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Last weekend’s inaugural Animation Is Film Festival at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theater should have a definite impact on the Oscar race, as GKids’ stirring indie, “The Breadwinner,” won both the Grand Prize and Audience Award. Another GKids contender, “The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales,” a lighthearted barnyard animal anthology (directed by “Ernest & Celestine” Oscar nominee Benjamin Renner and Patrick Imbert). took home The Special Jury Prize.

Directed by Nora Twomey of Cartoon Saloon (“The Secret of Kells”), and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, “The Breadwinner” follows a strong-willed young Afghan girl who poses as a boy to help her family survive under threat from the Taliban.

With new Academy rules now allowing all eligible members to vote for animated features using preferential voting, the timing couldn’t be better for “The Breadwinner” honors. The Ireland-Canada-Luxembourg co-production is now poised to secure GKids’ 10th Oscar nomination.

Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions:...

The highlight of the Academy’s 89th Sci-Tech Awards Saturday at the Beverly Wilshire was the pioneering efforts of five digital cinematography cameras that stood out among this year’s 18 recipients, acknowledging the dominance of the craft.

Receiving Academy plaques were Arri for the Super 35 Alexa, Red Digital Cinema for the Red Epic, Sony for the F65 CineAlta (with full 4K output), and Panavision and Sony for the groundbreaking Genesis.

Additionally, the formerly-named Thomson Grass Valley received a certificate for the Viper FilmStream system for importing into digital intermediate workflows.

Oscar-nominated “Arrival” (Bradford Young), “Moonlight” (James Laxton), and the Asc-winning “Lion” (Greig Fraser) were all shot on the Alexa.

In terms of animation and VFX, other areas of innovation emphasized rendering and facial performance capture, including Disney, Industrial Light & Magic, Weta Digital, Blue Sky, Sony Pictures Imageworks, among others.

Disney’s Brian Whited accepted a technical achievement certificate for...

‘Pearl’ (Courtesy: Google Spotlight Stories)

By: Carson Blackwelder

Managing Editor

Those of you who haven’t been taking virtual reality seriously should start doing so right now. For the first time ever, the Oscars have nominated a Vr film, which means the filmmaking style is officially taking hold and is undoubtedly here to stay — at least for the time being. Pearl has snagged a nomination in the best animated short category and stands a chance at winning big. Let’s take a look at what this moment means for the future of Vr and how it stands against the competition.

Pearl — a 2016 film by Google Spotlight Story and Evil Eye Pictures — tells the story of a girl and her dad chasing their dreams as they cross the United States in an old hatchback, their makeshift home, named Pearl. Music, created by both the father and daughter, is at the center...

This year a record 69 animated short films vied for an Oscar nomination, with ten making the shortlist, and five final nominations.

For six years, Disney or Pixar has been nominated in the category every year, and won twice (“Paperman” and “Feast”). This year Pixar’s “Piper,” from Alan Barillaro (“Wall·E,” “Brave,” “Finding Nemo”), could mark a Pixar win for the first time since Ralph Eggleston’s “For the Birds” 15 years ago. That would give Pixar four Oscars (alongside Geri’s Game” and “Tin Toy”).

Read more: Oscars 2017 Animated Shorts: Will ‘Piper’ End Pixar’s 15-Year Drought?

However, “Piper” faces stiff competition, particularly from Theodore Ushev’s much darker “Blind Vaysha” from the National Film Board of Canada, which has earned a dozen Oscars. The other three contenders range from Robert Valley’s bleak “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” (Vimeo’s first Oscar nom), the melancholy Western, “Borrowed Time” (made independently...

This year a record 69 animated short films vied for an Oscar nomination, with ten making the shortlist.

For six years, Disney or Pixar has been nominated in the category every year, and won twice (“Paperman” and “Feast”). This year both studios have films on the shortlist, “Inner Workings” (Disney) and “Piper” (Pixar). Other animated shorts included in the 10 are Robert Valley’s “Pear Cider and Cigarettes,” Franck Dion’s “The Head Vanishes” and Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj’s “Borrowed Time.”

Read More: 2017 Oscars: Record 70 Animated Shorts Vie for Shortlist of Ten

After December screenings in La, NY, London and San Francisco, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members selected five nominees to be announced on Tuesday, January 24.

The 10 animated short films, along with their production companies and trailer, are below in alphabetical order:

Frontrunners

“Blind Vaysha,” Theodore Ushev, director (National Film Board of Canada)

“Borrowed Time,” Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj,...

Disney’s innovative Meander drawing system, utilized on the Oscar-winning “Paperman” and “Feast” shorts, and one of 18 recipients of this year’s Academy Sci-Tech Award, was integral to “Moana’s” 2D/CG integration.

“It was used extensively by effects to do shot planning, and during the hand-drawn prologue, and on everything that was hand-drawn during the [Lin-Manuel Miranda] song, ‘You’re Welcome,'” Brian Whited, Disney’s senior software engineer, told IndieWire. He designed and developed Meander and will receive the Academy’s Sci-Tech Award on February 11th at the Beverly Wilshire.

Read More: ‘The Most Beautiful Shots in The History of Disney’ Highlights ‘Snow White,’ ‘Moana’ and Everything in Between — Watch

“Marlon West, the VFX supervisor, did drawings to guide the CG, and the effects animators ended up using those drawings directly in the final film,” added Whited. “They included the lightning bolts coming off of Maui’s hook. He found...

Just to prove how easy it is.

On Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter released its 2016 Animation Roundtable to the world. That, in itself, isn’t particularly newsworthy (aside from the fact that animation is awesome, of course) but…well, here, have a look for yourself:

First, the picture: Why, yes, that is a panel consisting of all white men. It’s not the first time this has happened and it infuriatingly won’t be the last (but at least this Tumblr account and also this one will always have fresh content).

Second, the headline: “Seth Rogen and 6 More on Avoiding Ethnic Stereotypes and How to ‘Break the Mold’ of Princesses.” We can’t think of anyone more qualified to speak to ethnic stereotypes and breaking the mold of princesses than a group of white men. Totally.

There’s absolutely zero excuse for this: if you’ve somehow ended up with an all male and/or all white panel...

This year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had a record 69 animated short films vying for a nomination. Now the 10 titles that will advance in the voting process for the 89th Academy Awards have been announced.

For six years, Disney or Pixar has been nominated in the category every year, and won twice (“Paperman” and “Feast”). This year both studios have films on the shortlist, “Inner Workings” (Disney) and “Piper” (Pixar). Other animated shorts included in the 10 are Robert Valley’s “Pear Cider and Cigarettes,” Franck Dion’s “The Head Vanishes” and Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj’s “Borrowed Time.”

Read More: 2017 Oscars: Record 70 Animated Shorts Vie for Shortlist of Ten

Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select five nominees from among the 10 titles. Screening of each will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.

The final five will be announced,...

Disney is bringing their treasure trove of their short films from the last deacde and a half to blu-ray/DVD for you and your family to enjoy together in one complete set. Come inside to learn more about the shorts being collected!

With each new release, Disney continues their tradition of having a short animated film play before their movies, and now they're brining all of their latest (including this year's Frozen Fever) together in one collection on Blu-Ray/DVD...and it's available Now!

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring the never-before-released Frozen Fever, starring Frozen's Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo. The Short Films Collection features contemporary shorts starring classic characters, including the 2012 groundbreaking Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse!, holiday treats like Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa as well as hailed Oscar® winners Paperman and Feast.

(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Filmmakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios introduced D23 Expo 2015 fans to an array of new stories and characters—from a lost dinosaur to a master wayfinder, a scheming fox to a forgetful fish.

The audience of 7,500 was treated to sneak peeks, musical performances and appearances from stars like Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dwayne Johnson, Randy Newman and Ty Burrell, among others.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, led the presentations, calling on a host of filmmakers from both studios to introduce the upcoming slate of films. “We really have an unbelievable range of movies in production at our studios right now,” said Lasseter. “The stories are dynamic, fresh and so much fun; the characters new and old are so appealing. I’m excited to share some of our long-held...

Just a heads up -- in case you can't get to Walt Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA from August 14-16 -- heaps of new Lucasfilm, Pixar, Marvel and Disney movie intel will be coming out of the event, so put yourself on standby for cool previews.

Disney just shared a press release with the 2015 schedule. You'll see it's noted that "a bevy of special guests will be on hand to offer a look at an unparalleled slate that includes Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Jungle Book, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War, Star Wars: The Force Awakens-and much, much more." Also, "Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar's upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation's Zootopia and Moana." So if those movies, and all Disney/Pixar projects, are of interest to you, just know some good teases should be coming out of this.

Here's the...

Walt Disney Studios offers an exclusive look at its upcoming projects from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm at D23 Expo 2015, taking place August 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Studio will unveil its animation and live-action film slates via two huge Hall D23 presentations featuring surprise guests and many unforgettable moments. Other not-to-be-missed events include a Frozen FANdemonium musical celebration with Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and the 20th anniversary celebration of Disney Pixar's Toy Story with John Lasseter and the original Pixar crew.

Hall D23 Presentations:

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films, Hosted by John Lasseter - Friday, August 14, 3:00 pm - Hall D23

After meeting the Emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old, taking a trip to San Fransokyo, where a boy genius and his robot save the world, and falling in love with a queen with icy powers who wants to "let it go,...

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...

©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...

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.

Last year, Disney was widely expected to win Best Animated Short for "Get a Horse" but lost to "Mr. Hublot." That would have been a bookend to its 2012 prize for "Paperman," the studio's first win in 43 years in a category it once owned. After taking 10 of the first 11 races beginning in 1932, it won just three more times with "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom" (1953), "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" (1968) and "It's Tough to be a Bird" (1969).  Can "Feast" bring it back to the winner's circle? It currently leads our odds. Below, we take a closer look at it and the competition.  -Break- "Feast" The story follows one man's love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share. This marks the first nomination for Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed. It is the overwhelming favorit...

If you've been reading us this season then you know we've already given you pretty thorough analyses of this year's short film categories. I watched all the films that made it to the final consideration stage and offered up thoughts on each and some somewhat informed predictions. In the end, though, it was still tricky to guess, but I did get four of the five animated players right. Now, with nominees announced, it seems worth it to review. So let's… All things considered, the animated short category is difficult to handicap. Particularly with the infiltration of other voters, as theses categories are opened up to the entire membership via screeners, it's just hard to guess which way preference will fall. The biggest surprise for me was that Glen Keane's gorgeous, heavily promoted "Duet" missed out on a nod. I frankly thought it could have put up a fight to win,...

Handcrafted animated magic. That’s the best way to describe Tomm Moore’s latest film “Song of the Sea,” which premiered at Tiff earlier this year and went on to screen AFI Fest this past November. In this astonishingly beautiful new film Tomm Moore revisits Irish folklore through the eyes of two young siblings, Ben and Saoirse. At the center of the story are the Selkies, mythical creatures that are human above ground and seals under water.

