Nation Film Board of Canada Animated Short Films on TCM 4/9/17

 

Good news fellow cartoon lovers.

As many of you probably know, The National Film Board of Canada has produced many of the most artistically brilliant animated short films ever. Luckily for all of us Turner Classic Movies is showing two and a half hours of these animated shorts. These will range in years from 1941 all the way to 1999. This block will show some of the best films produced by NFB, including Caroline Leaf's The Street (1976), Richard Condie's The Big Snit (1985) and Sheldon Cohen's The Sweater (1980). 

Many other amazing shorts will be included as well. The block starts at 5:00pm (west coast) and 8:00pm (east coast). It is a definite must watch for all fans of animation, so toon in all you cartoon lovers.   

The whole list can be seen here: http://www.tcm.com/schedule/index.html?tz=CST&sdate=2017-04-09

-Michael J. Ruhland

Two Classic MGM Cartoons On TCM 4/15/17

Sadly since the MGM hour long block went off of Boomerang, it has been rare to see any classic non-Tom and Jerry animated MGM short. This is why you all need to watch Turner Classic Movies on April 15th. They are airing two of these shorts back to back. They are a 1937 animated short directed by Rudolf Ising called The Hound and the Rabbit, and a 1942 cartoon directed by Hugh Harmon called The Hungry Wolf. These are both great cartoons, and it is fantastic to see them on TV. This is a part of an Easter marathon of films with bunnies in them, this marathon also includes three live action films/Those are Harvey (1950), The Rabbit Trap (1959) and Night of the Lepus (1972). The marathon starts at 5:00pm (west coast) and 8:00pm (east coast). The two cartoons [lay back to back starting at 10:15pm (west coast) and 1:15am (east coast). I hope that TCM plays more MGM cartoons in the future, and I will definitely be watching these.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Spirited Away Back on the Big Screen

Great news my fellow animation lovers, Spirited Away one of the best films of recent years is returning to American theaters. This will happen on December, 4th and December 5th. The dubbed version will be shown on December 4th, and the subtitled version will be shown on December 5th for the film's 15th anniversary. If you haven't seen this film you need to see it, as it is a modern day masterpiece. If you have seen this film try to see it on the big screen.


You can find dates and places here: http://www.fathomevents.com/event/spirited-away/more-info/details. Hope you can make it.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Courage the Cowardly Dog With Commentary

Hello there fellow cartoon lovers. I assume some of you like me, are fans of a certain show called Courage the Cowardly Dog, and you have good reason to be it is one of the smartest, scariest, funniest and best looking animated TV shows. Some of you like me may have the DVDs of the series. And again if you are like me, you are very disappointed by the lack of special features. However this doesn't need to bug you anymore.

John R. Dilworth the creator of the series has done some commentaries on YouTube. However these commentaries do not have the cartoon with them, due to copyright reasons. You play the YouTube video and your DVD at thee same time and are able to have commentary playing over some of your favorite episodes. John R. Dilworth has done two of these so far. One is for the fan-favorite episode King Rameses Curse and the other is for the shows first episode A Night at The Katz Motel. He plans to do much more in the future.

                                           

                                           -Michael J. Ruhland

Fantastic Planet to Get Criterion Blu-ray/DVD Release

With Criterion releasing Watership Down last year, the company has announced it will also be releasing another animated work of art, Fantastic Planet in June. Criterion is known for releasing some of the greatest and most artistic live action films in the best quality available, and with huge respect to the art of film. However an animated film can be just as artistic and brilliant as any live action film and it is good to see Criterion is realizing animation as great art.

Fantastic Planet is a 1973 politically minded and very abstract Sci-fi animated feature film from director René Laloux, and with some brilliant artwork from Roland Topor. This film is an intelligent, and highly artistic film fable based off of  Stefan Wul's novel.

I am hoping because of this that more animated works of art will be released by Criterion in the future.

-Michael J. Ruhland

"The Glassworker" Pakistan's First Hand Drawn Animated Feature Film in the Works.

