Mexico’s foremost animation forum, Pixelatl, kicks off Sept. 5 in Guadalajara with an array of activities that includes screenings, conferences, panels, works-in-progress sessions, master classes and pitches amid a myriad of sections.
Now on its twelfth year, the event has grown from just 100 attendees during its early years to some 3,500 on average, attracting big guns from major networks, studios and platforms worldwide.
Execs are expected from Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, BBC, Netflix, Disney TV, Sony Pictures Television, YouTube, Fox – Bentobox and Paka Paka, among others, says Pixelatl founder-CEO Jose Iñesta, who works with a barebones team of seven people – with only three full-timers among them – to run the five-day event.
Pixelatl also organized Mexico’s extraordinarily large presence at the world’s preeminent animation festival, Annecy, where the June event paid tribute to Mexican animation. The nine Mexico in Annecy programs, comprising 88 short films, will also be presented at Pixelatl.
Now on its twelfth year, the event has grown from just 100 attendees during its early years to some 3,500 on average, attracting big guns from major networks, studios and platforms worldwide.
Execs are expected from Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Pixar, BBC, Netflix, Disney TV, Sony Pictures Television, YouTube, Fox – Bentobox and Paka Paka, among others, says Pixelatl founder-CEO Jose Iñesta, who works with a barebones team of seven people – with only three full-timers among them – to run the five-day event.
Pixelatl also organized Mexico’s extraordinarily large presence at the world’s preeminent animation festival, Annecy, where the June event paid tribute to Mexican animation. The nine Mexico in Annecy programs, comprising 88 short films, will also be presented at Pixelatl.
- 9/1/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
When director Ari Folman (“Waltz with Bashir”) was first approached about tackling an Anne Frank movie nearly a decade ago, he immediately refused. He thought everything had been done before, there was nothing left to explore. But the Anne Frank Fonds Basel, the Swiss non-profit that holds the copyright to her diary, wore down his resistance. And so did Folman’s mother, who was an Auschwitz Holocaust survivor.
“I realized that if something will not change in the way we teach young children about the past, it will fade. It will look to them like ancient history,” said Folman. “Eventually, I read the diary again. I was intrigued about the possibilities of using animation to tell this story. My demands were to animate it, to make it for children, and to portray the last seven months of Anne Frank’s life in the camps [Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen], which is a story that has never been told artistically.
“I realized that if something will not change in the way we teach young children about the past, it will fade. It will look to them like ancient history,” said Folman. “Eventually, I read the diary again. I was intrigued about the possibilities of using animation to tell this story. My demands were to animate it, to make it for children, and to portray the last seven months of Anne Frank’s life in the camps [Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen], which is a story that has never been told artistically.
- 9/24/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Where is Anne Frank?
A project seven years in-the-making, Israel’s Ari Folman should finally return with his high-profile animated feature Where is Anne Frank?, which will be the first we’ve seen of Folman since his underrated anime live-action hybrid The Congress in 2013. A co-production between Belgium-Netherlands-Israel-Luxembourg, with Diana Elbaum and Jani Thiltges as producers amongst a host of co-producers, the project is photographed by Tristan Oliver, who served as cinematographer on Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Isle of Dogs (2018). Folman also voiced his characters in English, with Emily Carey, Ruby Stokes, Skye Bennett, and Sebastian Croft amongst the voice cast.…...
A project seven years in-the-making, Israel’s Ari Folman should finally return with his high-profile animated feature Where is Anne Frank?, which will be the first we’ve seen of Folman since his underrated anime live-action hybrid The Congress in 2013. A co-production between Belgium-Netherlands-Israel-Luxembourg, with Diana Elbaum and Jani Thiltges as producers amongst a host of co-producers, the project is photographed by Tristan Oliver, who served as cinematographer on Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Isle of Dogs (2018). Folman also voiced his characters in English, with Emily Carey, Ruby Stokes, Skye Bennett, and Sebastian Croft amongst the voice cast.…...
- 1/2/2020
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The earworm song “It’s a Small World” may be a Disneyland staple, but stop motion moviemaking gives other meanings to the phrase. That’s not just a description of the doll-sized cavemen that stomp through “Early Man” by Aardman Animation’s Nick Park, or the miniature canines populating Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” — when you look at the select cadre of people who make stop-motion puppets seem alive, you realize that yes, it’s a small world indeed.
“There are very few people who do this,” says Tristan Oliver, who photographed Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” as well as Laika’s “ParaNorman” and Aardman’s “Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” “Our paths cross a lot. So we can bypass lots of explanation, which is a great advantage. When someone comes in who doesn’t quite understand the technique there’s a...
“There are very few people who do this,” says Tristan Oliver, who photographed Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” as well as Laika’s “ParaNorman” and Aardman’s “Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” “Our paths cross a lot. So we can bypass lots of explanation, which is a great advantage. When someone comes in who doesn’t quite understand the technique there’s a...
- 12/11/2018
- by Ellen Wolff
- Variety Film + TV
A stop-motion animation movie about Japanese dogs banished into exile and the court of an eccentric 18th century British queen don’t seem like immediate bedfellows, but today’s Fox Searchlight panel suggested that both films have a certain resonance with today’s political landscape. Speaking of Wes Anderson’s Isle Of Dogs, producer Jeremy Dawson revealed that the film’s topicality, regarding the scapegoating of minorities, only grew as filming progressed.
“That kind of political aspect of it [initially] started as a plot device,” Dawson told Deadline’s Nancy Tartaglione. “But as we were making the movie – and this movie took like half of my lifetime to make – it started to get more relevant, as things politically, all over the world, were starting to pop up. So, to start with, it was maybe accidental. But then, as we started making the movie, some of those ideas started strengthening within the movie,...
“That kind of political aspect of it [initially] started as a plot device,” Dawson told Deadline’s Nancy Tartaglione. “But as we were making the movie – and this movie took like half of my lifetime to make – it started to get more relevant, as things politically, all over the world, were starting to pop up. So, to start with, it was maybe accidental. But then, as we started making the movie, some of those ideas started strengthening within the movie,...
- 10/13/2018
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Wes Anderson is returning to the big screen after a four-year hiatus, and cinephiles are predictably over the moon with anticipation. For his first feature since “The Grand Budapest Hotel” became a box office hit and a four-time Oscar winner, Anderson is going back to the stop-motion style he perfected in “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” His latest is a canine-filled adventure called “Isle of Dogs” that set to be released on March 23 courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Read More:‘Isle of Dogs’: 25 Striking Shots From Wes Anderson’s Stop-Motion Tale
Anderson has only tried his hand at animation once before with “Fox,” but that gamble ended up being a huge success. Not only was “Fox” nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, but it was also named the second best animated film of the 21st century by IndieWire. Can Anderson strike stop-motion lightning twice? The odds are in his favor.
