The Pups of Liberty

A little over three years ago I mentioned Pups of Liberty and now it is available for sale. It's never too late to learn or re-learn how our country got started and became a beacon of liberty to the rest of the world.

• Order from Izzit
• Order from Amazon
• Activities, Behind-the-Scenes, and More

The Croods Movie Standee

House of Monsters

Official Site

Happy Halloween from the staff of HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA!

Goodnight, Mr. Foot by Genndy Tartakovsky

No Trick, Big Halloween Treat

from Sony Pictures Animation’s

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA Director

Genndy Tartakovsky

New Animated Short Directed and Animated by respected director,

to Screen Across the Country Exclusively in Regal Entertainment Group Cinemas

Culver City, CA, October 25, 2012 – HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA – the record-setting 3D computer-animated monster comedy from Sony Pictures Animation that ranked as the biggest September opening in movie history and the best opening ever for the studio – is releasing a new animated short as a special Halloween treat.

Beginning October 26, all digital showings of HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA in Regal Entertainment Group Cinemas around the country will be preceded with a new traditionally animated short directed by the film’s director, 13-time Emmy nominee (and three-time Emmy winner) Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars), who also animated every key frame of the new short.

Entitled “Goodnight, Mr. Foot,” the short stars none other than the legendary monster Bigfoot, and follows his adventure as he, too, checks in to Dracula’s five-stake resort in search of a little R-and-R, only to find himself faced with an enthusiastic witch-maid, eager to make Mr. Foot’s stay a memorable one. 

Genndy Tartakovsky commented, "After we finished HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA I got an itch to animate! Taking inspiration from my favorite directors Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, and Chuck Jones I animated a short cartoon in the traditional 2D style. It was difficult and exhilarating all at once and I hope people will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it."

To commemorate the debut of the animated short, an exclusive new collectible one-sheet—designed by Tartakovsky himself—will also be given away at all showings of HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA in Carmike Cinemas nationwide from October 26 (while supplies last). 

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA fans surfing the internet might just keep any eye out (not literally!) for a specially-created promo video popping up some time around October 31 (date TBD). 

The new traditionally animated short film, exclusive poster and online video make a new (or return!) visit to HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA which critics called “a treat for the kids as Halloween draws near” (Chris Knight, NATIONAL POST), as well as the perfect family outing for Halloween 2012—“a total scream for boys and ghouls of all ages” (Jeff Craig, SIXTY SECOND PREVIEW)!

The feature film debut of Genndy Tartakovsky, Sony Pictures Animation’s HOTEL TRANSVYLVANIA proved to be the biggest September opening for a film in U.S. history, and went on to open #1 in many territories around the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Ecuador, Malaysia Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, and Sweden.

Welcome to the HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters — Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more — to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to these infamous friends is no problem — but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and befriends Mavis.

Columbia Pictures presents a Sony Pictures Animation film, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA.    The film features the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, and CeeLo Green.  Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky.  Produced by Michelle Murdocca.  Screenplay by Peter Baynham and Robert Smigel.  Story by Todd Durham and Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman.  Executive producers are Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel and Allen Covert.  Music by Mark Mothersbaugh.  Music Supervision by Liza Richardson.  Imagery and Animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc.

Chris Sanders & Kirk DeMicco Introduce the Croods Trailer

Poor Mike

Wreck-It Ralph New Trailer

Open Season Filmmaker's Reunion

With Sony Pictures Animation currently celebrating its 10th anniversary they have been having filmmaker's reunions for each of their prior feature films. Here is a recap of last week's filmmakers reunion for Open Season, their first feature film:

Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Walt's idea with Disneyland was to create a place where you would be put right into the stories from his movie. Ride the Peter Pan ride and you are basically living the movie . . . for a few minutes. Now with the "The Lion King" room and courtyard and other such themed spots at Disney's Art of Animation Resort you can be immersed in the environments even longer. Take a look:

Carl Spotting

Now this is just downright uncanny. I've done a number of posts on how visual concepts from Disney•Pixar's UP have started to invade the real world but I thought I was done. Until now. Having just found the "real life Carl Fredricksen" on Pinterest I couldn't help but post it here:

And the younger version:

Now we just have to find the real life Kevin.

