tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91785375293552470672012-01-27T23:56:40.560-05:00Animation NewsMike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.comBlogger12971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-84065723922517009542012-01-26T15:57:00.002-05:002012-01-26T15:57:42.350-05:00

The 2011 Oscars aren't even behind us yet, and we're already starting to see some of the 2012 crop of short films. One of them is The Last Belle, directed by Neil Boyle. A rarity these days, every frame was hand painted on cels and shot on traditional film stock. Boyle is proud to point out that Belle was in production for a total of fifteen years, though it was squeezed in between his 'paid

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-11285463476976827952012-01-24T10:11:00.001-05:002012-01-25T15:52:56.969-05:00

Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were announced this morning by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California. The nominees for Best Animated Feature Film are: A Cat in Paris Chico & Rita Kung Fu Panda 2 Puss in Boots Rango Contending in the Animated Short FIlm category are: Dimanche (Sunday) The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-17991333456835925312012-01-22T17:12:00.002-05:002012-01-22T17:12:23.702-05:00

Producers Peter Jackson, Kathleen Kennedy, and Steven Spielberg won the animation prize at the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards last night for The Adventures of Tintin. The recognition from the Producers Guild of America comes less than a week the film's success at the Golden Globes. These two wins significantly boost Tintin's chances at the Academy Awards next month. Oscar nominations

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-25883528845234079372012-01-19T01:47:00.000-05:002012-01-19T01:47:24.907-05:00

Disney Press will publishing an illustrated storybook based on Pixar's La Luna this May. It's already available for pre-order from Amazon.com and will arrive before the short opens in theatres with Brave. Director Enrico Casarosa posted a photo of the glossy cover to Twitter on Wednesday, shown at right. He later followed up, tweeting: "Read the La Luna book to my daughter tonight. She was

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-23523844231065853592012-01-15T21:59:00.000-05:002012-01-16T12:09:35.887-05:00

©HFPA The Adventures of Tintin took home the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards this hour. Director Steven Spielberg was on hand to accept the award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Following Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, and Toy Story 3, Tintin becomes the first non-Pixar film to win in the animation category since it

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-17378994921558932112012-01-13T19:57:00.000-05:002012-01-13T20:07:19.830-05:00

Whether you've seen Tangled Ever After already or not, you'll enjoy this quick, second clip from the short. It's a sampling of some of the 'classic cartoon' action I was talking about. Teasing 'The Pursuit' is one of many ways Disney is promoting Tangled Ever After and thus Beauty and the Beast 3D, which may end up winning at the box office this weekend. There's also the new hi-res stills from

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-50485764863593550582012-01-13T13:54:00.000-05:002012-01-13T19:21:14.873-05:00

Take a look at these beautiful high resolution stills from Tangled Ever After, now playing in theatres with Beauty and the Beast in 3D. They're fresh from the Disney press site.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-75804105429885663322012-01-12T13:38:00.000-05:002012-01-13T00:06:24.232-05:00

The Special 3D Edition of Beauty and the Beast arrives in North American theatres tomorrow, with attached short Tangled Ever After, Walt Disney Animation Studio's follow-up to Tangled. Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, Tangled Ever After was clearly made with the big screen in mind. The classic, cartoon-style gags are easy to enjoy. A momentary shot of Maximus flying through the air

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-78965595548986285752012-01-11T13:56:00.000-05:002012-01-11T13:58:21.424-05:00

Here's the teaser for the 3-D rerelease of Pixar's Finding Nemo, via Yahoo! Movies. It'll be in theatres in 3-D this Friday with Beauty and the Beast 3-D. I saw this last weekend at an advance screening and it looks fabulous on the big screen. You get a sense of where Pixar is going with the 3-D effect. Finding Nemo 3D swims into theatres on September 14.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-4770443674050596032012-01-05T15:24:00.000-05:002012-01-11T14:52:11.196-05:00

Disney has released a clip from Tangled Ever After, which will be attached to Beauty and the Beast 3D beginning January 13. Watch it below in HD via YouTube. The short is set during Rapunzel and Flynn's wedding day, following the events of Tangled. It appears that having a horse be your ring bearer is not such a good idea! Here's an excerpt from the official synopsis: The Kingdom is in a

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-69569985881487486082012-01-03T13:43:00.000-05:002012-01-03T13:43:34.365-05:00

Nominations for the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards have been announced by the Producers Guild of America (PGA), the group which represents producers in film and television. Contending in the theatrical animation category are (producers in brackets): The Adventures of Tintin (Peter Jackson, Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg) Cars 2 (Denise Ream) Kung Fu Panda 2 (Melissa Cobb)

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-72379839886030141502011-12-29T23:11:00.002-05:002011-12-30T12:01:22.272-05:00

Photo by Hobie Hiler/TCPalm The newest major animation studio on the block, Tradition Studios, will be officially opening its production facilities in Port St. Lucie, Florida on January 3. A division of visual effects house Digital Domain Media Group, Tradition will employ over 550 artists and CG animators at the new campus in an effort to rival Disney/Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. Artists

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-55367571470593294502011-12-28T00:20:00.000-05:002011-12-28T00:29:24.672-05:00

Two animated works are among the twenty-five motion pictures being added this year to the National Film Registry of the United States. The National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress will formally induct the films later today. Walt Disney's 1942 classic Bambi takes its place as "one of film’s most heart-rending stories of parental love", one that has "enchanted generations