Reimagining these ancient stories for a new audience was a challenge that Moore was more than happy to face. Like with his Academy Award-nominated feature “The Secret of Kells,” this film is also filled with personal touches and with a heartwarming atmosphere that translates into the gorgeous visuals. It’s a rare treat to see a film that has been so delicately crafted in every aspect.

Above all, Tomm Moore is a fan of animation that loves the medium and his fellow creators dearly. Proof of this is his sincere excitement over a “selfie” he was able to take with animation legends John Lasseter and Hayao Miyazaki last month at the Governors Awards. Miyazaki in particular has made a great impact in the way Tomm Moore approaches his work. Inspired by his family and his cultural background, Moore has managed to create two films that are indelibly his own, and which set him apart from the financially driven crowd.

Distributed by Gkids, “Song of the Sea” recently received 7 Annie Awards nominations including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Musical Score. The film also ranks high in several of the major film publications among the 20 animated features in the race for a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination

I had the pleasure to sit down with Tomm Moore recently in Los Angeles to talk about his latest animated masterpiece, life after the Oscar nomination, and Cartoon Saloon’s next project. This was undoubtedly one of the most delightful chats this writer has had in recent memory.

Read More: "Song of the Sea" Tiff Review

Carlos Aguilar: When you were looking at Irish folklore for this film, how did you decide what stories or elements would work with the film you wanted to make, especially since you wanted to tale a story aimed at children?

Tomm Moore: When we first started looking at doing something with the Selkies, we noticed that in a lot of the stories the kids would often be a big part of them. The mother would disappear back into the sea, and sometimes they’d be a passage at the end of the story where the kids would go down to the sea and see a seal. They’d always wondered if that was their mother as a seal. That’s why I started thinking about the Selkies stories from the kids’ point of view.

We had lots of different folktales we were looking at. I was really passionate about using several different ones, but the script was getting too bloated and it was too much content. We decided to cut down to just the folklore that we could use to strengthen the family story. We had a lot of folklore, there was almost too much to pick from and as there always is with Irish folklore. There are so many versions of every story because every storyteller tells the story differently. We took a license and we said, “What folklore do we have in this draft that really strengthens what’s happening with the family?”

We came to the idea that the witch could be just an exaggerated version of the Granny, and then the shanachie was going to be a version of the kids’ grandfather but it became too complicated, so we decided against it. It was all about simplifying and boiling it down to make kind of a espresso of folklore so that we could have something really strong that would work internationally as well [Laughs].

Aguilar: Where did you find the folk story or stories that served as framework for “Song of the Sea”?

Tomm Moore: Everywhere. A lot of these stories I heard while growing up and others I read in a book called The People of Sea, lent to me by my friend Ross Stewart. He was the Art Director in “The Secret of Kells.” I went on a trip to the coast of Ireland when I had started working on the “The Secret of Kells,” and I’ saw these seals that had been killed by the sea. Then, when I was talking to the woman that we had rented the cottage from, she said that the fishermen had been killing the seals and blaming them for the drop in fish stocks. She said, “That wouldn’t have happened years ago because people had these beliefs that seals could be Selkies and that they contained the souls of people lost at sea.”

When I came back I talked to Ross Stewart and he loaned me the book I mentioned, which was a collection of stories from the 1920s. The author had gone around Ireland and England collecting all the different beliefs about seals. I was reading those and I was also reading some of Lady Gregory’s works. From the time of Lady Gregory and W.B. Yeats there was a big movement to try and capture the stories that had been just passed down in the oral tradition. But honestly, most folklore is only alive if you hear it, if it’s told, because if it’s written down it becomes kind of a gospel. If it’s written people think, “That’s it! That’s the right version! Don’t’ change it.” Folklore is always changing and evolving for new audiences. That’s how you keep it alive.

Aguilar: While “The Secret of Kells” is a gorgeous film in its own right, it seems like “Song of the Sea” had an even more ethereal and fluid look to it, almost like watercolors.

Tomm Moore: A big part of that is Adrien Merigeau, who was the main background artist in “The Secret of Kells.” When I was developing “ Song of the Sea” and working on conceptual stuff, we really tried to blend our styles. His natural style seemed very full of little idiosyncratic design motifs. We started looking at the rocks and carvings that I wanted to include, and we could see similarities between his work and those Pictish carving, so he started to incorporate that into it.

We started working really early, before we even had a script. We were working on evolving this style, and we were hoping it would be a bit more atmospheric than in “The Secret of Kells,” we wanted some of that damped atmosphere that you get in Ireland. Adrien is great with watercolors, and I had been playing a lot with watercolor as well. We felt it was the right approach. “The Secret of Kells” had a stained glass look, and we wanted “Song of the Sea” to feel more like watercolors, more like a mystical fairytale.

Aguilar: What sort of visual reference did you and your team have to create the beautiful patterns and details in the film?

Tomm Moore: It came from a lot of carving and rocks, and the mad sacred geometry in the way they are arranged. It’s amazing stuff. It’s all Celtic and Pre-Celtic from the Picts. The word “picture” comes from the Picts, they were an Irish tribe that used tattoo themselves with the images in all this carvings. When the Romans first found them, they realized they were called the Picts. The word comes from the name the Romans used to refer to the drawings the Picts had all over themselves.

Aguilar: Tell me about your approach in terms of character development. In this films character seem more delicate, perhaps more personal.

Tomm Moore: I based most of the characters on my family. Ben is based on my son. He was 10 when I started working to work on it, now he is 19 now. Time just flies when you are making animation [Laughs]. Cu was based on a dog we had. When Ben was younger we had a dog named Cu. My mother’s name is Bronagh, and she looked a lot like the character in the film. My characters are certainly very personal.

