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Frozen Overtakes Toy Story 3 to Become Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever!

March 30, 2014, 12:45 pm
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At the start of the month, Disney's Frozen became the second animated film ever to pass the billion dollar barrier. And now, as we posited then, it has surpassed Pixar's Toy Story 3's gross of $1.063 billion to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time! Not only that, but, at $1.072 billion, it's also now the tenth highest-grossing film ever.

Having surpassed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the icy musical is now also Disney's biggest ever non-Marvel film (Iron Man 3 is #5, The Avengers is #3). And as Forbes's Scott Mendelson pointed out on Twitter, it holds the esoteric title of being the highest-grossing non-sequel not directed by James Cameron ever...

It's an immense feat for the Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee-directed picture, and evidence of the renewed prowess of Walt Disney Animation Studios! It's also a big day for animation, which now has two billion dollar films to show for itself (only 18 films have ever reached that milestone); and with high-profile Pixar sequels Finding Dory and The Incredibles 2 on the horizon, there could be more joining Toy Story 3 and Frozen before you know it.

Coincidentally, Frozen is out on Blu-ray in the UK tomorrow (you can order it here).
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Editorial: In Animation, Anonymity is the Brand that Sells

March 30, 2014, 1:07 pm
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"From the creators of:" Disney and Pixar are big selling points, but the directors rarely get a mention
in animated film marketing. As opposed to what we see in live-action.

When you hear about an animated film, you don't hear who's directing it but rather the name of the studio that's doing it. Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Blue Sky, among others, are studios that sell their films through the power of their respective brands but who rarely name the human talent behind the projects. For the record, I don't condemn that practice as people have come to expect a certain level of excellence when they hear a new film is coming from Pixar or Disney, but I think that this  kind of anonymity has contributed to the general disregard that animated films are an "easy" thing to do; leading to not taking the people behind them seriously.

While I think it is impossible to know every single person that has worked on a film (animated or live-action), the director is usually a very visible face, but, in animation, that face is still hidden by the power of the brand. When was the last time you heard something like "From Academy Award Winning Director Brad Bird?" However, in live-action, the names of famous directors are always mentioned in all marketing material (Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, etc.). Even high profile animation directors like John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Ron Clements, John Musker, etc., who have directed many popular animated films, are not as widely recognized as their live-action counterparts.

These CalArts graduates, now animation directors, have generated over $26
billion at the worldwide box-office. Yet, to general moviegoers, they're relatively
unknown. (Credit: Vanity Fair)

Passionate fans obviously recognize these people and then some, but if you ask the average moviegoer who directed The Little Mermaid, few will know the answer. The same can be said for The Incredibles, Toy Story, The Lion King and others. People will certainly know the films and the studio that released them but not the directors or other people behind them. When you ask "who directed Pacific Rim?" Most people will say Guillermo del Toro.

This anonymity practice is nothing new. Walt Disney employed it all the time. When he made animated films, his name was the one that people recognized and, up to this day, that practice still continues. I'm not questioning Walt's talent or vision - which were spectacular - but not many people know who the "nine old men" were, and certainly wouldn't be able to identify the names David Hand or Clyde Geronimi if their lives depended on it.

Nowadays it's exactly the same. The movies are built by the studio's prestige but there are no names in the promotional ads. In all Pixar films you can see the slogan "From the creators of..." but never something like "From Pete Docter, director of Up and Monsters, Inc., comes Inside Out". It's not only Pixar, all the studios employ the same strategy. Even the little ones like Laika. I distinctly remember when Coraline was being released, the slogan was "From the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas" and most people still think, to this day, that Coraline was directed by Tim Burton (and they think Nightmare was too). Burton is an exception to the rule mainly because he has done many popular live-action films and his name sells. However, I don't see any harm in including animation directors' names in the marketing. You can say "From Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3" and people will go because it's a Pixar film and related to Toy Story 3, which is one of the most popular films of all time. I'm not saying we should disregard the publicity strategy currently used, rather, make a few tweaks here and there. It's perfectly okay to put the studio behind the film and the director's name on the posters. I don't think that will hurt the marketing at all. It may even improve it. This is not about fame, but about fair recognition. Both Up and Toy Story 3 were nominated for Best Picture but neither Docter nor Unkrich were nominated for Best Director. Why is that? Because people do not quite grasp how an animated film is made and, by hiding the people who work on it, the situation just worsens. When they see an animated film, the Academy and the general audience see the studio but not the people.

"A company is like an enormous clock. It only works if all the little cogs mesh
together."

I love how film is a collaborative process, but I also think that some level of individuality has to be considered, because otherwise it all just looks like cogs in a big machine. The directors, who are responsible for putting everything together and guiding an entire team of people to work towards a unique vision, should be recognized for their efforts. Yes, they are given the Best Animated Feature Award but, in the end, most people remember the film that was awarded and not the directors. (How many people can name the directors of Frozen? Not many I'd guess.)