Read More:‘Isle of Dogs’: 25 Striking Shots From Wes Anderson’s Stop-Motion Tale
Anderson has only tried his hand at animation once before with “Fox,” but that gamble ended up being a huge success. Not only was “Fox” nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, but it was also named the second best animated film of the 21st century by IndieWire. Can Anderson strike stop-motion lightning twice? The odds are in his favor.
- 2/7/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
UK-based cinematographer Tristan Oliver has worked on stop-motion features, shorts, music videos and commercials for more than 20 years. Oliver served as Dp on Fantastic Mr. Fox, Chicken Run and Wes Anderson’s forthcoming Isle of Dogs. For that last feature, Anderson also tapped Oliver to shoot a Vr short on the making of the film, which enters theaters on March 23. Oliver spoke with Filmmaker about the cameras used on the film, translating Anderson’s aesthetic to stop-motion and the film as “an homage to Japanese cinema.” The short will screen as part of Sundance’s New Frontier program. Filmmaker: How and why […]...
- 1/19/2018
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
“Loving Vincent” is being billed as the first fully oil-painted feature film, but even that lofty description doesn’t do just justice to the painstaking and extremely technical process it took to make this one-of-kind hand-crafted film. IndieWire recently talked to co-directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman to find out how, over the course of seven years, they made this film that tells the story of the real-life Vincent van Gogh through his paintings.
The Backstory
Co-director Dorota Kobiela was a painter working in animation and frustrated by a career that revolved around working on other people’s projects. Determined to make something of her own, she set out to combine her passion for painting and film. As a university student, she studied the intersection of psychology and art, writing her thesis on the letters of van Gogh. Using this as starting point, she came up with an idea for...
The Backstory
Co-director Dorota Kobiela was a painter working in animation and frustrated by a career that revolved around working on other people’s projects. Determined to make something of her own, she set out to combine her passion for painting and film. As a university student, she studied the intersection of psychology and art, writing her thesis on the letters of van Gogh. Using this as starting point, she came up with an idea for...
- 8/21/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Academy invitee Eddie Redmayne in 'The Theory of Everything.' Academy invites 322 new members: 'More diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered membership to 322 individuals "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures." According to the Academy's press release, "those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2015." In case all 322 potential new members say an enthusiastic Yes, that means an injection of new blood representing about 5 percent of the Academy's current membership. In the words of Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (as quoted in the press release), in 2015 "our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization." In recent years, the Academy membership has...
- 7/1/2015
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©Studio Pali Fekete architects/©A.M.P.A.S.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
- 6/27/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Strangely dropping a press release on a historic day where the nation's attention is elsewhere, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed their annual list of new member invitees this morning. For those who criticize the makeup of the Academy there was some good news and the stark realization the organization still has a long way to go. The Academy has spent the last eight to 10 years attempting to diversify its membership and this year's class mostly reflects that. There are significantly more invitees of Asian and African-American descent, but the male to female disparity is still depressing. Out of the 25 potential new members of the Actor's Branch only seven are women. And, no, there isn't really an acceptable way for the Academy to spin that sad fact. Additionally, It's important to realize the 322 people noted in the release have only been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club.
- 6/26/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Ari Folman continues to follow his own strange star. The Israeli filmmaker will follow his spellbinding animation hybrids "Waltz with Bashir" (Oscar-nominated) and "The Congress" (a high-iq cult oddity that will someday get its due) with an animated retelling of the life and diary of Anne Frank. A blend of stop-motion and traditional animation—with 2D characters cut into stop-motion backgrounds — his Anne Frank Film is the first of its kind. That's because Folman, with Diana Elbaum of Belgian-based production company Entre Chien et Loup, negotiated to obtain world rights in all languages and media and complete access to the Anne Frank archives. Read More: Ari Folman Takes on Animated Anne Frank Feature Production began in winter 2014. Folman has finally shared concept art from the studio at Passion Films in London. Folman is collaborating with "Fantastic Mr. Fox" Dp Tristan Oliver and designer Andy Gent to hew the film's stop motion look,...
- 3/31/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Untitled Anne Frank Project
Director: Ari Folman // Writer: Ari Folman
We were sorry to see Folman’s last film, 2013’s The Congress so apathetically received after it opened the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at Cannes, a hybrid of live-action and animation. Known for his skillful animation, which was most prominent in his 2008 breakthrough third film, Waltz with Bashir, Folman looks to be returning to its pool for another history lesson with his as yet untitled Anne Frank project, which went into production, purportedly, at the end of 2013. Recently, Folman revealed it would be a stop-motion animated feature and was being worked on by Passion Films in London. Folman also is collaborating with DoP Tristan Oliver, who worked on Wes Anderson’s 2009 film The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Cast: Unknown.
Producers: Entre Chien et Loup’s Diana Elbaum (Bethlehem), Film Gang’s Bridgit Folman
U.S. Distributor: Rights available
Release Date: We...
Director: Ari Folman // Writer: Ari Folman
We were sorry to see Folman’s last film, 2013’s The Congress so apathetically received after it opened the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at Cannes, a hybrid of live-action and animation. Known for his skillful animation, which was most prominent in his 2008 breakthrough third film, Waltz with Bashir, Folman looks to be returning to its pool for another history lesson with his as yet untitled Anne Frank project, which went into production, purportedly, at the end of 2013. Recently, Folman revealed it would be a stop-motion animated feature and was being worked on by Passion Films in London. Folman also is collaborating with DoP Tristan Oliver, who worked on Wes Anderson’s 2009 film The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Cast: Unknown.
Producers: Entre Chien et Loup’s Diana Elbaum (Bethlehem), Film Gang’s Bridgit Folman
U.S. Distributor: Rights available
Release Date: We...
- 1/6/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
We talk to director Ari Folman about Waltz With Bashir, The Congress, his Anne Frank film, and his love of sci-fi, Nolan and Kubrick...
Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman fused poetic animation with brutal reality in his breakout 2008 film Waltz With Bashir, a personal account of the Lebanese conflict of the early 1980s. The Congress, based on the book The Futurological Congress by Solaris author Stanislaw Lem, is an altogether different animal, though it treads a similar line between dreamlike animation and unvarnished reality.