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-10484590331450054572011-12-24T19:22:00.000-05:002011-12-24T19:39:01.824-05:00

After touching on Pixar's rejection of motion capture in my previous post, I decided to look into the studio's patents to see whether there's anything that would suggest they are taking another look at the idea. Lo and behold, Pixar's latest filing, published on November 10, is for "light field [plenoptic] lenses" that can be used with "conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film,

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-9356089325341425692011-12-23T17:16:00.000-05:002011-12-23T17:16:07.385-05:00

So it's been a couple of days since I purchased The Art of The Adventures of Tintin... As you can see, except for the film's awesome logo, the cover isn't very appealing. But the concepts, rendered designs, and especially the character close-ups inside make up for it. It's slightly different than other 'Art of' volumes in that there's greater discussion of the film's main animation

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-5244045726732975182011-12-22T18:10:00.002-05:002011-12-22T18:26:51.317-05:00

It looks like we won't be seeing Pixar's untitled dinosaur movie on November 27, 2013. That date now belongs to Frozen, Walt Disney Animation's adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen. Very little intel is available at this point about Frozen, such as whether it will be traditionally animated or CG. It's been stuck in development at Disney for about a decade. The

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-7515444233677892562011-12-21T22:08:00.000-05:002011-12-21T23:36:34.058-05:00

I absconded from work this afternoon to catch Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin, which finally arrived in North America today after a $239.1 million international box office run. Since I wasn't able to attend an advance screening (no rapport with Paramount yet, this was The Pixar Blog, you know) I'll just share some quick thoughts on the film. I walked into the theatre

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-80611102779183476222011-12-17T13:51:00.000-05:002011-12-17T13:51:03.210-05:00

Bird directing Tom Cruise on location in Dubai That's the question I asked myself while riding the cinematic roller coaster that is Mission: Impossible–Ghost Protocol, which opened Friday on IMAX screens. After helming The Incredibles and Ratatouille for Pixar, Brad Bird has brought his filmmaking skill to live action in a big way—one of the most successful animation-to-live action

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-43422330448290904622011-12-15T15:01:00.001-05:002011-12-15T15:01:17.735-05:00

Watch this new video from the visual effects masters at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), discussing the filmmaking techniques behind the unique look and feel of Rango. The film was the first to be animated entirely at ILM.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-8900934942119115552011-12-15T09:23:00.000-05:002011-12-21T22:20:14.838-05:00

Nominations for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced this hour by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Included among the nominees for Best Animated Feature Film are The Adventures of Tintin, Cars 2, and Rango. See what other films got nominated here. In live-action, it's a enormous shame that The Muppets wasn't recognized in the Best Motion Picture—Comedy or

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-21341235468035552602011-12-09T15:48:00.000-05:002011-12-09T15:48:58.459-05:00

Image via Blue Sky Studios on Facebook Rio took over the front cover of Daily Variety today as part of its For Your Consideration campaign. The ad emphasizes the film's eight Annie Award nominations to Oscar and Golden Globe voters. Layout's got a bit of a throwback vibe, doesn't it?

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-46936783057053445992011-12-08T16:14:00.000-05:002011-12-08T16:14:42.520-05:00

DreamWorks Animation has uncaged its first, longish teaser trailer for Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted at Yahoo! Movies. I have to admit I've never seen the previous films and this, frankly, doesn't make me want to. Unlike the thoughtful trailer for The Lorax, it does little to make the film appealing. (The opening gag is pretty good, though.) Madagascar 3 opens on June 8 probably won't be

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-40456470808749281532011-12-06T13:45:00.000-05:002011-12-06T13:51:55.536-05:00

Yahoo! Movies brings us a brand new trailer for Illumination Entertainment's The Lorax, in theatres March 2, 2012. Introduction is provided by Danny DeVito, who voices the film's titular character. Adapted from the children's book by Dr. Seuss, The Lorax follows Ted (voice of Zac Efron) "as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams,"

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-23070814274876981122011-12-05T17:12:00.001-05:002011-12-05T18:10:02.891-05:00

John Lasseter was on the Charlie Rose show on Friday and made an illuminating comment regarding Pixar's currently untitled movie set inside the human mind: "Pete Docter, from Monsters, Inc. and Up, is doing a new film that takes place inside of a girl’s mind and it is about her emotions as characters, and that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen." No clues were provided when the film was

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-79956291521304939762011-12-05T14:32:00.000-05:002011-12-05T14:33:47.255-05:00

Nominations for the 39th Annual Annie Awards were announced this morning by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood. The Adventures of Tintin, Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Rango and Rio are among the ten films nominated for Best Animated Feature. While snubbed in the top category, Winnie the Pooh received eight well-deserved nominations, including Directing in a Feature

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-29613955822498806592011-12-01T17:41:00.000-05:002011-12-01T17:41:16.530-05:00

Ten animated short films have advanced in the voting process for the 84th Academy Awards, A.M.P.A.S. announced this afternoon. These include Pixar's La Luna (directed by Enrico Casarosa) and Warner Bros. Animation's I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat (Matthew O'Callaghan). The complete shortlist can be found here. Academy members from the Short Films and Feature Animation Branches will now select three

