Ming-Na Wen, who voiced Mulan in Disney’s animated feature of the same name, is set to narrate a new documentary titled “Pencils Vs Pixels.”
Co-directed by Bay Dariz (“Hypochondriac”) and Phil Earnest, “Pencils Vs Pixels” is a celebration of 2D hand-drawn animation.
The documentary, which will have its world premiere at Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week, will explore the Disney-led 2D animation boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s which was soon eclipsed by the dawn of computer animation. But, as the film shows, a resurgence of 2D animation suggests there is still hope for the medium.
The documentary features interviews with the great and good of the animation world including Pete Docter, John Musker (“The Little Mermaid”), Tony Bancroft (“Mulan”), Jorge R. Gutiérrez (“The Book of Life”), Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”), Glen Keane (“Beauty and the Beast”), Tina Price (“Hercules”), Lorna Cook (“Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron...
Co-directed by Bay Dariz (“Hypochondriac”) and Phil Earnest, “Pencils Vs Pixels” is a celebration of 2D hand-drawn animation.
The documentary, which will have its world premiere at Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week, will explore the Disney-led 2D animation boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s which was soon eclipsed by the dawn of computer animation. But, as the film shows, a resurgence of 2D animation suggests there is still hope for the medium.
The documentary features interviews with the great and good of the animation world including Pete Docter, John Musker (“The Little Mermaid”), Tony Bancroft (“Mulan”), Jorge R. Gutiérrez (“The Book of Life”), Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”), Glen Keane (“Beauty and the Beast”), Tina Price (“Hercules”), Lorna Cook (“Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron...
- 6/9/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Launched by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen as DreamWorks in 1994, DreamWorks Animation celebrates its silver anniversary, marking 25 years since embarking on its first voyage with the Academy Award-nominated biblical epic “The Prince of Egypt.”
Since then, DreamWorks Animation has released 38 feature films, including the blockbuster “Shrek,” “Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Trolls” franchises and its newest release, “Abominable.” Earning more than $15 billion at the global box office, DreamWorks has received a multitude of accolades over its history, including three Oscars and three Academy Sci-Tech Awards.
Women have long been in the spotlight at DreamWorks Animation, well known for promoting female talent within their ranks to leadership roles. Here, six female directors share their memories of working at the studio during its first quarter century: Lorna Cook, Vicky Jenson, Elaine Bogan, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Brenda Chapman, and Jill Culton.
Lorna Cook
Animator-director
For Cook,...
Since then, DreamWorks Animation has released 38 feature films, including the blockbuster “Shrek,” “Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Trolls” franchises and its newest release, “Abominable.” Earning more than $15 billion at the global box office, DreamWorks has received a multitude of accolades over its history, including three Oscars and three Academy Sci-Tech Awards.
Women have long been in the spotlight at DreamWorks Animation, well known for promoting female talent within their ranks to leadership roles. Here, six female directors share their memories of working at the studio during its first quarter century: Lorna Cook, Vicky Jenson, Elaine Bogan, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Brenda Chapman, and Jill Culton.
Lorna Cook
Animator-director
For Cook,...
- 10/10/2019
- by Jennifer Wolfe
- Variety Film + TV
Update: Frozen is warming up with three more actors joining the voice cast. Josh Gad (The Internship, "1600 Penn") will voice Olaf, the snowman (who is featured in a clip currently on KidsPickFlicks.com's home page) who accompanies Anna and Kristoff on their journey to save the kingdom. Broadway actor Santino Fontana will lend his voice to Hans, Anna's handsome suitor. And Alan Tudyk, the "Suburgatory" actor who brought King Candy to life in Wreck-It Ralph, will voice a duke visiting Arendelle for a coronation ceremony. This is a reunion for Tudyk and director Jennifer Lee, who worked on Wreck-It Ralph together. The Walt Disney Animation movie will be released at Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.
Dec. 19, 2012 - Broadway regular and "Glee" special guest star Jonathan Groff will join the voice cast of Disney Animation's Frozen. He'll voice Kristoff, the mountain man Kristen Bell's character teams up with to save her village. Groff...
Dec. 19, 2012 - Broadway regular and "Glee" special guest star Jonathan Groff will join the voice cast of Disney Animation's Frozen. He'll voice Kristoff, the mountain man Kristen Bell's character teams up with to save her village. Groff...
