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“Storks,” the brainchild of the new Warner Animation Group screenwriting “think tank,” stretches the Looney Tunes ethos for CG in terms of both comedy and animation style.

First-time animation director Nicholas Stoller (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), who wrote the script, teamed up with another directorial newbie, former Pixar animator Doug Sweetland (the “Presto” short), and they paid tribute to the Coen brothers’ “Raising Arizona,” a live-action Looney Tune of sorts.

Storks now deliver packages instead of babies for retail giant, Cornerstore.com, run by the greedy Hunter (Kelsey Grammer). That is, until Junior (Andy Stamberg) and human sidekick Tulip (Katie Crown) inadvertently unleash the long-dormant Baby Machine. They’re forced to deliver an adorable girl to her family, while warding off a Wolf Pack that’s also fallen in love with the baby.

But without its own in-house animation team, Warner Bros. turned to Sony Pictures Imageworks (now headquartered in Vancouver...

Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.

This Past Weekend:

Yikes. What a terrible weekend we just had, not only for the new movies released but also for the Weekend Warrior’s predictions. Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks’ Sully won its second weekend in a row with just under $22 million, but as far as the new movies, neither Lionsgate’s Blair Witch nor Universal’s Bridget Jones’s Baby did very well, putting the last nail in the coffin (hopefully) for sequels/remakes trying to play upon nostalgia that just isn’t there. (Good luck to the Rings movie opening next month!) Blair Witch ended up with $9.6 million to take second place and both Bridget Jones’s Baby and Oliver Stone’s Snowden ended up with around $8 million, so...

With “Finding Dory,” Pixar created quite a Rukus. That’s the acronym for the three biggest benchmarks in rendering, lighting and application management, which accounted for water and glass looking so rich in Pixar’s newest animated offering, along with the ability to animate Hank (Ed O’Neill), the complex octopus.

But, as always, according to Ed Catmull — unofficially the Yoda of Pixar, officially the president of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios — it remains a culture of gradual change to further better storytelling and aesthetics.

Read More: How Andrew Stanton Found the Right Path for ‘Finding Dory’

“The approach we still take is that we systematically keep trying to improve something every single film. We have to evolve, we have to change, and in order to do that, we have to initiate the change,” Catmull emphasized.

At Pixar, there’s a development team that works independently of...

Simon Brew Aug 2, 2016

Upcoming animated comedy Storks has a brand new trailer. This one, in fact...

A new trailer has just landed for the upcoming animated movie, Storks. Scroll down if you want to see the earlier promos, and catch up a little on what the movie is about. Or you can go straight for it, and take a look at the new one...

Storks: Trailer 2

Previously...

Director Nicholas Stoller is best known for directing the lines of Bad Neighbours, and co-writing the last two Muppet movies. But he's now making his debut directing an animated film, with next year's Storks.

Stoller is directing alongside Doug Sweetland (who helmed the Pixar short, Presto), and the pair have come up with Storks. The film is due in the autumn, and a poster, trailer and synopsis for it have been released.

Here, then, is the new trailer (released today), and the...

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Some of the team behind The Lego Movie are billed with bringing you the new animated movie, Storks. Here's the first trailer and poster...

Director Nicholas Stoller is best known for directing the lines of Bad Neighbours, and co-writing the last two Muppet movies. But he's now making his debut directing an animated film, with next year's Storks.

Stoller is directing alongside Doug Sweetland (who helmed the Pixar short, Presto), and the pair have come up with Storks. The film is due next autumn, and a poster, trailer and synopsis for it have been released.

Here, then, is the trailer...

Here is the poster....

And here is the synopsis...

Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for global internet giant Cornerstore.com. Junior, the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine,...

Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer will lend their voices to the animated comedy Storks.

The Warner Bros project comes from Yes Man writer Nicholas Stoller and Presto director Doug Sweetland.

Stoller's original screenplay will poke fun at the fabled place of storks in Western culture.

Samberg is an animation veteran from his work in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and the Hotel Transylvania series, while Grammer has voiced the evil Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons for 26 years.

Warner Bros presidents Dan Fellman and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg said in a statement that they are "thrilled to be broadening [the studio's] animation slate".

