Comic Riffs: pixar


Posted at 08:22 PM ET, 06/17/2013

‘MONSTERS UNIVERSITY’: How a mockumentary gave Dan Scanlon a boost up to the director’s chair
By Michael Cavna
‘MONSTERS UNIVERSITY’: How a mockumentary gave Dan Scanlon a boost up to the director’s chair.

By Michael Cavna  |  08:22 PM ET, 06/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar films

Posted at 03:36 PM ET, 05/17/2013

NO MERIDA MAKEOVER? ‘Brave’ director Brenda Chapman on Disney princess and ‘sexing her up’
By Michael Cavna
NO MERIDA MAKEOVER? ‘Brave’ director Brenda Chapman on Disney princess and ‘sexing her up’

By Michael Cavna  |  03:36 PM ET, 05/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  animation, pixar films

Posted at 02:35 PM ET, 04/02/2013

‘FINDING DORY’: Disney/Pixar lands Ellen DeGeneres for 2015 sequel to ‘Finding Nemo’

By Michael Cavna
‘Finding Dory’: Disney lands Ellen DeGeneres for 2015 sequel to Oscar-winning ‘Nemo.’

By Michael Cavna  |  02:35 PM ET, 04/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar animation, ellen degeneres

Posted at 02:06 PM ET, 07/15/2012

‘ICE AGE’ 4: ‘Continental Drift’ freezes out ‘Spider-Man’ with $46M debut

By Michael Cavna
Director Carlos Saldanha’s fourth film in CGI-animated series freezes out “Spider-Man” with $46M debut.

By Michael Cavna  |  02:06 PM ET, 07/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  ice age continental drift, amazing spider-man, ted, brave, pixar, seth macfarlane, marc webb, carlos saldanha, denis leary, box office

Posted at 08:42 PM ET, 06/25/2012

PIXAR TIPS: ‘Brave’ artist Emma Coats shares her storytelling wit and wisdom on Twitter (#FollowHer)
By Michael Cavna
Pixar’s ‘Brave’ artist Emma Coats shares her storytelling wit and wisdom on Twitter (#FollowHer)

By Michael Cavna  |  08:42 PM ET, 06/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  emma coats, pixar, brave, sweetpea, horizon

Posted at 02:39 PM ET, 06/24/2012

‘BRAVE’: Pixar’s first princess continues studio’s streak with $66.7M debut
By Michael Cavna
With “Brave,” Pixar’s first princess continues studio’s streak with $66.7M debut

By Michael Cavna  |  02:39 PM ET, 06/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar, brave, madagascar 3

Posted at 02:59 AM ET, 06/22/2012

PIXAR’s ‘BRAVE’: Director Mark Andrews on the duality of teens, the singularity of his mission — and what a man in a kilt brings to Pixar
By Michael Cavna
Q&A: Pixar’s ‘Brave’ director Mark Andrews on teen heroines, parent-child relationships — and what a man wearing a kilt brings to Pixar

By Michael Cavna  |  02:59 AM ET, 06/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  brave, pixar, mark andrews, john lasseter, andrew stanton, brad bird, brenda chapman, pete docter

Posted at 01:08 PM ET, 03/23/2012

THE RANT: ‘JOHN CARTER’s’ MASSIVE FALLOUT: Who’s to blame for Disney’s ‘$200-million’ bomb
By Michael Cavna
Who’s to blame for Disney’s ‘$200-million’ bomb?

By Michael Cavna  |  01:08 PM ET, 03/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  disney, pixar, john carter, andrew stanton, michael chabon, taylor kitsch, mark strong

Posted at 11:48 PM ET, 03/21/2012

THE PIXAR/‘BRAVE’ vs. ‘HUNGER GAMES’ POLL: Which valiant teen archer are you more likely to go see?
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  11:48 PM ET, 03/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar, katniss everdeen, hunger games, princess merida

Posted at 08:39 PM ET, 12/03/2011

‘RIFFS PICKS OF THE WEEK: Viral ‘Google Street View’ filmmakers land deal; new owners land the real-life Pixar ‘Up’ house

By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  08:39 PM ET, 12/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  tom jenkins, simon sharp, address is approximate, the theory films, pixar up

Posted at 01:53 PM ET, 09/25/2011

BOX OFFICE: ‘Lion King (3-D)’ holds off ‘Moneyball’ to retain weekend crown

By Michael Cavna
Disney’s re-release of Oscar-winning animated classic holds offs “Moneyball,” grossing $22.1-million in its second weekend out.

By Michael Cavna  |  01:53 PM ET, 09/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  lion king 3-D, disney, pixar, toy story 3

Posted at 01:16 PM ET, 09/18/2011

BOX OFFICE: ‘Lion King (3-D)’ ascends box-office throne with $29.3M weekend
By Michael Cavna
In a win for hand-drawn feature animation, re-release of 1994 Disney film wins weekend with $29.3M domestic box office, easily dethroning “Contagion.”

By Michael Cavna  |  01:16 PM ET, 09/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  disney, pixar, lion king 3-d

Posted at 08:22 PM ET, 07/13/2011

Pixar’s JOHN LASSETER: ‘Day in a Life’ mini-doc is our Video of the Day
By Michael Cavna
New ‘Day in the Life’ mini-doc is our Video of the Day

By Michael Cavna  |  08:22 PM ET, 07/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar, john lasseter, day in a life

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 07/06/2011

‘CARS 2’ animator Bob Moyer embodies Pixar 2.0: The Next Generation
By Michael Cavna
Maryland native made the leap from College Park to the leading animation studio as character designer for the “Cars” sequel.