These films are so hard to get made or even get off the ground, then put the finance together, get the story right, that if you pack the film full of people that you love you can live with it longer. There is always a bit of nostalgia. My nephew does Ben’s voice, as you can see it’s a real family story. I knew the characters needed to be softer so I looked at films like “My Neighbor Totoro” and other Japanese animation. The characters in “ The Secret of Kells” are quite geometric, and for this one I wanted to get something a bit softer and fuller.

Aguilar: Was the relationship between Saoirse and Ben also inspired by your personal experience?

Tomm Moore: Yes, the same with Brendan and Ashley in “The Secret of Kells,” both relationships are based on my relationship with my sister. I have three sisters, but there was a certain sibling rivalry between me and my next older sister. For sure that was influential in both films.

Aguilar: I love all the details that you have hidden throughout the film: the animals in the background, the cameo on the bus, or even inanimate objects with a particular shape. Every frame is full of beautiful small touches

Tomm Moore: We spent a long time on that. We wanted to pack everything in there. Adrien’s point of view made the backgrounds look almost like illustrations. We set up each shot like an illustration that would work in a book as well, but ultimately we needed to have continuity. We did a lot of color scripting. All the details are little encouragements for people to watch the movie more than once. [Laughs]

Aguilar: Where you concern about translating Irish folklore into a story that could work for a global audience?

Tomm Moore: I think there is universality to the films. With “Song of the Sea” this was very deliberate because I knew that we had gone the independent route, we didn’t go with a big studio. We made it for 5.5 million Eur, that’s very small compared to other films. “ The Book of Life”, which was the next “low-budget” animated film at The Hollywood Reporter roundtable that I was in, was $50 million.

For me that freedom meant that I could be more personal and more true to our culture. At the same time you want people to be able to enjoy it. There are certain jokes in there that only Irish people will get, but for the most part I wanted to take the approach in which somebody from anywhere in the world could watch it and enjoy it. I like that about “Totoro.” You get a glimpse of Japanese culture but at the same time anybody, anywhere, could watch “Totoro” and enjoy it even if they don’t know anything about Japanese culture.

Aguilar: The film seems to take place in a not-so-distant past where 3D glasses and Walkmans where an awesome novelty.

Tomm Moore: I was thinking it was like 1987, that’s when I was 10 years old. I was nostalgic for that time and I decided to add those little touches. [Laughs]

Aguilar: Music is such an important element in “Song of the Sea.” Tell me about developing the score with the musicians and other talent.

Tomm Moore: With “The Secret of Kells” Bruno Coulais and Kila did a great job but they work for a quite short neat the end of the film. This time, because the music was so important for the whole film, we asked them to get involved really early on. Bruno and Kila started working on the music for the film while we were still writing the story. It was really great, we would have little sessions in Ireland where they’ll get together and work. The first thing we had to work on was the song. We needed to get that right and find a singer. We were lucky to find Lisa Hannigan, who could act and sing. That was the first challenge for this movie, working on the music at the same time as the visuals.

Aguilar: With the advent of 3D animation, is it difficult to find the right people to work on more detailed-oriented 2D films?

Tomm Moore: There is a little team, like in stop-motion. It’s a little team of people that we’ve put together who had worked on “The Secret of Kells,” and some new people. I think it’s about finding people who are really passionate about 2-D animation and want to work at a different level on it. We are lucky in Europe, there seems to be a lot of 2D animation happening. There is still expertise and different studios are still making it.

Aguilar: Where things easier this second time around?

Tomm Moore: “The Secret of Kells ” was tough because it was the first one and we were trying to figure stuff out. This time there were stressful moments but we were a little bit more battle-hardened, like the old team getting back together for one more war [Laughs]

Aguilar: What do you love about 2D animation that 3D can’t provide? What would you say makes the medium particularly special?

Tomm Moore: I think there is a language to drawing that’s special, just like with Ghibli’s latest, “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.” Even if you try to fake the look of a drawing by doing something like “Paperman”, is not quiet the same as feeling that somebody really drew it. Also, I think that if you watch a movie like “My Neighbor Totoro” and then you watch “Ponyo,” you wouldn’t know that they’ve been made 20 years apart. But if you watch the original “Toy Story” and then “Toy Story 3,” you can really see a big difference, you can see a big change in technology. 2-D has a certain timelessness.

Aguilar: You’ve mentioned Miyazaki’s work has been an inspiration to you, what other animators or artists have influenced your work?

Tomm Moore: Richard Williams, who was for years trying to make “The Thief and the Cobbler.” He was never able to finish it properly and then it got taken off of him. It’s a sad story, but he was always such an inspiration to me. When I was in college I saw a documentary about him and you could see he really had this great passion. He fully believed that animation could be art and it didn’t have to been as just something commercial. He spent over 25 year working on that film, that’s more of an art piece than anything else.

Also Genndy Tartakovsky, who is now doing CG stuff like “Hotel Transylvania,” but also worked on shows like “Samurai Jack ” and other greats tuff on TV. Then of course all the Eastern European animated film, specially the Hungarian folktales. There is also the Russian animator Yuri Norshteyn, he is really amazing. He ‘s made some beautiful short films, but he has also been working on this feature film for like 20 years. It’s going to be beautiful if he ever finishes it. I suppose I get inspiration from all over the place.

Aguilar: For you what’s the main difference between animated and live actions films in terms of the creative process and the effect they have on audiences?

Tomm Moore: Animation and live action are blending. I was recently talking to a friend of mine who is an editor, he used to work in live-action and now he works in animation. He used the analogy that editing in live action is like carving away a piece of marble but the shape is basically already there. With animation is more like clay because you keep building, changing, and adding things.

