Non Disney Upcoming Animated Projects, From 2009 Opzioni

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Rock Dog (Reel FX)

Reel FX Developing ‘Rock Dog’ for 2015
Posted by Brandon Smith 2 days ago
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rock-dog-reel-fx-logo

Reel FX is a studio that has a lot to prove. Their first film Free Birds wasn’t exactly a critical darling. That being said, everything we’ve seen so far for their next film The Book of Life is solid proof that the studio still has potential. As The Book of Life looms closer to its theatrical release, the studio is understandably busy at work on their next film. And judging by a number of sources, we now have an idea as to what the next film is.

According to these aforementioned sources, their next film is titled Rock Dog. While there has been no official cast announcement, the film’s IMDB page revealed that the cast will consist of Luke Wilson (Bodi), Matt Dillon (Trey), Mae Whitman (Darma), Sam Elliot (Fleetwood Yak), J.K. Simmons (Khampa), Jorge Garcia (Germur), and Grey DeLisle (Mom). Rounding out the cast is Eddie Izzard (Angus) and Lewis Black (Linnux). The page also revealed that Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2, Surf’s Up) will direct the film from a script by Brannon and Kurt Voelker, while Matthew Parker and David Miller will produce.

Here is the premise as given by IMDB:

When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician, setting into motion a series of completely unexpected events.

So now we know what it’s called, who’s behind it, what it’s about, and what the character’s names are. Anything else we know? Well, that’s where it gets interesting.

If this source is to be believed, the film appears to be a co-production between China (Mandoo Pictures) and the US (Reel FX), with its Chinese title being Tibetan Rockdog. The source also reveals that the film is based on Chinese rock star Zheng Jun’s comic book of the same name. Zheng Jun serves as the film’s executive producer and art director. When asked by CCTV about what may have attracted Hollywood talent to the film, Jun replied that it was due to the concept being a unique mixture of Tibetan Buddhism and rock music.

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Creator Zheng Jun with characters from Rock Dog
In the same article, producer David Miller also credited the combination of pop music, Tibet’s culture and landscape, and the use of the Tibetan mastiff as a main character (he also remarked that he’s been to Tibet himself).

Ash Brannon also commented on what attracted him to the project: “I loved the story when I read the book for the first time,” Brannon said. “It will be an extraordinary work in the animation industry.”

According to this source, the film has been in development for quite some time (as far back a 2009). It was originally slated for release in 2011, 2013, and even this year. Nevertheless, the proof of the project’s current development can be found in one of their job applications. And in an article for Backstage.com, Luke Wilson, Matt Dillon, and Lewis Black have recorded their voices for the film back in July. Thus, it would appear that the film has now been set for a 2015 release window (as reported here). Considering how densely packed 2015 is in terms of animation (and of film in general), it’s currently anyone’s guess as to where the film will bow, but it would appear that the project is that much closer to completion that a 2015 release seems possible.

It’s quite an interesting project, judging by the wealth of information collected here, in addition to the concept art from Danish animator Rune Brandt Bennicke (see gallery below). Also, it wouldn’t be the first animated co-production between China and the US (Kung Fu Panda 3, anyone?).

Like I said in the beginning, Reel FX still has boat loads of potential. Part of that potential is developing unique ideas and concepts for films like The Book of Life and now this.

http://www.rotoscopers.com/2014/10/09/reel...k-dog-for-2015/

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Which Witch (Jim Henson Co)

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/billy-cr...tch-1201326184/

Billy Crystal Joins Henson Co.’s ‘Which Witch’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Billy Crystal Which WitchIMEH AKPANUDOSEN/GETTY IMAGES
OCTOBER 9, 2014 | 05:05PM PT
Dave McNary
Film Reporter
@Variety_DMcNary
Billy Crystal has come on board The Jim Henson Co.’s animated movie project “Which Witch” as a writer, producer and star.

The company, as part of an expansion of its feature film slate, is aiming to start production early next year with Brian Henson directing and producing. Samantha Sprecher and Lisa Henson are also producing.

The move comes with Henson Co.’s live-action family comedy “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” opening Friday through Disney in the U.S. “Alexander” is expected to take in about $20 million in its opening weekend and contend for the top spot against the second weekend of “Gone Girl.”

CEO Lisa Henson told Variety that casting on “Which Witch” is underway with the company finalizing negotiations with a digital animation studio and a foreign financier for the project. The project is based on Eva Ibbotson’s 1979 book in which a wizard holds a contest among the seven witches of Todcaster to determine which witch he will marry.

Crystal has logged extensive work in the animated world as the one-eyed Mike character in Disney-Pixar’s “Monsters Inc.” and “Monsters University.”

“When Brian Henson called me about it, I didn’t know the book,” Crystal said. “But it’s a fantastic story, and I brought in a wonderful writer, Michael Feldman, and we’ve written a terrific and inventive script. I’ll play a character as well, which will be great fun because he actually has two eyes.”

