Day and Night Oscar Run

The latest short film from Pixar, Day and Night, that was attached to Toy Story 3, has been officially confirmed to have progressed to the shortlist for Best Animated Short Film Category for the 83rd Academy Awards.
Nominations for the actual awards will be announced on January 25th 2011, with the awards taking place on February 27th.
You can read the press release from A.M.P.A.S. here.

Pixar, "Imagine Your Planet"

Pixar has just uploaded a new video showing onto their official YouTube channel. The video covers environmentally friendly alternative power, as well as the creativeness and imagination of Pixar. There are some interesting comments about some scenes from WALL E.

John Morris Interview

Giles Hardie from the Sydney Morning Herald recently carried out a video interview with John Morris - Andy from the Toy Story franchise.
The interview with Morris covers his involvement and thoughts about Toy Story 1, 2 and being brought back for 3.
Once again thanks to Pixar News Australia for letting me know.

The Ghost of Toy Story 3's Past

I'm sure that you're aware that back in 2006, when it looked like Disney and Pixar were going to part ways, Disney founded Circle 7 Animation to create sequels to existing Pixar films, starting with Toy Story 3.

However this version of TS3 was cancelled following the merger in 2006 and Circle 7 subsequently closed.
However, some artwork and story information has just been posted online on Bob & Rob's blog (2 screenwriters that worked on the Circle 7 version), it certainly sounded intriguing, but could it honestly hold a candle to Pixar's version? The plot involves Buzz being recalled to Taiwan and the others trying to help him.

You can check out the story details on Bob & Rob's Blog and some artwork at Jim Hill Media and more pictures on Bob & Rob.

Thanks to Pixar News Australia for letting us know this info.

Bob Whitehill talks to Collider

Collider recently posted an interview with Pixar's supervising 3D stereoscopic artist, the interview took place a while ago, however it just got posted recently as it got lost in the system until now. Bob talks about 3D in Toy Story 3 and how it will be used in Cars 2 and Brave.
The interview is really interesting and sheds a lot of light on 3D at Pixar.
You can check it out here.

Hop Trailer

The trailer for the upcoming 2011 CGI/Live Action mix, Hop, from Illumination Entertainment, the company behind Despicable Me, has made its way online the trailer doesn't reveal much, but it looks very fun.
Another stellar animated film for 2011.

Pixar's 100th Video

The 100th video (above) was just uploaded to the official DisneyPixar YouTube page, the video has the director of Short film Day and Night, and voice of Chatter Telephone in Toy Story 3, Teddy Newton, talking about the pitching process. This is the second "Question for Teddy Newton diector of Day and Night" video to date, you can watch the first one here. The video is really interesting and definitely worth watching for any Pixar fan.
Also, am I the only one who thinks he looks remarkably like Steve Carell? :D

Aardman News 2

More Aardman news concerning their upcoming 2011 CGI Christmas film, Arthur Christmas. Set in the ultra high tech North Pole on Christmas Eve, the film stars James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen as hapless and eager son of Santa Arthur, his older and more capable brother Steve, Santa, Grandsanta (the grumpy and cranky father of Santa), Mrs. Santa and lowly elf Bryony respectively.

The film casts many stars who are also in the upcoming Starz Animation film Gnomeo and Juliet, what really caught my attention is that the film is co-composed by the fantastic Michael Giacchino, a staple of Pixar, who is currently compsoing Cars 2.

The film sounds fantastic and you can read the full article here.

How is Megamind Doing?

DreamWorks Animation's latest feature film, Megamind, was released in the U.S. earlier this month, the film has done very reasonably for itself. Megamind currently holds a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (80% from the Top Critics) and has raked in $136,300,429, bearing in mind it hasn't opened everywhere yet, that's pretty good. It holds the fourth highest opening weekend for an animated film of 2010, behind Toy Story 3, Shrek Forever After and Despicable Me.
Not bad at all.

Update

Megamind's total gross revenue worldwide was $311,656,309, not ground breaking but not to be sniffed at. In comparison, Illumination Entertainment's similarly themed super villain film, Despicable Me, grossed $541,897,970 worldwide. Also, Megamind's final RT score was 72% (78% from Top Critics).