I think animation is freer and I think that’s why live action filmmakers like Spielberg or Cameron are using animation more in their films. “ Avatar” or “Gravity” are basically animate films because they have so much CG animation in them. But I think hand-drawn animation can be something really special. If the character design is quite simple it has the ability to allow people to easily relate to the characters in a special manner. A cartoon character isn’t a specific person. It isn’t Tom Cruise or George Clooney playing the part, it’s a character that could be you. It’s easier for you to get drawn into it in a special way.

Aguilar: Would you ever work on a 3D animated film?

Tomm Moore: I wouldn’t say no, but I’d have to find a way to adapt to it and I don’t think I’d be interested in doing something like Pixar’s shiny, perfect surfaces in 3D. To be honest with you, they do it so well and they spend so much money on it, that unless you are doing it in Pixar there is no point trying to match it. It’ll just come out looking cheap, so you would have to find a clever way to dot it. I like drawing. I like to spend the day drawing, the process is important for me. Drawing is a just a pleasure and it’s nice to keep it going. I think we stand out a little bit from the crowd by being 2D. There is less and less of it that now we have like a badge or a brand that stands out by being 2D.

Aguilar: “Song of the Sea” has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and a great reception by audiences. I’m sure this must be very rewarding and encouraging.

Tomm Moore: The more god reviews we get the more confidence we get, and the more proud we are when we stand beside the film. The only problem is the pressure, this was like making a difficult second album and now we have to make sure that the third film, and the next are good. But that’s a good problem to have [Laughs]

Aguilar: What are you and Cartoon Saloon working on next?

Tomm Moore: The next project that Cartoon Saloon is doing is going to be directed by Nora Twomey, who was the co-director in “The Secret of Kells,” and it’s based on a book called The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. It’s about a little girl in Afghanistan who has to pretend to be a boy so she can provide for her family. Her father is a storyteller. There is going to be two different visual styles in it. The storytelling world will use a decorative style based on Afghan art and then there will be a different style for the real world. It’s definitely challenging. I’m also writing another movie at the moment, it’ll be my third Irish-themed movie.

Aguilar: Seems like you are making a real brand or niche for yourself with Irish animated stories

Tomm Moore: Yes, at least for myself, but I think Nora is going to make something very special and different.

Aguilar: How did the Oscar nomination for “The Secret of Kells” change things? Did it change things at all?

Tomm Moore: It did, maybe not in the way that we had immediately expected. It wasn’t like we suddenly had access to millions and millions or anything like that, because we weren’t willing to become part of the studio system and make a movie that would work in that system. They spend so much money on those films that if you get involved in that system you don’t know if your film will ever get made because it’s such a risk to make them. You could develop something for years and it might never get made. And if they do make it has to be very accessible and it has to be a certain type of product. When they make them well they are beautiful, I was blown away by “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”

But for me, the freedom that you have to give up by trying to get into that system wasn’t worth it. The Oscar nomination might have opened doors to do something like that, but instead we decided to go back to Ireland and stay pretty small. What the nomination did instead was giving us a professional armor. It gave us a certain credibility and people took us more seriously after that. It also opened doors in terms of actors. We could now get voices that we really wanted. It helped with raising the finance, even though we ended up with a very small budget, less even that in “ The Secret of Kells.”

After the economic crash there was less money to put together, but the money that was out there we were able to attract because of the Oscar nomination. Besides, I got to join the Academy, I got to meet Miyazaki the other night, and there are so many benefits that just go on and on [Laughs].

Aguilar: I think “Song of the Sea” is absolutely marvelous, but for those who haven’t had the chance to see, why should they flock to see it?

Tomm Moore: I think it’s offering something different. I think what we tried to do - and I hope we’ve been successful at - is make a movie that is something like “ Totoro,” something like “E.T.” or “Goonies.” We wanted to make something like those movies from the 80s that weren’t a sequel or a prequel. They were just a complete new adventure in themselves. “Song of the Sea” has a kind of melancholy that most animated films seem not having much of anymore. I hope it offers something special.

One word, John Lasseter: Plastics. The Pixar chief who changed the animation game with his innovative use of computer technology in 1995's Toy Story will return to the directing chair to make a fourth movie about the adventures of Woody, Buzz, and the gang, Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger announced Tuesday. The film is set to hit theaters in June 16, 2017, and in a somewhat surprising twist it will be written by Rashida Jones, formerly of NBC's Parks and Recreation, and her screenwriting partner Will McCormack (who penned the 2012 indie romantic comedy Celeste and Jesse Forever.) The story was conceived,...

Disney’s latest animated short, "Feast," which highlights the importance of food and is uniquely told from a winsome dog’s Pov, is the Oscar frontrunner for its engaging story and distinctive look (check out the teaser below). It opens with the Oscar-contending "Big Hero 6" Marvel mash-up on November 7. "Feast" is a big leap forward from both the Oscar-winning "Paperman" and last year's Mickey Mouse-nominated "Get A Horse!" Director Patrick Osborne (head of animation on "Paperman" and co-head of animation on "Big Hero 6") utilizes a quick-cutting, mockumentary style and a look comprised of warm colors, flat shapes, and shallow depth of field. Winston has a great life with his master and best friend, James, stuffing himself with scrumptious plates of food until a girlfriend, Kirby, comes between them. Winston’s perspective is further accentuated by low angles and floating particulate matter. It's like a...