The studio is run by the late Jim Henson’s grown children, Lisa and Brian, with a staff of about 80 employees. Lisa Henson, who’s been CEO for the past decade, previously served as president of Columbia Pictures.

Lisa Henson said that Crystal would be heavily involved with production, expected to last for about two years. “We’re focusing heavily on getting the tone right,” she added.

Henson explained that her initial efforts at the company were focused on developing its proprietary animation technology and guiding the TV business, which led to the PBS Kids series “Sid the Science Kid” and “Dinosaur Train.”

Those shows were followed by the productions of “Doozers,” “Hi Opie!” and “Pajanimals” with the newest projects “Chatter Zoo” and “Splash,” currently in development.

On the feature side, the company optioned “Frog and Toad,” based on the four “Frog and Toad” books by Arnold Lobel, two years ago. (Rights to The Muppets were sold to Disney in 2004).

It’s also working on a quartet of legacy titles in the Henson library — a “Fraggle Rock” movie that’s been in development at New Regency; a sequel to 1982’s “The Dark Crystal”; a sequel to 1986’s “Labyrinth”; and a movie based on the Emmet Otter character.

FILED UNDER: Billy CrystalJim Henson CompanyWhich Witch

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Lego Batman' Spinoff Movie (Animal Logic)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-visi...ie-works-738631

'Lego Batman' Spinoff Movie in the Works at Warner Bros. (Exclusive)
10:45 AM PDT 10/10/2014 by Borys Kit
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Will Arnett will return as the voice of the Caped Crusader
Lego Movies Still - H 2014
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Lego incarnation of Batman proved to be so popular in the Warner Bros. hit The Lego Movie that he is getting his own big-screen spinoff.
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Not only that, the movie is being fast-tracked.
Chris McKay, the animation supervisor on Lego Movie, was initially set to direct that project's sequel. However, the movie is being pushed back and McKay is now helming the Lego Batman movie, which is being written by author-screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith.
Warners is eyeing a 2017 release for the spinoff, possibly even on the original date for Lego Movie 2. The next Lego movie to be released is Ninjago, due to open Sept. 23, 2016. The Lego Movie sequel will now presumably be released after 2017.
Read more Two More 'Lego' Movies Get Release Dates
Will Arnett will reprise the voice of the Caped Crusader. Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the custodians of the Lego screen brand, are producing.
Batman was one of the highlights of The Lego Movie, stealing every scene he was in. With Arnett taking Christian Bale's gravely voice to an extreme degree, the character was arrogant, dark, sarcastic and just too-cool-for-this-adventure.
Lego Batman already heads a very popular franchise. There have been at least three video games as well as a straight-to-video Lego Batman: The Movie — DC Super Heroes Unite, where Troy Baker provided the voice for the Dark Knight.
Warners had no comment.

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My Little Pony (Hasbro Studios)

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/my-littl...ive-1201334144/

‘My Little Pony’ Movie in the Works at Hasbro Studios (EXCLUSIVE)

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My Little Pony to be turned
OCTOBER 20, 2014 | 05:30AM PT
Film will join 'Jem and the Holograms' as the first to be produced through Allspark Pictures

Marc Graser
Senior Editor
@marcgraser
Hasbro Studios has given the greenlight to a “My Little Pony” movie, with plans to release the animated film in 2017.

The film will join “Jem and the Holograms” as the first to be produced through Allspark Pictures, a new label through which the company will self-finance or pair up with other companies to co-finance a slate of film projects.

Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Prods. already is co-producing the live action “Jem,” with Universal Pictures co-financing the movie’s budget. The studio has dated the film for release on Oct. 23, 2015.

Hasbro Studios will take the reins of “My Little Pony,” producing and financing it inhouse. It is in discussion with studios to release the film “on the broadest possible number of screens,” said Stephen Davis, president of Hasbro Studios and global entertainment and licensing for Hasbro Inc. “We’re very excited about the potential of that movie.”

SEE MORE:Shift in Kids’ TV Watching Habits Drives Big Changes to Discovery-Hasbro Partnership

Joe Ballarini, who previously wrote “Atlantis 7″ for Walden Media, 21 Laps and Gotham Group; “Lockdown at Franklin High” for Sony; and was recently tapped to adapt the graphic novel “Cardboard” for Fox Animation; will pen the script for the “Pony” pic, while Megan McCarthy, who produces and has written for the series “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” and straight-to-homevideo “My Little Pony: Equestria Girls” films, will serve as co-executive producer on the theatrical movie. Ballarini is repped by Paradigm and Apostle.

Introduced in 1983 and developed by Bonnie Zacherle, Charles Muenchinger and Steve D’Aguanno, the “My Little Pony” characters have colorful bodies, manes and distinguishing “cutie marks” on their flanks. The property has launched four animated series and been revamped over the years, enjoying strong sales in the 1980s and then again in 2010, with its popularity driven by well-received shows.

“Jem” is a musical fantasy that reimagines Jem amid the current hyperlinked social media era in a story of a small-town girl going from underground video sensation to global superstar with her three sisters.

