Animation The Daily Cartoonist

Disney sexualized Merida character

Pixar’s Merida character from the feature film Brave is officially a Disney Princess, but that created a controversy when Disney debuted a 2D image of the new princess. The Disney princess makeover removed the bow and arrow, tamed her hair and slimmed her figure. She also sports a “come hither” look according to Brenda Chapman, [...]

Posted on: May 14, 2013, Section: Animation, Controversies, Comments: 10 Comments

Judge to Charlie Brown actor: “Don’t be a blockhead”

I think this sums up nicely what I hope will be the last in the saga of Peter Robbins, the actor who was the original voice behind the Peanuts character Charlie Brown. From ABC News: A judge warned Peter Robbins that he could be sent to prison for nearly four years if he violates the [...]

Posted on: May 8, 2013, Section: Animation, Comments: 1 Comment

Futurama has been cancelled. Again

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Matt Groening’s animated tv show Futurama has been cancelled. It ran from 1999 to 2003 and was cancelled by Fox, but fan interest was enough too keep it re-runs and direct to DVD movies. Comedy Central brought the show back in 2010. From EW: The producers say that they are [...]

Posted on: Apr 25, 2013, Section: Animation, Television, Comments: 3 Comments

Kung Fu Panda suit advancing through courts

Last year I reported that Jayme Gordon had sued DreamWorks Animation alleging the studio stole their ideas for the feature film Kung Fu Panda. I didn’t see much more about that story and quite frankly just about every successful movie has to deal with someone who thinks it infringed on their previous work. But according [...]

Posted on: Apr 11, 2013, Section: Animation, Comments: 1 Comment

Glyph Comic Award nominees announced

We’re well int award season. The nominees for the Glyph Comic Award have been announced. The winner will be announced on May 17 at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia. The nominees are: Story of the year The Call, Steve Broome, writer and artist KOBK, C. J. Johnson, writer and SMACK!, [...]

Posted on: Apr 5, 2013, Section: Animation, Awards, Books, Cartoons, Comic strips, Comments: 0 Comments

Pixar announces Finding Dory to hit theaters in 2015

Disney/Pixar has announced it will create a sequel to Finding Nemo called Finding Dory for a November 2015 release. Finding Dory will once again star Ellen DeGeneres. According to the LA Times, the story will set off the California coast about a year after the Finding Nemo story. If you ask me, Dory stole the [...]

Posted on: Apr 3, 2013, Section: Animation, Comments: 8 Comments

NCS announces 2012 division awards

The National Cartoonist Society has announced this year’s division award nominees. The winners will be announced during their annual Reuben Awards dinner in Pittsburgh, PA. Here are the nominees: Television Animation Todd Kauffman, Executive Producer, “Sidekick” Alberto Mielgo, Production Design, “Tron: Uprising” Rich Webber, Director, Aardman Animation Studios, “DC Nation” Feature Animation Rich Moore, Director, [...]

Posted on: Mar 26, 2013, Section: Animation, Comic Books, Comic strips, Editorial cartooning, Graphic Novels, Greeting Cards, Illustration, National Cartoonist Society, Reuben, web comics, Comments: 1 Comment

Video: new Despicable Me 2 trailer released

My summer movie must-see list is filling up. I’m adding this one. Out July 3rd.

Posted on: Mar 21, 2013, Section: Animation, Comments: 0 Comments

Video: Professional quality Calvin and Hobbes animation

Adam Brown, animator for Comedy Central’s Ugly Americans, has animated one of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes Sunday strips. It’s interesting to see what the strip might have looked like in the hands of a professional animator. Here’s the strip it was based off:

Posted on: Mar 20, 2013, Section: Animation, Comic strips, Comments: 10 Comments

Video: The Pogo special that was never completed

Cartoon Brew has a sliver of insight into a bit of animation history. Famed animator Chuck Jones was to do a special with Walt Kelly’s Pogo. But the project went south. “How did you ever okay Chuck’s Pogo story?,” Ward Kimball asked Walt Kelly shortly after the special aired on TV. “I didn’t, for Godsake!,” [...]

Posted on: Mar 18, 2013, Section: Animation, Comic strips, Comments: 6 Comments

Smith Micro releases MotionArtist

I get press releases from Smith Micro from time to time. It seems like they’re always releasing something new every month or so. The last email is for a new product called MotionArtist. It looks like a simpler version of Adobe Flash but made specifically for those who produce comics. For those of you who’d [...]

Posted on: Mar 15, 2013, Section: Animation, Comic strips, Editorial cartooning, Comments: 1 Comment

Family Guy gives Tom Gammill’s The Doozies prime-time shout out

Last Sunday’s Family Guy gave Tom Gammill’s The Doozies a shout-out.

Posted on: Mar 13, 2013, Section: Animation, Comments: 2 Comments

Behind the Disney purchase of LucasFilms

I’m a bit late posting this, but it’s an interesting look at how Disney was able to buy LucasFilm. The lack of micromanaging of Marvel and Pixar by Disney headquarters was the key that allowed George Lucas the peace of mind to turn over control of his empire to Disney. Lucas had paid close attention [...]

Posted on: Mar 12, 2013, Section: Animation, Movies, Comments: 0 Comments

Interviewed: The Simpson’s James L. Brooks

Taking on an additional post to “David Silverman on Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare’” post earlier, is another interview by The Simpsons executive producer James L. Brooks. Via: The Animation Blog

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013, Section: Animation, Comments: 0 Comments

Interviewed: David Silverman on Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare’

David Silverman, animator/supervising director of The Simpsons, directed an animated short (Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare’) that is up for an Academy Award this weekend. The short debuted before Ice Age: Continental Drift and was broadcast on Fox this last Sunday after the Simpsons. Hollywood reporter interviewed David about the short and The Simpsons.