These Studio Ghibli films will soon be available on Netflix

MANILA – A total of 21 films from the Oscar-winning Japanese art house Studio Ghibli will soon be available on Netflix.

The streaming service made the announcement on Monday, saying the Studio Ghibli movies will be made available through the Paris-based independent film sales company Wild Bunch International.

The partnership will allow users in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America to enjoy animated classics such as “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro” as these will be subtitled in 28 languages, and dubbed in up to 20 languages.

“In this day and age, there are various great ways a film can reach audiences. We’ve listened to our fans and have made the definitive decision to stream our film catalog. We hope people around the world will discover the world of Studio Ghibli through this experience,” said Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki.

Aram Yacoubian, director of original animation at Netflix, for his part said: “Studio Ghibli is world-renowned for creating visually stunning, original animated films that have enthralled fans for over 35 years. We are excited and humbled to help make this catalog of films easier to discover and access, and believe that these masterpieces will resonate with even more fans around the world now that they are available in more languages.” 

“We look forward to welcoming a new generation of fans into the whimsical worlds and wonderful protagonists created by the amazing artists of Studio Ghibli.”

Check out the release schedule for Studio Ghibli films on Netflix below:

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

- Castle in the Sky (1986)
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
- Only Yesterday (1991)
- Porco Rosso (1992) 
- Ocean Waves (1993)
- Tales from Earthsea (2006)

MARCH 1, 2020

- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
- Princess Mononoke (1997)
- My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- The Cat Returns (2002)
- Arrietty (2010)
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)

APRIL 1, 2020

- Pom Poko (1994)
- Whisper of the Heart (1995)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
- Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008) 
- From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
- The Wind Rises (2013) 
- When Marnie Was There (2014)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: 'Angry Birds 2' sneak peek

The birds are back and they're teaming up with the pigs.

Angry Birds, the gaming phenomenon that has captured the world's imagination, is getting a second shot at the big screen with "Angry Birds 2: The Movie" directed by Thurop Van Orman. 

This time around, the angry birds face a brand new threat as they discover a third island near Bird Island and Piggy Island. It will take the combined might of Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride), Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage), Silver (Rachel Bloom) and their enemies, the green piggies led by Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina), and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown), to defeat this new foe. 

Star Josh Gad, producer John Cohen, and director Thurop Van Orman recently came to the 72nd Cannes Film Festival to promote the new movie. They were joined onstage by some of the movie’s international star talent, including Sergey Burunov, who voices “Leonard” in Russia; Enzo Knol and Irma Knol, as Holland’s “Chuck” and “Bomb’s Mom,” respectively; and Sonia Plakidyuk, playing “Fuchsia” in Ukraine.

"Angry Birds 2" rolls out globally starting in August 2019. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: Cute pets star in Christmas-themed teaser

Columbia Pictures Philippines is promoting the upcoming 2016 animated comedy “The Secret Life of Pets” with a holiday-themed video starring the furry friends from the film as they pose for Christmas portraits.

Written by Minions screenwriter Brian Lynch alongside Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio of “Despicable Me 2” fame, “The Secret Life of Pets” features the voice talents of Louis CK, Kevin Hart, Steve Coogan, Albert Brooks and Lake Bell. It will be released in the Philippines on August 2016.

The film is produced by Illumination Entertainment.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Movie co-directed by Pinoy dominates 'Annies'

HOLLYWOOD - A pair of award-giving bodies have announced their winners signaling the start of Hollywood’s award season.

The International Animated Film Society, or 'Annies', made some talented animators very happy when it revealed its nominees. One of the nominees is Filipino.

Pixar's "Inside Out", which was co-directed by Filipino Ronnie del Carmen, has 14 nominations.

Del Carmen is a graduate of the University of Sto. Tomas in the Philippines.

Another Pixar film, "The Good Dinosaur" got 10 nominations.

The winners will be announced during the 'Annies' award show in February.

Read more on Balitang America:

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

D'oh! Homer and Marge to split on 'The Simpsons'

D'oh! Will Homer and Marge split after more than 25 years together on "The Simpsons"? Or are their creators just teasing us?

The hit cartoon comedy's writers appeared Wednesday to damp down divorce speculation, despite the executive producer announcing the couple's separation in an interview.

In a link on the show's Twitter feed, Al Jean said it will emerge at the start of the show's 27th season in September that their relationship has been strained for some time.