Usman Riaz's The Glassworker will mark the very first hand drawn animated film to come out of Pakistan. The animation style will be heavily influenced by Japanese anime.

Usman Riaz is a musician, currently studying at Berklee College. Along with the animation and directing, he will also be composing the music for the film.

The film will about a boy who grew up working in a glass factory, and falls in love with a girl who works there. Riaz hopes that this will open the door for more great art to come out of Pakistan using this method.

To make sure the film will be top notch, Riaz is doing a Kickstarter to make sure it will be possible, you can find it here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manostudios/the-glassworker-an-animated-film-directed-by-usman.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Only Yesterday's Theatrical Release in the U.S.A. on February 26

As I have mentioned in a previous post Only Yesterday is the only Studio Ghibli film not to be readily available to American audiences. However it is finally going to be released in the U.S.. It will be released theatrically nation wide on February 26, 2016, and will later be released on Blu-Ray and DVD. It will however have a U.S. premiere showing in New York on January 1st. So be excited my fellow Studio Ghibli fans, I know I am.




-Michael J. Ruhland

New Tomm Moore Film, Wolfwalkers, in the Works

Good News Fellow Animation Lovers,

Tomm Moore is working on a new feature film. Moore has directed two of the great masterpieces of recent years, The Secret of Kells, and Song of the Sea. If you are a lover of animation and/or film and you haven't seen these, then why are you reading this when you can watch them right now.

His new film will be called Wolfwalkers. Will Collins, screenwriter for Song of the Sea is already signed on to work with Moore on this film. Moore will be working with a co-director on this film. The co-director will be Ross Stewart, who had been a concept artist on Paranorman, and Moore's own Song of the Sea.

Moore says that the film will be based off of Oliver Cromwell’s belief in taming Ireland by killing the wolves. It is said the story will center around a young lady named Robyn. Not much more is known yet but I'm excited to find out more. Tomm Moore is one of my favorite modern directors and I have no doubt that this film will be a great experience whenever it is complete. Enjoy this peek at the art style though.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Animated Family Film Based Off of Blazing Saddles, But With Cat and Dog Samurais

No, you did not read the title wrong. Someone actually bought the rights to Blazing Saddles and than decided to make a film with none of the same characters, a completely different setting, and be kid friendly. On top of that the only person who worked on the previous film that is going to work on this one is Mel Brooks, who will probably do nothing but a brief cameo. On top of that this film will somehow have a big name voice cast attached, including Samuel L. Jackson, George Takei, Ricky Gervais and Michael Cera. What kind of world are we living in? I hate to judge a film before it's released, but Blazing Saddles is a classic of film comedy, and this sounds like an insult to that classic. Hopefully it will surprise me but I doubt it.

This film will the first feature film released by the Mass Animation studio. It will be co-directed by Chris Bailey, a former Disney animator who worked on such films as The Lion King, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and Oliver & Company, as well as directing the Mickey Mouse short Runaway Brain. He would after leaving Disney he would become the animation supervisor for the first two Live action/CGI hybrid Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and both Live/CGI hybrid Garfield movies. The other director would be another former Disney animator Mark Koestier, who animated on such films as The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunch Back of Notre Dame, and Trazan. After leaving Disney he would work as a storyboard artist for Dreamworks on films such as Kun-Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon. This will be Koestier's first time directing. It will be produced by former Sony Pictures executive Yair Landau, Mass Animation Producer Susan Purcell, and co-director of The Lion King Rob Minkoff.

Hopefully this will surprise me but for right now it seems like an unnecessary add on to a great film.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Shaun the Sheep Movie to get sequel

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Great news to all those who love Shaun the Sheep Movie as much as I did. It is getting a sequel. 

No release date is known at this time. I also do not know who will be distributing the film to the U.S., hopefully it will not be Liongate again since they did a disservice to it when it comes to advertising and letting people know this exists. Hopefully with the show being shown on Cartoon Network it will recive more advertising, though it didn't get advertising for being shown there. However I am excited no matter what, and hope it will meet the greatness of the first film (However even if it doesn't meet the greatness it could still be a brilliant movie). Directors/writers Richard Starzac and Mark Burton had talked about the idea of a sequel earlier, so hopefully the will return to direct/write this film. So be excited everyone be excited. 

