Business

First Look at $2.4 Billion Oriental DreamWorks Complex in Shanghai

Last week DreamWorks revealed the first renderings of the Dream Center, a 40-acre, $2.4 billion development in Shanghai, China. Scheduled to open in 2017 (or early-2018), the site will house the Oriental DreamWorks production studio, which is currently working on “Kung Fu Panda 3,” as well as the world’s largest IMAX screen, eight outdoor plazas, hotels, restaurants, theaters, galleries, and tourist attractions.

Box Office Report

‘Muppets’ Stumble in the US, ‘Rio 2’ Is #1 in Russia

No new animated movies debuted in the United States this weekend, although Disney’s family-oriented “Muppets Most Wanted” opened. The film opened in second place with a disappointing $16.5 million (estimated), far below the $29.2M opening of the franchise reboot “The Muppets” in 2011. That earlier film plummeted at the box office, too, after its opening, suggesting that the Muppets franchise isn’t as relevant to kids today as it was with earlier generations.

Cartoon Brew Pick

‘This is Not a Time to Lie’ by Lei Lei

A hallucinatory short that follows a doe-eyed protagonist on a quest through an imagined world, and was created using vintage book covers, a motif that director Lei Lei inherited from his graphic-designer father. “No plots, storyboards, or scripts were involved,” says the director.

Events

Annecy Festival Reveals 2014 Film Selections

The world’s longest-running and largest animation festival, Annecy, announced short film and TV selections today for its 2014 edition, which will take place June 9-14 in the lakeside town of Annecy, France.

Games

Betty Boop and Bimbo Go CGI for iOS Game

It’s been a busy stretch for the Thirties Fleischer cartoon star Betty Boop. First, she got her own paper towel in Turkey, and now, Winnipeg, Canada-based Fowl Moon Studios has licensed the character for a new iOS game called Betty Boop Dance Card.

Feature Film

“The Boxtrolls” Full International Trailer Is Here

A new full trailer slipped out today for LAIKA’s “The Box Trolls.” Unlike the previous three teasers, this trailer provides some clues about the film’s contents and the underground world of the Box Trolls, and manages to do so without revealing anything of consequence.

Animators

‘The Hero of Color City’ Brings Crayons to Life

If LEGO can have its own movie, so can crayons. At least that’s the thinking behind “The Hero of Color City,” an animated feature being distributed in the U.S. by Magnolia Pictures, which also distributes the Oscar-nominated short films as well as documentaries like “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” and “Blackfish.”

Cartoon Brew Pick

‘To Spring’ Is The Weirdest Cartoon Ever Made About Springtime

Among the most frustrating aspects of spring—if you don’t live in southern California—is the fluctuating weather. One moment it’s T-shirt weather, the next, heavy overcoat. The 1936 MGM cartoon “To Spring” explains the scientific reason for why this occurs: the elves who live underground aren’t working hard enough.

Feature Film

11 New ‘How To Train Your Dragon 2’ Images

DreamWorks has released a stockpile of “How to Train Your Dragon 2” film stills and publicity shots on the film’s official website. There’s new renders of Hiccup, Astrid, and Stoick, along with the dragons, including a new one, Cloudjumper. The quality of lighting and atmosphere has progressed notably since the first film in 2010. The Dean DeBlois-directed sequel will arrive into U.S. theaters on June 13.

TV

New Artwork from Nick’s Upcoming ‘Funny’ Shows

As part of its recent upfront presentation, Nickelodeon released new art from their previously announced series: “Pig Goat Banana Cricket,” “Bad Seeds” and “Welcome to the Wayne.” If their new slate of shows look comedy-centric, it’s the result of Nick’s market research, which revealed to them that children rank laughter as more important than vacation, family meals and holidays.

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