"In the premiere, it's discovered after all the years Homer has narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and it's an incredible strain on the marriage," he told industry journal Variety.

"Homer and Marge legally separate, and Homer falls in love with his pharmacist, who's voiced by ("Girls" creator and star) Lena Dunham," he added in the comments, published earlier this week but not widely picked up on.

But the tweet did urge readers to "read more about what @AlJean is teasing for #TheSimpsons."

And maybe "teasing" was the operative word because five hours later they tweeted a picture of Bart Simpson in a school classroom, writing, "Homer and Marge are not breaking up" repeatedly on a blackboard.

"RT and stop the rumors!" read the new tweet.

The Homer-and-Marge-split tease was not the only dramatic "Simpsons" news announcement of recent days.

At the weekend Entertainment Weekly reported that Homer and Marge's adventure-prone son Bart will be killed during the next season, which premieres on September 27.

Sideshow Bob -- Krusty the Clown's evil former sidekick -- will finally fullfil his long-held dream of dispatching Bart, it said.

"I (hate) frustration comedy so we'll scratch that itch," Jean told EW.

But fear not: the execution will take place in the annual Halloween episode -- which by Simpsons tradition doesn't fit into the usual format of the show, meaning Bart can subsequently be revived.

"The Simpsons" -- which first aired in December 1989 -- averages 7.7 million viewers on television and online in the United States. Millions more enjoy the show in foreign markets, according to US parent network Fox.

Last month, Fox announced that it had renewed the series for two more seasons, reinforcing the cartoon sitcom's status as the longest-running scripted series in American primetime television history.

In his Variety interview, the executive producer said one advantage of the show being renewed is that its main star can vote in next year's US presidential elections.

"We're definitely going to have Homer vote in 2016. One aspect of the pickup (by Fox) that made me happy is that Homer can vote again," he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Now you can visit the home of The Simpsons

HOLLYWOOD – Fans of the longest running American sitcom 'The Simpsons' can now join their favorite animated television family in real life.

Filipinos can now travel to the animated town of Springfield. Universal Studio has unveiled a taste of Springfield, a real life replica of the Simpsons hometown.

With popular Simpsons' character running around, the section is complete with store fronts and booths, patterned after the animated city.

Some of the Simpsons' creative team and voices joined the opening festivities.

For Filipino-American comedian Rembrant Sabelis the chance to travel through a real Springfield was a childhood dream come true.

"I got to meet the cast and the voices. I grew up on this stuff. It's exciting," Sabelis said.

Universal Studio has operated a Simpsons ride for the past several years and was also the home to TFC's One Kapamilya Go celebration in 2011.

Read more on Balitang America:

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warner Bros. to produce 'Adventure Time' film

MANILA - Mathematical!

Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network Studios are working on an "Adventure Time" animated movie, a report from Deadline said Saturday.

The first big screen outing of the cult animated hit will be backed by "The LEGO Movie" producer Roy Lee and "The LEGO Batman Movie" director Chris McKay.

Series creator Pendleton Ward will be involved in writing and producing the film, according to the report.

"Adventure Time" follows the story of Finn the human and his best friend Jake the dog as they journey through the mystical Land of Ooo, battling monsters and saving princesses along the way.

Other main characters of the show include Princess Bubblegum, the Ice King, and Marceline the Vampire Queen.

The series is currently on its sixth season.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Review: 'Book of Life' shows vibrant Mexican Halloween

Romantic Manolo, scrappy Joaquin and smart Maria were three close childhood pals. Maria got sent to Europe to study. Joaquin trained as a military officer. Manolo was discouraged by his father from his musical aspirations, forcing him instead to take up bullfighting, which is the traditional Sanchez family occupation. When Maria returns to town after several years, Joaquin and Manolo vie for her heart.

Meanwhile, the two lords of the underworld, La Muerta (Mistress of the Land of the Remembered) and Xibalba (Master of the Land of the Forgotten) take a bet as to whom Maria will marry. On the Day of the Dead, one of these deities unfairly intervenes. This leads to an adventure which will bring the characters from the land of the living to the land of the dead and back again.

The most striking feature of this film is the animation style. The human characters are made to look like wooden puppets. The artworks were so ingeniously crafted such that each character is distinct from each other. The three main human characters all look very good and noble. The supporting characters are rather on the atypical distorted side in their rendition, and these may need getting used to.

