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Christmas Recommendations: What Animated Things You Should Be Watching This Christmas

December 22, 2013, 5:12 pm
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It's that time of year again (notice our festive banner and logo, once again designed by the fantastic Damien Chevrier), and we hope you're all having a restful, relaxing and enjoyable Holiday season so far! So, for those of you here in the UK, here are our ho-ho-hot picks for animated stuff (and generally-linked-to-animation stuff) that's on tele over the next couple of weeks.

The film and TV listings come via the 21st December - 3rd January edition of the Radio Times. Our top picks for each day are in bold - I've avoided putting multiple films in one day that clash as a pick, so it's been a hard choice... (Note, this is excluding Sky Movies channels, but you'll be able to catch loads of Disney greats, in particular, pretty much every day, if you have Sky.) So, starting tomorrow (23rd December):


Monday 23rd December
  • Valiant - 6:15 AM, Channel 4
  • That Darn Cat - 7:25 AM, Channel 4
  • The Mighty Ducks - 10:25 AM, ITV
  • Howl's Moving Castle - 11:00 AM, Film4
  • Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers - 11:35 AM, BBC1
  • The Santa Clause - 1:40 PM, BBC1 (repeats at 7:30 PM on BBC3)
  • Toy Story - 3:15 PM, BBC1
  • A Christmas Carol - 4:30 PM, BBC1

Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December
  • The Gruffalo - 9:00 AM, BBC1
  • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - 10:20 AM, BBC1
  • Space Chimps - 12:00 PM, E4 (repeats on Monday 30th December)
  • Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice - 1:40 PM, E4 (repeats on Boxing Day)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - 1:30 PM, BBC1
  • Toy Story 2 - 3:40 PM, BBC1
  • The Grinch - 3:50 PM, Channel 4 (repeats on Sunday 29th December)
  • Fantasia - 4:15 PM, BBC2
  • Finding Nemo - 5:55 PM, BBC1
  • Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas - 7:05 PM, Channel 4 (repeats on Saturday 28th December)
  • The Snowman and the Snowdog - 7:30 PM, Channel 4 (repeats on Christmas Day)


Christmas Day, Wednesday 25th December
  • James and the Giant Peach - 8:50 AM, Channel 4
  • The Gruffalo's Child - 9:00 AM, BBC1
  • The Penguins of Madagascar in a Christmas Caper - 9:25 AM, BBC1 (repeats on Friday 3rd January)
  • Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - 10:25 AM, Channel 4
  • Chicken Run - 11:00 AM, BBC1
  • The Princess and the Frog - 12:30 PM, BBC1
  • Spirited Away - 12:45 PM, Film4
  • The Snowman - 1:40 PM, Channel 4 (repeats at 7:00 PM on E4)
  • The Snowman and the Snowdog - 2:10 PM, Channel 4 (repeats, again, at 7:30 PM on E4)
  • Tangled - 3:20 PM, ITV
  • Toy Story 3 - 3:20 PM, BBC1
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol - 4:35 PM, Channel 4
  • Madagascar - 7:10 PM, BBC3
  • Iron Man - 9:00 PM, Film4 (repeats on Monday 30th December)

Boxing Day, Thursday 26th December
  • Room on the Broom - 9:00 AM, BBC1
  • 101 Dalmatians (1996. The live-action remake. Boo.) - 9:55 AM, BBC1
  • The Flintstones (1994. Again, live-action. Boo!) - 11:00 AM, ITV
  • Flushed Away - 11:30 AM, BBC1
  • Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - 1:05 PM, BBC1
  • Casper - 1:05 PM, ITV
  • Alice in Wonderland (2010. Again, live-action. Booo!) - 2:25 PM, BBC1
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks - 2:25 PM, E4
  • Cars 2 - 4:05 PM, BBC1
  • Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice - 4:10 PM, E4
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox - 6:10 PM, More 4 (repeats on Sunday 29th December)


Friday 27th December
  • A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures - 8:20 AM, Channel 4
  • 102 Dalmations - 9:50 AM, BBC1
  • Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties - 12:40 PM, ITV2
  • Enchanted - 2:35 PM, BBC1
  • Megamind- 4:10, BBC1

Saturday 28th December
  • Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas - 9:10 AM, E4 (repeats on Monday 30th December)
  • Planet 51 - 11:30 AM, E4 (repeats on New Year's Day)
  • Up - 6:50 PM, BBC1
  • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - 8:15 PM, BBC3 (repeats on Friday 3rd January)

Sunday 29th December
  • The Grinch - 11:00 AM, Film4
  • Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave - 1:15 PM, BBC1
  • Monsters vs. Aliens - 1:55 PM, BBC1
  • Shrek: The Pig Who Cried Werewolf - 1:45 PM, BBC1
  • Happy Feet - 2:15 PM, 5*
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - 3:40 PM, E4
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox - 6:10 PM, More4
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 8:00 PM, BBC1


Monday 30th December
  • Space Chimps - 12:20 PM, Channel 4
  • Anastasia - 12:50 PM, Film4
  • Coraline - 2:00 PM, Channel 4
  • Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out - 2:20 PM, BBC1
  • WALL-E - 2:45 PM, BBC1
  • Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed - 3:50 PM, ITV
  • Mary Poppins - 4:15 PM, BBC1 (repeats on Thursday 2nd January)
  • Iron Man - 6:40 PM, Film4
  • Shrek Forever After - 7:30 PM, BBC1
  • Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas - 8:00 PM, E4

New Year's Eve, Tuesday 31st December
  • Bee Movie - 9:00 AM, BBC1
  • Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders - 9:25 AM, ITV
  • Beverly Hills Chihuahua - 10:30 AM, BBC1
  • Astro Boy - 11:10 AM, E4
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - 1:20 PM, BBC1
  • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five - 3:35 PM, BBC1
  • How to Train Your Dragon - 4:00 PM, BBC1


New Year's Day, Wednesday 1st January 2014
  • Flight of the Navigator - 7:50 AM, BBC2
  • The Ant Bully - 9:00 AM, BBC2
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit - 10:20 AM, BBC1
  • Planet 51 - 10:20 AM, Channel 4
  • Gnomeo & Juliet - 6:45 PM, BBC1
  • Freaky Friday - 6:55 PM, BBC1

Thursday 2nd January 2014
  • The Pacifier - 10:30 AM, BBC1
  • Arrietty - 11:00 AM, Film4
  • The Sorcerer's Apprentice - 1:45 PM, BBC1
  • Mary Poppins - 7:30 PM, BBC4

Friday 3rd January 2014
  • The Cat in the Hat - 9:10 AM, BBC1
  • Race to Witch Mountain - 10:25 AM, BBC1
  • The Shaggy Dog - 1:45 PM, BBC1
  • Ice Age - 7:30 PM, E4
  • The Penguins of Madagascar in a Christmas Caper - 7:30 PM, BBC3
  • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - 7:40 PM, BBC3

Note, there is no excuse for not watching all 3 Toy Story films when they're on.

