Animated documentaries – even partially animated ones – are in vogue these days. There have never been so many as in the last year. In the new feature doc The Wanted 18, directors Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan bring to life a remarkable story of nonviolent resistance during the First Intifada. Through a clever mix […]
Archive for the ‘Independent’ Category
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First Look & Cast Reveal for Sony’s “Emojimovie: Express Yourself”
October 10th, 2016 
Jerry Beck Sony Pictures Animation announced today that Emmy and Tony award winner James Corden (Into the Woods) and Emmy nominee Ilana Glazer (Broad City) would join previously announced T.J. Miller (Deadpool) to lead the cast of summer 2017’s animated comedy Emojimovie: Express Yourself. Emojimovie: Express Yourself unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within […]
TRAILER: Reel FX’s “Rock Dog”
October 6th, 2016 Jerry Beck The first(?) animated release of 2017 is looking to be Rock Dog. Opening in US theaters on February 24th, 2017 via Summit Premiere (a subsidiary of Lionsgate), the pic was directed by Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2) at Reel FX in LA and Texas (though financed by a Chinese production company). Luke Wilson, Eddie Izzard, […]
Opening in Theaters on Friday: “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero”
October 3rd, 2016 Jerry Beck Lest you think you already know every film vying for an Oscar nomination this season – Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment is releasing its feature Bilal: A New Breed of Hero this Friday in Los Angeles. The film, based on the founding of Islam and starring Ian McShane (Game of Thrones, Kung Fu Panda), was awarded as […]
See Sony Classics U.S. Trailer For “The Red Turtle” Here
September 22nd, 2016 Jerry Beck Sony Pictures Classics has released their official US trailer for The Red Turtle – the highly anticipated first feature from animator Michaël Dudok de Wit. Co-produced by Studio Ghibli, the film won a special jury prize at Annecy – and will get a one week award qualifying run in LA (at the NuArt) and in […]
FIRST OFFICIAL TEASER: Sony’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village”
September 21st, 2016 Jerry Beck Opening on April 7th, 2017, Smurfs: The Lost Village is an all-new, all-animated take on the Smurfs. No live action. Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) directs – with a cast including Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson (as Gargamel), Jack McBrayer and Many Patinkin (as Papa Smurf). A very cool production blog for the film is located here. […]
David Daniels Strata Cuts New York
September 14th, 2016 Tristian Goik “Well, if they don’t want you as an animator, you can always be a camera man.” And with this bit of encouragement, David Daniels started his NY career at the Broadcast Arts animation studio. Daniels had just screened Buzz Box as part of his interview, and it was met with mixed results. Buzz Box (Daniels, […]
Jeremy Renner Added To Cast Of AMBI’s “Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad”
August 24th, 2016 Jerry Beck Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker,” “The Avengers,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”) has signed on to voice the lead character (Swifty) in the epic 3D, CGI animated family film Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad from Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Group. Renner will lead an ensemble voice cast for “Arctic Justice” that […]
Interview with Travis Knight on Directing “Kubo”
August 17th, 2016 Jackson Murphy Travis Knight is the President and CEO of Laika, the stop-motion animation studio behind Oscar-nominated hits Coraline, ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls. Their latest feature, Kubo and the Two Strings, opening this weekend, marks Knight’s directorial debut. He told me about some of the decade-long efforts of the studio, bringing Kubo to life, and a “mind-blowing” […]
TRAILER: “Long Way North” Shout Factory To Release For Oscar Consideration on September 9th
August 12th, 2016 Jerry Beck Shout Factory is giving Remi Chaye’s feature Long Way North a US theatrical release commencing September 30th. This places another French-based hand drawn animated feature in competition in the Oscar race for 2016. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rémi Chayé (The Secret of Kells) and produced by Sacrebleu Productions (Madagascar, Carnet de Voyage), Maybe Movies (Ernest […]
Laika Offers a Rare Look at its Wondrous Wares
August 8th, 2016 Jerry Beck Today through next Sunday, August 14th, you can get a rare look at the actual stop-motion character figures, infinitely detailed sets and technical apparatus that have helped make Laika the Oscar-winning studio it is today. Following that odd, frequent theme park tradition of lengthy titles that the public shortens themselves anyway, Universal Studios Hollywood is […]
Two New Behind The Scenes Featurettes From “Kubo And The Two Strings”
July 29th, 2016 Jerry Beck Two – count ’em two – new mini-docs have been made available from Laika Studios that only whet your appetite for their latest, Kubo and The Two Strings. Discover the myth of Kubo by watching this new featurette, dropping today, which includes commentary from director Travis Knight, actors Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey and incredible […]
“From Coraline to Kubo: A Magical LAIKA Experience” Debuts at Universal Studios
July 22nd, 2016 Jerry Beck LAIKA, the acclaimed animation studio and creators of the upcoming epic adventure film, Kubo and the Two Strings, which Focus Features releases in U.S. theaters on August 19th, will present “From Coraline to Kubo: A Magical LAIKA Experience.” This innovative, first-ever interactive event will feature an up-close look at the artistic detail and imagination behind […]
Charles Solomon Reviews: “Ice Age Collision Course”
July 21st, 2016 Charles Solomon Fourteen years ago (!), the original Ice Age premiered. It had clearly been made on a limited budget that forced the artists to use their imaginations. The designs were simplified but appealing; the textures were less elaborately rendered; the backgrounds were often reduced to little more than a white field. But the film felt fresh […]
“Despicable Me” Co-Creator Sergio Pablos’ Next Animated Film Finds Funding
July 19th, 2016 Jerry Beck LA-based United Media Capital, LLC, (“United Media”) announced today it has formed a joint venture fund with Pigmental Studios, LLC (“Pigmental Studios”) of Hollywood & Washington, D.C., and the Santa Monica, CA-based United Independents Group, LLC (“United Independents Group”) for the purpose of co-financing a slate of upcoming animated and live action films. The first […]