While Disney Animation short films haven't quite sparked the same excitement as anything coming out of Pixar in recent years, that's changing. 2012's lovely, Oscar-winning "Paperman" was original, visually accomplished, and just a great piece of filmmaking. Now two people from the team behind that film—head of animation Patrick Osborne and producer Kristina Reed—are hoping for more magic with "Feast." And the first teaser is here. And it's cute stuff, following a puppy who enjoys eating no shortage of junk food—french fries, nachos, pizza, and more—who winds up on a big adventure. Here's the official synopsis: “Feast,” a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation for “Paperman”) and Walt Disney Animation Studios, is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

Disney has gotten into the lovely habit of releasing fantastic short films ahead of their features, some of which rival their feature-length counterparts. Case in point being Paperman, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, that was screened before Wreck-it Ralph. Now the animation supervisor of that short, Patrick Osborne, is making his directorial debut with Feast. Feast tells the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and...

As massive and business-minded a corporation as it is, Walt Disney Animation leaves room in their pipeline for experimentation. Each year, crew members on any and every rung of the bureaucratic ladder have the opportunity to pitch short films to John Lasseter and the Wda "story trust," a group of the company's veteran directors, writers, and artists. The goal: Push story and animation technology to places where the feature slate can't go (at least, not until the shorts lay the groundwork). Animator Patrick Osborne pitched "Feast" as a living work of concept art — graphic, fluid, and nostalgic — that also fell into the Disney mold, a sweet story of a dog that loves food. Lasseter took to it, and this November, the fully rendered short hits theaters in front of "Big Hero 6." Mimicking the artistic style of illustrator Jeff Turley (who previously art directed "Paperman"), "Feast" chronicles the life of a puppy named Winston,...

Walt Disney Animation Studios has unveiled a teaser for Feast, a new animated short set to premiere in front of Big Hero 6 in 3D starting November 7. Patrick Osborne makes his directorial debut on the hand drawn/CG hybrid after heading animation on Disney’s Oscar- and Annie Award-winning short Paperman. Feast tracks one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his feisty Boston terrier, Winston, revealed through the meals they share. Story is penned by Nicole Mitchell (Winnie the Pooh) and Raymond S. Persi (Get a Horse!).

Disney has released close to a minute of footage from their new animated short “Feast,” which will be attached to theatrical screenings of Big Hero 6. The short comes from first time director Patrick Osborne, who was an animator on films such as Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled, and was Head Animator on Disney’s 2012 award-winning short “Paperman.”

“Feast” follows a man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his dog, Winston, and is revealed "bite by bite through the meals they share." One of our editors saw the short last month, and wrote up a detailed summary that goes into how the man goes from feeding Winston dog food to more extravagant meals. I really hope kids don’t start serving their dogs plates of nachos. There’d be a mighty mess to clean up afterwards... and it wouldn’t be cheese.

The short looks to have improved...

Check out this preview of Disney Animation’s Feast.

A new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation, “Paperman”) and Walt Disney Animation Studios, Feast is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

Feast’s producer, Kristina Reed, produced 2012’s Oscar-winning short Paperman.

Director Patrick Osborne, who joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2008 as an animator on Bolt, took part in the Studio’s Spark program – which invites artists to explore their own unique ideas in a month-long project that is presented to the Studio team. His experimental short “Pet” was a hit among his fellow Disney artists. Osborne, whose credits Disney’s 2010 feature Tangled and 2012’s Oscar-winning short Paperman, for which he served as head of animation, was later tapped as co-head of animation...

After finding success with short films such as Paperman and Get a Horse, Walt Disney Animation Studios has released a sneak peek at their latest animated effort Feast, which will be attached to prints of Disney's Big Hero 6 in theaters on November 7.

First-time director Patrick Osborne, who served as the head of animation on Paperman, takes the helm for Walt Disney Animation Studios' story of one man's love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

This sneak preview shows Winston's progression from a shy puppy too nervous to take a french fry, to a growing dog who "feasts" on everything from nachos, pizza, ham, and, as a possible homage to Lady and the Tramp, a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Watch as this puppy grows before your very eyes, before he sets off...

Meet Winston, the adorable, endlessly energetic, food-loving Boston terrier and star of Disney Animation's short, Feast. Told from the point of view of the impossibly cute pooch, Feast follows Winston on his years-long culinary journey alongside his sweet schlub of an owner. EW got an exclusive look at the unique hand-drawn/computer animated movie from director Patrick Osborne, who was animation supervisor on the Oscar-winning short Paperman. The short is set to debut in theaters in front of Big Hero 6 on Nov. 7.

Traditional 2D animation is virtually dead for film. The only place we see it now is on TV and in online web series. It's kind of sad because traditional animation is such a great and beautiful art form. I studied traditional animation in college, and watching its demise has been heartbreaking.

There's a team of Disney veteran animators though who have joined forces to try and breathe new life into the dying art form. They are looking to create an animated steampunk adventure called Hullabaloo. It will be a hand drawn animated short that they hope will turn into a web or TV series or a feature length animated movie, which would be amazing!

The story revolves around two incredibly smart female inventorsFrom what they show in the campaign video it looks like it has a lot of potential. Here's the synopsis:

Hullabaloo is the story of Veronica Daring, a...

After the announcement of a Frozen short, Disney’s next three shorts have all been slated through 2015: Two hail from Disney’s own animation studio and one comes from Pixar, but all three look to continue the recent trend of impressive and heartwarming short films.

Feast is the closest film on the horizon, set to debut behind the Disney-Marvel collaboration Big Hero 6 on Nov. 7. From Disney Animation Studios and the director behind Disney’s Oscar-winning short film Paperman, Patrick Osborne, Feast follows Boston terrier Winston, the latest in a long line of adorable dogs in Disney films. Winston...