 There you have it! And, if you're planning on heading to the cinema over the Holidays, you should really see Frozen (or the new Hobbit's quite good too).
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Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #48: Bolt (2008)

December 28, 2013, 12:02 pm
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Last Week’s: Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #47: Meet the Robinsons (2007).

John Lasseter didn't have it easy when he arrived at the Disney Studio. First, Meet the Robinsons needed a complete overhaul before it could be released in theatres, and then the following film was even more troubled. Bolt was first titled American Dog and it was to be the next project by director Chris Sanders, who co-directed the highly acclaimed Lilo & Stitch (one of the few popular films from the previous era). However, problems in the production led to the removal of Sanders from the director's chair (after which he left Disney and went to DreamWorks) and the team of Chris Williams and Byron Howard taking over. The film was completed in 18 months and, against all odds, it was warmly received and represented another step in the right direction for the studio.

Here's a brief synopsis: Bolt is a dog who believes he's a super-powered dog with the important mission of protecting his owner, Penny, from any danger. What Bolt doesn't know is that his whole life is fabricated; in reality, he's the canine star of a TV show. When something goes wrong though, Bolt escapes from the studio lot and ends up in New York. Now he has to return to Hollywood and to Penny, while discovering who he really is and learning how to be a real dog, with the help of a cynical cat named Mittens and a hyperactive hamster named Rhino. That's the essence of the story and as simple as it may sound, there are little details and moments that help the story become much more complete and satisfying.

I have to say that one of the best scenes in Bolt is the first one. When the movie begins, you have this elaborate sequence where Bolt and Penny have to escape from the evil Dr. Calico. The scene plays very well, with great action and even some fine humour. However, after the scene is over, the film shows you that this is only a TV show, and I can't help but feel a little bit disappointed every time I see it. (A movie about a super dog could've been great, and a little part of me wishes they could've gone that way - but that would have required a completely different premise from what's offered here and the finished product is, regardless, a good one.) Another particular highlight is the scene after the beginning, where everyone at the studio is watching the dailies and a studio executive enters and starts meddling and imposing new things. Every time I see that scene, I can't help but imagine it was a stab from the filmmakers at the previous era of Disney Animation, where executives and their policies almost ruined the studio. That scene makes me smile every time.

After Bolt's escape, the film turns into a road film reminiscent of films like Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, where two dogs and one cat get lost and journey back home. Here though, in Bolt's case, it's not just the trip that's important, but also Bolt's discovery that he's not a super dog, and his rediscovery of what it means to be a real, ordinary dog. The heart of the film is the relationship between Bolt and Mittens, a relationship that begins in conflict and develops into a true friendship, where both of them learn from each other and learn to trust one another. Like Meet the Robinsons before it, the characters in Bolt are very well constructed and every conflict they have feels real and heartfelt. Mittens is the real standout here, going from a cynical, carefree cat to a loyal friend. She has issues of her own and is afraid of opening herself to hurt again; we can see her struggle to finally give in to a new friendship. Rhino is mostly comic relief but is also very well constructed so he doesn't come across as annoying - he has many great scenes that will delight everyone. The relationship between Penny and Bolt is also an emotional highlight; it feels very real and will tug the strings of dog-lovers/owners.

The music by John Powell is very nicely done too and serves the picture well, but the real standout is the "Barking at the Moon" sequence where Bolt learns how to be a real dog while travelling back to Penny. Good Disney films have always got one particular "show-stopper" scene, where everything mixes perfectly, and in Bolt this is that scene - everything comes off beautifully and you can't help but smile throughout it. The song, composed and sung by Jenny Lewis, is the perfect complement for such a beautiful scene. The cast is great with Travolta, Essman and Walton delivering excellent performances in their respective characters. Even Miley Cyrus, who's part of the cast mostly as a marketing strategy, sounds genuine as Bolt's beloved owner.

If there's one problem with the film, it's its over-familiar elements, ones that we've seen in many films before. Aside from comparisons with The Truman Show and Homeward Bound, one can't help but think Bolt has a similar conflict to Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, and Mittens has very similar issues to Jessie in Toy Story 2. Those beloved Pixar productions dealt with the themes of self-discovery and abandonment superbly and Bolt can't help but suffer from the inevitable comparisons. Still, Bolt has enough original moments and strong personalities to pull off its most derivative elements.

The animation is beautiful and a step up from Meet the Robinsons. While the human characters are still a little rough around the edges, the animals and backgrounds have a superb design and the overall aesthetic of the film is simply gorgeous.

Bolt began as another troubled production at the studio, but ended up as another triumph. While a little derivative, it more that compensates for its repetitive elements with great characters and wonderful touching moments that will make everyone enjoy the film immensely. Bolt represented another strong entry in the new era at a studio that was determined to build its way to the top again.  Rating: 4/5.

Next Week - Animated Classic #49 Review: The Princess and the Frog (2009).
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Awards Predictions 2014: Golden Globes Edition

December 28, 2013, 1:03 pm
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We're starting the Awards season and while the Oscar nominations won't be announced until a few weeks, other major awards have already announced their nominees, including the Golden Globes and the Annie Awards. I'll post my predictions for the Annie Awards at a later date but, for now, let's begin with the Golden Globes.

I must say, I'm very disappointed with this year's nominees for Best Animated Feature. First, I thought there would be five nominees instead of three, and that one of those nominees was going to be Pixar's Monsters University. The fact that Pixar got shut out for the first time with a film that's superior to both of its predecessors (both of which were nominated) is befuddling considering the fact that the film is better than two of the three actual nominees. Well, now that I got that out of my system let's begin with the predictions.