Robin Wright plays a 40-something Hollywood actress (loosely based on her own career) whose advancing years and capricious nature have made new jobs increasingly difficult to come by. Pressured by both her agent (Harvey Keitel) and a shark-like executive (Danny Huston) at Tinseltown studio Miramount, Wright agrees to have her likeness scanned into a computer. Afterwards, the younger, idealised CG version of Robin will appear in movies (but not science fiction,...
Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman fused poetic animation with brutal reality in his breakout 2008 film Waltz With Bashir, a personal account of the Lebanese conflict of the early 1980s. The Congress, based on the book The Futurological Congress by Solaris author Stanislaw Lem, is an altogether different animal, though it treads a similar line between dreamlike animation and unvarnished reality.
Robin Wright plays a 40-something Hollywood actress (loosely based on her own career) whose advancing years and capricious nature have made new jobs increasingly difficult to come by. Pressured by both her agent (Harvey Keitel) and a shark-like executive (Danny Huston) at Tinseltown studio Miramount, Wright agrees to have her likeness scanned into a computer. Afterwards, the younger, idealised CG version of Robin will appear in movies (but not science fiction,...
- 11/28/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Better than Brave and frighteningly more powerful than last March’s over-hyped documentary Bully, ParaNorman is a huge summer surprise waiting to be discovered by animation fans, of all ages.
Created in beautiful stop-motion animation by Laika Studios, previously known for the film Coraline, ParaNorman tells the story of a zombie movie-loving middle schooler (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) who can see ghosts. His biggest issue, however, is being accepted for who he is, both by his sister Courtney (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and school bully Alvin (voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse). He receives support from his friend Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), who isn’t too popular himself.
I sat down with co-director/writer Chris Butler and co-director Sam Fell to discuss in a roundtable interview their unique animated film. We also talked about annoys them about kids movies, and how this movie about the living dead came to be about something more human,...
Created in beautiful stop-motion animation by Laika Studios, previously known for the film Coraline, ParaNorman tells the story of a zombie movie-loving middle schooler (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) who can see ghosts. His biggest issue, however, is being accepted for who he is, both by his sister Courtney (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and school bully Alvin (voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse). He receives support from his friend Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), who isn’t too popular himself.
I sat down with co-director/writer Chris Butler and co-director Sam Fell to discuss in a roundtable interview their unique animated film. We also talked about annoys them about kids movies, and how this movie about the living dead came to be about something more human,...
- 8/17/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? “Norman!”
From Focus Features and Laika, the companies behind the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, comes the comedy thriller Paranorman. Following Coraline, Paranorman is the second stop-motion animated feature to be made at Laika in 3D, unifying the two stunning art forms to tell an all-new frightfully funny, magically emotional, and hilariously spooky story.
Focus Features and Wamg invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of Paranorman in St. Louis on August 16th at 7pm.
Official Rules:
1. You Must Be In The St. Louis Area The Day Of The Screening.
2. Fill Out Your Name And E-mail Address Below. Real First Name Required.
3. Answer The Following Question: You travel to Tinsel town – Hollywood – and you notice it’s full of the walking dead! What famous star do you hope to see as…...
From Focus Features and Laika, the companies behind the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, comes the comedy thriller Paranorman. Following Coraline, Paranorman is the second stop-motion animated feature to be made at Laika in 3D, unifying the two stunning art forms to tell an all-new frightfully funny, magically emotional, and hilariously spooky story.
Focus Features and Wamg invite you to enter for your chance to win passes to the advance screening of Paranorman in St. Louis on August 16th at 7pm.
Official Rules:
1. You Must Be In The St. Louis Area The Day Of The Screening.
2. Fill Out Your Name And E-mail Address Below. Real First Name Required.
3. Answer The Following Question: You travel to Tinsel town – Hollywood – and you notice it’s full of the walking dead! What famous star do you hope to see as…...
- 8/7/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Paranorman is set in the town of Blithe Hollow, whose locals profit from mining the town’s history as the site, 300 years ago, of a famous witch hunt. 11-year-old Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee of Let Me In and The Road) spends much of his days appreciating the finer points of scary movies and studying ghost lore. In fact, Norman is gifted with the ability to see and speak with the dead, such as his beloved grandmother (Elaine Stritch). Most days, he prefers their company to that of his flustered father (Jeff Garlin), spacey mother (Leslie Mann), and deeply superficial older sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick). At middle school, Norman dodges bullying Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), confides in the impressionable Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), and tries to tune out his blowhard teacher Mrs. Henscher (Alex Borstein).
Credit: Laika, Inc
Norman is unexpectedly contacted by his odd uncle Prenderghast (John Goodman), who floors...
Credit: Laika, Inc
Norman is unexpectedly contacted by his odd uncle Prenderghast (John Goodman), who floors...
- 8/6/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) is spooked by Mr. Prenderghast (voiced by John Goodman) in ParaNorman, the new 3D stop-motion comedy thriller from Laika and Focus Features, directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler. Credit: Laika, Inc.
Check out these fun Olympic TV spots for Laika’s and Focus Features’ Paranorman - in theaters August 17 in 3D.
The National Alliance of People and Zombies reminds you that life shouldn’t just be for the living.
Paranorman is set in the town of Blithe Hollow, whose locals profit from mining the town.s history as the site, 300 years ago, of a famous witch hunt. 11-year-old Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee of Let Me In and The Road) spends much of his days appreciating the finer points of scary movies and studying ghost lore. In fact, Norman is gifted with the ability to see and speak with the dead, such as...
Check out these fun Olympic TV spots for Laika’s and Focus Features’ Paranorman - in theaters August 17 in 3D.
The National Alliance of People and Zombies reminds you that life shouldn’t just be for the living.
Paranorman is set in the town of Blithe Hollow, whose locals profit from mining the town.s history as the site, 300 years ago, of a famous witch hunt. 11-year-old Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee of Let Me In and The Road) spends much of his days appreciating the finer points of scary movies and studying ghost lore. In fact, Norman is gifted with the ability to see and speak with the dead, such as...
- 7/31/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Norman Babcock, the 11-year-old hero of Laika and Focus Features. new animated comedy thriller ParaNorman, will bring his .ghoul whisperer. expertise to the Yahoo! Movieland Experience this week at Comic-Con in San Diego. On Friday, July 13th @10:45 Am in Comic-Con.s Hall H, ParaNorman will be presenting an exclusive panel in advance of its August 17th nationwide release; confirmed to participate are directors Sam Fell and Chris Butler; and actors Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
The Movieland space is across the street from Comic-Con (located at 520 5th Avenue) and will be completely open to the public; festival passes are not required.
