Notizie

(Courtesy image, Graphic by The Desk)

Wallet-conscious streaming TV service Frndly TV says it will offer Weigel Broadcasting’s new retro cartoon channel MeTV Toons when the network launches later this month.

The announcement was made in an email sent to some customers and business partners on Wednesday, and comes about a week after Frndly TV accidentally told a subscriber on Facebook that the channel would debut on the service.

“You’ve been asking for it, so we’re adding MeTV Toons to the Frndly TV lineup!” the email sent on Wednesday said, adding that viewers will be able to “catch all the classic cartoons on this new channel, coming soon!”

MeTV Toons is growing out of a retro cartoon block that airs weekends on MeTV. Shows like “Betty Boop,” “Scooby Doo,” “Huckleberry Hound,” “Tom & Jerry,” “Top Cat” and “Speed Racer” are listed among some of the shows that...

The electronic program guide of Frndly TV. (Screen capture by The Desk)

Low-cost streaming service Frndly TV has retracted a statement made on social media that it would carry the soon-to-launch retro cartoon channel MeTV Toons when it becomes available in late June.

The statement was made in response to a comment left on Frndly TV’s Facebook page, in which a spokesperson appeared to confirm the streaming service would carry MeTV Toons when it launches on June 25.

“We will be carrying this in our lineup — stay tuned!” the spokesperson said. Hours later, an official with Frndly TV followed up in a series of Facebook messages saying the affirmation was made in error, and that the streaming service could not comment on whether it will carry MeTV Toons at launch.

Frndly TV is one of two streaming TV platforms that carries channels from Weigel Broadcasting, the media company developing MeTV Toons.

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you? On our TV screens for more than five decades, that's where. Scooby-Doo's been a part of the pop culture lexicon for nearly all of those now 54 years. The 1960s were arguably Hanna Barbera's golden era, with The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, Top Cat, Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, and Wacky Races among the most recognizable titles of the day. However, most other shows stayed confined to the '60s and '70s, only living on today in reruns. Some – notably The Flintstones – continued with spin-offs and movies, but there were often long hiatuses between projects.

As for Scooby-Doo, there's rarely been a hiatus lasting more than a few years. For the most part, it's aired continuously since its debut in the '60s. Nowadays, fans can usually count on at least one new movie per year. But what's the secret? How has the mystery-solving dog,...

In the early days of television, the “Big Three” networks ruled the small screen. ABC is the baby, entering the new medium a little behind its competitors, and finding new and creative ways to find success against two mighty opponents.

ABC found its earliest success with two programs that had begun on radio, “The Lone Ranger,” which was the network’s first big hit, and “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” a sitcom loosely based on the life of the real-life Nelson family. The latter remained on the air for 14 seasons, and was the longest-running prime-time comedy for decades, and the longest-running live action sitcom until 2021. However, ABC still struggled against the firmly established NBC and CBS, and found innovative ways to compete.

In 1954, ABC and Walt Disney struck an unprecedented deal: the network helped finance the filmmaker’s ambitious Disneyland Park, while Disney produced a weekly TV show for the network.

Part of the appeal of “The Masked Singer” is trying to figure out which famous faces are hidden beneath those masks. We nailed the identities of the first contestant from Group A who was sent packing at the end of the March 10 episode: Snail (Kermit the Frog). The rest of the contenders in Group A returned to compete again on March 24 disguised as the Porcupine, Raccoon, Russian Dolls and Seashell.

Of these famous five folks, we are most certain about who is hiding inside the Raccoon costume. On the season 5 premiere, he rocked the house with his cover of “Wild Thing” by The Troggs. We’ve watched that performance and his clues video over and over and think we’ve nailed his name. Keep reading for all “The Masked Singer” spoilers, including the identity of Raccoon who is definitely not someone who makes a living as a singer. But that raspy voice was a giveaway.

Jonny Quest: The Complete Original Series

Blu ray

Warner Archive

1964/ 1.33:1 / Each Episode 25 min.

Starring Tim Matheson, Don Messick

Music by Hoyt Curtin

Directed by William Hanna, Joe Barbera

Though the heartland was nearing a showdown between the Masters of War and the Age of Aquarius, things were relatively status quo in 1964, Beatles or no Beatles. Dad could still be found daydreaming over the garish macho fantasies of Men’s Action magazine while Junior was in the rec room hypnotized by Jonny Quest – a weekly cartoon show flaunting the same retro thrills found in the old man’s rags but aimed at the sandbox set.

Jonny lasted just one season, from September of 1964 to March of ‘65, but the combination of pulp fiction mayhem with junior league heroics would transfix a generation.

Jonny’s producers, William Hanna and Joesph Barbera, made their move to the small screen in 1957 when MGM shuttered...

Mexican animation studio Ánima Estudios produces with UK’s Prime Focus World, Gfm Animation.

Blue Fox Entertainment announced has acquired North American rights to the animated family adventure comedy A Wizard’s Tale featuring a British cast led by Okja star Lily Collins.

Rounding out the key animation cast are Ian McShane and Toby Kebbell.

Mexican animation studio Ánima Estudios – the company behind Top Cat, The Legend Of Chupacabras, and Wicked Flying Monkeys – is producing alongside UK companies Prime Focus World and Gfm Animation.

A Wizard’s Tale is based on the 1960’s NBC animated series Here Comes The Grump...

Features the voices of: Fiona Hardingham, Roger Jackson, Jenifer Beth Kaplan, Eric Larsen, Katie Leigh, Michael Robles, Johnny Rose, Nancy Sullivan, Phillip Vasquez | Written by Billy Frolick, Alicia Núñez Puerto | Directed by Leopoldo Aguilar

When young Lucas finds out he’s not really a human; the news changes his whole world. Especially since his first monster transformation happened in front of the most popular kids at school! After unreasonably blaming his Dad for keeping his identity a secret, the angry and embarrassed Lucas runs away from home. His search for Monster Island and his real roots takes him on a fabulously scary journey that puts him face to face with more tentacles, fangs and far-out situations than he can shake one of his new wings at. Ultimately Lucas learns that being a freak, isn’t freaky – it means you’re a member of a brand new type of family you can proudly call your own.