The Croods


I’m still not able to understand the whole hype and love for The Croods. Okay, it's not a terrible film, but, awards material? I don't think so. Both DreamWorks films released this year were very disappointing and a step down from the excellent offerings the studio has released in recent years (How To Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda 2 and the underrated Rise of the Guardians). I could have understand The Croods being nominated if there were five nominees (as the Golden Globes don't have a tendency to nominate international films in this category), but it getting a nomination over much better films is infuriating. Sure, the film has splendid animation and the world that the filmmakers created is awe-inspiring, but, in terms of story, The Croods does not offer anything new, or even good for that matter. Most of the jokes and humour fell flat and most of the second a act felt overlong and slow. Just compare this film to co-director Chris Sanders's previous film, How To Train Your Dragon, and you can see that The Croods its not a film worthy of the awards and recognition it's getting. This is easily the weakest nominee of the bunch and its chances of winning are very slim.

Check out William's interview with Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, the directors of The Croods, here; check out his review of the film here and Damien's here.

Despicable Me 2


After the hit that Despicable Me was in 2010, Illumination Entertainment needed another after two very disappointing features. That hit was the sequel to the 2010 film, and Despicable Me 2 offers plenty of the fun, humour and craziness, like the first did, but with even more minion madness. Despicable Me 2 is a delight from start to finish and while it may be a little more superfluous than the original, it more than compensates with all the Minion antics that will delight everyone in the family. I think it's the film's greatest accomplishment that the Minions aren't annoying and, even though we see much more of them in this film, we still like them and they have not overstayed their welcome. If that had happen, the film would've been a complete failure, but thanks to clever humour and use of the animation, Despicable Me 2 turns out a complete winner (and a box office juggernaut, with $918.6 million) and a much better and more entertaining film than the one above.

Check out William's review of Despicable Me 2 here; listen to our podcast about the film here.

Frozen


Over the past six years, Disney Animation has been undergoing a sort of revival, releasing great films and continuing their rise to the top of animation, just like the old days. With Frozen, WDAS has created a fairytale for the ages, taking everything they learned from the past and merging it with contemporary themes, making a film that is not only a homage to the Disney greats of the past, but which also cements WDAS as a leading animation studio again, launching it to a glorious and bright future. With very strong and relatable characters, superb songs and breathtaking animation, Frozen is easily the best animated film of the year, something critics and audiences alike have agreed on, with a critical reception that's very high and word of mouth which is very enthusiastic (not to mention box office receipts that continue to grow by the day). Frozen is a cut above the rest of animated films released this year and deserves the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.

Check out William's review of Frozen here.

What about you? Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? Sound off in the comments section below!
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Bolt Co-Director Chris Williams Joins Don Hall at Helm of Big Hero 6

December 31, 2013, 1:20 pm
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Perhaps mirroring the production of their current mega-hit Frozen, The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Disney have added Chris Williams, who co-directed 2008's Bolt with Tangled's Byron Howard, as a director of their upcoming Marvel-adaptation Big Hero 6, alongside existing director Don Hall (Winnie the Pooh).

If you're thinking this means the film's in trouble, don't. Disney pulled a similar move last year, adding Wreck-It Ralph screenwriter Jennifer Lee as a director on Frozen, and that worked out fantastically. Apparently it was a time-saving measure, with one director devoted to story, and another to animation, before the duo rejoined in the editing room. The results speak for themselves, with Frozen looking to be Disney's biggest critical and financial hit since The Lion King.

Also of note, Kristina Reed (Paperman) seems to have been replaced as the producer of the project, with Tangled's Roy Conli now filling the role. No reason was given for any of the additions, but one thing's for sure, Big Hero 6 has got a lot of talent behind it.


Here's the synopsis given by THR:
The action comedy adventure follows robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who must save the city of [San Fransokyo] from a criminal plot with the help of a robot, Baymax; and Gogo, Honey Lemon, sushi chef Wasabi and fanboy Fred.
Big Hero 6 certainly seems set to be one of the most interesting and exciting films of next year, and with the current hot streak Walt Disney Animation Studios are on, expectations are high. It hits cinemas on 7th November, 2014 in the US, and 13th February, 2015 in the UK (*groan*).
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Official Still of the Guardians of the Galaxy Line-Up!

January 3, 2014, 10:13 am
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It's a few days late, but we are finally up to date with the first official image from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy!


James Gunn shared the image on his Facebook page, saying:
"Okay, so I suppose Disney released this still from Guardians of the Galaxy. It was featured in the San Diego Comicon trailer, and is an early (truthfully, quite unfinished - we've come a long way from here) look at Rocket and Groot, Star-Lord, Gamora, and Drax."
The press release from Disney reads like this:
From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchise of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team--the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits -Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand--with the galaxy's fate in the balance.

It's starting to get exciting now, and this is possibly the most exciting part to say... Guardians of the Galaxy will be released later on this year! 1st August. Mark your calenders.

Source: James Gunn
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Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #49: The Princess and the Frog (2009)

January 5, 2014, 7:55 am
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Last Week’s: Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #48: Bolt (2008).


One of the most exciting things in 2009 was the release of The Princess and the Frog. After a decade of releasing (mostly) misfires and giving traditional animation the death sentence after the abysmal Home on the Range, Disney was finally ready to go back to the technique they practically invented and perfected for over 70 years. Thanks to John Lasseter and his vision, traditional animation was back firing on all cylinders at the studio and with a new fairy tale to boot. Better still, the helmers of this new movie were none others than studio veterans John Musker and Ron Clements and handling the music was Pixar veteran Randy Newman. With all this talent behind it, we could only expect the best film possible and, thankfully, the movie delivered on all fronts.

Based on the "Frog Princess" novel by E. D. Baker (which itself is based on the classic Brothers Grimm tale, "The Frog Prince"), the film tells the story of Tiana, a hard-working woman who works as a waitress in 1920's New Orleans in order to earn enough money to buy her own place and set up her own restaurant. She crosses paths with Prince Naveen of Maldonia, a carefree man with money troubles who needs to marry a wealthy woman in order to continue with his high lifestyle. But, when an evil voodoo practitioner named Dr. Facilier sets off a curse, Naveen is transformed into a frog. Naveen mistakes Tiana for a princess and begs her to kiss him to break the spell. He promises that, once he's back in human form, he'll give her the money she needs for the restaurant. Tiana accepts, but when she kisses Naveen, she is also transformed into a frog and now both of them have to make a journey through the Bayou to search for Mama Odie (another voodoo practitioner) to break the spell.

