RIP

Mike Nichols, RIP

Celebrated stage and film director Mike Nichols ("Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," "The Graduate) died yesterday at the age of 83.

Box Office Report

‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ Launches with $50 Million

DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon 2" opened in second place this weekend with an estimated $50 million. The film trailed the $60 million debut of another sequel, the R-rated "22 Jump Street," directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who also directed "The LEGO Movie," which opened to $69 million earlier this year.

Business

British Studios Locksmith and Double Negative Plan To Make CG Features

There are big developments in the UK animation industry in the wake of a much-heralded tax break received by the British animation industry that went into effect last year. Sarah Smith, the former creative director of features at Aardman Animations, is setting up a studio named Locksmith Animation. She bills it as the UK’s "first high-end CGI feature animation studio," and it is focused on creating a long-term slate of films for worldwide distribution.

Talkback

“Hotel Transylvania” talkback

The New York Times has flicked off this film with a 180-word blurb by third-string reviewer Neil Genzlinger. He essentially says, “The …

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