Behind The Films

Imagi Studios which were responsible for computer animation version of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ are now bringing you cartoon classic ‘Astro Boy’ to the big screen.

A thrilling tale of a true hero, “Astro Boy” is an all-new, feature film full of action, adventure, humor and heart. It will be brought to life on the big screen in breathtaking CGI animation on October 23rd, 2009.

Set in futuristic Metro City, “Astro Boy” is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly.

Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it takes to be a hero.

For the past several years, Katzenberg and the animation community has been pushing hard to promote 3D animated films to theatre chains and owners. Although successful, many vendors are unsure about this proposition from dollar stand point.

Well, if that didn’t enough to convince you or theatre chains this will. DreamWorks Animation will be giving away 150 million 3D glasses to SuperBowl viewers to watch a 90 second 3D sneak preview of the big-screen animated feature “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

DreamWorks Animation chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg called the stunt “perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history.” He wouldn’t give a hard figure on the cost, but said it “involves tens of millions of dollars.”

Katzenberg promised the quality of the 3D will be superior to what has been done in the past. He said the glasses will use Intel InTru 3D and ColorCode 3-D, which updates the old red-blue Anaglyph system.
The technology will also allow those without the glasses to see an almost ordinary image on the TV screen. But, Katzenberg added, it still doesn’t come close to the 3D quality moviegoers will see in theaters when the film opens stateside March 27.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” follows a group of ragtag Earthling monsters who are out to save the world following an alien invasion. The film features the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen and Kiefer Sutherland.
The glasses will be distributed free at Pepsi/SoBe Life Water displays at 28,000 locations including grocery, drug and electronics stores and big-box retailers.

Creative Screenwriting magazine has a great interview with Andrew Stanton, writer and director of Finding Nemo and Wall-E.

So far (I’m only a few minuets in) it’s really fascinating to hear about his early days as an animator.  The first first few years at Pixar, the process of making Toy Story, among other things.

(Warning, some Wall-E spoilers in the last 3rd).

Click Here to listen.

Source: Creative Screenwriting mag via Latinoreview

As you can see by our video of the day at the bottom of the main site, a new teaser trailer from Disney’s G-Force was released on the net over the past day. The Jerry Bruckheimer produced movie is his first 3-D film.

“G-Force,” a comedy adventure about the latest evolution of a covert government program to train animals to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws. Tapped for the G-Force are guinea pigs Darwin (voice of Sam Rockwell), the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster (voice of Tracy Morgan), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez (voice of Penelope Cruz), a sexy martial arts pro; plus the literal fly-on-the-wall reconnaissance expert, Mooch, and a star-nosed mole, Speckles (voice of Nicolas Cage), the computer and information specialist. 

Sources: Latino Review, YouTube

Empire online upcoming issue has an exclusive new image from Disney and Pixar’s upcoming film UP.

“Up,” a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”), Disney•Pixar’s “Up” invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. “Up” will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D™ in select theaters.

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