"Storks is an innovative idea that is sure to delight kids and families all over the world," Kwan Vandenberg commented.

Storks is set for release on September 23, 2016.

Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer are set to lend their voices to “Storks,” an original animated adventure from the Warner Animation Group. The film will arrive in theaters on Sept. 23, 2016 courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, the studio announced Monday. Nicholas Stoller (“Neighbors”) and Doug Sweetland (Oscar-nominated short “Presto”) are co-directing the feature from an original script by Stoller. Stoller is also producing the film with Brad Lewis. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra and Jared Stern will serve as executive producers. Also Read: ‘Lego Batman,’ ‘Lego Movie’ Sequel Arriving Ahead of Schedule; ‘Ninjago’ Delayed With a totally original story developed.

Warner Bros. is expanding its growing animation unit beyond Lego properties. Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer have been tapped to voice-star in Storks, an animated feature being co-directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, the latter of whom was behind the Oscar-nominated short Presto. Warners has also set a release date of Sept. 23, 2016. While no plot lines were delivered, the studio promises “a fresh and funny look at the fable behind storks.” Stoller is producing the film with Brad Lewis. Glenn Ficarra, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, John Requa and Jared Stern are serving

read more...

Netflix already has a formidable line-up of exclusive content ready to unleash when it launches in Australia and New Zealand on March 24- and more is it come. The third series of Orange is the New Black, a Netflix production, will screen on the subscription VOD service after it premieres on Foxtel.s showcase in June. Moreover, the Us streaming giant is working on deals with MGM and Warner Bros which would mean their first-run movies will debut on Netflix at the same time as their pay-tv premieres on Foxtel Movies.

Neither has been signed but If understands the MGM arrangement is in final negotiations and WB is highly likely to pact with Netflix as its output deal with the Nine Network, worth a reported $150 million a year, has expired, and the studio needs to generate more revenue from its pay-tv and free-tv deals.

Netflix boasts an array of original...

Netflix confirmed today its Australian and New Zealand streaming services will launch on March 24.

They will be available on all major broadband operators including Optus via Fetch TV and iiNet, some smart TVs, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple and Android tablets and smartphones.

As reported, the line-up will include Netflix original series including Marco Polo, House of Cards, thrillers Bloodline, Between and Andy and Lana Wachowski's Sense8, sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Marvel.s Daredevil, DreamWorks Animation.s The Adventures of Puss in Boots and All Hail King Julien and the documentary Virunga.

Netflix had previously confirmed deals with the Walt Disney Co (first-run movies shared with Foxtel.s pay window), Roadshow Entertainment.s library and British dramas Broadchurch and The Tunnel, Beyond Distribution children.s titles, and ABC Commercial.

The firm has also licensed library content from Madman Entertainment, Transmission Films, Rialto and Pinnacle.

The price wasn't revealed...

Looking for a handy guide to 2015's biggest animated movies, from Shaun The Sheep to Minions and Peanuts? Then step this way...

There have been far better years for family entertainment, and for animated films, than 2014. Whilst there have been highlights - Paddington, The Wind Rises, How To Train Your Dragon 2, The Boxtrolls - the mix of material on offer hasn't particularly sparkled.

A quick glance at the 2015 release schedule suggests, to a degree, the same, with some notably absentees from the year's releases. And yet as we dug deeper for our traditional look ahead at the year's animated films, there might just be some real treats here. Starting with this one...

Strange Magic

Let's start with one of the wildcards. A film that only recently arrived on the 2015 release schedules is Strange Magic, which belatedly marks the feature directing debut for Gary Rydstrom.

Rydstrom, a hugely acclaimed sound designer,...

Vaudeville-era magician Presto Digiotagione is cursed with the unco-operative Alec Azam, a rabbit-with-attitude whose revenge on his increasingly frazzled master includes jamming his hand in a draw, repeatedly being struck with a ladder and ramming his fingers into an electrical socket. Unfortunately, the audience thinks it's all part of the act. Veteran Pixar animator Doug Sweetland made his directorial debut in this splendid, wordless homage to Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes.

