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• Toon Tuesday: Will “Toy Story 3” will be that rare sequel that equals the original?

  WARNING !! There be spoilers ahead as Jim Hill reveals key plot points from this highly anticipated follow-up to the first two “Toy Story” films. Which hits theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 18, 2010 Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2009 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Pixar, John Lasseter, Pixar Animation Studios, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, movie, D23, animated feature, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Disney Digital 3D, Whoopi Goldberg, 2010, Toy Story 3, Lee Unkrich, Woody , Toy Story characters, Buzz Lightyear, D23 EXPO

• “Ponyo” celebrates childhood, magic, the beauty of nature and … oh, yeah … ham

  Jim Hill reviews Hayao Miyazaki’s latest. Which Walt Disney Pictures has done a superb job of readying for its North American theatrical release Read More... Posted Friday, August 14, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Walt Disney Pictures, E.T., Fujimoto, film, movie, 2008, 2009, seas, animated feature, Hans Christian Andersen, Lily Tomlin, Betty White, Noah Cyrus, Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, goldfish, motion picture, North America , 1988, Sosuke, Ponyo, The Little Mermaid, Cloris Leachman, ocean, sea, Frankie Jonas, Melissa Mathison, ham, My Neighbor Totoro, Liam Neeson

• Do eye-popping effects & an emotional thru-line really hold the key to audiences connecting with “Alice” ?

  Jim Hill shares what Tim Burton said at Comic-Con last month while this acclaimed filmmaker was talking up Disney’s new Digital 3D version of “Alice in Wonderland” Read More... Posted Wednesday, August 05, 2009 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, Johnny Depp, Walt Disney Pictures, Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton, Walt Disney Studios, film, movie, 2009, animated feature, London, 3D, Disney Digital 3D, 3D film , 2010, Pretty in Pink, 3D movie, San Diego, Comic-Con , Comic-Con International, live action, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

• Will showing selected scenes from “The Princess and the Frog” finally silence this film’s critics?

  Jim Hill writes about the new tack that Walt Disney Animation Studios is taking with the promotion of its new hand-drawn animated feature. Which involves screening footage from “The Princess and the Frog” at events that will be attended by African-American opinion makers Read More... Posted Monday, August 03, 2009 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney Pictures, Ron Clements, John Musker, Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, Los Angeles, NYC, LA, film, movie, 2009, animated feature, November, Tampa, film festival, New York, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective

• Say "Yup" to "Up" : Pixar's latest is a charming mix of heartbreak, hope and hilarity

  Jim Hill reviews this new Pete Docter film. Which uses colorful characters, faraway places & over-the-top action sequences as a way to illustrate what’s really important in life. WARNING ! This review contains SPOILERS. So read at your own peril ! Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: animation, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, film, movie, 2009, animated feature, Pete Docter, Up

• Monday Mouse Watch: Will "Bolt" 's box office rebound over the long Thanksgiving weekend?

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about the somewhat underwhelming debut of this new Disney animated film. Which seems to have been overshadowed by the big screen version of Stephenie Meyer's best selling novel Read More... Posted Monday, November 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney, John Lasseter, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Store, Miley Cyrus, Ed Catmull, Bolt, box office, film, movie, 2008, animated feature, tween, New York Times, tweens, tween demographic , plush, box office projections, box office estimates, Disney Stores, demographics

• Toon Tuesday : Will Disney Animation's latest "Rapunzel" rescue attempt have a negative impact on "Bolt" 's debut ?

  Jim Hill wonders if Glen Keane's exit will result in more reporters asking about why Chris Sanders was taken off of "American Dog" Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, DreamWorks, John Lasseter, Ratatouille, DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, marketing, WDAS, Ed Catmull, Bolt, Glen Keane, Rapunzel, Dean Wellins, film, movie, 2008, animated feature, Disney Feature Animation, The Fox and the Hound, The Emperor's New Groove, Kingdom of the Sun, American Dog, Chris Sanders, Jan Pinkava, Roger Allers, animated features, Disney Publicity , webmasters, webmaster, 2010, PR team , storyline , co-director, films, Byron Howard, Nathan Greno, Dean DeBlois, Crood Awakening, 2002, Woolie Reitherman, Wolfgang Reitherman, How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch, story, head of story, story problems, plot, plotline, reporter, reporters, entertainment writer, entertainment writers, marketing staff, PR Department, Lilo and Stitch, jewelry, Lilo, Stitch