Jon M. Chu directed from Ryan Landels’ script with Aubrey Peeples as the lead. Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Hayley Kiyoko, Ryan Guzman, Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis also star.

Hasbro also is partners with Blumhouse on its next film, “Ouija,” out in theaters Oct. 24 through Universal. Stiles White directed the thriller that’s based on Hasbro’s game.

SEE MORE:Snapchat Scares Up Advertising Business with ‘Ouija’

Hasbro has no plans to turn its back on big-budget franchises.

“We will continue to make big tentpole movies with our studio partners,” Davis said of franchises like “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe,” at Paramount, and “Monopoly” and “Candy Land” at Sony, “but there is another set of movies where we feel we have an opportunity to have a bit more control over the budgeting, financing, calendarization, marketing and creative of our films. There are new economic models that fit certain films.”

With “My Little Pony,” Hasbro already has produced direct-to-homevideo animated movies and is producing the 100th episode of the franchise’s current TV series that plays on kids cable channel Discovery Family, formerly the Hub, in the U.S., and in over 180 countries worldwide. The Hub switched to Discovery Family on Oct. 13.



“We have a lot of experience working on this particular brand,” and when it comes to producing the animation, technology has brought down costs to a level where it doesn’t need to spend $100 million or more to make the film. Hasbro declined to disclose the budget on the “Pony” pic.

“Film and TV is a key driver and very important part of the building blocks for a company like Hasbro,” Davis said. “It’s where we want to use great stories to activate our brands.”

Hasbro’s girls segment, which includes “My Little Pony,” “Nerf Rebelle” and other toy lines, saw sales increase 5% to $407.7 million during the company’s third quarter, whose results were announced Monday, during which overall revenue increased 7% to $1.47 billion.

For more on Hasbro’s film strategy, please see Tuesday’s edition of Variety.

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Playmobil - The Movie

http://www.badtaste.it/2014/11/13/in-arriv...aymobil/105213/

E’ in arrivo il film animato dei Playmobil
13 novembre 2014 19:00 • Matteo Tosini
Cinema
Playmobil

Seguendo le orme dei rivali danesi (LEGO), l’azienda tedesca Playmobil, secondo Variety, porterà presto sul grande schermo una versione animata dei celebri playset per bambini, i Playmobil appunto. Tutto questo sarà possibile grazie alla collaborazione tra Wild Bunch e Pathe e anche grazie a 80 milioni di dollari che saranno investiti per l’animazione.

Creati da Hans Beck nel 1974, i playset Playmobil sono da sempre uno dei giochi preferiti dai bambini grazie alle iconiche figure antecedenti alle minifigure LEGO. Con oltre 2,7 milioni di personaggi e 30 set giocabili Playmobil offrirà ai realizzatori del film infinite idee per sviluppare il lungometraggio.

Il film verrà prodotto da Dimitri Rassam, Aton Soumache, Alexis Vonarb e Moritz Borman. La produzione inizierà a Montreal. Il film sarà nelle sale nel 2017.

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Avevo dimenticato di riportare lo spostamento di un anno di How to Train Your Dragon 3

How to Train Your Dragon 3 (6/9/2017)

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Aggiunto
Kubo And The Two Strings (Laika) (8/19/16)

Cambio data:
Angry Birds Sony / Columbia New 5/20/16 Old 7/1/16

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In vista della ristrutturazione interna dei DWA le seguenti vecchie date:

Home 25 Marzo 2015
Kung fu Panda 3 18 marzo 2016 (già spostato dal 23 dicembre 2015)
Boss Baby 18 Marzo 2016
Trolls 4 novembre 2016
Captain Underpants 13 Gennaio 2017
Mumbai Musical 10 Marzo 2017
How to Train Your Dragon 3 9 giugno 2017 (già spostato dal 17 giugno 2016)
I Croods 2 22 dicembre 2017 (già sposato dal 3 Novembre 2017)
Larrikins 16 Febbraio 2018
Madagascar 4 18 Maggio 2018
Il Gatto con gli Stivali 21 dicembre 2018 (già spostato dal 2 novembre 2018)

Sono State cambiate in (in nero quelle variate)
Home: 27 marzo 2015
Kung Fu Panda 3: 18 marzo 2016
Trolls: 4 novembre 2016
Boss Baby: 13 gennaio 2017
Captain Underpants 10 Marzo 2017
The Croods 2: 22 dicembre 2017
The Larrikins: 16 febbraio 2018
Dragon Trainer 3: 29 giugno 2018 (in totale quindi è stato spostato di ben due anni dall'uscita fissata al suo annuncio)

Sono ritornati in pre-produzione (tra parentesi la vecchia data)
B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations (5 giugno 2015)
Mumbai Musical (10 Marzo 2017)
Madagascar 4 (18 maggio 2018)
Il gatto con gli stivali 2 (21 dicembre 2018)

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The Jetsons (WB)

http://deadline.com/2015/01/the-jetsons-an...ers-1201356816/

EXCLUSIVE: Warners Bros is looking to turn the Hanna-Barbera series The Jetsons into an animated theatrical feature. The studio has hired Matt Lieberman to write the script. There was a flurry of rumors sometime back about a live-action version that might somehow involve Kanye West. Not sure what happened there, but I’m told that Lieberman is working from scratch on a fully animated version.