CLOUDY 2: REVENGE OF THE LEFTOVERS Cast Announced

DELICIOUS VOICE CAST STORMS IN TO

“CLOUDY 2: REVENGE OF THE LEFTOVERS”

CULVER CITY, Calif., August 20, 2012 – The forecast is sunny side up for Sony Pictures Animation as the studio has reassembled the all-star, comedy voice cast of the animated hit Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers, set for release in 3D on February 7, 2014.  The first Cloudy film took in $243 million worldwide. The sequel is directed by Cody Cameron (whose story artist credits include Shrek, Madagascar, Surf’s Up and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) & Kris Pearn (head of story on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and story supervisor on Arthur Christmas) and produced by longtime Sony Pictures Animation producer Kirk Bodyfelt.

The lead voice cast from the first film returns, including Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, Men In Black 3) as inventor Flint Lockwood; Anna Faris (Scary Movie, The House Bunny) as brainy weather girl Sam Sparks; James Caan (The Godfather, Elf) as Flint’s technophobic dad, Tim Lockwood; Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live, Hotel Transylvania) as Swallow Falls’ local celebrity “Baby” Brent; Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, The Smurfs) as Steve the gummy bear-loving monkey; and Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order, Miss Congeniality) as Sam’s mild mannered cameraman Manny.  In addition, Terry Crews (The Expendables 2) joins the cast to take on the role of Earl, the town cop.

Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers picks up where Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs left off.  Inventor Flint Lockwood’s genius is finally being recognized as he’s invited by his idol Chester V (Will Forte of Saturday Night Live) to join The Live Corp Company, where the best and brightest inventors in the world create technologies for the betterment of mankind.  Chester’s right-hand-gal – and one of his greatest inventions – is Barb (Kristen Schaal of Toy Story 3 and 30 Rock), a highly evolved orangutan with a human brain, who is also devious, manipulative and likes to wear lipstick.

It’s always been Flint’s dream to be recognized as a great inventor, but everything changes when he discovers that his most infamous machine – which turns water into food – is still operating and is now creating mutant food beasts. With the fate of humanity in his hands, Flint and his friends must embark on a dangerously delicious mission, battling hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees, apple pie-thons, double bacon cheespiders and other food creatures to save the world… again!

Commenting on the announcement, Sony Pictures Digital Productions’ President Bob Osher, said, , “Cloudy was a tremendous hit acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and we’re thrilled to be bringing everyone back together for Cloudy 2.” Sony Pictures Animation’s President of Production Michelle Raimo Kouyate added, “Not only are we bringing the old gang back, we are introducing some hilarious new characters in a brand new adventure that matches the wit and freshness of the original.  We have a great story and we love Cody and Kris's take on the characters and material.”

Columbia Pictures presents a Sony Pictures Animation film, Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers.  The film is directed by Cody Cameron & Kris Pearn, produced by Kirk Bodyfelt, and executive produced by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street directors Phil Lord & Christopher Miller.  Based upon characters from the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett, the screenplay is written by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein and Erica Rivinoja.

Partysaurus Rex

Here's a still from Partysaurus Rex, the new Toy Story Toon that will be playing with Finding Nemo 3D:

More info at IndieWire.

UPDATE

This short can now be viewed online:

Partysaurus Rex on Disney Video

Hopefully other shorts such as Lorenzo and Glago's Guest (and many others) will be added to this Disney Video site.

Social Distortion Gets Animated

Madtwins animate 'Gimme The Sweet and Lowdown:'

Read the full story at Rolling Stone.

Hotel Transylvania Movie Standee

IMG03417-20120720-2121, a photo by christianz1969 on Flickr.

Coming September 2012 from Sony Pictures Animation.

