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  • Blog Post: Toon Tuesday: The Wow Factor

    I’ve often been asked this goofy question. “How would you run an animation studio if you were in charge?” Questions like this come from young people who assume I have answers. The truth is, I’m not in that position, and I don’t expect to be. However, I once ran my own business...
  • Blog Post: Revised version of “Timing for Animation” now features the best of the past & the future

    Last week, the International Animated Film Society revealed who was in the running for this year’s Annies (which are the animation industry’s equivalent of the Academy Awards). And among those singled out for recognition this time around were writer, teacher, animator, historian and all-around-nice-guy...
  • Blog Post: Disney’s looking for Beatles sound-alikes to come climb aboard its “Yellow Submarine” remake

    If you keep an eye on DisneyAuditions.com , you’ll see that Casting is constantly looking for people to play the Characters . New hirers who’d be willing to climb inside one of those often hot walk-around suits and then go out & entertain Guests on a Disney cruise ship and/or in one of the theme...
  • Blog Post: Monday Mouse Watch : “Carol” makes cash registers ring, while “Frog” ‘s financial future makes Disney animators jumpy

    You’re going to read a lot of stories this morning about how Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” had a bad opening weekend. How – because this new Robert Zemeckis movie didn’t make $35 - $40 million during its first three days in domestic release – this rather expensive ImageMovers Digital production is now...
  • Blog Post: Toon Tuesday: Glen Keane goes back to the drawing board

    He’s ba-a-ack. After taking a six month sabbatical from the Mouse House, master animator Glen Keane is back. Keane – who stepped down from his directorial position on “ Rapunzel ” last October due to health-related reasons – is now back supervising animation on that project. Master animator Glen Keane...
  • Blog Post: ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive fundraiser shines spotlight on how modern animated features are actually made

    Are you confused about where animation is going these days? If so, join the club. What with the rise of performance capture, the revival of hand-drawn animation over at Disney, not to mention CG going 3D, animation students aren't sure what they should be doing these days in order to properly prepare...
  • Blog Post: Toon Thursday: "Kung Fu Panda" is one fun summer flick

    With its lush visuals and eye-popping fight scenes, " Kung Fu Panda " may be one of the best looking action film ever produced. Which -- I know -- sounds like a really weird thing to say about a new animated feature. But as Brad Bird once said: "Animation isn't a genre. It's a type of film-making that...
  • Blog Post: Jerry Beck to be honored at this year's Annie Awards

    Next Friday night, Toontown's top talents will put on their Sunday best and then motor on over to UCLA 's Royce Hall for the 35th annual Annie Awards . Copyright 2008 ASIFA-Hollywood. All Rights Reserved This is the night that the animation industry honors its own. When the very best work from 2007 in...
  • Blog Post: Toon Tuesday: The story behind "The Pixar Story"

    It's going to seem like "Old Home Week" at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater tonight. What with acclaimed filmmaker Leslie Iwerks sharing the stage with industry legend Roy E. Disney during the Q & A portion of tonight's screening of " The Pixar Story " at the American Cinematheque . You see, if it hadn...
  • Blog Post: A special "Where's WALL-E" edition of Why For?

    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...