19 Films Submitted for Best Animated Film Oscar Race

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (The Oscars) recently released the names of the 19 films that are vying for this year’s Best Animated Feature Film award. 

Watch This: Teaser Trailer for ‘Planes: Fire and Rescue’

As introduced in August at the D23 Expo 2013, Disneytoon Studios’ sequel to Planes titled Planes: Fire and Rescue now has an official teaser trailer.

Disney 2013 Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide

Our friends at Walt Disney Home Entertainment have shared with us their annual holiday gift guide featuring Disney’s latest Blu-ray and DVD releases. Are any of these animated titles on your shopping list this year?

Summer 2013: Animation Over-Saturation?

What a summer it’s been for animated movies. Starting with the late March release of DreamWorks’ The Croods and ending with the August release of Disneytoon Studios’ Planes, there have been six big budget animated films released from most of the major Hollywood animation studios along with one direct-to-video release which was put in theaters first. With so many animated films to choose from, not all films performed equally at the box office and in the hearts and minds of the movie going public.

‘Planes’ Takes Third Place Over Weekend at U.S. Box Office

Disneytoon Studios’ Planes debuted in third place last weekend in U.S. theaters. First place was Elysium with $29.8 million, second place was We’re the Millers with $26.4 million and Planes took third with $22.2 million.

D23 Expo: Disneytoon Studios Announces New Films

John Lasseter, Disney’s chief creative officer, announced new films today coming from Disneytoon Studios, Disney’s direct-to-video division during his epic “Art and Imagination: Animation at The Walt Disney Studios” presentation Friday, August 9 at the D23 Expo 2013. First up were two new films from Disneytoon’s Fairies label: The Legend of the Neverbeast and The Pirate Fairy followed by a sneak peek at 2014’s Planes sequel Planes: Fire and Rescue.

‘The Smurfs 2’ Takes 3rd

Call it fate, call it karma, call it whatever, but The Smurfs 2 took third place in the U.S. box office derby this weekend, earning $17.5 million over the weekend and a total of $27.1 million since its opening on Wednesday, July 31. According to Box Office Mojo, first place in the U.S. box office this weekend went to 2 Guns with $27.1 million, with The Wolverine taking second place at $21.3 million.

Animation Panels and Appearances Announced for Disney’s D23 Expo 2013

As previously announced, the animation presentation happening at Disney’s D23 Expo 2013 sounds like it’s going to rule.  Disney has just announced more details of who will be appearing during the presentation along with other animation-related events happening throughout the weekend. The D23 Expo 2013 takes place August 9 -11, 2013 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

“Animation Fascination” Episode 49: In the Pacific Rim with Hal Hickel

Listen Now!!

Beginning neural handshake…

Join Marc and guest host Jon Hueber as they head to the Pacific Rim to talk with returning guest Hal Hickel, of Industrial Light and Magic.

Hal discusses in-depth the production of the film and what it was like to work with Guillermo del Toro, who he’d co-pilot a Jaeger with, what Kaiju was his favorite, and where he’d like to see the story go in a sequel.

So sit back and enjoy, because today we are cancelling the apocalypse!

“Animation Fascination” Episode 46: Yuri Lowenthal – It’s Hero Time!

Listen Now!!

Strap on your Omnitrix, contact the Legion of Superheros and head with us to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

In this episode Marc and Matt are joined by voice actor Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Naruto, Wolverine and the X-Men) to discuss his voice acting career. We talk about his original web series Shelf Life, geeking out around other actors, and how he joined John Connor to fight SkyNet.