One thing that has always stood out to me is how similar The Princess and the Frog is to The Little Mermaid. Not in the story, but in certain elements of the characters. Both Tiana and Ariel have some sort of curse: Tiana is transformed into a frog and Ariel loses her voice. Both need to kiss or be kissed in order to break the spell. Both are headstrong women who sometimes fail to see that the paths they chose will bring some problems along the way. In terms of villains, both Ursula and Facilier are very theatrical villains who talk with big movements and like to give big performances. Both of their songs, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "Friends on the Other Side," are big flashy numbers that showcase their knack for the dramatic. Because the two films come from the same directors, I don't think all of this elements were a mere coincidence. I think Clements and Musker were focused on making The Princess and the Frog the beginning of a new Renaissance and they look back to their film that launched the previous one. They succeeded again.

In terms of animation, The Princess and the Frog is simply superb. Back in 2009, it was refreshing to see a traditional animated Disney film again, and it has continued to be one of the most beautifully animated films that has come from the studio in recent years. The Princess and the Frog showcases much more inspiration and ambition than many of its traditionally animated predecessors like Home on the Range, Brother Bear and even Clements and Musker's own Treasure Planet. Each scene is brimming with life and colour and the overall look is simply breathtaking. In my previous retrospective, I mentioned that Bolt had one "showstopper" scene. In contrast, The Princess and the Frog has many. Starting with the amazing "Almost There" - which is one of the most ingenious pieces of animation I've ever encountered - and continuing with "Friends on the Other Side,""Gonna Take you There" and "Dig a Little Deeper" - all of them full of emotion, heart and beauty. The characters' designs are amazing too and it really demonstrates the hard work of the animators in bringing them to life. It seemed that the filmmakers wanted to demonstrate how good traditional animation is and put all their hearts and souls into the film, and the result is spellbinding.

The story, like most fairy tales, is somewhat predictable - but in a good way. We know that, in the end, everything will end well and that Tiana and Naveen will end up together, but the journey the film takes is very worthwhile. Aside from the fact that Tiana is the first African American Disney princess, it's also worth noting that she feels like a real character. Life isn't easy for her, but she works hard and is determined to make her dream come true. I think the character is a great role model, not only for girls but for everyone. We can all relate to her ambition, her dreams, her frustration, so we root for her because she represents us. She's not a damsel in distress, she's just a regular girl who is just trying to find her way in life. I think all of us can relate to that as we are try to do the same thing everyday. Naveen, on the other hand, represents our youth. The side of us that we had when we were young, with no responsibilities and just lots of fun. The side that many try to recapture as years go by, but cannot fully do it as life gets more complicated and as we get older. Naveen has to understand that and we can relate to him too, because we also had to understand at some point that that side of our life is over and life is more than just fun. Both of these characters are excellently constructed because they're based on regular guys just like us, making them much more relatable and supportable. The supporting characters are great too with Ray and Louis being the lovable sidekicks, Mama Odie the wise and peculiar mentor, and Facilier the menacing villain we love to hate.  One supporting character worth mentioning is Charlotte LaBouff. She's your typical rich girl who lives in a bubble (and we have that in real life too...) and only wants to marry a prince and live her fairy tale. Her objective couldn't be more different from Tiana's, but what I love most about Charlotte and her relationship with Tiana is that, as oblivious as she is to the rest of the world, she's always a good and loyal friend to Tiana. Even when she has the chance to marry Naveen she puts aside her personal motivations and just wants to help her friend. That's why she's such a good character in the film.  Another surprise was Ray's death. Disney haven't really touched on the subject of death since the death of Kerchak in Tarzan and I didn't expect Ray to die. Maybe his death was not as powerful as some other Disney demises, such as Mufasa or Bambi’s mom, but nonetheless it was a sad and powerful event that showed that the filmmakers weren't afraid to go to darker places again, instead of featuring light and "kiddie" stuff like in previous years.

Some criticized the inclusion of Randy Newman as the composer instead of Alan Menken, but I think Newman did an outstanding job with the music in the film. I love jazz (one reason I like The Aristocats) and the score and songs in The Princess and the Frog are beautiful. Many of the songs are up there with Disney's greatest; memorable tunes full of wonderful rhythm and a unique style that makes the whole film even better.

With all these wonderful elements in the film, it's somewhat sad that many deemed the movie as an under-performer at the box office. Yes, maybe the film didn't meet the high expectations that Disney had for it, but that does not mean it was a box office failure. Actually, I think it was pretty successful considering the fact that CG films dominated the market and it was Disney's first traditional animated film in more than five years. I do think, though, that there was one element that conspired against this film: the marketing. Disney's marketing has been hit or miss (more miss, if you ask me) in recent years and this movie was one of its many victims. The marketing always presented Tiana in the princess gown (which was a costume for a party) and, with the title being The Princess and the Frog, people - mostly boys - assumed this was going to be just a princess movie intended for girls. The marketing failed to present Tiana as she really is and failed to mention her many positive aspects that had nothing to do with princess stuff. Also, the other characters were not mentioned, so people were just left with the image of a beautiful girl in a princess gown. Yeah, not very enticing. However, even with the marketing against it, I failed to understand why Disney panicked when the film did not meet its expectations. After all, Disney has released more expensive live-action films that have failed miserably at the box office (Prince of Persia, John Carter and, most recently, The Lone Ranger) costing the studio large amounts of money, and yet, they're still releasing them and nobody has panicked. The Princess and the Frog earned more money than any of these films, and yet, Disney panicked, changed the titles for upcoming films and reduced (again) the traditional animation unit. How is it that, despite losing tonnes of money with many big blockbusters, Disney continues to produce them but when this film doesn't meet expectations, it's throw to the lions? I don't see any coherence there.