Yahoo! Movies, which reaches over 26 million users a month, will be in full force at Comic-Con this year as it brings to life Movieland, a visually rich, interactive game on Yahoo! that was created in partnership with several major film studios. Throughout the entire Yahoo! Movieland...
The Movieland space is across the street from Comic-Con (located at 520 5th Avenue) and will be completely open to the public; festival passes are not required.
Yahoo! Movies, which reaches over 26 million users a month, will be in full force at Comic-Con this year as it brings to life Movieland, a visually rich, interactive game on Yahoo! that was created in partnership with several major film studios. Throughout the entire Yahoo! Movieland...
- 7/12/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Prior to the release of Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom I decided I would revisit his entire oeuvre and add Moonrise to the mix upon seeing it at this year's Cannes Film Festival where it served as the opening night feature (read my review here). Before sitting down to watch all of Anderson's films again for this piece, I'd seen Rushmore and The Darjeeling Limited only once each. I'd seen The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou twice and The Royal Tenenbaums I had only seen about 15 minutes or so before I turned it off due to a lack of interest. However, I'm a huge fan of Anderson's debut feature Bottle Rocket and love The Fantastic Mr. Fox and have watched both multiple times. As a result it seems I'm an Anderson outlier, considering I always hear about how much everyone loves Rushmore and Tenenbaums and yet these were two of...
- 5/29/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
When the zombies comes knockin’, only true heroes will answer the call in the new, UK trailer for the animated zombie comedy event of the summer - Paranorman.
From Laika Entertainment, the makers of Coraline, comes Paranorman, a stop motion, ghost-filled zombie comedy in 3D. When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he.ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
The voice cast includes Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford), Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show), Jeff Garlin (Toy Story 3), John Goodman (Monsters,...
From Laika Entertainment, the makers of Coraline, comes Paranorman, a stop motion, ghost-filled zombie comedy in 3D. When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he.ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
The voice cast includes Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford), Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show), Jeff Garlin (Toy Story 3), John Goodman (Monsters,...
- 4/2/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Norman goes up against zombies, ghosts and fun in this second trailer for the comedy thriller Paranorman. The dead will rise in theaters in 3D on August 17, 2012. You don’t become a hero by being normal.
From Laika Entertainment, the makers of Coraline, comes Paranorman, a stop motion, ghost-filled zombie comedy in 3D. When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
The voice cast includes Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford), Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show...
From Laika Entertainment, the makers of Coraline, comes Paranorman, a stop motion, ghost-filled zombie comedy in 3D. When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
The voice cast includes Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford), Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show...
- 3/3/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Following its Oscar-nominated children's fantasy film Coraline, released in 2009, the American animation studio Laika is bringing us ParaNorman.
The comedy thriller is only the second stop-motion animated feature after Coraline to be made in 3D. A new trailer has been released and is embedded below along with plot, cast and crew details.
When a small town comes under siege by zombies, a misunderstood local boy called Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is able to speak with the dead is the only one who can help.
But his paranormal powers may be pushed to their limits when, in addition to the zombies, he has to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
ParaNorman is directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler from a screenplay by Butler. Fell was director of The Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away while Butler...
The comedy thriller is only the second stop-motion animated feature after Coraline to be made in 3D. A new trailer has been released and is embedded below along with plot, cast and crew details.
When a small town comes under siege by zombies, a misunderstood local boy called Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is able to speak with the dead is the only one who can help.
But his paranormal powers may be pushed to their limits when, in addition to the zombies, he has to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
ParaNorman is directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler from a screenplay by Butler. Fell was director of The Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away while Butler...
- 12/13/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
In what’s sure to have you chuckling this Friday before All Hallows Eve, ghosts and zombies go bump in the night in the first trailer for the comedy thriller Paranorman, coming to theaters in 3D on August 17, 2012. In Laika’s follow-up to Coraline, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he.ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
The voice cast includes Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford), Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show), Jeff Garlin (Toy Story 3), John Goodman (Monsters, Inc.
The voice cast includes Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford), Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show), Jeff Garlin (Toy Story 3), John Goodman (Monsters, Inc.
- 10/28/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Check out the teaser poster below for Paranorman – Laika’s zom com follow-up to Coraline – coming to theaters in 3D on August 17, 2012. In the comedy thriller, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits. Come back on Friday to watch the first trailer.
Source: Yahoo! Movies
Following the groundbreaking Coraline, Paranorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. As on Coraline, Focus Features will hold worldwide distribution rights to the film, and Universal Pictures International will release it overseas.
Source: Yahoo! Movies
Following the groundbreaking Coraline, Paranorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. As on Coraline, Focus Features will hold worldwide distribution rights to the film, and Universal Pictures International will release it overseas.
- 10/25/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Here at Dread Central we Love zombies of all kinds ... even animated! Speaking of which, the latest sliver of stylized undead chicanery, ParaNorman, has pulled in a Sient Hill star and a composer to get those bones rattling!
From the Press Release
Two-time Grammy Award-nominated composer Jon Brion has signed to create the original score for Laika and Focus Features’ animated comedy thriller ParaNorman, currently in production at Laika’s Oregon studios for nationwide release by Focus on Friday, August 17th, 2012. Following Laika and Focus’ groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. Laika President and CEO Travis Knight made the announcement today.
Joining the voice cast of ParaNorman are Tucker Albrizzi (Good Luck Charlie), Alex Borstein (Family Guy), and Jodelle Ferland (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). ParaNorman is being directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, from Mr. Butler’s original screenplay.
From the Press Release
Two-time Grammy Award-nominated composer Jon Brion has signed to create the original score for Laika and Focus Features’ animated comedy thriller ParaNorman, currently in production at Laika’s Oregon studios for nationwide release by Focus on Friday, August 17th, 2012. Following Laika and Focus’ groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. Laika President and CEO Travis Knight made the announcement today.
Joining the voice cast of ParaNorman are Tucker Albrizzi (Good Luck Charlie), Alex Borstein (Family Guy), and Jodelle Ferland (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). ParaNorman is being directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, from Mr. Butler’s original screenplay.
- 6/14/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Two-time Grammy Award-nominated composer Jon Brion has signed to create the original score for Laika and Focus Features. animated comedy thriller ParaNorman, currently in production at Laika.s Oregon studios for nationwide release by Focus on Friday, August 17th, 2012. Following Laika and Focus. groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. Laika President and CEO Travis Knight made the announcement today.
Joining the voice cast of ParaNorman are Tucker Albrizzi (Good Luck Charlie), Alex Borstein (Family Guy), and Jodelle Ferland (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). ParaNorman is being directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, from Mr. Butler.s original screenplay. Mr. Fell was director of The Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away. Mr. Butler was storyboard supervisor on Coraline and storyboard artist on Tim Burton.s Corpse Bride.