Sony Pictures Animation's HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA Panel at Comic-Con on Thursday 7/12 at 3:00pm

Check Into Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania

At Comic-Con International: San Diego 2012

Director Genndy Tartakovsky to Unveil Never-Before-Seen Footage

Thursday, July 12 at 3:00PM

Culver City, CA, July 9, 2012 – Acclaimed animation director Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars) and producer Michelle Murdocca (Open Season) will unveil never-before-seen footage from the highly-anticipated animated comedy, Hotel Transylvania, during a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego, CA on Thursday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel.

Hotel Transylvania, which arrives in theatres on September 28, 2012, marks Tartakovsky’s theatrical directorial debut. Tartakovsky and Murdocca will discuss the animated film, take questions from the audience, and screen never-before-seen footage from the film.

Following the panel, Tartakovsky will be signing a limited edition Hotel Transylvania poster created exclusively for Comic-Con fans at the Sony booth #4229 at 4:00PM.

Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them.  On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of his best friends – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and more – to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday.  For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but everything could change for the overprotective dad when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

A 20-year veteran of animation, Tartakovsky has received an impressive 12 Primetime Emmy Award nominations – winning three times -- for work on the series Star Wars: Clone Wars and Samurai Jack, both for Cartoon Network.  A recipient of the prestigious Winsor McCay Award, Tartakovsky’s creative leadership helped shape the direction and the rise to national prominence of the Cartoon Network, where he developed four hit animated series between 1994 and 2010:  Dexter’s Laboratory; Samurai Jack; Star Wars: Clone Wars; and Sym-Biotic Titan. Tartakovsky served as a producer and director on Cartoon Network’s Emmy Award-winning series The Powerpuff Girls and as an animation director for The Powerpuff Girls: The Movie.  He is also co-creator of the Network’s Dial M For Monkey and Justice Friends.

Sony Pictures Animation celebrates its 10^th anniversary in 2012 with a robust slate of upcoming films. Following box office hits and award-winning favorites like Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, The Smurfs and Open Season, Tartakovsky’s Hotel Transylvania is next up in September, after which Sony Pictures Animation will welcome the July 2013 release of The Smurfs 2, the follow-up to the 2011 global sensation. Cloudy 2: Revenge Of The Leftovers, a sequel to Sony Pictures Animation’s popular comedy, will reach theatres worldwide in February 2014. Also now in development are Popeye; The Familiars, directed by Doug Sweetland (who previously helmed the Academy Award ® nominated Pixar short Presto) and co-directed by Fergal Reilly; Kazorn And The Unicorn, with Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo & Juliet) at the helm and co-directed by Troy Quane; and Pooch Café, based on Paul Gilligan’s popular, long-running comic strip.

Columbia Pictures presents a Sony Pictures Animation film, Hotel Transylvania.  The film features the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, CeeLo Green, David Spade, Molly Shannon, and Fran Drescher.  Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky.  Produced by Michelle Murdocca.  Screenplay by Peter Baynham and Robert Smigel.  Story by Todd Durham and Daniel Hageman & Kevin Hageman.  Executive producers are Adam Sandler and Robert Smigel.  Music by Mark Mothersbaugh.  Music Supervision by Liza Richardson.  Imagery and Animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ANIMATION

Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world.  The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits—the 2011 hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster, The Smurfs (3D) and the 2009 mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (3D)—with the family comedy Hotel Transylvania (3D) in September 2012 and the Smurfs 2 (3D) in July 2013.  Sony Pictures Animation, in conjunction with Aardman Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films:  the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas (3D); and the stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits (3D).  In 2007, Surf's Up received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.  The division, whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie franchise, is turning 10 this year.  Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital.

Smurfs 2 Announcement

Smurfs 2 coming out in 2013 from Sony Pictures Animation. (Click image to view larger.)

The circle of life

I guess this is a Lion King reference:

Found at Yahoo! Comics.

Paperman Concept Art Images

Here's some concept art images from the new Disney short PAPERMAN that will be attached to WRECK-IT RALPH:

Click any image to view it larger.

