When it comes to pet owners some are attention deprived when it comes to the needs of their said animals. Simon’s Cat is a new animation created by Simon Tofield of Tandem Films. Sure this is Garfield territory, but then again we can’t be finicky. Simon Tofield’s simple lined feline animated shorts are hitting the right chord with cat lovers. With 3 short films in the can, this is one creation that will have more than nine lives.

To smurf or not to smurf, Sony has acquired the rights to Belgian cartoonist Pierre "Peyo" Culliford’s Smurfs to be produced in CG. Seems everybody wants to CG about just any property out there. Writers J. David Stem and David N. Weiss of Sherk 2 and 3 will helm the screenplay for the blue imps. Considering that the Smurfs are celebrating their 50th anniversary since they were created in 1958, this was a tad late into really capitalizing on the phenomena. Will the world once again welcome the little blue men back? With the right script and out of this world CG-animation, there might be a chance.

Look out Bugs Bunny there is a new rabbit in town.  Big Buck Bunny is the epitome of today’s super-size me culture. This clever cartoon was produced by Ton Roosendaal of the the Blender Institute.

There is an old adage when it comes to creative people, stick to what you know. Seth MacFarlane must be the crazy glue of the animation world. A one time writer for the Simpsons created Family Guy and then American Dad. At closer scrutiny, the characters have different names but the principles and main ideas are just the same as Family Guy which is basically itself a clone of The Simpsons.

The award winning 1970 children’s book, In the Night Kitchen, by illustrator Maurice Sendak is a take and homage to early the 20th century way of life and a spice of his own vision of his youth . The book was banned in many libraries because of light nudity of Mickey the main character. Some went as far as to black out any genitalia with a marker. Winsor McCay’s comic strip of the early 1900s, Little Nemo in Slumberland, was the inspiration of the book as a journey into Maurice’s childhood.  Many scholars examined the book on many levels of hidden meaning which are many and led to a ban that deemed the book to be of sexual ambiguity and exploration in youth. The animated version is void of certain elements but paying close attention will reveal the mild implications of youthful discovery of the world around them.  Read more >>

Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood are happy to bring the world a new phobia. If you are afraid of clowns and roller coasters, then you will want to stay clear of this one. Both amusement parks are launching their new Simpsons themed roller coaster ride called Krustyland. You will have to have crust to get yourself in the ride if you have a fear for such things. All others will have a ball on their favorite themed characters.

Look out world here they come. Marvel Super Hero Squad, an animated series for the young ones based on the toy line. Marvel squad will spawn into many platforms as a way to introduce the characters to kids. There was a time when it was understood that comics were for kids. Seems the times have changed. We are lead to believe and the proof is in the pudding when you go to a comic shop, the clientele are mostly adult and not a kid is to be seen. Well Marvel needs the help of the kids to help the bottom line for the future. There is a notion that the survival of the company is to appeal to the young kids to sustain the industry. The actual numbers of kid readers is not clear. A gambling man would tell you they are not that big. This dumbing down of characters to kids is the wrong approach. Stumpy and cute is not the way to go.

There was a time in the natural course where it was understood that comics were for kids, but it became an industry that had to make amends with creators in using them as slave workers for many years and the companies raised the prices of books to compensate their staff. More elaborate stories laced with adult themes just chased away the kids from the shops. These are still your dad’s comics, and the torch was never passed.

Marvel seems to be gaining on DC Comics in the movie industry and promise great things with new movies. How much Super Hero movies can the general audience tolerate. Will the flood gates over flow with characters to the big screen and just kill the whole thing.  Word has it that either HHH or even Brad Pitt will play the role of Thor in the distant future, this sector seems to be taking flight. Marvel just wants to seed future generations with this new line of characters. With many spin-offs of the same characters, it will affect the continuity of stories and characters. The formula is working right now, this is a Super Hero boom of sorts. Let’s hope they steer it the right direction, the industry will all benefit at the end of the day.

Popeye & Friends Volume One

Warner Home Video has irked many folks with their over priced volumes of Popeye DVD collector’s editions. Taken away from the audience they were intended for, well now Warner made amends in my book with triumph good news of a new series of real affordable editions for the mass market, and in my opinion elegant looking art on the cover. This is relief news, and it might encourage others to buy the collector’s editions. A well done job for the studio, I am impressed that they are catering to the public. The only draw back is that the cartoons are from the 1978 CBS Saturday morning series. It’s as though the first cartoons are like minted gold and they don’t want to have them on a lower scale DVD package. Give the kids a little bit to see what an amazing cartoon it was in the early days of animation.

It’s time for more crazy tricks and treats with your favorite feathered friend in The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection: Volume 2! 75 hilarious theatrical cartoons from creator Walter Lantz are presented completely uncut and digitally remastered including 3 Academy Award nominees. Enjoy the side-splitting fun and wacky adventures of Woody along with Chilly Willy, Andy Panda, Wally Walrus, Buzz Buzzard and Woody’s nephew and niece - Knothead and Splinter. Featuring rare Musical Miniature and Swing Symphony cartoons plus appearances by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Windy the Bear, Maggie and Sam and Inspector Willoughby, this outrageous collection is non-stop fun for fans of all ages!

At last every many false starts, volume 6 of this amazing set of cartoons, the Inspector will finally see it to DVD.

Originally released as a series of theatrical cartoons, the hilarious Inspector Clouseau and his trusty assistant Sergeant Duex-Deux gained millions of fans with their constant fumbling while solving crime after crime. From a creative staff that helped define the stylized "cool" of ’60’s/’70’s animation, The Inspector was produced by David DePatie features direction by Fritz Freleng ( Return To The Planet Of The Apes ), Chiniquy ( Transformers ), Robert McKimson ( Looney Tunes ) and George Singer ( The Bullwinkle Show ), with scripts by John W. Dunn ( Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters ) and others.


With a nose for clues, an eye for intrigue and a mind like a steel trap that’s jammed shut, The Inspector sets out to solve Paris’ most puzzling crime mysteries