, a Captain Jack featurette, a blooper reel, a sword-fighting featurette, a look at the creation of film’s CG Kraken, an on-location view of filming, a featurette on the legend of Davy Jones, red-carpet premiere footage, producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s personal on-set photo diary and a bonus program on the newly ‘re-Imagineered’ Pirates of the Caribbean theme-park attraction.

    Released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, the single-disc version carries a suggested retail price of $14.99, while the two-disc collector’s edition lists for $19.99. The DVD will have to keep fans satiated until the debut of the third installment in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, which is expected to debut on May 25, 2007.

  • Animaniacs Leads TV Toons to Disc

    Lovers of Warner Bros. animation from the 1990s can augment their collections today with the release of two more volumes of the ever Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain TV series. Also up for grabs in this week’s crop is National Geographic Kids Entertainment’s new holiday special, Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home for Christmas, as well as sets of episodes from Garfield & Friends, The Adventures of the Little Prince, The Happy Tree Friends, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and What’s New, Scooby-Doo?

    Introduced in 1993, Animaniacs is the acclaimed Steve Spielberg-produced series directed by Rich Arons and Peter Bonerz, and featuring an ensemble cast of wacky characters including Wakko, Yakko, Dot Warner, Pinky, The Brain, Rita, Runt, Bobby, Pesto and Squit. Animaniacs Vol. 2 is a five-disc set with another 25 episodes from the show and an extra feature titled The Writers Flipped, They Have No Script, which takes a look at the writers’ favorite episodes. The set carries a suggest retail price of $44.98. The first and second volumes are also now available as a package deal for $89.98.

    A spin-off of Animaniacs, Pinky and The Brain chronicles the further adventures of a genetically engineered mouse who continually attempts to take over the world with the help of his insane cohort. All 20 episodes from the show’s second season are feaured in Pinky and The Brain Vol. 2, a four-disc set that also includes the featurette The Audition, featuring series voice actors Mark Hamill, Wayne Knight, Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulsen. The Warner Home Video releases also lists for $44.98.

    In advance of it’s Dec. 13 TV debut on NOGGIN, Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home for Chistmass is available at retail. Based on the best-selling book series from Holly Hobbie, the 44-mnute special finds the winter holiday descending upon Woodcock Pocket. While Puddle is at home baking fruitcake, making paper chains and decorating the house, his best friend, Toot, finds himself stranded in a snow storm far away. With a lot of determination, a bit of luck and some unexpected help from another mysterious holiday traveler, Toot just might make it home from Scotland by Christmas Eve. Animated by Grand Slamm Children’s Films, the movie can be had for the list price of $19.98.

    Garfield & Friends: Behind the Scenes offers 15 episodes from the 1980s TV series on a single disc. Released by Fox Home Entertainment, The DVD by itself retails for a $14.98 and there is another edition that comes with a Ty Inc. Garfield beanie mini plush and lists for $19.98.

    Koch Vision has put out The Adventures of the Little Prince: Vol.5′The Greatest Gift and Vol. 6′The Magic Case. Each disc contains three animated episodes based on the classic character created by Antoine de Saint-Exupry. They can each be had for $9.98.

    Happy Tree Friends: Season 1, Vol. 1 from Brentwood Home Video offers up episodes of Mondo Media’s Canadian television series in which adorable animated forest critters get maimed and mangled in unfortunate accidents. The disc retails for $19.98 and includes commentary, a behind-thescenes featurette

    And storyboards.

    Finally, What’s New Scooby-Doo? Volume 10: Monstrous Tails is a collection of five episodes including “Uncle Scooby and Antarctica,” “Block-Long Hong Kong Terror,” “Great Reef,” “Gold Paw” and “A Terrifying Round With a Menacing Clown.” From Warner Home Video, the DVD caries a suggested retail price of $19.96.

  • Sonoma Fest Fetes Lasseter

    Two-time Oscar winning director/producer John Lasseter will be honored for his work with Pixar at the 10 Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival. Presented by the Sonoma Valley Film Society, the celebration of film, food and fine wine is scheduled to take place April 11-15 in California’s wine country.

    The salute to Lasseter will feature appearances and toasts from his creative collaborators, friends and other industry luminaries as the fest celebrates the director of such beloved animated features as Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug’s Life and Cars. As the creative heart of Pixar, Lasseter also served as exec producer on such blockbusters as Monster’s, Inc., Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. He is currently overseeing production on Ratatouille, which is slated to hit theaters n 2007, and is gearing up to direct the third Toy Story movie.

