Steven Spielberg was associated with a dinosaur film even before Jurassic Park came out in 1993. While the legendary filmmaker revolutionized cinema with the incredible dinosaur franchise, it was not his first time in the genre. He also acted as a producer in the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time.
Despite being a fun-filled animated dinosaur film for kids, The Land Before Time spoke on some mature topics like homelessness. However, if it was not for Spielberg, the film was also about to carry a more violent and darker tone, unlike a traditional children’s film.
A still from The Land Before Time I Amblin Entertainment
Some of the saddest sequences in films like The Lion King and Up have proven that even animated films come with loads of emotions and tearful scenes. But Steven Spielberg felt that the villain in The Land Before Time was becoming too scary to be in a children’s movie.
Despite being a fun-filled animated dinosaur film for kids, The Land Before Time spoke on some mature topics like homelessness. However, if it was not for Spielberg, the film was also about to carry a more violent and darker tone, unlike a traditional children’s film.
A still from The Land Before Time I Amblin Entertainment
Some of the saddest sequences in films like The Lion King and Up have proven that even animated films come with loads of emotions and tearful scenes. But Steven Spielberg felt that the villain in The Land Before Time was becoming too scary to be in a children’s movie.
- 5/23/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
DC Legend Bruce Timm has always been in love with comics. The artist, animator, writer, producer, and director has been one of the masterminds behind the popularity of modern animated DC comic shows.
Bruce Timm. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker showrunner revealed some stunning details about his fellow DC comic book artist and animator, Russ Heath. Timm further revealed the actual reason behind the poor-looking animations including GI Joe.
The GI Joe Animation Problem A still from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Credit: Hasbro/Yt
DC legend Bruce Timm who has an astounding legacy to his credit including Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, and Justice League Unlimited, revealed why old-school animation similar to G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was not up to the mark. A few animators, including the late Russ Heath who was a Model Designer in the show,...
Bruce Timm. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker showrunner revealed some stunning details about his fellow DC comic book artist and animator, Russ Heath. Timm further revealed the actual reason behind the poor-looking animations including GI Joe.
The GI Joe Animation Problem A still from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Credit: Hasbro/Yt
DC legend Bruce Timm who has an astounding legacy to his credit including Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, and Justice League Unlimited, revealed why old-school animation similar to G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was not up to the mark. A few animators, including the late Russ Heath who was a Model Designer in the show,...
- 3/30/2024
- by Lachit Roy
- FandomWire
You’re not imagining things: video games really have gotten easier over the years. That’s due, in large part, to the now-common addition of variable difficulty settings and other accessibility options. While some gamers complain these things make games too easy, they’re a welcome change for many of us who grew up in the ‘80s.
Much of the Nes library was known for its extreme difficulty. Part of that was due to the console’s technical limitations. It just wasn’t always easy to make characters move as developers intended. Sometimes it was much more conscious. Developers would make games harder so that they would last longer and so that gamers couldn’t just blow through titles in a weekend rental. But even keeping those things in mind, a few developers went above and beyond to create some of the most devious and fiendishly difficult challenges imaginable. Decades later,...
Much of the Nes library was known for its extreme difficulty. Part of that was due to the console’s technical limitations. It just wasn’t always easy to make characters move as developers intended. Sometimes it was much more conscious. Developers would make games harder so that they would last longer and so that gamers couldn’t just blow through titles in a weekend rental. But even keeping those things in mind, a few developers went above and beyond to create some of the most devious and fiendishly difficult challenges imaginable. Decades later,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
The late '70s were a dark time for Disney. Following the death of Walt Disney, the studio went through much experimentation (not all of which was successful), and the departure of animator Don Bluth and several other animators led to a mini-crisis at the studio. Still, this was a very interesting time for Disney, which released many movies unlike anything they'd made before or since, from the sci-fi adventure "The Black Hole" to the criminally underrated "The Black Cauldron."
Loosely based on the first two books in Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain" series, the film follows a bard and a princess who try to destroy a powerful and ancient magical cauldron before the wicked Horned King uses it to rule the world. This is by far the darkest animated movie Disney has made, one that starts with an explanation that the Black Cauldron's power comes from an...
Loosely based on the first two books in Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain" series, the film follows a bard and a princess who try to destroy a powerful and ancient magical cauldron before the wicked Horned King uses it to rule the world. This is by far the darkest animated movie Disney has made, one that starts with an explanation that the Black Cauldron's power comes from an...
- 3/3/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
As DreamWorks Animation shifts to a new production-sharing model with Sony Pictures Imageworks (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”), we get a taste of the studio’s indie vibe at its best with “Orion and the Dark” (co-produced with Netflix and currently streaming). It’s an imaginative fantasy-adventure about confronting adolescent fears, thanks to the mind-bending script by Charlie Kaufman (“Anomalisa“).
“I think Kaufman’s whimsy and humor are brilliant for this family film space,” producer Peter McCown told IndieWire. “I think it’s a great match and I hope that he continues in this space.”
Kaufman spent about a year adapting Emma Yarlett’s 2014 children’s picture book about a fear-conquering adventure involving the titular adolescent and Dark, his nemesis, setting it in ’90s Philadelphia and making Orion (Jacob Tremblay) a neurotic, artistic fifth grader and Dark (Paul Walker Hauser) a hulking, insecure figure with an existential crisis. Dark invites Orion...
“I think Kaufman’s whimsy and humor are brilliant for this family film space,” producer Peter McCown told IndieWire. “I think it’s a great match and I hope that he continues in this space.”
Kaufman spent about a year adapting Emma Yarlett’s 2014 children’s picture book about a fear-conquering adventure involving the titular adolescent and Dark, his nemesis, setting it in ’90s Philadelphia and making Orion (Jacob Tremblay) a neurotic, artistic fifth grader and Dark (Paul Walker Hauser) a hulking, insecure figure with an existential crisis. Dark invites Orion...
- 2/2/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Despite a union with SAG-AFTRA and increasing attention paid to the very best voice acting performances in the industry, it’s still easy to take those performances for granted. It’s part and parcel of a medium that still struggles with being recognized as an art form, and one where those union protections don’t yet protect the most vulnerable performers.
Voice acting is often the key to whether a story-heavy game sinks or swims. Granted, it is possible for a game’s voice acting to become iconic, even with a crappy dub. The original Resident Evil is still a meme for B-movie lines like the Jill Sandwich, and Shenmue’s English voice acting, respectfully, flat-out sucks. But a truly remarkable job, like the whole of Final Fantasy Xii or Nolan North’s various appearances as Nathan Drake, reminds us why it’s important to remember our roots, appreciate the creators,...
