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How's this for a holiday mish-mash: On July 4th, I'm posting a story about how Brad Bird wants movie goers to stop spoiling their Christmas presents by trying to find out where all of the Easter Eggs in new Pixar films are BEFORE they then head out to the theater to see these movies. To explain...

I always thought that the wearing of the green was associated with Ireland, rather than Scotland. Well, even though Hollywood Boulevard was clad in a green carpet ... Photo by Jim Hill ... Last night was obviously a Scottish-themed celebration. Which officially kicked off as the Los Angeles Scottish...

There are lots of reasons to like BOOM! Studios "Darkwing Duck" comic book series ... Copyright 2005 - 2010 BOOM! Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved ... which - FYI - will be releasing its first-ever oversized annual next month. Copyright 2005 - 2010 BOOM! Entertainment, Inc. All rights...

Looking for something fun to do with the family after you finish Thanksgiving dinner? Well, why not toss a copy of " Toy Story 3 " into the Blu-ray player. Where you can then learn about what happens to poor Buzz Lightyear once he begins malfunctioning and then has to be sent to Taiwan in order...

For those of you who haven't already seen Pixar 's latest short, " Day & Night " is a charming if somewhat impossible to describe film. Given that ... Copyright 2010 Disney / Pixar. All rights reserved SPOILERS ALERT: If you haven't yet seen "Day & Night" and don't...

Let's cut to the chase here: There was just no escaping " TRON: Legacy " at this year's Comic-Con . Even before you entered the San Diego Convention Center , thanks to those banners that seemed to be hanging off of every light post in the city, you found yourself face-to-face with Jeff...

It’s that time of year again. When high school and college students all over the country are graduating. More importantly, when JHM readers reach out and ask for my suggestions when it comes to the perfect graduation gift for the would-be animators and Imagineers in their families. This year, though...

As the lights went down in the Samuel Goldwyn Theater this past Friday night, the curtain rose to reveal Leopold Stokowski taking the conductor’s stand in Fantasia . But the first notes of the evening were not from that 1940 classic feature. But – rather -- from the tinny, half-destroyed instruments...

David Kracov remembers the night that he decided to quit working in animation. “A bunch of my friends took me out to Astroburger . And while we were eating, Brad Bird tried to talk me out of quitting. Brad said that he wanted me to come work with him on this new movie he wanted to make. Which was about...

Ask and ye shall receive. When I asked you guys for some new Why For questions last week, I had hoped that I might get a few. But given the dozens of great Disney-related questions that have come pouring over the past seven days, it’s clear that you folks really missed this particular JHM column. Thanks...

It’s been kind of interesting watching the Pixar fan community react to Rich Greenfield ’s recent mea culpa in regards to “ Up .” Back in April, Greenfield (who’s this Wall Street analyst that keeps tabs on The Walt Disney Company for Pali Research ) expressed concerns about this Pete Docter film. Saying...

It's that time of year again, folks. That rarified moment when Willy Wonka allows a lucky few to enter the Wonka Works ... er ... I mean when John Lasseter opens the gates in Emeryville , allowing a limited number of people to come visit Pixar Animation Studios . Mind you, you won't need a Golden Ticket...

First they conquered Hollywood. Then the Disney theme parks. But are you ready for Pixar-themed elements to start popping at WDW's resorts? And -- no -- we're not just talking about enormous decorative elements like you find over at Disney's All-Star Movies . Copyright Disney / Pixar. All Rights Reserved...

There are some very happy people today at DreamWorks Animation this morning, given how well " Kung Fu Panda " did this past weekend. Copyright 2008 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved This Mark Osborne / John Stevenson took in an estimated $60 million over the past three days. Which not only gives...

Last week, the trades were full of stories about how Brad Bird was getting ready to make his live action debut. How the director of " The Incredibles " and " Ratatouille " would soon be helming the big screen adaptation of James Dalessandro 's " 1906 ." Now some animation fans had initially assumed that...

Bernie W. writes in to say: Jim -- Can you please help me win a bet at work? A co-worker of mine says that WALL-E makes a brief cameo appearance in " Ratatouille ." More importantly, this guy has bet me $100 that I'll never ever be able to find that robot in this movie. Copyright 2007 Disney...

First up, Danny writes in to ask: Jim, Any reason that you know of why Pixar started skimping on their DVD packages? Up to and including " The Incredibles ," no company did the medium justice better than Pixar. But the discs for " Cars " and " Rataouille " (which I have an advanced copy of) are pathetic...

I know, I know. Pixar diehards keep insisting that " Ratatouille " is this enormous success. That there's no possible way that anyone could ever be disappointed with the way this Brad Bird film has performed to date. Well, if that's really the case, then someone should probably tell Brad that. For -...

By now, you've probably heard that -- over this past weekend -- " Ratatouille " finally officially achieved really-for-real blockbuster status. Earning over $200 million during its initial domestic run. Mind you, it did take this new Brad Bird film quite a while to reach that milestone. As you can see...