The background artwork is no less spectacular. The highlight of the whole film are those scenes in the Land of the Remembered, showing it as a happy bustling and festive place. The colors were so vibrant and rich. The multi-layered designs were so intricate and meticulous in their endemically Mexican-inspired details.

Another wonderful feature of this film is the musical score written by Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla. This musician has been awarded the Oscar two times before for "Babel" and "Brokeback Mountain." The soundtrack also employs the most unexpected pop songs, sung Mexican style, of course. Hearing a familiar song being sung makes me smile and even sing along. The sensitive singing voice of Diego Luna (as Manolo) makes songs as diverse as Radiohead's "Creep" to Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love" sound so good.

I believe this film had a lot of educational value in it for the young audience it targets. There are a lot of Latino values being tackled here about friendship and family, the status of women, the respect for the dead, etc., which are likewise universal as well, more often than not. It also introduces us, both kids and adults alike, to the vibrant Mexican culture, especially about their Day of the Dead.

The pace of the film was slow at first, but once you get into its groove, you will surely enjoy the eventful ride. My two sons with me, as well as the much younger kids in the theater with us, all seemed to enjoy the film very much as you hear a lot of gleeful laughter at the some of the shallower jokes. This was despite the rather macabre subject matter involving death and several grotesque-looking (albeit in a comical way) characters. It also had humorous moments that the adults would knowingly chuckle at.

Aside from Diego Luna, the line-up of voice actors surprisingly included Zoe Saldana (as Maria) and Channing Tatum (as Joaquin). I would not have guessed it by only listening because of their Latino accents of their characters. Ron Perlman and Christina Applegate are also familiar names on board. Some well-known Latino actors like Hector Elizondo, Danny Trejo and Placido Domingo lend their voices for Manolo's dad and ancestors. The most unexpected name I saw on the list though was that of Ice Cube as the sunshiny fluffy character called the Candlemaker. You would definitely not think of gritty rapper Ice Cube when you see and hear the very cute Candlemaker.

Writer and director Jorge R. Gutierrez successfully expanded on his experience on Nickelodeon's frenetic Daytime Emmy award-winning animated series "El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera," which he also created. Here in "Book," he was able to proudly showcase his beloved Mexican roots on a much bigger platform. The name of acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro as one of the producers of this film also gives an additional assurance of excellence.

Overall, "The Book of Life" is a very unique animated feature film. The basic story is based on Mexican folklore and traditions, so the flamboyant animation style had the vivid colors and ethnic designs of Mexico. The different look and unfamiliar references may turn off some less adventurous viewers, but really they should not. This is one very educational and very entertaining film for all ages to learn from and enjoy. 8/10

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

All-star cast of Angry Birds film revealed in unlock

Fans of Angry Birds have discovered a reveal within the game: by slinging one billion birds, fans had the chance to unlock the voice cast and get a sneak peek at the new look of the characters of the upcoming Angry Birds film.

Jason Sudeikis will lead the cast as Red, a bird with a temper problem. Josh Gad, in his first animated role since the global smash hit "Frozen," plays speedy Chuck, and Danny McBride portrays the volatile Bomb. Bill Hader has joined the pork side, Maya Rudolph will play Matilda, and Peter Dinklage will play the legendary Mighty Eagle.

“With two-and-a-half billion gamers around the world, Angry Birds is one of those brands that can drive massive fan engagement. That’s why we wanted to bring this unlock to the fans first. Our filmmakers are cooking up a hilarious movie, and we know these fans can’t wait to see how they’re going to bring the Angry Birds’ story to life on the big screen of movie theaters,” Dwight Caines, president for theatrical marketing for Sony Pictures, said in a statement.

The upcoming movie marks Rovio’s first foray into feature films, although there already is an Angry Birds Toons animated series. Rovio launched the series last year through its Angry Birds game, as well as on select video-on-demand channel providers, Smart TVs, connected devices, and on select TV networks around the world.

The Angry Birds movie opens in the US on July 1, 2016.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Disney's 'Aladdin' unleashes genie on Broadway

NEW YORK -- It has a flying carpet, a cave full of treasures and show-stopping songs, but critics said on Friday the Broadway debut of Disney's "Aladdin" lacks the magic of the original Oscar-winning animated film.

The tale of the street urchin Aladdin, who wins the heart of Princess Jasmine, unleashes the Genie from the lamp and battles the evil Jafar, was the top-grossing film of 1992, and picked up Academy Awards for best original score and song for "A Whole New World."