Last year, DC boldly reimagined various beloved Hanna-Barbera properties when it released such series as Scooby Apocalypse, Future Quest, The Flintstones and Wacky Raceland. Whether or not those offerings were your cup of tea, you may want to check out 2017’s additions to the line when the likes of Snagglepuss by writer Mark Russell with art by Howard Porter, Ruff and Ready by writer/artist Howard Chaykin, The Jetsons by writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner with art by Pier Brito and Top Cat by writer Dan Didio with art by Phil Winslade arrive in comic shops.

Although these series aren’t ready to launch just yet, readers will have the chance to sample eight-page previews to be included in various annuals scheduled to hit stands on March 29. As long as these don’t drive up the cover price (the average annual retails at $4.99 or $5.99), we have no problem with added content.

Marvin Kaplan has died of natural causes at the age of 89. Between 1978 and 1985, Kaplan recurred as Mel's Diner regular Henry Beesmeyer on the CBS comedy Alice, starring Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, Philip McKeon, and Polly Holliday. He also voiced Choo-Choo on Hanna-Barbera's Top Cat cartoon, which first ran on ABC in the 1961-62 television season.Kaplan played producer Dwight McGonigle on the show-within-a-show sitcom, On the Air, starring Ian Buchanan, Marla Rubinoff, Nancye Ferguson, Miguel Ferrer, Gary Grossman, and Mel Johnson, Jr. Despite its title, of the seven episodes shot, only three aired, before the show was cancelled by ABC in 1992.Read More…...

Marvin Kaplan, who was best known for starring in the sitcom “Alice” and for voice work on the animated series “Top Cat,” died in his sleep Thursday morning in Burbank, California. He was 89. His death was announced in a statement by Theatre West, the oldest continually operating theater company in Los Angeles, of which he was a longtime member. “It is with a sad and heavy heart to inform you our very own Marvin Kaplan passed away today at 5Am in his sleep,” the statement read. “There will be a memorial at the theatre, in addition to any other service held for him.

Marvin Kaplan, a prolific character actor best known for his recurring role as Henry Beesmeyer on the 1976-85 sitcom Alice and as the voice of Choo-Choo on the cartoon Top Cat has died. He was 89 and died from natural causes in his Burbank home. Born in Brooklyn in 1927, Kaplan’s first film role came in 1949’s Adam’s Rib. His next major role was as a regular on the sitcom Meet Millie, on which he played Alfred Prinzmetal. He was with the show in its radio incarnation…...

As Kevin Spacey finds himself stuck inside a cat in this week’s family comedy Nine Lines, how well do you know other movie moggies?

Panic Room

The Gift

Gone Girl

The Glass House

The Third Man

Cat People

Pygmalion

The Black Cat

Let the Right One In

Catwoman

Insidious

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The Getaway

Willard

The Long Goodbye

Harry and Tonto

Fallen

Pet Semetary

Needful Things

The Thing

An Unmarried Woman

Listen Up Phillip

Hannah and Her Sisters

The Squid and the Whale

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

What Lies Beneath

Taking Lives

Side Effects

Mean Girls

Sixteen Candles

Scream

Drag Me to Hell

Cats and Dogs

Stuart Little

Babe

Charlotte's Web

Hocus Pocus

Jumanji

Death Becomes Her

The Witches

10 and above.

Top cat

9 and above.

Top cat

8 and above.

Top cat

7 and above.

Top cat

6 and above.

A sad tail

5 and above.

A sad tail

4 and above.

The new branded line Shout Selects chooses Buckaroo for special-special edition treatment, with a long making-of docu just like the ones from the heyday of DVD. And this oddest of oddball sci-fi pictures has a backstory worth documenting. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Blu-ray Shout Select 1984 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 102 min. / Street Date August 16, 2016 / 34.93 Starring: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, Lewis Smith, Rosalind Cash, Robert Ito, Pepe Serna, Ronald Lacey, Matt Clark, Clancy Brown, Carl Lumbly, Vincent Schiavelli, Dan Hedaya, Bill Henderson, Damon Hines, Billy Vera Cinematography Fred J. Koenekamp Production Designer J. Michael Riva Art Direction Richard Carter, Stephen Dane Film Editor George Bowers, Richard Marks Original Music Michael Boddicker Written by Earl Mac Rauch Produced by Sidney Beckerman, Neil Canton, W.D. Richter Directed by W.D. Richter

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Not content with its already well appointed special Blu-ray editions,...

Louisa Mellor Jul 19, 2016

Netflix's Stranger Things may be a nostalgia-fest, but that's not new. TV has always let us escape into comforting stories about the past…

Remember the good old days? They were good weren’t they? Not like now. It’s horrible now. That’s why everything on TV is comforting, coddling, backwards-looking fluff. We all just want to dive onto a feathery pile of period television and forget about the cruel, unsettling world of today. A world where, get this, the Soviets have gone into space. And there’s that war in Korea. Everyone’s testing hydrogen bombs all over the place, Castro’s taken over Cuba and innocent people keep getting lynched. I ask you. It’s little wonder all we want to watch on TV are cosy Westerns. Switch on Gunsmoke and all that worry melts away.

Fast-forward a few decades to now, when the release...

It's a well-known fact that Iberoamerican cinema, which includes Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese productions, has had a prominent presence at the most important international film festivals for several years now and several films have been recognized at some of the most important film awards around the world. Colombia's "Embrace of the Serpent" earning the country's first-ever Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category and Argentina's "Wild Tales" taking home the 2016 BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in English Language are juts two examples of recent victories.

Acknowledging the need for a unified industry in the region and a platform for the Iberoamerican industry to honor and support its own productions, the Premios Platino of Iberoamerican Cinema were born three years ago. Each year the organizing committee selects a diverse group of nominees and invites members of the industry across the American continent and the Iberian peninsula to vote in order to select the winners. The ceremony takes place in a different country every year as a way to include all of the varied industries in the process and execution of the event.

This morning, after considering more than 150 films from a pool of over 800 theatrically releases productions, the final nominees were announced by a group of talented actors, including legendary Mexican-American thespian Edward James Olmos, and filmmakers led by CNN en Español's journalist Juan Carlos Arciniegas. Guatemala's Berlin-winning gem "Ixcanul" received 8 nominations, just as Colombia's Oscar-nominated "Embrace of the Serpent" did. These two gorgeously executed works center on indigenous stories and highlight the rich cultural heritage of Latin America. It's a pleasant surprise to see these two fantastic films get the most love.

