How To Train Your Dragon

Source: youtube

Brand new film from dreamworks animation. Coming out at March 26, 2010, The story is about a Viking teenager named Hiccup lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. The teen's smarts and offbeat sense of humor don't sit too well wit. The film stars the voice talents of Jay Baruche. The story very original and had to watch for 2010. I took the trailer from youtube. Enjoy...

Tom Hanks on Toy Story 3 and What They Showed Him First

disneyApril 23, 2009
Source: Empire
by Alex Billington

One of the many reasons that I love Pixar as much as I do is because of their work ethic, their process, how they do things. It's a bit different from everyone else, but it still works, and it's somewhat mesmerizing to see (as in, the special features on their DVDs). Empire published an excerpt from their recent interview with Tom Hanks talking about working on Toy Story 3. He explains that they actually showed him the movie first, with temporary voices, before he then recorded his own voice. "I have been in and done three big complete recording sessions and will probably have at least one more to do, possibly in about eight months."

"They did an interesting thing on this one. They did not send us a script. They showed us a complete story reel of the entire movie, with storyboards moving from one to the next, and the people up at Pixar recorded some voices with some music and sound effects. Tim Allen and John Ratzenberger and I went in a movie theatre, watched the reel and said, 'This is great, let's get to work!'"

I don't think I need to remind anyone that Hanks voices Woody in the movie. And of course, Tim Allen is back as Buzz, and the aforementioned John Ratzenberger is back as Hamm the Piggy Bank. A few weeks ago, Disney showed a promo reel for Toy Story 3 to audiences at NAB. And before that, we announced that the first Toy Story 3 trailer would be attached to the Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D showing on October 2nd later this year. It's always fascinating to hear those stories behind how Pixar works, and this is definitely no exception. I mean, how often does anyone see the movie first before they start work on it?

Source : www.firstshowing.net

New Astro Boy Concept Art Photos from Imagi

by Alex Billington


I'm really conflicted here. While I hated that teaser trailer for Astro Boy that hit in November, new images have popped up and I'm starting to wonder whether my opinion was wrong that first time. That teaser looked ridiculously cheesy and just plain bad, yet these images remind me of Hayao Miyazaki or even something from Pixar. Stop messing with my mind Imagi! The animation house has released a batch of new concept art photos for Astro Boy on their official website this week. This isn't the first time we've seen some cool concept art for this movie, which is why I'm still really conflicted. Trust me, I really want this to turn out awesome in the end, so as long as it turns out as good as all of these images look, I'll be satisfied
.

Set in futuristic Metro City, AstroBoy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist to replace the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving father's expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators, before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with the man who had rejected him.

Astro Boy is directed by ex-Disney animator David Bowers, of Flushed Away previously, with a screenplay written by Timothy Harris, of Brewster's Millions, Kindergarten Cop, and Space Jam previously. Imagi Animation, the studio behind TMNT last year, is developing this animated film which is based on Osamu Tezuka's manga series. Astro Boy will arrive in theaters everywhere on October 23rd, 2009.

Source : www.firstshowing.net

3D Updates: Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast and Pirates of the Carribean

November 19, 2008
Source: MarketSaw, Variety
by Alex Billington

It's no coincidence that the three films mentioned in the title are all Disney films. It seems Disney, who is very well versed in the world of theme parks, believes 3D really is the future and is pushing very hard to put out nearly every film they're releasing from now on in 3D. This even includes such timeless classics as Beauty and the Beast and Tim Burton's upcoming Alice in Wonderland. We've got three updates today in regards to 3D, two of which pertain to Beauty and Wonderland, the third of which pertains to Pirates of the Caribbean. As always, I jump at any opportunity to talk about 3D and how bad it might be because this time not all this news is necessarily good news! Care to find out more?

First up, Disney is re-rendering their 1991 classic Beauty and the Beast in Digital 3D and will be re-releasing the new version in theaters sometime in 2010. The process is expected to take 9 months to complete. The original team of filmmakers, including producer Don Hahn and co-directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, will be back to oversee the process. "By going back to the original animation files, which have been carefully archived for 17 years, and using the separate background, effects and character animation elements, we're able to come up with a fun and unique 3D experience for existing and new fans of the film," Hahn said. This actually doesn't seem that bad of an idea. I'll be curious to check it out.

Second, our friends at MarketSaw have uncovered some interesting news regarding Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. While the film has always been touted as a 3D feature, blending a mix of CGI and live-action photography, apparently it's not actually being shot in 3D. "Tim Burton is NOT shooting AIW in 3D at all. Period. They intend on converting to 2D movie to 3D after the fact in post production!" It'll still be 3D in the end, it just won't look as good as if it were entirely shot in 3D (like say, James Cameron's Avatar). To me this just means that it's going to turn out a lot worse in 3D, because anything not built (or shot) from the ground up in 3D usually ends up terrible. I'll just stick with the 2D version, thank you!

Lastly, David Cohen at Variety speculates that we could end up seeing Pirates of the Caribbean 4 in 3D by the time it hits theaters in 2011. "We can't help but notice that 1) Disney is heavily invested in 3D, including live-action. 2) Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp are making an animated 3D movie together, Rango. and 3) Jerry Bruckheimer is making G-Force in 3D." He actually makes a very good point. Considering Pirates of the Caribbean is their money-making gem, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney is trying to find out ways to make even more money from the franchise, including putting the entire film out in 3D. Swashbuckling pirates in full 3D? Sounds like a theme park ride more than a movie to me.

Source : www.firstshowing.net

Pixar's Cars 2 Pushed Up to Summer of 2011

September 25, 2008
by Alex Billington

During the Disney Showcase yesterday held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, John Lasseter and Dick Cook presented a brief look at the upcoming animated films from Disney. Included was a quick look at Cars 2. While there wasn't any concept art or photos, Lasseter and Cook announced that the film would be hitting theaters in the summer of 2011, as opposed to 2012, as was first announced. Additionally, Lasseter mentioned that he came up with the idea for the sequel while traveling around the world doing publicity for the first film. He wondered how the characters would react in various locations all over the world. Cars 2 will follow Tow Mater getting his passport and traveling to Europe with Lightning McQueen.

Lasseter also gave us a quick look at an episode from a series of shorts called Cars Toons. These shorts will feature "Mater's Tall Tales", a series of funny stories told by Tow Mater himself, starting with how he used to be a firetruck. The more I re-watch Cars, the more I come to appreciate it. It's definitely not Pixar's best film, but I'm honestly still excited for a sequel. Why are so many people angry at this news? I honestly don't understand! Since when has Pixar done anything wrong? It's not the most beloved film, but I think the sequel to Cars will definitely be embraced by 2011. The story sounds like it could be fun and it'll be a drastic change from the first film. Hopefully there are others out there who appreciate Cars as much as I do?

Source : www.firstshowing.net