• Universal Studios Hollywood freshens up for the Fall

  During a recent trip to Southern California, Jim dropped by USH and discovered that lots of changes have been made to both the Upper & Lower Lot Read More... Posted Friday, September 12, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: movies, musical, Universal Studios, Visual Effects, attraction, Brad Bird, Labor Day, Lucille Ball, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Halloween Horror Nights, Southern California, Audio Animatronics, Steven Spielberg, movie, 1974, Universal, tourists, studio theme park, 1976, 2008, 2009, Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, October, animated feature, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, 2005, 1975, soundstage , November, 1955, blueprints , 2006, March, June , interactive, 1986, screenplay, Summer, attendance levels, Universal Studios Hollywood , USH, Upper Lot , Lower Lot , The Simpsons Ride, slow season, theme parks, special event, special events, park, newish, guest experience, fire, New York Street, King Kong , tram , ride-thru attraction , Bob Gurr , Tram Tour, remake, original, 1933, Peter Jackson, V-Rex, ride designer, ride designers , battle sequence , Naomi Watts , animatronic , replacement, Collapsing Bridge, studio insiders , Lucy: A Tribute, exhibit, Lucy, walk-through attraction , The Universal Experience, archives , poster , Carl Laemmle, Universal City, 1915 , Robert A Mattey , blockbuster, Jaws, Curious George, 1999, maquette , Imagine Entertainment , Nickelodeon Blast Zone, The Adventures of Curious George, kiddie play area, cartoon series, PBS Kids, full-length animated feature, Creature from the Black Lagoon -- The Musical, press release , storyline , horror film , stagecraft, choreography, source material , Little Shop of Horrors, Spring , Autumn , Fall, Castle Theatre, Fear Factor Live, audience participation, Universal City Plaza, The Simpsons, Simpsons

• The Towers live on ... in movies & television, that is

  On the seventh anniversary of 9/11, Jim Hill looks at some cinematic depictions of the World Trade Center from the past 30+ years Read More... Posted Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, TV, New York City, television, Manhattan, 9/11, NYC, Steven Spielberg, DVD, movie, 1976, 2008, animated feature, television program, television programs, 2001, New Hampshire, action sequence, New York, motion picture, 1981, King Kong , remake, Jay Sherman, The Critic, New York skyline, The Towers, Towers, Twin Towers, standing tall, still standing tall, The World Trade Center , television show , media maven , World Trade Center, 1988, Oliver & Company, Woody Allen , old New York, montage , principal location, Dino De Laurentiis, Escape from New York, Snake Plissken, glider, sacrilege, John Carpenter, Ronald Neame, Meteor, national tragedy, 911, Deep Impact, tsunami , Tommy Emmanuel, imposing structure, A.I., next Ice Age, the test of time, natural lives, reality intrudes, the real world, piece of entertainment , Sosuke, still standing

• Tune Tuesday : "Shrek the Musical" gets off to a great start in Seattle

  WARNING !! There be spoilers ahead in this preview piece about DreamWorks Theatrical's Broadway-bound production. Which is a musical adaptation of DW's Academy Award-winning animated feature Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, music, theater, DreamWorks, Broadway, musical, Walt Disney, The Lion King, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, YouTube, Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Julie Taymor, NYC, LA, Academy Award, movie, Broadway musical, stage version, 2008, animated feature, 2001, Donkey, ogre, Shrek, Fiona, opening night, Broadway production, Big Green Ogre , Great White Way, Jeanine Tesori , David Lindsay-Abaire , Jason Moore , Seattle, 5th Avenue Theater , Lord Farquaad , Academy Award winner, December , November, childhood, stage show , design team, August, director , stage, audience, Big Apple , New York, creative team , DreamWorks Theatricals, Broadway-bound, musical adaptation, DW, Academy Award-winning, movie-based musical, theater community, Ponyo, playset, Young Frankenstein, The Little Mermaid, 9 to 5 : The Musical, world premiere, Ahmanson Theater, Shrek the Musical, out-of-town, opening, librettist, composer, designer, Tim Hatley, swamp, spoilers, Momma Ogre, Poppa Ogre, Big Bright Beautiful World, opening number, title character, introductory number, I Know It's Today, Cloris Leachman, Brian D'Arcy James, outhouse, backstory, second act, challenge song, I Think I Got You Beat, choreographer, Rob Ashford, New York audiences, Broadway Theatre, playhouse, Walt Disney Company, 1928, movie theater, strategy, the Colony Theater, Colony Theater, Steamboat Willie, Fantasia, Snow White, diecast

• "The Pixar Touch" shares seldom-told tales about the early days of this animation studio