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-39006397934501077152011-11-28T16:38:00.000-05:002011-12-02T16:38:54.806-05:00

Not exactly animation news, but you'll get a kick out of this: a Calgary-based oil and gas company has renamed a part of its business after a certain Emeryville-based animation studio. "Paramount Resources Ltd. is pleased to announce the reorganization of all of the Company's oil sands and carbonate bitumen interests into a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Pixar Petroleum Corp. ("Pixar")," reads

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-67481779408013562752011-11-28T13:14:00.000-05:002011-11-28T13:14:00.012-05:00

Oswald plush from the Disney Store A long-lost Walt Disney cartoon from 1928 discovered earlier this year will be auctioned at Bonhams in Los Angeles on December 14. Entitled Hungry Hobos, the 5 minute, 21 second black-and-white film stars Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It "follows a starving Oswald and his friend Peg Leg Pete on a train. They rob a chicken of her egg... and cook it by using the

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-14670146098155780802011-11-23T15:36:00.000-05:002011-11-23T15:37:38.945-05:00

DreamWorks Animation SKG is "in talks to set up a joint venture studio in Shanghai...to produce animation and design theme parks," reports Reuters. Reuters' story is based on a report in Chinese finance magazine Caijing, which quoted government sources as saying the studio would be formed with a consortium of Chinese media companies. "DreamWorks Animation and the consortium would invest a

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-21239257954271797302011-11-23T14:44:00.000-05:002011-11-23T15:00:31.065-05:00

Here's a new still from Toy Story short Small Fry, in theatres today with the best comedy of the year, Disney's The Muppets. Read my (unfortunately negative) review of Small Fry here, then head over to Upcoming Pixar for an interview with director Angus MacLane.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-73362241732766799552011-11-23T13:21:00.000-05:002011-11-23T13:21:53.076-05:00

The Lasseter Family Winery will be opening its doors to the public for the first time this Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26. Admission is $25 per person and includes tastings of all four current wines. Seating for the event is limited and reservations must be made in advance. More information can be found on the winery's new blog, Entre Nous. Located in Glen Ellen, CA, the winery was

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-26394193864295617242011-11-21T17:31:00.000-05:002011-11-21T17:31:22.901-05:00

That's a pretty shocking headline, am I right? Sadly it's true, at least for me. Small Fry is no Hawaiian Vacation or Air Mater. My main problem with the Angus MacLane-directed short is that it feels like a rehash of the same issues of toy abandonment that packed a real emotional punch in the trilogy. Mini Buzz and the other original characters do little to help. They may be funny, but their

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-17579498651665770052011-11-20T16:15:00.001-05:002011-11-20T16:15:43.029-05:00

It's that time of the year again. Studios are furiously pitching their films to awards voters "for consideration" as the best of 2011. Awards Daily has brought online several For Your Consideration ads for animated films—they're some of the brightest this season. More are sure to be around the corner. Disney's done a great job with the ads for Cars 2 and Winnie The Pooh; ditto Paramount

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-68399529278496738362011-11-19T22:40:00.001-05:002011-11-20T14:51:41.773-05:00

Scrat's Continental Crack-Up–Part 2 was released this week by Blue Sky Studios/20th Century Fox. It continues where the first 'Crack-Up' short (released last winter) left off. Directed by Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier, the shorts act as teasers for the fourth feature installment of the Ice Age series, Ice Age: Continental Drift, due out in theatres July 13 next year. If you haven't already

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-84273938429842290782011-11-16T22:54:00.000-05:002011-11-16T22:56:08.600-05:00

Illumination Entertainment (a subsidiary of Universal Pictures) is the early stages of development on a feature starring classic cartoon character Woody Woodpecker. Screenwriters John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky are attached to develop a story for the CGI film. Illumination is looking to "create a story that modernizes the character, hopefully launching a franchise in the process," says The

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-45007141715572413722011-11-16T17:13:00.001-05:002011-11-16T17:56:30.150-05:00

The second domestic trailer for Aardman Animations' The Pirates!—Band of Misfits (known in the U.K. as The Pirates!—In an Adventure with Scientists) debuted this afternoon on Yahoo! Movies. Watch— I can't say I'm a fan of Aardman's style, but The Pirates! is one of the animated films on my radar for 2012. (It opens March 30 in North America.) By the way, you can follow director Peter Lord on

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-44478223656007883252011-11-16T13:33:00.000-05:002011-11-17T12:58:21.745-05:00

Speaking at the Techonomy conference on Monday, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffery Katzenberg spoke about DreamWorks' development of new technology in collaboration with HP Intel. "The two companies have been working together for almost four years to create 12-core chips and specialized software able to create photo-real animation in real time," reports MIT's Technology Review. Using the new

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-46657995376261996882011-11-16T12:13:00.000-05:002011-11-16T14:58:20.283-05:00

The first full-length theatrical trailer for Pixar's Brave has been unleashed online. Watch it below in HD via YouTube or on iTunes Movie Trailers.   Something tells me this movie is going to be epic.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-8356409171205068272011-11-15T23:14:00.001-05:002011-11-16T00:02:14.977-05:00

The transformation is complete: The Pixar Blog is now Big Screen Animation. Starting tomorrow, make this your destination of choice for the best in animation news and commentary. Be sure to subscribe and follow on Twitter, @BigScreenToons. Send your comments, questions, and tips to mail@bigscreenanimation.com. (All mail to pixarblogunofficial@yahoo.com will be redirected to the new address.)

