The Little Mermaid Officially Announced and Detailed for Blu-Ray Release!

Blu-Ray and DVD (BD packaging)

In very exciting news, Disney has officially detailed the Diamond Edition release of one its most beloved films, 1989's The Little Mermaid. Confirming the previously announced date of 1st Oct. in the US (there's no release date for the UK yet, but an announcement can't be far off), Mermaid will be released in four different versions: A Blu-ray/DVD Combo in BD packaging (top), the same set in DVD packaging, a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo and, confirming previous rumours, a Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy/Music Download Combo.

Angry Birds Animated Series Due in Autumn - Film to Follow

Following the release of their latest Angry Birds game, Angry Birds Space, gaming giant Rovio, the studio behind arguably the best known gaming franchise on the planet, has announced that they are to expand the Angry Birds universe beyond merely the games - with the announcement of an animated series and a feature film in development!

Speaking at the MIPTV conference in Cannes, Nick Dorra, head of animation for Rovio, stated Rovio are going to release "a weekly series later this year of shortform content". The series will consist of 52 animated shorts, set to be around the 2 and a half - 3 minute mark. The animated shorts, created in-house by Rovio's animation department, will likely resemble this kind of thing.

On the reasons behind the branching out of the Angry Birds franchise, Dorra said:

"It's about telling more engaging stories... and deeper thoughts, deeper feelings of the characters", "Angry Birds is not just about the gameplay, and will be in the future less and less about the slingshot, actually, and more and more about the characters."

When asked about the possibility of an Angry Bird feature film, Dorra stated "It’s in development, but it won’t be out in 2013 or 2014. You’ll have to bide your time and first watch all of our shorts!”. Rovio are also closely working with David Maisel, the former head of Marvel Studios, on the project.

Not one to forget their roots though, Rovio announced also that they will be releasing several new games as well, including new Angry Birds games and an entirely new game.

We'll have to wait to see how these animation projects work out - as gaming film adaptations don't have a great track record - but, for now at least, the prospect is very exciting.

Via The Guardian.

National Film Registry Gets Two New Animated Entries

Two animated films have been inducted into the National Film Registry, being recognised as being of "cultural, historical or aesthetic" importance.

This included Walt Disney's fifth animated classic, Bambi. Bambi, which was originally released in 1942, has been preserved due to, amongst other reasons, "the movie’s resonating, emotional power. Treasured as one of film’s most heart-rending stories of parental love, "Bambi" also has come to be recognized for its eloquent message of nature conservation."

Secondly, A Computer Animated Hand, created back in 1972 by current Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios President, Ed Catmull, has been preserved for its foundational role in the basics of Computer Animation. The description provided by the registry says that the film "worked out concepts that become the foundation for computer graphics that followed."

This is a huge honour for both of these landmarks in animation history, to be preserved for all time and have their paramount importance recognised. The two animated features are amongst 25 to have been added to the registry, including Forrest Gump and The Silence of the Lambs, of 2,228 nominated (full list here).

You can have your say in nex year's addition here.

Competition Reminder

With just over a month to go until the deadline, remember to enter our very first A113Animation Competition.

As the above image highlights, to get the chance to win a free copy of Cars on DVD and the opportunity to judge your very own A113Animation Award, you must write a reasonably detailed (there's no minimum word number, but don't send in minuscule entries) review of any animated film from 2011 (including Tangled, as that was released in January over here in the UK) and e-mail it to a113animation@gmail.com by 5th October.

The review can be of any animated film, the most insightful, interesting and/or entertaining review will win, for help or for details, check out our reviews and the competition page.

DISCUSS: Most Anticipated Animated Film?

Moments ago, I detailed why Brave is my most anticipated animated film; for a wide variety of reasons, it's the animated film that I most want to see. However, there are many more animated films that I want to see, and it occurs to me that (for some reason), people don't always agree with me. So, SOUND OFF, what's the animated film you most want to see? Arthur Christmas? Puss in Boots? The Pirates? Monsters University? Kung Fu Panda 3? The Croods? Something else?

Let your voice be heard. Comment below.