Warner Bros owns that library, which was acquired by Ted Turner before he sold his company to Warner Bros. Lieberman got the job after his script work on the animated Scooby-Doo movie for Warner Bros and Atlas that the studio has put on a fast track.

The Jetsons is based on the Hanna Barbera cartoon series that originated in 1962 and was that production company’s space-age answer to the stone-age The Flintstones.

Lieberman, who started in the Disney Writers Program, has set scripts all over town including the spec 12/24 with 1492 based on a David Guggenheim idea that amounts to a found-footage Santa Claus film. He also scripted Giant Monsters Attack Japan for Paramount Animation, and Short Circuit which Tim Hill will direct. His spec The Pet sold to Disney with Jared Hess attached to direct, and he scripted Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride for Peter Candeland to direct and Evil Genius for Disney.

Lieberman is repped by WME, Madhouse Entertainment and attorney Melissa Rogal.

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The Nut Job 2 (ToonBox Entertainment /Redrover Co, Ltd/Open Road) (1/15/2016)

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1139...5-2016#/slide/1

The Nut Job 2 is Coming on January 15, 2016

BY CS ON JANUARY 23, 2014

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Open Road Films, Redrover Co., Ltd., ToonBox Entertainment Ltd., and Gulfstream Pictures have announced that The Nut Job 2, a sequel to the hit film The Nut Job – which opened on January 17, 2014, taking in over $25.7 million at the holiday weekend box-office as the biggest independent animated film opening of all time – will hit theaters January 15, 2016. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Hoe-jin Ha, CEO and President of Redrover Co., Ltd.

In animated 3D, The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, who must plan a heist to get into his town’s biggest nut shop in order to help his pals in the park gather food to survive the winter. Together with his sidekick, Buddy, Surly assembles a ragtag crew to help him get inside – and takes them on a fun-filled adventure that they’ll never forget. In addition to Will Arnett as Surly, THE NUT JOB also features the voices of Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, Stephen Lang, Jeff Dunham, Gabriel Iglesias and Sarah Gadon.

Directed by Peter Lepeniotis from a screenplay by Lorne Cameron and Lepeniotis, The Nut Job was produced by Wookyung Jung and Graham Moloy. Executive producers are Daniel Woo, Hong Kim, and Jay Ahn as well as Bill Bindley and Mike Karz of Gulfstream Pictures. The Nut Job was a collaboration of Redrover Co., Ltd., ToonBox Entertainment Ltd. and Gulfstream Pictures.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about ‘The Nut Job,'” stated Ortenberg. “It has been a pleasure working with the teams at Redrover, ToonBox and Gulfstream and we are delighted to re-team with them for ‘The Nut Job 2.'”

“We are very proud of what we have accomplished in Hollywood as an independent production company,” commented Ha. “Our compliments go out to ToonBox and Gulfstream for their endeavor in the co-production and to Open Road for their successful campaign and teamwork. We are looking forward to working with them on ‘The Nut Job 2.'”

“We’re thrilled that audiences have embraced these characters and it is exciting to anticipate their return for another adventure in ‘The Nut Job 2,'” said Karz. “The entire team behind this movie did a fantastic job and we’re looking forward to working with them again.”

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Blazing Samurai (Mass Animation/Open Road)

Chris Bailey and Mark Koetsier Will Direct ‘Blazing Samurai’ Feature
BY AMID AMIDI ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2015 4:31 PM

Open Road Films, the distributor of The Nut Job, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the CG animated feature Blazing Samurai, which will be “loosely based” on Mel Brooks’s 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles. The film is slated for April 14, 2017 launch.

blazingsamurai

In this version, a dog named Hank travels to a small town in ancient Japan to fulfill his dream of becoming a samurai. He discovers the town is populated entirely by cats, and must overcome prejudice while learning how to be a great warrior from a once-great samurai cat named Jimbo. Chris Bailey, who directed the Disney short Runaway Brain and animation directed Alvin And The Chipmunks, and veteran animator/story artist Mark Koetsier will co-direct from a screenplay by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper.

Blazing Samurai will be the first feature produced through Yair Landau’s Mass Animation, a company that uses a crowdsourcing model to produce its projects. Landau, a former Sony Pictures exec, will produce the film with Mass Animation’s Susan Purcell and The Lion King director Rob Minkoff.

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/ch...ure-108751.html

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Spark (ToonBox Entertainment /Redrover Co, Ltd) (1/15/2016)

Hilary Swank, Susan Sarandon Join Animated ‘Spark’

Hilary Swank and Susan Sarandon have taken voice roles in the 3D animated comedy “Spark,” joining Jessica Biel and Jace Norman.