Chile's "The Club" and Argentina's "The Clan," films by the two most prolific Pablos working in South America, Pablo Larrain and Pablo Trapero, received 6 nominations each. Larrain's dark tale about Catholic priests with questionable pasts was also nominated this year for a Golden Globe in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Perhaps one of the most surprising, yet well-deserved nominations, was the inclusion of Alonso Ruizpalacios among the Best Director nominees for his brilliant debut "Güeros."

Two films distributed by Pantelion received nomations: "600 Miles" and "Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos." Oscilloscope earned 10 mentions with properties "Ma Ma" and "Embrace of the Serpent." Kino Lorber's "Ixcanul, ""Güeros," and "The Pearl Button" also earned the art house distributor 10 nominations.

Regarding the quality of the films being produced in Iberoamerica Egeda's Elvi Cano said, “This has been an exceptional year for Iberoamerican Cinema, with 826 qualifying releases. Iberoamerican Cinema is alive, growing and stronger then ever.” Renowned journalist and host Juan Carlos Arciniegas added," These awards are starting a revolution and it's my dream, as an ambassador for Premios Platino, that these magnificent films that got nominated today to be seen by all our Iberoamerican audiences. I can't be more proud of what our filmmakers are doing today and if the public don't get to enjoy them, we won't be doing our job"

The 3rd Annual Premios Platino of Iberoamerican Cinema will take place on July 24th in Punta del Este, Uruguay

Here is the full list of nominees:

Premio Platino for Best Iberoamerican Picture

-"Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente), by Ciro Guerra (Ciudad Lunar Producciones, Caracol Cine, Dago García Producciones, Nortesur Producciones S.A., Mc Producciones, Buffalo Films) (Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina).

-"The Clan" (El clan), by Pablo Trapero (Kramer & Sigman Films, Matanza Cine S.R.L., El Deseo, P.C., S.A.) (Argentina, Spain).

-"The Club" (El club), by Pablo Larraín (Fabula Producciones) (Chile).

-"Ixcanul," by Jayro Bustamante (La Casa de Producción, Tu vas voir Productions) (Guatemala).

-"Truman," by Cesc Gay (Imposible Films S.L., Truman Film A.I.E., Bd Cine S.R.L) (Spain, Argentina).

Premio Platino for Best Director

-Alonso Ruizpalacios, for "Güeros."

-Cesc Gay, for "Truman."

-Ciro Guerra, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

Pablo Larraín, for "The Club" (El club).

Pablo Trapero, for "The Clan" (El clan).

Premio Platino for Best Actor

-Alfredo Castro, for "The Club" (El club).

-Damián Alcázar, for "Magallanes."

-Guillermo Francella, for "The Clan" (El clan).

-Javier Cámara, for "Truman."

-Ricardo Darín, for "Truman."

Premio Platino for Best Actress

-Antonia Zegers, for "The Club" (El club).

-Dolores Fonzi, for "Paulina."

-Elena Anaya, for "The Memory of Water" (La memoria del agua).

-Inma Cuesta, for "The Bride" (La novia).

-Penélope Cruz, for "Ma Ma."

Premio Platino for Best Original Score

-Alberto Iglesias, for "Ma Ma."

-Federico Jusid, for "Magallanes."

-Lucas Vidal, for "Nobody Wants the Night" (Nadie quiere la noche).

-Nascuy Linares, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

-Pascual Reyes, for "Ixcanul."

Premio Platino for Best Animated Feature Film

-"Capture the Flag" (Atrapa la bandera), by Enrique Gato (Telecinco Cinema S.A., Los Rockets La Película A.I.E., Telefónica Studios S.L.U., 4 Cats Pictures S.L., Ikiru Films S.L., Lightbox Animation Studios S.L.) (Spain).

-"Top Cat Begins" (Don Gato 2: El inicio de la pandilla), by Andrés Couturier (Anima Estudios) (Mexico).

-"El Americano", by Ricardo Arnaiz, Mike Kunkel (Olmos Productions, Phil Roman Entertainment, Animex) (Mexico).

-"Amila's Secret" (El secreto de Amila), by Gorka Vázquez (Baleuko, S.L., Talape Animazioa, Draftoon Animation) (Spain, Argentina).

-"Huevos: Little Rooster's Egg-Cellent Adventure" (Un gallo con muchos huevos), by Gabriel Riva Palacio Alatriste, Rodolfo Riva Palacio Alatriste (Huevocartoon Producciones) (Mexico).

Premio Platino for Best Documentary Feature Film

-"Beyond My Grandfather Allende" (Allende mi abuelo Allende), by Marcia Tambutti Allende (Errante Producciones Ltda, Martfilms) (Chile, Mexico).

-"New Girls 24 Hours" (Chicas nuevas 24 horas), by Mabel Lozano (Mafalda Entertainment, S.L., Aleph Media S.A., Puatarará Films, Hangar Films, Arte Vital) (Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru).

-"The Pearl Button" (El botón de nácar), by Patricio Guzmán (Atacama Productions, Valdivia Film, France 3 Cinema, Mediaproduccion, S.L.) (Chile, Spain).

-"Tea Time" (La once), by Maite Alberdi (Micromundo Producciones) (Chile).

-"The Propaganda Game," by Álvaro Longoria (Morena Films S. L.) (Spain).

Premio Platino for Best Screenplay

-Cesc Gay, Tomás Aragay, for "Truman."

-Ciro Guerra, Jacques Toulemonde, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

-Jayro Bustamante, for "Ixcanul."

-Pablo Larraín, Guillermo Calderón, Daniel Villalobos; for "The Club" (El club).

-Salvador del Solar, for "Magallanes."

Premio Platino for Best Iberoamerican Debut Feature Film

-"600 Miles" (600 Millas), by Gabriel Ripstein (Lucia Films) (Mexico).

- "Retribution" (El desconocido), by Dani de la Torre (Atresmedia Cine S. L., Vaca Films Studio, S.L.) (Spain).

-"The Boss, Anatomy of a Crime" (El patrón: radiografía de un crimen), by Sebastián Schindel (Magoya Films S.A., Estrella Films) (Argentina, Venezuela).

-"Ixcanul," by Jayro Bustamante (La Casa de Producción, Tu vas voir Productions) (Guatemala).

