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There was an almost 40-year gap between "The Transformers: The Movie" and the new "Transformers One." It's astounding it took that long for another animated film about the Robots in Disguise because that's the medium where they're most at home. It's why in the 40 years this series has existed, there have been more than a dozen cartoons starring the Transformers.

The original 1984 cartoon — "The Transformers" — is an influential series, but frankly, it's not a very good one. The animation was low quality and no one working on that show thought they were making anything more than a toy commercial. But "The Transformers" struck a chord in kids' imaginations and inspired superior retellings, like "Transformers One." If you can't get past the commercialism or silliness of "Transformers," I get it, but there are gems in this franchise like "Beast Wars," "Transformers Animated," and the one of my childhood, "Transformers: Prime."

Aired...

The upcoming Transformers film signals the franchise's return to animation following The Transformers: The Movie in the 1980s. Transformers One aims to redeem the shortcomings of the 1986 animated film through an improved story and animation. The voice cast of Transformers One includes new stars such as Chris Hemsworth and Keegan-Michael Key.

The Transformers film series grows with every passing year, and a new movie that aims to make up for a 38-year-old disappointment in the franchise is set to premiere in 2024. The multimedia franchise began with a toy line in the 1980s, and its rapidly growing popularity quickly resulted in the production of comic books, video games, television shows, and movies (both animation and live-action). Its popularity spiked again in 2007 with the launch of the Transformers film series, which has produced seven movies, with another coming in 2024 that returns the franchise to its roots.

Although the upcoming Transformers film is...

Since her debut in the 1986 animated "Transformers" movie, Arcee has been one of the most famous Autobots of all. The default girl Transformer, Arcee rocks a feminine pink-and-white color scheme and either a sports car or motorcycle vehicle mode. She's also had a bit of a rough history.

Arcee was considered for the 2007 "Transformers" film (check out concept art of her here), but like a few other characters, she was cut during development. Co-writer Roberto Orci explained the removal to IGN: "The idea of a female Transformer needs its own explanation, and there just wasn't going to be enough time."

The sequel, "Revenge of the Fallen," featured Arcee, but in one of its many faults, it didn't do much with her. Arcee is one of a trio of female motorcycle transformers; she's painted pink while her sisters are blue and purple (media differs on if the trio are separate...

The peak of the original incarnation of the Transformers franchise was easily 1986's The Transformers: The Movie. This animated theatrical film closed the door for many of the characters and concepts introduced in the cartoon's first two seasons, all the while introducing several new ones. Unfortunately, some of these Cybertronians were inevitably cut from production.

The initial script for the movie featured Transformers known as the "Anibots," with the bestial robots being a dangerous group of do-gooders. Though they weren't included in the final film, they would transform further into a deadly group of villains. Likewise, they also set the stage for the franchise as a whole to take a much more animalistic form in the next decade.

Related: Transformers: The Knightverse Can Replicate Thanos With This Decepticon Leader

A Lost Combiner Group Was Almost in The Transformers: The Movie

After the first two seasons of The Transformers,...

Annecy, France — Legendary Chinese director Stephen Chow, the man behind 2004’s dark-horse hit “Kung Fu Hustle,” is in development on ‘The Monkey King’ with Pearl Studio, the Shanghai-based animation company announced Thursday at the Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival.

The studio also unveiled that young actor Albert Tsai, Tensing Norgay Trainor, the grandson of Tensing Norgay, the first man to reach the summit of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tsai Chin will be joining “Agents of Shield’s” Chloe Bennet in its upcoming feature “Abominable.”

The announcements came as Pearl detailed its upcoming slate of animated feature productions, backstory and ambitions, straight from the mouths of animation legends Jill Culton and Glen Keane.

“The Monkey King” is penned by animated-animal feature experts Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, whose past credits include “Brother Bear” and “Chicken Little.” The film is an effort to bring to the world, a character described...

Shanghai-based Pearl Studio, formerly Oriental DreamWorks, is teaming up with Kung Fu Hustle and The Mermaid director Stephen Chow to develop an animated feature version of Chinese box office smash The Monkey King ‘for a worldwide audience’.

Chow’s involvement was announced today at animation festival Annecy in France and represents an exciting collaboration for Pearl, which previously co-produced Kung Fu Panda 3. Chow has not been set as director.

The animation update, adapted from the classic Monkey King legend about a monkey who gains supernatural powers, is being written by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, whose credits include Brother Bear and Chicken Little.