"PAPERMAN" GEORGE concept art. ©2012 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Ice Age: Continental Drift Movie Standee

BRAVE Music Announcement

SOUNDS OF THE HIGHLANDS

Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” Transports Moviegoers to

Ancient Scotland with Oscar®-Nominated Composer Patrick Doyle,

Plus Performers Julie Fowlis and Birdy [with Mumford & Sons]

BURBANK, Calif. (May 21, 2012) – Disney•Pixar’s epic fantasy adventure “Brave” harnesses the magic of ancient Scotland, weaving the rich natural setting throughout the story and bringing it to life with sophisticated filmmaking and extraordinary performances. But it’s the music of “Brave” that ties it all together, elevating the authenticity with a fresh and contemporary approach to Oscar®-nominated composer Patrick Doyle’s score, as well as two original songs performed by lauded Scottish Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. A third original song plays during the film’s epilogue and is performed by UK singing sensation Birdy with British folk rock band Mumford & Sons. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” hits theatres on June 22, 2012. The film’s soundtrack from Walt Disney Records will be available June 19, 2012.

“The music of ‘Brave’ supports the story, bolstering this epic journey with Merida,” said Andrews. “The music really sets the tone for the film and underscores the time period. We wanted to capture this ancient feel of Scotland and the music really adds another layer of authenticity.”

THE SCORE

Scottish-born Patrick Doyle, only the fourth composer to write a score for a Pixar film, used a variety of native Scottish instruments such as bagpipes, solo fiddle, Celtic harps, flutes and the bodhran. To give the score a contemporary and fresh feel he included original bespoke electronic sounds and electronically treated dulcimer and cimbalom. “I employed many classic Scottish dance rhythms such as reels, jigs and strathspeys, which not only serve the action but keep it authentic,” said Doyle. “I particularly loved composing the Gaelic lament ‘Noble Maiden Fair’ with my son Patrick Neil, sung so beautifully by Emma [Thompson] and Peigi [Barker].”

ORIGINAL SONGS

Two new songs performed by acclaimed Scottish Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis are among the film’s musical highlights. “Touch the Sky,” with music by Pixar’s own Alex Mandel and lyrics by Mandel and director Mark Andrews, accompanies Merida’s liberating and exhilarating ride through the forest when she is able to escape the confines of castle life. The song “Into the Open Air,” with music and lyrics by Mandel, is heard later in the film during a special moment between mother and daughter. “If ever we imagined a singing voice for Merida—the beauty, the clarity, the directness and honesty—Julie embodies that and she’s fantastic,” said producer Katherine Sarafian.

Added Fowlis, “It was great to be invited to record and perform on the soundtrack to ‘Brave’ and particularly to sing the songs which represent the feisty, female lead Merida. I so enjoyed the challenge of adding a dimension of acting to my singing in order to bring Merida’s character and inner feelings to life through song.”

“Learn Me Right” is an original song performed by Birdy, whose self-titled album has been awarded Gold and Platinum status in UK and Europe respectively, and the Grammy®-nominated British folk rock group Mumford & Sons, who also wrote, arranged and produced the track. “It’s quite fun doing a song for a movie rather than for an album,” said Marcus Mumford. “We liked the idea of having an orchestra in the background and having a girl like Birdy sing—it’s been quite liberating.” Added Birdy, “I love it because it tells a story. Although it has a lot of emotion, it’s also very upbeat and you want to dance to it, which is why it works so well.”

“‘Learn Me Right’ is an amazing song,” said Sarafian. “I feel something every time I hear it. Mumford & Sons sketched out a piece that would do justice to the culminating moment of the movie, underscoring the emotion, heart and the lessons learned between mother and daughter. They really found that moment of truth in the story we were trying to tell and it takes the movie to a new level at the end.”