Mr. Brion.s original score for Focus. Academy Award-winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...
Joining the voice cast of ParaNorman are Tucker Albrizzi (Good Luck Charlie), Alex Borstein (Family Guy), and Jodelle Ferland (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). ParaNorman is being directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, from Mr. Butler.s original screenplay. Mr. Fell was director of The Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away. Mr. Butler was storyboard supervisor on Coraline and storyboard artist on Tim Burton.s Corpse Bride.
Mr. Brion.s original score for Focus. Academy Award-winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...
- 6/14/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I was fortunate enough to catch Coraline in Real 3D when it came out to the theatres. I dug the flick quite a bit. I thought it was a pretty faithful adaptation from Gaiman’s story as well and Selick’s direction was pretty right on. Sadly, it is the only stop-motion animated film in 3D and I think that is a shame. I believe stop-motion better lends its qualities to the 3D format than CGI. So, I’m excited to give you some news that some of the same team behind Coraline is back to give you some more three dimensional stop-motion! Read beyond the break…
From the Press Release:
Currently in production, ParaNorman is being directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, from Mr. Butler’s original screenplay. Mr. Fell was director of The Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away. Mr. Butler was storyboard supervisor on Coraline and...
From the Press Release:
Currently in production, ParaNorman is being directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, from Mr. Butler’s original screenplay. Mr. Fell was director of The Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away. Mr. Butler was storyboard supervisor on Coraline and...
- 5/4/2011
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
Coraline Partners Focus Features And Laika Reteam For Two-picture Deal
3D Stop-motion Animated Comedy Thriller
Paranorman Opens August 17, 2012
Focus Features and Laika, the two companies behind the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coralineare reteaming for Laika.s next two projects. The first of the duo, ParaNorman, will be released nationwide on August 17th, 2012. The second, yet-to-be-named, picture will be released nationwide in 2014. Following the groundbreaking Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. Focus CEO James Schamus and Laika President and CEO Travis Knight made the announcement today.
As on Coraline, Focus will hold worldwide distribution rights to the movies, and Universal Pictures International will release them overseas. Coraline is Focus. second-highest-grossing movie of all time, with over $75 million domestically. The picture earned Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics. Choice, and Academy Award nominations for Best Animated Feature Film; and was named one of the year.s...
3D Stop-motion Animated Comedy Thriller
Paranorman Opens August 17, 2012
Focus Features and Laika, the two companies behind the Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coralineare reteaming for Laika.s next two projects. The first of the duo, ParaNorman, will be released nationwide on August 17th, 2012. The second, yet-to-be-named, picture will be released nationwide in 2014. Following the groundbreaking Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. Focus CEO James Schamus and Laika President and CEO Travis Knight made the announcement today.
As on Coraline, Focus will hold worldwide distribution rights to the movies, and Universal Pictures International will release them overseas. Coraline is Focus. second-highest-grossing movie of all time, with over $75 million domestically. The picture earned Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics. Choice, and Academy Award nominations for Best Animated Feature Film; and was named one of the year.s...
- 5/4/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Focus Features is currently filming a new stop-motion animation film called ParaNorman. The film is set for release on August 17, 2012, and marks the second feature the studio has partnered with Laika on. They released Coraline, adapted from Neil Gaiman’s kids’ book of the same name. They have also teamed for a third unnamed project, which will be released in 2014. Chris Butler (Coraline storyboard supervisor) wrote and will co-direct the film with Sam Fell (The Tale of Despereaux, Flushed Away).
The voice cast includes, Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, The Road) in the lead, with Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Bernard Hill (Titanic), Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Elaine Stritch (30 Rock).
Here is a description of the film:
In the comedy thriller, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead.
The voice cast includes, Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, The Road) in the lead, with Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Bernard Hill (Titanic), Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Elaine Stritch (30 Rock).
Here is a description of the film:
In the comedy thriller, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead.
- 5/4/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
[1] In 2009 Focus Features and Laika released Coraline, the great stop-motion animated adaptation of Neil Gaiman's kids' book of the same name. Now the companies are teaming again for two more stop-motion 3D films. The first is ParaNorman, which will be released on August 17, 2012. The second is an unnamed project that will be released in 2014. The voice cast and plot for ParaNorman were sent out today via press release; check the details below. Chris Butler (Coraline storyboard supervisor) wrote ParaNorman, and he and Sam Fell (The Tale of Despereaux, Flushed Away) are co-directing. Focus describes the movie like so: In the comedy thriller, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
- 5/4/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
A foxy Oscar hopeful is too clever by half in a week that also offers some terrific twisty horror and a strangely anaemic vampire outing
A few years ago, animation fans became (justifiably) alarmed by the ubiquity of CG "digimation", which seemed to be devouring all in its path. Tales of Hollywood studio bosses walking through their animation departments and "switching off the light boxes" seemed like harbingers of a dismally monotheistic future. Yet against the odds the future looks bright; not only has digital king John Lasseter been a flag-waver for Japan's Ghibli studios (Hayao Miyazaki owes him much) and Disney's artistic heritage, we now have an Oscar race that pitches 3D digital animation against "old-fashioned' 2D hand-drawn and even diehard stop-motion animation. While the stereoscopically modern Up will surely triumph over the quaintly archaic Princess and the Frog in the main animation category, it's odds-on for Aardman's equally...
A few years ago, animation fans became (justifiably) alarmed by the ubiquity of CG "digimation", which seemed to be devouring all in its path. Tales of Hollywood studio bosses walking through their animation departments and "switching off the light boxes" seemed like harbingers of a dismally monotheistic future. Yet against the odds the future looks bright; not only has digital king John Lasseter been a flag-waver for Japan's Ghibli studios (Hayao Miyazaki owes him much) and Disney's artistic heritage, we now have an Oscar race that pitches 3D digital animation against "old-fashioned' 2D hand-drawn and even diehard stop-motion animation. While the stereoscopically modern Up will surely triumph over the quaintly archaic Princess and the Frog in the main animation category, it's odds-on for Aardman's equally...
- 2/28/2010
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures I remember back in July 2009 when many folks from the online movie blogger community were coming down on the first trailer for Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox. The hits kept coming as rumors and negativity surrounding Anderson's direction of the film was challenged as director of photography Tristan Oliver and director of animation Mark Gustafson told the Los Angeles Times Anderson directed the film from a remote location via email.