Animation has always struggled to be taken as more than just "kiddie-fare" or a different genre from live-action. Many efforts have been taken to change that perspective, but one pivotal thing is to start recognizing the people behind these films. They should be not only recognised by their peers, but by the general public, so that when you're talking about a film and you say the name Henry Selick, people will know who that is instead of just scratching their heads. Recognising the human talent is the only way for the medium to blossom into a better future.
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The Incredibles 2 and Cars 3 to Actually Be the Same Film, Says Iger

April 1, 2014, 8:22 am
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A couple of weeks ago we got the mammoth news that Disney and Pixar were going ahead with sequels to The Incredibles and Cars. Now we've got news which is even bigger: Disney CEO Bob Iger says that the two films will actually be one; a crossover film which will lay the groundwork for a "Pixar Cinematic Universe."

Iger said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: "People around the world love both of these franchises so much, so it seemed to us that, by combining them, everybody would be getting twice as much enjoyment. This strategy has worked phenomenally well for our Marvel films, and I see no reason that a Pixar Cinematic Universe couldn't be just as big - if not bigger!" He went on to add that, if things go well, this could be a precursor to an "animated Disney multiverse," culminating in a tie-in with Frozen 2, via a post-credits sting at the end of the IncrediCars (working title) movie.


Yes, that barmy "Pixar Theory" - that all the films are set in the same intertwined universe - has actually proven to be less nonsensical, and more prophetic. The film (reportedly due out in summer 2017) apparently sees an un-destroyed Omnidroid gain sentience, and set about building a self-aware, conscious - and deadly - army of robot cars. The statement tells us to imagine "Terminator-like scenarios," as the incredible Parr family (and some of their super-friends) are the last resistance against the apocalyptic automobiles. Then, via some methods that the studio are currently staying tight-lipped about, Lightning McQueen, Mater, and some of their friends from both previous Cars films, travel back in time to help The Incredibles stop the robo-rapture (bear in mind, time travel has happened before in the Cars universe, in the Cars short film Time Travel Mater).

Did you really think it was just a coincidence that Pixar decided to put Doc
Hudson from Cars in The Incredibles?

As if that wasn't earth-shattering enough, Iger went on to hint at a potential Marvel-Star Wars crossover, saying "y'know, I bet Han Solo and Tony Stark would really get on..." Slyly smiling, he added "just throwing that out there."

 Oh, and happy April 1st...
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Totoro Limited Edition T-Shirts!

April 3, 2014, 7:38 am
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If you love Studio Ghibli as much as I do (and that's quite a lot), then you go out of your way to commemorate your devotion by looking for awesome fan swag all over the internet. While most people find books, toys, even plush "animals", I still think the best way to show your fanaticism is by wearing it on a t-shirt.

I woke up this morning to find that my favourite online shirt company has released, for 24 hours only, TWO limited edition Totoro designs that are just awesome. Check them out:


The way TeeFury works is simple: they release one (sometimes two) limited edition t-shirts for just 24 hours and if you purchase it for only $11 (plus shipping duh), then it's like you become part of this secret society...I may be stretching that a bit. Regardless, the designs are cool and the fact that you own one of only a few hundred prints of each shirt is kind of awesome to think about.

If you love the graphics above, act fast! There are only 13 hours left... and counting.
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Watch: First Trailer for Aardman's Shaun the Sheep Movie

April 4, 2014, 7:22 am
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The teaser trailer for Aardman's sixth feature film, Shaun the Sheep Movie, has made its way online. And, un-shockingly, it looks great! Check out the baa-rilliant trailer below.

Based on the character first seen in the Wallace & Gromit short A Close Shave, and on the subsequent self-titled TV series, the Shaun the Sheep film is animated in the spirit of all of Aardman's best films - stop-motion - and is directed by Richard Stazark and Mark Burton. Check out the rib-tickling trailer below:



When Shaun rolls round on 20th March, 2015, it'll have been three years since Aardman's last film - hopefully it'll have been worth the wait. No word on a US distributor or release date yet though.
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The Art of The Wind Rises Book Coming Very Soon

April 4, 2014, 7:30 am
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Since it was announced that The Wind Rises would be Hayao Miyazaki's final film, I have been anticipating the release of the art book. Viz Media announced last week, via the Anime News Network, that they would be publishing The Art of The Wind Rises on 8th April - which is just days away - for the price of $34.00 USD/$39.99 CAN.

Of course if you decide to pre-order on Amazon you get a small but lovely discount at $26.78 (plush S&H of course).

This may very well be one of the more important Art of Books to collect in the Ghibli family, right along withSpirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro (both of which are also by Viz Media), though the quality of the content is of course subjective as evidenced by my Art of Kiki's Delivery Service review.

One thing's for sure, once I get my hands on this one you can expect to see a review on this book.
The latest in the perennially popular line of Studio Ghibli artbooks, which includes interviews, concept sketches, and finished animation cels from classics such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

The Wind Rises is Miyazaki’s love letter to the power of flight and the imagination, an examination of the rise of Japan’s military might in the years leading up to the Second World War, and a call for worldwide peace and harmony in the face of destruction. This book captures the art of the film, from conception to production, and features in-depth interviews with the filmmakers (Amazon).
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Henry Jackman to Score Disney's Big Hero 6

April 7, 2014, 12:03 pm
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Credit: Paul Briggs

Henry Jackman has worked with Disney before - he scored 2011's Winnie the Pooh, 2012's Wreck-It Ralph and he's just done Captain America: The Winter Soldier for Disney-owned Marvel - and now he's apparently working on the score for Walt Disney Animation Studios' Marvel adaptation, Big Hero 6, says Film Music Reporter!