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-1744126686504106252011-11-14T13:23:00.000-05:002011-11-15T15:50:34.533-05:00

Three new film stills from Brave have been released, ahead of the online debut of the first full-length theatrical trailer tomorrow. The above still is one of two that appeared at Empire this morning; this AP article provides a look at another and shares some details regarding what's in the trailer. Brave arrives in theatres June 22, 2012. ----- Update: It appears that the trailer will be out

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-59364216704307805402011-11-14T12:33:00.001-05:002011-11-14T12:47:44.624-05:00

Here's a 33-second clip from Toy Story Toon Small Fry, opening on the big screen November 23 with Disney's The Muppets. I had a chance to screen the short with The Muppets over the weekend and I'll share my thoughts on both on or around Nov. 23 (Muppets review on The Disney Blog). (via The Pixar Times)

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-6807104948618437572011-11-11T23:52:00.000-05:002011-11-12T01:15:50.464-05:00

Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich tweeted this picture of the three new additions to the Toy Story Collection: Buttercup, Dolly, and Mr. Pricklepants. The collection showcases the truest replicas of the Toy Story characters, made using Pixar's original data files. It currently includes Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Lotso, etc. The premium line is manufactured by Thinkway Toys.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-49519676412413733902011-11-11T12:25:00.001-05:002011-11-11T13:39:29.424-05:00

USA Today brings us a new still and plot details from Pixar's latest Toy Story Toon, Small Fry, in theatres November 23 with The Muppets. A second hi-res still is up at Stitch Kingdom. In the 7-minute short, Buzz is 'kidnapped and replaced' by a "pint-sized impostor", a fast food version of himself. "It's like the Prince and the Pauper tale for toys," says writer/director Angus MacLane. Day &

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-64301837891992011222011-11-09T23:50:00.000-05:002011-11-09T23:55:20.992-05:00

Cars 2 was the best selling Blu-ray/DVD in its first week on sale, beating its nearest competition by a margin of more than 5 to 1, reports Home Media Magazine. This may be the best proof of how real audiences feel about the film. "[Cars 2] generated nearly half its sales from Blu-ray Disc—a significantly high percentage for an animated family film. The film’s strong showing on Blu-ray is due

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-78912217559351630672011-11-09T16:14:00.000-05:002011-11-09T16:14:39.360-05:00

Only one week left until The Pixar Blog becomes Big Screen Animation, the world’s newest, shiniest general animation news blog. Visit BigScreenAnimation.com next Wednesday, November 16, to check it out. I’ll be debuting a new version of the Big Screen Animation logo with a character designed by a very talented artist who’s currently working on The Legend of Tembo for Digital Domain. (All

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-68854751917706009512011-11-04T17:31:00.001-04:002011-11-05T13:52:32.271-04:00

Eighteen features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 84th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced. Assuming at least sixteen of these make their qualifying theatrical runs, the category will have five nominees this year—something that's happened only twice before since the award was established in 2001.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-32947749710543403612011-11-04T15:40:00.000-04:002011-11-04T15:42:03.998-04:00

Disney's The Muppets is one of the year-end films I'm most looking forward to seeing. The trailers have been hilarious and there's some great buzz around the picture. Pixar's latest Toy Story Toon, Small Fry, will also precede showings of the movie. Now there's one more reason to head to the theatre when it opens November 23: the first full-length trailer for Brave is almost sure to be attached

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-26929349132417509542011-11-01T22:39:00.000-04:002011-11-01T22:47:08.960-04:00

Photo by Alex J. Berliner/ABImages Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer John Lasseter was honored earlier today with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photos from the star-studded unveiling ceremony were released by Disney this evening. Lasseter’s star is the 2,453rd on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is located at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-7625296307819229992011-11-01T07:30:00.000-04:002011-11-04T15:20:39.796-04:00

Cars 2 drove into homes today, arriving on Blu-ray, DVD, and the iTunes Store. As we've come to expect of Pixar titles, the quality of the high definition picture and sound on the Blu-ray is perfect. This includes the accompanying shorts as well. Besides Toy Story Toon Hawaiian Vacation, all editions of Cars 2 include the brand-new Cars Toon Air Mater, which is the first short from Pixar

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-55591316782968662362011-10-31T15:18:00.000-04:002011-10-31T15:18:08.001-04:00

GeekSugar got an inside look at Pixar Canada's production facilities in Vancouver, BC. They have a dozen photos up, the first I've seen of the finished interior. The place definitely has a strong startup feel to it. And check out that wallpaper! With Air Mater, the first short produced at Pixar Canada, debuting on the Cars 2 Blu-ray/DVD, tomorrow is a big day for the satellite studio. Stay

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-11660088626819533342011-10-27T22:51:00.000-04:002011-10-31T13:13:18.184-04:00

Simon & Shuster are sending me a copy of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson to give away to one randomly-selected reader. (Read my review of the Pixar-era chapters here.) For your chance to receive the book, send an email with your name, mailing address, and the subject line "Steve Jobs biography giveaway" to pixarblogunofficial@yahoo.com. Open to readers in the U.S. and Canada. No multiple