Why Brave is my Most Anticipated Animated Film

There's a huge slab of animated films due out over the next few years, whilst it's debatable as to whether any of them are going to be worth your time, there's some that I simply cannot wait to see. The pinnacle of this anticipation is Pixar's Brave. The fantastic poster has got me even more psyched for Pixar's first fairy tale, but there's five reasons in particular that Brave is my most anticipated animated film - and one of my most anticipated films in general, behind The Dark Knight Rises of course.

These five reasons are as follows - in no particular order:

1. It's an original film, not a sequel, not to say that I have anything in particular against sequels, in fact my two favourite films of all time are sequels (Toy Story 2 and The Dark Knight). However, I love the feeling of uncovering a new world and new characters. Furthermore, I'm curious to see how Pixar handles their first fairytale.
2. The artwork we've seen so far looks utterly breathtaking, the visual style looks stunning. You can see just how much of a beautiful film Brave promises to be from the poster (above).
3. The brilliant Scottish feel should translate fantastically to create an authentic feel to the film. This is reinforced by the film's voice cast (lead by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald and starring Scottish comedian, Billy Connolly - who recently provided the voiceover for Scottish Disney Short Film, The Ballad of Nessie) and the fact that the score is being composed by Scot, Patrick Doyle (who scored Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).
4. It's (probably) going to be prefaced by the equally amazing and beautiful looking short film, La Luna, which I can't wait to see.
5. Furthermore, it will also (probably) have the trailer for Monsters University attached. I can't wait to get a glimpse at Pixar's first prequel, and I have waited nearly 10 years for a Monsters, Inc. follow up.

Brave looks, and sounds, utterly amazing in every way, shape and form; it seems like a much darker film and a bold new step by Pixar.

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? SOUND OFF.

New Pixar Film Coming 2013

The Pixar Blog is reporting (courtesy of Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood) that an "original" Pixar film, ergo "not a sequel" is due out on November 27, 2013. There's no details on the film's title, theme or anything else for that matter. However, it is very likely that this is the project that Pete Docter is working on (after wrapping up Up - no pun intended - in 2009.

Also, as The Pixar Blog points out, and as I am inclined to agree, that this could be the Dinosaur film that has been setting the Pixar fan forums ablaze since hints at it were glimpsed way back in 2009.

Anything from Pixar is brilliant, however, a dinosaur film from the acclaimed Emeryville studio would be fantastic, and I absolutely love all of Pete Docter's work.

Regardless of the fact that we know nothing about it, I am already immensely excited at the possibilities. Although, since Monsters University is now due out in 2013, I find it likely that this anonymous film will be eventually delayed until 2014.

The Ballad of Nessie Thoughts

Following on from my thoughts on Disney's latest animated release, Winnie the Pooh, I realised there was one aspect of the film I hadn't reviewed, the attached short film.

Technically I should be saying short films, we are treated to not one, but two short films. Well... I say treated, the first short film was the closest thing to torture I have ever encountered in the cinema, or indeed anywhere. This short film, entitled Jake and the Never Land Pirates, was the kind of torturous, dreadful, awful dribble that could permanently put me off Peter Pan (fortunately Winnie the Pooh didn't ruin its franchise like Jake et al did). Jake and the Never Land Pirates, from Disney Junior, was asinine, stupid, as shallow as a puddle in the middle of September and starred the least likeable characters I've ever had the displeasure of encountering. The plot of the short, and the animation used in it, were just as dreadful, and unfortunately the short lasted WAY too long - although it would be WAY too long if it was a commercial. This short film was more like a trip through Guantanamo Bay than through Never Land, shame on you Disney, for very nearly ruining Peter Pan forever.

As you may have guessed, I loathed this short film and the very thought of it makes me feel ill, if I had to rate this abysmal romp into Never Land, I'd give it, maybe, a 1/10, and that was just for being in close proximity to the excellence that was Winnie the Pooh.

I purposely shunned Jake and the Never Land Pirates from the title in favour of a far superior short film. The Ballad of Nessie, the second short attached to Winnie the Pooh, was sublime.

