Friday, April 29, 2011

The End-of-April Linkorama

As April spins to an end, here are a few stories of animation.

SPA acquires a karmic tale:

Sony Pictures Animation has picked up the rights to Instant Karma, a comedy fantasy from Paul Hernandez, who wrote the script and is attached to direct what would be a live-action/CGI hybrid.

SPA is picking up the project out of turnaround from New Line ... [the story of] a misguided safecracker from New Orleans [who] finds himself reincarnated as a fly, where it has been set up since 2003. ...

No synergy here, folks. Move it along, nothing to see.

Disney’s $4-billion purchase of Marvel in 2009 almost immediately sparked speculation that Pixar Animation might develop lesser-known comic properties like Ant-Man, Power Pack and even Doctor Strange.

When the deal was announced, Disney CEO Robert Iger conceded that possibility had been discussed. “Pixar boss John Lasseter talked to the Marvel guys about this and they all got excited about it,” he said in a conference call. “We think there’s ultimately some exciting product that come of that. Sparks will fly!”

But fast-forward two and a half years, and it appears any thought of an on-screen collaboration between Pixar and Marvel has been rejected. ...

(Of course, there's always the other division in Burbank? The one across Riverside Drive? Maybe somebody there could develop something? A story person? Some director? Somebody?)

DreamWorks Animation continues to branch out:

... DreamWorks Animation on Wednesday said it was partnering with Gaylord Entertainment to create themed programming and activities for patrons staying at Gaylord’s four U.S. hotels. The “DreamWorks Experience,” as the venture is being called, will integrate popular DreamWorks franchises ...

Viz Effx Soldier discusses the highs and lows of visual effects houses here and abroad:

... Warner Bros. [paid] 20% over budget for vfx done in Los Angeles. When they brought on Pixomondo to do the extra work where did that go? There was quite a bit of hiring at Pixomondo here in Los Angeles.

It’s true some vfx work has gone to India and China but I think the only company that really has utilized India is Rhythm & Hues. Imageworks has opened a division there a few years ago yet a huge bulk of their work gets done in Los Angeles. ...

(The word is out and about that Imageworks could be shuttering its facility in Albuquerque. We've no idea if this is true, we just traffic in rumors.)

Here's a fine summary of the performance of television cartoons:

...US kids are still hitting the boob tube in growing numbers. Read on for the most recent ratings from The Hub, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney. ...

The little elephant that could really fly goes high-def this Fall.

... "Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition" will be available for purchase as a 2-Disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (with the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada), a 1-Disc DVD (with the suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada) ...

(It's a lousy press release, but still worth knowing, yes?)

Lastly. To remind us that we live in a global cartoon world ...

The Amazing World of Gumball, the first U.K.-produced full-length animated series to come from Cartoon Network's development studio in Europe, is set to make its U.S. debut on May 9, joining the Monday night animated comedy lineup. The series combines 2D and 3D animation in a live-action setting. ...

Have yourselves a glorious weekend.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

[b]Of course, there's always the other division in Burbank? The one across Riverside Drive? Maybe somebody there could develop something? A story person? Some director? Somebody?[/b]

So, someone at WDAS is developing a movie based on a Marvel property. Interesting.

Anonymous said...

He said "somebody there COULD develop something" (as in he wishes someone there will), and not IS developing something.


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