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-6991385080803138892011-10-25T14:00:00.000-04:002011-10-25T14:00:56.777-04:00

Amazon.com just listed a new 192-page hardcover entitled The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey, written by animation historian Charles Solomon, author of The Art of Toy Story 3. Says the official description: "[The book] recounts the origin and growth of one of the most significant and successful franchises in Hollywood history. Readers... will discover interviews... artwork... and untold

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-28993683807827005012011-10-24T22:10:00.001-04:002011-11-02T13:17:39.952-04:00

The highly anticipated biography of Apple and Pixar co-founder Steve Jobs, who died October 5, arrived in bookstores today from publishers Simon & Schuster. The book, written by noted biographer Walter Isaacson with Jobs' cooperation but independent of his control, is on track to become the best-selling book of the year on Amazon. I picked up a copy early this morning and before starting it

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-25998945648668093142011-10-20T12:55:00.000-04:002011-11-01T15:49:39.723-04:00

The Art of Pixar is a celebration of one of the most consequential steps in the production of a Pixar film: the colorscript. (If you don't know what a colorscript is, the book explains it better than I can.) Though its roots reach back three quarters of a century, the modern colorscript—embraced by animated picture directors—owes much to Pixar. A distinctive feature of The Art of Pixar is that

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-36650672867852273152011-10-18T00:13:00.000-04:002011-10-18T22:44:00.368-04:00

Lasseter reviewing shot from Cars 2 on his iPad. Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar. Pixar creative chief and director of Cars 2 John Lasseter has finally gone on record about the mixed critical reaction to the film and accusations that it was made primarily for financial reasons. "It's not true. It's people who don't know the facts, rushing to judge," he tells Brooks Barnes of The New York

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-22880696868215933242011-10-15T14:08:00.009-04:002011-10-15T19:58:36.289-04:00

A few stories from yesterday and today:Original Sketchtravel book, featuring illustrations by 71 of the world's top animators and artists (including many Pixarians), being auctioned Oct. 17 to benefit global literacy [Sketchtravel]Pixar Canada in Vancouver continues to grow. Air Mater is the first short from the new studio [Vancouver Sun]New clip from Cars 2 Blu-ray/DVD bonus features [YouTube]

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-1899555344955764702011-10-10T21:35:00.000-04:002011-10-10T21:56:32.254-04:00

Sorkin accepting Adapted Screenplay Oscar for The Social Network. Michael Yada/©A.M.P.A.S. Aaron Sorkin, arguably the most talented screenwriter alive, was once invited by Steve Jobs to pen an animated feature for Pixar. Sorkin shared the story for the first time in his appreciation of Jobs, published in Newsweek's commemorative issue, on sale now (online at The Daily Beast). Unfortunately,

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-53379522524686168652011-10-10T12:42:00.003-04:002011-10-10T15:12:43.275-04:00

Laurene Powell Jobs; Ed Catmull (Photo by Deborah Coleman/Pixar)It's a question that regrettably must be asked.For five years prior to his death, Steve Jobs served as Pixar's voice on the Walt Disney Company board of directors and provided valuable insight (must read) in other areas as well. Who succeeds him will have significant implications for both Disney and Pixar.The SharesThe ownership of

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-41278638806027535712011-10-06T21:08:00.000-04:002011-10-06T21:25:31.489-04:00

Pixar's rarely-updated official website is displaying a beautifully designed full page tribute to co-founder Steve Jobs, following his death yesterday evening. It features the well known photo of Jobs flanked by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, captioned by Lasseter and Catmull's statement from yesterday and the Pixar logo. Head over to Pixar.com to take a look.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-57510824627489631932011-10-06T16:11:00.000-04:002011-10-06T22:58:35.773-04:00

Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME The worlds of media, technology, and entertainment have been overwhelmed by the sad news of the death of Steve Jobs yesterday. Jobs did more to change the way people experience the world than any innovator of the past century. As CEO of Apple, he showed the masses what electronic devices should be. His impact on history is rightly compared

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-54113538564038348272011-10-06T12:32:00.007-04:002011-10-06T16:18:58.713-04:00

In happier news, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment posted yesterday this teaser trailer for the long awaited Blu-ray release of Finding Nemo. This might mean we'll finally see the film in flawless high definition next fall, after its 3-D theatrical engagement in September. (That's what Disney did for The Lion King.) Then again, it would't surprise me if we didn't.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-18866759028220977272011-10-06T11:54:00.001-04:002011-11-01T15:52:41.053-04:00

Simon & Schuster has moved up publication of Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Steve Jobs to October 24, from November 21. Pre-orders of Steve Jobs shot up by as much as 43,600% after Jobs passed away yesterday. It is currently the best selling book on Amazon.com. The 656-page book is confirmed to include never-before-published recollections from Jobs on his time as CEO of Pixar. I

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-7569621697361026622011-10-05T22:04:00.000-04:002011-10-08T16:47:30.628-04:00

The following statement from John Lasseter and Ed Catmull on behalf of Pixar has been posted to the official Disney/Pixar Facebook page: "Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-33734742644107049612011-10-05T20:46:00.001-04:002011-10-05T21:05:13.528-04:00

Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert Iger released had this to say regarding Steve Jobs' passing: "Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined.  "Steve was such an 'original,' with a

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-35158820565955758632011-10-05T20:28:00.000-04:002011-10-05T23:42:29.242-04:00