Multi-hyphenate Chow’s directing credits include The Mermaid and Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons, both of which shattered Middle Kingdom box office records, as well as action-comedy Kung Fu Hustle, which grossed more than $100M worldwide as well as BAFTA and Golden Globe noms.

“Stephen...

Abominable, Over The Moon also on Chinese company’s slate.

Stephen Chow is developing an epic animated adventure based on The Monkey King myth for China’s Pearl Studio, it emerged at Annecy International Animated Film Festival on Thursday (June 14).

Chow, whose credits include Chinese box office smashes The Mermaid and Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons as well as global hit Kung Fu Hustle, is collaborating with Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, who were among the writing teams on Brother Bear and Chicken Little.

“Stephen Chow is the perfect creative partner to develop The Monkey King with Pearl Studio,...

Joint venture to be rebranded as Pearl Studio under CEO Frank Zhu.

Li Ruigang’s China Media Capital (Cmc) has acquired full ownership of Oriental DreamWorks, the animation joint venture it established with DreamWorks Animation in 2012.

NBCUniversal inherited a 45% stake in the joint venture when it acquired DreamWorks Animation for $3.8bn in 2016. Last year, the Financial Times reported that Universal was in talks to selling its stake to Warner Bros.

The joint venture will be rebranded as Pearl Studio and headed by CEO Frank Zhu and chief creative officer Peilin Chou. It has released one big animated feature to date, Kung Fu Panda 3 (pictured), which was considered to have under-performed when it grossed $154m in January 2016.

NBCUniversal and DreamWorks Animation will continue to collaborate with Pearl Studio on its upcoming animated movie Everest, scheduled for release in 2019. Pearl is distributing in China while Universal will handle the rest of the world.

Li Ruigang said in...

Ryan Lambie Nov 30, 2016

With a 30th anniversary Blu-ray out soon, Ryan takes a timely look back at the quirky, dark, superbly animated Transformers: The Movie...

Nb: The following contains spoilers for Transformers: The Movie. Just thought we should mention it.

See related  Close To The Enemy episode 3 review Close To The Enemy episode 2 review Close To The Enemy episode 1 review

The shadow of death hung like a black curtain over Transformers: The Movie. Thanks to an edict handed down by the powers that be at Hasbro, pretty much every toy in the original Transformers 1984 line was wiped out in the course of the film's events; and by the time the noble Autobot leader Optimus Prime died at the hands of Megatron towards the end of the first act, a generation of youngsters were scarred for life.

In retrospect, Hasbro's cold business decision - to wipe out one generation of toys...

This week marked the 30th anniversary of the best toy commercial ever released to theaters, Transformers: The Movie. Jabbing aside, the film does use a classic hero’s-journey story to great effect, portraying an epic battle between good and evil. Look no further than the film’s director Nelson Shin and writers Flint Dille and and Ron Friedman to see that while Hasbro’s intent may have been more capitalistic, the creative types were interested in making an authentic slam-bang, sci-fi adventure with some gravitas. Flickering Myth ran an exhaustive piece earlier this week featuring quotes from Shin, Dille, and Friedman proving this further.

According to Flickering Myth, the first draft of Transformers: The Movie from Dille was titled Transformers: The Secret Of Cybertron and featured Optimus Prime on a quest into the innerspace of the Transformer’s home planet to find the origins of the Autobots and Decepticons.

Ryan Lambie Aug 8, 2019

Transformers: The Movie traumatized a generation of kids with a string of startling deaths.

When parents took their kids to see Transformers: The Movie in 1986, they probably weren’t expecting quite as much death and mayhem. But in the feature-length spin-off from the hit Hasbro toy-line and accompanying TV show, the spectre of death was everywhere; one early scene alone saw the evil Decepticons hijack an Autobot space shuttle and execute all the heroes inside.

It’s worth bearing in mind, first of all, that the Transformers TV series, which had been running for two years by that point, had never killed off any of its characters - even though they often engaged in protracted brawls and laser battles. In Transformers: The Movie, a number of much-loved characters were not only shot and killed, but occasionally died in surprisingly graphic fashion.

On a personal note, I still...

Ryan Lambie Aug 8, 2019

Transformers: The Movie traumatized a generation of kids with a string of startling deaths.

When parents took their kids to see Transformers: The Movie in 1986, they probably weren’t expecting quite as much death and mayhem. But in the feature-length spin-off from the hit Hasbro toy-line and accompanying TV show, the spectre of death was everywhere; one early scene alone saw the evil Decepticons hijack an Autobot space shuttle and execute all the heroes inside.