The classically, and utterly innocently, animated Ballad of Nessie was a Scottish tale of the Loch Ness Monster, with a fairly inspirational - if slightly dark - moral and a FAR more solid plot than the dreadful short film listed above. The film was very funny and original - while a bit too short - and the characters were very likeable. Strange as it may sound, this Scottish short has got me more excited for Pixar's Brave. However, the real star of the short is the animation, it is so refreshing to once again see some classic hand drawn Disney animation, particularly accompanied with Winnie the Pooh, it's just such a charming style. Hand drawn animation is Disney's forte, it always has been, while it's a tad outdated now, it's always nice to see the occasional return to good ole Disney hand drawn excellence.

Ballad of Nessie might as well be the antithesis of Jake and the Neverland Pirates, I'd give Ballad of Nessie a strong 9/10 and suggest napping through the first 5 minutes of the showing of these shorts to circumvent Jake and the Peter Pan Murdering Oiks.

Phew... Good to get that off my chest.

Rio Released

Blue Sky Studios' sixth animated feature film, Rio, is released today over here in the UK. As regular blog readers will know, Rio is one of the animated films that I am most looking forward to this year and I am still very hyped for it. Rio currently holds an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (100% from Top Critics) and the positive reviews are making me want to see it even more.

Unfortunately audiences in the US will have to wait until the 15th to see the film. Personally, I will be going to see the film this weekend so keep an eye out for the review.

Another New Rio Clip

As predicted yesterday, the roll out of Rio videos continues as we get another clip of Blue Sky Studios' upcoming feature animated film, Rio. The film, due out next month, looks great and this clip gives us another little look at the film's main human protagonist.

Stay tuned for more Rio updates and, as the end of the video suggests, updates of Angry Birds Rio - I will even be uploading a review of the game after it's release on the 22nd!

Rango Released

Nickelodeon Movies' newest animated film, Rango, has its full theatrical release on Friday. However it has been open to specific audiences for a day or two and reviews are very positive. Review aggreagators Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes are both seemingly fans, on Metacritic, Rango holds a 73/100 and on Rotten Tomatoes it has a mighty impressive 89% (so far equal to Tangled).

Not bad, not bad at all. Only 2 days until we can all see.

Update

Now slightly down on RT, to 88%, but up to 75 on Metacritic! Still great so far, I'm off to see it this weekend so keep you're eye out for the review that counts!

The Simpsons Parodies Animation

In the latest episode of The Simpsons, Angry Dad: The Movie, in which Bart endeavours to turn his little animations about Homer from series 13 into an animated film. From there the episode turns into a veritable plethora of animated parodies.

The episode parodies Pixar (or as it is called here, Mixar, above) showing John Lasseter and co. turning up to the Golden Globes on the famous Pixar scooters, also parodying Randy Newman (below), who sings "You've got an enemy" to Bart. It also then parodies Luxo, Mr. Potato Head and WALL E (above). We also get a parody of a Pixar film, condiments, a film about what happens when food comes to life when people aren't around, I can't imagine where they got that idea from!

They also parody Aardman and Wallace and Gromit, with Willice and Crumble, there's even a special guest appearance by W&G creator Nick Park (above).

You can also see snippets of parodies of DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda and Disney's The Lion King (top). As well as a parody of Sylvain Chomet and The Triplets of Belleville.

The episode is hilarious and is definitely one of the best episodes of The Simpsons in recent memory. The episode also contains little digs at celebrities i.e. Ricky Gervais' somewhat questionable hosting of The Golden Globes this year.

New Rango Trailer

The above trailer for Nickelodeon Moies' upcoming animated film, Rango, are to be shown at at this year's superbowl, along with the recently revealed Kung Fu Panda 2, "We Will Wok You" trailer. The trailer looks really great and has got me even more excited for the film!

Kung Fu Panda 2, "We Will Wok You"

A new video has made its way on to DreamWorks' official YouTube page, another teaser trailer for their upcoming animated sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom. Whilst, it's certainly entertaining and you can't help but smile at - pardon the pun- the awesomeness. However, this is the type of advertising that many anti-DreamWorks people use against them, focusing on stupid jokes, pop culture jokes and rock music, rather than advertising any genuinely good aspects of the film.

Kung Fu Panda 1 was great, but DreamWorks don't have a great track record with sequels. I guess only time will tell.

Thoughts?

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.

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).

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.