So let's all celebrate...

-Michael J. Ruhland

Only Yesterday to get U.S. Release

Great news fellow American Studio Ghibli fans. Isoa Takahata's 1991 film Only Yesterday is finally going to get a U.S. release in 2016. This has been the only Ghibli film not to be released in the U.S.. So for us American Fans this is a new page in the history of not only one of the greatest animation studios to ever exist, but also one of the greatest film studios to ever exist.

This film is going to get both a Blu-ray/DVD release and a theatrical release. This is going to be brought to us by the company Gkids. So be excited everyone, I know I am.

-Michael J. Ruhland

"Mr. Bug goes to Town" (1941) on Turner Classic Movies on June 14

Great news fellow animation lovers,

Sunday June 14, 2015, a great underrated animated classic will be on Turner Classic Movies. This classic is "Mr. Bug Goes to Town", the Fleischer Brothers second and final animated feature film. Even though this movie is often times associated with the end of the studio (Though this has been argued as being for many reasons (most commonly lack of promotion and being released on the day pearl harbor was bombed).), it is actually a very well made film and a great last hurrah for the Fleischer Studio (Popeye, Betty Boop, Out of the Inkwell, etc.).

So tune into TCM on June 14th at 5:00pm Pacific Time or 8:00pm eastern for a great animated classic that has been unjustly forgotten.

-Michael J. Ruhland    

The Prophet

Hello fellow animation lovers. Do you wonder what Roger Allers (Director of the Lion King) has been up to lately?

Well a new animated movie will be premiering August 7th. This will be called the prophet and will be based off of Kahlil Gibran's book.

Although Roger Allers will be supervising director and directing all the bridging segments, this movie will have various directors and animation styles. Each poem from the book will have a different director and be animated in the style of their films. These directors include  Tomm Moore, Joan Gratz, Bill Plympton, Nina Paley, Joann Sfar, Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, Michal Socha and Mohammed Harib.

So be ready to enjoy this film when it comes, I will be.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Twice Upon a Time (1983) to be released on Home Video

Great news fellow animation lovers. Twice Upon a Time has been a very hard to find cult classic that has captivated many fans (well of those who have seen it) of animation, film and off-beat humor. However being able to see it is going to become much easier now. Co-director John Korty has announced that it will be released on home video this spring.

 Both versions of this movie are going to be released as well. The original version and the 'adult' version. The 'adult' version was made behind Korty's back and features some vulgar ad-libs from the voice actors.

So hopefully with this many other animation fans will see this hilarious off-beat animated comedy, love it, and share it with more animation fans.

-Michael J. Ruhland

42nd Annie Awards Winners

Yesterday for those who don't know was the Annie Awards. This is the award show specifically for animation. The Winners were:

 Best Animated Feature: ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’

The Best Animated Special Production: ‘Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey’

Best Animated Short Subject: 'Feast'

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial: ‘Flight of the Stories’

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast  for Preschool Children: ‘Tumble Leaf’

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Children’s Audience: ‘Gravity Falls’

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production: ‘The Simpsons’

Best Animated Video Game: ‘Valiant Hearts: The Great War’

Best Student Film: ‘My Big Brother’

The more individualized awards were dominated by How To Train Your Dragon 2, and The Mickey Mouse Shorts made for The Disney Channel.

For a more complete list look here:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/award-season-focus/breaking-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-and-mickey-mouse-shorts-dominate-annie-awards-108511.html

Congratz to all the winners, and all those nominated

-Michael J. Ruhland

Turner Classic Movies Animation Marathon on October 6th

Great news fellow animation lovers on Monday October 6th Turner Classic Movies is going to give us marathon of classic animation rarely seen on TV today. It begins at 5pm pacific time or 8pm Eastern time.

