Buena Vista Home Ent. has announced it will release eight additional UMD titles on June 21, 2005, including two day-and-date with the standard DVD release. UMD is the mini-DVD format that plays on Sonys new PSP. The releases include KING ARTHUR: THE DIRECTORS CUT, TRON, KILL BILL: VOL. 2, GONE IN 60 SECONDS: UNRATED DIRECTORS CUT, ARMAGEDDON, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, HOSTAGE and CURSED. The later two titles are the day-and-date releases.
With the highly anticipated release of Hayao Miyazakis HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE in June, Disney has smartly introduced three more of the legendary directors films to DVD on Feb. 22, 2005 (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99): NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984), PORCO ROSSO (1992) and THE CAT RETURNS (1992). All three two-disc sets contain original Japanese versions as well as newly produced English versions with prestigious voice casts, along with notable bonus features.
NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF A SPOTLESS MIND was one of last years most intriguing movies, fashioned from the wild imaginations of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry. Erasing a love from ones memory shook Jim Carrey and Oscar nominated Kate Winslet to the very core of their existence, and this new two-disc collectors edition DVD (Universal Home Ent., $27.98) offers more than an hours of bonus features. Vfx provided by Buzz Image Group and Custom Film Effects. However, as Gondry illustrates, he definitely prefers old fashioned, in-camera tricks to CGI.
The SIGGRAPH 2004 Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Presentations DVD-ROM set is now shipping. This highly anticipated six-disc box set features more than 400 presentations totaling more than 250 hours of content. Recorded sessions include: Papers, Sketches, Courses, Special Sessions, Web Graphics, Panels and Keynote and Awards. New features include: a custom search engine, links to additional online research and all live demos. For more information, visit www.siggraph.org/soma/s2004dvd/.
Popeye celebrates his 75th birthday this year with a retrospective at the Museum of Television and Radio, which was unveiled on Nov. 13, 2004 and features rarities and collectibles from the cartoon hero's career.
"There are very few characters that are that old and still in the public consciousness," said Barry Monush, curator of the exhibit. "It's quite impressive to stick around that long and stay recognizable."
For fans of irreverent humor of John Ks REN & STIMPY will be glad to know that the first two seasons of REN & STIMPY have arrived on DVD. From Paramount Home Video, THE COMPLETE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS features more than 30 episodes on three disks from the 1991-93 seasons including the banned episode "Man's Best Friend." Special features include "In the Beginning" featurette, audio commentary by the creators, image gallery and more. Available on Oct. 12, 2004, the collection sells for $38.99.
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST comes to DVD on Aug. 31, 2004 (Fox Home Ent., $29.98) with no bonus features but mastered at the maximum bit rate for optimal picture and audio quality. It is anticipated that a special edition will be release next spring (Easter?) containing a slew of bonus features, including the stellar vfx work done by Keith Vanderlaans Captive Audience Prods. under the supervision of Ted Rae (who also served as 2nd unit director).
Buena Vista Home Ent. will launch two exclusive ease-of-use features with the Aug. 17 animated release of Disney DVDs THE THREE MUSKETEERS, starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.
Disney's FastPlay is a new patent pending technology that allows viewers to experience all of the DVD without ever touching their remote. For viewers who prefer to navigate, the new EasyFind menus easily guide them to their favorite set up options and bonus features.
MIPCOM 2004 DVD AwardsCannes, FranceOctober 6, 2004Deadline: July 6, 2004
MIPCOM 2004 will pay tribute to the DVD creative community with a series of awards. The prizes will be given out by a specialist jury with the sheer creativity behind the viewing experience as the spotlight. Categories include: Web features and interactivity, program content restoration, special features, navigation and graphic design.
The POPEYE 75TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S EDITION, a new three-disc set (Koch Vision, $29.98), which streets April 27, 2004, features eight hours of the original King Features Syndicate classic TV cartoons from the '60s. This should not to be confused with the legendary Max Fleischer and Famous Studios theatrical shorts from '33-'57. The 85 episodes include EGYPT US, BARBECUE FOR TWO, SEA NO EVIL, INSULTIN' THE SULTAN, GIDDY GOLD and GEM JAM.
Tim Burton's underrated BIG FISH, the imaginative and heartfelt father-son drama starring Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney, is sure to find renewed life on DVD (Columbia TriStar Home Ent., $28.95) when it's released on April 27, 2004. The Alabama-based yarn about reality and fantasy and the nature of storytelling features some slight yet effective vfx from Sony Imageworks, and represents the director's first foray into the world of Digital Intermediate, which is used marvelously during the fantasy sequences.
