An era has ended. Kellogg’s has announced it will no longer market its sugared cereals to children.

Kellogg’s also said it would stop using licensed characters (like Shrek and Spongebob) and branded toys to promote its products, according to today’s New York Times.

Will Toucan Sam (Froot Loops) and Dig ‘em Frog (Smacks) soon go the way of Sugar Pops Pete? Stay Tuned!

Last night Asifa-Hollywood had a screening of Surf’s Up and I moderated an enjoyable Q&A with Ash Brannon and several key members of the production crew.

Don’t let this film pass you by. It’s excellent. It’s not just another “penguin movie”. It’s a surfing comedy with funny characters and, bottom line, it’s very entertaining. And you can tell the different penguin characters apart!

I never thought I’d be raving about effects animation, but the wave effects alone are worth the price of admission. The story is told in a semi-mock documentarty style, with hand-held camera moves I haven’t quite seen in an animated film before. I could go on and on about it; it’s superior in every way and I’d hate to see it get lost in the shuffle between the other summer heavyweights (Shrek The Third and Ratatouille). I don’t often do an out-and-out plug for a current release, but this film deserves a shot. It’s one of the best of the year.

This a bit disturbing - but I like it.

A new music video from UK punk bank The Horrors, She’s The New Thing, Directed by Corin Hardy.

Is anyone employed in the U.S. as an “inbetweener” anymore? Has the computer taken that over, too?

Our pal Eddie Fitzgerald has posted some theories and analysis about inbetweens using a Porky Pig scene animated by Rod Scribner from Bob Clampett’s Kitty Kornered.

Dissecting cartoons on a frame by frame basis is a full time obsession for some animators, but nobody does is more entertaining than Eddie.

Eye candy and ear wax.

Tony from Way Out Junk has amassed a treasure trove of obscure, offbeat children’s records, mainly from the 60s and 70s. These include long lost tracks from Woody Woodpecker, Huckleberry Hound, and of course, The Chipmunks (above). Great downloads, cover art, and commentary at Way Out Junk.

Not sure if Max Fleischer would approve.

Bimboim’s Trip to the Western Wall has screened in New York, and film festivals in Belgium and Israel, originally as a silent film accompanied by a live Klezmer orchestra. Directed by SVA/Pratt student Mor Erlich (aka Mornography).

In Japan, Coca Cola has started airing a set of non sequitur comedy skits starring a giant Coke Machine wandering around Tokyo.
Frederator should sue.

What hath South Park wrought?

Rick & Steve debuts on the Logo cable channel July 10th. A sneak preview clip is posted here.