Top is a new teaser poster for the film, courtesy of Disney story supervisor Paul Briggs; the posters are apparently popping up outside the WDAS building (see also, layout artist Tyler Kupferer's picture). Comedian TJ Miller recently announced that he'd be voicing Fred in the film, a friend of the film's hero Hiro. So we're drip by drip getting more details about Disney's next animated release, and it's good to hear a composer the calibre of Jackman's on board for it.

Concept art for the film, featuring Baymax and Hiro.

The film is "an action comedy adventure," which follows "brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who finds himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—Hiro joins forces with a reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their city." Check out the extra plot and character details that Rotoscopers unveiled back in September here.

Big Hero 6 is directed by Don Hall (Winnie the Pooh) and Chris Williams (Bolt) and hits cinemas on 7th November in the US. In the UK? Not so much...

Via Rotoscopers
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Wreck-It Ralph Composer on Sequel: "A Story is Indeed Being Written"

April 7, 2014, 12:16 pm
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Henry Jackman, who has just recently scored Marvel's buzz-generating Captain America: The Winter Soldier (and who has just been announced as scoring Disney's upcoming Marvel adaptation, Big Hero 6), spoke to Collider recently. One very interesting topic of conversation was the rumoured sequel to 2012's Wreck-It Ralph; the composer, who scored the film, says he thinks the film is "officially on the cards."

Asked on whether he had heard anything about the sequel, Jackman said:
"I did, to be honest with you. I can’t tell you more, not because I'm being coy, but I believe that it is officially on the cards. I don’t know any more other than a story is indeed being written." 
He went on to imply that he'd be returning to score Wreck-It Ralph 2, if it does indeed come to fruition.


Director Rich Moore has spoken about what a Ralph 2 might consist of before. "I think it would be great to explore online gaming, home games," he said in one interview. "It was fun to kind of begin it in an arcade, and I think that really tapped into the nostalgia, that that has attached to it. But if we were to do a sequel, I think we need to kind of bring it up to date. So we're working on ideas, should we do one, that would bring it into modern gaming."

In another interview, Moore hinted that a sequel also might involve several Ralphs (à la Buzz in Toy Story 2, perhaps), positing "What would happen if another Fix It Felix, Jr. game was plugged in? Are there other Ralphs that are more contemporary? Is there another version of the game that was made for mobile? Are there those kind of Super Smash Brothers types games where all the characters are gathered in a fighting game? What would that be like for Ralph to come face to face with those different iterations of himself?" Apparently he'd been discussing it with John C. Reilly (the voice of Ralph), saying, "it’s created some really cool conversations."

Not to mention, the director has also expressed his desires to put Mario and Tron in the sequel.


It may not have been quite as attention-grabbing as last year's Frozen, but Wreck-It Ralph was undoubtedly an absolute hoot (and one of my personal favourite Disney films) and a sequel would be more than welcome!
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Watch: New How to Train Your Dragon 2 Trailer (But Beware, There Be Spoilers)

April 11, 2014, 10:25 am
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DreamWorks have rolled out a second full-length theatrical trailer for their hotly anticipated sequel to 2010's How to Train Your Dragon! The film looks extremely exciting, with lots of intense action and warm humour, but this trailer does pack the same spoiler as the previous one. So if you want to go into the film un-spoiled, maybe give it a swerve.

This is the second trailer that DreamWorks have had this spoiler in, so I guess they don't think it's that big of a thing. (Although there's also the chance that it's distributor Fox who decided to put the spoiler in, for the sake of pulling in more people to see the film, as opposed to it being a DreamWorks decision.) It does look like the reveal comes pretty early on in the film, so it's possibly not going to be too detrimental to your enjoyment of the film as a whole.

So, you've been warned, feel free to check the trailer out below:



Dragons, flaming swords, and it even has Jon Snow in it; HTTYD2 certainly has a little bit of Game of Thrones about it. Hopefully with less incest and murder.



Dragon 2 is directed by Dean DeBlois (who co-directed the first film with Chris Sanders) and features the returning voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler and Jonah Hill, as well as new additions Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou and Kit Harington. It's released on 13th June (US)/4th July (UK).
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New UK Trailer and Release Date for The Wind Rises

April 11, 2014, 10:32 am
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The Wind Rises will finally show in the UK on 9th May! Thanks to The Telegraph, we also have a new trailer just for the occasion. Check it out:


Though there doesn't seem to be anything new in the trailer, it is still wonderfully edited - though that could hardly be difficult, as the film itself is a masterpiece.

According to The Telegraph, there will be screenings in both the American English Dub and the original Japanese with English subtitles, but you'll have to check with your local theatre. The American English Dub is voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, Mandy Patinkin, William H. Macey, Werner Herzog, Mae Whitman, Jennifer Grey, Darren Criss, Elijah Wood and Ronan Farrow.
A partially fictionalised biopic, the feature tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, the aviation engineer responsible for designing the A6M Zero, a deadly fighter aircraft used during the Second World War. His life is combined with that of novelist Tatsuo Hori, Horikoshi’s biographer.
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BFI Studio Ghibli Feature Film Retrospective

April 12, 2014, 1:12 pm
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The British Film Institute Southbank will be hosting a retrospective on Studio Ghibli's work over the last 30 years from April through May this year. Not only will they be showing all of their biggest films, but they will also be screening The Wind Rises before it even hits theatres on 9th May. Although the showing of The Wind Rises is set for 23rd April and is already sold out, there are still many films on the roster that are definitely worth taking a look particularly as these films are meant to be enjoyed on the big screen and not on a television set.

