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While Pixar has been a force to be reckoned with in the Animated Feature category at the Oscars winning seven of its 10 bids, it has not been as strong in the Animated Short category, with only three victories: "Tin Toy" (1988), "Geri's Game" (1997) and "For the Birds" (2001). But Pixar's fortunes look like they might change this year with "Sanjay's Super Team," which is the overwhelming frontrunner to win. Below, let's take a look at the varied collection of films in contention for this year's prize. -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions "Sanjay's Super Team" Young Sanjay loves watching TV and playing with his action figures but not engaging in daily Hindu prayers with his father. While this disappoints his father, Sanjay begins to imagine a new perspective of the religion that allows him to appreciate his faith. ...

yt id="MqhVcRrrauY" width="500" Directed by Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville, The Illusionist), below is his 1997 short film The Old Lady and the Pigeons (La Vieille Dame et les Pigeons), which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. It lost the award to Pixar's Geri's Game (included below). An emaciated Parisian policeman discovers an old lady who feeds pigeons in the park excessively. After having a nightmare ending in giant pigeon-men pecking at his stomach, the policeman constructs a pigeon mask, which he wears to the old lady's home. She welcomes him inside and, despite his rude behavior, allows him to gorge himself. As weeks pass, the policeman grows increasingly fat. As he goes up flights of stairs to the woman's home each day, he passes a maid sweeping the floor. Eventually, the policeman discovers the old lady's other pet: the woman who swept the floor,...

I hadn't heard of this, or if I had I forgot, but TV Guide has premiered the above first look picture from "Toy Story of Terror", an upcoming 30-minute long Halloween special featuring the Toy Story gang. Apparently the story centers on the gang as the toy's new owner Bonnie takes the toys with her and the family on vacation when their car breaks down and they're forced to stay in a spooky motel. It appears Jesse (voiced by Joan Cusack) is at the center of the story with Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and Trixie (Kristen Schaal) also along for the ride. There's also a new toy in the mix voiced by Carl Weathers named Combat Carl (naturally). Angus MacLane, who's been doing work with Pixar since Geri's Game in 1997 and up through working as an animator on Toy Story 3,...

[1] Walt Disney Studios has announced the title for Pixar's Holiday 2013 movie -- Frozen. I'm kind of surprised that the MPAA approved the title considering there was a popular indie movie released under the same title only two years ago, Adam Green's horror thriller Frozen. When the project was first announced at the D23 Expo, they revealed a joke working title (complete with logo seen above): "The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs". More details after the jump. Previously: Here is the official plot synopsis from Disney: What if that life-changing asteroid missed Earth? Director Bob Peterson’s hilarious tale depicts a world where dinosaurs never went extinct. And here is a bit of information on the filmmakers behind the movie: Bob Peterson started at Pixar as an additional animator and layout artist on Toy Story, and worked on the story team for A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2.

[1] Today at the Walt Disney Studios presentation at the D23 Expo, Disney announced two new movies from Pixar Animation Studios. Both films, yet to be officially titled, will be released in the slots following the announced Monsters Inc prequel Monsters University, which hits theaters on June 21st 2013. Learn more about the first of the projects, which involves dinosaurs, after the jump. Pixar's Holiday 2013 movie is about dinosaurs. In the presentation, they revealed a joke working title (complete with logo): "The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs". Here is the official plot synopsis from Disney: What if that life-changing asteroid missed Earth? Director Bob Peterson’s hilarious tale depicts a world where dinosaurs never went extinct. And here is a bit of information on the filmmakers behind the movie: Bob Peterson started at Pixar as an additional animator and layout artist on Toy Story, and worked on the story team for...

[1] We've featured a handful of director [2] montages [3] here on /Film recently, and while this "25 Years of Pixar" compilation isn't quite that, it's actually pretty similar. In terms of look, tone, and quality, I'd say Pixar is as consistent as many directors. For the video, NkMcDonalds pulled scenes from works spanning over decades -- from '80s shorts to this year's Cars 2. If you like Pixar as much as I do, it'll definitely make you smile and it might even make you tear up a little tiny bit. Watch it after the jump. [via Go Into the Story [4]] Watching all the Pixar films spliced together like this, it's very easy to see how the studio has evolved over the years from a technical standpoint. Clips from films like A Bug's Life, which looked sophisticated at the time, now look clunky next to the sleeker visuals of newer movies like Wall-e and Up. But it also becomes...

Will audiences be going to the cinema this summer to see short films, such as Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation, rather than the main features, wonders James?

I find myself entwined in the very same feeling each time I visit the cinema in early spring. I'm sitting in there, waiting patiently for a film that I'm not that fussed about to flick onto the screen. To be honest, I'm probably only in there to keep out of the rain.

Then the trailers start and an animated lamp springs across the screen, making a little wheeze with every jump. And from that point, until I reach the depths of summer, I become a child. An impatient child, waiting to immerse myself in the colourful, majestic world of Pixar. Every year.

This year, however, I'm not so sure. I don't doubt that Cars 2 will have its charms. But I never fell...

