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It wasn't a phone call that Roger Deakins had ever expected to receive. This acclaimed English cinematographer -- best known for his Oscar-nominated work for the Coen brothers and Sam Mendes -- had strictly been working the live-action side of the street. But when Pixar Animation Studios reached...

Huffington Post -- "The Croods" directors reveal how DreamWorks Animation's caveman comic-adventure evolved You'd think given the sophisticated sorts of folks who annually attend the Berlin Film Festival that this wouldn't be the sort of crowd which would enthusiastically embrace...

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? My apologies for JHM basically being on hold these past few days. But I've been out in Southern California since Saturday morning working. Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you do there? Copyright DreamWorks Animation LLC. All rights reserved Len Testa and...

There are those who say disparaging things about Comic-Con International . Who will tell you that this 4 ½ day-long pop culture event has just gotten just too big & too crowded. Which makes it kind of impossible to enjoy. Well, while I have to admit that - no matter where you go inside of...

So how did the directors of " Toy Story 3 " and " How to Train Your Dragon " react to their respective films being nominated for the Academy Award in the Animated Feature Film category? Leave it to Lee Unkrich to use his moment in the spotlight to acknowledge the competition as well...

It is arguably the best-loved film of that trio of fairy tales that Walt Disney Animation Studios produced during its Second Golden Age. The first hand-drawn animated feature ever to be nominated for Best Picture, " Beauty and the Beast " has been discussed, dissected and written about so often...

Did you see where “ How to Train Your Dragon ” was No. 1 again at the box office this past weekend ? According to Box Office Mojo , if this Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois film keeps up this pace, it will soon become DreamWorks Animation’s highest grossing non-Shrek movie . Which is kind of ironic....

Do you recall – just a few weeks back – how quick industry analysts were to write off “ How to Train Your Dragon ”? That – because this Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois film “only” earned $43.3 million over its opening weekend (as opposed to the $59.3 million that DreamWorks Animation ’s “ Monsters vs...

As I was listening to the Vikings in “ How to Train Your Dragon ” talk about how vile & nasty dragons were … I couldn’t help but think about the attitude that some animation fans have toward Dreamworks Animation . You know the people that I’m talking about. The ones who – when you say that you actually...

Have you been by that “ Help the Hodges ” eBay page yet? If not, it’s quite likely that you’re going to miss out on your chance to own some truly one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Take – for example -- this drawing of Ursula the Sea Witch that “ The Little Mermaid ” supervising animator Ruben Aquino did specifically...

I know, I know. Wednesday is typically the day we talk about books here at JHM. But today, I just had to make an exception. I mean, take a look at this beauty. Copyright 2010 Help the Hodges. All Rights Reserved This copy of Jeff Kurtti ’s “The Art of Mulan” redefines one-of-a-kind. By that I mean, this...

In response to last week's review of Jeff Kurtti 's newest book , " Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park ," I got the following e-mail: Not everyone who reads JimHillMedia is interested in the Disney theme parks. Some of us come to your site because we want to learn...

By now, I'm sure that you're heard that Glen Keane is no longer the co-director of "Rapunzel." That he and Dean Wellins will be turning the reins over to Byron Howard & Nathan Greno , who were the co-director and head of story on " Bolt " respectively. To be honest, this change couldn't have come...

A week from today, the madness begins. Okay. I know. Comic-Con 2008 does have a preview night on Wednesday, which allows pre-registered 4-day members as well as industry professionals to enter the San Diego Convention Center early. Which then gives these folks first crack at acquiring cool crud like...

How many of you know the story of the blind men and the elephant ? I bring up this ancient Indian fable because ... Well ... I have to admit that I was highly amused by what happened last Wednesday. When the on-line animation community went completely bananas over those "Bolt" pre-release images . Copyright...