DreamWorks Holidays

DreamWorks have just uploaded two trailers onto their official YouTube page, the first one (above), introduces them both - Merry Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda Holiday -, two Christmas themed TV specials to debut on November 24th. The second video (below) delves further into Kung Fu Panda Holiday, neither look particularly groundbreaking, but both should be really fun and festive.

Wallace and Gromit News

I've just recieved this month's Wallace and Gromit e-Newsletter from Aardman, I thought I'd detail the interesting points from it:
The new Wallace and Gromit TV series, Wallace and Gromit's World of Inventions (airing every Wednesday on BBC One in the U.K.) is now halfway through, the series is a mix of Aardman's great claymation characters, Wallace and Gromit and interesting notes from the world of inventions. They're also now on the U.K. iTunes Store.
Aardman are also advertising christmas gifts for sale on their shop website, they are also offering prints from the movies at 20% off until December 1st.
Finally, the ultra awesome looking, Wallace and Gromit Christmas Stamps (pictured below) are now, officially, on sale from Royal Mail.

More Aardman news coming soon.

Mars Needs Moms Trailer

The trailer for the latest film from Disney and Imagemovers Digital, who recently made A Christmas Carol, has recently surfaced onto the official Disney Movie Trailer YouTube Channel.
The film uses motion capture technology for its animation, it looks interesting, if not wholly original.
The film casts the voices of Seth Green (Robot Chicken) and Joan Cusack (Jessie, Toy Story 2 and 3) and is out next year.
Poster below.

Happy 15th Birthday Toy Story!

Slightly belated, but yesterday, November 22nd, (as well as the release of Toy Story 3 on Blu Ray and DVD over here in the U.K.) was the fifteenth anniversary of the original release of Toy Story in cinemas.
Pixar's first feature film, the first fully computer animated film of all time and the film that spawned the highest grossing animated film in history, Toy Story 3.
Happy Birthday Toy Story!

For Your Consideration, Death by Monkeys

Last week saw the first For Your Consideration Ad for Toy Story 3's run for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards. All ads will spoof past winners, we've already seen Mr. Pricklepants, spoofing Shakespeare in Love, now we get Death by Monkeys, spoofing The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King.
With more to come, including a dismembered Mr. Potato Head, spoofing Silence of the Lambs, Disney is really pushing Toy Story 3.

Tangled's Perfect Run

Disney's 50th animated film to date, Tangled, is off to a flying start. Disney attracted some controversy changing the name and plot of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, to attract male attention, but it seems to have worked.
As well as a great opening, Tangled currently holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Good to see Disney back on the right track.

Update



Tangled is now down to 87%, slightly down, but still very good. Better than Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me and DreamWorks' Megamind

Update (again)

Scrap that, Tangled (now open in the U.K.) is up to 90%, 100% from Top Critics.

Poll Results

The results are in from the poll we put up last week. It seems that, bizarrely, we have a three way tie. It seems our users' favourite Pixar movie is Monsters' Inc., Up and Toy Story 2.

Toy Story 3 out in U.K.

Finally, after 20 long, painful days of it being out in America and me not being able to watch it again. Finally, Toy Story 3 is out on DVD and Blu Ray in the United Kingdom. I ordered the triple play - DVD, Blu Ray, Digital Copy - version (pictured above) and have to say, it is awesome.
I preordered it, so I received it on Friday and have watched it a couple of times, watched all the special features and am in the midst if watching it with filmmakers commentary (which is great), I'm loving it just as much as when I first saw it.
So, everyone in the U.K., today is the day, it's out and it's awesome. :D

Day and Night in Oscars

Pixar's latest short film, Day and Night, is one of 33 animated shorts to be accepted into this year's Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
The film, directed by Teddy Newton, was attached to the release of Toy Story 3 earlier this year - and on the DVD and Blu Ray - and is a great blend of 2D and 3D animation.
I'm, hoping Pixar win this year, to compensate for the brilliant Partly Cloudy, not even being nominated last year.