“Spark” is directed by Aaron Woodley for ToonBox Entertainment, Redrover Co. and Gulfstream Pictures, which teamed on “The Nut Job.”

It’s the first time Swank has been cast for her voice in an animated feature. She’ll voice a noble queen, and Sarandon will voice a nanny robot.

The story follows a teenage monkey, Spark; a battle-ready fox; and a tech-savvy warthog as they embark on a mission to take back their planet from a power-mad general. The film is currently in production with plans for a 2016 release.

The film is produced by ToonBox and Redrover, in association with Gulfstream Pictures, which is handling U.S. sales. Executive producers are Hong Kim, Jay HJ Ahn and Daniel Woo and Gulfstream Pictures’ Mike Karz and Bill Bindley.

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Asterix:Land of the Gods (Mikros Image)

http://www.movieweb.com/asterix-land-of-th...-animated-movie

'Asterix: Land of the Gods' Featurette Bring First Look at New Animated Movie
The immensely popular comic book series 'Asterix' gets its first CG animated feature film with 'The Land of the Gods'. Go behind-the-scenes to see how it came together, in theaters 2015.
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Jun 23, 2014 by B. Alan Orange
Asterix is a unique property in that its one of the most successful box office franchises based on a comic book worldwide, yet the first four live-action films have never gotten a proper release in the states. That is about to change with Asterix: The Land of The Gods, which will bring the iconic Gaul and his colorful cast of friends and enemies to this country in a new CG animated adventure. Two featurettes give us a first look at all the action and excitement as Asterix and Obelix set out to stop Julius Caesar from destroying their village once and for all.
The first video actually offers a scene from this Belgium comic adaptation, which finds Julius Caesar revealing his plans to squash the indomitable Gauls, who's magic elixir gives everyone in the village super human strength. The second clip features directors Louis Clichy and Alexandre Astier taking fans behind-the-scenes for a look at how this all-new animated adventure is coming together in time for its November 26, 2014 release in France before it hits the rest of the world sometime in 2015.

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Kung Fu Space Western (Reel FX)

Jorge Gutierrez and Reel FX To Make Kung Fu Space Western
BY AMID AMIDI ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2015 10:41 AM
Comments 18

Jorge Gutierrez and Reel FX Animation Studios have teamed up again, this time to produce the ultimate genre mashup film: a kung fu space western (currently untitled). The film will mark the sophomore film of Gutierrez, whose 2014 debut The Book of Life was also produced by Reel FX.

bookoflife_still_bSEE ALSO: Jorge Gutierrez on ‘The Book of Life’ and Bringing Mexico to Hollywood

The announcement was made yesterday by Reel FX, who has signed Gutierrez to a long-term deal to create projects for their studio. The “kung fu space western” creative team will include some of the same people who worked on Book of Life, including Doug Langdale who will co-write the script with Gutierrez, and Sandra Equihua who will oversee the film’s character design.

Gutierrez’s new film will revolve around “one of the galaxy’s most charming outlaws” and his “ragtag crew of rebel bandits” who have to fight a villain to save the universe. Says Gutierrez about the new project: “Our heartfelt film will be a funny mash-up of some of my favorite influences: ’90s Kung Fu films, Spaghetti Westerns of the ’60s, and the epic Space Adventures of the ’70s, ’80s and today.”

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/jo...ern-109402.html

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Storks (Warner Animation)

Doug Sweetland and Nick Stoller Will Co-Direct ‘Storks’ for Warner Bros.
By Darryn King | 04/21/2015 2:36 pm | 30

Warner Bros. has given the animated feature Storks, “a fresh and funny look at the fable behind storks,” a release date of September 23, 2016.

In a rare case of animation and live-action directing talent coming together, the film will be co-directed by Pixar alum Doug Sweetland and Apatow Productions regular Nicholas Stoller, from an original script by Stoller.

Stoller has previously directed such live-action fare as Neighbors, Get Him to the Greek, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He also co-wrote and executive produced the two recent Muppets movies, provided additional screenplay content for DreamWorks’s Turbo, and is attached to write the screenplay for Fox’s as-yet-untitled Tinker Bell live-action adventure/comedy film.

PARTNER MESSAGE

Sweetland wrote and directed the classic Warner Bros.-evoking Pixar short Presto, before which he worked as supervising animator at the studio. Sweetland was a key figure in the studio’s animation department, having worked as an animator or supervising animator on Pixar’s first seven features. More recently, Sweetland supervised the animation for Google’s interactive short Windy Day.

Storks will feature the voices of Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer. Stoller will co-produce with Cars 2 co-director and Ratatouille producer Brad Lewis. Glenn Ficarra, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, John Requa, and Jared Stern are on board as executive producers.

Like The LEGO Movie, Storks is a project developed within Warners’ in-house feature animation creative consortium. In 2013, the film was first announced as being in development.

