Watch: Bat-tastic New Trailer for The Lego Movie

Although quite a few of the films originally slated to open in it have migrated (Pixar pushed The Good Dinosaur back to November 2015, Universal also pushed Minions back to July that year), 2014 still has a pretty exciting line-up of animated films - this is one such film. Warner Bros. have rolled out a hilarious new trailer for The Lego Movie, featuring a healthy dose of Will Arnett's Lego Batman!

Morph's Coming Back! Aardman Take to Kickstarter.

A few months back, Aardman co-founder Peter Lord announced that machinations were falling into place to bring back one of Aardman's first little plasticine men, Morph. The character, who first appeared alongside Tony Hart in 1977, will be on his way back soon, if Aardman's new Kickstarter campaign takes off!

Watch: Teaser Trailer for Planes: Fire & Rescue

It's the sequel no one asked for! But money. Disney have released the first teaser trailer for the second film in an apparent Planes trilogy, Planes: Fire & Rescue. It's only about a minute long, but it feels much longer... That said, the animation's really nice.

The first Planes film was critically panned (it garnered a caustic 27% on Rotten Tomatoes), but made $206 million from a modest budget of $50 million. Disney will presumably be hoping for a repeat performance with what will be DisneyToon's 62nd (yes, really) film next year.

Planes 2 is directed by Bobs Ganaway (Secret of the Wings), with Julie Bowen (Modern Family) joining the cast alongside a returning Dane Cook. The film flies into cinemas on 18th July, 2014 in the US, and 8th August in the UK.

Monsters vs. Aliens Director and Muppets Screenwriter to Adapt Captain Underpants for DreamWorks

We heard a couple of years ago that DreamWorks had acquired the rights to adapt Dav Pilkey's bestselling (and really fun) Captain Underpants books. Now the studio has detailed the crew that will be bringing the bald, occasionally bipolar, scantily-clad superhero to the big screen!

Six Snazzy New Hi-Res Images from Frozen

All aboard the Frozen advertising train! In the last few weeks, we've got the fantastic "First Time in Forever" trailer and our first clips from the film, and now we've got six great new hi-res stills from Frozen too! My personal favourite? Why, the Elsa one, of course! Check out the other stills, featuring Anna, Kristoff, Hans, Olaf and the Duke of Weselton, below.

Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #41: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Last Week’s: Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #40: The Emperor’s New Groove (2000).

Looking back, Atlantis seemed like a sure winner. From the directors of the magnificent Beauty and the Beast (which in my opinion is the finest Disney animated film, a sentiment not shared by my A113 colleagues, but one that seems pretty popular within the Twitter community) and the also very good Hunchback of Notre Dame, the film offered an adventure like no other. Staying away from the "Broadway style" that they employed for their previous two films, directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise - and producer Don Hahn - created a superb looking film that unfortunately suffers from a lack of heart and too many characters, which only serves to make the already contrived plot even more confusing.

Leaked Teaser Poster for Pixar's The Good Dinosaur

Pixar's dino flick may have been delayed until November 2015, but that doesn't mean we're hearing nothing about it. The Good Dinosaur has now got an extremely colourful teaser poster, leaked via jPosters! UPDATE - 21:33 (GMT): Poster removed at the request of Disney and Pixar.

Watch: Disarming First Trailer for Mr. Peabody & Sherman

DreamWorks are slowly amping up advertising for their first film of next year, the time-travelling comedy Mr. Peabody & Sherman. After rolling out our first official stills from the film last week, the Shrek shack has now released the first trailer - and it looks like a lot of fun!

Watch: Two New Clips from Frozen

Disney are blitzing forward with the advertising for their ever more anticipated 53rd animated feature film. Over the last couple of days, Disney have rolled out two new clips for Frozen, at polar ends of the spectrum. (Although, if you can only watch one Frozen video today, I still maintain it should be the fantastic musical, Elsa-centric trailer we got last week.)

New Tintin in 2052. No, Not the Peter Jackson Movie.

Tintin's final appearance in the unfinished Tintin and Alph-Art.