Vaudeville-era magician Presto Digiotagione is cursed with the unco-operative Alec Azam, a rabbit-with-attitude whose revenge on his increasingly frazzled master includes jamming his hand in a draw, repeatedly being struck with a ladder and ramming his fingers into an electrical socket. Unfortunately, the audience thinks it's all part of the act. Veteran Pixar animator Doug Sweetland made his directorial debut in this splendid, wordless homage to Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes.

Vaudeville-era magician Presto Digiotagione is cursed with the unco-operative Alec Azam, a rabbit-with-attitude whose revenge on his increasingly frazzled master includes jamming his hand in a draw, repeatedly being struck with a ladder and ramming his fingers into an electrical socket. Unfortunately, the audience thinks it's all part of the act. Veteran Pixar animator Doug Sweetland made his directorial debut in this splendid, wordless homage to Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes.

This article originally appeared in If Magazine #149 (October-November). In February, Brave won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

Re-writing the rules of animation is no small task but for the team at Pixar, it is a regular occurrence. With Scottish-set animation Brave, the 80-strong team of animators immersed themselves in the Scottish way of life as part of their method-acting approach to creating authentic characters.

They even wore kilts and visited local zoos to observe the behaviour of native animals. Director Mark Andrews, in particular, was obsessed with organising bi-weekly lessons in swordplay. The regular animation reviews would often end with an invitation to pick up a sword and act out a specific shot move-for-move.

Character rigging and modeling supervisor, Bill Sheffler, says this was important because ultimately, the physical performance came from the animators. "We videotape ourselves doing activities like archery and horse-riding and then caricatured that.

Warner Bros. is keen on ramping up its animated features division. The studio is forming a creative consortium “that’s aimed at delivering one ‘high-end’ film per year.” Said consortium includes John Requa and Glen Ficarra (Crazy, Stupid, Love., Cats & Dogs), Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street), and Jared Stern (Mr. Popper’s Penguins). Apparently the filmmakers will work both individually and collectively in order to generate animated fare, but they’ll also continue to write and direct live-action films. Hit the jump for the details on what kinds of films are in development. Per Variety, the first feature project to come out of this group is Lego: Piece of Resistance, written and directed by Lord and Miller, set for release on February 7, 2014. The 2015 pic is called Storks, being written by Stoller and to be directed...

The Movie Pool takes a long look at the short films of Pixar from their new Blu-ray!

The Set-up

Short films from Pixar, many featuring characters from the studio's feature fims, are presented.

The Delivery

This second collection of short films from Pixar features 12 cartoons in stunning high definition. Many of the shorts were previously available on Pixar home video releases (including "Hawaiian Vacation" and "Air Mater"), and three are Academy Award nominees.

What we get in Volume 2 of the series is an eclectic mix of styles and approaches, and for the most part, it all works well. While some are mildly amusing, others (like "Day and Night") are exceptional, that entertain and manage to be original.

 

 

The shorts included in the collection are:

"Your Friend the Rat" Ratatouille's Remy and Emile provide the disgusting yet funny history of rats. Director Jim Capobianco and production designer Nate Wragg provide an optional audio commentary.

Chicago – The second volume of shorts created by the most influential and creatively important studio of the last twenty years was recently released on Blu-ray and it’s undeniable that a few of these mini-films are simply better than their full-length competition. Some Oscar-nominated and some including beloved characters, this may not be as obvious a holiday choice as “Brave” or “Finding Nemo,” but “Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2” is one of the best family Blu-ray releases of the holiday season.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Collecting shorts that have often played in front of new theatrical releases since 2007, this volume includes Oscar nominees like “Presto” and “La Luna” along with several shorts that expand upon the universes of beloved Pixar films like “Ratatouille” (“Your Friend the Rat”), “Wall-e” (“Burn-e”), “Up” (“Dug’s Special Mission” & “George & A.J.”), “Cars” (“Air Mater” & “Time Travel Mater”), and “Toy Story” (“Hawaiian Vacation” & “Small Fry”). Some of the...

Disney.Pixar is known for their amazing storytelling, and their second batch of shorts, Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2 is no exception. These shorts are so fantastic, the only problem that you might have is picking out your favorite.