-"Magallanes," by Salvador del Solar (Péndulo Films, Tondero Producciones, Cepa Audiovisual S.R.L., Proyectil, Cinemara, Nephilim Producciones, S.L.) (Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Spain).

Premio Platino for Best Film Editing

-César Díaz, for "Ixcanul."

-Eric Williams, for "Magallanes."

-Etienne Boussac, Cristina Gallego, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

-Jorge Coira, for "Retribution" (El desconocido).

-Pablo Trapero, Alejandro Carrillo Penovi, for "The Clan" (El clan).

Premio Platino for Best Art Direction

-Angélica Perea, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

-Bruno Duarte, Artur Pinheiro, for "Arabian Nights: Vol.2 - The Desolate One" (As mil e uma noites: Volume 2, O desolado).

-Jesús Bosqued Maté, Pilar Quintana, for "The Bride" (La novia).

-Pilar Peredo, for "Ixcanul."

-Sebastián Orgambide, for "The Clan" (El clan).

Premio Platino for Best Cinematography

-Arnaldo Rodríguez, for "The Memory of Water" (La memoria del agua).

-David Gallego, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

-Luis Armando Arteaga, for "Ixcanul."

-Miguel Ángel Amoedo, for "The Bride" (La novia).

-Sergio Armstrong, for "The Club" (El club).

Premio Platino for Best Sound Direction

-Carlos García, Marco Salavarría, for "Embrace of the Serpent" (El abrazo de la serpiente).

-David Machado, Jaime Fernández, Nacho Arenas, for "Retribution" (El desconocido).

-Eduardo Cáceres, Julien Cloquet, for "Ixcanul."

-Federico Esquerro, Santiago Fumagalli, Edson Secco, for "Paulina."

-Vicente D’Elía, Leandro de Loredo, for "The Clan" (El clan).

This new puss prequel is very much on a par with the standard of the first film

[Big band TV sig intro – but slower and gloomier than usual.]

Top Cat! Now, I just want to plead:

“Stop that!” The first film made us

bleed

Wounds of horror stabbed in our

brain!

Now we have to watch the same

thing again ...?

Not that! Look, I’m quite ser–i–ous,

Avoid this prequel please.

Top Cat 2’s frankly poo and it’s

coming at you

You must avoid this film and –

that’s that.

Continue reading...

Exclusive: Former Icon executive appointed on permanent basis; Caroline Stern assumes commercial affairs role.

UK sales and distribution outfit Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) has appointed Anthony Buckner director of international sales.

The former Icon and Terra Mater executive has served in the role since last year but has now been made permanent with former director of international sales Caroline Stern assuming the newly created role of director of commercial affairs and business development.

At Kaleidoscope, Buckner has worked on deals including the sale of animation Top Cat Begins to Warner Bros and thriller River to Ascot Elite in Germany.

Spencer Pollard, CEO of Kfd commented: “We are delighted Anthony has agreed to join us permanently. I think our commercial tastes and views on how to grow the International business are aligned and we’re excited that he’s agreed to be part of our long-term plans.”

Buckner added: “I am very pleased to be joining Spencer and his...

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

Just when I decided that maybe DC’s “Rebirth” might possibly be worthy – yes, I know, I had the same hopes for Batman v Superman – the other shoe dropped. Back in the 1990s I perceived DC as a centipede, with (obviously) 100 shoes to drop. Now, I’m thinking millipede.

In case you haven’t heard, DC decided to “reimagine” (lord how I hate that word) the classic Hanna-Barbera characters. Sort of like what Archie Comics just did with Archie but, in this case, totally needless.

I have little if any strong attachment to the H-b characters. Even as a kid I knew cheap, shitty animation and sub-standard writing. I loved Rocky and Bullwinkle, which employed even cheaper animation, but after mildly enjoying the first season of The Flintstones I decided life was too short – I was 10 years old – and...

Though a reboot of the "Scooby Doo" franchise has been in the works for a while at Warner Bros. Pictures, it turns out the studio has more ambitious plans than just one film.

Slashfilm reports that the studio announced at CinemaCon this week in Las Vegas that the new "Scooby Doo" film will be called "S.C.O.O.B." and is targeting a September 21st 2018 release.

That's not all though, it seems the film might serve as the launching pad of a proposed new wave of potentially interlocking movies based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoons. A cinematic universe of those characters which includes the likes of The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, The Smurfs, Top Cat, Jonny Quest, Wacky Races, Sealab 2020 and many others.

Rights to certain titles, such as "The Smurfs," are owned by other parties and so obviously can't take part. The potential news comes from a studio...

Cartoon Network

After what has felt like an eternity, the PowerPuff Girls are finally getting a revival.

The hit Cartoon Network show first graced our television screens back in 1998, where it would run for a glorious 7 years before being canceled back in 2005. Since then, the show’s old episodes were prominently featured on Boomerang; which happens to be the home to other much loved cartoons such as Johnny Bravo, Top Cat, Cow and Chicken and Tom and Jerry. Now, after 11 years and virtually every other superhero getting a reboot, we’re finally going to be getting something new from Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup.

Cartoon Network has ordered 40 new episodes of the re-booted series, with hopes that it will get the same reception from a new generation. Executive producers Nick Jennings and Bob Boyle told Turner in a recent Q&A just what possessed them to bring the show back. “The Powerpuff Girls...

Classic cartoon lovers rejoice! That fantastic feline superstar returns to UK movie screens in just a few weeks. As the Hoyt Curtin TV theme proclaims, “…but above everything, he’s the most tip top…Top Cat!”. Tc, as close friends call him, did indeed debut on American TV screens on the then fledgling ABC network in September of 1961 (talk about your nine lives!). This show, along with “The Jetsons” and “Jonny Quest” was an attempt by animation studio Hanna-Barbera to replicate the prime time success of that “modern stone-age family “The Flintstones” just a year or so before. Unfortunately Tc was not the rating smash that Fred and company were, so only one season (30 half hour episodes) were produced. But the kitty con-artist and his pals endured as a Saturday morning staple,then a syndicated smash. As beloved as the show was in its native Us, “Top Cat” was an even bigger hit overseas,...

Top Cat, the most effectual, is the star of the show in the first trailer for Andres Couturier’s upcoming animated feature, Top Cat Begins.