By Michael Cavna  |  11:53 AM ET, 07/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar, bob moyer, angus maclane, denise ream, john lasseter, cars 2

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 06/24/2011

PIXAR PILE-UP: Is ‘Cars 2’ crashing into overheated expectations?

By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 PM ET, 06/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pixar, disney, cars 2, john lasseter

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 02/28/2011

THE 2011 OSCARS: 10 Geeky Facts About the Academy Award winners & losers
By Michael Cavna
"Toy Story 3" director Lee Unkrich hoists the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (Reuter) In an Oscars broadcast co-hosted by Spider-Man's best friend (the heavy-lidded James Franco) and the newly cast Catwoman character (the high-energy Anne Hathaway,), it's only...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Geek Buzz, General | Tags:  Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, Halle Berry, Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Portman, Pixar, Toy Story 3

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 01/12/2011

O PIONEERS: On John Lasseter's birthday, a look back at Pixar's origin story
By Michael Cavna
Updated: 3:03 p.m. ET It was the late-'80s and I had caught "Luxo Jr." at the touring Spike & Mike Animation Festival. The CGI short, in short, visually rocked my world. Eager to discuss it, to dissect this brief vision...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:45 PM ET, 01/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Alvy Ray Smith, Ed Catmull, John Lasseter, Luxo Jr., Pixar Studios, Tin Toy

Posted at 07:43 PM ET, 12/12/2010

The case for Oscar: 'TOY STORY 3' named among AFI's TOP 10 for 2010
By Michael Cavna
"Toy Story 3" continues to strengthen its case for an Oscar bid as Best Picture. The American Film Institute on Sunday named the Disney/Pixar 3-D feature as one of its best 10 movies of 2010 -- the sole animation...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:43 PM ET, 12/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  AFI Top 10, Beauty and the Beast, Disney/Pixar, Pixar's Up, Toy Story 3

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 12/06/2010

THE ANNIES: DreamWorks, Disney/Parker lead animation nominations
By Michael Cavna
In what could be a bellwether for the Oscars race, the Best Animated Feature contenders have just been announced for the 38th annual Annie Awards. In announcing all its nominations Monday, the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood said the...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:45 PM ET, 12/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Annie Awards, Brad Bird, Disney Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Eric Goldberg, Matt Groening

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 11/28/2010

When 'Harry' Met Rapunzel: 'TANGLED' debut edged by Potter at box office
By Michael Cavna
As lustrous as it was at the box office, the hair couldn't quite beat Harry. Disney's Rapunzel tale, "Tangled," trailed the seventh Harry Potter film by a whisker at the top of the weekend's domestic box office -- $49.1-million...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 11/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Disney Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Megamind, Tangled

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 09/06/2010

QUICK HIT: Tantalizing pix from Pixar's canceled film 'NEWT'
By Michael Cavna
(images courtesy of Disney Pixar) Here's the newt we'll now never see in motion. For two years, of course, we heard word of Disney/Pixar's "Newt," the tale of two blue-footed amphibians that was due in 2012. Then the announcement...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:45 PM ET, 09/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Brave, Cars 2, Disney Pixar, Gary Rydstrom, Newt

Posted at 04:15 PM ET, 06/27/2010

'TOY STORY 3' repeats as the weekend's box office champ [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
UPDATE: The CGI toys who watch their boy owner grow up beat the grownups who act like boys this weekend at the domestic box office. "Toy Story 3" grossed $59-million to stay No.-1, one week after it debuted with...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:15 PM ET, 06/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Disney Pixar, Michael Arndt, Night & Day, Toy Story 3

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 06/21/2010

BOX OFFICE: Pixar's 'Toy Story 3' dominates weekend with $110M debut [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
MONDAY UPDATE: "Toy Story 3" got a million-dollar boost from Monday's final weekend box-office numbers. The third film in the Pixar trilogy grossed $110.3-million domestically, holding its spot as the second biggest animated debut ever and the biggest June...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:01 PM ET, 06/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Disney Pixar, Iron Man 2, Jonah Hex, Shrek, Toy Story 3, Transformers

Posted at 04:05 PM ET, 06/19/2010

Seven Best Tangential Reasons to See 'Toy Story 3' this weekend [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Sure, you could catch "Toy Story 3" this weekend because it will be one of the best films you'll see this year. You could go because it offers Pixar's requisite heart and soul and humor. Or you could head...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:05 PM ET, 06/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Box Office, Pixar Disney, Rotten Tomatoes, Toy Story 3

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 06/17/2010

'Riffs Interview: How Michael Arndt went from celebrity assistant to 'TOY STORY 3' screenwriter in two moves
By Michael Cavna
Michael Arndt is a skilled enough screenwriter to have already won an Oscar, but still you've got to wonder: Could he, for all this talent, write his own success story? Were he to script his real-life rise to Hollywood's...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 AM ET, 06/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Disney Pixar, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Little Miss Sunshine, Michael Arndt, Toy Story 3

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 02/07/2010

OSCAR BUZZ: 'Up's' Annie Award bodes well for Oscars
By Michael Cavna
Disney/Pixar's "Up" continues its sure-footed march toward Oscar gold. On Saturday night, "Up" won for best animated feature at the 37th annual Annie Awards on the UCLA campus, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Since the Academy Awards began its...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:30 AM ET, 02/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Coraline, Pixar, The Princess and the Frog, Up