From Disney.Pixar, the Award-winning studio behind .Toy Story,. .Up. and .Wall.E,. comes a new collection of short films. Experience the revolutionary animation and unforgettable characters with 12 short films together for the very first time. This must-own collection also features seven rarely screened student films from directors John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Pete Docter. Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 13, .Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2. will delight audiences of all ages.

Disney.Pixar always provides the best viewing experience that it can, and Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2 is no exception. The flawless 1080p transfer makes for a fun viewing experience. The audio switches between DTS-hd 5.1, DTS-hd 7.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes,...

Pixar has become as known for its shorts as it has for its feature films, and the second release of a collection of these shorts is now available.

This time around, the featured titles consist of the shorts that played in front of theatrical titles, as well as short films featuring the cast from such movies as Up, Toy Story, and Wall•E. Though the collection itself does not come with a lot of bonuses, you do get some student films from the directors, and commentaries.

As with any Pixar release, the Blu-Ray does make a significant difference. I haven’t actually watched things like La Luna or Day & Night on a standard DVD, but I shudder at what gets lost, especially after seeing how they look here. That’s standard info though, and detailing the quality of the Blu-Ray is probably more than is necessary to anyone’s decision.

Disney has released a brand new compilation of shorts from Pixar on DVD and Blu-ray this week, collecting several of the most recent animated gems produced by the the studio that brought us Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Wall-e and so much more.

Included on the disc are 12 of the most recent shorts produced by the award-winning animation studio, most of which were shown in theaters in front of select Pixar films. Four of the included shorts (“Presto,” “Partly Cloudy,” “Day & Night,” and “La Luna”) are actually original stories while the other 8 shorts include characters and locations that are directly related to their Pixar film counterparts. Now together in one complete package, the new collection offers fans the perfect opportunity to view every Pixar short film released since 2007 without having to play a dozen Blu-ray discs.

Presented in the order in which they were theatrically released, the shorts included in the collection are as follows.

By Allen Gardner

Pier Paolo Pasolini’S Trilogy Of Life (Criterion) Pier Paolo Pasolini was Italy’s last Neo-Realist, a product of post-ww II Europe who was fervently Catholic, openly gay, defiantly Marxist, and one of the most original voices of the 20th century’s second half. Before his brutal murder in 1975 (after the premiere of his still-controversial swan song, “Salo”), Pasolini directed a trilogy of films based on masterpieces of medieval literature: Boccaccio’s “The Decameron,” Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales,” and “The Thousand and One Nights (also known as “The Arabian Nights”). The three films celebrate the uninhibited, earthy, raw carnal nature of the original texts, leaving little to the imagination, but also offering Pasolini’s own very unique and pointed views on modern society, consumerism, religious and sexual mores (and hypocrisies), and an unexpurgated celebration of the human body, both male and female. Extraordinary production design by Dante Ferretti and another evocative,...

Most people believe Pixar began with the debut of “Toy Story” in 1997 but they’d be wrong. It actually began with a short directed by Pixar head John Lasseter called “Luxor, Jr.” and is the basis for the jumping desklamp logo that Pixar is known for. Ever since “A Bug’s Life” Pixar has released animated shorts that precede their films. In 2007 Pixar released “The Pixar Shorts” collection, a compilation of shorts including “Luxor, Jr” and others. Though I enjoyed some of them, I was never really won over by the ones in that collection. It was with the short “Presto” which accompanied “The Incredibles” that I was finally really impressed. Now, Pixar is set to release volume two of the compilation, including “Presto” and what I think are the best shorts to date. The shorts range from original material, to feature-connected shorts like the “Cars Toons,” and “Toy Story...

One perk of going to see a Pixar film in theaters is the appetizer: the always ingenious and sweet Pixar short. Giving these animated films some well-earned respect, Pixar is releasing a new DVD and Blu-ray collection of a dozen shorts on November 13, following 2008's Volume I showcase. Volume II includes three Oscar nominees for Best Animated Short: 2008's "Presto," 2011's "La Luna," and 2010's "Day & Night." The package includes intros, commentary, and seven student films from famed Pixar directors including John Lasseter ("Toy Story"), Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo") and Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc."). The two trailers, as well as the complete list of short films, are below. • Nitemare (Intro) • Lady And The Lamp (intro) • Somewhere...