A tip of the hat to the original 60s cartoon in more ways than one, Jason Harris (Rio 2) lends his vocal chords to the titular feline, headlining a crew of alley cats comprised of Fancy-Fancy, Spook, Choo-Choo, along with Brain and Benny. It is, at its core, an origins story to Hanna-Barbera’s beloved trickster, shedding light on how Harris’ Top Cat crossed paths with Benny before forming their famous gang of felines.

First released in Mexico late last year, Top Cat Begins is also a prequel to 2011 animated flick Top Cat: The Movie, though early reviews for Couturier’s cheeky feature weren’t too kind.

Top Cat Begins slinks into theaters in the UK come May 27, and we’ll keep you updated as...

Exclusive: UK deal for animation sold by Kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) has struck a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures for all UK rights to completed animation Top Cat Begins.

The film traces the origins of the classic Hanna-Barbera characters, revealing how the group of alley cats got together. Voice talent includes Jason Harris (Rio 2) and Chris Edgerly (Happy Feet).

The deal was brokered by Anthony Buckner at Kfd for a summer 2016 release.

Kfd recently concluded deals on the film for Australia & New Zealand (Transmission Films), Middle East (Shooting Stars), Turkey (Sinema TV), Ex-Yugoslavia (2i Film) and Portugal (Cinemundo).

“The UK is a key territory for Top Cat Begins and we are extremely excited to be working with a company with the pedigree of Warner Bros,” said Buckner.

Director is Andres Couturier, producers are Fernando de Fuentes and Jose C. Garcia de Letona.

Top Cat: The Movie took $4.5m at the UK box office in 2011.

Exclusive: Broadchurch actress stars in Dutch horror debut from Nick Jongerius.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) has boarded sales rights to genre-horror The Windmill Massacre ahead of Berlin’s Efm (Feb 11-19).

From debut writer-director Nick Jongerius and producer Daniel Koefoed - both producers on genre-horror Frankenstein’s Army - The Windmill Massacre tells the gory tale of a devil-worshipping miller that, legend has it, ground the bones of locals instead of grain. Back from beyond the grave, the miller seeks vengeance on a group of unsuspecting tourists, who share a dark secret.

Filmed in Amsterdam, the English-language feature is in post-production and due for delivery this spring.

Broadchurch and Jupiter Ascending actress Charlotte Beaumont stars alongside Noah Taylor (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) and Patrick Baladi (Rush).

Director Nick Jongerius said: “It has been a privilege to shoot an international horror as my feature debut, using the famous Dutch heritage and locations as the backdrop. I have always...

Exclusive: Broadchurch actress stars in Dutch horror debut from Nick Jongerius.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) has boarded sales rights to genre-horror The Windmill Massacre ahead of Berlin’s Efm (Feb 11-19).

From debut writer-director Nick Jongerius and producer Daniel Koefoed - both producers on genre-horror Frankenstein’s Army - The Windmill Massacre tells the gory tale of a devil-worshipping miller that, legend has it, ground the bones of locals instead of grain. Back from beyond the grave, the miller seeks vengeance on a group of unsuspecting tourists, who share a dark secret.

Filmed in Amsterdam, the English-language feature is in post-production and due for delivery this spring.

Broadchurch and Jupiter Ascending actress Charlotte Beaumont stars alongside Noah Taylor (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) and Patrick Baladi (Rush).

Director Nick Jongerius said: “It has been a privilege to shoot an international horror as my feature debut, using the famous Dutch heritage and locations as the backdrop. I have always...

Exclusive: UK sales outfit Kaleidoscope boards family animation.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) is to premiere family animation Top Cat Begins at the Afm.

The follow-up to Top Cat: The Movie, which took $4.5m at the UK box office, Top Cat Begins tells how the eponymous hero pulled together his famous band of Manhattan alley cats, first assembled by Us animation house Hanna-Barbera.

The Anima Estudios production is produced by Fernando de Fuentes and Jose C. Garcia de Letona (Top Cat: The Movie), written by James Krieg (Ben 10), Douglas Arndale (The Book Of Life) and Jorge Ramirez-Suarez, with voice talent including Jason Harris (Rio 2), Chris Edgerly (Happy Feet), Hope Levy (Penguins Of Madagascar) and David Hoffman (Bridesmaids).

Kfd is representing all rights, excluding Latin America and India.

Spencer Pollard, CEO, Kfd, commented: “We are very excited to be working with Anima Estudios, bringing this latest chapter of Top Cat to a worldwide audience. As a leading...

Exclusive: UK sales outfit Kaleidoscope boards family animation.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) is to premiere family animation Top Cat Begins at the Afm.

The follow-up to Top Cat: The Movie, which took $4.5m at the UK box office, Top Cat Begins tells how the eponymous hero pulled together his famous band of Manhattan alley cats, first assembled by Us animation house Hanna-Barbera.

The Anima Estudios production is produced by Fernando de Fuentes and Jose C. Garcia de Letona (Top Cat: The Movie), written by James Krieg (Ben 10), Douglas Arndale (The Book Of Life) and Jorge Ramirez-Suarez, with voice talent including Jason Harris (Rio 2), Chris Edgerly (Happy Feet), Hope Levy (Penguins Of Madagascar) and David Hoffman (Bridesmaids).

Kfd is representing all rights, excluding Latin America and India.

Spencer Pollard, CEO, Kfd, commented: “We are very excited to be working with Anima Estudios, bringing this latest chapter of Top Cat to a worldwide audience. As a leading...

Gordon Fleming's asbestos removal crew were infected by it in 2001's Session 9, Lance Preston and his ghost investigation team faced it in 2011's Grave Encounters, and soon a group of teenagers will also become immersed in the creepy, haunting, and ultimately mind-bending atmosphere of an abandoned asylum in Marcus Nispel's Exeter (formerly known as Backmask). Featured in our latest round-up, the next film from the director of the Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remakes has been acquired for U.S. distribution and given a release date. Also included in this go-around is the poster for The Diabolical, a new horror film starring Ali Larter, as well as a look at Super7 and Secret Base's Green Slime Alien soft vinyl figure, going on sale this Friday.

Exeter: Viva Pictures and DirecTV have acquired the U.S. rights to Exeter and have set a July 2nd...