    The Sonoma Valley Film Fest will screen more than 75 films from around the world, including Lasseter’s Toy Story. The program director tells us they’re very keen on animation and would love to receive more animated entries. Submissions can be made online at www.withoutabox.com before Dec. 15. For more information on the festival, go to www.sonomafilmfest.org.

  • Comedy Central Amp’d for Lil’ Bush

    Comedy Central is making room in its programming schedule for Lil’ Bush: Resident of the United States, an animated show that started as a series of shorts on Amp’d Mobile. Created and co-produced by comedy writer/producer Donick Cary, Lil’ Bush is scheduled to launch in 2007 and marks the first time that Comedy Central has developed a series based on a property created for mobile platforms.

    Lil’ Bush: Resident of the United States follows the adventures of a young George Bush and tyke versions of his White House posse, including Lil’ Condi, Lil’ Rummy and Lil’ Cheney. Likened to the Lil’ Rascals with access to the bomb, the mischievous Washington brat pack get into trouble and square off with such rivals as like Lil’ Kim Jong Il and Lil’ Saddam Hussein. The shorts debuted on Amp’d Mobile on the first of September and quickly became the most downloaded offerings on the network. The series pilot was also the top-rated video viewed on Break.com throughout the month of September.

    Those who have been following the exploits of Lil’ George on their cel phones will be able to catch the regular series first on Comedy Central and then on the network’s Amp’d Mobile channel, which will also provide access to phone wallpapers and character voicetones.

    “Comedy Central’s pick-up of our first original project truly validates our commitment to quality content and we look forward to expanding our original programming lineup with the all-comedy network, Donick and other top Hollywood producers,” says Seth Cummings, senior VP of content development and programming for Amp’d Mobile.

    ‘Lil’ Bush is one of the most innovative projects we’ve seen and a welcome addition to Comedy Central’s line-up,” adds Lauren Corrao, exec VP of original programming and development for the cable network. ‘Comedy Central is one of the leading networks in developing and producing original digital content and we will continue to delve further into this expanding medium to create multi-platform programming.”

    Through its online contest, ‘Test Pilots,’ Comedy Central is fostering the development of other internet and mobile properties that may eventually get series pick-ups for television. The first pilot selected for development and distribution on the network’s Motherload broadband channel is Wade Randolph’s Awesome Friends, a quirky toon about a dog-and-cat odd couple.

  • Nick Jr., NOGGIN Merge

    The creative and management teams of Viacom’s cable broadcasting entities Nick Jr. and NOGGIN will come together to form one unified group dubbed Nickelodeon Preschool. The consolidated team will be led by Brown Johnson, who will serve as exec VP and exec creative director for Nickelodeon Preschool and general manager of NOGGIN. In addition, Teri Weiss has been promoted to senior VP of development and production, and Angela Leaney has been named senior VP and creative director for Nickelodeon Preschool.

    Johnson has been with Nickelodeon for 19 years and has been the driving force behind Nick Jr. and such hit preschool series as Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets! and The Backyardigans. In her new role, she will oversee development and production for all preschool programming across Nickelodeon networks, including the Nick Jr. preschool block and NOGGIN, a commercial-free digital educational network for preschoolers. NOGGIN original series currently include, Oobi, Jack’s Big Music Show, The Upside Down Show, Pinky Dinky Doo, Miffy and Friends and 64 Zoo Lane.

    Teri Weiss most recently served as VP of development and production for Nick Jr. As senior VP of development and production of Nickelodeon Preschool, she will report to Johnson as she continues to develop and produce new series. Weiss joined Nickelodeon in 1999 as the exec in charge of production for Dora the Explorer. Prior to that, she worked on shows for Comedy Central and receiving two Emmy Awards and three Parent’s Choice Awards as a producer on Sesame Street.

    As senior VP and creative director, Angela Leaney will also report to Johnson as she partners with Nickelodeon Marketing and Nickelodeon Digital to continue to build both brands. Most recently, she served as senior VP of brand communications and was responsible for the strategic branding, on-air and on-line promotion and marketing of NOGGIN and nighttime teen network The N. Before joining the Nickelodoen family, Leaney was head of planning and research at advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather, Los Angeles.