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Category Archives: Animation Studios
Dan Povenmire & Jeff “Swampy” Marsh Talk Phineas & Ferb
In anticipation of the all-new Phineas and Ferb: Animal Agents—releasing to DVD on February 26, 2013—I had the opportunity to interview the show’s creators and co-executive producers, Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh.
Since it was a phone interview, they began by identifying themselves, so I would know who was speaking when. I told them if they would just speak in character, I’d have no trouble…so they greeted me as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Major Frances Mongram! That set the tone for the very friendly conversation that follows.
Here’s what the guys had to say about the show in general, the new production, and what’s in the works.
JW: Good afternoon! Thanks for speaking with me today! My kids and my husband and I are all huge Phineas and Ferb fans, and it’s great to have this chance to talk to you. I have read that it took you guys 16 years of pitching the show to various producers before Disney picked it up? Is that so?
P&M: Yeah, it was about 13 years before someone finally took a look at it, and then another couple years of negotiating and working out the details before it actually aired, so yeah, about 15 or 16 years total—1993 to 2008.
Return to Oz in the All-New Spring Issue of Disney Twenty-Three on Stands February 12
The spring issue of Disney twenty-three, the flagship magazine of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, hits stands February 12, loaded with articles to delight both Disney fans and the general public. The cover story, “A Great and Powerful Odyssey,” gives readers an exclusive tour of the land at the end of the road of yellow bricks in Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful releasing in theaters this March. The article features interviews with stars Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Zach Braff. In addition, there’s a sneak peek of 2014’s Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie, which offers a new take on the legendary Sleeping Beauty story.
The Emerald City theme continues with a second story illuminating the many connections between Disney and Oz, including Walt Disney’s early attempts to bring Oz to the big screen. The story includes rarely seen images from the Walt Disney Archives and a fond look back at Disney’s 1985 release Return to Oz.
In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we sit down with Imagineer Joe Rohde as he reflects on the evolution of Disney’s wildest and most spiritual park.
“Frozen in Time” includes concept art from the upcoming film Frozen, due in theaters this November. Walt Disney Animation Studios brings an ice-covered world to life as Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) seeks to reverse a curse put on her kingdom by a cold-hearted snow queen (voiced by Idina Menzel), who also happens to be her sister.
Disney Is Considering Layoffs, Cutbacks
The Walt Disney Company is reportedly considering layoffs after an internal cost-cutting review. The layoffs are being considered at it’s studio as well as other units along with other cost saving measures.
Supposedly Disney is exploring cutbacks in jobs it no longer needs due to improvements in technology and is considering eliminating operations that are redundant. Sources say that the cuts are not 100% definite, but would most likely apply The Walt Disney Studio because it is the least profitable of Disney’s divisions.
Consolidation and cutbacks could also take place at Disney’s interactive unit, which produces online games, and its music division.
Do you think that Disney should be considering cutbacks at this time? And if they need to make cuts where do you think Disney should be looking. Tell us your opinion.
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‘Brother Bear’ and ‘Brother Bear 2′ Come to Blu-ray March 3, 2013
March 13, 2013 is going to be a very exciting days for fans of Walt Disney Pictures, with the release of several of their most popular titles. One of my favorites, and one I feel gets overlooked pretty frequently, is ‘Brother Bear’. So I’m definitely happy to see it coming to blu-ray on March 13, as well as it’s sequel ‘Brother Bear 2‘. The movie tells the story of an Inuit bo, named Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix), who after provoking a battle with a bear that kills his brother, decides to pursue it in an act of revenge. But when the Spirits react negatively to Kenai’s actions, decide to teach him a lesson and transform him into a bear. It’s a very special little movie, and one I look on fondly, as it’s one of the last hand drawn Disney films I saw in theaters before Disney started making their CGI animated films.
The movie really seems to be one that is lost in the shuffle when the animated filmography of the company is brought up, so I’m glad to see it’s at least getting a proper HD treatment and coming to blu-ray. I really can’t wait to get a look at this film on blu-ray, because the animation in it is absolutely gorgeous, and should look stunning here. Another reason I love it is also because it, and it’s sequel, are the last two films Rick Moranis made before he retired from acting. Moranis is one of my all time favorite actors, going back as far as growing up on ‘Ghostbusters’. Adding this to my collection, where he also reunited with Dave Thomas, is definitely something I look forward to. Are you excited to get ‘Brother Bear’ on blu-ray? Let me know in the comments below, only here at Chip and Company! Hit the jump for the full press release.
‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’, ‘Mulan’, and More Coming to Blu-ray on March 13, 2013
Disney enthusiasts, mark your calenders for March 13, 2013!
Walt Disney Home Entertainment is set to release four new catalog releases that day, featuring ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’, and three double packs featuring ‘Mulan‘, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame‘, and ‘Brother Bear‘, as well as each their respective sequels. This is great news, because it means we’re getting more of Disney’s back catalog of films finally in high-definition, being completely remastered, being the best they’ve looked since they were in theaters. The most exciting of the releases, at least for me, is ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’, which is one of my all time favorite films. The Robert Zemeckis directed film is one of the most visually cool, and just flat out excellent films. Featuring a fun hybrid of cartoon animation and live action, as well as great cameos from many famous toon characters, it’s one film I’ve been hoping would see a blu-ray release soon. I’m really looking forward to seeing all of these on blu-ray though, and I know many others will be as well. Which of the these new films are you looking forward to adding to your collection? Let me know in the comments below, only here at Chip and Company!
Hit the jump for the full specs four of the new releases.
