One thing is obvious, CG has changed everything. Almost anyone can now make an animated film. The big boys are all present. Disney and Pixar are each coming out with a film at their typical time (summer and winter). Dreamworks is coming out with three new films. Relative newcomers (to animation) The Weinstein Company is also coming out with three new movies. And Sony Animation drops a sequel.
Not to be outdone, established small firms Blue Sky and Illumination each take a shot. Co-production/direct to video firms Prana and Rainmaker both jump into theaters this year. Newcomers Triggerfish push out their second film in as many years. And Studio Ghibli will release their 2011 domestic hit. It's a crowded field.
Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers 2 (Sept)
Sequel to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Sony Pictures Animation (Smurfs, Surf's up). Typical sequel cash out. No interest.
The Croods (March)
Dreamworks. It's about a cave man forced out of his comfort zone by a volcano. The previews aren't doing it any favors. It's co-directed and written by Chris Sanders who has a great pedigree with having directed/written How to Train Your Dragon and Lilo & Stitch. The CG looks like How to Train Your Dragon which means a step above the typical Dreamworks feature - but nothing ground breaking. Maybe this one is better then it's previews. I can only hope. Expectations: low.
Despicable Me 2 (July)
Sequel by Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, The Lorax). The CG looks dull and the humor predictable. No interest.
Dorothy of Oz (TBA)
The first major animated feature from Prana Studios. In the past decade Prana has been brought on to co-produce many works by other large animation companies. They are best known for their work on the Tinker Bell series with Disney. Dorothy of Oz is based on a children's book of the same name written by Roger Baum, the grandson of the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The story is a sequel and has Dorothy returning to Oz for further adventures. The CG backgrounds look great but the character designs are weak. Which is what you'd expect from a co-production company. Might be too scary for my kids. No word on if you can sync the video with audio of Dark Side of the Moon. Expectations: medium.
Epic (May)
This year's feature from Blue Sky Studio. Blue Sky is best known for Rio, Robots and the Ice Age franchise. First off, at least it's not another Ice Age sequel! Blue Sky principal Chris Wedge (Ice Age, Robots) will be directing. Epic is a "battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and evil." It looks like a go girl action adventure with environmental overtones. The story is based on William Joyce's The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bug. The CG looks good but not great. Let's hope it lives up to its name. Expectations: medium.
Escape From Planet Earth (Feb)
From Rainmaker Entertainment who are best known for the Barbie direct to video movies. An SF action/ adventure comedy. The humor is slapstick and the CG lowbrow. Young kids would probably like this. My take is that it's boilerplate and cliché. Low expectations, skipping.
Frozen (Nov)
A Disney princess-esque movie. It's actually based on the rather dark Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen and will be a family action/adventure film. Director Chris Buck has had success with Tarzan and Surf's Up in the past but has no recent work for Disney. But given the story and Disney's history under animation director John Lasseter, expectations are high.
From Up on Poppy Hill (March)
Studio Ghibli's 2011 film is finally being released in North American theaters. And for the first time in a decade it will be without Disney. Which is why we're getting to see it in 2013 instead of 2015. A relationship coming of age film, it did well in Japan with good reviews. This is one of Ghibli's more direct, less surreal ventures. The art direction looks more straight forward then some of their past visual masterpieces. Directed by Gorō Miyazaki using a script written by his father. Looking forward to seeing this hand drawn film in the spring. A subtitled version is already available on DVD for those interested.
Khumba
The second feature from South African Triggerfish Animation Studio. A zebra goes on his journey to find his stripes. The CG is nothing special and it's being made by mostly no-names. It looks like a Madagascar rip-off to boot. Low expectations, plan on skipping
Leo The Lion (Aug)
The Weinstein Company is making a big animation push this year with three films. And Leo The Lion wins for the most PC of the lot. It's about a vegetarian lion who's an outcast among his fellow lions. Shocker. Directed and written by - who cares? Skip.
Monsters University (July)
Pixar's latest is technically a prequel. I really wish they wouldn't do sequels/prequels. Cars 2 was easily the worst movie they've ever made. On the other hand, Toy Story 3 was amazing. Monsters University is the directorial debut of long time animator Dan Scanlon which does not increase my confidence. The CG looks like a step back from the fine detail of Brave. I'm afraid this Monsters is going to go for laughs over story. Because it's Pixar, I have high expectations. But I also have high concerns.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (Nov)
A non-sequel Dreamworks film by Rob Minkoff, co-director of the Lion King. This movie is about Mr. Peabody, the dog who appeared in the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons in the 1960's. Not exactly trendy material. The CG looks to be, cartoonish. The script is written by a non-animation guy, Craig Wright. Wright is best known for writing scripts for Lost and Six Feet Under. It's an odd group of people with a strange subject. But odd can be good. Withholding (pre) judgment.
