Top Ten Most Fascinating Animated Characters: Number 8

So far in this list of the ten most fascinating original characters in animation history, we have seen a little boy, Norman from ParaNorman, animated using very advanced, gorgeous, stop-motion animation and a far-out space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, a character from the first fully computer animated feature whose design and overall character appeal continues to dazzle audiences twenty years later. However, number 8 on the list did not enter the spotlight in such an aesthetically appealing fashion.  D’oh!

‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ Wins Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature

Congratulations are in order for DreamWorks Animation for bringing home the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film for their hit film How to Train Your Dragon 2. The Golden Globe Awards ceremony took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on January 11, 2015.

Top Ten Most Fascinating Animated Characters: Number 9

In case you missed the first installment, this is a little series I’m writing as a lark to identify ten of animation’s most fascinating characters. These characters are supremely interesting in-and-of-themselves, regardless of their varying fascinating plots/settings, etc. Check out number 10, Norman from ParaNorman, if you haven’t already. Today’s spot belongs to a character that is so out-of-this world that you have to go to infinity and beyond to find someone as fascinating as him.

Winter 2015 Animated Film Preview

Winter 2015 is here and animation studios from around the world have bestowed upon us a very unique set of films to start off the year. From traditional hand-drawn (Song of the Sea), to live-action CG hybrid (Paddington), and everything in between, there are lots of great animated features to enjoy this season. Here’s our preview (along with some personal opinions from yours truly). Let us know what movies you’ve seen or are planning to see in the comments below.

Top Ten Most Fascinating Animated Characters: Number 10

Yesterday I began to contemplate specific aspects of character development in animation and my musings have turned into a series of articles—namely, analyzing which animated characters from history are the most fascinating. First, as any Socratic thinker knows, I have to define my terms: by fascinating characters, I mean interesting—in and of themselves. These characters attract as much attention—or more—than the plot, itself. They are like disco balls (or train wrecks in some cases)—you can’t not watch them.

2014: The Year Without a Pixar Movie

Do you remember where you were when you heard the news that The Good Dinosaur was being pushed to 2015, leaving a gigantic Pixar shaped void in your 2014 calendar? It was an incremental realization for me.

“Okay, it’s being reworked, I thought, that’s fine…but then what movie are they going to fast-track for 2014? (Cue Homer Simpson’s brain explaining reality to him.) No movie from Pixar at all?!? @#&*%!”

Like a spoiled brat, this animation company has got me so expectant for their annual masterpieces, I all but threw myself on the floor in an Angelica Pickles-worthy tantrum (forgive the Rugrats reference, but I’m lamenting the loss of Christine Cavanaugh). So, now that we made it through the year without a Pixar movie and look forward to the prospect of TWO films for 2015, a little reflection and contemplation seems appropriate.