Voice acting is often the key to whether a story-heavy game sinks or swims. Granted, it is possible for a game’s voice acting to become iconic, even with a crappy dub. The original Resident Evil is still a meme for B-movie lines like the Jill Sandwich, and Shenmue’s English voice acting, respectfully, flat-out sucks. But a truly remarkable job, like the whole of Final Fantasy Xii or Nolan North’s various appearances as Nathan Drake, reminds us why it’s important to remember our roots, appreciate the creators,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
A new poster has fans believing Disney and Pixar are remaking Don Bluth's animated classic, The Land Before Time.
The Land Before Time franchise has remained dormant since releasing its 14th and final film in 2016, two decades after it kicked off in 1996 with its first movie, which was executive produced by renowned filmmakers Steven Speilberg and George Lucas and distributed by Universal.
In recent years, dinosaur fans have been left speculating whether the adorable Apatosaurus Littlefoot would ever return.
Read full article on The Direct.
The Land Before Time franchise has remained dormant since releasing its 14th and final film in 2016, two decades after it kicked off in 1996 with its first movie, which was executive produced by renowned filmmakers Steven Speilberg and George Lucas and distributed by Universal.
In recent years, dinosaur fans have been left speculating whether the adorable Apatosaurus Littlefoot would ever return.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 12/12/2023
- by Klein Felt
- The Direct
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(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
Until "The Little Mermaid" arrived in 1989 and ushered in another golden age for Disney animation, the '80s were not an otherwise great period for the storied studio. That opened the door for other studios and creators to swoop in and steal some of Disney's glory. Enter Don Bluth, one of animation's most heralded creators, who cut his teeth at Disney before going out on his own. Bluth, with the backing of Universal Pictures, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, directed "The Land Before Time," one of the most beloved '80s animated films around.
Bluth helped fill the void after Walt Disney passed away, directing movies like "The Rescuers" and "Pete's Dragon.
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
Until "The Little Mermaid" arrived in 1989 and ushered in another golden age for Disney animation, the '80s were not an otherwise great period for the storied studio. That opened the door for other studios and creators to swoop in and steal some of Disney's glory. Enter Don Bluth, one of animation's most heralded creators, who cut his teeth at Disney before going out on his own. Bluth, with the backing of Universal Pictures, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, directed "The Land Before Time," one of the most beloved '80s animated films around.
Bluth helped fill the void after Walt Disney passed away, directing movies like "The Rescuers" and "Pete's Dragon.
- 12/2/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
There’s a common misconception that art directed towards children is automatically less dignified than art aimed at other demographics. And with so many people mistakenly believing that animation is exclusively meant to entertain kids, it makes sense that audiences and critics often dismiss animated films as if it were impossible for them to contain anything of substance. Of course, the simplest stories are often the hardest ones to tell, and having your film be marketed towards kids doesn’t mean that it should feel like it was written by them.
One of my personal favorite examples of an animated movie that delves into much deeper (and darker) subject matter than your average cartoon is Don Bluth’s directorial debut, The Secret of Nimh. A dark fantasy fable about talking mice, this 1982 adaptation of Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh takes fascinating liberties with the...
One of my personal favorite examples of an animated movie that delves into much deeper (and darker) subject matter than your average cartoon is Don Bluth’s directorial debut, The Secret of Nimh. A dark fantasy fable about talking mice, this 1982 adaptation of Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh takes fascinating liberties with the...
- 10/4/2023
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
Embark on an unforgettable journey back in time as we unlock the prehistoric secrets of all The Land Before Time movies in order of their release date.
Step into a world where dinosaurs roam freely, where friendship conquers all obstacles, and where life lessons are learned in every frame.
Related: Ice Age Movies in Order (How to Watch the Film Series)
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll navigate through the entire lineage of these timeless animated classics, from the very first heartwarming adventure to the latest captivating installment.
Join us as we explore the breathtaking landscapes, endearing characters, and heartwarming stories that have made The Land Before Time series a beloved treasure for audiences of all ages.
1 ‘The Land Before Time’ (1988)
IMDb: 7.4/10 95K | Popularity: 4543 | Metascore: 66
Duration: 1h 9m | Genres: Animation, Adventure, Drama
“The Land Before Time,” a 1988 animated classic, takes you on a prehistoric adventure. It’s directed and produced by Don Bluth,...
Step into a world where dinosaurs roam freely, where friendship conquers all obstacles, and where life lessons are learned in every frame.
Related: Ice Age Movies in Order (How to Watch the Film Series)
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll navigate through the entire lineage of these timeless animated classics, from the very first heartwarming adventure to the latest captivating installment.
Join us as we explore the breathtaking landscapes, endearing characters, and heartwarming stories that have made The Land Before Time series a beloved treasure for audiences of all ages.
1 ‘The Land Before Time’ (1988)
IMDb: 7.4/10 95K | Popularity: 4543 | Metascore: 66
Duration: 1h 9m | Genres: Animation, Adventure, Drama
“The Land Before Time,” a 1988 animated classic, takes you on a prehistoric adventure. It’s directed and produced by Don Bluth,...
- 9/13/2023
- by Israr Ahmed
- buddytv.com
Randy Fullmer, an effects animator, visual effects supervisor, artistic coordinator and producer who worked at Disney for almost 20 years, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 73.
Over his nearly two decades at Disney, he did everything from work on the Toon Town portion of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (his first gig at the studio) to working as an artistic coordinator on “The Lion King” to producing full Disney features like “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Chicken Little.” A key and unsung player in the Disney Renaissance of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Fullmer’s legacy will live on.
Fullmer, who died July 10, in Woodland Hills, California, attended the California Institute of the Arts, a school co-founded by Walt Disney. After Fullmer graduated in 1974, he spent time working with Don Bluth, the Disney hotshot whose departure from the studio nearly crippled the animation department. Fullmer joined Bluth on his...
Over his nearly two decades at Disney, he did everything from work on the Toon Town portion of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (his first gig at the studio) to working as an artistic coordinator on “The Lion King” to producing full Disney features like “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Chicken Little.” A key and unsung player in the Disney Renaissance of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Fullmer’s legacy will live on.
Fullmer, who died July 10, in Woodland Hills, California, attended the California Institute of the Arts, a school co-founded by Walt Disney. After Fullmer graduated in 1974, he spent time working with Don Bluth, the Disney hotshot whose departure from the studio nearly crippled the animation department. Fullmer joined Bluth on his...
- 7/26/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Filmmaker Don Bluth is underrated as it is, and so is this movie. Usually, when people think of penguins in movies, they think of Happy Feet or maybe Surf's Up, but The Pebble and the Penguin (1995) is an overlooked gem that has been passed over and was claimed by critics at the time of its release to be terrible. I'm here to debunk all of that. The story starts out with an introverted penguin named Hubie, voiced by Martin Short, who longs to marry his love Marina, Annie Golden, by offering her a pebble as a penguin mating ritual and custom. However, an evil Gaston-like penguin named Drake, Tim Curry, demands that Hubie give him the pebble, but when he refuses, Drake tosses him...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 6/30/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Nearly a decade ago, Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill traipsed along to Redbone across an alien world, and relative to all the previous MCU entries, there was something initially fresh about the encounter until the shine wore off, and other blockbuster fare picked up all the wrong lessons. Subsequent outings have retread the blend of screwball antics, pew pew lasers, and a retro soundtrack to bring us Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It’s a Marvel entry surprisingly free of any ties to broader property outside of the first two volumes, but mired in the same bag of tricks with a bit more slime on it.