David Reynolds, who was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay for Finding Nemo, has been hired to write a film based on an original story by animation veteran Stephan Franck.  Franck animated The Iron Giant and Despicable Me and will also direct.

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Peter McHugh and Eric Robinson of The Gotham Group and Academy Award winner Karen Dufilho-Rosen (Geri's Game, For the Birds) will executive produce. This film is part of a four picture, first-look deal that Gotham signed with Sony Pictures Animation in 2009.

Here is what Ellen Goldsmith-Vein had to say about the project,

"We are thrilled and excited to be making a movie at Sony Pictures Animation with Stephan Franck directing and David Reynolds, one of the funniest writers in the business."

Reynolds received Oscar and BAFTA nominations and won an Annie Award for his work on Finding Nemo. He also worked on such films as,...

Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Reynolds ( Finding Nemo ) has been hired to write an untitled animated feature film based on an original story by animation veteran Stephan Franck ( The Iron Giant , Despicable Me ) who will also direct. The Gotham Group.s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Peter McHugh and Eric Robinson, and Academy Award winner Karen Dufilho-Rosen ( Geri's Game , For the Birds ) will executive produce. The film is the first in a four picture, first-look deal that Gotham signed with Sony Pictures Animation in 2009. "We are thrilled and excited to be making a movie at Sony Pictures Animation with Stephan Franck directing and David Reynolds, one of the funniest writers in the business," said Ellen Goldsmith-Vein. Reynolds' Finding Nemo screenplay received Oscar...

The Short Films and Feature Animation viewing committee has winnowed the 33 eligible animated shorts down to 10 which will now be screened by all interested members of the branch to determine the final Oscar nominees. They will use the same scoring system -- 10 (excellent), 8 (good), 7 (fair) or 6 (poor) -- and only those films scoring at least an average of 7.5 are eligible to be nominated, with that roster to be limited to between three and five. Final voting will be open to all Academy members who attend screenings, with the exception of those members of the Branch who have watched all the semi-finalists already; they may vote by mail. Among the 10 shorts in contention is Teddy Newton's "Day & Night" from three-time champ Pixar ("Tin Toy," 1988; "Geri's Game," 1997; and "For the Birds," 2001). The return of Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner after a seven-year absence in "Coyote Falls" merited a nomination for director.

"Toy Story 3" hit theaters this weekend and is already raking in rave reviews and big bucks at the box office! In honor of this film, the third in the saga, we wanted to take a look back at some of our favorite moments from "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2."

Woody Gets Repaired ("Toy Story 2")

One of the most memorable scenes from "Toy Story 2" is when a worn (and armless) Woody is repaired to "display only" perfection by Geri (who uber-Pixar fans will remember from "Geri's Game") the toy repairman.

"You're Mocking Me, Aren't You?" ("Toy Story")

One of the funniest scenes from the first film is when Woody really just lets Buzz have it. Tim Allen and Tom Hanks both do such good voice work here.

"Strange Things" Montage ("Toy Story")

Randy Newman's "Strange Things" song montage from the first "Toy Story" that shows the...

When it was announced last October that Coraline director Henry Selick was leaving Laika, the Oregon-based animation house, fans of the art form and Selick's fantasy film were wondering if the writing was on the wall for the one picture company. Now we have our first evidence that there will be a future for Laika without Selick, and that the company has a new movie project in development.

The Hollywood Reporter is running a story today about Laika hiring writers Chris McCoy and Jan Pinkava to pen the script for Little White Lie, a new animated film for Laika. Pinkava, who cut his toon teeth by directing the Pixar short Geri's Game back in 1997, will also direct the Little White Lie. He also worked on several earlier films in Pixar's repetoire including Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life and Monsters Inc.

And Little White Lie isn't the only new Laika movie in development.

Chris McCoy and Jan Pinkava are writing the animated film Little White Lie for Laika Entertainment, the company behind the Oscar-nominated Coraline . Pinkava will direct as well. The Hollywood Reporter says the project comes from an original idea by Pinkava, who won an Oscar for the animated short film "Geri's Game" and has also worked on the Pixar movies Ratatouille , Monsters, Inc. , Toy Story 2 and A Bug's Life . Laika has an adaptation of Alan Snow's Here Be Monsters! in development along with the original feature Paranorman .

In 1993, Jan Pinkava came to the Us to work at a little known animation company named Pixar. Four years later, his short "Geri's Game" won the Oscar for Best Animated Short and he was part of the venerated Pixar braintrust that included John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter and the late Joe Ranft. He would have been one of only a handful of directors to lead a Pixar animated film with Ratatouille. But that all changed in 2005. Pinkava was replaced as director of the film...

Chris McCoy and Jan Pinkava are set to pen the animated feature "Little White Lie" for Laika Entertainment says The Hollywood Reporter.

Oscar-winning short filmmaker and Pixar animator Pinkava ("Geri's Game") will direct the story but plot details are being kept under wraps.

Laika, who produced last year's "Coraline", is also developing an adaptation of Alan Snow's "Here Be Monsters!".