Check out the full list of films in the Studio Ghibli Complete Season Breakdown, but get moving quickly if you're interested, as they're selling out fast. As of the time of writing, here's a list of what films are available:

Castle in the Sky
Grave of the Fireflies
My Neighbour Totoro (2/3 showings Sold Out)
Kiki's Delivery Service
Porco Rosso (1/3 showings Sold Out)
Spirited Away (Sold Out)
Only Yesterday
Ocean Waves (TV movie)
Princess Mononoke (2/3 showings Sold Out)
Pom Poko
Whisper of the Heart
My Neighbours the Yamadas
The Cat Returns
Howl's Moving Castle
Ponyo
Tales From Earthsea
From Up on Poppy Hill
Arrietty
The Wind Rises (Sold Out)

It is rare that such a large portion of the Studio Ghibli collection is shown on the big screen so I highly recommend that you at least take a look at one or two of the films if you can make it. The films that I consider to be "must sees" (excluding the sold out ones) are: Grave of the Fireflies, Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle, and From Up on Poppy Hill.

For more info on the screenings and the event itself, check out bfi.org.uk.
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Watch: How Frozen Should Have Ended (Warning: Contains Hilarity)

April 14, 2014, 10:07 am
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Frozen's everywhere at the moment. "Let It Go" has been covered approximately 2.7 billion times (rough estimate), it's now the eighth highest-grossing film ever made, and you can tell it's big, because it's being furiously parodied. We already got the Honest Trailer for the film last month, and now the folks at How It Should Have Ended have released a Frozen video too. And it's hilarious. Check it out after the jump!



Wolverine belting out "Let It Go," grabbing Storm as he sings "let the storm rage on," and Iceman reluctantly muttering "the cold never bothered me anyway..." - this might well be my favourite Frozen parody. It's certainly a hoot!

What did you think of it?
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Animation Studios' Shophomore Films - From Worst to Best

April 18, 2014, 3:06 pm
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Many times, animation studios start very strong with a debut feature that is beloved and popular. But, when the time comes to release their second outing, they often stumble. Either they are just a retread of the first film or just aren't as successful as it. However, many of these films have actually improved on their predecessors and are now regarded as masterpieces. Let's take a look on these second (and often underrated) efforts and see how they compare to their immediate predecessors.

Hop (2011)


The less we speak about this film, the better. After Illumination Entertainment made a promising debut with Despicable Me the year before, they went completely downhill with this film that can hardly even be called animated. A live-action/animation hybrid of the worst kind (in the same vein as The Smurfs and Alvin and The Chipmunks), Hop is just a very poorly conceived film with crass humor that will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Much worse

Robots (2005)


I think Ice Age remains Blue Sky's best film to date. It is a winning combination of humour and heart, packed with endearing characters. Unfortunately, their subsequent films haven't been unable to repeat that combination in a successful way. Robots, show lots of imaginative design, all packaged up in gorgeous environments, but unfortunately the story is stale and many of the characters are annoying. Robots is not the studio's worst film (that title goes to Epic), but it is still a very forgettable affair.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Worse

ParaNorman (2012)


Laika jumped on the animation train with a superb debut film, Coraline. Spooky and gorgeously animated, Coraline was an instant masterpiece and a tough act to follow. Fortunately, Laika seems to know what they're doing, as their second film, ParaNorman, is a fantastic achievement in its own right. And, while I prefer Coraline, ParaNorman is no slouch either. With superb animation, a timely message and great characters, ParaNorman is a winner.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Slightly worse

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)


After the delightful Chicken Run (which I still think is Aardman's best film to date), Aardman's next film put, arguably, their most recognizable characters in the spotlight. With wonderful animation, witty jokes and great characters, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a film that cemented Aardman as a first-class animation studio.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Slightly worse

The Prince of Egypt (1998)


DreamWorks Animation made its debut with the serviceable Antz, which is a fun but very uneven film. Things got much better with their second outing, The Prince of Egypt. Based on Moses's story from the Bible, you don't have to be a religious person to appreciate the level of great storytelling that the film has. Coupled with superb animation and great songs, DreamWorks crafted one of their best and most mature films to date. It's a shame the film is not as popular as others from the studio because it truly is a classic.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Better.