It’s worth bearing in mind, first of all, that the Transformers TV series, which had been running for two years by that point, had never killed off any of its characters - even though they often engaged in protracted brawls and laser battles. In Transformers: The Movie, a number of much-loved characters were not only shot and killed, but occasionally died in surprisingly graphic fashion.

On a personal note, I still...

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Thirty years ago, Transformers: The Movie traumatised a generation of kids with a string of startling deaths. Ryan looks back...

Nb: The following contains spoilers for Transformers: The Movie.

When parents took their kids to see Transformers: The Movie in 1986, they probably weren’t expecting quite as much death and mayhem. But in the feature-length spin-off from the hit Hasbro toy-line and accompanying TV show, the spectre of death was everywhere; one early scene alone saw the evil Decepticons hijack an Autobot space shuttle and execute all the heroes inside.

It’s worth bearing in mind, first of all, that the Transformers TV series, which had been running for two years by that point, had never killed off any of its characters - even though they often engaged in protracted brawls and laser battles. In Transformers: The Movie, a number of much-loved characters were not only shot and killed, but occasionally died in surprisingly graphic fashion.

On a personal note, I still recall seeing the film at the age of about nine, and being slightly stunned at the sight of Prowl - he was the one who could transform into a police car - being shot in the chest, causing a gout of fire and smoke to issue from his eyes and mouth. “Wow,” I thought. “This film isn’t messing around.”

Other Transformers who met their demise in Transformers: The Movie included Brawn, Ironhide and his ambulance doppelganger Ratchet, Windcharger and Wheeljack. Even the Decepticons didn’t walk away unscathed; Megatron and two of his fellow villains were mortally wounded and magically changed into the new, more futuristic-looking Galvatron, Scourge and Cyclonus. The duplicitous Starscream, who’d planned to usurp Megatron for years, eventually got his comeuppance: he was repeatedly blasted until his body turned to ash.

It was fairly strong stuff for an animated movie at the time. But it was as nothing - nothing - compared to the shock of what happened to Optimus Prime. In the midst of a pitched battle which saw Autobots struck down left and right, Prime engaged in a brutal fight with Megatron. At first, it looked like the kind of confrontation we’d seen in the TV series a dozen times; lots of cool-sounding mottos (“One shall stand, one shall fall!”), punches and stray laser blasts. But as the fight wore on, there were odd signs that things were about to get nasty: Prime is stabbed in the abdominal area first with what appears to be a huge piece of shrapnel, and then a laser sword. But then something shocking happened: Megatron shot Prime repeatedly in the chest.

By the end of the fight, Megatron and Prime are both left in a crumpled heap on the floor. But Prime pulls through, right? Wrong. In a scene that no doubt left its mark on entire theatres full of wide-eyed kids, Prime died on an operating table, the Matrix of Leadership falling from his hands and his once vivid red paint fading to a sullen grey.

From toy maker Hasbro’s standpoint, killing off all these characters came down to simple economics: Prime, Ratchet, Prowl and their compatriots were all part of the original 1984 Generation One line, and Hasbro wanted to replace them with shiny new toys like Kup, Blurr and Rodimus Prime. What better way to do it than in the Transformers’ big, expensive debut movie?

For kids who loved Optimus Prime, however, the Transformers robot massacre was akin to, say, Walt Disney shooting Mickey Mouse to death in the middle of Fantasia. In fact, Hasbro had completely failed to predict how kids - not to mention their exhausted parents - would react to Prime’s shock death. In a brief documentary on Transformers: The Movie’s 20th anniversary DVD, story consultant Flint Dille expresses his surprise at the level of grief the event provoked.

“We didn’t know that he was an icon,” Dille says, still seemingly baffled by the response. “It was a toy show. We just thought we were killing off the old product line to replace it with new products.”

If Hasbro - and the film’s makers - thought kids would rush out of the cinema in search of the nearest toy shop, they were sorely mistaken.

“Kids were crying in the theatres,” Dille recalls. “We heard about people leaving the movie. We were getting a lot of nasty notes about it. There was some kid who locked himself in his bedroom for two weeks.”

There was, however, one person working on Transformers: The Movie who apparently tried to avert Prime’s death: screenwriter Ron Friedman. Already the writer of GI Joe and the Transformers TV episodes, he was given the task of writing the Transformers movie script. Realising that Prime was the heroic father figure in the Autobot family, he advised Hasbro against killing the character off.