After a brief but alarming cold open depicting Rocket Raccoon’s surgical transformation from cute trash panda to wisecracking tech wiz, Vol. 3 brings us up to date with our ne’er do well heroes, finding Quill lovelorn over a version of Gamora who doesn’t remember him.
After a brief but alarming cold open depicting Rocket Raccoon’s surgical transformation from cute trash panda to wisecracking tech wiz, Vol. 3 brings us up to date with our ne’er do well heroes, finding Quill lovelorn over a version of Gamora who doesn’t remember him.
- 5/4/2023
- by Conor O'Donnell
- The Film Stage
(Welcome to Animation Celebration, a recurring feature where we explore the limitless possibilities of animation as a medium. In this edition: "Lackadaisy.")
Since its inception, the Animation Celebration column has been a way to showcase animated feature films across a multitude of genres, specifically with projects that utilize the medium for adult audiences. Animation offers limitless possibilities for creators choosing to work within the medium and advancements in technology have increased the accessibility for independent animators to create and distribute their own work without needing the backing of a big studio. One of those examples is the ridiculously impressive pilot for "Lackadaisy," which has already amassed over 5 million views since it was uploaded to YouTube on March 29, 2023.
The pilot was directed and produced by Fable Siegel and is based on Tracy J. Butler's award-winning webcomic of the same name. "Lackadaisy" is a prohibition-era crime series featuring anthropomorphic cats. Set in St.
Since its inception, the Animation Celebration column has been a way to showcase animated feature films across a multitude of genres, specifically with projects that utilize the medium for adult audiences. Animation offers limitless possibilities for creators choosing to work within the medium and advancements in technology have increased the accessibility for independent animators to create and distribute their own work without needing the backing of a big studio. One of those examples is the ridiculously impressive pilot for "Lackadaisy," which has already amassed over 5 million views since it was uploaded to YouTube on March 29, 2023.
The pilot was directed and produced by Fable Siegel and is based on Tracy J. Butler's award-winning webcomic of the same name. "Lackadaisy" is a prohibition-era crime series featuring anthropomorphic cats. Set in St.
- 4/7/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Let's be real: Dragons are awesome! Since ancient Mesopotamians whispered about Tiamat and Marduk's red serpent servant, the legend of dragons thrived. For generations, these scaly creatures have induced fear and delight. Tolkien drew from these myths to bring the creature into the modern fantasy canon, with his childhood love of Fafnir, Siegfried's legendary foe, transformed into the prideful Smaug. Now the fantasy genre is almost synonymous with dragons. Of course, the '70s introduction of Dungeons & Dragons helped, too! Today, there's a resurgence of love for these big fellas -- starring in movies like "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Raya and the Last Dragon."
Putting dragons on the big screen is a huge technical challenge. Not every movie's budget can commit to that feat. For decades, animation came to the rescue -- pitching price-conscious versions to younger and more accepting viewers. But after the release of "Jurassic Park,...
Putting dragons on the big screen is a huge technical challenge. Not every movie's budget can commit to that feat. For decades, animation came to the rescue -- pitching price-conscious versions to younger and more accepting viewers. But after the release of "Jurassic Park,...
- 4/7/2023
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
As the daughter of Chucky franchise special effects artist Tony Gardner, director Kyra Elise Gardner offers a unique perspective on the killer doll’s lasting impact in the Screambox Original documentary Living with Chucky.
Child’s Play creator Don Mancini and franchise alumni Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Fiona Dourif, Alex Vincent, Christine Elise, Billy Boyd, John Waters, Tony Gardner, David Kirschner, and more spill their guts along with such notable fans as Marlon Wayans, Abigail Breslin, Lin Shaye, and Dan Povenmire, among others.
Here are 9 things I learned from Living with Chucky.
1. Gremlins helped pave the way for Child’s Play.
A lifelong horror fan, Don Mancini wrote the first Child’s Play script — originally titled Batteries Not Included, then Blood Buddy — while attending UCLA. “I realized that no one had ever done the living doll thing as a full-fledged feature where you treat the doll as a character who can actually emote...
Child’s Play creator Don Mancini and franchise alumni Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Fiona Dourif, Alex Vincent, Christine Elise, Billy Boyd, John Waters, Tony Gardner, David Kirschner, and more spill their guts along with such notable fans as Marlon Wayans, Abigail Breslin, Lin Shaye, and Dan Povenmire, among others.
Here are 9 things I learned from Living with Chucky.
1. Gremlins helped pave the way for Child’s Play.
A lifelong horror fan, Don Mancini wrote the first Child’s Play script — originally titled Batteries Not Included, then Blood Buddy — while attending UCLA. “I realized that no one had ever done the living doll thing as a full-fledged feature where you treat the doll as a character who can actually emote...
- 4/6/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
This post contains spoilers for the "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" season 2 finale.
With all eyes fixed on "The Mandalorian" and the other live-action "Star Wars" series on Disney+, "The Bad Batch" has quietly emerged as one of the best things to come from a galaxy far, far away since the House of Mouse took over. For as much as the "Clone Wars" spin-off played things too safe in season 1, it had an easier time finding its ethos than other animated "Star Wars" shows. Right out of the gate, "The Bad Batch" proved it was willing to go to dark places in exploring the early days of the Galactic Empire, starting with Clone Force 99's experiences during Order 66.
Things only got bleaker from there, revealing how the Empire emboldened enslavers and other criminals to conduct their business in the daylight, all while civil liberties were being stomped out. Season 2 doubled down on that sentiment,...
With all eyes fixed on "The Mandalorian" and the other live-action "Star Wars" series on Disney+, "The Bad Batch" has quietly emerged as one of the best things to come from a galaxy far, far away since the House of Mouse took over. For as much as the "Clone Wars" spin-off played things too safe in season 1, it had an easier time finding its ethos than other animated "Star Wars" shows. Right out of the gate, "The Bad Batch" proved it was willing to go to dark places in exploring the early days of the Galactic Empire, starting with Clone Force 99's experiences during Order 66.
Things only got bleaker from there, revealing how the Empire emboldened enslavers and other criminals to conduct their business in the daylight, all while civil liberties were being stomped out. Season 2 doubled down on that sentiment,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The sun never sets in the world of streaming. After a jam-packed March that saw both "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" series going head-to-head with "Ted Lasso" -- not to mention, the much-buzzed-about return of "Yellowjackets" and the final hurrah of the Shakespearean tragedy that is "Succession" — it seems April is angling to keep the party going. Between "Schmigadoon!" and "The Afterparty" coming back, "Barry" setting sail for the Grey Havens with its final season, and whatever the hell Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof have cooked up for us with "Mrs. Davis," next month won't be hurting for appointment TV.