Oliver was quoted saying, "I've never worked on a picture where the director has been anywhere other than the studio floor!" While Gustafson added, "Honestly? Yeah. He has made our lives miserable." Bloggers caught wind of this and "Wes Anderson Directed 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' by Email?" headlines were all the rage.
"If true, it's hard not to assume that this is why the footage and photos we've seen from the movie so far...
Oliver was quoted saying, "I've never worked on a picture where the director has been anywhere other than the studio floor!" While Gustafson added, "Honestly? Yeah. He has made our lives miserable." Bloggers caught wind of this and "Wes Anderson Directed 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' by Email?" headlines were all the rage.
"If true, it's hard not to assume that this is why the footage and photos we've seen from the movie so far...
- 1/13/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
By Susan Granger - Idiosyncratic filmmaker Wes Anderson has created a droll, delightful, stop-motion animated adaptation of Roald Dahl.s best-selling children.s book about an audacious, stubbornly determined fox who refuses to stop stealing chickens from infuriated farmers Boggs, Bunce and Bean, who are determined to capture him . at any cost.
"I'm a wild animal," suave, corduroy-clad Mr. Fox explains to conservative Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), their angst-ridden teenage son Ash (Jason Schwartzman), along with visiting cousin Kristofferson, (Eric Anderson), Kylie (Wally Wolodarsky) and lawyer Badger (Bill Murray) who join them in flight from the human predators.
Previously used in the .Wallace and Gromit. films, Tim Burton.s .Corpse Bride,. and Henry Selick.s .Coraline,. and tracing its roots back to the original .King Kong. and the work of Ray Harryhausen, stop-motion animation is an old-fashioned, painstaking process in which the figures - furry animals - are placed in an eye-catching,...
"I'm a wild animal," suave, corduroy-clad Mr. Fox explains to conservative Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), their angst-ridden teenage son Ash (Jason Schwartzman), along with visiting cousin Kristofferson, (Eric Anderson), Kylie (Wally Wolodarsky) and lawyer Badger (Bill Murray) who join them in flight from the human predators.
Previously used in the .Wallace and Gromit. films, Tim Burton.s .Corpse Bride,. and Henry Selick.s .Coraline,. and tracing its roots back to the original .King Kong. and the work of Ray Harryhausen, stop-motion animation is an old-fashioned, painstaking process in which the figures - furry animals - are placed in an eye-catching,...
- 11/20/2009
- Arizona Reporter
Director: Wes Anderson Writer(s): Roald Dahl (book), Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach (screenplay) Starring: (voice) George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Jarvis Cocker, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Helen McCrory Once upon a time…we find Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) and Mrs. 'Felicity' Fox (voiced by Meryl Streep) as they prepare to raid a local farm. The heist (orchestrated beautifully to the Beach Boys’ “Heroes and Villains”) is successful – that is until Mr. Fox’s overconfidence causes him to trigger a trap and the two foxes find themselves caught in a cage. Felicity reveals that she is pregnant, and Mr. Fox promises to find much more respectable employment…if they survive! (They obviously do.) Two human years later (14 years in fox years)…Mr. Fox is now a respectable yet poor newspaper man; he and Felicity now have a grown son named Ash (voiced by Jason Schwartzman). The family lives,...
- 11/19/2009
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Hey, MattCanada here with this weeks queer cinema post. I finally got around to watching Another Country. It was not what I expected at all and this did affect how much I liked the film. My expectations going into the movie were of a spy thriller with a hefty dose of gay sex, not PG fondling. What I was confronted with was a drama which explores the British class system through the study of Guy Bennett's (fictionalised Guy Burgess) disenfranchisement from his class because of his homosexuality at an unnamed Boys Public School (read: super posh). The film is beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and intelligently written - a Merchant Ivory film in everything but name.
Rupert Everett in his star-making role (first on stage, then on screen)
The lead actors are all strong, especially Rupert Everett's flamboyant toff Guy Bennett. Everett does not overplay him which is a...
Rupert Everett in his star-making role (first on stage, then on screen)
The lead actors are all strong, especially Rupert Everett's flamboyant toff Guy Bennett. Everett does not overplay him which is a...
- 11/1/2009
- by CanadaMatt
- FilmExperience
I don’t think Wes Anderson is known for being difficult to work for, but that is exactly what the crew on his new animated fable The Fantastic Mr. Fox are saying in a piece from the La Times.
[When asked about Anderson's decision to direct remotely via e-mail] “It’s not in the least bit normal,” director of photography Tristan Oliver observed at the production’s East London set last spring, when production on “Mr. Fox” was about three-quarters complete. “I’ve never worked on a picture where the director has been anywhere other than the studio floor!”
…
“Honestly? Yeah. He has made our lives miserable,” the film’s director of animation, Mark Gustafson, said during a break in shooting. He gave a weary chuckle. “I probably shouldn’t say that.
Anderson decided instead to live in France, even though he wasn’t needed there, and direct the movie via detailed e-mails and video clips. In his defense, the...
[When asked about Anderson's decision to direct remotely via e-mail] “It’s not in the least bit normal,” director of photography Tristan Oliver observed at the production’s East London set last spring, when production on “Mr. Fox” was about three-quarters complete. “I’ve never worked on a picture where the director has been anywhere other than the studio floor!”
…
“Honestly? Yeah. He has made our lives miserable,” the film’s director of animation, Mark Gustafson, said during a break in shooting. He gave a weary chuckle. “I probably shouldn’t say that.
Anderson decided instead to live in France, even though he wasn’t needed there, and direct the movie via detailed e-mails and video clips. In his defense, the...
- 10/15/2009
- by Dom Duncombe
- Movie-moron.com
Wes Anderson has insisted that he "smoothed out" his relationship with Fantastic Mr Fox's director of photography prior to the animated movie's completion. Fox Dp Tristan Oliver attacked Anderson in a recent Los Angeles Times article, describing the filmmaker's working methods as difficult and calling him "sociopathic". Talking to website Hollywood Elsewhere, Anderson explained that Oliver was interviewed for the article in the early stages of production and the pair have since patched up their differences. "The word that I think gives one pause is 'sociopath'. That is the unexpected one," said Anderson of the article. "There (more)...
- 10/15/2009
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
It is unfortunate that the impending release of Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox has been overshadowed to some extent by the controversy over his directing technique for the film. A few weeks ago, word came out that Tristan Oliver, the film's director of photography, was less than impressed with Anderson's choice to remain away from set much of the time. The initial storm was minor, but blew up more in the last few days after the La Times ran an article featuring some incendiary quotes from both the Dp and director of animation Mark Gustafson. Anderson responded tersely at first, and now Jeff Wells has got him on video talking about the kerfuffle. Here's the background: the film was shot in London, but Anderson evidently spent much of his time in Paris. He would issue direction via phone, email and other communiques. ("The animators would send short digital film...