Oh well. Despite everything, The Princess and the Frog is an instant classic, a film that, like The Little Mermaid before it, launched a new Renaissance for the studio. With superb and relatable characters, great music and an outstanding story, The Princess and the Frog represents one of the studio's finest efforts in recent memory. Walt Disney Animation Studios started the 2000s in deep trouble but ended the decade with a bang, as The Princess and the Frog is easily their best film from the past decade. A beautiful work of art. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week - Animated Classic #50 Review: Tangled (2010).
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Super New TV Spot and Posters for The Lego Movie

January 7, 2014, 10:06 am
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Likely the best big-screen Justice League film we're going to get in the foreseeable future is assembling! Block by block. Warner Bros. have rolled out two super new posters and an awesome TV spot for The Lego Movie (directed by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street's Phil Lord and Chris Miller), featuring the Lego versions of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel!


Lego Batman is voiced by Will Arnett (Arrested Development, Monsters vs. Aliens) and Lego Superman is voiced by Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street, Magic Mike); also in the film are Lego Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, voiced by Jonah Hill (21 Jump Street, The Wolf of Wall Street) and Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, The Avengers) respectively. Also, in the new TV spot (below), we catch a quick look (fititng, no?) at Lego Flash, too!

So, check out the fun new TV spot and character posters for what's stacking up to be one of the most fun animated films of 2014!





The Lego Movie also stars the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman and Elizabeth Banks, and includes Lego versions of everything from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Abraham Lincoln. It hits cinemas on 7th February (one month today!) in the US, and a week later on Valentine's Day in the UK.

Via Den of Geek.
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First Look: Monsters U Short Party Central; Now Attached to Muppets Most Wanted

January 7, 2014, 11:20 am
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Pixar have released the first look at their upcoming Monsters University-based short film, Party Central, which was formerly going to play before The Good Dinosaur in theatres. Now that The Good Dinosaur has been pushed back to November 2015, Party Central will play with Muppets Most Wanted on 21st March.

Above you can see the Oozma Kappa gang looking a little bit bummed out. Check out why in the plot synopsis (via Disney Insider) below.
When the Oozma Kappa fraternity brothers throw their first party and no one shows up, Mike and Sulley return to Monsters University with a plan to make sure it’s the most epic party the school has ever seen. It is directed by Kelsey Mann, the story supervisor from Monsters University, and features the following voice talent: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Peter Sohn, Julia Sweeney, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, Dave Foley, Sean Hayes, Bobby Moynihan, and Joel Murray.
"Fortunately," adds Entertainment Weekly. "They have some extra inter-dimensional doors handy, which they put to creative use (we won’t spoil how here) to get the party rocking."

Johnny Worthington (centre) and Chet Alexander (right) in Monsters University.

The mention of Nathan Fillion and Bobby Moynihan means we'll be seeing their douchey ROR characters, Johnny Worthington and Chet Alexander, in the short as well. It's worth noting, too, that the previous Muppets film also had a Pixar short before it, the Toy Story short Small Fry.

Excited?!
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BAFTA Nominees Are In: Frozen, Monsters U and Despicable Me 2 Vie for Animation Prize

January 8, 2014, 12:00 pm
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The nominations for the 67th British Academy Film Awards (or BAFTAs, because nobody wants to say that mouthful) were announced earlier today, and the animation nominees are a lot less contentious than those chosen by the Golden Globes.

Disney's Frozen (which certainly seems to be the awards favourite) and Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me 2 are again nominated. But this time around, DreamWorks'The Croods misses out, in favour of Pixar's Monsters University, which was unfairly snubbed by the HFPA.


Note, Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises is not nominated. This isn't because of any bizarre snub, but rather just due to the qualification specifications of BAFTA; a film must have opened in the UK prior to, at the absolute latest, 14th February of this year. As the film doesn't even open wide in America until 21st February, and we've still not the faintest word about a UK release date, the acclaimed Ghibli film unfortunately didn't make the cut.

Now, it's interesting to note that, every year since the award's inception in 2007, (celebrating the films of 2006, that is) the film that has won the BAFTA for Best Animated Film has then gone onto win the respective Oscar. So, even though Disney's Wreck-It Ralph was hotly tipped to be an awards favourite last year, it was Pixar's less warmly received Brave that won the BAFTA and eventually the Oscar. Worth thinking about.


Also of interest to us, Disney's Marry Poppins making-of pic, Saving Mr. Banks, garnered an impressive 5 nominations, including Outstanding British Film, Leading Actress (for the fabulous Emma Thompson), Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer (for screenwriter Kelly Marcel), Original Music and Costume Design. While it's got tough competition in its categories (it's up against, for instance, Gravity, which has a total of 11 nominations, for Outstanding British Film), it's a great achievement for one of my favourite films of 2013 nonetheless!

Congratulations to all the nominees! The BAFTAs will be awarded on 16th February, at a ceremony emanating from the Royal Opera House, once again hosted by Stephen Fry. Check out the full list of nominees here.
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Miyazaki Un-Retiring?! Or Just a Rumor?

January 9, 2014, 1:58 pm
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A Reddit article started making the rounds earlier this week citing a Japanese blogger, which claims that Hayao Miyazaki has retracted his retirement statement, made just four months ago, to work on some unknown project. Now before we begin to speculate what awesome project could possibly pull Hayao Miyazaki out of retirement, let's speculate on this bit of, still, potential news.

While we all wish this were true, all evidence is pointing...well...nowhere. Aside from the article on Sankaku Complex, which perceives the rumour to be true, we could only find one more article, via Cartoon Brew, which speculates the validity of what now has to be construed as a rumour. 

So, although we would love to call this hard fact, it can only be speculation, as I'm sure the internet would have imploded if this were anything but a rumour... though the dreamer in me would like to think the studio is simply covering their tracks very neatly as they press forward with the Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind sequel - or maybe Miyazaki just fell in love with the manga that he has been working so hard on, that he has decided to make it a full animated feature... I do believe I'll be crying myself to sleep tonight as I think of the many, many projects that will be unfulfilled by Miyazaki. 
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Munir's Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #50: Tangled (2010)

January 13, 2014, 2:25 pm
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Last Week’s: Munir’s Disney Retrospective - Animated Classic #49: The Princess and the Frog (2009).

After The Princess and the Frog marked a glorious return to hand-drawn animation, I was disappointed that Tangled was made in CG. Don't get me wrong, I love CG animation, especially Pixar films, but because Tangled was a fairy tale, I expected a similar approach to Princess & Frog. Also, what didn't sit well with me was the title change. Because The Princess and the Frog "underperformed", Disney thought that, in order to appeal to boys, the name Rapunzel was not appropriate. So they changed it to Tangled, a very generic title that doesn't say anything about the film. Fortunately, despite this, Tangled was another triumph for Disney Animation, and their first genuine box office success in a very long time.