Castle in the Sky (1986)


After the wonderful and epic Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Miyazaki and his then-recently-founded studio, Studio Ghibli, set their heights on an adventure story featuring a girl with a magical past and a seemingly ordinary orphan boy, who together have the clues to find the mysterious land of Laputa, which is hidden in the sky. Brimming with memorable characters, a message of courage and friendship and wonderful action sequences. Castle in the Sky is another winner from Ghibli.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Equal

A Bug's Life (1998)


In 1995, Toy Story changed the animation industry and set the standard technique in which most animated films are made today. Not only that, but it is also a superb film and one of the best debut films from a studio in the history of filmmaking. Their second outing had the difficult task of equalling or surpassing those feats and, while A Bug's Life is not as popular as its predecessor, I think that it's the better film of the two. The animation is simply gorgeous and still impressive almost 16 years later. The story is superb too, brimming with wonderful and witty characters; the whole world that Pixar created is just a marvel to behold. Include a superb score by Randy Newman and you have an exciting, adventurous film that will delight everyone. A Bug's Life may not be as popular as other Pixar films, but it's actually one of their best.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Better

Pinocchio (1940)


Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a game changer in the filmmaking industry and it single-handedly introduced animated films as a viable form of entertainment. It became a huge box office success and is still regarded as a classic more than 70 years later. The studio's second outing took storytelling and animation to a whole new level. Unfortunately, when it first came out, WWII was raging and the film didn't recoup its budget. Still, time has been nothing but kind to Pinocchio and now it's regarded as one of Disney Animation's best films (if not their very best). With a superb story about right and wrong, wonderful and memorable characters and catchy music that has become a staple of the company, Pinocchio sits at the very top of the studio's best movies.

Better/Worse Than the First Film: Better
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Ed Catmull Takes Us Inside Pixar

April 21, 2014, 2:44 pm
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A Creativity, Inc. Review


I'm not usually one for management books. To be honest, I don't recall reading one in the past. I don't think I ever thought to myself 'Yowzah! This management book looks so exciting I can barely restrain myself from exploding with joy!' - by the way, if you have said these exact words to yourself at any point in your life, you're an interesting subject matter.
And yet something in Disney and Pixar president Ed Catmull's book, Creativity, Inc., (co-written with journalist Amy Wallace) felt weirdly attractive: the promise of learning more about the two studios, as an animation fan, seemed exciting; Mr. Catmull should have great insight on these companies and on the films they produced in the recent years. And, unsurprisingly, when you read Creativity, Inc. you find out quite a lot of things about just that. What takes you by surprise, though, is how much you relate to the management segments.

Ed Catmull

Creativity, Inc. is first and foremost about how to find and deal with hidden problems in a creative environment - such as Pixar. About how to maintain a healthy culture, a safe workplace. This may sound like an abstract and unrelatable prospect, but Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace consistently find ways to make their points accessible and interesting. And I believe everyone can find applications in their own lives. Not just managers or animators.
For example, after a mandatory introduction, the book opens with the statement that not every problem is easily visible at first. More than that: a problem can be right in your face for years without you noticing it. To make this notion more approachable, Ed Catmull tells the story of a table that had been at Pixar for several years before anyone realized there was something wrong with it.
"Over the course of a decade, we held countless meetings around this table in this way - completely unaware of how doing so undermined our own core principles. Why where we blind to this? Because the seating arrangements and place cards were designed for the convenience of the leaders, including me. Sincerely believing that we were in an inclusive meeting, we saw nothing amiss because we didn't feel excluded. Those not sitting at the center of the table, meanwhile, saw quite clearly how it established a pecking order but presumed that we - the leaders - had intended that outcome. Who were they, then, to complain?"
Each time a new idea, a new concept is presented to us, an anecdote or a quote from a member of the Pixar staff comes with it and informs it in a way that makes it resonate more vividly. 
One particular chapter about randomness being an important part in success, where Ed Catmull remembers how he and his family escaped a deadly car accident by a couple of inches, was especially gripping to me. Had the circumstances been just slightly different that day, the author tells us, Pixar wouldn't exist today. And he goes on by saying that a lot of things had to happen for the Emeryville studio to come into being; in other words, Pixar's success was far from inevitable. Pixar is successful because random things happen.
Creativity, Inc. is full of moments like this, each giving us clues on how to protect a creative culture. Most of them are leading to the same conclusions: creativity is a complex business and you never have all the answers.


But as I stated before, Creativity, Inc. is also good to animation fans - particularly Pixar and Disney ones.
If you are hungry for some tidbits about animated films, this book is made for you. Among other things, you'll learn why Newt was cancelled, how Disney's American Dog became Bolt, why Rapunzel's title changed to Tangled, that Up could have been very different...
Ed Catmull also takes you inside some key moments from the Pixar process. There's a chapter dedicated to a Braintrust session for Pete Docter's upcoming Inside Out where the story is hinted at. We can also witness a dailies session on Brave, led by director Mark Andrews. 
"For all the barking and levity, you could feel the focused concentration in the room. What these people were engaged in was the kind of detailed analysis - and openness to constructive criticism - that would determine whether merely good animation would become great. Mark bore down on ten frames in which Queen Elinor, the mom character who has turned into a bear, walks on stones while traversing a creek. 'She looks like she's stepping more catlike than heavy-bear-like,' he said. 'I like the overall speed, but I'm not feeling the weight. She's waking like a ninja.' Everybody nodded and - note taken - they moved on."
Marks Andrews

One chapter dedicated to the 2006 merger between Disney and Pixar proves particularly interesting, as we follow some of the steps that led the legendary Burbank animation studio to be great again. We find out about the tensions it created at Pixar, too.

