Business

How Will Vinton Lost His Studio to a Rapper Named Chilly Tee

Laika does amazing work as an animation studio, no doubt about it, but the studio's history is somewhat less admirable. The company was built on top of Will Vinton's eponymous Portland studio in a shrewd corporate takeover by multi-billionaire Nike co-founder Phil Knight. After Knight took control of the company in 2002, he placed a failed rapper named Chilly Tee with slight experience in animation, who also happened to be his son Travis Knight, in charge of the entire company.

DVD

‘Birds of Paradise’ Looks to Cash In On ‘Rio 2’

On April 1st, Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release "Birds Of Paradise" on DVD exclusively at Walmart and Redbox. If the film looks and feels suspicously like Fox's "Rio" franchise, well...that's the point. One of the film's PR people sent us a press release that states matter-of-factly that "Birds of Paradise" is "timed to the theatrical release of 'Rio 2.'" The latter Blue Sky Studios-produced movie will be released on April 11.

Feature Film

2014 Animated Feature Preview

From mainstream releases to independent foreign productions, we've got a guide to the animated feature releases that you can look forward to in 2014.

Talkback

“Planes” Reader Reviews

This weekend is the opening of DisneyToon Studios’ Planes directed by TV animation veteran Klay Hall (King of the Hill, Father of the …

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