Pixar and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died. He was 56. The Apple.com homepage is featuring a full page tribute to Jobs, who the company calls a 'visionary, creative genius, and amazing human being'. Apple has created an e-mail address (rememberingsteve@apple.com) for those wishing to share thoughts and condolences. More on his Pixar legacy a little later.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-84351818501677290752011-10-04T23:53:00.000-04:002011-10-04T23:53:18.792-04:00

The Cartoon Art Museum will be hosting its eighth annual benefit at Pixar's Emeryville, CA home on Saturday, December 10. Admission is available in both Fan ($250) and VIP Tiers ($500), both of which offer phenomenal access to the studio. Full details on what each entails can be found on the CAM website. To order tickets, go here.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-85105166854822457992011-10-04T15:46:00.000-04:002012-01-11T21:58:46.803-05:00

"Fish are friends, not food." The Walt Disney Studios has just announced that Pixar's Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc. will be returning to theatres in digital 3-D on September 14, 2012 and January 18, 2013, respectively. Disney's Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid will open January 13, 2012 and September 13, 2013. Missing from today's announcement is Ratatouille, which we've known

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-26925032611514016812011-10-03T16:06:00.000-04:002011-10-03T16:06:46.274-04:00

National Geographic Channel's new series How Hard Can It Be? premiered last night with an episode inspired by Carl Fredricksen's dirigible residence in Up. The show was filmed in early March near Los Angeles. Watch a 5-minute clip below—   More evidence of the dent Pixar's tenth feature has made on popular culture.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-78850146532384343392011-09-26T19:21:00.000-04:002011-10-05T00:15:16.996-04:00

Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich began work today on his next oeuvre at Pixar. "Today is day one on my next project. Every day I'll post a new photo chronicling the journey," Unkrich tweeted one hour ago. He then posted a link to leeunkrich.tumblr.com. It's unusual to see a director talking about a film so early in it's development, even though nothing in the way of theme or title is likely

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-11733226780515595932011-09-16T19:00:00.000-04:002011-09-16T19:06:12.655-04:00

On Wednesday, November 16, The Pixar Blog will become Big Screen Animation, a general animation blog featuring news from all the major studios, as well as independent outfits and artists. As the name suggests, the blog will focus mostly on feature animation, but expect to see shorts and other animation-related content as well. I hope to change things up with a modest redesign and insightful

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-6435697464720228992011-09-16T14:23:00.001-04:002011-09-16T14:23:50.167-04:00

Here's a new film still from La Luna, a close-up on the lead character, aka Bambino—"little boy" in Italian. As The Pixar Times notes, this shot is actually in the 30-second clip released back in June. But it's the first time we're seeing it in high resolution. Bambino's voice sounds (like the other two characters, he doesn't really speak) are provided by Krista Sheffler, who looks after

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-88945860685397721552011-09-15T13:49:00.000-04:002011-09-16T18:45:15.269-04:00

Photo by Deborah Coleman/Pixar. Last Friday, I had the pleasure of finally screening La Luna, via a secure online link. Pixar's latest short film is making the rounds in various festivals and recently had its New York premiere. Without giving away the plot, it's Pixar's most artistic short to date, marked by simplicity, beautiful visuals and sound, and a boldly European feel. On Monday

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-29283105516296678952011-09-07T22:12:00.000-04:002011-09-15T13:39:31.977-04:00

Cars 2 received its first two nominations of the season today, from the Hollywood Post Alliance (HPA). Film editor Stephen Schaffer, A.C.E. is nominated for Outstanding Editing—Feature Film for the 2011 HPA Awards. Sound editors Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, and Michael Silversis are nominated for Outstanding Sound—Feature Film. If you haven't heard of the HPA, it's the trade association of

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-67911605329352408072011-09-02T01:00:00.000-04:002011-09-02T01:00:43.156-04:00

Cars 2 will play at over 2,000 theatres across North America this Labor Day weekend, up from 233 last week. (The film opened on June 24 at 4,115 locations.) This extended push, near the end of its theatrical run, will no doubt have a positive impact on the movie's lifetime box office earnings. So far, Cars 2 has brought in $187.3 million dollars domestically and $334.6 million overseas, to a

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-9074622610806598452011-09-01T15:22:00.000-04:002011-09-02T00:32:55.742-04:00

Pixar creative chief John Lasseter came in at #8 on the Vanity Fair 2011 New Establishment list, published today. In 2008, Lasseter tied with fellow Pixar directors Brad Bird and Andrew Stanton for #28 on the annual list, which identifies the world's most influential people.

