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: Surprisingly Decent Trailer for Free Birds

A new poster for the film, too.

I've been vocal in my lack of interest in Free Birds, the time-travelling turkey flick from new-kid-on-the-block animation studio, Reel FX. That said, this new trailer has at least earned my curiosity. The film does still look extremely silly, but that's not necessarily solely a bad thing. The concept is quirky and fun; Amy Poehler, who voices a female turkey in the film, is always great; the film looks as if it's got similarities, thematically and visually, to Chicken Run and Monsters vs. Aliens, two very fine films; and the Hazmat suit guys are a hoot.

Check out the new trailer, via Fandango, below. I'll embed from YouTube when it's on there.

This Week on A113Animation (17th - 23rd June, 2013)

This week has brought some cool stuff. Pun intended. Disney finally thawed the ice on Frozen, their winter animated release by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, releasing some new stills and the first trailer for the film. We also got trailers for The Lego Movie and Free Birds. As well as some Marvel news, Pixar's Monsters University opened this week, so there's unsurprisingly some posts about that. For all that, your usual features (and a new one) and more, check out our weekly recap below.

Watch: Free Birds Trailer

This is the first time we've mentioned Free Birds (formerly Turkeys) on A113Animation, and likely the last. The film occurs from the flawed thought that American audiences want to feel guilty about eating Turkey on Thanksgiving, and achieves that by sending time-travellin' turkeys Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson back in time 400 years to the first Thanksgiving.