Animation

A Beginner’s Guide to BoJack Horseman

This weekend heralds the return of everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic horse, with Netflix streaming the eagerly awaited fourth season of BoJack Horseman. Since its premiere in 2014, the animated comedy has received much praise from critics – despite an initially frosty reception – with some going as far as to call it the best television series…

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Film Review: Sing (G) (USA, 2016) is a pleasant outing for families this holiday season

Stacking itself plentiful with a heft of pop songs ranging from the classic sounds of Lennon & McCartney to the modern screech of Lady GaGa, Sing is a jukebox musical of sorts that’s suitably bold and bright. Seemingly content not reaching for critical acclaim in the same vein as recent animated offerings like Zootopia, this…

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Fans of The Lion King don’t seem impressed Disney are doing a live action remake with Jon Favreau

So Disney today announced that they’re undertaking a “re-imagining” of the all-time best-ever family film The Lion King. And it nearly broke Twitter. No. Stop. You've gone too far this time. Back away from that script right now, sir!https://t.co/GnHz2lT9Mx — Liz Tierney (@eliztierney13) September 28, 2016 https://twitter.com/thezakroeshow/status/781158919733403649 Lion King remake… *sigh! Must all things be ruined? 🤔 — Cate…

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Ice Age: Collision Course co-director Galen T. Chu reflects on Scrat, Blue Sky Studios and the record-breaking fifth film

14 years after the release of the original, the Ice Age series today embarks on an intergalactic, earth-shattering journey in what is the fifth feature film in the franchise – the first animated series to reach such a milestone. But it shouldn’t come as any surprise. In spite of lukewarm reviews, the last two instalments went on…

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ACMI presents ‘Screen It’ 2016 with this year’s theme revealed!

Children creatives, this one’s for you! ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) are on the lookout for young and inspired children to enter Australia’s student film competition, Screen It. This year’s theme, Mystery, will spark the creativity of school students around the country in making authentic and inventive films, animations and video games. Screen It…

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Exclusive Interview: Jim Murphy, director of Pixar’s Lava, discusses the short film’s origins, and more

Jim Murphy, director of Pixar’s newest short film Lava sat down with us at SXSW to talk about the beauty of showing shorts before features, how he approached creating the film, pitching ideas to Pixar, and more. The film will be premiering in Australia later this month, playing before Inside Out, which premieres on June…

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TV DVD Review: The Simpsons – The Complete Seventeenth Season (USA, 2014)

The Simpsons is one great but frustrating TV show. The animated series about our favourite dysfunctional family and the other characters that inhabit Springfield is now in its 26th series. The DVD releases are a little delayed with season 17 (which aired in 2005) only just being released. In the style of the more recent…

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Producer Roy Conli talks about the creation of Disney’s Big Hero 6

Having produced the hit Tangled, and been part of the team behind Wreck-It Ralph and the sensation that is Frozen, Roy Conli is part of Disney’s incredible track record from the last few years. His latest effort sees him serving as the Producer for Big Hero 6 – which was released in Australian cinemas today (read…

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Film Review: The House of Magic (USA, 2014)

If you’re a fan of amazing CGI effects, a rollicking soundtrack and Hollywood superstars lending their voices to bring a story to life, then The House of Magic, produced and directed by Ben Stassen, is probably not going to sit well with you.  If you’re after a simply story to help while away 80 odd…

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Film Review: Disney Planes – Fire & Rescue (USA, 2014)

Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cooke) has defied all odds, transforming himself from a small town crop duster to a global aerial racing champion. Planes: Fire & Rescue is the next exciting chapter to his story, following his training with the unsung heroes of Piston Peak’s fire and rescue unit. After a routine practice session…

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DragonBall Z: Battle of Gods to Screen in Cinemas Across Australia & New Zealand on August 30

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods will screen in theatres across Australia and New Zealand, and tickets are available now! Madman have announced the screenings will take place as a very special Reel Anime event on August 30th. Ticketholders will also receive a free A2 poster from participating cinemas on the day, subject to availability….

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Sydney Film Festival Review: Yearbook (USA, 2013)

There’s only one time in my life that I can recall having something that I can only describe as an anxiety attack. It was at a Brian Cox lecture in Sydney last year and I believe it was when the rockstar physicist was describing the moment when the Earth would cease to exist. The very…

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Film Review: Daddy I’m a Zombie (Papá, soy una zombi) (PG) (Spain, 2012)

On the surface, the promise of Daddy I’m a Zombie’s Tim Burton animation style and horror/comedy sensibilities is appealing. Given the rising popularity of animated films within the genre (such as Coraline and Paranorman), there was hope that this Spanish feature might solidly deliver the same type of visual enchantment. Unfortunately it’s unpolished production, puzzling…

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New trailer for How to Train Your Dragon 2 flies online.

Dreamworks Animation pleasantly surprised everyone when they released How to Train Your Dragon back in 2010. What could have been a generic kids movie about dragons turned out to be a moving portrait of friendship and acceptance that viewers of any age could enjoy. Four years later and we are a few months away from…

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Film Review: The Lego Movie (PG) (Australia/USA, 2014)

If you don’t end up walking out of this movie with a nostalgic tinge for your childhood or singing “Everything Is Awesome” or wanting to buy Lego then you must be a robot. This movie has been one of the hotly anticipated films of the year and with good reason. A combination of stop motion…

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Hello Asia! Film Review: The Wind Rises (Japan, 2013)

The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu) is the much heralded and final offering from legendary Japanese animated feature film director of Studio Ghibli fame – Hayao Miyazaki. In true Miyazaki style, it is loosely based on historical events steeped deeply in fantasy and adventure. Although this film is a highly fictionalised biography, it pays tribute to…

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Film Review: Frozen (PG) (USA, 2013)

The Little Mermaid. Beauty and the Beast. Aladdin. The Lion King. These animated musical classics were all released within a 5 year period (1989-1994) when Disney animation was at its high point. This fruitful period, known as the Disney Renaissance, continued until the end of the century and also included films such as Mulan (1998) and Tarzan (1999). However, during the…

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New Trailer: The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu – Japan, 2013)

The grandmaster of animation, Hayao Miyazaki, made the somewhat unexpected announcement of his retirement from filmmaking a few months back when his film The Wind Rises played at the Venice Film Festival. The film’s trailer has arrived, and after great reviews from the festival circuit I’m hoping it’s a great watch. The film tells the…

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New Trailer and Character Posters Revealed: The Lego Movie (USA/Australia, 2014)

Being produced right here in Australia at Animal Logic (Happy Feet), is the new film from Phil Lord & Christopher Miller – directors of 21 Jump Street and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The film is the first ever full length theatrical LEGO adventure, and is aptly titled The LEGO Movie, set for an Australian cinematic…

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