The marathon will began with some shorts from animation pioneer, and one of the greats in the history of animation Winsor McCay. Then some shorts from animation pioneer John Randolph Bray, who created the character of Colonel Heeza Liar (based off President Theodore Roosevelt). Some of the cartoons from John Randolph Bray feature animation by future Woody Woodpecker co-creator Walter Lantz (the other co-creator was Ben "Bugs" Hardaway (the name sake for Bugs Bunny)). Next up comes some cartoons from the Van Buren studio, who gave us the now forgotten "Rainbow Parade" cartoon series. Coming up next is "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926), the earliest surviving animated feature film ("The Apostle" (1917), and "Without a Trace" (1918) (both directed by Argentine animation pioneer Quirino Cristiani) came before but they are considered lost today). This masterpiece of a film is directed by Lotte Reingner, Queen of Silhouette animation. The animation and story telling of this film still holds up very well today, and not only remains an animated classic, but one of the best German films from the silent era. Next up comes The Fleisher Brothers first feature length film "Gulliver's Travel". I already talked about this great movie in a previous post so I won't go that much into it now. Next up comes the 1960 anime "Magic Boy". Lastly comes "The Phantom Tollbooth" (1969) directed by animation legend (a title he received for good reason) Chuck Jones. This is one of the only two feature films by Chuck Jones (the other being "The Bugs Bunny/ Roadrunner Movie" (1979)), and it is a film worthy of the legend who created it. Hopefully you tune in as well. This promises to be a fun night.

-Michael J. Ruhland

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks is Getting Limited Theatrical Realease

Good news fellow bronies, if you like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as much as I do (which is a lot), and enjoyed the first Equestria Girls Movie, the second Equestria Girls Movie is getting a limited theatrical release in the USA and Canada.

Here are the theaters and times it will be shown:

 http://www.screenvision.com/cinema-events/my-little-pony-equestria-girls-rainbow-rocks/#theaters_list

-Michael J. Ruhland

Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume 3 release on August 12th

Rejoice follow cartoon lovers for on August 12th the 3rd volume of the "Looney Tunes Platinum Collection" will be released on Blu-ray and DVD. This will feature many more classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons including 4 that have never been released on DVD or Blue-ray. Those 4 are "Honey's Money", "Life with Feathers", "Tree for Two", and "Beep Prepared". The Blu-ray version will also include a brand new documentary called "That's All Folks! Tales From Termite Terrace". Of course these are only the tip of the iceberg for there are 46 more classic cartoons along with many more bonus features.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Criterion Collection to Release "Watership Down" (1978)

Some of the greatest live action films from around the world have been released through the Criterion Collection. Thanks to them film fans have seen nearly perfectly restored movies with very informative bonus features. Now us animation fans have reason to rejoice, because now they are releasing animated films as well. They released "Fantastic Mr. Fox" on February 18, 2014, and now they have announced they will release the brilliant "Watership Down" (1978).

"Watership Down" is a brilliant and extremely original animated film from Britain, directed by Michael Rosen. It took many chances your average animated film wouldn't.  Not a movie for kids, it is complex, violent, and freighting. Most of all though it is a greatly compelling, and thought provoking work of art that all film fans should watch sometime in their life.

The classic movie will be available on ITunes on August 5th, and hopefully on dvd and Blu-ray not to long later. I'm exicted for this not just because I think "Watership Down" is one of the greatest movies ever made, but because hopefully more great animated works of art from around the world shall follow.

-Michael J. Ruhland

American Realese of "The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya"

Like I am sure many American fans of Studio Ghilbi are I am annoyed at having to wait longer for their films than I should have to since I have to wait for a dubbed version to be completed when I am perfectly satisfied with a subtitled version . This is nothing against people who prefer dubs. Great art should be enjoyed by anyone in the way they prefer to see it, and even though I prefer subtitles, I can still enjoy a dub. I am just impatient.

Anyway, on October 17 "The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya" will be released in America. This film is directed by Isao Takahata, who brought us the masterpiece "Grave of the Fireflies". The Dubbed version will be released though G-Kids, and feature the voices of James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss, Lucy Liu, Beau Bridges, James Marsden, Oliver Platt and Dean Cain.

-Michael J. Ruhland