The musical that opened on Thursday night is the latest Disney film to be adapted for the stage, following the long-running and hugely successful "Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" and others.

Although "Aladdin" includes new songs, elaborate costumes and sets, dance numbers and a magical carpet that mysteriously floats, it left some critics wishing for more.

"This super-costly extravaganza doesn't do justice to the movie, or to the spirit of the late Howard Ashman," trade magazine Variety said, referring to the lyricist who had the original inspiration for the film.

The Hollywood Reporter described the show as "sweet, silly fun," while the New York Daily News found the extravagant production lacking compared to the film.

"Most moving thing in 'Aladdin' is the flying carpet," it said in a headline, adding that the musical was "entertaining but an emotionally sparse adaptation" of the film.

"While burning through wishes, you should ask for a musical with a lot more heart," it said.

But the New York Times' Charles Isherwood, who admitted he was not enthusiastic about the prospect of yet another Disney show on Broadway, said the show defied his dour expectations.

"Aladdin' has an infectious and only mildly syrupy spirit," he wrote. "Not to mention enough baubles, bangles and beading to keep a whole season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' contestants in gear."

Nifty genie

Adam Jacobs ("The Lion King") plays Aladdin in the show directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw ("Elf"). Courtney Reed ("Mama Mia") is the rebellious Princess Jasmine and James Monroe Iglehart ("Memphis") takes on the role of the Genie that was voiced by comic Robin Williams in the film version.

Although less enthusiastic about the musical, the New York Post had high praise for Iglehart's rousing performance.

"Disney's new 'Aladdin' doesn't quite catch lightening in a bottle - but it lets a pretty nifty genie out of a lamp," the newspaper said. "That would be James Monroe Iglehart."

USA Today went a step further, saying Iglehart's rendition of the song "Friend Like Me" topped the version sung by Williams.

"By the end of the number, which includes a game-show segment, a medley of tunes from other Disney musicals, Iglehart's Genie is deliriously huffing and puffing: the audience, which received it at a recent preview with a standing ovation, is just as giddy," the newspaper said.

The Hollywood Reporter found the musical perhaps the most old-school of Disney's screen-to-stage adaptations since "Beauty and the Beast" but added it could still become a family-friendly hit.

"It's not the most sophisticated entertainment, but the target demographic won't mind at all," it said.

Another Disney movie bound for Broadway is "Frozen," this year's Oscar-winning best animated film which has generated $1 billion at the global box office since November.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Review: History comes alive in 'Mr. Peabody and Sherman'

At first I was not interested to watch this film since the poster looked absolutely juvenile. The characters and the title did not appeal, looking and sounding so old-fashioned. My kids did not really want to watch it as well. However, good initial reviews got me intrigued to see it.

Mr. Peabody is special little white dog who wore round-rimmed glasses and a red bow tie. He can talk, read tomes, graduate from Harvard, and earn a Nobel Prize -- a veritable Jack-of-all-trades who can do anything under the sun. He adopts an abandoned baby boy named Sherman due to his desire to give the boy what he never had growing up, a home.




Mr. Peabody and Sherman share a secret activity together, traipsing around history with an amazing time machine. This invention by Mr. Peabody can take them to any time in history he likes, allowing them to meet and be friends with all the great figures in history.

On Sherman's first day at school, a sassy little blond girl named Penny bullies him, and he retaliates by biting. This altercation leads to a series of events which may cost Mr. Peabody not only his custody of his beloved Sherman, but may alter the whole fabric of human history as we know it.

The whole absurd concept of a genius dog adopting a boy really did not ring well with me. Thankfully, the execution of the story about them travelling through history did sustain my interest. As a history buff, I enjoyed seeing the various periods in history and the characters come alive and interact with our protagonists.

Kids who have no interest in history will have a good time laughing at the crazy visual comedy as the unlikely pair go to Ancient Egypt, to Troy, to Florence during the Renaissance, to Versailles during the French Revolution, etc., and probably learn some things along the way.

The animation is okay, a bit on the old-fashioned style. Dreamworks characters do not really grab you at first sight. "Shrek," "How to Train Your Dragon" and "The Croods," I almost did not watch because of the unconventional artwork for the characters. Luckily I was convinced to see them anyway because of good word of mouth, and I ended up loving them. This one I liked, not really love. 7/10

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Am Robert Lopez wins Oscar for 'Let It Go'

Filipino-American composer Robert Lopez made history on Sunday (Monday morning in Manila) when he and his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez won an Oscar for “Let It Go” from the hit Disney animated movie, “Frozen.”