While I was visiting Disney Animation Studios for the Big Hero 6 press day, they showed the animated short film that would be playing before Big Hero 6 in theaters. The short is called "Feast," and it was absurdly adorable. The movie was directed by Patrick Osborne, who was the head of animation on "Paperman," which was another amazing short film.

The story is officially described as "one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share." Here's a more detailed breakdown of the story that I wrote up after I saw the short.

The story follows the life of a dog named Winston who was picked up off the street when he was just a pup. The guy that took him in lured the dog to his home with food. Throughout the...

Disney Animation has a history of adorable animated dogs -- everyone from Mickey's beloved pooch Pluto to the barky stars of "Lady and the Tramp," "101 Dalmatians," and "Oliver and Company." And there is going to be a new dog that will soon rank amongst the studio's most adorable, heartily loved canines in its history. That dog is Winston, star of the studio's brand-new animated short "Feast," which is set to premiere in front of the upcoming superhero romp "Big Hero 6." And he is adorable.

We were out at the Walt Disney Animation Studios a few weeks ago and got to see the new short, and it's as groundbreaking as it is cuddly (in my notes are the words "cutest ever" with a circle around them). Director Patrick Osborne, who was head of animation on the Oscar-winning short "Paperman," was inspired by the app One Second Every Day, which records a...

Hand-drawn animation needs a hero, and the latest project to champion the technique is an upstart steampunk adventure overseen by a group of veteran Disney and DreamWorks artists.

Hullabaloo is the Victorian era sci-fi story of Veronica Daring, a young scientist who goes on a quest to find her kidnapped inventor father. The title refers not just to the ruckus she causes, but is the codename for her secret, crime-fighting identity.

To complete her mission, Hullabaloo’s going to need friends, cunning, intelligence, and — in the real world, at least — some money. That’s where Indiegogo comes in with a...

Playing in front of Big Hero 6, Disney have released the first images from their upcoming short film Feast. Described as "The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share", there is no denying Feast looks absolutely gorgeous. This doesn't come as a surprise, since it was directed by Patrick Osborne, head of animation on the stunning Paperman.

Here’s your first look at Disney’s latest short film, director Patrick Osborne’s “Feast,” which will be showing in front of their upcoming “Big Hero 6″ this November 7th. Altogether now, kids — Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. “Feast,” a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation for “Paperman”) and Walt Disney Animation Studios, is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

Disney has released the first official images from their upcoming animated short film, Feast. Per the official logline, “The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.” As you can see from the images, the dog is unsurprisingly adorable, and I like the style of the animation. The cel shaded look also makes sense considering the short was directed by Patrick Osborne, who worked as the head of animation on Paperman. Hit the jump to check out the Feast images. The short will play in front of Big Hero 6, which opens November 7th. Via Disney. Feast Images

The post Check out New Images from Feast, Disney’s Upcoming Animated Short Featuring a Hungry Pup appeared first on Collider.

Check out the two photos from Feast, a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation, “Paperman”) and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Feast is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

The film is from the producer of 2012’s Oscar-winning short “Paperman,” Kristina Reed.

Osborne, who joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2008 as an animator on Bolt, took part in the Studio’s Spark program—which invites artists to explore their own unique ideas in a month-long project that is presented to the Studio team. His experimental short “Pet” was a hit among his fellow Disney artists. Osborne, whose credits Disney’s 2010 feature Tangled and 2012’s Oscar-winning short Paperman, for which he served as head of animation, was later tapped as co-head of animation for...

Walt Disney Pictures has released the first two Feast photos, a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation for Paperman) and Walt Disney Animation Studios. This short tells the story of one man's love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share. The short opens on Nov. 7, 2014, in front of Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6.

Director Patrick Osborne, who joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2008 as an animator on Bolt, took part in the Studio's Spark program-which invites artists to explore their own unique ideas in a month-long project that is presented to the Studio team. His experimental short Pet was a hit among his fellow Disney artists. Osborne, whose credits Disney's 2010 feature Tangled and 2012's Oscar-winning short Paperman, for which he served as head of animation, was later tapped...

ABC has released another photo from the upcoming fourth season of Once Upon a Time, which features a fresh look at Georgina Haig as Frozen's Queen Elsa and Elizabeth Lail as Anna. The series has also added Scott Michael Foster as Kristoff, Tyler Jacob Moore as Hans and John Rhys-Davies will voice the rock troll King, Pabbie. The fourth season is set to premiere Sunday, September 28th. Fans will get an advenaced look at the upcoming Frozen characters in action during ABC's The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic, a new special airing Tuesday, September 2 (8:00 -9:00 p.m., Et). Check out the photo, then read on for details.

Once Upon a Time: Season 4, Episode 1

The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic is an all-new, original special in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Lincoln Square Productions and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The special...

“The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic” is an all-new, original special in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Lincoln Square Productions and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The special ventures behind-the-scenes for an exclusive look at the origins and evolution of the Academy Award- winning film “Frozen,” now the biggest animated feature of all time. A breathtaking and fantastic saga, the special tells the real story of making a modern movie based on a timeless tale that nearly overnight became a cultural touchstone for legions of fans.

“The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic” airs Tuesday, September 2 (8:00 -9:00 p.m., Et) on the ABC Television Network.

Viewers will get a rare look inside Walt Disney Animation Studios and unprecedented access to the creative team that brought “Frozen” to life. Throughout the one-hour special, the audience will hear from “Frozen” stars Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel,...