  Jim Hill talks with author David A. Price about how he went about writing this unauthorized history of Pixar Animation Studios Read More... Posted Thursday, May 15, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: book, movies, Pixar, John Lasseter, Leslie Iwerks, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, The Pixar Story, To Infinity and Beyond: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios, Karen Paik, Steve Jobs, movie, animated feature, 1980s, Chronicle Books, coffee table book, Lucasfilm, short, Tin Toy, shorts, David A Price, SEC, The Pixar Touch : The Making of a Company, Microsoft, Hallmark, Knopf, authorized history, Alvy Ray Smith, revisionist history, 1985, 1986, Shogakukan, Pixar archives, Pixar saga, Japanese legend, browser, Hollywood gossip

• "The Art of Cars" rolls into LA's Petersen Automotive Museum this Saturday

  Pixar & car culture fans rejoice ! That Emeryville-based animation studio & LA's preeminent auto museum are teaming up to mount an exhibition that celebrates the artistry of this 2006 John Lasseter film Read More... Posted Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Pixar, CG, John Lasseter, Cars, Pixar Animation Studios, Los Angeles, LA, movie, animated feature, CG feature, 2006, Disney Pixar

• Toon Tuesday: Disney's "The Aristocats" ... The Animated Series ?!

  Jim Hill takes a look at a show that was proposed for the Disney Channel back in 2003. One that would have ditched Duchess & O'Malley and made Marie, Berlioz & Toulouse teenagers Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 12:00 AM | 24 Comments Filed under: theme park, Pixar, Walt Disney, Disney Channel, John Lasseter, Michael Eisner, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Toon Disney, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Glen Hanson, The Aristocats, Marie, Disney Feature Animation Florida, teen, teenager, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, WDSHE, DVD, movie, Mouse, animated feature, franchise, merch, Walt Disney Feature Animation, 2003, merchandise , animated series , The Aristocats: Special Edition, 1970 , single disc edition, Duchess, Thomas O'Malley , Disney twenty-three magazine , Toulouse, Berlioz, bonus material , Richard M Sherman, Robert B Sherman, Zzzz, Sherman Brothers , DisneyToon Studios , The Aristocats 2, home premiere, Disney's Aristocats: The Animated Series , O'Malley , teenagers, Delancey, Justin Timberlake , Usher, Street Cats , classic Disney characters , Flash, unnecessary sequel business, unnecessary sequel, unnecessary sequels, The Aristocats II , Chicken Little 2, Meet the Robinsons 2, Aristocats: The Animated Series , Frank Wells building, Dick Sherman , Maurice Chevalier

• Toon Tuesday : How Pixar fixed "Finding Nemo"

  Been hearing disappointing things about those "WALL*E" test screenings? Jim Hill reminds us what happened when Michael Eisner predicted that Andrew Stanton's last film would flop Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 29 Comments Filed under: Pixar, Michael Eisner, Roy E. Disney, Finding Nemo, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, The Walt Disney Company, Shrek 2, Steve Jobs, movie, 2008, animated feature, Andrew Stanton, 2003, Academy Award winner

• Oscar Watch '08: Miramax maxes out while the Mouse gets skunked

  Was today a good day or a bad day at Walt Disney Studios? Well, as Jim Hill points out, it all depends on whether you work at Miramax Films or on the Walt Disney Pictures side of the house Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 PM | 37 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, movies, Pixar, ABC, NBC, Brad Bird, Pixar Animation Studios, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Amy Adams, How to Hook-Up Your Home Theater, Academy Award, film, movie, actress, 2008, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, 2007, feature film , Best Picture nominee, Disney Feature Animation, animated short, picket line, Jan Pinkava, animated features, Oscar-winning , Norman Jewison , The Man I Love, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, good news day, Amy Ryan, nomination , Wicked Queen, Gone Baby Gone, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ABC Inc, Best Actress , Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Music – Original Song, Original Song , nominee, nominations , Happy Working Song, So Close, That's How You Know , Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Jim Capobianco, Best Original Screenplay, Captain Nemo: 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, Achievement in Sound Editing, Laurence Juber, Randall Wallace, Oscar, Oscars, Best Animated Short Film, Academy Award winner, Academy voters , school year, Virginia Davis McGhee, actors , picket lines, Academy Award nominations , Academy Award nominees, Academy Award winners, Miramax Films , No Country for Old Men , Paramount Vantage, Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role , Theodore Thomas, Poppin' Guitars: A Tuneful of Sherman, The Black Cauldron , Adapted Screenplay, There Will Be Blood, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role , Ted Thomas , The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Pathé Renn , co-production, Michael Giacchino , Achievement in Music – Original Score, Original Score, Oscar broadcast, Golden Globes, hand-drawn animation