Disneys western-themed HOME ON THE RANGE, which opens April 2, signals the last of the studios 2D animated theatrical features, according to studio chief Dick Cook. He told REUTERS that there are currently no more hand-drawn projects on the film slate. It is where things are going, Cook said about 3D animation. "I don't think it is the end of an era. I think hand-drawn animation will continue in one form or another," he added. Yet Cook defended RANGE, calling the comedy a kick.
For 11 years, the South by Southwest Film Festival has highlighted the best in new independent film. The SXSW Film Conference will take place March 13-16, 2004, at the Austin Convention Center. The conference features four days of panels, workshops, mini-meetings, mentoring sessions and hands-on sessions. The early submission deadline is November 3, 2003 (postmark date) with a processing fee of $25 for shorts and $35 for features. The late submission deadline is December 1, 2003 with a processing fee of $30 for shorts and $40 for features. There is a $5 discount for applying online.
King Features Syndicate announced that Academy Award-winner Kathy Bates (MISERY, TITANIC) has joined the cast of the 3D animated POPEYES VOYAGE: THE QUEST FOR PAPPY. Bates will take on the role of Popeyes nemesis, the Sea Hag/Siren. She joins voice over veteran Billy West (REN & STIMPY), who will bring the 'arrgh!' to Popeye. In addition, Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh (PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE, RUGRATS, GROOVEIANS), has been brought on to provide the project's score and to produce an updated version of the classic Popeye the Sailor Man theme song.
2004 IFP Los Angeles Film FestivalHollywood, California, USAJune 17 - 26, 2004Deadline: February 20, 2004
Discreet has begun shipping 3ds max 6 software, the latest version of its award-winning professional 3D modeling, animation and rendering package. This release offers significant advancements to existing core features as well as new functionality developed in cooperation with customers such as SEGA Corp.
WowGao Inc. presents The Ultimate Leading Edge IT Conferences & Expos, the only event that features 7 Conferences Under 1 Roof! This exceptional event features WowGao Inc. presents The Ultimate Leading Edge IT Conferences & Expos, the only event that features 7 Conferences Under 1 Roof! This exceptional event features Web Services/XML, Mobile/Wireless, IT Seucrity, e-Enterprise Challenges, Linux/Open Source, IT Outsourcing and IT Financing.
SXSW 2004 Film Festival Austin, Texas, USAMarch 12 -20, 2004Deadline: December 1, 2003
The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the premiere film festivals in the world. The event features many debuts of films that will go on to be box-office and critical successes. This major industry event is a place where studios test their films and seek out independent features. This year
Mondo Media has released a second collection of its HAPPY TREE FRIENDS Web series on DVD. The series features various cute and cuddly characters that find themselves in all sorts of limb-maiming mayhem. Second Serving features 17 regular episodes, two new episodes, four interactive smoochies, six holiday kringles and bonus features include behind the scenes, character interviews, sing-a-longs, board-to-episode comparisons and a special mystery character show.
23rd Atlantic Film FestivalHalifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaSeptember 12 - 20, 2003Deadline: August 15, 2003
Discreet has announced the newest version of its 3D modeling, animation and rendering software, 3ds max 6. Many features in 3ds max 6 were created because of requests by leading film effects, design visualization and game development customers. SEGA was a major partner in the development of the new version, including providing direction on the new schematic view feature.
Iain Harvey reports on Europe's 2003 Cartoon Movie, covering the hot properties and how the event has progressed in five years to support European animated film producers.
Take the animated adventures of a family of wildlife documentary filmmakers out in Africa home by way of Paramount Home Entertainment's release of THE WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE on DVD and home video. The movie, produced by Klasky Csupo and Nickelodeon Movies, based upon the hit TV series, features the Oscar-nominated song by Paul Simon, "Father and Daughter" as a music video.
Veteran animation director Ralph Bakshi (LORD OF THE RINGS, HEAVY METAL, COOL WORLD) is joining forces with REN & STIMPY creator John Kricfalusi to produce a slate of low-budget animated features aimed at adults, according to VARIETY. Both animators are known for locking horns with studio and network execs while creating some of the most influential animation productions. Bakshi and Kricfalusi plan to make animated features, costing under $10M, that are an alternative to the family slates at the majors.