- 6/19/2013
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
Update: Disney named Jennifer Lee as one of the directors of its animated film Frozen. What makes this notable is that there are very few women given the opportunity to direct animated feature films. She will co-direct with Chris Buck. Lee is one of the writers of Frozen as well as Disney Animation's current hit Wreck-It Ralph.
Here are the female directors of animated feature releases from major Hollywood studios: Brenda Chapman was the first with DreamWorks' Prince of Egypt; she was initially hired to direct Pixar's Brave before being replaced by Mark Andrews. Jennifer Yuh Nelson directed Kung Fu Panda 2 and is currently working on Kung Fu Panda 3. Jill Culton directed Open Season for Sony Pictures Animation. Lorna Cook helmed DreamWorks' Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
June 11, 2012 - Kristin Bell (You Again) and Idina Menzel (Rachel's birth mom in "Glee") will voice the lead characters in Disney Animation's adventure-comedy epic Frozen.
Here are the female directors of animated feature releases from major Hollywood studios: Brenda Chapman was the first with DreamWorks' Prince of Egypt; she was initially hired to direct Pixar's Brave before being replaced by Mark Andrews. Jennifer Yuh Nelson directed Kung Fu Panda 2 and is currently working on Kung Fu Panda 3. Jill Culton directed Open Season for Sony Pictures Animation. Lorna Cook helmed DreamWorks' Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
June 11, 2012 - Kristin Bell (You Again) and Idina Menzel (Rachel's birth mom in "Glee") will voice the lead characters in Disney Animation's adventure-comedy epic Frozen.
- 11/29/2012
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
Did you know that Nelson is the only woman to have directed a feature (Kung Fu Panda 2) without a male-co-director at DreamWorks?
In her interview with the La Times reporter Nicole Sperling, she tells us that the only other female directors there have been Brenda Chapman (Prince of Egypt), Vicky Jenson (Shark Tale, Shrek) and Lorna Cook (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron), who all co-directed with a dude. And the company's main competition, Pixar? They've never even had One woman director on any of their 11 hit features.
And apparently last year Pixar fired Chapman from the female-character-driven animated fantasy movie Brave, which she'd been working on for 6 years, which she co-wrote with Irene Mecchi.
Quote:
"There aren't a lot of female story artists, and it's baffling to me," Nelson said. "There are a lot of kids in school that are female and I wonder, where did they all go?...
In her interview with the La Times reporter Nicole Sperling, she tells us that the only other female directors there have been Brenda Chapman (Prince of Egypt), Vicky Jenson (Shark Tale, Shrek) and Lorna Cook (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron), who all co-directed with a dude. And the company's main competition, Pixar? They've never even had One woman director on any of their 11 hit features.
And apparently last year Pixar fired Chapman from the female-character-driven animated fantasy movie Brave, which she'd been working on for 6 years, which she co-wrote with Irene Mecchi.
Quote:
"There aren't a lot of female story artists, and it's baffling to me," Nelson said. "There are a lot of kids in school that are female and I wonder, where did they all go?...
- 5/26/2011
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
DreamWorks' "The Prince of Egypt" is a glorious, old-style movie done with state-of-the-art animation, glowing and gorgeously composed.
Based on the book of Exodus and featuring the struggle of two brothers who embody good and evil, it packs a towering contemporary message and is realized in a stunning visual fashion. It's sophisticated, both intellectually and morally, and hopefully will play to the animation crowd.
Overall, "Prince" is a most laudable stylistic effort and, optimistically, viewers will give it their most considered effort and propel it with word-of-mouth enthusiasm.
What is most compelling about "Prince" is its magical animated art. It combines the grandeur of mountainscapes, recollective of John Ford movies, with the glories of a timeless tale -- namely, the animosity between brothers, one good (Val Kilmer) and one evil (Ralph Fiennes). It is, of course, the saga of Moses' personal quest to save his people from the repressive dictatorship of his brother Rameses, whom he urges to "let my people go." It is a magic mix of animation with religious philosophy. In that way, it is truly daring.
The visceral staging of this production is splendid, from the thrilling film score of Hans Zimmer to the super visual work of the crew of animators. "Prince" is a truly muscular movie, rippling with ideas and energy. The colors are stimulating but in a subdued sort of way. There's a wonderfully mixed fusion of browns and golds that truly lights up the eye. Compliments all around to the gifted animators, and special praise to production designer Darek Gogol for his keen combination of insight and research.
On the downside, the story line is often redundant. Co-story supervisors Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook bring home obvious messages and themes with overly empathetic diatribes. Moses' sweet, unassuming nature is continually a counterpoint to his brother's meanness, and it rings flat after a bit.