The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic is an all-new, original special in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Lincoln Square Productions and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The special ventures behind-the-scenes for an exclusive look at the origins and evolution of the Academy Award-winning film Frozen, now the biggest animated feature of all time. A breathtaking and fantastic saga, the special tells the real story of making a modern movie based on a timeless tale that nearly overnight became a cultural touchstone for legions of fans.

Take a look at photos from The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic, which airs Tuesday, September 2 (8:00 -9:00 p.m., Et) on the ABC Television Network, along with five new images from Frozen.

The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic: TV Pictures Gallery

Viewers will get a rare look inside Walt Disney Animation Studios and...

This week's sci-fi extravaganza, "Edge of Tomorrow," starring Tom Cruise as a soldier unwittingly recruited to join an intergalactic war in which he finds himself in a never-ending time loop, is the summer's biggest surprise so far. It's bold, funny, and breathlessly entertaining. It's a movie in which Cruise springs back to life every time that he's killed, and so it's a smorgasbord of tactile sights and, just as importantly, sounds. And you'll get a taste of those sounds thanks to the four exclusive tracks from the movie's accompanying soundtrack album.

Christophe Beck, who got his start scoring Joss Whedon's immortal television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," provided the music for "Edge of Tomorrow," and it's easily one of his most accomplished pieces to date. (This is even more impressive considering he was a last minute replacement for original composer Ramin Djawadi. Hey, it happens.) While there are obvious...

Walt Disney Animation Studios has given us a first look at their latest short film production, Feast. We have a title design above and a piece of teasing concept art below. I enjoy the short films that Disney has released, and I'm sure this one will make Disney animation fans happy. Here's a brief synopsis:

Feast is the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

Sounds like a charmingly heartwarming story concept. The film is being directed by Patrick Osborne, who was head of animation on films such as Paperman as well as an animator on Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled and Bolt. Feast will make its world premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 10th 2014. As for when we'll get to see it, it will be...

In recent years, short animated films have once again become a staple in front of Disney’s ‘toon features, and with the Mouse House’s latest offering, Big Hero Six, arriving later this year in the States and early in 2015 in the UK, the company has announced the title and basic concept for its latest, Feast.Directed by Patrick Osborne, who been an animator and animation supervisor on the likes of Bolt, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph and Paperman, Feast will tell the story of one man’s love life as seen through the eyes of his best friend: his dog Winston. The ups and downs of the various relationships are shown via their shared meal times. No other details have been revealed beyond the first still image showing the dog’s bowl and his shadow (above) and the title logo. It sounds a little reminiscent of another new project announced this week,...

Here’s a first look at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new short Feast.

Making its world premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival June 10, 2014, the short is from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation, Paperman) and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share.

The short will open in theaters in front of Wdas’ new action-packed, big-screen adventure Big Hero 6 on November 7, 2014.

Robotics prodigy Hiro teams up with robot Baymax to save San Fransokyo in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Big Hero 6.” In theaters Nov. 7, 2014. ©2013 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

The post First Look At Feast appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

Disney has released the concept art for their next animated short film, Feast. Per the official logline, "The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share." I can already hear myself going "Awwwww," when I see it play in front of Disney's upcoming animated feature film, Big Hero 6. Feast is the directorial debut of Patrick Osborne, who worked as the head of animation on the amazing Paperman. He's also worked as an animator on Bolt, Tangled, and Wreck-It Ralph. Hit the jump to check out the Feast concept art. The film will make its world premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 10th, and be released in front of Big Hero 6 on November 7th. Via Disney.

The post First Look at Disney’s Next Animated Short Film,...

Welcome Feast! Making its world premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival June 10, 2014, is Feast, a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation, Paperman) and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The story of one man's love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share. The short will open in theaters in front of Disney's new action-packed, big-screen adventure Big Hero 6 on Nov. 7, 2014. Check out the first concept art and title treatments.

Feast comes to theaters November 7th, 2014.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has revealed both the logo and a teaser image from their upcoming short film Feast , which is slated to screen before Big Hero 6 , which hits theaters on November 7. Making its world premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival June 10, 2014, Feast is a new short from first-time director Patrick Osborne (head of animation, Paperman ) and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The story of one man.s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog, Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals they share. Click on either of the images below for larger versions:...

Tonight, Hollywood Blvd. was buzzing with excitement for the World Premiere of the all new Muppet caper Muppets Most Wanted, held at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, CA. Stars from the film, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Constantine, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Sweetums, Josh Groban, Ray Liotta, and Danny Trejo greeted fans as they walked the red carpet. Also, director James Bobin, producer David Hoberman, producer Todd Lieberman, writer/executive producer Nicholas Stoller, and executive producer John G. Scotti were there to support the film. Special guests included Angie Everhart, Terry Crews, Tito Ortiz, Ken Marino, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and more. Check out the Muppet fun below!

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as...

On the same day it won two Academy Awards including Best Animated Feature, Frozen, Walt Disney Animation Studios' 53rd feature film, crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The biggest non-sequel animated film ever released and the second biggest animated film of all time globally, Frozen has earned an estimated $388.8 million at the domestic box office and $611.5 million internationally for a global total of $1,000.3 million. It is The Walt Disney Studios' seventh release to reach the $1 billion mark, joining Marvel's The Avengers and Iron Man 3, Disney's second and fourth Pirates of the Caribbean films, Disney&#8226Pixar's Toy Story 3, and Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

Here's what The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn had to say about Frozen's box office milestone in a statement.

"With Frozen, we knew we had something truly special on our hands, and it has connected with fans and filmgoers around the world in...