Not about to be left in the dust by its competitors, Netflix has its own plans for April. In addition to its typical monthly smattering of non-exclusive titles, the streamer will be dropping a 30th anniversary "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" reunion special, "Once & Always," just to make all you Millennials...
Not about to be left in the dust by its competitors, Netflix has its own plans for April. In addition to its typical monthly smattering of non-exclusive titles, the streamer will be dropping a 30th anniversary "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" reunion special, "Once & Always," just to make all you Millennials...
- 3/22/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Stars: Michael Paré, Jack Pearson, Erin Coker, Neli Sabour | Written by Gil Luna | Directed by Noah Luke
No relation to the anime of the same name or the Don Bluth film Titan A.E. for that matter, this Attack on Titan is – you guessed it – another creatively titled film from The Asylum. This one justifies its title by having a rebel faction on Saturn’s moon Titan object to Earth’s deal with the government to harvest water crystals. Since they launch an attack on us, the film, whose original title, Alien Space Battle, still appears in the end credits would be more accurately called Attack from Titan. But that just doesn’t sound the same.
After an attack on a freighter carrying those water crystals back to Earth Citizen Prime Ortiz orders Max Reece to put together a mission to rescue it. There’s just one problem, the only...
No relation to the anime of the same name or the Don Bluth film Titan A.E. for that matter, this Attack on Titan is – you guessed it – another creatively titled film from The Asylum. This one justifies its title by having a rebel faction on Saturn’s moon Titan object to Earth’s deal with the government to harvest water crystals. Since they launch an attack on us, the film, whose original title, Alien Space Battle, still appears in the end credits would be more accurately called Attack from Titan. But that just doesn’t sound the same.
After an attack on a freighter carrying those water crystals back to Earth Citizen Prime Ortiz orders Max Reece to put together a mission to rescue it. There’s just one problem, the only...
- 3/3/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Burny Mattinson, a Disney Legend who served as an animator, producer, director and story artist in his nearly 70-year career with the studio, died Monday at the age of 87 following a short illness. Disney announced his death on their official website.
The story goes that Mattinson, who was born in San Francisco in 1935, was transformed when his mother took him to see Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio” at the age of 6. He knew what he wanted to do. As Don Hahn, who produced some of Disney’s most beloved movies during the Disney Renaissance, said of Mattinson’s life: “His life could be a Disney movie: teenaged kid shows up at the Disney gate with his portfolio under his arm and stays for 70 years. He was our story sensei, a brilliant draftsman who showed us what it was like to grind on a story until it was right.”
Mattinson’s first...
The story goes that Mattinson, who was born in San Francisco in 1935, was transformed when his mother took him to see Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio” at the age of 6. He knew what he wanted to do. As Don Hahn, who produced some of Disney’s most beloved movies during the Disney Renaissance, said of Mattinson’s life: “His life could be a Disney movie: teenaged kid shows up at the Disney gate with his portfolio under his arm and stays for 70 years. He was our story sensei, a brilliant draftsman who showed us what it was like to grind on a story until it was right.”
Mattinson’s first...
- 2/27/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
"The Little Mermaid" saved Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1989. It earned rave reviews from critics like Roger Ebert, who wrote that "the magic of animation has been restored to us." It won an Academy Award and a Grammy for the hit song "Under the Sea." Best of all, the film popularized animated musicals; not just animated films with songs, but films with songs that expressed motivation and character as aptly as the animation did. Lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, responsible for the off-Broadway legend "Little Shop of Horrors," brought their hard-won expertise to a project that was floundering on the rocks. The results didn't just set the standard for the Disney Renaissance; they set the standard for its competition. For the first time in many years, Disney took the lead as opposed to ceding ground to challengers like Don Bluth. Not every film in the coming years would be successful,...
- 2/25/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
Pete Docter is no stranger to awards ceremonies.
He’s the only filmmaker to have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar three times (most recently for the 2020 film “Soul”) and Docter’s “Up” was only the second animated movie to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Add to that a half-dozen Annie Awards and a BAFTA trophy.
This year, Docter will be honored with the Winsor McKay Award at this year’s Annies, presented by the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, Asifa-Hollywood. Previous Winsor McKay honorees, named for the legendary animator behind Gertie the Dinosaur, include Eyvind Earle, Hayao Miyazaki, Ray Harryahusen, Tim Burton and Don Bluth. Docter will be honored alongside Canadian animator Evelyn Lambart (posthumously) and Craig McCracken, creator (most recently) of Netflix’s “Kid Cosmic.”
“That’s totally exciting. I had no idea. And then you look at the list of past...
He’s the only filmmaker to have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar three times (most recently for the 2020 film “Soul”) and Docter’s “Up” was only the second animated movie to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Add to that a half-dozen Annie Awards and a BAFTA trophy.
This year, Docter will be honored with the Winsor McKay Award at this year’s Annies, presented by the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, Asifa-Hollywood. Previous Winsor McKay honorees, named for the legendary animator behind Gertie the Dinosaur, include Eyvind Earle, Hayao Miyazaki, Ray Harryahusen, Tim Burton and Don Bluth. Docter will be honored alongside Canadian animator Evelyn Lambart (posthumously) and Craig McCracken, creator (most recently) of Netflix’s “Kid Cosmic.”
“That’s totally exciting. I had no idea. And then you look at the list of past...
- 2/21/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
The "dinosaur phase" is pretty much a rite of passage for every child. If you're a man-child like me, your "dinosaur phase" has gone well into adulthood (no shame). Personally, I've never outgrown my sense of wonder and awe at prehistoric beasts. They're like fantasy creatures that you only read about in books — except they were real! Nowhere is my passion for paleontology more profound than when it comes to dinosaur movies. A milestone movie for me and millions of other millennial moviegoers was the "Jurassic Park" franchise, especially the original.
While the "Jurassic Park" franchise may be the king of dinosaur movies, it's not the only time prehistoric beasts have stomped on the big screen; they've entertained us for decades. Some dinosaur movies are genuinely great films, while some are so bad they're good, but all of them are awesome. I'm going to share some of my favorite dinosaur movies,...
While the "Jurassic Park" franchise may be the king of dinosaur movies, it's not the only time prehistoric beasts have stomped on the big screen; they've entertained us for decades. Some dinosaur movies are genuinely great films, while some are so bad they're good, but all of them are awesome. I'm going to share some of my favorite dinosaur movies,...