Photo: Nicholas Stoller (left) and Doug Sweetland will co-direct “Storks.” (Stoller photo: S. Bukley/Shutterstock.com)

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Voltron e TrollHunters (Dreamworks Television)

http://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/644473-v...head-to-netflix

Voltron and Guillermo del Toro’s Trollhunters Series Head to Netflix

GUILLERMO DEL TORO NETFLIX NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES STREAMING TROLLHUNTERS TV NEWS TV PREMIERE DATES VOLTRON
BY MAX EVRY ON JANUARY 5, 2016
3.3K 18

image: http://cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uplo.../01/Voltron.jpg

Voltron

Voltron and Guillermo del Toro’s Trollhunters series head to Netflix

Netflix and DreamWorks Animation today announced the expansion of their current multi-year deal, making Netflix the global home, outside of China, to a number of new original series for the whole family from the studio. The deal also covers streaming rights to the DreamWorks Animation feature film library.

In addition, the deal extends the rights of current original series for kids from the studio available on the service throughout operating Netflix markets as well as expanding to include second window rights for the series everywhere around the world, outside of China. The series include “The Adventures of Puss in Boots,” “Dinotrux” and “Dragons: Race to the Edge,” among others.

Starting in 2016, Netflix will launch several new series from DWA, including a reimagining of Voltron, and the new series, Trollhunters, from master storyteller Guillermo del Toro, who will unleash a new, fantastical world wrapped around two best friends who make a startling discovery beneath their hometown.

Over the term of the new agreement, a number of new original series will be developed and produced by DreamWorks Animation for Netflix, based not only on recent and upcoming feature films from the studio, but also on other classic IP.

“DreamWorks Animation is synonymous with great storytelling that families around the world enjoy,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Series for Netflix. “It’s with great pleasure that we expand on an already successful relationship with DreamWorks Animation to bring more premium kids and family television to Netflix members globally.”

“This agreement adds to the incredible foundation we’ve built together with Netflix over a number of years across both film and television,” said Ann Daly, President of DreamWorks Animation. “We are proud to work closely with Netflix to continue delivering high-quality programming to audiences around the world.”

Read more at http://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/644473-v...vVBzimbI4k1O.99

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Beekle (Dreamworks Animation)

Jason Reitman to Write and Direct BEEKLE for DreamWorks Animation
BY ADAM CHITWOOD MAY 27, 2015
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jason-reitman-to-direct-dreamworks-animation-film-beekle

Fresh off the massively disappointing box office of his underrated ensemble drama Men, Women & Children (I liked it!), filmmaker Jason Reitman is poised to make his first foray into the world of animation. Variety reports that the Oscar-nominated Juno and Thank You For Smoking director has signed on to write and direct Beekle for DreamWorks Animation. The movie is an adaptation of the children’s book The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which revolves around an imaginary friend who, after becoming tired of waiting around to be chosen by a real child, takes off on a magical journey on his own.

This is a curious move for both Reitman and DreamWorks Animation. The studio has been suffering as of late with box office disappointments like Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Penguins of Madagascar. It’s recently gone through a significant behind-the-scenes change, as the studio will restructure its focus to one movie a year rather than churning out two or three.

This new focus on quality over quantity might be where Reitman comes in, but the filmmaker himself has been in a rut lately too. Despite the fact that they’re good movies (really, I promise), the dramas Labor Day and Men, Women & Children failed to make any sort of splash, with the latter only grossing around $700,000 domestically—and it had Adam Sandler in its cast!

Beekle is the first project put into development under the newly appointed Co-Presidents of Feature Animation Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria, and it certainly provides an interesting look at the kind of direction they hope to take the studio in. But all is not lost in the meantime, as Dean DeBlois is still writing and directing the third and final How to Train Your Dragon movie for release in 2018, and next March’s Kung Fu Panda 3 is sure to be a box office hit.

http://collider.com/jason-reitman-to-direc...on-film-beekle/

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Nimona (Fox Animation)

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/os...ona-114404.html

‘Feast’ Director Patrick Osborne To Direct Sci-Fi/Fantasy ‘Nimona’
By Scott Thill | 06/12/2015 4:27 pm | 25

Director Patrick Osborne. (Photo:Ricky Middlesworth/©2014 Disney)
Director Patrick Osborne. (Photo:Ricky Middlesworth/©2014 Disney)
Armed with an Oscar for best animated short, Patrick Osborne will bring Noelle Stevenson’s Eisner- and Harvey-award nominated comic to the screen for Fox Animation. The news was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.

Nimona’s sci-fi/fantasy mashup will mark the Feast director’s feature film debut. Stevenson’s tale of a female shapeshifter battling a mad scientist and a corrupt regime of hoverboarding knights is a refreshing and unconventional choice for a mainstream Hollywood animation production, and with Osborne attached, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. Fox’s last non-Blue Sky animated feature was Reel FX’s The Book of Life, released last fall.

PARTNER MESSAGE

nimona
As reported previously, Osborne, no longer with Disney, is also creating the short film Pearl for Google. Like his Paperman colleague John Kahrs, Osborne is parlaying short-film plaudits into a feature career outside of the Disney umbrella.