Following their 2008 release of thirteen short films in Vol. I back in 2008, Pixar are back with a dozen more short films released next month on DVD and Blu-ray, and they’ve released two excellent trailers to give us a taste of what we have coming our way soon.

Also released as part of the collection are a further seven student films from directors as big as John Lasseter (Toy Story), Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), and Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), making it a must-have for any fan of the studio.

“Disney and Pixar present an incredible new collection of 12 short films, featuring multiple Academy Award nominees (Best Short Film, Animated: “Presto,” 2008; “Day & Night,” 2010; “La Luna,” 2011) and a host of family favourites. Join the celebration of imagination with the must-own collection, packed with unforgettable animation, fantastic stories and captivating characters. Plus, enjoy all-new extras that share how Pixar’s storied talent got...

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Nov. 13, 2012

Price: DVD $29.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $39.99

Studio: Pixar/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Those awesome short films that are shown in theaters before Pixar movies, such as Wall-e, Cars 2 and Brave, are collected in Disney’s DVD and Blu-ray discs Pixar Short Film Collection Volume 2.

But the sets also include student films from famed Pixar movie directors John Lasseter (Cars 2), Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) and Pete Doctor (Up).

Rated PG, the DVD and Blu-ray collections contain these short films:

Burn•E – Burn•E is a dedicated, hard working robot that finds himself locked out of his ship and quickly learns that completing a simple task can often be a difficult endeavor. Based on characters from Wall•E. (Directed by Angus MacLane)

Dug’s Special Mission – Based on the character from Up, Dug is sent on a foolish mission by Alpha, Beta and Gamma so...

Sony Pictures Animation continues to expand its stable of talented filmmakers with the signing of three-time Emmy Award winner Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars) to an overall agreement that extends beyond his current directorial film debut of Hotel Transylvania to include development and direction of his own projects, as well as an all-new take on Popeye. The deal was announced today by Bob Osher, President of Sony Pictures Digital Productions, and Michelle Raimo-Kouyate, President of Production, Sony Pictures Animation.

“Sony Pictures Animation is committed to attracting - and keeping - industry visionaries with the creative instincts to craft the style of vibrant storytelling that has been our trademark for 10 memorable years,” says Osher. “I have known Genndy since his Hanna-Barbera days and am thrilled we are continuing the relationship with him. This is a very exciting collaboration, one that should yield wonderful animated...

Photo Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation. © 2012 Sony Pictures Animation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Acclaimed animation director Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars) and producer Michelle Murdocca (Open Season) will unveil never-before-seen footage from the highly-anticipated animated comedy, Hotel Transylvania, during a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego, CA on Thursday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel.

Hotel Transylvania, which arrives in theatres on September 28, 2012, marks Tartakovsky’s theatrical directorial debut. Tartakovsky and Murdocca will discuss the animated film, take questions from the audience, and screen never-before-seen footage from the film.

Following the panel, Tartakovsky will be signing a limited edition Hotel Transylvania poster created exclusively for Comic-Con fans at the Sony booth #4229 at 4:00Pm.

Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to...

In case you missed it, for the month, we were Obsessed With Pixar, a site-wide take-over on our previous home Obsessed With Film that was designed to show our appreciation for the greatest animation studio in the history of film-making. But what makes Pixar so great? Is it just the films? Is it the characters? Is it the joyful and playful ethos behind the company? Or is it all of the above?

Well, follow the link to find out exactly why we love Pixar…

1. The characters: Woody and Buzz

The relationship that a lot of Pixar’s modern reputation was built on, the sometimes volatile dynamic between the “wimpy cowboy doll” and his Space Ranger best buddy is built on the solid foundation of exceptional character development and wonderful, appropriate voice work by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen.

2. The Alternative Posters

Not content with merely making incredibly beautiful primary materials,...

Ok, so our Obsessed With Pixar month has so far been dominated with the studio’s exceptional feature film output, but their roots lie firmly within short film production. Starting in 1984 the company has made 20 shorts on a range of subjects, the most recent being Hawaiian Vacation with the stars of Toy Story (I’ve unfortunately not seen it yet, as it has yet to be released alongside Cars 2 in the UK – perhaps some of our Us readers could enlighten us!?!).