Allen Jenkins. Illustration by Tony Millionaire from the book The Depression Alphabet Primer, by Daniel Riccuito with illustrations by Tony Millionaire.

Utterly relaxed in his lumpen condition, character actor Allen Jenkins craves no self-improvement—external circumstances are a perennial cause of concern, but within his skin, everything is pronounced satisfactory. He and the world have agreed to disagree. Imagine a sad and slapdash identikit collaged from discards veering toward Neanderthal.

Overall effect: the big toe.

Jenkins excels as stooges and losers when Hollywood is choked with them. His powerhouse harnessed to stock screen personas, as if to fulfill a collective need of the 1930s, every mother’s son compressed into one hyphenate—the titan-shlump. An American type, ideal for our man Jenkins, who could explode into three dimensions and collapse again; it would serve him well throughout a fairly long career, even as his habitual boozing persisted.

As a hit-man...

The first thing to remember when you watch the Simpsons/Family Guy crossover is that it is an episode of Family Guy. This is when you groan, because Family Guy is an unoriginal rip-off of The Simpsons that retells tired old gags with an ironic approach. Or maybe you cheer, because you're over The Simpsons: It hasn't even been good in 13 years. Those aren't my opinions. Those are the implicit opinions of the Simpsons/Family Guy crossover–or at least, those explicit self-mocking assertions are how "The Simpsons Guy" portrays every possible critique you could have about the two shows.

Exclusive: Albert Mar’s animation sells to the Middle East, Colombia, Cis and Eastern Europe.

Buyers have snapped up a raft of rights from FilmSharks International to Save Oz! 3D, the animation project from Fernando De Fuentes’ Anima Estudios.

Albert Mar of Top Cat fame directs the film and FilmSharks head Guido Rud has been showing first footage on the Croisette.

Rights have gone for the Middle East (Shooting Stars), Colombia (Cinecolombia) and Cis and Eastern Europe (Top Film).

Rud said deals for the Us, South Korea and Latin America were under discussion.

Meanwhile there has been activity on Daniel Burman’s rom-com Mystery Of Happiness (El Misterio de la Felicidad), which Disney handles in select Latin American markets and stars Guillermo Francella.

Deals have closed in France (Eurozoom), Australia (Potential Films) and Cis and Baltics (Maywin Media).

Strand Releasing and HBO previously acquired Us rights, Festival Films took Spain and Portugal and Cinecolombia will release in Colombia...

Tom and Jerry are back! Everyone’s favourite cat and mouse have returned for 26 brand spanking new episodes in The Tom and Jerry Show, which is currently airing on Saturday mornings on Boomerang. Family fun at its best, Tom and Jerry have been making us laugh for a staggering 74 years, but which other TV classics have made a modern comeback?

1) Top Cat

The indisputable leader of the gang, Top Cat originally graced our screens in the 1960s but the gang of alley cats’ exploits have also been entertaining modern audiences with recent re-runs on Boomerang. The 2D feline was given a 3D makeover when he was revived in 2012, with a movie adaptation which saw the gang come up against a tough new chief of police who is less than happy with Officer Dibble’s attempts to control the mischievous cats.

2) Dennis the Menace and Gnasher

Beano favourite Dennis the Menace...

“Animation is built on plagiarism. If it weren’t for someone plagiarizing The Honeymooners we wouldn’t have The Flintstones. If someone hadn’t ripped off Sergeant Bilko, there’d be no Top Cat. Huckleberry Hound, Chief Wiggum, Yogi Bear? Hah! Andy Griffith, Edward G. Robinson, Art Carney.” – Roger Meyers, Jr. “The Day The Violence Died,” Season 7 of The Simpsons.

The Simpsons has introduced television audiences to a cast of thousands in its 25 years on television, and not every character is 100% original. Most of the Simpsons’ family is named after creator Matt Groening’s own family, with many more characters named after pets, street names, and more in Groening’s hometown of Portland, Oregon. And then there are the characters that are more than just “named after” someone or something else.

Call it an homage. Call it a parody. Or call it flat-out thievery. Whatever you prefer, The Simpsons have done it many,...

Buenos Aires-based International Sales Company Film Sharks will be present in Berlin with an incredibly eclectic lineup that includes animation, some of the most successful Latin American films of the past year, an even an Oscar Foreign Language submission.

Save Oz

Directed by Alberto Mar

A new animated film from Anima Estudios, the Mexican animation company that produced the successful Top Cat film, which has gross close to $14.7 million worldwide. Based upon the classic L. Frank Baum books, the film will infuse the well-known universe with its own characters and an original storyline. FilmSharks will be showing a Promo Reel in Berlin as the film is still in production expecting to be finished in the next few months.

The Mystery of Happiness (El Misterio de la Felicidad)

Directed by Daniel Burman

Santiago and Eugenio are more than friends, they are life long business partners. They understand each other without words, they care for each other, they need each other. One day Eugenio disappears without leaving any clues behind. Santiago immediately notices his absence, but only realizes what have happened when Eugenio's wife, Laura, lost and hopeless assures him that Eugenio has left. Santiago and Laura begin a journey in order to find him and end up discovering that they prefer to stay together in this quest rather than finding out where he is or what has happened to him. A film about love, but goes beyond it, it pushes boundaries, it explores the idea of loyalty and estrangement , and it definitely puts dreams over long lost promises.

Of Horse and Men

Directed by Benedikt Erlingsson

Iceland's Official Oscar Submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award

Read Carlos Aguilar's Review Here

A country romance about the human streak in the horse and the horse in the human. Love and death become interlaced and with immense consequences. Punctuated with humor, Of Horses And Men is an affectionate, yet unflinching portrait of a remote valley community as seen from the horses' perspective.

The Noble Family (Nosotros Los Nobles)

Directed Gaz Alazraki

Highest Grossing Mexican Film of All Time!

Read Sydney Levine's Piece on the Film

When successful construction Mogul, Herman Noble realizes his children are spoiled beyond redemption, he stages the company bankruptcy and seizure of all their assets. And tricks them into believing they are fugitives from the law. He moves them into their grandfather's dilapidated home in a poor neighborhood and makes them do something none of them have ever done before... work.

In Development

Mis-Fits (Working Title)

Directed by L.D. Napier

Starring Freida Pinto and Guy Pearce, Mis-Fits narrates the misadventures of a Brooklyn 'necro-detective', whose job is to encounter the whereabouts of lost or dead relatives.