All my Tintinophile life I've been thinking that there was never going to be any new Tintin album. Ever. And I was okay with that. How couldn't I be? I was born two years after Hergé's death, and there was never a doubt in my mind that The Adventures of Tintin were over for good.
So I never asked myself: do I want another Tintin album?
That changed this past Monday, when a Nick Rodwell (head of Moulinsart, the society which owns all Tintin rights) interview was published in Le Monde and Le Soir. In that interview, for the first time ever, Nick Rodwell evokes the possibility of a new Tintin album. In 2052.

Do I want it? How could I not want a new Tintin story, being the huge Tintin fan that I am? I always want more Tintin. More Tintin is good, right? Despite Hergé's wish that there shouldn't be any new comic book featuring the Belgian reporter after his death, I can't help but want more.
So why am I not excited by this news? Why a new Tintin story in 2052? Why this announcement now? Those are three different questions, and each one of them deserves a specific answer.

New Trailers for The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Only one month to go before Isao Takahata's The Tale of Princess Kaguya takes over Japan and rules the box office like Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises did in July. In September we were able to get our hands on 9 stills from the film, as well as a teaser trailer. Now, thanks to /Film and io9 we can share the latest trailer here with you:

This Week on A113Animation (14th - 20th October, 2013)

Apologies for the infrequency of this feature as of late (and indeed that this week's is a day and a half late!), alas the non-animation world gets in the way occasionally. All the same, there were a few really exciting bits of news this week: casting rumours for another Marvel film (it's rarely a week we don't have some of that); are Pixar working on Cars 3?; cool new stills from DreamWorks' Mr. Peabody & Sherman; a fantastic new trailer for Frozen; we've also got features, reviews, and a Disney anniversary post; and we've launched an exciting Art of Turbo competition! For details on all that, and what you may have missed during last week, check out our (kinda) weekly recap below.

Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #40: The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

Last Week’s: Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #39: Dinosaur (2000)

The perfect example of a troubled production that, in the end, managed to be turned into something great. The Emperor's New Groove's production history is fascinating, as the film began being life as one thing and ended up as something completely different - in a good way. The film might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it delivers one of the best comedies the Disney studio has ever produced.

Toy Story of Terror! Review: Terrifically Fun!

Since Pixar closed the Toy Story trilogy (in magnificent fashion) in 2010, they have been very busy making sure that the beloved toys are kept in the audience's minds. Instead of producing a fourth film (thank God), they have given us short films that have always delighted and entertained without falling prey to the burden of meeting the impossibly high expectations of the original trilogy. We got two Toy Story Toons in 2011, Hawaiian Vacation played before Cars 2 and Small Fry before The Muppets; in 2012 we got Partysaurus Rex in front of the 3D re-release of Finding Nemo. But this year, instead of a theatrical short, they turned their focus to TV and made a Halloween special that debuted this past Wednesday on ABC. Here are my thoughts on it.

Reel FX Pack In the Stars for The Book of Life

Reel FX are bursting onto the scene on 1st November, with their time-travelling turkey tale, Free Birds, and things are starting to take shape for the freshman studio's sophomore film now too. In Autumn 2014, the studio will release The Book of Life, based on the Mexican Day of the Dead (not to be confused with Pixar's film also based on the holiday - directed by Toy Story 3's Lee Unkrich - which is expected, but not confirmed, to release in 2016). And now we have an extensive star-studded cast for the film!

Watch: Fantastic New Trailer for Frozen Focuses on Elsa

Well here you are. If you'd been sceptical about Frozen up until now, and for some reason weren't impressed by the previous great trailer, then behold this cornucopia of awesomeness, as Disney have rolled out yet another new trailer for their 53rd animated feature!

What's more, this is the trailer you've been waiting for: lots of focus on Elsa, an epic tone, and, for once, Disney advertising an animated musical by acknowledging the fact that there's music in the film. And, oh, what music it is. Watch, and get goosebumps, below.