As A Bug’s Life (1998) was released, Pixar decided to accompany this with their short film Geri’s Game, to great success. Since then, each of the studio’s theatrical releases has featured a short film before the main production, harking back to the golden era of Hollywood when A grade feature films would be accompanied by a B feature, a news reel and a cartoon. Generally adopting a very moralistic stance,...

Why Watch? It’s from Pixar and it features a magician and a wily assistant bunny rabbit. The reasons to watch are pretty obvious. What Will It Cost? Just 5 minutes of your time. Does it get better any better than that? Check out Presto for yourself: Presto (2008) Written and Directed By: Doug Sweetland Trust us. You have time for more short films.

Doug Sweetland will be making his directing feature debut on the Sony Pictures Animation film "The Familiars". Sweetland is best known for directing the Pixar animated short "Presto" that came out in theaters attached to "Wall-e". The really cute story about a poor magician's rabbit that wanted nothing more than a carrot definitely gave him enough attention to go and bag a huge directing gig like this. The story was written by Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson and is based off the novel of the same name created by the two. "The Familiars" centers on three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on tehir animal companions, or familiar -- an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog -- to escape. Attached to executive produce is Josh Donen and Sam Raimi.Sweetland previously worked as animator on several Pixar projects including...

Sam Raimi's animated fantasy The Familiars is getting a director quite familiar with the world of kids animation. Doug Sweetland has been an animator at Pixar for 16 years, including work on Finding Nemo, Cars and The Incredibles. He nabbed an Oscar nomination for his directorial debut with the Wall-e pre show short Presto.

The Famililars is based on the novel of the same title and is about wizards-in-training and their pets/companions. Raimi is exec producing for Sony Animation.

Source: Variety...

Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical

- Don't pretend like you're too cool to spend $995 on officially licensed, 'Tron Legacy' light bike suits. [via Gizmodo]

- Months ago 'The Hangover' director Todd Philips tried to juke earlier press rumors that 'The Hangover 2' would be taking place in Thailand, but according to George Roush at Latino Review, the rumors were true. His source says that the original gang will all be back together and heading to the tropical local for yet another night or two of drunken debauchery. What will be the pressing, must-remember-what-we-did event this time around? Whether or not Stu (Ed Helms) had sex ... with a Thai tranny, of course.

- Fans of the Pixar short 'Presto' will be happy to know that its director, Doug Sweetland, will soon be making his feature debut with a film adaptation of the recently published kids book, 'The Familiars.' Sweetland has...

Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical

- Don't pretend like you're too cool to spend $995 on officially licensed, 'Tron Legacy' light bike suits. [via Gizmodo]

- Months ago 'The Hangover' director Todd Philips tried to juke earlier press rumors that 'The Hangover 2' would be taking place in Thailand, but according to George Roush at Latino Review, the rumors were true. His source says that the original gang will all be back together and heading to the tropical local for yet another night or two of drunken debauchery. What will be the pressing, must-remember-what-we-did event this time around? Whether or not Stu (Ed Helms) had sex ... with a Thai tranny, of course.

- Fans of the Pixar short 'Presto' will be happy to know that its director, Doug Sweetland, will soon be making his feature debut with a film adaptation of the recently published kids book, 'The Familiars.' Sweetland has...

Though it's likely you're not aware who Doug Sweetland is, there's a pretty good chance you've seen some of his work. He was the guy behind last year's Oscar-nominated Pixar short Presto, and he's spent the last 16 years at Pixar as an animator, supervising animator, and storyboard artist for stuff like Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. An impressive track record, no doubt. And now, it seems that Sweetland will be shifting his talents over to Sony...

Doug Sweetland, the man behind Oscar-nominated Pixar short "Presto" and an animator at said studio for sixteen years, is set to make his feature directing debut on "The Familiars" at Sony Pictures Animation reports Heat Vision.

Based on the children's book by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, the story follow three young wizard apprentices who are whisked away by an evil queen. In order to escape they must rely on their animal companions - an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog.