Cars 2 Cast

Following all of the Cars 2 unveiling from this past week, we have been treated to the cast list for new characters in the film. Courtesy of Empire:

Michael Caine as Finn McMissile (seasoned spy)
Emily Mortimer as Holley Shiftwell (spy in training)
Jason Isaacs as Siddeley (spy jet)
Joe Mantegna as Grem
Peter Jacobson as Acer
Thomas Kretschmann as Professor Z (Villainous sounding name)

Toy Story 3 for Best Picture

Presumably not happy with their shoo in win for Best Animated Feature, Disney has launched the first of many Toy Story 3 For Your Consideration Ads for Best Picture. It shows Mr. Pricklepants, the thespian hedgehog, spoofing Shakespeare in Love. From what we understand all of the posters are going to spoof past winners, with Forrest Gump and Titanic to come.

Cars 2 HD Images

Cars 2, Cars 2, Cars 2...
Pixar has gone crazy, releasing a massive stream of Cars 2 images, poster and (yesterday) the official trailer, they all look pretty awesome.
And now we are treated to yet more Pixarry goodness, behold 5 new HD images courtesy of HeyUGuys.
They look awesome.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Poster

Just trawling throigh Wikipedia and thought you guys would like to see the Kung Fu Panda 2 Poster. Kung Fu Panda 2 is DreamWorks' next feature film and is out next year.

Michael Caine in Cars 2

According to The Pixar Blog, a trusted Pixar source says that British Acting Legend, Sir Michael Caine is the voice of Cars 2 character Finn McMissile.
No official confirmation from Pixar or Disney as of yet.

Cars 2, Revved up and Ready to go

Finally, after weeks of build up; the teaser trailer, the concept art, the poster (below) and the first image, finally, we get the first theatrical trailer, and it is looking awesome. Giving an insight into the plot of the film and introducing us to new characters, like Finn McMissile, Cars 2, hitting theatres in 2011, is looking ready to remedy the problems with Cars 1.
Can't wait!!

Toy Story 3 Oscar Run

Toy Story 3 is officially one of fifteen films to be accepted for Nomination in the best animated feature category for the 83rd Academy Awards. Next Best Picture.

Cars 2, First Look

The first images of Cars 2 have finally made their way online, furthering the spy motif that we've been told the film is about, the picture looks pretty awesome. This picture was accompanied by a plot synopsis, presumably in anticipation for the upcoming trailer, which you can check out on The Pixar Times. Thanks to them for breaking the story to me.

Bud got Luckey?

Is Bud Luckey in the midst of directing a feature film at Pixar? According to Wikipedia he is. Wikipedia, whilst not the most reliable of sources, says that he is widely rumoured to be in production of a film for Pixar, collaborating with former Sesame Street co-worker Don Hadley, and co-directing with John Lasseter.
The plot is said to have a Western theme, similar to Luckey's short Boundin', with a predicted 2013 release date, this seems somewhat bizarre as Luckey is supposedly retired from Pixar - with his last role being as Chuckles in Toy Story 3 (pictured above) - I guess only time will tell, it certainly sounds awesome.
What do you think?

Rio Poster

Just found this poster online, the official theatrical poster for Blue Sky Studios' upcoming animation, Rio.

Gnomeo and Juliet Trailer 2

By this point I hope you've all seen the first trailer for Gnomeo and Juliet, a film being made by Starz Animation (it was originally going to be made at Disney until John Lasseter shut it down following the Pixar merger) with an all star British cast. I recently saw the second U.K. trailer with a screening of Despicable Me, it is looking pretty sweet.
Great line up of animated films for 2011 so far.

Aardman Studio Tour

Just a quick post to let you all now about the feature on Aardman's official website where you can take a full 360 degree look around areas of Aardman Animation Studios.
It's really fun and interesting, hope you like it :D

T-Minus 8 Days

Despite the fact that Toy Story 3 has been out since the 2nd in America, it's not out over here in the U.K. until the 22nd, I've preordered the 4 disc, DVD, Blu Ray, Digital Copy and Bonus set and will be getting it in 1 week on Monday.
Stay tuned for the review.