Planes (fall)
Direct to video Disneytoon production. Planes is a spinoff from the Cars universe created at Pixar. I'm pretty interested to see what Disney does here. Looks like cheap CG but maybe they'll surprise me. It has to be better then Cars 2.
Santapprentice (Dec)
From The Weinstein Company comes the worst title for a movie ever. So an orphan is chosen to replace Santa when he retires. Looks like a badly hand drawn film. And I swear I've seen this movie before and it wasn't good the first time. Skip.
The Trick or Treaters (Oct)
The Weinstein Company really likes holiday themed movies. Not much detail out on this one yet. Expectations are low.
Turbo (July)
Another Dreamworks feature. A sports flick about a snail who wants to go fast. Written by and the directorial debut of animator David Soren. I just don't know enough about it to have a strong opinion. It could be ok but I'm leaving my expectations low.
This year's feature from Blue Sky Studio. Blue Sky is best known for Rio, Robots and the Ice Age franchise. First off, at least it's not another Ice Age sequel! Blue Sky principal Chris Wedge (Ice Age, Robots) will be directing. Epic is a "battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and evil." It looks like a go girl action adventure with environmental overtones. The story is based on William Joyce's The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bug. The CG looks good but not great. Let's hope it lives up to its name. Expectations: medium.
Escape From Planet Earth (Feb)
From Rainmaker Entertainment who are best known for the Barbie direct to video movies. An SF action/ adventure comedy. The humor is slapstick and the CG lowbrow. Young kids would probably like this. My take is that it's boilerplate and cliché. Low expectations, skipping.
Frozen (Nov)
A Disney princess-esque movie. It's actually based on the rather dark Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen and will be a family action/adventure film. Director Chris Buck has had success with Tarzan and Surf's Up in the past but has no recent work for Disney. But given the story and Disney's history under animation director John Lasseter, expectations are high.
From Up on Poppy Hill (March)
Studio Ghibli's 2011 film is finally being released in North American theaters. And for the first time in a decade it will be without Disney. Which is why we're getting to see it in 2013 instead of 2015. A relationship coming of age film, it did well in Japan with good reviews. This is one of Ghibli's more direct, less surreal ventures. The art direction looks more straight forward then some of their past visual masterpieces. Directed by Gorō Miyazaki using a script written by his father. Looking forward to seeing this hand drawn film in the spring. A subtitled version is already available on DVD for those interested.
Khumba
The second feature from South African Triggerfish Animation Studio. A zebra goes on his journey to find his stripes. The CG is nothing special and it's being made by mostly no-names. It looks like a Madagascar rip-off to boot. Low expectations, plan on skipping
Leo The Lion (Aug)
The Weinstein Company is making a big animation push this year with three films. And Leo The Lion wins for the most PC of the lot. It's about a vegetarian lion who's an outcast among his fellow lions. Shocker. Directed and written by - who cares? Skip.
Monsters University (July)
Pixar's latest is technically a prequel. I really wish they wouldn't do sequels/prequels. Cars 2 was easily the worst movie they've ever made. On the other hand, Toy Story 3 was amazing. Monsters University is the directorial debut of long time animator Dan Scanlon which does not increase my confidence. The CG looks like a step back from the fine detail of Brave. I'm afraid this Monsters is going to go for laughs over story. Because it's Pixar, I have high expectations. But I also have high concerns.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (Nov)
A non-sequel Dreamworks film by Rob Minkoff, co-director of the Lion King. This movie is about Mr. Peabody, the dog who appeared in the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons in the 1960's. Not exactly trendy material. The CG looks to be, cartoonish. The script is written by a non-animation guy, Craig Wright. Wright is best known for writing scripts for Lost and Six Feet Under. It's an odd group of people with a strange subject. But odd can be good. Withholding (pre) judgment.
Planes (fall)
Direct to video Disneytoon production. Planes is a spinoff from the Cars universe created at Pixar. I'm pretty interested to see what Disney does here. Looks like cheap CG but maybe they'll surprise me. It has to be better then Cars 2.
Santapprentice (Dec)
From The Weinstein Company comes the worst title for a movie ever. So an orphan is chosen to replace Santa when he retires. Looks like a badly hand drawn film. And I swear I've seen this movie before and it wasn't good the first time. Skip.
The Trick or Treaters (Oct)
The Weinstein Company really likes holiday themed movies. Not much detail out on this one yet. Expectations are low.
Turbo (July)
Another Dreamworks feature. A sports flick about a snail who wants to go fast. Written by and the directorial debut of animator David Soren. I just don't know enough about it to have a strong opinion. It could be ok but I'm leaving my expectations low.
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