Now that Friday is upon us (and I can't think of anything original to blog about), here is a gathering of recent animation (and animation-related) news. Also Add On!:
As went Alfred Hitchock, so goes John Lasseter:
The producers of "Cars 2" surprised the Disney and Pixar animation chief in honor of Pixar's 25th anniversary by introducing a hefty yellow pick-up truck named John Lassetire ... in the upcoming sequel. ...
Mr. Lasseter will also be doing the voice. (Take that, Hitchcock!) ...
Animation's Do-It-Yourself phase is upon us.
... On the heels of Twitter, blogs and YouTube videos, do-it-yourself animation has emerged as the latest form of self-expression online. These days, anyone looking to make fun of their boss, unleash a rant or comment on the latest news can quickly create a cartoon, thanks to a crop of animation websites. And corporations, advertisers—and Hollywood executives—are beginning to take notice.
Insurance giant Geico is using the lo-fi animation for a series of TV ads. Some of the most successful amateur video-makers are fielding offers from agents and producers. ...
The reviews for Gnomeo and Juliet appear to be all over the map:
... A new retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" with garden gnomes in the titular roles is sharply dividing critics ... This film is just another example of "Shakesploitation" ... Gnomeo & Juliet doesn't reach the "stellar" heights of the Toy Story movies, but it's not without its charms ...
(And the LA Times predicts G and J's opening weekend.)
... The 3-D animated "Gnomeo & Juliet," which should open to between $15 million and $20 million ...
Disney's latest quarterly profits, they are very, very good.
Walt Disney Co. posted a 54% jump in net income for the quarter ended Jan. 1, with its previously struggling movie studio leading the way.
Operating income for Walt Disney Studios also jumped 54% to $375 million during the company's first quarter, the highest percentage growth of any of segment. ...
Director Dean DeBlois previews the next Dragon feature.
"It's going to be quite epic. We are treating How To Train Your Dragon as the first act in a much larger story. As we head into this one, the world expands. Everything is much bigger with still the heartfelt qualities that made the first one resonate so much with audiences. There are no longer restrictions to this tiny island in the North Sea. They have the entire Northern hemisphere within their grasp." ...
Then there's the latest feature from Illumination Entertainment ... soon at a theater near you. (With animation courtesy of Rhythm and Hues.)
Lastly, the United Kingdom appears to be having problems growing ... and hanging onto ... its video games industry:
... A few short years ago, the UK could count itself as the third largest video game producer behind the USA and Japan.
With incentives seen in such countries as Canada, a shift has occurred with the UK dropping its position worldwide, a decline that sees no sign of abating in the current economic climate (Scotland saw a 20 per cent reduction in employees in the game industry in 2010 alone). ...
Add On: The New York Times visits Pixar, and its reporter is agog.
Have yourself a fine weekend.
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1 comments:
Maybe John Lasseter drives a yellow pick-up truck, and that's why it's funny . . . but when I think of him and his tropical shirts, the first vehicle I would have considered would be a Surf Woody.
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