The Lion King and Sonic The Hedgehog both represent a collection of beloved animated characters. The problem arises when movie studios decide to create a non-animated live version. The recently released The Lion King and the soon to be released Sonic The Hedgehog movie exemplify the dilemma. Thankfully, digital artists from the internet have stepped in to “fix” the problem.
Animation
Incredibles 2 makes this Dad Feel like a Superhero
I walked into the movie theater expecting to be entertained by a new superhero story, Incredibles 2. After all, the hugely successful original movie, The Incredibles, presented a perfect blend of heartfelt storytelling, visually stunning animation, and delightful superhero adventure. Still, 14 years have passed since it was released in November 2004. During that time I was a single man about to be wed to my high school sweetheart. Flash forward to the present, I’m married and a father keenly attuned to family life. What’s the bottom line? Disney’s Incredibles 2 delivers all the innovative thrills of the original while exploring the nuances of modern fatherhood.
Cars 3 Makes Audiences Feel Old
Disney-Pixar’s eagerly anticipated release of Cars 3 arrived last weekend. Much like Toys 3 emphasized the passage of of time, so too does this feature film. Lightning McQueen, race car extraordinaire, finds himself facing obsolescence. Audiences expecting a feel-good comeback story might be surprised.
Everything is Awesome with THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
If you’re a Batman fan and really, why wouldn’t you be, then you’ve heard of the new The LEGO Batman Movie. In a world where LEGO and Batman co-exist, one wouldn’t necessarily think about pairing the two together. Yet The LEGO Movie proved the dark knight fit in awesomely. Hence, the creation of the solo film aptly titled The LEGO Batman Movie.
Netflix unleashes Wakko, Yakko and Dot – Animaniacs!
Animaniacs!, a hit animated series that debuted in 1993 which was produced by Steven Spielberg for the Fox Kids and the WB channels, is now available on Netflix. Every episode was a wacky adventure featuring the shenanigans of the Warner Brothers Wacko, Jacko and sister Dot. Rich with slap-stick comedy and pop culture references, the show quickly caught on with kids and adults alike. Now all 99 episodes are available for streaming on Netflix. Let the binge watching begin.
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Following up on 2013’s surprise hit “Planes”, Walt Disney Pictures ushered in a sequel for the summer of 2014, namely “Planes: Fire & Rescue”. The original movie was largely panned by critics yet kids loved the assortment of colorful planes as well as the formulaic yet engaging story of the underdog, Dusty Crophopper, overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. “Planes: Fire & Rescue” offers up a new challenge for Dusty as expressed by the easy to comprehend title.
First Look: The Art of The Croods
Titan Books has just released “The Art of The Croods”, a lavishly compiled hardcover book filled with concept art, sketches, digital paintings, storyboards, behind the scenes stories, interviews, and more. It’s a perfect companion to the DreamWorks animated pre-historic comedy feature film, “The Croods”. Fans of animation will enjoy the book’s in depth look into the creative process which resulted in the complex yet visually stunning world brought to life by a team of talented artists.
The Art and Making of Hotel Transylvania
The animated feature “Hotel Transylvania” from Sony Pictures Animation and director Genndy Tartakovsky, injects the classic horror monsters world with a fresh comedic take on the creatures of the night. Audiences have responded favorably to the movie resulting in a top position for weeks at the box office. Based on anticipated enthusiasm for the movie, Titan Books released “The Art and Making of Hotel Transylvania” by Tracey Miller-Zarneke. An inside look featuring concept art, character sketches, storyboards, digital art, interviews and more.
ParaNorman
Parents thinking about taking young children to see “ParaNorman”, a 3D stop-motion animated adventure horror film produced by Laika, and distributed by Focus Features, might want to reconsider seeking out lighter fare currently playing in theaters such as “Ice Age”. Although beautiful to behold and well scripted, “ParaNorman” focuses on the topics of alienation, fear, and death. If your kids are ready to be exposed to entertainment similar in spirit to Joss Whedon’s “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, then “ParaNorman” delivers.