2014: The Year Without a Pixar Movie

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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.

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‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ Coming to Blu-ray and Digital HD on November 11th

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DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature film How to Train Your Dragon 2 is coming to Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on November 11th. Two packages will be available: a two-disc version with the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD and a three-disc Deluxe Edition with addition of a 3D Blu-ray Disc.

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DreamWorks Layoffs Bring (Unjust) Speculation About Feature Animation

Dreamworks Sadness

On June 30th, some animation blogs leaked news that DreamWorks was laying off 40-50 people from their feature animation staff, saying “the studio didn’t have enough features requiring staff building front-end production elements, so employees in departments that were overstaffed were laid off and their contracts…paid out.” Of course, since How to Train Your Dragon 2 isn’t raking in the dough as heftily as many hoped/predicted, it leads to talk as to what this will mean for the future of DreamWorks animation and if our lovable Toothless is somehow to blame.

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“Animation Fascination” Episode 71: DreamWorks’ Dragons – Roundtable

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In this bewilderbeast-sized episode Marc is joined by Tom Fonss, Jessica Wersky, and the prodigal son himself Matt Quest.

Matt catches us up on what he’s been up to for the past six months as Tom and Jessica assist Marc in our How to Train Your Dragon 2 roundtable discussion. Special guests Jessie Forer and Jennifer Harlow hop on to talk about their favorite parts of the film and share some insight into their work on it as well.

Also Discussed: a whole gaggle of Blu-ray, DVD, and book reviews about – Doctor Who, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ernest and Celestine, Alexander, and The Nutty Professor.

(Recorded on June 15th, 17th, & 22nd, 2014) 

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“Animation Fascination” Episode 68: The Amazing Animated Spider-Man

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Marc is joined by Tom Fonss to talk all about everyone’s favorite web-slinger. They cover every animated incarnation of the wall-crawler from 1967 to today, and choose their favorites.

Also Discussed: Son of Batman on Blu-ray, Art of Book reviews, the first five minutes of How to Train Your Dragon 2, and Disney’s Gargoyles.

(Recorded on 04/28/14)

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“Animation Fascination” Episode 67: AF News – April 2014

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Stanford Clark joins Marc Vibbert to review a whole slew of Blu-rays & DVDs, amongst them Saving Mr. Banks, The Pirate Fairy, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Also Discussed: Big Hero 6 casting rumors, Rio 2 review, new trailers for How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Planes: Fire and Rescue, and so much more…

(Recorded on 04/15/14)

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Watch This: Final Trailer for ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’

HTTYD2 FINAL POSTER

DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox have released the final trailer for their upcoming feature film How to Train Your Dragon 2. Check out the awesomeness after the jump. A new poster has been released as well.

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