Ever since Laika Entertainment released the stop-motion aniamted 3D adaptation of Coraline, everyone has been wondering what the studio might be up to next. Coraline director Henry Selick's departure from the company, made a lot of animation fans uneasy about the Portland-based stop-motion animation studio's future. Laika also recently cut their computer animation division (128 employees), deciding to focus strictly on stop-motion animation for future projects. We now have some new information about a new project in development by a Oscar-winning former Pixar writer/director, details after the jump. THR is now reporting that Chris McCoy and Jan Pinkava are writing a new project for the studio titled Little White Lie", which Pinkava will direct. Czech-born Pinkava got his start writing and directing the 1997 Pixar animated short film Geri's Game, which I absolutely loved, and went on to win an Oscar. He served as an animator and story artist on...

Jan Pinkava, the director behind Pixar's Geri's Game and almost the director of Ratatouille, has signed on to direct and write Little White Lie for Laika Entertainment, the mini-studio that brought us the brilliant Coraline. He'll be writing with 2009 'Black List' writer Chris McCoy.The Black List, in case you've forgotten, is the list of best as-yet unproduced screenplays, and in 2009 included McCoy's Good Looking, a sci-fi tale about a future where a computer chooses your perfect match - only for one man to reject the computer's choice.We're giving you those details because we don't have any on Little White Lie itself, except that it's based on an original idea by Pinkava. Let's hope it turns out as brilliant as Geri's Game (or brillianter) but a good bit longer.

Chris McCoy and Jan Pinkava are writing the animated film "Little White Lie" for Laika Entertainment, the company behind the Oscar-nominated "Coraline."

"Lie" stems from an original idea by Pinkava, who has a story credit on Pixar's "Ratatouille," which he co-directed. Pinkava also will direct "White Lie."

Mary Sandell is overseeing for Laika.

McCoy, repped by CAA and manager Shawn Simon, has two comedies set up with producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg at DreamWorks: "Good Looking" and an untitled college-set comedy.

Pinkava, who won an Oscar for the animated short film "Geri's Game" in 1997, also has worked on the Pixar movies "Monsters, Inc.," "Toy Story 2" and "A Bug's Life."

Laika has an adaptation of Alan Snow's "Here Be Monsters!" in development along with the original feature "Paranorman," about a 13-year-old protecting his small town from a zombie attack.

"Coraline," which was written and directed by Henry Selick,...

tuesday thursday top ten: for the listmaker in me and the listlover in you

What follows is a reworking of a post originally published in 2007. It's two years later and you know what that means: Pixar has given us two more classics. Up brings their feature film count to ten. You know what Ten means: Top Ten Time!

Pixar by Preference

Cars (John Lasseter, 2006) 117 min.

Pixar's only dud. Chief among its problems: the anthropomorphics were forced. Let me get this straight: Cars as bugs on windshields of cars as cars who act like humans and they even sleep in hotels for cars -- What? What? It's not quite Shark Tale in the realm of painful "they're just like us!" pandering but it's not 'good' either. I would give it a second chance except it's also Pixar's longest feature... too long by about 23 minutes. Thankfully, they seem to have reversed their bloated running time trending.

And along comes Burn-e ... the one being who's life is not charmed my Wall-e. I sat down with Angus MacLane at the Westin Hotel in downtown Portland. He's the directing animator on Wall-e and directed the original short Burn-e which is included on the Wall-e DVD. He's also worked on Geri's Game, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. So yes, he is Pixar. For those that don't understand animation film making, what does a director animator do? The director directs everybody, the supervising animators help organize the animation department, and interface with the producer, director and they make artistic calls. The directing animator is more downward facing and helps on the ground the animators to get their work done and facilitate the consistency. They make sure the characters...

Pixar's next offering will be Up, a "coming of old age story" with a retired hero (Edward Asner), who somehow or other fights bad guys around the world in his house, which is transported by tons of balloons.

I like the premise, although I haven't seen enough to really know where it's going. Right now, we're just at the flying house part. But Pixar has always done good things with old characters - remember Jan Pinkava's classic short, Geri's Game - and they're Pixar, so you have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Asner is joined in the cast by Christopher Plummer, which should be tremendous, and John Ratzenberger, naturally.

This trailer brought to you by Trailer Addict

Up takes off on May 29, 2009.

Pixar Animation Studios' Brad Bird will direct Ratatouille, the computer-animated mouse tale that was developed in-house by the studio's Oscar-winning short-film director Jan Pinkava (Geri's Game). The deal was confirmed Friday at the Disney shareholders meeting in Anaheim. The story centers on a skinny rodent who fancies himself a gourmand and lives in a Parisian restaurant. A sneak peek of the film, with fully rendered CG characters, was introduced by John Lasseter and shown to attendees at Friday's meeting. It was expected that Pinkava would direct the project, and Bird was said to be developing a sequel to his 2004 Oscar-winning film The Incredibles. Execs also confirmed at the meeting that Glen Keane's directorial debut, Rapunzel, remains in the early stages of production utilizing a combination of 2-D and 3-D processes. Ratatouille is the eighth animated feature film produced by Pixar. It is scheduled for release June 29, 2007.