Toy Story 3, Awards Season

Well, Awards season has well and truly begun, to show this Disney have revamped their awards site to try to nominate all of their films in some category or another. However, none are more deserving of Oscars galore than Toy Story 3, as such we have seen the first for your consideration ad on the cover of Variety this week (pictured below).

And finally and most awesomely, the Toy Story 3 screenplay has been released online, in the hopes of being nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, the screenplay is brilliant and if there is any justice in the world, Toy Story 3 will become the first animated film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

What do you think? Can Toy Story 3 do it?

Winnie the Pooh Trailer

This past week has been a big one for trailers: Kung Fu Panda 2, the announcement of the next Cars 2 trailer and now... the first trailer for the upcoming 2011 classically animated Winnie the Pooh film has been uploaded to Disney's YouTube channel.
I can't wait to see this in 2011, your thoughts?

Kung Fu Panda 2 Trailer

I'm sure you're aware by this point that DreamWorks are making yet another sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2 is out next year and this past week the first trailer made its way online.
Whilst the trailer reveals nothing new, it's good to see Po back, even if it is just 2 years after the first film.

Cars 2 Trailer

Well, this is a steady stream of posts...
Final one for today...
According to various reports, including from The Pixar Blog, the first full length theatrical trailer for Pixar's upcoming sequel, Cars 2, is to be shown alongside the upcoming Disney film, Tangled, released Stateside on November 24th.
Whilst the previous teaser was AWESOME, the new one is said to unveil more about the film, including new characters.

Stay Tuned.

Aardman News

This is my first update on Stop Motion British animation giant, Aardman:

Pictured above is the poster for the upcoming CGI Aardman feature, Arthur Christmas, a film about Santa's ultra high-tech north pole HQ and his less than Santa-esque son, Arthur, it sounds (and looks) cracking.

Secondly, earlier this week I emailed Aardman, concerning their upcoming Stop Motion film, Pirates, directed by Peter Lord, in his first since Chicken Run and was told to expect a trailer mid 2011, so look forward to that.

Cars Toons, 2011

With the release of Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales on Blu Ray and DVD in U.S.A. I grew suspicious by the lack of an announcement of a U.K. release date, so I e-mailed Disney and boy was I disappointed...
May 2011...
May 2011...
How long can it possibly take to ship it from America, it better be worth the wait!

Sweetland to Sony

Doug Sweetland, director of brilliant Pixar short, Presto, has officially been hired by Sony Pictures Animation (of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs) and is set to direct a 2012 feature animation, The Familiars, check out the description at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Familiars
Whilst it's sad that Pixar lose this great director, the film sounds pretty sweet.
Keep your eyes peeled.

Pixar vs. DreamWorks DVDs and Blu Rays

With the release of How to Train Your Dragon on DVD and Blu Ray next week, it may very well be Toy Story 3 vs. How to Train Your Dragon battling it out for the no.1 spot. Whilst there is no doubt which film is better (*cough* Toy Story 3 *cough*), I will be getting both (as, alas TS3 isn't out over here in the U.K. until the 22nd), DreamWorks are far from unsuccessful, but HTTYD may struggle against the highest grossing animated film of all time.
What do you think?

Planes

As mentioned previously, this blog is, for now, going to cover random pieces of interesting news from the past few months:
There are rumors of a Cars spin off straight-to-DVD film (a la Disney), being released, whilst this is disappointing to think that Pixar would let their character be butchered by these type of films, I'm actually quite looking forward to it, it could turn out well, like Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Also, at least it's not being made by Pixar, it's in production by DisneyToon Studios, responsible for the recent string of Tinkerbell movies.
What do you think? Will it be good? Will the release coincide with Cars 2?
Comment Below :D

Welcome

Hi guys,
Welcome to A113Animation blog, despite the Pixar oriented name, this blog will cover pretty much all animated films, from all companies; including Aardman, DreamWorks, Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Animation and.. of course... Pixar.
As this is a new blog, it is, at first, going to cover random bits of animation news from the last few months, hope you like it. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, Marioman1394: http://www.youtube.com/user/marioman1394?feature=mhum
Hope you enjoy it