First Look: Stills from DreamWorks' Mr. Peabody & Sherman

2014 looks to be a really exciting year for DreamWorks. Their hotly anticipated How to Train Your Dragon sequel hits in June, and the Jim Parsons/Rihanna-starring Home is released in November, but their first film of the year is the quirky, and oh-so quintessentially cartoony, Mr. Peabody & Sherman. And via USA Today, we now have our first proper look at stills from that film!

Are Pixar Making Cars 3? Sheriff Seems to Think So.

Well this is sure to inflame the 'Pixar are losing their touch' brigade. A new interview with Michael Wallis, the voice of the Sheriff in the Cars films, has been making waves online, as the author/actor said, with some certainty, that Pixar are currently making Cars 3. Please do note though, nothing has been confirmed and this is entirely, until we're told otherwise, to be treated as a rumour.

90 Years, An Infinite Legacy: Disney Turns 90 Today

90 years ago today, on 16th October, 1923, Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. From that day onwards, the landscape of animation changed forever. Alice Comedies, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, all the way through to Toy Story, Tangled and modern greats like that; join us in a look back at the unparalleled legacy of The Walt Disney Company.

Ant-Man Front Runners Revealed

If there's one thing we're all waiting for in Marvel news, it's who is going to be Ant-Man in Edgar Wright's take off for Phase 3. Variety now reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Paul Rudd are in talks to play Hank Pym/Ant-Man.

Image from MovieWeb

Competition: Win a Copy of The Art of Turbo! [NOW CLOSED]

Dreamworks' Turbo is released in cinemas this Friday and to celebrate A113Animation are offering readers the chance to win a copy of THE ART OF TURBO. We are giving away a whopping five copies, check out the terms and conditions below.

Tiki-tastic New Concept Art for Ron Clements and John Musker's Moana

Disney have often been one for keeping their upcoming slate under wraps, but that carefully constructed veil is slowly - and largely without Disney's consent - being lifted. We've got lots of new plot and character details for Big Hero 6, ditto for Nathan Greno's Giants, and now a stunning new piece of concept art and some plot details for Ron Clements and John Musker's exciting next film!

Animation Veterans/Directorial First-Timers Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly to Direct Angry Birds

Rovio are expanding their smash-hit Angry Birds franchise rapidly; what started life as a mobile game is now an all-spanning merchandise line, a series of animated shorts and, soon enough, an animated feature. Angry Birds, which will smash its way into cinemas (distributed by Sony) on 1st July, 2016, now has a pair of directors, says Entertainment Weekly.

Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #39: Dinosaur (2000)

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #38: Fantasia 2000 (2000).

The second Disney film released in 2000 is also a late inclusion in the official canon; for years, fans debated whether Dinosaur belonged in the canon or not. Disney put that to rest in 2010 when they did that retrospective video to celebrate Tangled as their 50th feature film, including Dinosaur as number 39. Even so, the film remains an odd element among its hand drawn contemporaries making its inclusion more of a marketing campaign rather than an honest acknowledgement of its status in the studio's history.

The Wind Rises Review [NYFF]

I had the immense privilege to attend the New York Film Festival on Saturday 28th of September, and watch a screening of The Wind Rises. Being Hayao Miyazaki's last film (as far as we know), and a Studio Ghibli creation, expectations were high. I, along with a vast audience of maybe 300 people, got to enjoy a wonderful story the way it should be enjoyed: on the big screen, with fellow enthusiasts and loved ones held close.

Breaking: Pixar Canada Shut Down

It's a bit of a rough time for Pixar news right now; there'll be no film from the studio next year for the first time in nine years, and now the studio has announced that it's shuttering its Canadian branch, after only three years. About 100 employees will be getting laid off as a result of the closure.

Willem Dafoe Back for Finding Dory: "It’s Even Better than the First"

We know that Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks are returning for Finding Dory, and now Willem Dafoe has told Total Film that he'll be reprising his role as Gill in the Nemo sequel. The actor seems very enthusiastic about the film too, saying "it's even better than the first."

Title Card and Character Designs from DreamWorks' Home

Jennifer Lopez and Steve Martin have just joined the cast of DreamWorks' third film of next year, and now we've got a colourful title card and more for Home! The quality's a little low, but you get an idea of the cutesy futuristic look the film's going for.

