Mickey Mouse is an cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.
Now available for pre-order is the long awaited history of the man and studio behind a few of the most famous cartoon characters and some of the greatest, most-influential animated films in the history of the medium. Author and historian Ray Pointer is a forty-year film and animation professional. He has spent a life time […]
Travis Knight’s Japanese-influenced Kubo and the Two Strings ranks as the best film the artists at the Portland-based Laika Studio have made, with a strong story, assured direction and strikingly original designs. One-eyed Kubo (voiced by a very appealing Art Parkinson) is a street performer in a seaside village, supporting himself and his widowed mother […]
Shout Factory is giving Remi Chaye’s feature Long Way North a US theatrical release commencing September 30th. This places another French-based hand drawn animated feature in competition in the Oscar race for 2016. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rémi Chayé (The Secret of Kells) and produced by Sacrebleu Productions (Madagascar, Carnet de Voyage), Maybe Movies (Ernest […]
Today through next Sunday, August 14th, you can get a rare look at the actual stop-motion character figures, infinitely detailed sets and technical apparatus that have helped make Laika the Oscar-winning studio it is today. Following that odd, frequent theme park tradition of lengthy titles that the public shortens themselves anyway, Universal Studios Hollywood is […]
Once again, a do-not-miss event in New York City. John Canemaker will present Richard Williams at MoMA for the East-Coast premiere of the director’s cut of The Thief and the Cobbler. A three-time Oscar winner, Williams will be present for a discussion hosted by the animator and animation historian (and fellow Oscar-winner) John Canemaker on […]
Earlier this week, VIZ announced that they are releasing a cookbook based on Frederator’s web series Bee & Puppycat by Natasha Allegri. It’s somewhat surprising news, but begs the question of why an even more well-known cooking-based cartoon never got the same treatment? Remember Chowder? The Cartoon Network series about the eponymous plucky purple creature […]
The Little Prince, a co-American/French animated feature based on the classic 1943 children’s book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, proves that animation remains one of the most powerful forms of cinematic storytelling. Directed by Mark Osborne (Kung Fu Panda) and featuring a stellar, star-studded voice cast, this is a magical gem. Paramount was originally on track […]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is hosting a panel and screening to celebrate the preservation of two of our most important experimental animators, Suzan Pitt and Pat O’Neill. These two visionary artists will appear in person with a program of two visually stunning short films, newly preserved by the Academy Film Archive. […]
Future-Worm! starts Monday on Disney XD. It is an upcoming comedy science fiction animated television series created by Ryan Quincy, who was previously the creator of IFC’s Out There. I have seen the first full episode – and to put it plainly, it’s a completely off-the-wall, hilarious show. As the marketplace gets more crowded, its […]
What Cartoons From Today Will Be Written About in 25 Years?
Entertainment Weekly has published an article reminiscing about the three original Nicktoons that turn 25 this year. It’s a memorable birthday for a trio of revolutionary cartoons, yet it’s an excuse to wonder what cartoons from today (if any) will be given the same treatment in 2041. The period of 1989 to 1991 witnessed radical […]