The book also works in some ways as an (incomplete) autobiography, when we learn about the author's journey and how it led him to become the president/manager of such an important company. That wasn't always his goal. Originally, he wanted to be an animator.
While never forgetting the book's bigger, managing-orientated purpose, the author tells us a lot about himself: what drove him where he his today, from the University of Utah, to the New York Institute of Technology, to Lucasfilm; how he discovered texture-mapping, among other things; what motivated him before Toy Story was released, versus what motivates him today...
When the subject of computer graphics is brought to the table, Ed Catmull's comments remain extremely easy to comprehend, but not in a way that makes the reader feel like a complete idiot.
As you learn more about the man, one compelling notion quickly prevails: Ed Catmull seems like a perfect combination of cleverness and humility.

The final chapter of Creativity, Inc. is also one of its strongest: an afterword called 'The Steve We Knew,' where Mr. Catmull points out that all he's been reading about Steve Jobs - another Pixar co-founder - didn't match the man he knew.
So, he decides to show us what the Steve Jobs he knew was like - with his flaws and qualities - and how Pixar changed the charismatic leader of Apple for the better. It's a touching part of the book, and when John Lasseter remembers his goodbyes to Steve Jobs, it's even more than that; it's moving.

Steve Jobs

To conclude, I will say that Creativity, Inc. is simply a must-read for any Disney/Pixar fans, but in truth it should be a must-read for everyone. It's inspirational, entertaining and touching; when you finish this book you'll wish your boss was more like Ed Catmull.

9/10
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(Very) Early Oscar Predictions for Best Animated Feature

April 21, 2014, 4:25 pm
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I know most animated films scheduled for this year haven't even been released yet, but I think it'll be fun to make some predictions based on what we know of each film and weigh up their chances of receiving a nod next year for the next Oscar ceremony. So, without much further ado, here are my (very) early predictions for next year's Academy Awards.

The Lego Movie (already released): The Lego Movie made a superb debut back in February, winning critical acclaim and big box office receipts. The film came like a breath of fresh air after a (mostly) disappointing 2013 and kicked off this year with a bang. With a wonderful premise, endearing characters and gorgeous animation, The Lego Movie cemented its status as an instant classic. Critics raved over it and it's clearly a lock for a nomination on next year's Oscars. Everything is Awesome indeed! (Review here)

Chances of Being Nominated: Very High


Mr. Peabody & Sherman (already released): DreamWorks' first film of the year is a wonderful mixture of retro-style and a touching father-son relationship. It is better than both of DreamWorks' previous films from last year, and has returned the studio to form. Unfortunately, its box office earnings haven't been as huge as Lego and its critical reception, while positive, has been more tempered than the former's. Peabody still has a chance of being nominated but I wouldn't count it as a stronger competitor in comparison to what's coming for the rest of the year. (Review here)

Chances of Being Nominated: Regular


Rio 2 (already released): I haven't seen this film, but based on the overall reception, I wouldn't count it as a strong contender for next year's ceremony. Add in the fact that Blue Sky's only nominated film to date has been the first Ice Age back in 2003 and the odds are not in this one's favour.

Chances of Being Nominated: Low


How To Train Your Dragon 2 (US: 13th June/ UK: 4th July): The biggest animated film of the summer is a guaranteed box office success and, based on the trailers that have been surfacing, could be equal or superior to its highly-regarded predecessor. With no Pixar film this year and almost no competition for the summer, HTTYD2 is poised to be a big winner for DreamWorks and their frontrunner for next year's awards.

Chances of Being Nominated: High


Planes: Fire & Rescue (US: 18th July/ UK: 8th August): The sequel to the the profitable but lowly-regarded Planes seems to offer more of the same formula as its predecessor: an entertaining but forgettable kid's flick. So the chances of this one being nominated are very slim to say the least.

Chances of Being Nominated: Low


The BoxTrolls (US: 26th September/UK: 12th September): Laika is two-for-two when it comes to Oscar nominations. Both Coraline and ParaNorman were nominated and have enjoyed critical success, even if, financially, they haven't been very successful. The BoxTrolls looks like another winner from the studio, with a fantastical premise and spooky yet great animation. The BoxTrolls looks like another lock for next year.

Chances of Being Nominated: High


The Book of Life (US: 17th October/UK: 24th October): Reel FX doesn't have the best of track records so far, with their first film, Free Birds, leaving a lot to be desired. Fortunately, it looks like they'll have much better luck the second time, and The Book of Life could be their breakthrough film. It has an intriguing premise, a talented crew behind it and the pieces of concept art that have surfaced so far look nothing short of gorgeous. Still, with the studio's shaky reputation, let's say this one has a fair chance.

Chances of Being Nominated: Regular


Big Hero 6 (US: 7th November/UK 13th February, 2015): Walt Disney Animation Studios has positioned itself as the top animation studio in recent years. Since 2007, they have been slowly building a new identity while never forgetting their roots and that resulted in the spectacular success of their latest film, Frozen. An Oscar winner and earning more than $1 billion at the box office, Frozen signalled the glorious return of WDAS. Their newest film promises an exciting adventure; it will be the first Disney Animated film based on a Marvel comic and the premise and characters sound very intriguing. We don't know many details about it yet but WDAS has earned our trust again and there's no reason to believe this film won't be a hit and a top contender for next year.