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-30468020405108737342011-08-25T23:13:00.006-04:002011-08-28T21:58:05.115-04:00

Remember the replica Fredricksen house near Salt Lake City? It turns out Disney went along with the concept after a talk with the Docter. Up director Pete Docter "personally intervened on behalf of the project", The New York Times reports. "Somehow [homebuilder Blair] Bangerter's detailed architectural drawings made their way to Mr. Docter’s desk at Pixar. Touched that his film had inspired such

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-61407267737260811492011-08-24T13:20:00.003-04:002011-08-24T13:23:39.853-04:00

Toy Story 3 screenwriter Michael Arndt is all but confirmed to be writing the Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside the Mind. IndieWIRE's The Playlist blog reported whispers of this when the film, set to open May 30, 2014, was announced this past Saturday. After a fair bit of searching, I was able to find a post at Ain't It Cool News from April 2010 where Arndt casually mentioned: "I'm

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-18126173365575684282011-08-23T14:48:00.003-04:002011-08-23T14:53:32.901-04:00

Did you visit Disneyland circa 1977? Did you take pictures? If so, you may have a 'golden ticket' of sorts hidden in one of your old albums. Disney launched a Facebook contest last night to find a picture of Pixar's Lasseter skippering the park's famous Jungle Cruise attraction. Between late 1977 and spring 1978, years before he would become head honcho at Disney and Pixar animation, and

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-41973619536355070162011-08-21T17:15:00.002-04:002011-08-21T17:17:51.788-04:00

At yesterday's "Characters of Monsters University" panel at D23, director Dan Scanlon and production designer Ricky Nierva showed off the first concepts from Pixar's Summer 2013 flick. The Pixar Times and /Film have posted pictures from the event and details of what was discussed. Notably, Nierva and Scanlon explained the work that went into giving Mike and Sulley a subtly youthful appearance for

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-77271851185792378532011-08-20T18:28:00.018-04:002011-08-20T19:18:30.190-04:00

That would be comedian Dave Foley and Partly Cloudy director Peter Sohn, according to press materials just released by Disney/Pixar. Foley's last feature role for Pixar was as Flik in A Bug's Life. Sohn, currently co-directing the Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs, previously voiced Emile in Ratatouille. Neither was a part of the cast of Monsters, Inc. so its fairly certain that their

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-61804301947944855382011-08-20T15:58:00.004-04:002011-08-20T16:04:28.087-04:00

This hour at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Pixar announced details on the two as-yet-untitled feature films slated for release on November 27, 2013 and May 30, 2014. First up is Pixar's long-awaited dinosaur project, directed by Bob Peterson (co-director/writer, Up), co-directed by Peter Sohn (director, Partly Cloudy), and produced by John Walker (producer, The Incredibles). The studio's blurb for the

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-4014465236462381222011-08-20T14:26:00.002-04:002011-08-20T14:31:02.587-04:00

Actor Jon Cryer was just announced at D23 as the voice of main character Dusty in DisneyToon Studios' Cars spinoff, Planes. (Though drawn from Pixar's franchise and produced under the direction of creative chief John Lasseter, Planes is not a Pixar film and will not be branded as Disney•Pixar.) Cryer, best known for his role on CBS' Two and a Half Men, joins Everybody Loves Raymond alum Brad

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-45442352200687339032011-08-20T00:12:00.003-04:002011-08-20T11:25:28.375-04:00

Friday afternoon at the D23 Expo, Pixar revealed Small Fry, the previously-untitled Toy Story Toon coming to theatres November 23 with Disney's The Muppets. Attendees were shown a bit of footage from the short, directed by BURN-E helmer Angus MacLane (also known for his LEGO creations). The Pixar Times was there and describes Small Fry as being "Buzz-centric" and hints that "we will definitely

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-24112256835424907142011-08-19T14:15:00.000-04:002011-08-19T14:16:03.916-04:00

Amazon.com has listed for pre-order the Toy Story trilogy on Blu-ray 3D with a ship date of November 1, the same day as the Cars 2 Blu-ray/DVD. Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 3 will be sold individually, as well as in a complete set that includes all three films in the high definition 3-D home video format. Stay tuned as an official announcement might come later today at D23. (via Stitch

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-85696366467405758962011-08-18T16:22:00.002-04:002011-08-19T14:18:20.746-04:00

TheWrap is reporting that Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios have ended their year-long boycott of the Annie Awards. As you may recall, Disney/Pixar withdrew support from the Annies and ASIFA-Hollywood, the group which oversees them, in protest at the award's twisted voting rules. This resulted in Toy Story 3 being shut out from winning any awards at the 38th Annie Awards in February. The

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-18716387526814060822011-08-18T15:43:00.002-04:002011-08-19T14:17:58.887-04:00

Announced last December, the highly anticipated Pixar character stamps will be issued tomorrow by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter will join Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman to officially unveil the "Disney•Pixar Send a Hello Forever" collection at a first day of issue ceremony tomorrow afternoon at the D23 Expo. The Washington Post

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-76023474253853920312011-08-17T17:15:00.003-04:002011-08-20T00:28:14.955-04:00

Cars 2 will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on November 1 with previously unreported bonus: a brand new Cars Toon entitled Air Mater. Entertainment Tonight just posted a first look at a clip from the short, which you can watch above. (Replaced with HD version via YouTube.) In addition, the five-disc combo pack will feature a 'sneak peek' at the massive Cars Land attraction under construction at

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-91430039744732764932011-08-15T13:32:00.001-04:002011-10-27T22:55:02.778-04:00

A final cover and new publication date have been revealed for Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Apple CEO and Pixar co-founder Steve Jobs. Originally set to hit bookshelves on March 6, 2012, the book will now be released in just over three months, "on or around November 21" according to publishers Simon & Schuster. The new cover is miles ahead of the hideous temporary one that

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-1850815528674047792011-08-13T23:04:00.000-04:002011-08-13T23:04:54.838-04:00