“I recognised that I needed to assign family identities to characters in order to create the recognition factor that young people need," Friedman explained in a 2013 interview with Todd Matthy. “They cannot verbalise this; it’s beneath the surface. To remove Optimus Prime, to physically remove Daddy from the family, that wasn’t going to work. I told Hasbro and their lieutenants they would have to bring him back but they said no and had ‘great things planned.’ In other words they were going to create new more expensive toys.”

While some movie-goers reeled at Prime’s death, they should at least be grateful that Transformers: The Movie was rather less violent than initially planned. One sequence in the script describes new Autobot leader Ultra Magnus being torn apart by Galvatron’s flying henchmen, the Sweeps:

Galvatron

Sweeps, quarter him!

Angle On The Sweeps - Tracking

Four rope-like rays shoot out of them and...

On Ultra Magnus

wrap around his arms and legs.

Angle On Ultra Magnus And The Sweeps

His arms and legs caught by the four ropes, he knows he's just about had it.

He struggles for one last moment, then...

Angle On The Sweeps And Ultra Magnus

Pulling their rays taut, the Sweeps fly in four separate directions, effectively drawing and quartering the Autobot leader...

On Ultra Magnus

As all of his limbs are separated from his body and scattered in the distance, he Screams In Horror.

Ouch. The sequence remained in contention long enough to reach the storyboarding stage, and the Marvel comic book adaptation of Transformers: The Movie also saw Ultra Magnus meet the same undignified end. You can see how it might have looked in the following video:

Clearly realising that drawing and quartering a toy robot’s a bit much for a family film, the scene was changed so that Ultra Magnus is simply cornered and shot to death by ruthless Decepticons.

Younger viewers may also have been mildly traumatised for another scene that was planned but ultimately never created: a battle in which a group of Autobots, hopelessly outnumbered and out-gunned, charges directly into an army of Decepticons.

“[The scene] basically wiped out the entire 84 product line in one massive ‘charge of the light brigade’” Flint Dille recalls. “So, whoever wasn't discontinued, stumbled to the end. That scene didn't make it into the finished movie. But if you think kids were locking themselves in the bedroom over Optimus Prime, basically in that scene they would've seen their entire toy collection wiped out.”

As it was, the backlash against Prime’s death was so fierce that the creators of the movie and TV series eventually had to relent and bring the character back from the dead in early 1987.

The great irony of Optimus Prime’s death - and the rest of the Transformers who were killed in the great massacre of 1986 - is that, while those deaths were a business decision, they resulted in a film that was something more than a glorified toy commercial. Transformers: The Movie wasn’t a particularly big success at the time, but it retains a cult following - and, of course, the death of the Autobot leader is still talked about today. Ron Friedman, who tried and failed to prevent Hasbro from killing the Autobots’ father figure, is even calling his memoir I Killed Optimus Prime.

After Transformers: The Movie, Optimus Prime was killed and brought back from the dead so many times in various TV shows, comic books and even Michael Bay’s live-action movies that listing them would take up an article in itself. For a generation of Transformers fans, though, it was that first death in 1986 that sticks in the mind. Prime and dozens of other robot compatriots may have died for business purposes, but their deaths provoked an emotional response that even Hasbro hadn’t predicted.

See related The strange story of Jetfire, and other Transformers toys The unrealised potential of the Transformers movies Movies Feature Ryan Lambie Transformers 13 Jun 2016 - 06:29 Transformers: The Movie Optimus Prime death movies...

Recently, ABC released the new, official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Mistresses" episode 12 of season 3. The episode is entitled, "Reasonable Doubt," and it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting and high drama stuff take place as Josslyn wrestles with a plea deal. Marc and April get blindsided, and more! In the new, 12th episode press release: Reasonable Doubts Drive Each Of The Ladies To Question Their Choices. Press release number 12: Despondent over her situation, Josslyn is going to struggle with whether she should take a plea deal and what that would mean for a future with Harry. Karen will agree to help Vivian keep her secret from Alec so that he can accept a very important award. April and Marc are going to get blind-sided by a surprise visit from Marc's sister Miranda. After being shut out by Josslyn in prison, Calista is going to...

Michael Bay's big-scale Transformers blockbusters might be hugely popular with today's cinemagoers, but for film fans of a certain generation there'll always be a special place in their hearts for 1986's Transformers: The Movie.