Chances of Being Nominated: High


Home (US: 26th November/UK: 5th December): DreamWorks' last film from this year doesn't look too interesting. The premise of a group of aliens looking to make Earth their new home sounds fun, but not memorable. They debuted a charming yet forgettable short film related to it with Mr. Peabody & Sherman, and it's still too early to tell if this film is going to be good or bad. Whether they release two or three films per year, DreamWorks tend to release one great film with the rest being merely good, or just bad. My bet is that their great film will be Dragon 2 with Peabody and this one being relegated to the side. Still, Home could be a surprise hit, so I'll be cautiously optimistic about it.

Chances of Being Nominated: Regular


The Tale of Princess Kaguya(late 2014): GKIDS got the rights for Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli's latest film, and plan to release it around fall this year for an Oscar qualifying run. Based on The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Kaguya has been receiving praise on the other side of the world but unfortunately, as with most of Ghibli's films, it will go largely unnoticed in the Western Hemisphere. It doesn't help that it has a somewhat unique animation style (something I'm looking forward to see, but that might turn many viewers off) and that it lacks the Miyazaki name behind it. With all these elements in the mix, Kaguya faces an uphill battle on getting a nomination. Still, the Academy likes to mix things up sometimes and the "foreign" aspect of the movie might give it a slight boost.

Chances of Being Nominated: Low/Regular

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So, summing up, here are my predictions:

If there are three nominees:
  • Big Hero 6
  • How To Train Your Dragon 2
  • The Lego Movie
Possible upset: The Boxtrolls or The Book of Life.

If there are five nominees:
  • Big Hero 6
  • The Book of Life
  • The Boxtrolls
  • How To Train Your Dragon 2
  • The Lego Movie
Possible upset: Mr Peabody & Sherman or The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments!
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First Look: WDAS' Next Short Film, Feast

April 24, 2014, 2:02 pm
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Walt Disney Animation Studios have announced their next short film - and released a title card and a snazzy concept first look at it, too - which will apparently debut at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on 10th June. The short, Feast, will then open wide with the studio's next feature film, Big Hero 6, this winter.

Disney announced the short on their website, alongside a first look at the film (below). There seems to be a bit of a discrepancy online as to whether the image is a piece of concept art or a very stylised still from the film (my money's on the former) - the assumption certainly seems to be that the short will be animated using the same Meander 2D-CG hybrid system that Disney's Oscar-winning Paperman short was made with. That assumption certainly meshes with the film's director; Patrick Osborne (head of animation on Paperman) is helming the film.


The logline for the film is: "The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share."

Feast sounds and looks very interesting and exciting, and - given that WDAS has created some truly great shorts as of late (particularly its latest two: the phenomenal Paperman and incredibly fun Get a Horse!) - it certainly has a lot of promise.

Big Hero 6 (and thus Feast) opens on 7th November in the US and waaay later, on 13th February, 2015, in the UK.

Source: The Walt Disney Company website
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Watch The First 5 Minutes of How to Train Your Dragon 2 Here

April 24, 2014, 2:25 pm
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A couple of days ago, Yahoo! Movies released the first five minutes from what may well end up being the best animated film of the year. Yep, DreamWorks released an extended look at their hotly-anticipated How to Train Your Dragon 2! Check it out below.



The scene opens with Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) narrating Berk, as it seems to have changed for the better since we last saw it. Then there's some dragon racing, featuring supporting characters from the first film like Astrid (America Ferrera), Snotlout (Jonah Hill) and big-grumpy-viking-dude Stoick (Gerard Butler). That's all well and good; pretty fun stuff. But the opening gets really good when its cuts to our two heroes: Hiccup and Toothless. The now-one-legged Hiccup and his dragon soar about the sky (it's really just an extended version of the original teaser trailer) to a great backing track. Anyway, check it out for yourself - it's embedded above.

Remember to also check out the final trailer we got for the film a couple of weeks ago (providing you don't fear spoilers, that is) here.

HTTYD2 is directed by Dean DeBlois and also stars the voices of Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou and Kit Harington. It opens on 13th June (US)/4th July (UK).

Via Rotoscopers
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Frozen's Box Office Success Aftermath: Is Big Hero 6 In Danger of Overly High Expectations?

April 24, 2014, 3:41 pm
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As you may already know, (unless you've been living under a rock for the past 5 months) Frozen is a worldwide phenomenon. It won two Oscars, people sing "Let It Go" everywhere, and it has grossed more than $1 billion at the box office. This is all great news for Walt Disney Animation Studios, who have been staging this kind of comeback since 2007. Frozen is the result of years of great effort from the hard-working Disney crew, to try and turn things around and became the creative powerhouse they once were way back in the 90s. Still, one question arises after this kind of success: what's next? Will their next films earn anywhere near the same amount of money? One can dream, but $1 billion grosses are not something that can be earned that easily. This puts their next film, Big Hero 6, in a difficult position regarding its box office revenue.

We still don't know a lot about Big Hero 6 (and I think it's time we at least know the cast) but it has a lot of interesting elements in its favour. First of all, it's based on a Marvel property. True, it's a rather obscure one, but the name Marvel has become synonymous with good superhero films, so with that name attached, people will surely think highly of it. Also, and very importantly, WDAS is doing the film - and that is a reason to celebrate. Since their spectacular comeback, creative juices at the studio have been firing on all cylinders, and I think this latest film will be no exception. Then we have the film itself; a superhero tale with a mixture of Japanese culture and unique characters is a great set-up for what can become the studio's next classic.