The “Brave” soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on June 19, 2012. The track list follows:

1.    “Touch the Sky” Performed by Julie Fowlis

2.    “Into the Open Air” Performed by Julie Fowlis

3.    “Learn Me Right” Performed by Birdy [with Mumford & Sons]

4.    “Fate and Destiny” Score

5.    “The Games” Score

6.    “I Am Merida” Score

7.    “Remember to Smile” Score

8.    “Merida Rides Away” Score

9.    “The Witch’s Cottage” Score

10.  “Song of Mor’du” Performed by Billy Connolly and Cast

11.  “Through the Castle” Score

12.  “Legends Are Lessons” Score

13.  “Show Us the Way” Score

14.  “Mum Goes Wild” Score

15.  “In Her Heart” Score

16.  “Noble Maiden Fair” (A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal) Performed by Emma Thompson and Peigi Barker

17.  “Not Now!” Score

18.  “Get the Key” Score

19.  “We’ve Both Changed” Score

“Merida’s Home” Score

Ratatouille's Ratatouille

Here's another intriguing food/animation mashup. There is a restaurant near me called 50 Forks that is run by the culinary arts students of the Art Institute of California. Running all aspects of the restaurant, including menu creations and food preparation, is part of the students' course work, so the menu changes every semester. For their Spring Term 2012 dinner menu I noticed on their Facebook page that they had an item called "Ratatouille's Ratatouille." I immediately wondered if it was a version of the classic French dish prepared in one of the ways shown in the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille. When I made it to the restaurant yesterday I found out that it indeed was and here is a picture of it:

It is not an exact recreation of the version shown at the end of the movie (seen below), the fancy plated dish that demanding food critic Anton Ego is served that emotionally reverts him to his memories as a small boy in rural France, but it is pretty close and the fact that they even made a deliberate effort to recreate a dish from an animated film did not go unappreciated by this food/animation fan. It was especially cool since I had eaten before at a recreation of Gusteau's when I attended the Cars/Ratatouille Blu-Ray release event several years ago (full flickr photo album here and several of my Ratatouille based entries at Animated Views: here, here, here and here).

---

UPDATE (February 3, 2014): Foodbeast has just reported that Disneyland Paris will get a ‘Ratatouille’-themed ride and restaurant. And... an update.

Brave Movie Standees

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA Teaser Poster

And here is the domestic trailer:

And don't forget their Tumblr account with daily posts on the film at http://SonyAnimation.tumblr.com/.

Wreck-It Ralph Stills

New Brave Stills

Trailer Shots 8: Ice Age & Brave

Pirates St. Patrick's Day plus Trailer Shots

This isn't one of my usual entries where I just post one of these awesome Pirates: Band of Misfits holiday posters, because I was contacted recently by Doug King, who used to publish the greatly missed Hawaiian Style Magazine that I did copy editing for, about his new "Trailer Shots" web series on YouTube. I watched some of them about a week ago but just now found out that he has reviewed two upcoming animated movies, one being Sony Pictures Animation's Pirates: Band of Misfits and the other being DreamWorks Animations' Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. Here's what he has to say about each one:

Hotel Transylvania Stills and Blog

(Click each image above to view larger.)

For regular peeks at the making of the film and exclusive behind the scenes artwork, please check out Sony Pictures Animation’s brand new Tumblr blog at http://SonyAnimation.tumblr.com/ which just kicked off with a welcome greeting by Genndy Tartakovsky.

Frankenweenie Teaser Trailer

AN Valentine's Banner

Here's a couple different iterations of a banner I did for Animated News when I wrote for them featuring everyone's favorite amorous skunk. I think James did the final version.

UPDATE: And a new Pirates image has just been sent to me from Sony Pictures Animation:

Daffy's Rhapsody Teaser

Billy West, voice of Elmer Fudd, talks about the upcoming Looney Tunes movie:

Pixar US Postage Stamps

Just got my Pixar US postage stamps last week. Have you got yours? Order Here

Cee Lo's Murray the Mummy Teaser Pic

Read more at the Sony Pictures Animation Facebook page.

Pirates Super Bowl and Standee

The Band of Misfit Pirates Wishes You a Happy Chinese New Year

I tend to post stuff that studios send. Sony Pictures Animation is great about sending me stuff. You can send me stuff at ChristianZ@netscape.net.

Brave 3D Diorama

IMG02618-20120119-1432, a photo by christianz1969 on Flickr.

If you're at Disney's California Adventure soon be sure to check out this 3D diorama of Disney•Pixar's Brave in the animation building in the same room as the Toy Story zoetrope (the thing making unwelcome light reflections on the glass display case here).