J-Lo and Steve Martin Join the Cast of DreamWorks' Home

While Pixar are a no-show, DreamWorks are going to have a big year in 2014. The studio will release three films: Mr. Peabody & Sherman, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and then Home. Jennifer Lopez and Steve Martin have joined the latter, alongside leads Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) and Rihanna.

Rio 2 Trailer: Into the Wild

Back in 2011, Rio told the story of the unable-to-fly macaw Blu getting lost in Rio de Janeiro and having to survive in the hostile environment. But the sequel's latest trailer reveals that Rio 2 will go out of the city, as most of the plot will apparently take place in the jungle; that doesn't mean things will be any easier for Blu though, now father of three baby birds.

Watch the new trailer after the jump.

Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Scarlet Witch

It shouldn't be long to go before Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are officially confirmed for Avengers: Age of Ultron, we've been reporting rumours for months now and it seems Samuel L. Jackson has let slip that Elizabeth Olsen is definitely Scarlet Witch.

Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #38: Fantasia 2000 (2000)

Make Sure You’ve Read: Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Second Dark Era (2000-2005) Introduction

Making a sequel to a sixty year old, revered film wouldn't be the brightest idea but that's exactly what Disney Animation did back in the 2000s. The pet project of Walt's nephew Roy Disney, Fantasia 2000 was envisioned as the culmination of Walt's dream to make a Fantasia film every year (something which didn't happen because of financial troubles) and while it's a charming love letter to the original film, it also hardly breaks new ground and remains on the family-friendly side of things.

New Frozen Images Unveiled!

After giving us a full-length trailer, Disney is rapidly expanding the advertisement for its upcoming 53rd animated film, Frozen. Thanks to our friends over at the Rotoscopers, we just now got new images from the upcoming film too, and they are absolutely gorgeous! Check them out below:

New Toy Story of Terror! Sneak Peek, Plus Soundtrack Details!

Pixar’s first television special is just around the corner and ABC just released a one-minute sneak peek to get us all excited (as if we weren't already) about the upcoming Halloween special featuring our favourite toys. Check the new hilariously horrific teaser below:

Munir's Disney Retrospective - Second Dark Era (2000-2005) Introduction

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #37: Tarzan (1999)

After a very productive and expansive decade, the Disney studios got lost yet again in the dawn of the new century. No longer the only king of animation, the first half of the 2000s were not kind for the studio or their audience. With heavy competition from other studios like Pixar, DreamWorks and Blue Sky, and with the rapid growth and adoption of CG animation, the studio fell behind both artistically and creatively, making serious missteps that resulted in lacklustre films that were not well received by the public and critics. Even worse, most of the films released in this period were box office bombs that resulted on staff reductions and the complete shift from hand-drawn to CG animation. What the studio executives didn't understand, was the fact that the technique didn't matter if they didn't have good stories to tell and, while there are some bright spots here and there, most of this period is filled with disappointing projects that vary from mediocre to absolute disasters. Never in the history of the studio (not even in the 80s) were they in such crisis, to the extent that almost every other studio was better than them. Fortunately, they now seem to be on the right path again, and let's hope that this dark era will never be repeated again.

Tomorrow - Animated Classic #38 Review: Fantasia 2000 (2000).

'Thunderbirds Are Go!' Are Go

/Film revealed that the British sci-fi 60s TV show, Thunderbirds, will be back soon under the name Thunderbirds are Go!. The marionettes that made the first run of the show famous will be gone though, as the new version will be a mix of CG and live-action miniatures.

Disney Planning a Cruella Movie

There has been a trend lately of Disney adapting some of their best animated features into live-action films. It all began with Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland in 2010, which led to Maleficent, due to open in the summer of 2014, and Cinderella, currently being filmed for a 2015 release date.
As was revealed in a Hollywood Reporter article, the next film to be given that treatment is 101 Dalmatians (again, technically). Just like Maleficent, this movie will apparently focus on the villain, Cruella de Vil, and will be titled Cruella.