The Los Angeles Times caught up with Billy Crystal on Friday night and Monsters University naturally came up in the conversation.“It’s really a great script, it’s really funny. That’s why I’m a little hoarse. I spent five-and-a-half hours today for our fourth session,” says the actor/comedian, who reprises his role as Mike Wazowski in the Monsters, Inc. prequel."This movie ends where the other

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-71760333615504592922011-08-09T14:29:00.006-04:002011-08-20T00:34:06.175-04:00

The Walt Disney Studios revealed this afternoon details on its panels at the D23 Expo, which runs from August 19-21 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Of special interest to Pixar fans are the five panels featuring some of the biggest names from the studio. They're described in the announcement as follows:A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team – Enjoy a rare opportunity to

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-34627210459526763762011-08-09T01:30:00.003-04:002011-08-09T16:24:02.127-04:00

SIGGRAPH 2011 is going on in Vancouver until Thursday and Pixar's RenderMan division is one of the biggest names at the computer graphics conference. Pixar announced a handful of new offerings, including RenderMan for Maya 5.0, scheduled for release this fall, and a new package for students. With each year's SIGGRAPH comes a new RenderMan Walking Teapot. Scores of these are handed out to

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-39000853792574004842011-08-08T22:26:00.000-04:002011-08-08T22:27:00.711-04:00

Along with the untitled 05/30/14 feature from Pixar and a couple of Marvel titles, Disney also slated a new untitled film from Henry Selick today, the first in their new deal with the stop motion animator. In April 2010, Variety reported that Selick would be directing features "for Disney/Pixar". This, it turns out, is not correct. Contrary to popular belief, Selick isn't working at Pixar. A

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-60965378967976428632011-08-08T17:04:00.004-04:002011-08-08T17:16:20.432-04:00

THR and Box Office Mojo are reporting that The Walt Disney Studios has slated another unannounced Pixar feature for release on May 30, 2014. This feature and the secret November 27, 2013 film will give shape to Pixar's post-Brave slate, which is likely to be announced at the D23 Expo in Anaheim next week. It's been confirmed that the 11/27/13 project will have an original (i.e. non-sequel) story

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-63658096859904071522011-08-08T15:38:00.000-04:002011-08-08T15:38:23.542-04:00

Last month, The Salt Lake Tribune shared the story of the life-size replica Up house built in Herriman, Utah by Bangerter Homes. I missed posting the story at the time, but now the house is open for tours as part of a local parade of homes event. The Tribune followed up yesterday with a video of the interior and exterior of the four-bedroom, 2,800 sq. ft. home, which is listed for sale at

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-36798412378804578542011-07-28T23:41:00.000-04:002011-07-28T23:41:41.343-04:00

Self-proclaimed British screenwriter Jake Mandeville-Anthony has lost his frivolous lawsuit against Disney and Pixar.The case was dismissed in its entirety yesterday.In his complaint, filed in March, Mandeville-Anthony alleged that Pixar stole the idea for the Cars franchise from him, thereby infringing his copyright.After reviewing the facts of the case, the presiding judge dismissed the suit "

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-17407612442758223742011-07-27T21:32:00.003-04:002011-07-27T21:35:17.388-04:00

The amazingly talented Michael Giacchino joined Twitter yesterday, @m_giacchino.As one of Pixar's regular composers, look for some of his tweets to touch on his work with the studio.Though Giacchino's account hasn't yet been officially Verified, he did receive a big Twitter welcome from Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich and others.Giacchino currently has just over 5550 followers.By the way, if

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-47379438765509480852011-07-19T00:45:00.000-04:002011-07-19T12:45:48.923-04:00

Pixar faced a big challenge when translating and dubbing Cars 2 into nearly 45 foreign languages: Mater.Larry the Cable Guy's 'American bumpkin' wouldn't translate right."Mater's kind of a redneck, but that means nothing to anyone overseas because they don't have that particular vocal culture," says Rick Dempsey, senior VP of Disney Character Voices, which oversees foreign voice casting."So we

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-25876099748814535222011-07-18T15:20:00.003-04:002011-07-18T17:49:43.666-04:00

That's right! More 'TS4' news for y'all!John Lasseter was on BBC Breakfast Monday morning to discuss his work directing Cars 2, which opens in the UK on Friday. The conversation eventually shifted to Toy Story 4, with Lasseter being asked about the remarks made by Tom Hanks on the same program last month."I found that very interesting too", he says with a mischievous smile worthy of an 8-year-old

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-53264028559454191812011-07-16T13:54:00.001-04:002011-07-16T13:58:19.672-04:00

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is listing Toy Story 4 as being in development at Pixar for release in 2015.While IMDb can be grossly inaccurate, the listing of a Pixar project usually foreruns the proper announcement. For example, "Monsters, Inc. 2" was listed nearly a year before Monsters University was revealed.More importantly, this comes on the heels of Tom Hanks' authoritative comments

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9178537529355247067.post-8877709763074976382011-07-16T01:30:00.004-04:002011-07-16T12:50:52.288-04:00

Less than a month after its theatrical release, Cars 2 is already up for pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD at Amazon.com and other online retailers. No release date has yet been announced, but expect it to be sometime in early November.Cars 2 will be available in both a deluxe 5-disc combo pack, which includes the film on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and digital copy, and a regular 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD

Mike Bastolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420745899169639499noreply@blogger.com8