Sherman, Menken Team Up for...
A special musical treat is in store for attendees of this year’s D23...
Tag "Illumination Entertainment"
Giordano and Breton to Shine at Illumination
Illumination Entertainment, the company behind last year’s underdog hit Despicable Me and 2013’s The Lorax, has tapped Brooke Braton to be the senior production executive and Kit Giardono to take over as director of development. Meanwhile Kirstin Wong-Ward, who was company founder and CEO Chris Meledandri’s exec assistant has been [...]
Paramount Launches In-House Feature Animation Unit
Paramount Pictures is getting into the cartoon game, announcing plans for an in-house animation division that will roll out its first title in 2014. Chairman and CEO Brad Grey said the initiative was part of the studio’s long-term strategy for growth and that the new division, called Paramount Animation, will [...]
Meledandri to Produce Uglydoll Feature
Illumination Entertainment president Chris Meledandri will produce a new CG-animated feature based on the Uglydoll franchise, reports Deadline Hollywood. According to Michael Fleming, Meledandri has acquired the rights for the characters created by husband-and-wife team David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim. Larry Stuckey (Meet the Fockers, Elling) will write the script, [...]
Universal to Ride with ‘Despicable Me’ Minions
Get ready to experience life as yellow Minions. Variety reports that Universal Studios will offer a ride based on Despicable Me at its Orlando theme park in 2012. The park will also Islands of Adventure’s The Amazing Adventure of Spider-Man attraction with new 3D technology. The Despicable Me ride will [...]
‘Rio’ Retains Box Office Crown Over Easter Weekend
Animation ruled the Easter weekend box office, with Blue Sky Studios’ stereoscopic 3D feature Rio repeating as the top film. Rio, released by Fox, took in an estimated $26.8 million this weekend to bring its total domestic gross to about $81 million. But the film’s real strength is apparent overseas, [...]
‘Rio’ Ready to Party at the U.S. Box Office
The box office goes in two very distinct directions this weekend, with horror fans likely headed to Scream 4 while animation offers a bright 3D trip to Rio. Directed by Carlos Saldanha and produced by Fox’s Blue Sky Studios, the animated feature Rio is set to open in an estimated [...]
‘Rio’ Conquers the World, While ‘Hop’ Repeats in U.S.
Rio opened big overseas, while domestic moviegoers made it clear that they prefer to see Russell Brand in animated movies over live-action remakes. Fox and Blue Sky Studios’ Rio opened with an estimated $55 million in ticket sales in 72 foreign markets. The film played particularly well in Brazil, Russia, [...]
It’s Brand vs. Brand as ‘Arthur’ Looks to Topple ‘Hop’
Moviegoers this weekend will get to decide if they prefer animation or live action when it comes to British comic actor Russell Brand. The star of such comedies as Get Him to the Greek headlines the new release Arthur, which opens at about 3,200 cinemas this weekend. He also provided [...]
‘Hop’ Leaps to $38 Million Domestic Opening
Hop put some bounce in the box office, handily winning an otherwise weak weekend for movies. The second film from the Universal-affliliated Illumination Entertainment grossed an estimated $38 million, easily exceeding expectations for an opening in the mid-20s. Hop — a hybrid film featuring both live-action and CG-animated characters — [...]
‘Hop’ Leaps into Weekend Box Office Race
Illumination Entertainment’s second feature film, Hop, jumps into theaters this weekend looking for a sweet payoff. The film, which mixes live action and CG animation, is set to open in an estimated 3,400 theaters. The film is directed by Tim Hill and features CG animation by Rhythm & Hues. It [...]
BinWeevils Appoints Henwood...
U.K.-based digital social world BinWeevils, for kids 6-12, has appointed media...
Blue Sky’s...
Epic, the new animated adventure from director Chris Wedge and his gifted team...