Still, even with all these elements in the right place, there are many factors that can conspire against a film's box office run. Marketing can do a lousy job promoting it, the weekend it opens on may not be ideal, people may not be interested, and so on and so on. So, even if a film is good, box office success is not guaranteed. I'm raising this concern because, in the wake of Frozen's phenomenal run, many executives at the company, and the public in general, will expect Big Hero 6 to perform similarly well.

It's good to have expectations, but, like I said above, to gross $1 billion is not an easy task. It's even more difficult if it's an original idea rather than a sequel (in fact, Frozen is one of only four original films to ever pass that boundary), so there's a big chance that Big Hero 6 won't earn the same amount of money as its predecessor. However, I don't think that's a bad thing. If you look at Pixar, only Toy Story 3 has earned more than a billion, but still all their films are deemed as successful. If Big Hero 6 earns around $700 or $800 million it would be a massive hit too, don't you think? I just hope that the executives at the company and the general media will see it that way too.


One of the problems after The Lion King was that the company expected that same kind of success in all the films that followed and, when the films failed to meet those expectations, they were deemed failures, when in reality they were far from it.

Before Frozen, WDAS released films that were considered successes, like Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph, but Frozen jumped so very far ahead of them that I'm afraid that, if Big Hero 6 earns less than it or more in line with the films before it, many people will cry "Failure!," when that's simply not the case.

I'll love it if Big Hero 6 is a superb film that grosses as much as Frozen, or even more. But, the truth is that there's no guarantee of that, and very high expectations could kill this film's reputation. All I'm saying is that executives, the media and the general public need to be aware that the film probably won't gross $1 billion, but it can still be successful in its own right.
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Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Revealed (May the Fourth Be With You!)

May 4, 2014, 7:20 am
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It's a bit delayed from us (apologies!), so surely everyone knows by now but if you don't - THE CAST FOR STAR WARS HAS BEEN REVEALED. (It's a good day for the post though - happy Star Wars day!)

The cast and crew of Star Wars: Episode VII

Here's the release:
"The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.
"Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker in the new film.

"Director J.J. Abrams says, 'We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.'"

A few of the names we've heard before being associated with the film, like Adam Driver (HBO's Girls) and John Boyega (Attack The Block), but others are a big surprise, such as Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, King Kong), Domhnall Gleeson (About Time, Harry Potter) and Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, Sucker Punch) who have always been terrific in other productions. Newcomer Daisy Ridley has been in productions before, but Star Wars is going to be a big change to what she is use to, which must mean Mr Abrams and co. have a good feeling about her. And of course, the return of original stars is very pleasing and exciting!

Personally I think the cast is sounding impressive. We all know Serkis is wonderful and he has a lot of charisma, so he could be either a villain or a goodie and ace it. Boyega will be interesting, his role in Attack The Block was bold, and there are already talks that he is going to be the new lead. It seems a shame there is only one female in the new cast, but already rumours starting that there are more people to be added to this awesome cast list!

So what do you think of the cast? Are you excited?

Star Wars: Episode VII is coming 18th December, 2015!
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The Pixar Secret We Never Heard Of

May 4, 2014, 7:29 am
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Will you spot the hidden reference?

In the last few days, an online buzz has caught our attention. According to this Huffington Post article, there's a hidden reference to a certain A113 in nearly every Pixar movie. 
At A113Animation we love that sort of stuff, and, learning about that story, we immediately saw its potential; obviously we had no clue there was this recurring A113 Easter egg in the Pixar films, or what it referenced.
But we thought it would be interesting to share our reaction to this brand new discovery.

At first, A113Animation's founder - William Jardine - didn't know how to name his blog. He went through many iterations, all of them featuring a letter followed by a three-digit number, and then the word Animation. "I had a hard time picking one name," he recalls. "W009, B456 and T711 were fine, but I wanted something that sounded just right. And I finally settled for A113."
Good on him, as it now transpires the name he chose back then is directly linked to Pixar. What a cool thing to happen for a blog dedicated to animated films! There are such things as happy coincidences!
                                                                       
One of many rejected logos

When the A113Animation team found out about this A113 stuff, everyone was astonished. Our live-action writer Nadine called it "bewildering," while our Studio Ghibli specialist Mayra said she was "overwhelmed by the news." Munir used the word "flabbergasted" and Damien was so shocked he refused to comment on the matter.

A re-enactment of William's reaction when he saw the Huffington Post article.

Now, that one Reddit user who deciphered that unknown easter egg for us claims "A113 refers to a classroom number at the California Institute of Arts. It was the classroom for first year graphic design and character animation, where many of the animators at Pixar and Disney, and several other studios, discovered and mastered their craft. The use of A113 in their films is a friendly nod to one another that they once shared a classroom without which they would never be doing what they're doing now."
That seems far-fetched to us, quite frankly. If this was true, there would be some kind of photographic evidence; and maybe a few blogs would have picked up on it and made a list of the A113 references?

We'll probably never find out what this all means - and certainly haven't known about it for years - but now that the animation fans around the world know about this, we can rest and trust that there's no other Easter egg or recurrence in the Pixar productions left to be discovered.


No idea what this picture is doing here
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