During the 86th Academy Awards hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, Lopez won in the Best Original Song category after “Let It Go” beat “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”, “The Moon Song” from “Her” and “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

Lopez is the first Filipino-American to win an Oscar, according to Hollywood-based Filipino journalist Ruben V. Nepales.

In their acceptance speech, the husband-and-wife team honored their fellow nominees and thanked those who inspired them in writing the song.

The two ended their speech by thanking their children.

“Our girls, Katie and Annie, our song is inspired by our love for you in the hope that you never let fear and shame keep you from celebrating the unique people that you are. Thank you, we love you,” Anderson-Lopez said.

“Let It Go” was previously named Best Original Song at the Critics’ Choice Awards, and was also nominated at the Golden Globes in January.

"Frozen," a Walt Disney Animation Studios musical fairy tale, tells of the bond between two royal sisters in an icy Scandinavian kingdom.





Filipino roots

Lopez's father is part-Filipino as his grandfather was pure Filipino, while his grandmother was part-Filipino and part-Scottish-American.

With his Oscar win, Lopez joins an elite club of artists who have won all four major awards -- the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony.

Lopez had previously won a Tony Award for “Avenue Q,” and another Tony Award and a Grammy for “The Book of Mormons.”

He has two Daytime Emmys for his music direction and composition in “The Wonder Pets.”

Lopez earlier told ABS-CBN that his inspiration in writing the song had been the many well-loved Disney movies.

"We've been listening to Alan Menken and all the other Disney composers. We really wanted to join the canon. We're really, really glad that the song caught on like this. The album is now No. 1 in the country," Lopez said during the Golden Globes.

“Frozen” will also hit Broadway although no date has been released. It is Disney's No. 1 all-time animation debut and it is expected to surpass “The Lion King” as the highest grossing Disney movie of all time.

The musical soundtrack and hit anthem "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel have sold more than 1 million copies each and inspired thousands of YouTube videos by young girls singing the tune.





'Frozen' wins best animated film

Meanwhile, "Frozen" won the Academy Award on for best animated feature film.

The win is the first in the category for Walt Disney Animation Studios, the animation house founded by the man who pioneered the genre. The animated feature category was created in 2002 and has been dominated by Disney-owned Pixar, which has won it seven times but was shut out of the nominations this year for the second time in three years.

"Frozen" cemented a resurgence for Disney Animation Studios, becoming a global phenomenon with over $1 billion in movie theater ticket sales, according to Rentrak.

The film features the voice of Kristen Bell as a Scandinavian princess searching for her sister, the queen, who has the power to freeze anything with a touch and accidentally sets off a long winter that is destroying their kingdom. The story was inspired by "The Snow Queen" fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

Chris Buck, one of the film's two directors, dedicated his Oscar to his son Ryder, a musician who was killed last year when he was struck by vehicles as he crossed a Los Angeles area freeway.

"He's our guardian angel up there," said Buck.

"Frozen" beat "The Croods," a caveman comedy from DreamWorks Animation SKG ; Universal Pictures' "Despicable Me 2," produced by Illumination Entertainment; "The Wind Rises" from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki; and French-language entry "Ernest & Celestine." -- With report from Reuters

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Frozen' keeps icy grip on top spot of Billboard album sales chart

A pair of animated singing princesses kept the top spot on the weekly Billboard 200 chart of best-selling albums on Wednesday, ahead of Grammy-winning artists, as a new sing-along version of Disney's "Frozen" propelled sales of the soundtrack album.

"Frozen" sold 94,000 copies last week according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, marking a fourth non-consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard 200. The film, a tale of two Scandinavian princess sisters forced to save their kingdom from an everlasting winter, also raked in $9.3 million at the box office last weekend with its new sing-along version.

It is the first film soundtrack to spend four weeks at the top of the album chart in a decade, Billboard said. The last album to do the same was the "Bad Boys II" soundtrack in August 2003, spending four consecutive weeks at No. 1.

"Frozen" continued to hold off the official "2014 Grammy Nominees" album, which held steady at No. 2 with sales of 87,000 copies. The Grammy awards on January 26 did boost sales of its performers, as albums from Lorde, Beyonce, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry and Daft Punk all featured in the top 10 this week.