- 1/28/2023
- by Hunter Cates
- Slash Film
"Superman: The Animated Series" occupies a curious middle ground in the DC Animated Universe, the continuity built by artists including Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. It never earned the rapturous critical reception of "Batman: The Animated Series," which to this day generates oral histories extolling its greatness. It also lacked the epic scope of "Justice League," which told multi-part stories featuring a huge cast of characters across time and space. But "Superman" should not be underestimated. At its best, the show's staff reinvented and condensed comics canon as elegantly as "Batman" did. Crossover episodes united Superman with Batman, Lobo and even Green Lantern, paving the way for the widescreen action of "Justice League." Best of all, "Superman: The Animated Series" introduced characters from Jack Kirby's Fourth World, including the nefarious Darkseid.
The DC Animated Universe ended in the early 2000s, but continues to influence contemporary animated series based on the characters to this day.
The DC Animated Universe ended in the early 2000s, but continues to influence contemporary animated series based on the characters to this day.
- 1/14/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
The year is 3042, and the Earth has been destroyed. 15 years ago, humankind unveiled a mysterious and powerful technology called the Titan Project. Its true nature is not revealed immediately, but a species of envious aliens made of pure energy, the Drej, fear it and have destroyed humankind in defense. Now, the galaxy's remaining humans roam the cosmos as outcasts, forced to take odd jobs on freighters. A young human named Cale (Matt Damon) has taken a job on a vessel called the Valkyrie, where he works alongside a smarmy bat alien named Preedex (Nathan Lane), a kooky frog-like scientist named Gune (John Leguizamo), a bitter and angry kangaroo-like engineer named Stith (Janeanne Garofalo), a human pilot named Akima (Drew Barrymore), and the heroic Captain Korso (Bill Pullman). Together, they travel the stars avoiding Drej and following an obscure map to the location of the Titan, the ship that still contains Earth's technological breakthrough.
- 12/18/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It is said that the typical gap of time for nostalgia to take root in the public consciousness is 20 years. Consider how the '70s were rife with rose-tinted fondness for the '50s, with the popularity of "Grease" and "Happy Days." Nostalgia for the 1980s hit hard in the early 2000s, although it never truly left if the success of shows like "Stranger Things" is anything to go by. We're now two whole decades on from the beginning of the new millennium. While we once again embrace emo rock and digital cameras, perhaps it's time to look back on the Disney film that ushered in a new era for the company, and may have killed it in the process.
In November of 2002, Walt Disney Feature Animation released "Treasure Planet." Based on the novel "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson, the sci-fi adventure tale was the long-time passion project for...
In November of 2002, Walt Disney Feature Animation released "Treasure Planet." Based on the novel "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson, the sci-fi adventure tale was the long-time passion project for...
- 11/27/2022
- by Kayleigh Donaldson
- Slash Film
There is no animated love interest, from Disney or any other studio, as attractive and compelling as Dimitri from Don Bluth's "Anastasia." The 1997 musical directed by Bluth and Gary Goldman is about the last survivor of the Romanov family who escapes but gets amnesia and only knows herself as Anya the orphan. She meets Dimitri, a con man auditioning women to trick the dowager empress into believing that they are the missing Anastasia. What Anya does not know is that she is the real Anastasia.
John Cusack's fantastic performance adds some color to Dimitri. His warm, familiar voice captures Dimitri's wry humor and underlying sensitivity. Cusack puts a lot of emotion into his vocals that really brings out the internal conflict Dimitri goes through. There are several other reasons why the floppy-haired, dark-eyed dreamboat captures viewer's hearts.
He Isn't A Typical Disney-Style Prince
"Anastasia" naturally drew comparisons to Disney,...
John Cusack's fantastic performance adds some color to Dimitri. His warm, familiar voice captures Dimitri's wry humor and underlying sensitivity. Cusack puts a lot of emotion into his vocals that really brings out the internal conflict Dimitri goes through. There are several other reasons why the floppy-haired, dark-eyed dreamboat captures viewer's hearts.
He Isn't A Typical Disney-Style Prince
"Anastasia" naturally drew comparisons to Disney,...
- 11/21/2022
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
With her bright eyes and deep well of talent, Angela Lansbury means something different to everyone you meet. To some, she was a treasured nostalgic figure, thanks to a collection of work that spanned eight decades and touched on nearly every major genre. To others, she was a master of the stage who originated some of the most memorable theater roles. To most of the world, of course, she was a TV staple who solved weekly mysteries with spunk and charisma. But no matter how you first discovered Lansbury, it's hard to ignore the incredible impact this multi-award winner left on pop culture.
As the world honors this entertainment legend, it seems only fitting to discuss Angela Lansbury's cinematic legacy. From the movies that brought her into the public spotlight to the ones deserving of more attention, this ranking serves as a tribute to what made Lansbury one of the greats.
As the world honors this entertainment legend, it seems only fitting to discuss Angela Lansbury's cinematic legacy. From the movies that brought her into the public spotlight to the ones deserving of more attention, this ranking serves as a tribute to what made Lansbury one of the greats.
- 10/13/2022
- by Dalin Rowell
- Slash Film
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "Watership Down" (1978)
Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max
The Pitch: A young rabbit named Fiver (voiced by Richard Briers) has a vision of impending doom for the rabbit-warren where he resides, the forest near their home running red with blood. Aware his sibling's visions have come true in the past, Fiver's brother Hazel (John Hurt) chooses to defy the orders of his chief, who forbids anyone from leaving their burrow. Leading a group that includes Fiver and several other rabbits, Hazel and his peers brave hawks, cars, human traps, dogs, cats, and tyrannical rabbits known as Efrafans in the hopes of finding a new safe haven at the hill Fiver sees in his mind: Watership Down.
As...
The Movie: "Watership Down" (1978)
Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max
The Pitch: A young rabbit named Fiver (voiced by Richard Briers) has a vision of impending doom for the rabbit-warren where he resides, the forest near their home running red with blood. Aware his sibling's visions have come true in the past, Fiver's brother Hazel (John Hurt) chooses to defy the orders of his chief, who forbids anyone from leaving their burrow. Leading a group that includes Fiver and several other rabbits, Hazel and his peers brave hawks, cars, human traps, dogs, cats, and tyrannical rabbits known as Efrafans in the hopes of finding a new safe haven at the hill Fiver sees in his mind: Watership Down.
As...
- 9/6/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
From an early age, animator Don Bluth was a great admirer of Disney and has said in interviews that as a child, he would practice drawing by copying old Disney comic books. This childhood activity led to him being hired by Disney to work on their feature film version of "Sleeping Beauty" in the mid-1950s. After a stint doing missionary work and animating for various TV shows, Bluth returned to Disney in the mid-'70s to work on the company's version of "Robin Hood." Bluth worked on various animated features for Disney, eventually rising to the role of animation director for the 1977 film "Pete's Dragon." Over the course of working for Disney, however, Bluth became kind of disillusioned with the way the company owned all of their animators' work, and how animators were all trained to draw and animate the same way. Bluth left Disney in 1979 to form his own production company.
