Making Film History: 1998's Animated Features
No question about it. 1998 was the year of animation, thanks to the successful release of so many theatrical features. Evan Backes puts it all in perspective and alerts us to 1999's treats.
Tagged With: Disney
A Desert Island Reunion
Since Animation World Magazine's inception, we've conducted a monthly column called "Desert Island." This regular installment provides a fascinating peek into the minds of animation artists and others involved in the industry by asking them what ten films they would choose to take with them if they had to spend their remaining years on a desert island. Having surveyed nearly 120 people, we decided it was time to compile all the answers and see what interesting trends and similarities we ...
'Mrs. Munger' sues Disney
Imagine having your geeky yearbook photo digitally altered, animated, and then broadcast all over the world. "Mrs. Munger's Class," a segment that airs on ABC's top-rated children's programming block, "Disney's One Saturday Morning," is based on this very concept. Every week, a new short segment brings a page from a school yearbook to life, using computers to superimpose moving lips and caricature the facial features of the fictional Mrs. Munger and her students resulting in humorous and nonsensical conversations.
Theme Parks in the Digital Age
Clark Dodsworth lends his considerable insight as to what we can expect from the amusement park of the future. Interactive robotic fauna? Digital characters with acquired intelligence and synthetic personalities? You bet!
The Mouse's Wild Side: Disney's New Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World is the proud site of a new Disney theme park: Animal Kingdom. Joseph Szadkowski reports on this new destination which combines adventure, education and fun.
Disney and (Colossal) bring Zoog Disney to TV and the Web
Zoog Disney is a new two-hour block of programming on the Disney Channel that features a companion web site signaling the network's latest attempt at converging television and the Internet. The programming block which airs on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. works in tandem with the web site by allowing children who watch the programs to submit suggestions, vote on outcomes, play games related to the programs, and give input to the shows.
Edutainment and the Internet
Contrary to popular belief, the Internet and kids are made for each other. Ted Pedersen & Francis Moss take us into the world of the post-television generation.
Take an interactive look at Walt's life
The life of Walt Disney has been the subject of many unofficial biographies and articles with allegations accusing him of being everything from a fascist to a bigot. Now for the first time the record can be set straight with a new interactive CD-ROM narrated by Disneys first child, Diane Disney-Miller. Walt Disney: An Intimate History of the Man and His Magic, was produced to present an accurate account of his life and celebrate his accomplishments.
The Tanglefoot Chronicles: A Case Study
A little known Disney character, a clumsy but well-meaning horse, became a licensing sensation by not being in a film - twice! J.B. Kaufman explains.
Toon Story: John Lasseter's Animated Life
Just how does one become an animation pioneer? Mike Lyons profiles the man of the hour, John Lasseter, on the eve of Pixar's Toy Story follow-up, A Bug's Life
Disney's The Fox and the Hound: The Coming of the Next Generation
Tom Sito discusses the turmoil at Disney Feature Animation around the time The Fox and the Hound was made, marking the transition between the Old Men of the Classic Era and the newcomers of today's animation industry.
Editor's Notebook: November 1998
Heather KenyonIt is true. One cannot discuss animation without discussing Disney. From early marketing plans to today's newest animated feature, Disney has played a major role in our industry. While many may wrinkle their nose at the monolith, one must admit that the impact of this one man and his company is amazing.
In our Feature Animation section, Tom Sito discusses the turmoil at Disney Feature Animation in "Disney's The Fox and the Hound: The Coming of the Next Generation." The Fox and the Hound was a film made during the transition...
Disney Channel opens Walt’s vaults of toons
In celebration of Disneys 75th anniversary, the Disney Channel will air a collection of rarely seen early films by Walt Disney. Films such as the 1920s live-action/animation shorts, The Alice Comedies will air October 16-29, nightly on the Vault Disney programming block, Monday-Saturday at 11 p.m., Sunday at 9 p.m. Although other studios had been putting animated characters into live-action environments, Disney, with The Alice Comedies, was the first to place a live-action character into a cartoon world.
Disney Channel launches in Italy
Bonjourno, Mickey! The Italian version of THE DISNEY CHANNEL will begin broadcast on October 3, launching with the country's first TV broadcast of the animated feature, "The Lion King." All programming will be dubbed in Italian. The channel is being transmitted daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, as part of a digital bouquet of channels offered by Telepiu. Disney Channel Italy is headquartered in Milan and headed up by vice president and managing director Janet Scardino. The former Sunbow Entertainment VP joined the company in March 1998.
Disney invites kids to "create story magic."
The Disney Channel has launched its annual "Create Story Magic" contest, inviting kids aged 6-12 to compete for the chance to have his or her original story turned into an animated short. Last year's winner was 12-year-old Ian O'Neal, whose story, "Dragon Friend" was selected from over 22,000 entries, animated by Walt Disney Television Animation and broadcast on Disney Channel this year. Every year, the winner also receives a trip for four to Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. This year's contest is being promoted by Target Stores and Cable in the Classroom.
Dream Quest signs Chris Bailey
Animation director CHRIS BAILEY has joined the full-time staff of DREAM QUEST IMAGES, the effects studio owned by Disney.
Disney's Little Big Screen: Turning Animated Features Into TV Series
Mike Lyons takes a look at Walt Disney Television Animation's proven strategy for adapting the company's animated features as television series such as the upcoming Hercules.
Inside Disney: The Archives and Animation Research Library
Katie Mason profiles the Walt Disney Archives and Animation Research Library
Craig Allen leaves Disney for Jim Henson Interactive
CRAIG ALLEN has been named general manager of JIM HENSON INTERACTIVE. He was formerly a senior producer at DISNEY INTERACTIVE.
On A Desert Island With....Asian Animators
Ram Mohan, and Frank Saperstein.
Disney's Mulan: A More Modern Heroine
Andy Klein reviews Disney's latest masterpiece and finds some nice changes in the new Mulan.
Disney's Atomic Fleet
Mark Langer relates Walt Disney's role inmaking the atom our friend through his relationships with major Americanarms manufacturers, the U.S. government and the production, Our FriendThe Atom.
On a Desert Island with....Pre-Production People
we asked people involved in animation pre-production to tell us what animated films they would want with them if they were stranded on a desert island
UPN to Air Disney Block
Viacom-owned cable network UPN has reached anagreement with Buena Vista Television to broadcast Disney animatedchildren's programming. Starting in fall 1999, UPN will air a two-hourblock of syndicated, Disney-branded shows which is most likely to includeprograms from the "Disney's One Saturday Morning" block which currentlyairs on ABC: "Disney's Recess," "Disney's Doug," "Disney's Pepper Ann" and"Disney's Hercules." Kellogg's, which sponsored the "Disney Afternoon"syndicated program block, will retain it's primary sponsorship role as the
Anastasia: Fox's Great Hope
At last, Anastasia is here with great results. Harvey Deneroff reviews Fox Family Entertainment's first animated feature.
