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Big Cartoon Blog

Animation news, reviews and features from the BCDB blog, 2011 to 2017, kept here to read.

"Gumby" suspect and pal get probation for robbery

November 30, 2011 · Paul Anderson

A man accused of attempting to rob a San Diego-area convenience store dressed as Gumby was placed on probation Wednesday for three years. Jacob Kiss, 19, was sentenced in San Diego Superior Court. Jason Giramma, 20, received the same probation sentence.

Irish Film Board funding six animated projects

November 29, 2011 · Mr. Clevland

Six animation projects are among the productions just approved to share in funding from the Irish Film Board. Among the studios to benefit is Brown Bag Films, which is up for a children's BAFTA this weekend for its cartoon series Octonauts. It's won development support for The Wooden Sword.

600 "Happy Feet Two" workers given walking papers

November 28, 2011 · Paul Anderson

Some 600 of the 700 employees at the digital production studio behind the Warner Bros. flop Happy Feet Two have been given layoff notices, according to an Australian film and TV industry site.

"Muppets" in 2nd place when viewed by "Twilight"

November 28, 2011 · Ethan Minovitz

Disney's family film "The Muppets," combining puppet animation with live action, raised $42 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend to open in second place at the North American box office. The CG-enhanced The Muppets made $29.5 million over the three-day weekend in its first big-screen appearance in 12 years. Meanwhile, the live-action The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1 stayed at No. 1 in its second weekend, collecting $42 million in three days and $62.3 million from Wednesday to Sunday.

"Batman" comics writer Alvin Schwartz dies at 84

November 24, 2011 · Ethan Minovitz

Comic book writer Alvin Schwartz died October 28 from heart complications, the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association announced Wednesday. He was 84. Schwartz wrote the adaptation for the half-hour 1983 CBS cartoon special The Legend Of Hiawatha. Produced by Atkinson Film-Arts, it was originally presented as a Kenner Family Classics special.

Mark Hall, co-founder of Cosgrove Hall, dead at 74

November 23, 2011 · Ethan Minovitz

Producer-Animator Mark Hall, co-founder with Brian Cosgrove of famed British studio Cosgrove Hall, died early Friday at his Manchester home after a battle with cancer. He was 74. He died surrounded by his family, said his company, Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment.

Kress, McDuffie receive posthumous writing award

November 22, 2011 · Ethan Minovitz

Animation writers Dwayne McDuffie and Earl Kress have been posthumously named co-recipients of the Writers Guild of America, West Animation Writers Caucus' 14th Annual Animation Writing Award, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the craft of animation writing, as well as their work with the Writers Guild in organizing animation. The AWC's lifetime achievement award was presented to McDuffie's and Kress' widows, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie and Denise Kress, at the AWC's 2011 meeting, reception and awards ceremony Thursday night at WGAW headquarters in Los Angeles.

Toy Story (1995) - Pixar Animation Studios

November 22, 2011 · Dave Koch

CotD: CGI Animated films really got their first big boost 16 years ago with PIXAR's release of "Toy Story", their first computer animated feature.

Woody Woodpecker movie knocks at Universal's door

November 21, 2011 · Paul Anderson

Universal-based animation studio Illumination Entertainment is working on a feature film starring Woody Woodpecker. John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, co-writers of the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory, are in talks to develop a story about the mischievous bird, who first appeared in the 1940 Andy Panda short Knock Knock.