Abracadaver

Directed by Pancho Rodriguez

After directing his massively successful debut feature, Eugenio Derbez returns to the screen starring in Abracadaver a thriller with black comedy tones (Ocean’s Eleven meets Crimen Ferpecto) by the director of Buena Vista’s Box Office Hit, Calling an Angel.

Death Fearless

Directed by Matias Gueilburt

Starring Academy Award-nominee Demian Bichir the film tells the story of Jesus Ontiveros, a retired sicario (hit man), has been released from prison after 20 years willing to leave behind his violent past. However, the appearance of his brother Pepe, the most popular narcocorrido singer, forces him to do one last job: to save his brother from the powerful man that commands half of Mexico.

Remora

Written by Andres Gelos

In a dying planet, beneath a thick ice shell, a huge submarine city travels across the pan-ocean. Its citizens prepare themselves for the exodus to the new world. Ratio, a seabed driller, uncovers the plan to sacrifice the first ships, which will fracture the ice shell so that only the ship carrying the society's elite will manage to go through it. After being accused of being a traitor, Ratio is rescued by Lania. She is an earth-bound, she belongs to a society of outcasts who live hidden inside a volcano. Ratio and Lania attempt to attach a ship carrying earth-bounds like a remora to the exodus ship in order to escape from the ice world in search for their destiny at the opposite end of the galaxy: a small blue planet with only one sun and only one satellite, where dinosaurs still prevail.

In Production

Torrente 5

Directed by Santiago Segura

The Ultimate in Bizarre is back, considered today one of the biggest European Franchises by far. Theatrically worth over $140 million and sold in over 45 countries.

Feature James Clayton 24 Jan 2014 - 06:03

Inside Llewyn Davis leaves James pondering the role of cats in films, and whether the Coens can make him learn to love the furry moggies...

Llewyn Davis is a New York musician pawing around the early 60s Greenwich Village folk scene. He's a pretentious mewling creative-type who can't connect with others around him, and he's caught up in the questions of artistic integrity versus commercial success. He's a lost soul with some hair going on. Llewyn Davis has a lot in common with a certain Barton Fink, and in my mind I can picture the forlorn pair performing "Man of Constant Sorrow" as a duet.

In spite of their similarities, though, the lead of the Coen Brothers' fresh folk yarn is arguably better off than John Turturro's doomed screenwriter. Llewyn Davis (played by Oscar Isaac) has something that Fink lacks and that is a pet.

With the Lone Ranger opening in a few days and John Carter and Green Hornet getting a chance at a comeback, who else deserves redemption? The choices are many with hundreds of old, once-popular characters collecting dust in corporate files. To get on this list, the characters must be a) old b) fairly inactive for a couple decades.

Buck Rogers

John Carter maybe ground zero for most sci-fi mythos, but Buck Rogers was the A-lister during the 1930's all the way to the 50's. Buck Rogers is a World War I veteran who goes into a suspended state/coma and wakes up in the 25th century. Sure, the name is a little ridiculous and there's a certain level of cheese that coats much of his media, but Buck Rogers is still vaguely familiar to a lot a people. The character can easily be updated for modern times and wields an array of cool futuristic weaponry.

Viva Pictures announced today the acquisition for all U.S. rights to Top Cat: The Movie, based on the popular 1960s prime time cartoon character of the same name. Top Cat: The Movie features the voices of Jason Harris (Ice Age: Continental Drift), Chris Edgerly (Happy Feet), and Bill Lobley (Ice Age: Continental Drift). The company is planning a theatrical roll-out this summer followed by VOD, home entertainment and digital offerings.

“We are honored to be a part of this piece of cartoon history,” commented Victor Elizalde, president of Viva Pictures. “I have extremely fond memories of watching with my brothers the original television show, ‘Top Cat’ and am looking forward to sharing the big screen version with a new generation of U.S. audiences.”

Top Cat: The Movie welcomes the return of the lovable characters from the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Top Cat, along with his gang of city-slickin’ fast-talking...

Top Cat didn’t air on television for a very long time (1961-62, for two short-lived seasons), but the character’s impact was large enough that he’s ready to make a comeback in 2013. Alberto Mar is directing a feature-length animated take on Top Cat, which reaches theaters on Aug. 2 (after screening in international markets as far back as 2011). Jason Harris will provide the voice of Top Cat – as well as several other characters, including Choo Choo and Brain. The homegrown effort released a trailer, which we’re sharing with you below: I remember Top Cat, but I’m older. My kids have no idea who the character is, so this might be an interesting gateway into a classic television series … which we’d...

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Viva Pictures has released a trailer and a clip for their animated adventure Top Cat: The Movie, based on the classic Hanna-Barbara prime time sitcom from the 1960s. The story follows T.C., the leader of an alley cat gang living in Hoagy's Alley. Check out the first footage from this feline family comedy, before its limited release on August 2.

Top Cat: The Movie - Trailer

Top Cat: The Movie - Listen Up

Top Cat and the gang face a new police chief, who is not at all happy with poor officer Dribble's performance in trying to prevent Top Cat's scams. Strickland, the new police chief, will test Top Cat and his gang while proving to be the greatest foe Top Cat has ever encountered.

Top Cat: The Movie comes to theaters August 2nd, 2013 and stars Jason Harris, Chris Edgerly, Bill Lobley, Ben Diskin, Matthew Piazzi, Melissa Disney, Bob Kaliban,...

Viva Pictures has released a domestic trailer and a first clip from their upcoming big screen take on Top Cat . Check both videos out in the players below! Set for a limited release on August 2, Top Cat is directed by Alberto Mar with a script by Timothy McKeon and Kevin Seccia. It features the voice talents of Jason Harris, Melissa Disney, Ben Diskin, Chris Edgerly, Bill Lobely and Matt Piazzi. In the family film, the new mayor wants to automate the police force, including Officer Dibble's job, whose job it is to keep an eye on Top Cat and his Gang. Top Cat quickly realizes that a capable new police force will spoil his chances of continuing to get away with his shenanigans, so he decides to foil the mayor's plans and save the city from the new robot force of police...

Catwoman is the ultimate cat lady in this fantastically fun Batman fan art created by Deviant Art artist caanantheartboy. It features Catwoman surrounded by a bunch of other famous cats. The artist lists all of the cats included in the illustration in the following note...