Epstein and Jacobson are writing the screenplay while Sam Raimi and Josh Donen are onboard as executive producers.

Doug Sweetland, director the Pixar short Presto, has signed on to direct The Familiars for Sony Animation Studios, ThePlaylist are reporting.

The Familiars is loosely based on the book of the same name by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson and centers on three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on their animal companions, or familiars – an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog – to escape.

Epstein and Jacobson will adapt the book for screen themselves, with Sam Raimi and Josh Donen on board as executive producers.

No release date has been announced yet, but expect more details to be confirmed once a screenplay has been handed into the studio.

In case you haven’t already seen it, you can find Presto on all Wall-e DVDs and Blu-rays.

If there is one thing that I dig more than Pixar’s feature films, it’s the company’s short films that precede the features.

One of the best happens to be Presto, which premiered in front of Wall-e, an equally brilliant feature film from the best animation studio running. Well, according to THR, the film’s director, Doug Sweetland, will be making his feature film debut, and it won’t be for his former home of 16 years.

Read more on Presto director to make his directorial debut for Sony Pictures Animation with The Familiars…...

Pixar Director Doug Sweetland has landed his first full-length feature film directing gig! Sweetland is best known for directing the Pixar short film Presto, which was nominated for an Academy Award back in 2009.

The film he is going to develop is an adaptation of the children's book, The Familiars written by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, who will also write the screenplay.. the story follows three young wizard apprentices who must rely on their animal companions, or familiars, such as an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog, to escape an evil queen.

The most interesting part about this is the fact that this is not a Pixar film. Sweetland went straight from CalArts to being an animator for Pixar and worked on films such as A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Cars and Finding Nemo. It seemed like Pixar was preparing him for something bigger.

As though it weren't enough that Pixar's feature films are absolutely incredible, the company regularly puts out shorts that are just as good. Be it Burn-e, Partly Cloudy, Day & Night or One Man Band, it's rare that the company ever misses. One of my favorite shorts from over the years, however, has been Doug Sweetland's Presto. Featuring a hungry bunny and Looney Tunes-inspired hilarity, I can watch it repeatedly and never grow tired of it (consequently, I was also up-in-arms when it lost during the Oscars in 2009). Now, Sweetland is heading up to the big leagues. THR reports that Sweetland will direct an adaptation of Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson's children's book The Familiars for Sony Pictures Animation. Sweetland worked at Pixar for sixteen years and worked on every feature film from Toy Story in 1995 to Cars in 2006. The book is about three young wizards who are...

Doug Sweetland directing The FamiliarsDoug Sweetland, the Academy Award-nominated director of the 2008 Pixar short Presto, is set to direct The Familiars for Sony Pictures Animation. Sam Raimi & Joshua Donen are executive producing. Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson are writing the screenplay for The Familiars, based on their just-published novel.

Sweetland joins Sony Pictures Animation after sixteen years at Pixar Animation, a run that began right out of California Institute of the Arts as an animator on Toy Story (1995) and continued with A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. Sweetland's trajectory at Pixar elevated him to animator and storyboard artist on the Academy Award-winning The Incredibles and supervising animator on John Lasseter's Cars. He is the winner of two Annie Awards for Individual Achievement in Character Animation for his work on Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo. He was also nominated for an Annie Award for...

Doug Sweetland, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2009 Pixar-produced computer animated short film Presto (which was attached to Wall-e theatrically) is finally set to direct his first feature length film. A student of CalArts, Sweetland decided to leave school in his final year to join Pixar to become an animator on their first feature film Toy Story. He has since severed as animator on A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo. He was promoted to lead animator for the Bud Luckey’s Oscar-nominated short film Boundin’ , worked as an animator and storyboard artist on Brad Bird's The Incredibles, and stepped up to supervising animator on John Lasseter’s Cars. He won two Annie Awards for his work on Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo and earned one nomination for his character animation on Toy Story 2. It seemed pretty obvious that...

Doug Sweetland, who directed the wonderful Looney Tunes-style Pixar short Presto, has been tapped to helm Sony Pictures Animation’s The Familiars. Per Heat Vision, “The story centers on three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on their animal companions, or familiars — an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog — to escape.” Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson will write the screenplay based on their recently-released children’s book. Sam Raimi and Josh Donen are executive producing.

