Month: September 2017

My Thoughts: SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (2017)

In 2011 and 2013, Sony Animation gave us two live-action films based on the Smurfs. Like many films of the same style, all the actors were live-action, but the main characters were animated. And like many of these kinds of films, they weren’t critical successes at all, but made money at the box office!

So when it came time to make a third film based on the Smurfs, they decided to make it a fully animated reboot pretty much ignoring that The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2 ever happened.

They one-upped Cars 3!

The result of that decision is Smurfs: The Lost Village. Read on to know what I thought of it! (Beware, there may be spoilers ahead!)

Continue reading “My Thoughts: SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (2017)”

‘Peter Rabbit’ Teaser Trailer Debuts!

The teaser trailer for Sony Animation’s upcoming adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stories has debuted.

While I never read the Peter Rabbit stories, I have a feeling that the stories are much more timeless than this teaser trailer seems to show. I really wish they had made this a fully animated film; this live-action/animated hybrid doesn’t seem to work especially with the whole “party theme”. If it turns out to be like Paddington (horrible teaser, but film was well-made), I’ll be happy, but until then, this is all we have to go on.

Peter Rabbit stars Domhnall Gleason, Sam Neill, and Rose Byrne, along with the voice talents of James Corden, Margot Robbie, Daisy Ridley, and Elizabeth Debicki. The film is being directed by Will Gluck and set to hit theaters on February 9, 2018.

What do you think of this trailer? Does it turn you off from seeing the film?

‘Isle of Dogs’ Trailer Debuts!

The first trailer for Wes Anderson’s upcoming stop-motion animated film, Isle of Dogs, has debuted.

The film is about a young boy in Japan who goes in search of his dog who has been sent to a nearby “trash island” where all dogs are sentenced to go to due to overpopulation in the cities.

The story seems interesting enough and Wes Anderson is no stranger to animation having previously directed 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Isle of Dogs features the voice talents of Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, Greta Gerwig, Tilda Swinton, and Liev Schreiber, amongst others. The film is set to hit theaters on March 23, 2018.

What do you think of this trailer? Are you excited for the film?

Got an Instagram Page!

Hello readers,

So I’ve finally done something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time: I’ve got an Instagram page for this blog!

No, I’m not deleting this WordPress blog; the Instagram page will serve as a companion piece to this blog. What will I be posting on my IG page? Well, I’ll definitely be informing my IG followers of when there’s a new blog post to check out! But, I’ll also be posting certain things ONLY to that IG account that I won’t be posting to my blog, so be sure to follow me on both platforms to get access to it all!

The IG account is the.animation.commendation

I’m looking forward to meeting you all there as well as to making new friends and followers in the Instagram world!

Post-Hurricane Irma Update!

Hello readers,

So just wanted to check in to let you all know that I’ve survived Hurricane Irma, thank God! Our damage was limited to having some of our backyard fence fallen down and not having power for about 32 hours. Thankfully, we got back power today, so hopefully I’ll get back to regular blogging soon! Thanks for your patience!

Regarding Hurricane Irma!

Hello readers,

As many of you know, I live in Orlando, Florida. And as many of you also know, there is an incredibly intense hurricane named Irma headed our way. It’s currently a Category 4 storm, but has the possibility of strengthening back to a Category 5 when it hits the Floridian mainland. It’s estimated to hit Florida in the early morning hours of Sunday and go through the entire state all thru Monday.

We’re praying that we’ll all be safe and come out with as minimal damage as possible from this! So just know that because of the hurricane, don’t expect any new posts on this blog for the next week. After the hurricane hits (and if we still have Internet connection), I’ll try to update you all afterwards on the aftermath. I’ll also try to update my Twitter (@The_Anim_Comm) if I can, so keep a lookout there too.

Until then, keep us in your prayers! Thanks!

‘Early Man’ Trailer Debuts!

The first theatrical trailer for Aardman Animations’ upcoming film, Early Man, has debuted.

Early Man takes place during the “dawn of time” wherein a tribe of cavemen goes up against a Bronze Age City leader to save their home. The film features the voice talents of Eddie Redmayne, Maisie Williams, Tom Hiddleston, Timothy Spall, Richard Ayoade, and Johnny Vegas, amongst others. The film is set to hit American theaters on February 16, 2018.

While the trailer doesn’t have me super excited for the film, I still am interested in seeing it as it is an Aardman Animations film. Are you all interested in it?

‘The Magic School Bus Rides Again’ Trailer Debuts!

The trailer for the upcoming Netflix reboot, The Magic School Bus Rides Again, has debuted.

The original The Magic School Bus was a classic animated TV show of the 1990s (and my personal favorite animated TV show that I grew up with) and this reboot seems to be following in the same vein. Yes, the animation looks off-putting and some people are upset that the original character of Ms. Frizzle now has a younger sister voiced by Kate McKinnon who will now take over as the lead, but that honestly doesn’t bother me at all. I can’t wait for this show and hopefully, it proves to be a satisfactory reboot.

Also, Lin-Manuel Miranda sings the title song! Is that cool or what? Look out for the show on September 29 on Netflix.