Behind the couch: Krazy Kat, Azrael (Smurfs), Bill the Cat, Felix, Mad Cat (with a Hello Kitty doll), Top Cat and Snowball II. On (and above) the couch: Streaky (who is orange, yes. My bad!) Mooch (Mutts), Stimpy, Mr Kat (Kid vs Kat), Sylvester, Puss in Boots, Figaro. The rest: Tom, Simon's Cat, Nermal, Garfield, Penelope, O'Malley, Marie (I wasn't gonna do All the Aristocats!), Horse (Footrot Flats), the Cheshire Cat, and Bucky and Scratchy behind Batman. The posters are That Darn Cat and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. (I also could have done The Cat from Outer Space, Le Chat Noir, and many others.

While you savored your colorful eggs, Marshmallow Peeps, and chocolate bunnies this past holiday weekend, many ventured out to their local theaters to cheer on the Joes in G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Paramount Pictures’ Easter basket was overflowing as the action-figure fueled movie took in over $132 million across the globe. Here in the U.S. the Jon M. Chu sequel totaled in the $51 million range.

This isn’t the first cartoon franchise to hit the big screen and won’t be the last. When TV was king, Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles, Pirates of Dark Water, Valley of the Dinosaurs teleported us to another place and the animation studio Hanna-Barbera reigned supreme in every kid’s universe.

Filmgoers have seen their beloved Saturday morning shows and comic book heroes transfer from the small screen to wildly, gigantic movie heroes. Whether you grew up with them as a kid planted in front...

I love New York, until recently my only exposure to New York was in the movies. Over the last couple of years I've been able to visit the city, and it's so much more awesome in person than it is in the movies. It's such an incredibly awesome city.

To celebrate the city as depicted in some of our favorite movies, here's a fantastic collection of art created by UK artist Raid71. The art is part on an art show called The Popular Face of New York at the Bottleneck Gallery, and they are showcasing around 25 pieces. The show takes place from March 15th to March 29th. A majority of the proceeds he earns from his regular work at the show goes to ArtVCancer charity.

They sent us a few great illustrations for you to check out, and here's what the artist had to say about his work...

Pop culture...

When starting a new television show, the thing I look forward to the most is the title sequence, so it only felt right to devise this list when I heard the theme was favourite television shows this month.

In early television there wasn’t a huge focus on title sequences; their only purpose was to present the names of the cast members but sometimes we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the characters sporting a smile amid transitions like wipes and dissolves. With frequent exterior shots of the setting bestowed, they were often simply clips spliced from the show itself cut to a theme song. Back in the 80s and 90s, theme songs were the main focus but now the title sequence is as important, if not more.

Title sequences are the creators first chance to grab their audience. Good title sequences express the concept of the show,...

Madagascar 3: Europe’S Most Wanted

Stars (the voices of): Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Frances McDormand | Written by Eric Darnell, Noah Baumbach | Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon

The Madagascar series continues with this third instalment and first not to feature a certain island country off the east coast of Africa. Zoo escapees Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) travel to Europe to track down their penguin friends who have embarked on a trip to Monaco. In an effort to elude capture from a zealous animal control officer (Frances McDormand), they join a travelling circus and cause havoc across the continent before finding the chance to return home to New York.

Though no world-beaters, the previous Madagascar films do have their charms and the third is similarly decent,...

Today marks the 75th birthday of The Dandy, and while it’s not strictly film related (although we have a little bit of film stuff included below), we couldn’t really turn down the chance of an interview with the boss of the comic’s publishers DC Thomson.

Much of the interview is about the comic’s move back to a more traditional tone and style, as it becomes a digital publication, but we also touch on the possibility of film adaptations, and the tantalising prospect of a Bananaman film already being in the very early stages of development.

HeyUGuys: I’m going to be very blunt, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but it does feel very ‘seat of the pants’

Ellis Watson: And it is, and absolutely has been, and weirdly, I would prefer it that way to work with the right artists, rather than...

Madagascar 3: Europe’S Most Wanted

Stars (the voices of): Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Frances McDormand | Written by Eric Darnell, Noah Baumbach | Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon

The Madagascar series continues with this third instalment and first not to feature a certain island country off the east coast of Africa. Zoo escapees Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) travel to Europe to track down their penguin friends who have embarked on a trip to Monaco. In an effort to elude capture from a zealous animal control officer (Frances McDormand), they join a travelling circus and cause havoc across the continent before finding the chance to return home to New York.

Though no world-beaters, the previous Madagascar films do have their charms and the third is similarly decent,...

Dark Shadows; Wrath of the Titans; Top Cat; Something from Nothing – The Art of Rap; Strawberry Fields

Heralded by a laugh-out-loud trailer that painted it as the kookiest comedy of the year, Tim Burton's Dark Shadows (2012, Warner, 12) arrived in cinemas as a head-scratchingly weird mess of a movie more notable for its deadpan drollery and bizarre tonal shifts than for the advertised rib-tickling kitsch. Based on an arcane TV show little known here in the UK, this casts Johnny Depp as 18th-century vampire Barnabas Collins, escaping centuries of entombment to reclaim his now ruined family estate in the cultural void of 1972.

Faced with rebellious teens, garish wardrobes and "tiny songstrels" hiding within television sets, Barnabas attempts to reassert his authority over Eva Green's witchy temptress, with the help of Michelle Pfeiffer's haughty matriarch, Helena Bonham Carter's sozzled shrink and an apparently ageless Alice Cooper. Flitting from...

Top Cat

Stars (the voices of): Jason Harris, Chris Edgerly, Melissa Disney, Ben Diskin, Bill Lobley | Written by Kevin Seccia, Timothy McKeon | Directed by Alberto Mar

I hope I’m not going to negate any of my assiduously collated street credibility, but when I was little I used to really like Top Cat. Looking back, I believe I’m correct in saying that it was a reasonably witty and funny programme and it’s not simply nostalgia that’s influencing these fond memories. I remember my sister and I used to watch a Top Cat VHS that we won in a competition run by Little Chef pretty much on loop some days. So when I was invited to attend the preview screening of Tc’s big screen debut, I was cautiously excited about it. Obviously, the film is aimed very much at youngsters, but surely there’d be plenty...