- 8/31/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Don Bluth is one of those directors whose films I find inseparable from my memories of childhood. Just as Disney Animation was hitting a low point in the 1980s, Bluth was churning out animated classics like "The Secret of Nimh," "An American Tail," and "The Land Before Time." These are daring movies full of darkness and whimsy, marrying gorgeous hand-drawn imagery with stories about animal abuse, the plight of Russian-Jewish immigrants traveling to 19th-century America, and the beginning of the end of the age of dinosaurs. His next film after those three, 1989's "All Dogs Go to Heaven," is a parable about no less a topic than the meaning of existence.
Bluth's output mellowed as he struggled to compete with Disney's animation renaissance, yet he held onto his underlying weirdness for as long as he could. He started off the '90s directing strange animated musicals like "Rock-a-Doodle" (a movie...
Bluth's output mellowed as he struggled to compete with Disney's animation renaissance, yet he held onto his underlying weirdness for as long as he could. He started off the '90s directing strange animated musicals like "Rock-a-Doodle" (a movie...
- 8/30/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
There's nothing like a Don Bluth animated film. From the wide-eyed whimsy of his characters to his confusing, dreamlike sequences, the work of this animation icon has delighted (and terrified) audiences since the release of "The Secret of Nimh." Some 40 years later, Bluth's filmography has grown to contain some of the most fascinating hand-drawn animated projects Hollywood has ever seen. From nostalgic classics like "An American Tail" and "The Land Before Time" to truly odd flops like "A Troll in Central Park" and "Rock-a-Doodle," the list goes on and on. That begs the question, which films rank as the best examples of Bluth's talents?
From the not-so-great to the ones that continue to make us smile, we'll dive deep into Don Bluth's theatrically released feature films. Sure, there are projects he worked on outside of that specific medium (including direct-to-video projects and video games) To correctly examine this filmmaker, it's...
From the not-so-great to the ones that continue to make us smile, we'll dive deep into Don Bluth's theatrically released feature films. Sure, there are projects he worked on outside of that specific medium (including direct-to-video projects and video games) To correctly examine this filmmaker, it's...
- 8/23/2022
- by Dalin Rowell
- Slash Film
Giant creatures terrorize the seas, or so we think, in “The Sea Beast,” the new animated feature from Oscar-winning director Chris Williams in his first collaboration with the now–financially embattled streaming pioneer, Netflix.
A young orphan, Maisie Brumble (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator) has read all about the hunters in storybooks, men and women who sail the waters searching for monsters to kill and preventing them from reaching the populated shores. According to the crown-sanctioned history of this kingdom, the war between mankind and the massive inhabitants of the sea is a longstanding conflict where blameless humans act only to defend themselves.
Prominent among those heroic seamen Maisie admires are Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and his protégé Jacob Holland (Karl Urban). Bent on killing the Red Bluster, a kaiju-like nemesis that took his eye in battle, Crow commands his vessel, the Inevitable, with that mission as his sole purpose. Meanwhile Jacob,...
A young orphan, Maisie Brumble (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator) has read all about the hunters in storybooks, men and women who sail the waters searching for monsters to kill and preventing them from reaching the populated shores. According to the crown-sanctioned history of this kingdom, the war between mankind and the massive inhabitants of the sea is a longstanding conflict where blameless humans act only to defend themselves.
Prominent among those heroic seamen Maisie admires are Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and his protégé Jacob Holland (Karl Urban). Bent on killing the Red Bluster, a kaiju-like nemesis that took his eye in battle, Crow commands his vessel, the Inevitable, with that mission as his sole purpose. Meanwhile Jacob,...
- 7/7/2022
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Director Don Bluth began his career working on several productions for Disney's animation department, notably as animation director on "The Rescuers" and on "Pete's Dragon," but also as a character animator on films like "Robin Hood" (1973) and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too." It was when he was working on the 1981 flick "The Fox and the Hound" that Bluth's career at Disney began to sour. Arguing with the Disney brass as to how to train new animators, and who should retain artistic control on a project, Bluth ended up quitting the studio...
The post How Disney Successfully Prevented Anastasia's Success appeared first on /Film.
The post How Disney Successfully Prevented Anastasia's Success appeared first on /Film.
- 3/3/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
As a child of the '90s, I experienced my first heartbreak the way countless other kids of a certain generation did: bawling my eyes out at the beginning of "The Land Before Time." Don Bluth's classic 1988 film is a lot of fun, but it's utterly poignant and terrifying too. Early on, the dinosaurs face down a Sharptooth, aka a Tyrannosaurus rex, in a harrowing scene. As if that's not enough, the herd is then separated by a massive earthquake, which grievously injures our hero Littlefoot's (Gabriel Damon) poor mama.
"The Land Before Time" kicks off its 14-film franchise with...
The post The Original Version of The Land Before Time Was Way Too Scary For Kids appeared first on /Film.
"The Land Before Time" kicks off its 14-film franchise with...
The post The Original Version of The Land Before Time Was Way Too Scary For Kids appeared first on /Film.
- 2/21/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
An underrated Disney classic, "The Great Mouse Detective" was released in 1986. Though it was a modest commercial success, the film was soon overshadowed by another mouse-centric movie. Former Mouse House animator and Disney's main competition at the time, Don Bluth (along with Steven Spielberg), released "An American Tail" shortly thereafter. Although "The Great Mouse Detective" has largely faded into obscurity, it's definitely a major highlight of Disney's so-called "Dark Age."
The film is based on the series of children's books, "Basil of Baker Street" by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone, which are themselves a riff on the Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle....
The post How The Great Mouse Detective Was a CGI First For Disney appeared first on /Film.
The film is based on the series of children's books, "Basil of Baker Street" by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone, which are themselves a riff on the Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle....
The post How The Great Mouse Detective Was a CGI First For Disney appeared first on /Film.
- 2/18/2022
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
Although I was raised on a steady diet of Disney films, it was the work of Don Bluth that truly captured my attention as a child. Bluth also made animated features, but they were markedly different from the films of the Mouse House, serving as something of a dark reflection to the Disney movies. Disney's animation domination may now seem unshakable, but it wasn't always so. The studio had a major competitor in Bluth throughout the '80s, an era in which Disney wasn't doing great to begin with. Bluth's company was responsible for quite a few animated classics, chief among them: "The Secret of...
The post How Walt Disney Animation Inadvertently Led to The Land Before Time appeared first on /Film.
The post How Walt Disney Animation Inadvertently Led to The Land Before Time appeared first on /Film.
- 2/15/2022
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
"An American Tail" is not only one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, but it also serves as Steven Spielberg's entry into the world of animation. After the success of "An American Tail" and director Don Bluth's follow-up "The Land Before Time", Spielberg decided to go all-in on animation — founding the short-lived Amblimation studio and producing hit cartoons including "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Animaniacs".
But "American Tail's" success nearly led to a lawsuit from the creator of another mouse-centered tail.