Perry's single "Dark Horse," which she performed on the Grammy stage with rapper Juicy J, held the top spot on the Digital Songs chart this week, with 373,000 downloads.

Bruno Mars, who won a Grammy and also performed at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, watched by a record-breaking 115.3 million viewers, saw his album "Unorthodox Jukebox" climb from No. 18 to No. 7 this week.

Only two new albums debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 this week. Heavy metal group Of Mice & Men's latest album "Restoring Force" came in at No. 4 while Christian rock band Casting Crowns landed at No. 6 with its latest record "Thrive."

For the week ending February 2, overall album sales notched 4.6 million units, down 12 percent from the comparable week in 2013, Billboard said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Disney gives folk tale cool makeover in 'Frozen'

LOS ANGELES - Disney has given a chilly makeover to a traditional fairy tale in its latest animated release "Frozen," which could be in the running for an Oscar.

The movie is based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" -- 25 years after Disney's last Andersen adaptation, "The Little Mermaid" -- even if it takes substantial liberties with plot and characters.


The studio's 53rd feature-length film, which has had positive reviews ahead of its release for the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, brings to fruition a project which was on Walt Disney's wish list although he never made it.

"Walt Disney was passionate about trying to do a version of this," the film's co-producer Chris Buck told at a press conference to present the film at Disney's Burbank, California studios before its release Wednesday.

Fellow co-producer Jennifer Lee added: "Unfortunately, we dug for some original material but nothing really surfaced .... But we knew that this was special for him.

Although the exact reason Disney himself did not make a film of the 1844 Andersen tale, Lee -- who co-wrote 2012's Oscar-nominated "Wreck-It Ralph" -- said she was not surprised.

"It's a very hard story, it's very symbolic, the snow queen herself is not clearly drawn," she told reporters.

The makers of "Frozen" -- expected to make the animated feature shortlist for next year's Academy Awards in March -- got round the difficulties by making substantial changes.

The two main female roles -- the Snow Queen herself, and Gerda -- have been transformed into sister princesses Elsa and Anna.

Elsa, who transforms everything she touches into ice, flees her kingdom after mistakenly condemning it to an eternal frozen winter. Her sister goes searching for her, aided by rugged mountain man Kristoff and a snowman.

"There are a couple of very powerful elements, like this little girl who has nothing but the power of love and who fights the negativity," said Lee. "Fear is a big thing in our society.

"So the idea of this little Anna, who's an ordinary person who just has this giant heart, trying to go up against the power of fear to fight her way through and save her kingdom and save her sister at the same time, it was so rich."

Elsa is voiced by actress Idina Menzel, who told AFP: "The main thing was to maintain a vulnerability, that no matter how powerful she is, there is a sadness and a loneliness to this character.

"In the beginning, she was written more like a traditional villain and then, when they started working on it, they changed her and made her a much more complicated character and not a villain at all, just someone that was misunderstood," she added.

Visually the wide-screen CinemaScope film is stunning. Animators traveled to Norway to gain knowledge and inspiration to render the snow-shrouded and ice-encrusted landscape.

As if to order, large swathes of the US were gripped by a major winter storm this week, leaving tens of millions of American facing travel chaos as they head off for Thanksgiving family reunions.

Musically it fits into the Disney tradition of showtune songs, with a score by Robert Lopez, who wrote hit musical comedies "The Book of Mormon" and "Avenue Q."

"Frozen" has a 90 percent positive audience rating on the Rotten Tomatoes movie review website, which describes it as "beautifully animated, smartly written, and stocked with singalong songs."

"Frozen" is preceded by a short, "Get a horse!" by Lauren MacMullan, which combines pastiches of black and white Mickey and Minnnie sketches before plunging into 3D virtuosity.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Minions can speak Filipino?

MANILA, Philippines – A video of the minions, the yellow creatures of the animated hit “Despicable Me,” speaking in what sounds like Filipino, has gone viral on social media.

In the 48-second video, a group of minions are trying to replace a lightbulb, and netizens swear they uttered Filipino words like “narito na” and “ikot.”

The video, which posted by Trivia Mania on Saturday, received more than 10,000 and elicited more than 600 comments. It was also shared more than 9,000 times.
“Minions use a bit of Spanish, English, French, Greek, Korean, Japanese, and even Filipino,” the post said, as it explained why viewers can understand some of the words.

