.A24’s acclaimed stop-motion/live-action hybrid “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” could be the wild card in the animated feature Oscar race — going up against such early favorites as Pixar’s “Turning Red,” Disney’s “Strange World,” and Netflix’s two stop-motion behemoths: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” and Henry Selick’s “Wendell & Wild” (the latter being the lone […]
Continue reading.At the midway point of 2022, here’s the current state of the animated feature Oscar race: Pixar’s “Turning Red” is the early frontrunner, the studio’s “Lightyear” is still a contender after underperforming at the box office (especially if it heats up Disney+), GKids’ sublime “Inu-Oh” (from visionary director Masaaki Yuasa) is an impressive international entry, […]
Continue readingPixar‘s “Cars” franchise may not be the most critically beloved of the animation studio’s films. However, all three movies did very well at the box office, so much so that Disney made the “Planes” spinoff movies and other “Cars” shorts. Now, Pixar looks to continue the adventures of Lightning McQueen in Mater in a new […]
Continue reading“Lightyear” is the first movie that Pixar has released in theaters since the start of the pandemic, a return to normal that would feel more exciting if “Lightyear” wasn’t also the first Pixar movie since the start of the pandemic that feels like it only belongs on Disney Plus. Bursting onto the big screen with […]
Continue readingFailure to understand the film’s message is just another example of the way Hollywood continues to dismiss Asian achievement and storiesIt isn’t every day the Chinese community – or Asians for that matter – see their stories writ large in Hollywood. You have The Joy Luck Club in 1993 and, more than 20 years later, […]
Continue reading“Turning Red” marked a real turning point for Pixar this year. The Disney-owned animation studio debuted its first Asian-led film, and it was critically acclaimed upon release.Rosalie Chiang stars as Meilin, or Mei, a confident Toronto tween who, when she hits puberty, turns into a red panda when overcome by strong emotions. Chiang was cast […]
Continue readingThe influence of “Into the Spider-Verse” continues to infiltrate the Hollywood mainstream, with DreamWorks’ latest heist comedy, “The Bad Guys,” following in the footsteps of “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” to subvert CG animation with a handmade, illustrated look. First-time feature director Pierre Perifel definitely wanted to break through the “boring” […]
Continue readingIn the wake of the controversy surrounding Disney’s financial donations to the Republicans behind the passing of Hb 1557, Aka the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s constant fumbling of the situation, the conversation regarding what is or is not appropriate to be teaching children regarding Lgbtqia+ themes has come into the […]
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