Prior to "An American Tail's" release, Art Spiegelman was hard at work crafting his graphic novel masterpiece "Maus." Upon reading the description of "An...
The post Why Steven Spielberg's An American Tail Was Accused of Plagiarism appeared first on /Film.
But "American Tail's" success nearly led to a lawsuit from the creator of another mouse-centered tail.
Prior to "An American Tail's" release, Art Spiegelman was hard at work crafting his graphic novel masterpiece "Maus." Upon reading the description of "An...
The post Why Steven Spielberg's An American Tail Was Accused of Plagiarism appeared first on /Film.
- 2/8/2022
- by Collier Jennings
- Slash Film
Amidst Disney Animation's creative and financial struggles in the years leading up to the Disney Renaissance in the 1980s, former Disney animator Don Bluth emerged as an exciting voice in the world of American animated storytelling. His directorial efforts in that decade were not just pleasing to the eye; they were willing to be scary and heartbreaking in a way that the Mouse House had shied away from since Walt Disney's death in 1966.
Bluth's 1988 animated film, "The Land Before Time," perfectly illustrates the way his movies balanced light and darkness during this period. Its prehistoric story begins with a herd of Apatosauruses,...
The post You Can Thank Steven Spielberg For One Of Animation's Most Heartbreaking Moments appeared first on /Film.
Bluth's 1988 animated film, "The Land Before Time," perfectly illustrates the way his movies balanced light and darkness during this period. Its prehistoric story begins with a herd of Apatosauruses,...
The post You Can Thank Steven Spielberg For One Of Animation's Most Heartbreaking Moments appeared first on /Film.
- 1/24/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The Spine of Night Directors on Horror Fiction Inspirations and the Freedom of Independent Animation
Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King’s The Spine of Night is an impassioned tribute to adult animation, dark fantasy, and truly ambitious genre epics of the type all too rarely seen on the silver screen.
“One thing is certain about The Spine of Night: this is a labor of bone-shattered, triptacular love, “I said in my review. “The new rotoscope-animated feature—a clearly adoring homage to Ralph Bakshi, Heavy Metal, and 1980s dark fantasy—was created over a span of seven years by a minuscule team of animators digitally painting frame-by-frame with the oversight of directors Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King. It’s a deathly earnest film––like George Lucas-caliber earnest––guts-filled with capital-l lore, grim violence, artful nudity, and portentous monologues––not-always-convincingly delivered by a vocal cast that includes Lucy Lawless and Patton Oswalt––that never dare consciously wink at the intrinsic camp of its culty-retro throwback venue.
“One thing is certain about The Spine of Night: this is a labor of bone-shattered, triptacular love, “I said in my review. “The new rotoscope-animated feature—a clearly adoring homage to Ralph Bakshi, Heavy Metal, and 1980s dark fantasy—was created over a span of seven years by a minuscule team of animators digitally painting frame-by-frame with the oversight of directors Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King. It’s a deathly earnest film––like George Lucas-caliber earnest––guts-filled with capital-l lore, grim violence, artful nudity, and portentous monologues––not-always-convincingly delivered by a vocal cast that includes Lucy Lawless and Patton Oswalt––that never dare consciously wink at the intrinsic camp of its culty-retro throwback venue.
- 11/17/2021
- by Eli Friedberg
- The Film Stage
A new animated series based on the "Rats of Nimh" books by Robert C. O'Brien is reportedly in the works at Fox. The first book in the series was previously adapted in the 1982 Don Bluth film "The Secret of Nimh," which has gone on to become a cult favorite.
While the details are still a little fuzzy, it appears that Fox is going to make a series based on the novels about some super-smart rats and their fellow field-dwelling friends. Deadline reports that the network has handed a script commitment to the series, currently referred to as "Nimh".
The animated drama is still searching for a writer and will be...
The post New Nimh Animated Series in the Works appeared first on /Film.
While the details are still a little fuzzy, it appears that Fox is going to make a series based on the novels about some super-smart rats and their fellow field-dwelling friends. Deadline reports that the network has handed a script commitment to the series, currently referred to as "Nimh".
The animated drama is still searching for a writer and will be...
The post New Nimh Animated Series in the Works appeared first on /Film.
- 9/9/2021
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Exclusive: An animated series based on Robert C. O’Brien’s Rats of Nimh book series is in the works at Fox as the broadcast network further bolsters its animation drive.
Deadline understands that the network has handed a script commitment to Nimh, which comes from Fox Entertainment and MGM’s Orion Television. The animated drama, which is searching for a writer, is based on the trilogy of books that began in 1971 with O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. It was followed by Rasco and the Rats of Nimh and R-t, Margaret and the Rays of Nimh, both written by O’Brien’s daughter Jane Leslie Conly.
The series follows Mrs. Frisby, a mouse, who in an effort to save her family goes on a spectacular journey through an unfamiliar and underground world to discover a colony of escaped super-intelligent lab rats who help her on a...
Deadline understands that the network has handed a script commitment to Nimh, which comes from Fox Entertainment and MGM’s Orion Television. The animated drama, which is searching for a writer, is based on the trilogy of books that began in 1971 with O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. It was followed by Rasco and the Rats of Nimh and R-t, Margaret and the Rays of Nimh, both written by O’Brien’s daughter Jane Leslie Conly.
The series follows Mrs. Frisby, a mouse, who in an effort to save her family goes on a spectacular journey through an unfamiliar and underground world to discover a colony of escaped super-intelligent lab rats who help her on a...
- 9/8/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Continuing our series of writers standing up for loathed films is a defense of an unusual, risk-taking animation from 2000
Earth explodes into smithereens within the first few minutes of Don Bluth and Gary Goldman’s animated sci-fi adventure Titan Ae. Erroneously targeted at young audiences, since it features the near annihilation of the human species as its inciting incident, as well as other mature elements, the film raised some eyebrows upon its release in 2000. The directors were making something distinct, a departure from the dominance of Disney fables during the 90s but right before other studios, such as Blue Sky and DreamWorks, found success with more satirical storytelling throughout the early noughties. Bluth’s career, in particular, had been unconventional and based on reinvention. With Titan, that artistic approach reached its riskiest, most pattern-defying form.
Related: Hear me out: why Confessions of a Shopaholic isn’t a bad movie
Continue reading.
Earth explodes into smithereens within the first few minutes of Don Bluth and Gary Goldman’s animated sci-fi adventure Titan Ae. Erroneously targeted at young audiences, since it features the near annihilation of the human species as its inciting incident, as well as other mature elements, the film raised some eyebrows upon its release in 2000. The directors were making something distinct, a departure from the dominance of Disney fables during the 90s but right before other studios, such as Blue Sky and DreamWorks, found success with more satirical storytelling throughout the early noughties. Bluth’s career, in particular, had been unconventional and based on reinvention. With Titan, that artistic approach reached its riskiest, most pattern-defying form.
Related: Hear me out: why Confessions of a Shopaholic isn’t a bad movie
Continue reading.