- 10/14/2009
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
All is not well in the world of Fantastic Mr. Fox. The stop-motion animation feature — which is based on the children's book by Roald Dahl — is still due out in a little over a month. But according to recent reports, the project has been hampered by unhappy relations between director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore, and Darjeeling Limited) and his crew.
Digital Spy writes that Anderson apparently took a hike for most of the on-site production's one-year duration, choosing instead to correspond with crew members by email from a residence in Paris.
Understandably, many of the crew members are a bit upset, perhaps none more than director of photography Tristan Oliver. Speaking to the press, he seemed to release some pent-up resentment when he lashed out at Anderson, and he made sure he pulled no punches:
It's not in the least bit normal. I've never worked on a picture...
Digital Spy writes that Anderson apparently took a hike for most of the on-site production's one-year duration, choosing instead to correspond with crew members by email from a residence in Paris.
Understandably, many of the crew members are a bit upset, perhaps none more than director of photography Tristan Oliver. Speaking to the press, he seemed to release some pent-up resentment when he lashed out at Anderson, and he made sure he pulled no punches:
It's not in the least bit normal. I've never worked on a picture...
- 10/13/2009
- by Rich Z Zwelling
- Reelzchannel.com
Hey, Fantastic Mr. Fox D.P. Tristan Oliver, how did you like working with Wes Anderson? "I think he's a little sociopathic," Oliver told the Lat...while he was still working on the movie. "I think he's a little O.C.D...Contact with people disturbs him." Mr. Anderson, can you offer a response from your scarf-laden Paris chateau? "I would say that kind of crosses the line for what's appropriate for the director of photography to say behind the director's back while he's working on the movie. So I don't even want to respond to it." [Lat]...
- 10/12/2009
- Movieline
Fantastic Mr Fox crew members have criticised Wes Anderson for not being present during the making of the stop-motion animated film. A report in the Los Angeles Times has revealed that the Royal Tenenbaums helmer chose not to be on the London set during shooting and gave instructions to his production staff via email from his Paris home. "It's not in the least bit normal," said director of photography Tristan Oliver. "I've never worked on a picture where the director has been anywhere other than the studio floor! Honestly? Yeah. He has made our lives miserable." He continued: "I think he's a little sociopathic, I think he's a little Ocd. Contact with people disturbs him. This way, he can spend an entire day locked inside an empty room with a computer. He's a bit like the Wizard of Oz. Behind the curtain." Explaining (more)...
- 10/12/2009
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Although director Wes Anderson has never intended to be "an in-box auteur" for "The Fantastic Mr. Fox", he ended up being one as he gave direction to his staff via e-mail instead of being on the set in person. Discussing about the matter with Chris Lee of Los Angeles Times, the 40-year-old filmmaker reasoned that he "didn't want to be at Three Mills Studios for two years."
On the complaints thrown by director of photography Tristan Oliver over his lack of knowledge about stop-motion, he responded, "It's not the most pleasant thing to force somebody to do it the way they don't want to do it." He added, "In Tristan's case, what I was telling him was, 'You can't use the techniques that you've learned to use. I'm going to make your life more difficult by demanding a certain approach.' "
"The simple reality is," he further continued, "the movie...
On the complaints thrown by director of photography Tristan Oliver over his lack of knowledge about stop-motion, he responded, "It's not the most pleasant thing to force somebody to do it the way they don't want to do it." He added, "In Tristan's case, what I was telling him was, 'You can't use the techniques that you've learned to use. I'm going to make your life more difficult by demanding a certain approach.' "
"The simple reality is," he further continued, "the movie...
- 10/12/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
The production process of stop-motion animation has always fascinated me. It's such a time intensive process that I've never really understood how a director manages it all. Last month some people were shocked to learn that Wes Anderson wasn't even on set much for the filming of Fantastic Mr. Fox. The fuss was caused by a comment Cinematographer Tristan Oliver made in Empire Magazine, which insinuated that the director was not on set directing the animators, but would instead send over notes after reviewing footage. A new featurette on the making of Mr. Fox titled "Cutting Edge" indeed acknowledges the absence of the director on set, but also offers some insight into the process, and shows the technology that made it possible for Wes to direct 30-something stages at once from a different location.
- 10/5/2009
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Hey people, ready to see Mel Gibson's beaver? Because he has one and we've got photos. If that's not your thing, maybe you'd prefer seeing Corey Feldman shoot himself in the noggin. Or perhaps a Bill Paxton pinball machine. It's all sorts of weird this week. No? Well there's some really bad movie news, too, as usual. Avert your eyes as necessary.
The Good
• H.P. Lovecraft fans, you don't want to miss the documentary Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown that's coming on DVD and Bluray in a short couple of weeks. It's interviews some very cool people, including Neil Gaiman and Guillermo del Toro.
{myspace}17324865{/myspace}
• Nerdcore has previewed its 2010 calendar, and it's horror-themed! If you're unfamiliar with Nerdcore calendars, each month is a pin-up of a nude model posing in a geek-friendly situation. Previous years had themes like classic gaming, heroes & villains, and sci-fi. For the horror calendar,...
The Good
• H.P. Lovecraft fans, you don't want to miss the documentary Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown that's coming on DVD and Bluray in a short couple of weeks. It's interviews some very cool people, including Neil Gaiman and Guillermo del Toro.
{myspace}17324865{/myspace}
• Nerdcore has previewed its 2010 calendar, and it's horror-themed! If you're unfamiliar with Nerdcore calendars, each month is a pin-up of a nude model posing in a geek-friendly situation. Previous years had themes like classic gaming, heroes & villains, and sci-fi. For the horror calendar,...
- 10/4/2009
- by Arya Ponto
- JustPressPlay.net
Empire magazine sat down for an interview with "Fantastic Mr Fox" cinematographer Tristan Oliver, who revealed that even though Wes Anderson was supposed to oversee the film's animation, he instead decided to avoid the set as much as possible and instead direct the film via email. "I think Wes doesn't understand what you can do, and he often wants us to do what you can't do, and the length of time the process takes ... I don't think he quite comprehends that, and how difficult it is to change something once you've started," said Oliver. "It takes a big amount of someone's time to change a very small thing." He continued: "I think he also doesn't understand that an animator is a performer. An animator is an actor. And this is the secret to animation: you direct your animator, you do not direct the puppet, because the puppet is an inanimate object.