A big screen spinoff from the animated TV series, the film was epic when seen for the first time by young eyes. Spanning from the Cybertron to Earth, via the far reaches of space and a planet-eating villain voiced by Orson Welles! Describing it as a classic might be a stretch but this was an exciting war movie that taught us about loss and the fist-pumping stadium rock majesty that is Stan Bush's 'The Touch'.

Digital Spy takes a look back at 9 bits of trivia from Transformers: The Movie.

1. It was hard to hold back the tears when Optimus Prime bit the dust in Transformers's brutal Battle of Autobot City. The passing of...

Michael Bay's big-scale Transformers blockbusters might be hugely popular with today's cinemagoers, but for film fans of a certain generation there'll always be a special place in their hearts for 1986's Transformers: The Movie.

A big screen spinoff from the animated TV series, the film was epic when seen for the first time by young eyes. Spanning from the Cybertron to Earth, via the far reaches of space and a planet-eating villain voiced by Orson Welles! Describing it as a classic might be a stretch but this was an exciting war movie that taught us about loss and the fist-pumping stadium rock majesty that is Stan Bush's 'The Touch'.

Digital Spy takes a look back at 9 bits of trivia from Transformers: The Movie.

1. It was hard to hold back the tears when Optimus Prime bit the dust in Transformers's brutal Battle of Autobot City. The passing of...

News Ryan Lambie 6 Jan 2014 - 08:32

In a candid interview, writer Ron Friedman talks about the infamous death of Optimus Prime in the 1986 Transformers: The Movie...

Way, way before Michael Bay brought us his live-action Transformers adaptations, Hasbro's hit line of toys' previous big screen outing came in 1986 - the animated feature Transformers: The Movie.

Featuring some lavish animation from Toei and a starry voice cast including Eric Idle, Leonard Nimoy and Orson Welles, the film was notable for the violent deaths of several characters, most infamously the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. With Hasbro keen to tie off the old line of toys, and use the movie to introduce a new range of robots, poor old Prime's fate was sealed - despite the warnings of screenwriter Ron Friedman.

Already an experienced writer for TV and film, Friedman had been involved in the Transformers series since it began in 1984, and also...

It might seem as though DreamWorks Animation is all about the sequels to its big hits like Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon, but the company is still keeping the fires of originality burning, announcing that it’ll release Me and My Shadow in March 2013.According to Variety, the movie will blend CG and hand-drawn animation, which will mark the first time that the company has attempted to mix the two. "The way Who Framed Roger Rabbit combined hand-drawn and live-action, this does the same, but with CG and hand-drawn," DreamWorks’ Bill Damaschke.Shadow will follow Shadow Stan, the frustrated dark half of Stanley Grubb, who happens to be the world’s dullest human being. Pushed too far by the boredom, Stan shatters the only rule of the Shadow World and takes over control of Stanley. The hand-drawn animation will be used for the Shadow World, while...

DreamWorks Animation Pioneers Groundbreaking Combination of CG and Hand-Drawn Animation Techniques in Me and My Shadow for March 2013

Glendale, Calif., Dec. 10, 2010. DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. announced that it will bring Me and My Shadow, an original project, to the big screen in March of 2013. The studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of both CG and traditional animation techniques, which will be used seamlessly together throughout this 3D feature film.

Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor’s New Groove) is the film’s Director and Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) and Teresa Cheng (Shrek Forever After, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron) are serving as Producers. Shane Prigmore (Coraline, Lord of the Rings) is Head of Story and Scott Wills (Monsters vs. Aliens, Ren & Stimpy) and Raymond Zibach (Kung Fu Panda, The Road to El Dorado) are Production Designers. Nick Fletcher (Shrek Forever After, The Prince of Egypt) is serving as Editor.

DreamWorks Animation is trying to take a semi-different turn with their next film "Me and My Shadow," an upcoming production that'll be directed by Mark Dindal. The 3D film will combine CG and traditional animation, more or less along the same lines of what they did for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." The script for "Me and My Shadow" was originally written by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich and will be polished up by Matt Ember and Tom Astle. The story is about Shadow Stan, an incredibly frustrated shadow that yearns for a more dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world's most boring human. Eventually pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World -- "they lead, we follow" -- and takes control of Stanley.Of course the higher-ups over at DreamWorks Animation are just absolutely ecstatic that they're going ahead...

DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. today announced that it will bring Me and My Shadow, an original project, to the big screen in March of 2013. The studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of both CG and traditional animation techniques, which will be used seamlessly together throughout this 3D feature film.

Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor’s New Groove) is the film’s Director and Melissa Cobb ( Kung Fu Panda , Kung Fu Panda 2) and Teresa Cheng (Shrek Forever After, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron) are serving as Producers. Shane Prigmore (Coraline, Lord of the Rings) is Head of Story and Scott Wills (Monsters vs. Aliens, Ren & Stimpy) and Raymond Zibach ( Kung Fu Panda , The Road to El Dorado ) are Production Designers. Nick Fletcher (Shrek Forever After, The Prince of Egypt ) is serving as Editor. The screenplay for Me and My Shadow, which was originally penned by both Steve Bencich and Ron Friedman (Chicken Little,...

If you were wondering whether there would be any 3D computer-animated films in theaters two years from now, we’ve got your answer. Today, Dreamworks Animation Skg, Inc. announced its new original project, Me and My Shadow, is slated to hit screens in March 2013.

Me and My Shadow tells the story of Shadow Stan, a frustrated shadow who dreams of leading an exciting life. Unfortunately, he’s stuck trailing Stanley Grubb, the most boring man in the world. When he can’t stand his dull existence one second longer, he breaks the only rule of the shadow world, “They lead, we follow,” and takes direct control of Grubb.

Dreamworks is using this film to pioneer what it calls a “groundbreaking” combination of seamlessly blended computer-generated and traditional animation techniques in 3D. The studio impressed us this year with How to Train Your Dragon, so it’s safe to assume Me...

DreamWorks Animation dropped off a press release this morning announcing a new 3D animated film called Me and My Shadow. There's no voice cast yet, but the plot will follow "Shadow Stan, an extremely frustrated shadow who yearns for a dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world's most boring human. Finally pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World ("They lead, we follow"), and takes control of Stanley!" More information about the forces behind the film is after the break. Here's the hook: the film will be a mix of CG and "traditional animation techniques." I can't say it any better than the press release did, so let's cut and paste: Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor's New Groove) is the film's director and Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) and Teresa Cheng (Shrek Forever After,...

DreamWorks Animation is working on a pretty interesting 3D film project called Me and My Shadow, which will combine both CGI animation and traditional hand drawn animation. 

According to DreamWorks Animation co-prexy of production Bill Damaschke, "The way 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' combined hand-drawn and live-action, this does the same, but with CG and hand-drawn." He goes on to say that "Shadow will combine the time-honored tradition of hand-drawn animation with the magical sophistication of CG characters and worlds in ways that have never been experienced by audiences before."

Me and My Shadow tells the story of Shadow Stan, an incredibly frustrated shadow that yearns for a more dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world's most boring human.Eventually pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World -- "they lead, we follow" -- and takes control of Stanley.

DreamWorks Animation plans to release its CG/hand-drawn hybrid Me and My Shadow in March 2013. According to Variety, the film is about “Shadow Stan, an incredibly frustrated shadow that yearns for a more dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world’s most boring human. Eventually pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World — “they lead, we follow” — and takes control of Stanley.” Steve Bencich and Ron Friedman wrote the original screenplay, which is being revised by Tom Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart). The film is being directed by Mark Dindal (The Emperor’s New Groove). Hit the jump for more details on this project.

DreamWorks Animation co-president of production Bill Damaschke says of Me and My Shadow, “The way Who Framed Roger Rabbit combined hand-drawn and live-action, this does the same, but with CG and hand-drawn.” Variety reports that “In the toon,...

With the resurgence of movies based on toys in recent years, it was high time to reach into the past and dust off the hidden gem that started it all. Many people who grew up watching the “Transformers” television show will remember that in 1986 Hasbro released a full length animated feature film called “The Transformers: The Movie.” This film contains a fairly predictable “Transformers” plot, meaning it’s convoluted and features loads of meaningless action and prolonged fighting. Awesome.

The movie begins with a cold open: the “camera” casually flies us through the quiet beauties of outer space. Planets, stars, galaxies and celestial debris float peacefully and gracefully through the great black expanse. We gradually close in on a small Death Star-like planet bustling with all sorts of alien robotic life forms. Suddenly, a giant spherical machine, known as Unicron, targets the planet and without warning begins to suck it in like a vacuum,...