While the marketing wanted you to believe this was a "hip" and "modern" story in the same vein as most of the early DreamWorks films, the actual film (fortunately) is a more traditional fairy tale that manages to enchant with its winning characters and engaging story. One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the dynamic between Rapunzel and Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel is clearly a villain, she kidnapped Rapunzel and kept her locked away for 18 years. But, despite this and the fact that she cares for her magical hair, on some level she does care for Rapunzel. Yes, she is abusive and selfish but what's interesting is that this mother-daughter relationship is that there's a sense of care between these two, which makes the relationship much more layered and complicated than your usual relationships in mainstream animated films. Also, while the marketing wanted you to believe that there were two leads in this story, the actual film is mainly Rapunzel's story (as it should be). Flynn Rider (a.k.a Eugene Fitzherbert) is a great companion with a nice backstory, but in the end it's Rapunzel who learns her real identity and where she really belongs. Nonetheless, it's easy to invest in their relationship as both have entertaining personalities and both end up saving each other, which makes for a grand finale.

One thing that I have always liked about this film is that it allows its characters to feel and it gives them time to process those feelings. Two clear examples of this is when Rapunzel first steps onto the ground after leaving the tower. The moment she touches the ground with her foot is a little yet powerful moment, we feel her excitement and we also process that emotion. The other moment is when she has this battle with herself when she leaves the tower. In a great montage we see her going from extremely happy to extremely guilty for disobeying Gothel and this moment makes Rapunzel a much more layered and relatable character to us. In a world where many animated films just rush the story and are concerned with big explosions and action, it's nice to see a film that offers the audience this little yet precious moments where we can actually emotionally connect to the characters and be invested in their story.

Tangled is the most expensive WDAS film to date and it clearly shows. While Meet the Robinsons and Bolt have both pleasant but still rough around the edges animation, Tangled takes the CG to a whole new level and it's the first CG WDAS film that can be up there with the likes of Pixar and the most recent DreamWorks films. The animation is just stunning and the overall design is breathtaking. Much of the credit has to go to veteran animator Glen Keane who envisioned a more traditional look with a CG approach. By merging both traditional animation and CG, Tangled has a modern but classic design and the result is stunning. You just have to take a look at Rapunzel's lustrous hair and you can see the amount of effort and resources that the studio devoted to the film.

The great Alan Menken returns to score this film and while Tangled may not be his best work, it's not by any means bad. The classic rock style that Menken infuses into it really helps the overall feel and environment of the movie. The songs add great moments, and while they may not be as flashy as The Princess and the Frog ones, they serve the story and are accompanied with moments of great beauty. From the inventive "I want" song "When Will my Life Begin?," to the melodramatic "Mother Knows Best," the songs help the story move along in a nice way. Of course, the main highlight is the duet "I See The Light" between Rapunzel and Eugene, where both of them declare their love while the sky lights up with lanterns. This scene is one of the most beautiful scenes from any film and this superb song elevates the whole thing to glorious heights.

Thankfully, the horrible marketing did little to prevent the film from becoming a success and cementing Walt Disney Animation Studios' reputation as a leading studio again. With a great story, strong characters, good humour, superb animation and nice music, Tangled, the studio's 50th feature film, is a dazzling spectacle of the most superior quality and I can't think of a better film to celebrate that milestone. An instant classic. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week - Animated Classic #51 Review: Winnie the Pooh (2011).
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Frozen Takes Home WDAS' First Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature

January 13, 2014, 6:09 pm
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It's not a shocker, but it's extremely well deserved nonetheless: last night at the 71st Golden Globe Awards, Walt Disney Animation Studios' acclaimed hit, Frozen, took home the statue for Best Animated Feature, making it the first WDAS film to do so since the award's inception seven years ago.

Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee with their Globe.

Disney's high-grossing fairytale beat out The Croods and Despicable Me 2 for the gong, which was accepted by co-directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. It's worth a mention too, that, with the exception of the 2011 awards (where the HFPA - rightly - gave the nod to The Adventures of Tintin) and the 2007 ones (where Cars won, while Happy Feet won the Oscar), the film that has won the Golden Globe has gone on to win the Oscar

It wasn't a double win for Frozen though, as the hotly-tipped "Let It Go" lost out for Best Original Song - not even to the other perceived front-runner, "Please Mr. Kennedy" from Inside Llewyn Davis, but rather to "Ordinary Love," by Bono and U2, from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom... Strange choice, but then the Hollywood Foreign Press Association does love its celebrities (this is the organisation that gave The Tourist a nomination for Best Picture, after all)... But then again:

Credit: Jordan Meinhart

All the same, major congrats to the whole team at Disney on an incredibly deserved win for a fabulous film!
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Bob Iger Confirms Frozen Headed to Broadway!

January 14, 2014, 2:33 pm
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Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke to Fortune yesterday about the immense success of Walt Disney Animation Studios' runaway hit Frozen, and, particularly, about the company's plans of where to take it from here: namely, Broadway!

The film, as well as receiving critical acclaim (it took home a Golden Globe yesterday), has grossed over $712 million worldwide so far, despite not even having in opened in China or Japan yet. "It was my proudest moment as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company," said Iger of watching Frozen. "I realized, 'My goodness, Disney Animation is where it rightfully belongs,'" Iger added."The exhilaration was profound. It's not about the bottom line. The bottom line is for the quarter. This is for something bigger and longer."



 In the interview, Iger confirmed that Disney are "in discussions" to develop a Broadway version of the movie. As for when that will apparate, don't get your hopes up for anything soon. "We're not demanding speed," he said. "We're demanding excellence."

 The songs do seem tailor-made for Broadway (likely due to the Broadway background of songwriters Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who penned the songs for The Book of Mormon), even if the snow may be a little harder to achieve. As for how to translate it to the stage, Rotoscopers have a great suggestion: add this fan-made reprise of "Do You Want To Build a Snowman?"
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Michael Douglas for Ant-Man!