- 6/28/2021
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Guardian - Film News
Movies are slowly coming back to life at the cinemas. You can see it with each glowing report about a Godzilla vs. Kong or Mortal Kombat doing solid business. And for those with more discerning tastes, films like In the Heights and Those Who Wish Me Dead are definitely going to make their release dates.
Nonetheless, there are many who are understandably not ready to go back to theaters (or have yet to get an HBO Max subscription). Thus Netflix remains an old reliable option. While the Netflix movie selection can be narrow, each month offers some worthwhile gems to revisit or even discover. And May has a surprisingly robust group of Hollywood films from the last 40 years coming to the streaming service on May 1. Here are the best ones.
Back to the Future (1985)
Great Scott! Back to the Future is coming to Netflix. As one of the most beloved...
Nonetheless, there are many who are understandably not ready to go back to theaters (or have yet to get an HBO Max subscription). Thus Netflix remains an old reliable option. While the Netflix movie selection can be narrow, each month offers some worthwhile gems to revisit or even discover. And May has a surprisingly robust group of Hollywood films from the last 40 years coming to the streaming service on May 1. Here are the best ones.
Back to the Future (1985)
Great Scott! Back to the Future is coming to Netflix. As one of the most beloved...
- 4/30/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Editor’s note: Before he founded and became CEO of the Universal-based animation factory Illumination, Chris Meledandri was tasked with building an animation division at Fox. Early on, the president of Twentieth Century Fox Animation in 1998 acquired Blue Sky Studios for the studio. The Westchester, NY-based animation company might have started as an adjunct to Fox’s Hollywood animation operation, but that changed when Meledandri gave Blue Sky the room to grow, and the result was the multibillion-dollar Ice Age franchise. Meledandri, who would start Illumination and hatch another multibillion-dollar franchise in Despicable Me. Here, he laments the decision by Disney to shutter Blue Sky and celebrates its origins.
Hearing the sad news of the closing of Blue Sky Studios brings back the memories of our journey together. It was 1996 and I was running the animation division at Fox.
Hearing the sad news of the closing of Blue Sky Studios brings back the memories of our journey together. It was 1996 and I was running the animation division at Fox.
- 2/16/2021
- by Chris Meledandri
- Deadline Film + TV
Animated films are primarily targeted towards kids, so it makes sense that our Meet the Experts: Film Animation panelists — Tomm Moore (“Wolfwalkers”), Dan Scanlon (“Onward”), Kris Pearn (“The Willoughbys”) and Walt Dohrn (“Trolls World Tour”) — were first drawn (no pun intended) to the animation when they were young. Click on each name above to view individual panel interviews with each person.
“Just growing up, drawing all the time, watching ‘The Muppets’ — which aren’t animated, but they’re such great designs — watching Chuck Jones films, Warner Bros. shorts — all of that I think made me think, ‘I want to be someone who can put on a show and yet I never wanna be onstage,’” Scanlon shares. “So how is that possible?”
See 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
Moore recalls his parents waking him up when he was a kid to watch Don Bluth draw the dogs from “All Dogs Go to Heaven...
“Just growing up, drawing all the time, watching ‘The Muppets’ — which aren’t animated, but they’re such great designs — watching Chuck Jones films, Warner Bros. shorts — all of that I think made me think, ‘I want to be someone who can put on a show and yet I never wanna be onstage,’” Scanlon shares. “So how is that possible?”
See 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
Moore recalls his parents waking him up when he was a kid to watch Don Bluth draw the dogs from “All Dogs Go to Heaven...
- 12/28/2020
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Don Bluth made waves in the 1980s and 1990s as an animation alternative to what was being made by Walt Disney Animation Studios. With titles like The Secret of Nimh, The Land Before Time, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-a-Doodle, and Anastasia, Don Bluth Productions carved out a nice niche for themselves […]
The post Animation Legend Don Bluth, Creator of ‘The Land Before Time’ and More, Has Formed a New Animation Studio appeared first on /Film.
The post Animation Legend Don Bluth, Creator of ‘The Land Before Time’ and More, Has Formed a New Animation Studio appeared first on /Film.
- 9/11/2020
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
The company image of HBO may not instantly bring to mind family films, but the streaming service has a really fun selection of movies to enjoy at home with your kids. While you’re spending more time in the house, you can check out these family-friendly features to stream on HBO.
Alpha and Omega (2010)
This animated tale of star-crossed lovers features two wolves taken from their national park by rangers to help repopulate another site. Alpha-daughter Kate is determined to get back home, where she’s supposed to marry another alpha; Humphrey, an omega wolf, puts aside his unrequited love for Kate to help her in her quest. But as the pair become closer, they realize that their growing fondness for each other will upend everything if they make it home. The film is a clever wilderness spin on some old romantic themes.
Anastasia (1997)
In a film that would have...
Alpha and Omega (2010)
This animated tale of star-crossed lovers features two wolves taken from their national park by rangers to help repopulate another site. Alpha-daughter Kate is determined to get back home, where she’s supposed to marry another alpha; Humphrey, an omega wolf, puts aside his unrequited love for Kate to help her in her quest. But as the pair become closer, they realize that their growing fondness for each other will upend everything if they make it home. The film is a clever wilderness spin on some old romantic themes.
Anastasia (1997)
In a film that would have...
- 4/17/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
If you’ve ever dreamed of Ryan Reynolds as your “knight in shining armor” — this film is for you!
The hunky Canadian-American actor is in talks to star in Dragon’s Lair, a live-action feature adaptation of the popular ’80s video game, Netflix confirmed Friday.
Reynolds, 43, is expected to play Dirk the Daring, a noble knight on a quest to rescue Princess Daphne from Singe the vicious dragon.
Dragon’s Lair was released in 1983 and quickly became popular for its revolutionary 3D graphics. In 2017, the game was featured in the opening scene of Stranger Things Season 2, where Will and the gang compete...
The hunky Canadian-American actor is in talks to star in Dragon’s Lair, a live-action feature adaptation of the popular ’80s video game, Netflix confirmed Friday.
Reynolds, 43, is expected to play Dirk the Daring, a noble knight on a quest to rescue Princess Daphne from Singe the vicious dragon.
Dragon’s Lair was released in 1983 and quickly became popular for its revolutionary 3D graphics. In 2017, the game was featured in the opening scene of Stranger Things Season 2, where Will and the gang compete...
- 3/30/2020
- by Morgan Smith
- PEOPLE.com
Ryan Reynolds in Talks to Star in Dragon’s Lair Live-action Adaptation Actor Ryan Reynolds is in talks to star in Netflix‘s live-action adaptation of 80s video game Dragon’s Lair. If cast, Ryan Reynolds would play the role of Knight Dirk the Daring. Dragon’s Lair‘s video game plot synopsis: created by Don Bluth and Rick Dyer …...
- 3/28/2020
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
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