Sweetland worked at Pixar for 16 years and earned Annie awards for his work on Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and Toy Story 2. He earned an Annie nomination and an Oscar nomination for Presto.

After having the honor of directing one of Pixar's infamous shorts in the form of the Presto, director Doug Sweetland is moving into feature length films. Heat Vision reports the animator is set to direct The Familiars for Sony Pictures Animation. The story, based on Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson's recently published children's book of the same name, follows three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on their animal companions (or familiars), an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog, to escape. The authors are also writing the screenplay for the feature film adaptation. Sweetland is making the move over to Sony after working at Pixar for the past 16 years. He's worked as an animator on nearly all of their projects including the first two Toy Story films, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., and Finding ...

Since A Bug’s Life, there has been a short attached with each new Pixar film. This year we got the excellent Day & Night with Toy Story 3. Last year’s Up had the equally great Partly Cloudly. In 2008, Doug Sweetland directed the story of a magician and his rabbit, Presto, which premiered before Wall-e. Working at Pixar for last 16 years, he has now been attached to his first feature debut. [Heat Vision]

It won’t be for Pixar though, but rather Sony Pictures Animation. Titled The Familiars, the “story centers on three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away by an evil queen, must rely on their animal companions, or familiars — an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog — to escape.”

Sam Raimi will produce with Josh Donen and writers of the original children’s book it is based on, Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, will scribe. The...

Doug Sweetland, the animation director best known for Pixar's 2008 animated short, "Presto," has signed on to direct The Familiars for Sony, says Heat Vision . The animated film, to be based on the children's fantasy book series written by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, follows three young wizard apprentices who, after being whisked away to an evil kingdom by a nefarious queen, must rely on their animal companions -- an alley cat, a blue jay and a tree frog -- to escape. Josh Donen and Sam Raimi are attached as producers on the project. The book, which saw release last month, is planned as a franchise, a teaser for which is viewable below:...

Brimming with wonderful satire and lump-in-the-throat nostalgia, the final Toy Story film provides a fitting end to a classic trilogy

As always, the generous gang at Pixar films offer excellent value, starting with the usual bonus of an animated short as a curtain raiser for the feature. In this case it's the delightful, five-minute Day & Night, directed by Teddy Newton, who worked on The Incredibles, Ratatouille and the magnificent Pixar short Presto, which accompanied Wall-e. Two amorphous, asexual creatures – like cartoon ghosts – confront each other against a flat, black background. One, it transpires, is the surly Night, the other the cheerful Day. Within the outline of each two-dimensional figure we're shown 3D images of the world in sunlight and moonlight, of Las Vegas neon-lit by night and under blue skies by day. The pair mime their challenges and at the end come to accept their happy, complementary roles.

The charming,...

About: When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they discover each other's unique qualities--and come to realize that each of them offers a different window onto the same world—the friendship helps both to gain a new perspective. Running time: 6 minutes Teddy Newton (Director): Newton came to Pixar in July of 2000 to work on Pixar’s sixth feature film, “The Incredibles,” and has since contributed his considerable character design skills to many of Disney•Pixar’s award-winning feature and short films, including “Ratatouille,” “Your Friend the Rat” and “Presto.” He was also instrumental in the creation of the End Titles of “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” and is frequently cast as a voice in Disney•Pixar films, including the role...

One of the many highlights of new Pixar releases (aside from the fact that their movies are usually superb), are the short films that come attached to them. We’ve had some corkers through the years, including For The Birds, Presto and One Man Band, and Toy Story 3 promises something a little different with Day And Night.Boasting a blend of 2D-designed central characters that feature 3D within their shapes, it’s the tale of very different personalities meeting. Day, a happy, sunny type, encounters Night, who favours some much darker moods. The first impression is not exactly friendly, but they soon discover each other’s unique qualities and realise that they share a view of the same world. It’s not quite as easy to distil down as, say, “hungry bunny creates chaos for magician” or “one-man bands compete for a girl’s money.”So the Pixar bods...