- 9/9/2009
- WorstPreviews.com
Wes Anderson has always had a very unique directing style. His movies are less a representation of the real world and more a view of the world through Wes Anderson.s eyes, where people dress in vintage clothes and listen to Belle and Sebastian a whole lot. He.s one of the few directors whose movies can be easily picked out of a lineup by merely looking at a screen capture of a few of the characters and a setting. Well, apparently that style is easier to convey than anyone could have imagined. According to Spectacular Attractions, who got their hands on an Empire interview with The Fantastic Mr. Fox cinematographer Tristan Oliver, Wes seems to be doing most of his directing via e-mail. And Tristan doesn.t seem to fancy it much. According to Oliver, .I think Wes doesn.t understand what you can do, and he often wants...
- 9/9/2009
- cinemablend.com
TORONTO -- After breaking in their act in several hilarious shorts -- two won Oscars -- and a TV series, Wallace and Gromit get their very own feature film in “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” Wallace, of course, is that cheerful but daft inventor extraordinaire and Gromit is his silent though sage canine, who quietly cleans up his master’s disasters. Most fans of the U.K.-based Aardman Animations’ magical claymation technique think of these two as the studio’s best creations. They certainly live up to that reputation in “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.”
Aardman’s first feature for DreamWorks, “Chicken Run” in 2000, didn’t completely manage the trick of maintaining the laughs and stylish glee of its shorts in a film nearly three times their length. The studio now hits its stride in a second outing, displaying the same technical flair, wonderful British wit and a sharper story sense. Since “Curse” is both a family movie and a date movie, DreamWorks should enjoy a long theatrical run followed by a lively ancillary afterlife.
This adventure is scripted by the two co-directors, Steve Box and Nick Park, along with Bob Baker and Mark Burton. Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) & Gromit run a humane extermination company called Anti-Pesto, which collects rabbits savaging vegetable patches in a comfy British suburb and brings them back to the house. (The basement is getting rather overrun by rabbits, the truth be told.)
Anti-Pesto faces its greatest challenge when a monster rabbit devours patch after patch in the days leading up to the annual Giant Vegetable Competition, sponsored by Lady Tottington (an aristocratically bubbly Helena Bonham Carter). The team must also outwit the blustery Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes in a delightfully over-the-top caricature), who means to kill the monster rabbit with a gold bullet, a 24-carat one. (The Aardman crew is truly addicted to puns.)
Then the unthinkable happens: Wallace & Gromit meet the enemy and it is … Wallace? Yes, in a foolish attempt to rehab rabbits from their desire for veggies in his laboratory, things went horribly wrong. Now, when the moon comes out, Wallace transforms into the Were-Rabbit in a delightful sequence that captures the best of claymation.
Park and Box can now spoof all the old monster movies, everything from werewolves to King Kong himself. From here on the movie rolls merrily along with slapstick action and whimsical characters. And always there’s Gromit working feverishly to prevent disaster after disaster.
Julian Nott’s jolly music with its mock epic swells just barely keeps up with the breakneck pace, one-liners and jokey signs that fly by too fast for the eye to catch every one.
WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
DreamWorks Pictures
DreamWorks Animation presents an Aardman Animations production
Credits: Directors: Nick Park, Steve Box; Writers: Steve Box, Nick Park, Bob Baker, Mark Burton; Producers: Claire Jennings, Carla Shelley, Peter Lord, David Sporxton, Nick Park; Executive producers: Michael Rose, Cecil Kramer; Director of photography: Tristan Oliver, Dave Alex-Riddett; Production designer: Phil Lewis; Music: Julian Nott; Editor: Dave McCormick, Greg Perler.
Cast: Wallace: Peter Sallis; Victor Quatermaine: Ralph Fiennes; Lady Tottington: Helena Bonham Carter; Rev.Hedges: Nicholas Smith; PC McIntosh: Peter Kay; Mrs. Mulch: Liz Smith.
MPAA rating G, running time 80 minutes.
Aardman’s first feature for DreamWorks, “Chicken Run” in 2000, didn’t completely manage the trick of maintaining the laughs and stylish glee of its shorts in a film nearly three times their length. The studio now hits its stride in a second outing, displaying the same technical flair, wonderful British wit and a sharper story sense. Since “Curse” is both a family movie and a date movie, DreamWorks should enjoy a long theatrical run followed by a lively ancillary afterlife.
This adventure is scripted by the two co-directors, Steve Box and Nick Park, along with Bob Baker and Mark Burton. Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis) & Gromit run a humane extermination company called Anti-Pesto, which collects rabbits savaging vegetable patches in a comfy British suburb and brings them back to the house. (The basement is getting rather overrun by rabbits, the truth be told.)
Anti-Pesto faces its greatest challenge when a monster rabbit devours patch after patch in the days leading up to the annual Giant Vegetable Competition, sponsored by Lady Tottington (an aristocratically bubbly Helena Bonham Carter). The team must also outwit the blustery Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes in a delightfully over-the-top caricature), who means to kill the monster rabbit with a gold bullet, a 24-carat one. (The Aardman crew is truly addicted to puns.)
Then the unthinkable happens: Wallace & Gromit meet the enemy and it is … Wallace? Yes, in a foolish attempt to rehab rabbits from their desire for veggies in his laboratory, things went horribly wrong. Now, when the moon comes out, Wallace transforms into the Were-Rabbit in a delightful sequence that captures the best of claymation.
Park and Box can now spoof all the old monster movies, everything from werewolves to King Kong himself. From here on the movie rolls merrily along with slapstick action and whimsical characters. And always there’s Gromit working feverishly to prevent disaster after disaster.
Julian Nott’s jolly music with its mock epic swells just barely keeps up with the breakneck pace, one-liners and jokey signs that fly by too fast for the eye to catch every one.
WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
DreamWorks Pictures
DreamWorks Animation presents an Aardman Animations production
Credits: Directors: Nick Park, Steve Box; Writers: Steve Box, Nick Park, Bob Baker, Mark Burton; Producers: Claire Jennings, Carla Shelley, Peter Lord, David Sporxton, Nick Park; Executive producers: Michael Rose, Cecil Kramer; Director of photography: Tristan Oliver, Dave Alex-Riddett; Production designer: Phil Lewis; Music: Julian Nott; Editor: Dave McCormick, Greg Perler.
Cast: Wallace: Peter Sallis; Victor Quatermaine: Ralph Fiennes; Lady Tottington: Helena Bonham Carter; Rev.Hedges: Nicholas Smith; PC McIntosh: Peter Kay; Mrs. Mulch: Liz Smith.
MPAA rating G, running time 80 minutes.
- 9/17/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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