Both Marmaduke, based on the syndicated comic strip and the sequel Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore were filmed in Vancouver. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore, directed by Canadian Brad Peyton is being converted to 3D by Korean and Los Angeles-based Stereo Pictures, ready to to be 'unleashed' in a wide release July 30. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore a Warners, Village Roadshow production, filmed throughout Vancouver, September to December 2008, including sequences shot @ the Pne Amusement park. Starring Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer, Kitty Galore was produced by Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance in association with former Warner Independent head Polly Cohen. Screenplay is by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, following the continuing "...great battle between cats and dogs for control of the Earth...". Marmaduke from 20th Century Fox is a family comedy feature, directed by Tom Dey (Shanghai Noon)) from a screenplay by Vince Di Meglio,...

Both "Marmaduke", based on the syndicated comic strip and the sequel "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore" were filmed in Vancouver.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore", directed by Canadian Brad Peyton is being converted to 3D by Korean and Los Angeles-based Stereo Pictures, ready to to be 'unleashed' in a wide release July 30.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore", a Warners, Village Roadshow production, filmed throughout Vancouver, September to December 2008, including sequences shot @ the Pne Amusement park.

Starring Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer, "Kitty Galore" was produced by Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance in association with former Warner Independent head Polly Cohen.

Screenplay is by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, following the continuing story of "...the great battle between cats and dogs for control of the Earth...".

"Marmaduke" from 20th Century Fox is a family comedy feature, directed by Tom Dey ("Shanghai Noon"), from a screenplay by Vince Di Meglio,...

Sneak Peek new posters supporting the Vancouver-lensed 3D fantasy adventure, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore".

Korean-based Stereo Pictures is converting Canadian director Brad Peyton's Disney release in 3D, to be 'unleashed' for a July 30 release.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore", a Warners, Village Roadshow production, is a sequel to the 2001 feature "Cats & Dogs". The new movie filmed throughout Vancouver, September to December 2008, including sequences shot @ the Pne Amusement park.

Starring Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer, "Kitty Galore" was produced by Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance in association with former Warner Independent head Polly Cohen.

Screenplay is by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, following the continuing story of "...the great battle between cats and dogs for control of the Earth...".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore"...

Take a look at new posters supporting the Vancouver-lensed 3D fantasy adventure, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore. Korean-based Stereo Pictures is converting Canadian director Brad Peyton's Disney feature in 3D, for a July 30 wide release. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, a Warners, Village Roadshow production, is a sequel to the 2001 feature Cats & Dogs, lensed throughout Vancouver, September to December 2008, including sequences shot @ the Pne Amusement park. Kitty Galore stars actors Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer, produced by Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance in association with former Warner Independent head Polly Cohen. Screenplay is by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, following the continuing story of "...the great battle between cats and dogs for control of the Earth..."...

Warner Bros. will convert director Zach Snyder's Vancouver-lensed action feature "Sucker Punch" into 3D, targeting a March 25, 2011 wide release.

The studio is also in the process of converting Vancouver-lensed "Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore" into 3D, through Stereo Pictures of South Korea, for a summer release July 2010.

R-rated "Sucker Punch", from the director of "Watchmen", started shooting September 10 2009, wrapping January 22, 2010.

Snyder co-wrote the screenplay with Steve Sibuya, referring to the film as "...Alice in Wonderland with machine guns". Premise follows a girl confined to a mental institution by her 'evil' stepfather. As a coping strategy, she retreats into an alternative, imaginative reality with"dragons, B-52 bombers and brothels", according to Snyder, who also co-produced the film with his wife Debra.

Cast includes Emily Browning as 'Baby Doll', Carla Gugino as 'Mrs. Schulz', Abbie Cornish as 'Sweetpea', Vanessa Hudgens as 'Blondie' and Jamie Chung as 'Amber'.

Korean-based Stereo Pictures, will convert Canadian director Brad Peyton's, Vancouver-lensed Disney sci-fi fantasy, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore" to 3D, in time for a July release.

Stereo's Us branch, opened in 2007, is managed by former Warner's staffers James R. Miller and Dan Romanelli, with former Cfc Entertainment president Phillip Rhee.

Last month, Stereo Pictures signed an agreement with the Korea Film Council (Kofic) 'to cultivate' S3D professionals and develop S3D technology, planning to train 750 3D artists, engineers through the program, before recruiting them into the company.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore", a Warners, Village Roadshow production, is a sequel to the 2001 "Cats & Dogs". The new movie filmed throughout Vancouver, September to December 2008, including sequences shot @ the Pne amusement park.

Starring Chris O'Donnell and Jack McBrayer. Andrew Lazar produced "Kitty Galore" for Mad Chance with former Warner Independent head Polly Cohen.