January 15, 2014, 8:29 am
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Looks like we now know what road Edgar Wright's Ant-Man is taking, as Michael Douglas has joined the cast as Hank Pym!

Douglas with the Golden Globe he won for Behind the Candelabra on
Sunday.

The 69 year old Behind the Candelabra star will be joining Paul Rudd, who'll be our Scott Lang. Confused? So were we, which is why we thought it very kind that Edgar Wright has tweeted this interview detailing how the plot will work out:
"The idea that we have for the adaptation is to actually involve both. Is to have a film that basically is about Henry Pym and Scott Lang, so you actually do a prologue where you see Pym as Ant-Man in action in the 60's, in sort of Tales To Astonish mode basically," Wright told Superhero Hype.
"And then the contemporary, sort of flash-forward, is Scott Lang's story, and how he comes to acquire the suit, how he crosses paths with Henry Pym, and then, in an interesting sort of Machiavellian way, teams up with him. With Hank Pym’s rich history in the Marvel Universe, we knew we needed an actor capable of bringing the weight and stature to the role that the character deserves."
I don't know about you, but my Marvel senses are beginning to tingle and I'm extremely excited for this one!

Shooting for Ant-Man should begin soon, with a release date planned for 14th August, 2015 (UK)/31st July, 2015 (US). 

Via Edgar Wright and Superherohype.com
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Universal Slate Illumination's Despicable Me 3 and Grinch Remake for 2017

January 16, 2014, 8:22 am
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Universal had an incredibly profitable year with Illumination Entertainment in 2013; Despicable Me 2 made the best part of a billion dollars ($935m, in fact), and the company has just locked in 2017 release dates for two new films from the studio: Despicable Me 3 and a remake of Dr Seuss'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Despicable Me 3 is slated for 30th June, 2017, with no word yet on whether Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud (who directed the first two films and voice the minions) will return to helm. It seems like an unusually large gap, particularly coming after Despicable Me 2's mammoth takings in summer 2013, until you factor in the fact that Minions, the little yellow hench-things' spin-off film, is out on 10th July, 2015.


Next up, Illumination are continuing their Dr. Seuss adaptation with the remake of How the Grinch Stole Christmas that we heard about last February. Pete Candeland is still directing, from a script by Michael LeSieur (You, Me and Dupree). It'll likely be in a similar vein to 2012's The Lorax (which I didn't particularly like, so hopefully not that similar), and will indeed be a CG film. Grinch opens on 17th November, 2017.

Before that though, Universal also announced an untitled film for 21st December, 2016. We know little about the film, other than the fact that it's directed and written by Gareth Jennings (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Son of Rambow) and is apparently a comedy, which will have "plenty of music." The tagline for the film (via Bleeding Cool) calls it an "original animated comedy event about courage, competition and carrying a tune."

 With Illumination Entertainment still to prove themselves outside of the Despicable Me franchise, it will be interesting to see how this new slate turns out.

Source: THR
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Oscar Nominations Are In! Here's What's Competing This Year.

January 16, 2014, 11:40 am
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The Oscar nominations for the 86th annual Academy Awards are in! There's a lot of deserving films nominated; American Hustle and Gravity are leading the pack with 10 nominations each, with hotly-tipped 12 Years a Slave racking up 9. But there are some strange choices in the categories that concern animation...

Here are the nominations for the four categories in which animated films/special visual effects are celebrated

Best Animated Feature:
  • The Croods
  • Despicable Me 2
  • Ernest and Celestine
  • Frozen
  • The Wind Rises


Best Animated Short:
  • Feral
  • Get a Horse!
  • Mr. Hublot
  • Possessions
  • Room on the Broom
Best Original Song:
  • "Alone Yet Not Alone" from Alone Yet Not Alone
  • "Happy" from Despicable Me 2
  • "Let it Go" from Frozen
  • "The Moon Song" from Her
  • "Ordinary Love" from Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
Best Visual Effects:
  • Gravity
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
  • Iron Man 3
  • The Lone Ranger
  • Star Trek Into Darkness

Disney's Frozen bagged two nominations, with Walt Disney Animation Studios bagging three in total (the third for the superb Mickey Mouse short Get a Horse!). This could be a landmark Oscar year for WDAS: their second consecutive Short Film Oscar after not winning one in over four decades, and their first Feature Animation award since the award's inception in 2001. And one would assume that "Let it Go" is a lock for Best Original Song (AMPAS aren't as easily swayed by celebrities as the HFPA).

Illumination Entertainment also snagged two nods: Best Animated Feature for Despicable Me 2 and Best Original Song for Pharrell Williams's "Happy."


While it's good to see Miyazaki's The Wind Rises pop up in the nominees, and Ernest and Celestine too, the Academy partook in the same baffling snub as the Golden Globes: not nominating Pixar's Monsters University. Sure, MU wasn't Pixar's best film, but it was a multi-faceted, thoroughly enjoyable film - and definitely of stronger stuff than The Croods or Despicable Me 2. Commiserations to the hard-working team at Pixar, but congrats to the rest of the nominees!

One could certainly make an argument that Neill Blomkamp's Elysium deserved a nomination for Best Visual Effects, but a film that was definitely robbed in that category is del Toro's Pacific Rim. The film is basically a sizzle reel for some of ILM's most impressive work, so the fact that it didn't even snag a nomination is baffling. That said, Gravity surely has that one in the bag.

Walt Disney won 26 Oscars in his lifetime. Saving Mr. Banks is nominated for
only 1.

Another film notable by its near-absence is Saving Mr. Banks, the Disney film that tells the kinda-sorta true story about the making of Mary Poppins, which only managed 1 nomination, Best Original Score for Thomas Newman. The film was once thought to be a contender for Best Picture (and is worthy of it, for my money); but, regardless of what you thought of the quality of the film, it's fairly inarguable that Emma Thompson was fantastic in it, so it's utterly bizarre to see her absent from the Best Actress nominees.

So, some strange choices, some good choices... But, hey, that's the Oscars. Congrats to all the nominees! This year's Academy Awards will be presented on 2nd March at an event hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
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New Toy Story TV Special To Air This Christmas!

January 17, 2014, 1:01 pm
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Credit: Bitten by the Travel Bug

Pixar might not be putting out a feature film this year, but they're not resting on their laurels. The studio will release a Monsters U short film with Muppets Most Wanted in March, and just announced a Toy Story holiday special for this Christmas: Toy Story That Time Forgot!