Still, "The Prince of Egypt"'s energy overrides its sometimes laborious narrative. It's a treat to watch. Highest praise to co-directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner and Simon Wells for their superb collaboration. They've created a truly memorable movie.
The voice characterizations are terrific, particularly Kilmer as the indignant and noble Moses. He captures a man of deep moral dimension. Praise also to Fiennes for his layered interpretation of the amoral Rameses. Michelle Pfeiffer is most alluring as the female lead, and Steve Martin is, not surprisingly, charismatic as a court magician.
THE PRINCE OF EQYPT
DreamWorks Pictures
Producers: Penny Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins
Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steven Hickner, Simon Wells
Story supervisors: Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook
Executive producer: Jeffrey Katzenberg
Associate producer: Ron Rocha
Original songs: Stephen Schwartz
Music: Hans Zimmer
Art directors: Kathy Altieri, Richard Chavez
Production designer: Darek Gogol
Supervising editor: Nick Fletcher
Visual effects supervisors: Don Paul, Dan Philips
Casting: Leslee Feldman
Costume designer: Kelly Kimball
Color/stereo
Voices:
Moses: Val Kilmer
Rameses: Ralph Fiennes
Tzipporah: Michelle Pfeiffer
Miriam: Sandra Bullock
Aaron: Jeff Goldblum
Jethro: Danny Glover
Seti: Patrick Stewart
The Queen: Helen Mirren
Hotep: Steve Martin
Huy: Martin Short
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Based on the book of Exodus and featuring the struggle of two brothers who embody good and evil, it packs a towering contemporary message and is realized in a stunning visual fashion. It's sophisticated, both intellectually and morally, and hopefully will play to the animation crowd.
Overall, "Prince" is a most laudable stylistic effort and, optimistically, viewers will give it their most considered effort and propel it with word-of-mouth enthusiasm.
What is most compelling about "Prince" is its magical animated art. It combines the grandeur of mountainscapes, recollective of John Ford movies, with the glories of a timeless tale -- namely, the animosity between brothers, one good (Val Kilmer) and one evil (Ralph Fiennes). It is, of course, the saga of Moses' personal quest to save his people from the repressive dictatorship of his brother Rameses, whom he urges to "let my people go." It is a magic mix of animation with religious philosophy. In that way, it is truly daring.
The visceral staging of this production is splendid, from the thrilling film score of Hans Zimmer to the super visual work of the crew of animators. "Prince" is a truly muscular movie, rippling with ideas and energy. The colors are stimulating but in a subdued sort of way. There's a wonderfully mixed fusion of browns and golds that truly lights up the eye. Compliments all around to the gifted animators, and special praise to production designer Darek Gogol for his keen combination of insight and research.
On the downside, the story line is often redundant. Co-story supervisors Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook bring home obvious messages and themes with overly empathetic diatribes. Moses' sweet, unassuming nature is continually a counterpoint to his brother's meanness, and it rings flat after a bit.
Still, "The Prince of Egypt"'s energy overrides its sometimes laborious narrative. It's a treat to watch. Highest praise to co-directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner and Simon Wells for their superb collaboration. They've created a truly memorable movie.
The voice characterizations are terrific, particularly Kilmer as the indignant and noble Moses. He captures a man of deep moral dimension. Praise also to Fiennes for his layered interpretation of the amoral Rameses. Michelle Pfeiffer is most alluring as the female lead, and Steve Martin is, not surprisingly, charismatic as a court magician.
THE PRINCE OF EQYPT
DreamWorks Pictures
Producers: Penny Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins
Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steven Hickner, Simon Wells
Story supervisors: Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook
Executive producer: Jeffrey Katzenberg
Associate producer: Ron Rocha
Original songs: Stephen Schwartz
Music: Hans Zimmer
Art directors: Kathy Altieri, Richard Chavez
Production designer: Darek Gogol
Supervising editor: Nick Fletcher
Visual effects supervisors: Don Paul, Dan Philips
Casting: Leslee Feldman
Costume designer: Kelly Kimball
Color/stereo
Voices:
Moses: Val Kilmer
Rameses: Ralph Fiennes
Tzipporah: Michelle Pfeiffer
Miriam: Sandra Bullock
Aaron: Jeff Goldblum
Jethro: Danny Glover
Seti: Patrick Stewart
The Queen: Helen Mirren
Hotep: Steve Martin
Huy: Martin Short
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 12/11/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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