Screenplay is by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich,...

We have a brand new exclusive clip from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero - The Complete Series Collector's Set, which will come to DVD in a special "foot locker" 17-disc set on November 10. Click below for our exclusive clip, which features the Joes going to Hollywood to film a movie.

G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring highly-trained special missions force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world!

1n 1983 Hasbro made a bold statement when it launched its classic toy line of action heroes as an adventure-based team of unique characters, each with his - and her - own specialties. And because it captured the imaginations and hearts of boys and girls aspiring to make a difference in the world, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was an immediate success lasting over 25 incredible years.

Now you can...

You can bring home a highly-popular animated series home in one, huge collecible boxed set. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: The Complete Series will be released on DVD on November 10. We previously announced this DVD set for a July 21 release, but the set was only available directly through Shout! Factory and, starting on November 10, you can pick up the set at retail outlets. The 17-disc set will be priced at $179.99 Srp and you can take a look at the images and video of this release and all of the special features below.

G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring highly-trained special missions force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world!

1n 1983 Hasbro made a bold statement when it launched its classic toy line of action heroes as an adventure-based team of unique characters, each with his...

Chicago – “Yo Joe!” Before Paramount unleashes “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” in theaters on August 4th, 2009, viewers should catch up with the height of the phenomenon with Shout Factory’s “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Season 1.1,” now available on DVD.

DVD Rating: 3.0/5.0 G.I. Joe is the code name for America’s daring, highly-trained special missions force, a group of soldiers defending humanity against Cobra, the ruthless terrorist organization trying to destroy the world. Relive the generation-defining adventures of Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Flint, Lady Jaye, and the rest of the Joe team before you see Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the cinematic reboot of the franchise.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 was released on DVD on July 14th, 2009.

Photo credit: Shout Factory

In the film version, Tatum plays Duke, Marlon Wayans plays Ripcord, Dennis Quaid plays General Hawk, Ray Park plays Snake Eyes,...

DVD Review

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Season 1.1

Cast: Duke, Scarlett, Cobra Commander, Flint, Destro, Zartan, Snake Eyes

Running Time: 22 episodes (22 minutes each)

Due out: July 21, 2009

Plot: G. I. Joe is the codename for America’s daring, highly trained, special mission force. Its purpose: To defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world. Yes, that’s straight from the theme song, but that pretty much sums it up, right? Maybe this will help more … Duke & Flint = good guys. Cobra Commander & Destro = bad guys.

Who’s It For? Kids, kids kids … and then after that, guys who grew up loving the cartoons and toys.

Episodes: There are four DVDs in the mix and each are separated by a continuous story, except for the final disc. It’s great to have the mini-series, but the one thing they do a terrible job of is character development.

In this incarnation of our Videolog column (which began in 1982 with VHS and Betamax and later laserdisc), Starlog posts information usually on Tuesdays re: selected genre titles being released (or re-released) on DVD and Blu-ray.

DVD Releases for July 21, 2009:

300: The Complete Experience (Warner, $39.99 Blu-ray): This ultimate Special Edition of Zack Snyder’s Spartan epic (based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel) has all the extras from the first Blu-ray, plus this treasure trove of new features: a 40-page collectible digibook; “The Complete 300: A Comprehensive Immersion,” a interactive picture-in-picture experience that provides three unique perspectives to watching the film; “Creating a Legend: Frank Miller and Zack Snyder Interpret a Classic Tale”; “Bringing the Legend to Life: Building a World From a Comic”; “The History Behind the Myth: The Real Story of the Hot Gates”; Bd-Live Media Center, Live Community Screening and My WB Commentary; bluescreen picture-in-picture...

You can relive an animated classic right from the beginning in a new DVD set this July. G.I. Joe: Season 1.1 will be released on DVD on July 21. This new four-disc set will include the first 22 episodes of the series and will also include tatoos featuring the characters Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. The set will be priced at $29.99 Srp and you can take a look at the cover art and special features below.

G.I. Joe is an elite group of special operatives, fighting for freedom wherever there's trouble. In this animated series based on characters from Hasbro's popular line of 3 ¾" action figures, the G.I. Joe team will stop at nothing to defeat Cobra - an enemy with the singular goal of world domination!

Special Features:

- "Knowing is Half the Battle" PSAs

- "Looking Back" with writer Ron Friedman

- Archival Hasbro toy commercials

- G.I. Joe's original...