Coming off the success and acclaim of the studio's first TV special, the Halloween-themed Toy Story of Terror (check out Munir's review here), ABC seem very keen to continue that success, with this new festive holiday special. Here's what the special's about (via Stitch Kingdom):
"During a post-Christmas play date, the 'Toy Story' gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie's room in this 'Toy Story That Time Forgot.'"


Toy Story That Time Forgot continues the trend, started with the Toy Story Toons back in 2011, of focusing on side-characters from the series, rather than Buzz and Woody. This time around, it's apparently the turn of Kristen Schaal's Trixie; also rounding out the cast is Kevin McKidd (who has worked with Pixar before, on Brave) as Reptillus Maximus. Steve Purcell (creator, Sam & Max; co-director, Brave) will direct.

This sounds immensely fun! Christmas: good! Toy Story: good! I love these characters, and keeping them alive and active without making an unnecessary fourth film is a marvellous plan! No word on the exact release date for Toy Story That Time Forgot yet though, just that it'll be the Christmas period this year.

Are you excited for the first Toy Story Christmas TV special?

Via HitFix
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Loving Vincent Wants to Kickstart "World's First Feature-Length Painted Animation"

January 19, 2014, 11:31 am
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BreakThru Films, the studio behind the Oscar-winning 2006 short film Peter and the Wolf, have launched a Kickstarter campaign for a very different sort of animated film. Loving Vincent is planned to consist of of 56,800 paintings, from a team of 40 artists, based on the life of Vincent van Gogh. As you can imagine, that ain't cheap. Which is where you can help.

The team at BreakThru have created their own bespoke system for making the film: PAWS (Painted Animation Work Stations). So what is your money needed for? "Your contribution will not only help us train painters in animation," says the Kickstarter page. "But will show others that this is a film people want to see happen!" There are lots of rewards for backing, ranging from desktop wallpapers and DVDs to t-shirts, prints and actual paintings! Here's some more info about the film, and a video about it:



"What is truly groundbreaking about "Loving Vincent" is that every frame of the film is an oil painting on canvas, using the very same technique in which Vincent himself painted. And what makes it a great story to experience is the intriguing, tragic, and inspiring story of Vincent Van Gogh himself. 
"Loving Vincent is an investigation delving into the life and controversial death of Vincent Van Gogh, one of the world's most beloved painters, as told through his paintings and by the characters that inhabit them. The intrigue unfolds through interviews with the characters closest to Vincent and through dramatic reconstructions of the events leading up to his death."

The campaign is after £75,000 before 6th February, so, if you're interested, please do help out! Here's the Facebook page.


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Why I Stopped Caring About Award Shows

January 19, 2014, 11:42 am
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By now, you've already learned that Monsters University was not nominated in the Best Animated Feature category for the Academy Awards. And that the same thing happened for the Golden Globes. Judging by the reactions I saw on twitter among animation fans, I would say there's a very good chance you are angry about this. Well, I'm not. Because I stopped caring about award shows. It wasn't always like that; there was a time when I cared about the Oscars and the Golden Globes. That wasn't so long ago, but it's now a thing of the past. No, it's not a sad story.

This editorial is in reaction to the Monsters University snub by the Academy, but it's not an angry reaction. I'm not furious, outraged or resentful (unrelated note: online synonym dictionaries are great). I wouldn't even say I'm annoyed. This is how little I care about these award shows now. In fact I would have been surprised if all my favourites had been nominated; I remember being shocked last year when my five favorite animated films were nominated for an Academy Award.


So why do I not care anymore? The reasons are pretty simple. What are these award shows, really? Basically, it's just a bunch of people I don't know (some of them I respect, some of them I probably never heard of) getting together in their fancy clothes, trying to tell me which movie is the best; trying to tell me I'm wrong for liking a movie more than the one they chose. Well, I'm not having any of that, thank you very much.
I'm not saying the other people's opinions are not interesting, or that they're less valuable than mine. Far from it. I like discussing films, hearing what other viewers think. But the Oscars are just not that. It's not a discussion. There's no explanation, no reason behind the award. You're just left with what is supposed to be the best animated film of the year, whether you agree or not.
Also, why does it matter who wins? I'm not asking a rhetorical question here, I'm genuinely curious. I'm guessing there is some kind of financial aftermath for the winners, but is that even measurable?

In the end, the awards a film gets - or doesn't get - is not what matters. What is ultimately important is the film; the pleasure you find when you watch it. The Academy Award results don't affect my opinion on the films - one of my favourite animated films wasn't even nominated in 2012, and I've been watching it five times a year since.


That's why I don't care anymore. Because I know whatever happens - even if The Croods wins the big prize over Frozen - I'll still enjoy my personal favourites for years to come. I know I'll watch Frozen and Monsters University more than The Croods; The Adventures of Tintin more than Rango; and WALL•E more than… wait, no… Bad example.

Conclusion
I still get angry at plenty of things, animation-wise. Making a list of all the things that get on my nerves would bore you to death, but thankfully the award shows are no longer in this list. I'll keep enjoying the ones I enjoyed before; and I'll keep hating the ones I already thought were dull, laughable, tedious (really, these synonym dictionaries...), no matter who gets awarded the little golden statuette. The award winners don't dictate anyone's taste in movies.
I don't care about the Oscars, but I love watching animated films, and, to me, there's plenty of good ones. Not just a select few.
I told you it wasn't a sad story.
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Watch: New Maleficent Trailer!

January 21, 2014, 1:42 pm
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A new trailer for Disney's new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent, has been released! Click below to see the stunning, magnificent Angelina Jolie (and her scary cheekbones).


This trailer plays with the idea that audiences are only use to the story from Sleeping Beauty's perspective, that Maleficent was a terrible witch who curses the beautiful princess, but this time we will see how exactly the evil witch came to be.



The effects look quite tremendous and the scale of this film is definitely going to be huge. I for one can't wait.

What do you think of the latest trailer? Are you excited for another adaptation of Sleeping Beauty? Maleficent is due for release 30th May and also stars Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Juno Temple, Brenton Thwaites, Imelda Staunton, Sam Riley, Lesley Manville, Kenneth Cranham and Jolie’s daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.
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