Former DreamWorks executive Marc Haimes, who wrote Laika’s next release Kubo and the Two Strings, is attached as screenwriter of the Vertigo Entertainment production. Vertigo is also co-producing the The Lego Movie Sequel and The Lego Batman Movie, and involved in the development of feature film adaptations of Adventure Time and the popular horror anime Death Note.

Nimona began life as Stevenson’s webcomic thesis while a student at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her other Eisner-nominated comic, Lumberjanes, created with Shannon Watters and Brooke A. Allen, is also in development for Fox.

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Animated Spiderman Movie (Sony)

http://deadline.com/2015/12/sony-animated-...ers-1201414743/

Sony’s Animated Spider-Man Movie Shifts Release Date To December 2018
by Mike Fleming Jr
and Anita Busch
December 23, 2015 10:49am

UPDATE with release date change: The release date for Sony’s animated Spider-Man movie being directed by The Lego Movie‘s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller has been shifted from July 20, 2018 to December 21, 2018. The push comes after the studio earlier this year unveiled its Spider-Man reboot plan with Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal steering the ship of its $4 billion live-action franchise.

Related'Spider-Man' Scoop: Marvel's Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal To Steer Spidey As Producers
Under that deal, Spider-Man will appear in his Disney/Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War that is part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, and then Sony Pictures will release the next stand-alone installment on July 28, 2017, with Jon Watts directing and Tom Holland as the young Peter Parker.

PREVIOUS, APRIL 22 PM: Tom Rothman came out swinging at CinemaCon. He announced in Vegas that Lego Movie helmers Phil Lord & Christopher Miller will make an animated feature of Spider-Man. They’ll conceive with an eye to direct it. We knew that the animated film was in the works, and that Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua planned to do a sequel to their 2014 film The Equalizer. Rothman formalized that, too. It doesn’t impede the progress of a new line of Spidey live-action films in the works, these with Marvel chief Kevin Feige in a producing capacity. The animated film will be released July 20, 2018. The live-action sequel will be released July 28, 2017.

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Sing (Illumination McGuff)
http://deadline.com/2015/11/sing-set-as-ti...pic-1201618048/

‘Sing’ Set As Title For Universal’s Animated Musical Starring Matthew McConaughey
by Ross A. Lincoln
November 10, 2015 6:45pm

The previously untitled film from Universal’s Illumination Entertainment set for release December 21, 2016, now has a name. Titled Sing, the animated pic stars Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon, a dapper koala who runs a once-great theater that has fallen on hard times. Seeing the thing he loves most in his life coming to ruin, Buster connives to restore the theater’s fortunes by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.

RelatedIllumination Entertainment Dates Three Untitled Franchise Pics
Joining McConaughey as is Seth MacFarlane as a crooning, con artist mouse; Tori Kelly as a timid teenage elephant suffering from stage fright; Reese Witherspoon as the overtaxed mother of a litter of 25 piglets; Taron Egerton as a young gorilla from a crime family eager to break out of the family business; and Scarlett Johansson as a punk rock porcupine looking to ditch her arrogant boyfriend and embark on a solo career. The film will feature more than 85 hit songs on its soundtrack.

Garth Jennings (Son Of Rambow, Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy) writes and directs Sing, with Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy producing.

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Hotel Transylvania 3 (Sony Pictures Animations)

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/6285...3-2018#/slide/1

Hotel Transylvania 3 Opens Its Doors in 2018!

ADAM SANDLER MOVIE NEWS
BY SILAS LESNICK ON NOVEMBER 2, 2015
2K 0

image: http://cdn3-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uplo.../DracPac640.jpg

Hotel Transylvania 3 is coming in 2018!

Hotel Transylvania 3 will hit the big screen September 21, 2018

Sony Pictures Animation announced today that Hotel Transylvania 3 is officially on the way! The third film in the animated franchise will arrive on the big screen September 22, 2018.

Released in 2012, the original Hotel Transylvania was helmed by Genndy Tartakovsky, the creator of hit animated series like “Dexter’s Laboratory” and “Samurai Jack,” and grossed more than $350 million at the worldwide box office. The sequel, the recently-released Hotel Transylvania 2, performed even better than its predecessor and has already passed $373.6 million worldwide. In fact, Hotel Transylvania 2 was number four at the domestic box office this week, despite being in its sixth week of release.

It has not yet been revealed who among the voice cast will be returning for Hotel Transylvania 3. The second film featured the voice talents of Adam Sandler, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Kevin James, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Jon Lovitz, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Fran Drescher and Mel Brooks. Tartakovsky, however, has stated that he doesn’t think he’ll be back in the director’s chair for a third film.

Hotel Transylvania 2, which opened September 25, saw Mavis (Gomez) and Jonathan (Samberg) married having just had their first baby. Although a home video release date has not yet been revealed, you can preorder Hotel Transylvania 2 at Amazon.

Hotel Transylvania 3 will face some monstrous competition at the box office. September 21, 2018 is the same date Warner Bros. Pictures has scheduled for their still-untitled Scooby Doo animated movie.