It also quoted the movie’s producer John Cohen as saying, “A lot of times it sounds like it’s gibberish, a lot of times you hear a little bit of French. You hear all kinds of languages being incorporated into the way they speak.

“And then occasionally, you hear a word or two of English, or that sounds like English, that gives you a sense of what the minions are actually saying.”

Interest in the cartoon characters has been boosted by the upcoming release of the second “Despicable Me” movie and an ongoing promotion by fast-food giant McDonald’s, which is offering plastic Minion toys as part of its Happy Meals.

According to a report by the Philippines Star, several McDonald's branches in Manila have ran out of Minions and fans to travel to farther locations to complete the set.

ABS-CBNnews.com couldn’t find the popular toys at the McDonald’s branch beside its office.

Quezon City resident Manjo Jiordolin gave a tip to the Philippine Star on where more minions can be found.
"Sa naghahanap ng minion happy meal, Mcdo-Banawe (yung tapat ng ortho) magbubukas sa July 1. Baka may stock sila since reopening," he said.

McDonald's made the toys available simultaneously this month in 17 countries to promote the worldwide premiere of “Despicable Me 2.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Can PH become center of animation and gaming services?

MANILA, Philippines - Can the Philippines become the next prime destination for animation and gaming-related services?

Industry groups, Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), certainly think so.

"The country’s animation and gaming sectors carry a large potential for the Philippine information technology and business process management industry. By training our future leaders, they can strive to lead the next generation in building up the Philippines as the next prime destination for animation and gaming-related services,” said ACPI president Grace Dimaranan said in a statement.

Alvin Juban, president of the GDAP, said the Philippines' partnerships with other countries will allow the two sectors to market to potential clients.

Recently, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority established a partnership with the South Korean government to train Filipino animators and game developers. Under the program, two Filipino animators and two game developers trained in Paju, Gyeonggi province for two months.

"We hope to have our game developers and animators penetrate the global market and take a bigger slice of the global market. Immersing them in a successful and technologically-adept country such as Korea have surely given them the skills and training that they needed,” Juban said.

Research firm MarketsandMarkets said the global animation and gaming market is expected to grow to $242.93 billion by 2016 from $122.2 billion in 2010. India dominates the industry with 40% of the estimated $1.5 billion global animation and game development market, follwed by South Korea with 15% share and the Philippines with 10% share.

Nelson Udaundo, one of the animators who trained in South Korea, said the Philippine and Korean industries share similarities.

"Both industries practice Western-style animation having had decades of experience in Western production projects as well as setbacks... But we can learn from how the Koreans brought back their industry to life through the creation of original content, which led them to carve out a respectable niche in the global animation suppliers market," he said.

ACPI and GDAP are working closely with IBPAP to lead their respective sectors in conquering the global market. IBPAP consists of 300 industry and support-industry members, including five associations — the ACPI, GDAP, Contact Center Association of the Philippines,Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Software Industry Association.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

‘Finding Nemo 2′ in the works as original gets 3D treatment

Is he lost again? Wasn’t he already found?

The prospect of another journey across the Pacific Ocean floor looms after Pixar Animation Studios confirmed plans of a sequel to the 2003 blockbuster “Finding Nemo”, according to Mail Online.

Featuring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres and Willem Dafoe, “Finding Nemo” told the story of an adventurous clownfish who defies the warnings of his overprotective father, gets caught by a boat in the open sea, and ends up in dentist’s office in Sydney.

Winner of the 2004 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, it is Pixar’s second biggest hit, just behind “Toy Story 3″, with worldwide gross earnings in excess of $867 million.

Andrew Stanton, who wrote and directed the original film, will helm the sequel from a script by Victoria Strouse.

Stanton is coming off his live-action directorial debut, “John Carter”, a major box-office debacle for Walt Disney Pictures. Disney will co-produce the “Finding Nemo” sequel, due for release in 2016, with Pixar.

For fans wans who can’t wait for 2016, the original fish tale will be re-released in theaters on September 14 in 3D.

source: interaksyon.com

Pinoy animator finds success in Canada

TORONTO - Set to work on DreamWorks animated feature film “Joseph”, Andy Gutierez left the Philippines for Canada in 1998.

An extended contract found him riding the peak of 2D animation, but it was cut short because of the transition in the cartoon industry.

