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  • Blog Post: Tube Thursday : The "Disney Afternoon" shows that you didn't get to see

    A real treat showed up in the mail today. " Darkwing Duck: Volume 2 ." Copyright 2007 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved I don't know how many of you remember this " Disney Afternoon " show. But "Darkwing Duck" was great fun. A witty spoof of the whole superhero genre, "DD" debuted as part...
  • Blog Post: As "Tarzan" swings off Broadway, is Beyoncé getting ready to play Aida in Disney's next big movie musical?

    First up, Kevin writes in to say: I was just wondering, how do Disney executives feel about the Wiggles joining up with Six Flags for the " Wiggles World " theme areas in their parks? Is this a sign that the Wiggles and Disney may be parting company soon? Kevin Dear Kevin -- Nope. You have to understand...
  • Blog Post: Why (For) Pat Carroll wasn't actually Disney's first choice to voice Ursula in "The Little Mermaid"

    Steve T. writes in to say: My family and I caught a sneak preview of " Nancy Drew " this past weekend. And I was surprised to see Pat Carroll do a cameo in that movie. She's always been one of my favorites, even before she did her memorable turn in Disney's " The Little Mermaid ." But I've also heard...
  • Blog Post: Toon Tuesday : Why Cundo Rabaudi is the model DreamWorks Animation employee

    Back in the old days, when an animator had trouble visualizing what a particular prop and/or problematic character looked like from a certain angle ... Well, the usual solution to this problem was that that artist then had to construct a model. So that they could then literally see things from a different...
  • Blog Post: Wandering the halls with Roy E. Disney

    To hear Roy Disney tell the tale, he basically owes his entire career in animation to his mother needing a babysitter. "When my Mother needed to go shopping, she'd drop me off with my Dad's office," Roy explained. "And my Dad would eventually say 'Get out of my office and find someone else to play with...
  • Blog Post: A special behind-the-scenes version of Why For

    Karen M. writes in to ask a special favor: Dear Jim -- I just want to send you a quick e-mail to thank you for writing about Charlie Ridgway 's new book, " Spinning Disney's World ." On your recommendation , I picked up a copy and found that Mr. Ridgway's biography was just as you said it would be: Loaded...
  • Blog Post: John Lasseter to be feted at Sonoma Valley Film Festival

    For the past decade, the Sonoma Valley Film Festival has heard the refrains of "You've Got A Friend In Me" from John Lasseter , the creative force behind Pixar . Now the festival is turning the tables and planning quite a bash April 11-15 in recognition not only of its 10th anniversary but in tribute...
  • Blog Post: Walt Disney Pictures plans cheesy promotional stunt for "Ratatouille"

    In a little more than three months time, Pixar 's next big release, " Ratatouille " will be rolling into theaters. And -- to date -- Walt Disney Pictures ' promotional department has done everything that they can in order to get the word out about this Brad Bird film. This includes creating a teaser...
  • Blog Post: Toon Tuesday : "WALL E" skillfully blends sci-fi & satire to tell a surprisingly sweet tale

    By now, you've probably seen pictures of " WALL E " 's title character. Maybe you've even caught a glimpse of this film's unique-looking logo. But what do you actually know about Pixar 's 2008 release? Very little, I'll bet. Which is standard operating procedure for this Emeryville-based animation studio...
  • Blog Post: Toon Tuesday : How Disney is fixing "American Dog"

    It's often been said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well, I'm guessing that the folks at Walt Disney Feature Animation have never heard that expression. For they're right in the middle of an Extreme Makeover of their 2008 release, "American Dog." Gone is Chris Sanders ' quirk-filled take...
  • Blog Post: A special DreamWorks edition of Why For

    First up, Robert M. writes in to ask: Jim, This may have been asked before. But since Robert Zemeckis is now back with Disney, what do you think the chances are that they will try to produce that long anticipated Roger Rabbit sequel? Rob M. Rob M. To be honest, I think that the ship has already sailed...
  • Blog Post: Is Mickey going to botch "Ratatouille" 's marketing? Don't Betty on it

    This week's "Toon Tuesday" column (I.E. "How will 'Ratatouille' fare in Hollywood's Summer 2007 rat race ?" ) generated an awful lot of controversy. I got phone calls from Burbank, e-mails from Emeryville. With all sorts of folks who are intimately involved with this production chiming in, wishing to...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U: Part XXXIX -- "A Sesame Street Christmas Carol" regifts footage from earlier Xmas specials

    First of all, don't let the title fool you. " A Sesame Street Christmas Carol " really doesn't have a whole lot to do with Charles Dickens. Copyright 2006 Sony Wonder Oh, sure. This 2006 Sony Wonder release does borrow a few key concepts from that classic holiday tale. In that -- on...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U: Part XXXIV -- "Brer Rabbit's Christmas Carol" is almost unbrer ... er ... unbearable

    You know, if things had just gone a little bit differently, all us Disney dweebs would have had something truly spectacular to celebrate this holiday season. You see, 2006 was supposed to be the year that Walt Disney Home Entertainment finally released " Song of the South " on DVD. This limited...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U : Part XXIX -- "An All Dogs Christmas Carol" is mutt ado about nothing

    Well, at least there's some truth-in-advertising to be found in this 1998 home premiere. For -- though " An All Dogs Christmas Carol " may not actually be an adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale -- this holiday special is definitely a dog. Copyright 1998 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation...
  • Blog Post: "Today in Disney History" is a perfect last-minute gift for the Disney obsessive on your holiday shopping list

    It's Christmas-crunch time, kiddies. You know what I mean. That horrible moment that arrives every holiday season. When you're feeling all smug & self-satisfied because you think that you've completed your Xmas shopping. Only to suddenly sit bolt upright in your chair and say: "Oh, cr*p! I forgot...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U : Part XXIII -- Beavis & Butt-Head says "Huh-Huh-Humbug"

    Few would argue that "A Christmas Carol" is a story about redemption. But what happens when you try to retell Charles Dickens' timeless tale with characters that are utterly irredeemable? Well, you'd probably end up with something like that special Beavis & Butt-Head episode that...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U: Part XXII -- Beware of the Bedrock Bug

    There's nothing wrong with " A Flintstones Christmas Carol " that a sharp pair of scissors couldn't take care of. Copyright 1999 Turner Home Entertainment To explain: In its heart of hearts, this William Hanna, Joseph Barbera & Buzz Potamkin production really wants to be a faithful...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U: Part XXI -- Yakko, Wakko & Dot deliver "A Christmas Plotz"

    I got notes from a number of JHM readers yesterday who said that I was far too hard on " Alvin's Christmas Carol ." Though one in particular -- an e-mail from Trendy Trudy -- really stuck out. She said. What did you expect? This was an episode of an animated television series. You know...
  • Blog Post: Scrooge U: Part XX -- A "Christmas Carol" in name only

    Over the past few days, we've talked about some of the different forms that "A Christmas Carol" can take. There's the fairly faithful adaptation (I.E. " The Muppet Christmas Carol "), the out-right parody (" Blackadder's Christmas Carol ") as well as that truly...
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