If you missed it, be sure to check out our video interviews with Tartakovsky and Hotel Transylvania 2 producer Michelle Murdocca. There was also a recent announcement that the Hotel Transylvania franchise will be heading to the small screen. You can read all about the plans for television series right here.

Are you excited to hear that Hotel Transylvania 3 is on the way? What would you like to see happen to Drac and his growing family? Let us know in the comments below!

Read more at http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/6285...3ItjECwqGdD7.99

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SpongeBob SquarePants 3 e Amusement Park (Paramount Animation)

http://deadline.com/2015/11/monster-trucks...ies-1201617750/

Paramount Dates ‘Monster Trucks’ & More Animated Pics
phipes
by Patrick Hipes
November 10, 2015 4:12pm

Paramount Animation unveiled release dates for several of the studio’s films including a new release date for its long-in-the-works Monster Trucks, The Little Prince and SpongeBob SquarePants 3. The dates carry studio’s slate through March 2019.

Related'Monster Trucks' From Paramount Pushed For The Second Time, Now Out Of 2015
Monster Trucks, the live-action/CG hybrid that is hauling a $125M price tag, will now premiere on January 13, 2017. Its’s the third release date for the pic which began production in May 2013 as the studio is making sure its marketing ducks are in a row. It originally had a summer 2015 release date, was moved to Christmas 2015, then March 2016.

Other dates: The Little Prince, March 18. 2016; the just announced Sherlock Gnomes, January 12, 2018; SpongeBob SquarePants 3, February 8, 2019; and Amusement Park, March 22, 2019.

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Edgar Wright Shadow-Themed Animated Film (Dreamworks Animation)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-visi...w-themed-842257

Edgar Wright to Direct Shadow-Themed Animated Film
He will co-write the DreamWorks Animation project with David Walliams.
Edgar Wright

He will co-write the DreamWorks Animation project with David Walliams.
Edgar Wright has signed on to direct an animated film for DreamWorks Animation. The film, which he'll co-write with David Walliams, is centered on the concept of shadows.

"Edgar will spearhead a new approach to this fascinating concept and we’re ecstatic to have him on board as director along with David as co-writer,” said a statement from DreamWorks Animation’s co-presidents of feature animation Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria. “We’ve always been intrigued by a film concept involving shadows, and now with Edgar’s signature comedic style and abilities as a natural storyteller, audiences will be treated to a truly captivating and energetic tale.”

The project is a new take on a previously developed concept about shadows. DreamWorks Animation had previously been working on a film called Me and My Shadow, that had Bill Hader and Josh Gad attached as voice cast. But it was taken off the calendar in 2013. Wright's new film will replace Me and My Shadow.

READ MORE Johnny Depp, Edgar Wright Team for Neil Gaiman Adaptation (Exclusive)
DreamWorks Animation’s head of development Gregg Taylor and development executive Damon Ross are overseeing the project for the studio.

Wright, known for The World’s End and Shaun of the Dead, will next helm Baby Driver with Ansel Elgort and Lily James. He's also attached to a project with Johnny Depp based on Fortunately, the Milk, a Neil Gaiman story. The DreamWorks Animation project will be his first animated film. He’s repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, Independent Talent Group in the U.K. and Nelson Davis.

Walliams is known for working with Matt Lucas on the BBC One sketch show Little Britain, and also is a children’s author, with more 10 million copies sold to date.

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Surf's Up 2 (Sony Pictures Animation)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony...surfs-up-871874

Sony and WWE Team for 'Surf's Up' Sequel
12:32 PM PST 3/1/2016 by Mia Galuppo
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'Surf's Up'
Courtesy of Photofest
The film will feature the voices of WWE stars like John Cena, The Undertaker and Triple H.

Surf's Up, the animated film about surfing penguins, is getting a sequel.

Sony Pictures Animation and WWE Studios are planning Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania, which they will co-finance and produce.

The movie will be distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment with WWE Studios providing marketing support, including having its roster of wrestling talent to voice the film's characters.

In the follow-up to the 2007 feature, adventure-inclined penguin Cody Maverick convinces an infamous big wave riding crew known as The Hang 5 — voiced by WWE superstars John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, WWE Diva Paige and Mr. McMahon — to journey with him to a mysterious surf spot known as The Trenches, where the crew will supposedly find the biggest waves in the world.

READ MORE Young Barack Obama Film Casts Devon Terrell, 'The Witch' Star Anya Taylor-Joy (Exclusive)
Henry Yu, whose credits include Hotel Transylvania, will make his directorial debut with the animated pic, which was written by Abdul Williams and will be produced by Michelle Wong.

“We are thrilled to be working with Sony Pictures Animation to bring Cody Maverick back to audiences for more adventures, paired with our WWE Superstars in what promises to be a fun animated film for the entire family,” WWE Studios president Michael Luisi said Tuesday in a statement.

Character art for The Hang 5 crew is below.