“I was locked with a company who hired me from the Philippines. I was forced to look for other jobs but they're not related to animation because the thing was, most of my co workers, they have money to like go to school, right away to learn 3D, cause 3D was like starting during that time,” said Gutierrez.

He found himself working at a labor intensive automotive company. But luck was on his side, for it was during this time when his talent was remembered by an old employer who offered to pay for his 3D animation course.

“Since I kinda know the basics and everything, it wasnt really hard for me. He asked me if I can work on TV show called 'Handy Manny'. I started doing 3D for almost a year,” he said.

Since then, Guiterrez has worked on Canadian cartoons like Max and Ruby, Wibbly Pig and Spliced. He became a Disney animator for “Goof Troop” and other shows.

His fondest memories lie in classical animation like the one he did for “Princess and the Frog” and the friendships formed in his many years animating back in the Philippines.

“I know a lot of animators and artists in the Philippines and they're pretty good. I see lots of good works here, but I see lots of good work from there too,” he added.

Despite his success, he believes Filipino talents shine in the field of animation.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Exciting new year for comic book cartoons

MANILA, Philippines — While 2011 had been a huge year for comics, the year 2012 looks to be an even bigger year.

Cartoons may seem childish to teenagers and young adults, but animated films and TV series are an effective gateway for people to get into comics. The secret to good animation is finding the balance between adapting its original source and translating the essence of a comic into the screen, taking the viewers’ mindset into consideration.

Looking back

Last October, DC came out with its animated adaptation of “Batman: Year One.’’ The film was a very faithful take on Frank Miller’s original work. The producers said it was easy to turn the comic into a cartoon because of Miller’s cinematic style of writing.

What made “Batman: Year One’’ so unique and fascinating is how it delves into the life of James Gordon. The film acts as an origin story for Batman, but it spends just as much time detailing the pressures that Gordon fights through, as he finds himself stuck in a corrupt police system. The film takes us into his personal life as well, exploring his relationship with his wife and child.

What also makes Year One thrilling is its depiction of Catwoman, especially in the bonus short film, starring our favorite cat burglar with a heart. It turns out that more than a simple desire for money and jewelry, Selina Kyle is really Ijust trying to protect the women of Gotham City.

“Thor: Tales of Asgard’’ was Marvel’s 2011 animated release that tells the story of a young Thor who learns the consequences of great power, and the responsibility that goes with it. The plot is very traditional, and Thor as a character is pretty dull. But what I really appreciated was how Loki is made into such a likable, innocent, and caring brother. The end of the film foreshadows his dark future, but most of the movie has Loki aiding Thor and performing heroic tasks.

Party like it’s 2012

DC has so many animated projects in the coming year, it gets me giddy every time I think about it.

“Justice League: Doom’’ will come out early 2012. The animated film is a loose adaptation of Tower of Babel, the famous JLA storyline that had the World’s Greatest Heroes systematically beat down and humiliated by their enemies who are using Batman’s files to devise their strategies. Finding out that Batman is keeping dangerous, intrusive files on his teammates creates a rift in the team, making Batman an untrustworthy figure.

The movie has sentimental value as well. The project was Dwayne McDuffie’s last, as he wrote it right before his death in February 2011. McDuffie was the creator of Static Shock, and he also wrote and produced Justice League Unlimited.

Also in the works is an animated film adaptation of Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns.’’ This is sure to either make fanboys rejoice or shake with fear. Along with Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns is considered by many as a classic to top all classics. So while the potential for such a project is mind-blowing, fans around the world will surely be critical.

I guess the best advice is for viewers to accept any animated adaptation as a separate piece of work from its original source. It’s hard to enjoy a movie when you’re constantly comparing it to the comic books. We have to look at animated films as a whole different entity. Of course, that is easier said than done.

On TV, “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’’ will start its second season early 2012. The show boasts of an all-star line-up featuring the likes of Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, and Thor. Lesser known heroes like Hawkeye, Black Panther, Wasp and Hank Pym also play major roles in the TV series. Obviously targeted at kids, adults will nevertheless enjoy the cartoon because of its fast pace, sleek animation, and big action.

There are a lot more animated comic book adaptations scheduled for 2012, so do try to keep yourselves posted on the newest releases. Always buy original. Either buy the original copies of the cartoon, or catch it on TV. Let’s give the animators more incentive and more reason to keep on coming back with new, progressive projects.

Happy new year to all of you, and may the force be with you!

source: mb.com.ph