Press Release: Arthur Christmas Wins Golden Tomato

SONY PICTURES ANIMATION’S / AARDMAN’S “ARTHUR CHRISTMAS”

CONTINUES TO GARNER ACCOLADES

Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Nominee Wins

Golden Tomato Award for ‘Best Reviewed Animated Film’ of the Year

       Culver City, CA – January 12, 2012 – “Arthur Christmas” — the Aardman production for Sony Pictures Animation that answers the question, ‘So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?’ — continues to collect post-holiday presents from critics groups across the country, as the 2011 awards season starts to pick up speed. 

         The 3D release, which has already been nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award as the year’s Best Animated Feature, just received the Golden Tomato Award for the Best Reviewed Animated Film of the Year.  The Tomato was bestowed by the popular movie destination website RottenTomatoes.com, which scores feature releases based on critical reception, with “Arthur Christmas” receiving the highest score of any animated feature of 2011.

The Sony Pictures Animation release has already earned Best Animated Film awards from critics’ groups in the Midwest and Southern California as well as six Annie Awards nominations honoring excellence in animation, and two Visual Effects Society Awards nominations recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry.  The Broadcast Film Critics Association will announce winners at the 17th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on January 12; the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards telecast will be broadcast on January 15 on NBC.

The 3D, CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas at last reveals the incredible, never-before-seen answer to every child's question: “So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?” The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic – a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero: Santa’s youngest son, Arthur. When this amazing operation misses one child out of hundreds of millions, Arthur, the least capable Claus, embarks on a hilarious, exciting rogue mission against the clock with his politically incorrect grandfather Grandsanta and a giftwrapping-obsessed elf named Bryony, to deliver the last present before Christmas morning dawns.

       Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation present an Aardman production, Arthur Christmas.  Starring the voice performances of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen.  Directed by Sarah Smith.  Produced by Peter Lord, David Sproxton, Carla Shelley, and Steve Pegram. Written by Peter Baynham & Sarah Smith.  Co-Producer is Chris Juen.  Co-Executive Producer is Peter Baynham.  Co-Director is Barry Cook.  Music by Harry Gregson-Williams.

ABOUT AARDMAN

Aardman, based in Bristol (UK), co-founded and run by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is a world leader in animation. It produces feature films, television series and television commercials for both the domestic and international market. The studio has won over 400 international awards including 4 Oscars®.

 

Aardman’s highly creative stop-motion style and creative sensibilities have proven popular with critics and audiences around the world.  In 2000, Chicken Run, their debut feature, took in nearly $225 million worldwide; since then, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit grossed nearly $200 million and Flushed Away, their first CG feature, earned $176 million.  All three films have achieved enormous critical acclaim, with the three films earning a total of 27 Annie Award nominations (the animation community’s highest honor).  In addition, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit was honored with the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.  http://www.aardman.com.  In addition to the CG-animated Arthur Christmas, Aardman is also in production on the stop-motion The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ANIMATION

Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits, the 2011 hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster, The Smurfs (3D) and the 2009 mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (3D), with the family comedy Hotel Transylvania (3D) in Fall 2012. The division is also in production with Aardman Animations on two feature films, the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas (3D) in theaters November 2011 and the stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits (3D) in March 2012. Open Season 3, the third adventure in Sony Pictures Animation's successful Open Season franchise, was released on DVD and Blu-ray January 2011. In 2007, Surf's Up received an Academy Award®-nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.  Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions.  http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/sonyanimation

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation.  SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; worldwide television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

Tangled Ever After Pics

Here's a couple of stills from Tangled Ever After, the new 3D short from Disney continuing Rapunzel's adventures, and which will be showing in front of the upcoming Beauty and the Beast 3D theatrical run.

PASCAL finds himself floating high above the wedding festivities after he loses Rapunzel and Flynn's rings in Disney Animation's "Tangled Ever After." ©2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PASCAL and MAXIMUS couldn’t be happier to take part in RAPUNZEL and FLYNN’S spectacular wedding in Disney Animation’s “Tangled Ever After.” ©2011 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.